PCHR
 Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

No. 28/2005

14 - 20 July 2005

 

Israeli Occupation Forces divide the Gaza Strip into three sections during comprehensive closures. 16/07/05

 

 

 

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

 

Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (14-20 July 2005):

Willful Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 14 Palestinians (eight in the West Bank and six in the Gaza Strip, including two children. 

In the West Bank, on 14 July 2005, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Nablus.  On 15 July 2005, IOF extra-judicially killed three Palestinians in Salfit village near Nablus and killed a child during the clashes that followed this attack.  On 19 July 2005, two Palestinians were killed in al-Yamoun village near Jenin when they exchanged fire with IOF.  On 20 July 2005, a Palestinian died from a wound he sustained last week during an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm. 

In the Gaza Strip, on 15 July 2005, IOF extra-judicially executed 4 Palestinians in Gaza City.  They also extra-judicially executed a 5th  Palestinian in Khan Yunis on 17 July 2005.  On 18 July 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint in the central Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian child, when they opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint.

Shelling: During the reported period, in addition to using aircrafts in the aforementioned extra-judicial killings, IOF launched nine aerial attacks at civilian targets in the Gaza Strip.  They fired 14 missiles at these targets, destroying them.  In addition, at least 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were injured as a result. 

Incursions: IOF conducted 47 military incursions into Palestinian areas (45 in the West Bank and two in the Gaza Strip), the widest of which was into Tulkarm.  During these incursions, IOF injured 20 Palestinian civilians.  They raided houses and arrested 79 Palestinian civilians.  In addition, IOF seized 21 houses and transformed them into military sites.  

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem.  IOF divided the Gaza Strip into three separate zones.  They have also continued to close Erez crossing for the second consecutive week.  IOF have decided to prevent Palestinian civilians aged 16-35 from traveling through Rafah International Crossing Point.  In the West Bank, IOF erected a number of military checkpoints.  They arrested six Palestinian civilians, including two children.  They also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.  In addition, a Palestinian civilian was injured by IOF near a military checkpoint.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory.  IOF have continued to construct a section of the Wall to the northeast of East Jerusalem.  They also established a military post near Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah.  During the reported period, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Amatin village near Qalqilya to construct a section of the Wall in the area.  On 19 July 2005, IOF issued three military orders confiscating 15 donums[1] of Palestinian land near Qalqilya to establish roads that will link a number of settlements with the Wall.  In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest at the construction of the Wall.  Seven Palestinian civilians and an Israeli solidarity activist were wounded and three Israeli solidarity activists were arrested.

Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.  Three Palestinian civilians, including a child, were injured.  IOF also razed areas of Palestinian land in Shoufa village near Tulkarm for the purpose of settlement expansion.

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (09–15 June 2005)

1.      Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

Thursday, 14 July 2005

·      In the early morning, IOF killed a young Palestinian man when he attempted to escape from his house when IOF surrounded it to arrest him.  IOF shot him from close range.   

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:10 on Wednesday, 13 July 2004, IOF moved into Nablus using a bus that has a Palestinian registration plate.  The bus stopped near a house in al-Marrij Street in Rafidya neighborhood.  IOF surrounded the house, which belongs to the Jaber family, and is rented by a British woman called Anne.  At approximately 23:00, 12 Israeli military vehicles, covered by a drone, moved into the city and surrounded the area.  IOF knocked the door of a house belonging to Eyad al-Bizra.  They brought two persons out and used them as human shields to break into the first house. IOF found Mo'tassem Estaitiyah, 25, inside the house.  They interrogated him and the British citizen about Mohammed Safwat Khalil 'Aassi, 24, from Balata refugee camp.  At approximately 00:30 on Thursday, IOF fired flash bombs in the area.  A few minutes later, they saw a young man jumping into the garden of a house belonging to 'Abdul Qader al-Jouhari and rented by Maher al-Bolissi, five meters away from the first house. The al-Bolissi family heard an Israeli soldier saying: 'Stop.'  He said it three times.  Then, IOF opened fire at the young man from several directions.  He was instantly killed by several live bullets throughout the body.  At approximately 02:00, IOF withdrew from the area taking his body.  At approximately 04:00, IOF delivered the body to the Palestinian liaison.  It was 'Aassi's body.  According to eyewitnesses, the victim was able escape from the house through the balcony and jumped into the garden.  IOF could have arrested them.  IOF claimed that 'Aassi had been wanted for two years for being a member of the Islamic Jihad. 

 

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed five of them into military sites after holding each family in one room of their house. 

 

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided a house belonging to the family of Ashraf 'Awni Mustafa 'Abdul Ghani, who had been already killed by IOF.  They forced his wife and four children out and transformed it into a military site.  According to the wife, an Israeli soldier stole US$4623 from the house paying no attention to her protests. 

 

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-'Asakra village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khaled 'Ali 'Asakra, 21. 

 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched at least 20 houses in the eastern part of the village, claiming that they were searching for banned materials.  They also searched a number of residents of these houses.  IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 10:00 and no casualties or arrests were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the southern part of 'Assira village, south of Nablus.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa'ad Mahmoud Abu Hamad, 21, and arrested him. 

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Majd village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bashir Ibrahim Masharqa, 18. 

 

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abed Mustafa Tazaz'a, 26, and arrested him. 

 

·      At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

 

·      Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, southwest of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Hebron.  They erected a number of checkpoints in the north and east of the town.  They stopped and searched civilian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians.  They interrogated and beat a number of these civilians.  One of these civilians, 20-year-old Nafez al-Ja'bri, sustained bruises throughout the body. 

 

Friday, 15 July 2005

·      At approximately 00:30, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) fired two missile at the al-Sahwa Islamic Society in a densely populated area in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya.  The society is based in a two-storey building belonging to Ahmed Fu'ad Sirdah, which is rented by the Hamas movement.  The building and two neighboring houses were damaged, and Palestinian civilians, especially children, were extremely terrified. 

 

·      At approximately 00:40, IAF fired three missiles at the Martyr’s Cemetery near "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis.  A number of graves were damaged. 

 

·      Also at approximately 00:40, IAF fired a missile that fell into the sea opposite to a site of the Palestinian National Security Force in Deir al-Balah.  No casualties were reported. 

·      At approximately 01:20, IAF fired two missiles at a workshop located under a house in the east of Deir al-Balah.  The workshop was totally destroyed and the house, two neighboring shops and three neighboring houses were damaged.  No casualties were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 01:40, IAF fired two missiles at the al-Astal family compound in the center of Khan Yunis.  A water pump was destroyed and Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.  No casualties were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Zaid Mousa al-'Assa, 23. 

 

·      In the evening, IOF wounded and arrested a Palestinian child in Salfit village, southwest of Nablus.  At night they announced his death. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, after IOF had extra-judicially killed three Palestinians in Salfit (see below), IOF moved into the village, opening fire.  They patrolled in the streets and surrounded the Emergency Hospital searching for a Palestinian who was targeted by the extra-judicial killing operation.  At approximately 18:00, dozens of Palestinian children gathered in the center of the village and threw stones at IOF positioned near the aforementioned hospital.  Immediately, IOF opened fire at the children.  One of the children, 17-year-old Ma'ath Jamal Sulaima, was wounded by several live bullets, including one to the head.  IOF arrested him.  Several hours later, IOF announced that he was dead. 

 

·      At approximately 19:20, IAF fired a missile at a member of the Palestinian resistance who was near a number of children who were playing near a school in the southwest of Khan Yunis.  The resistance member was injured.  Three of the children were also injured:

 

1.      Mahmoud 'Aaref al-Faqa'awi, 17, injured by shrapnel to the left hand;

2.      Isma'il Khaled Gannan, 13, injured by shrapnel to the abdomen; and

3.      Mustafa Zuhair al-Nabris, 15, injured by shrapnel to the left hand.

 

Saturday, 16 July 2005

·      At approximately 00:15, IAF fired a missile at a workshop belonging to Ra'fat Kazem 'Anan in al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City.  The workshop was totally destroyed. 

 

·      At approximately 00:25, IAF fired a missile at a workshop for maintenance of motorcycles belonging to Mustafa Khader al-Daya in the west of Gaza City.  The workshop was totally destroyed. 

 

·      At approximately 00:30, IAF fired a missile at a workshop for maintenance of agricultural equipment belonging to Wa'el Hassan Sabbah in al-Satar al-al-Sharqi area in the northeast of Khan Yunis.  The workshop was totally destroyed. 

 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested four Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Mousa Mohammed Taqtqa, 22;

2.      Jawad Mahmoud Taqatqa, 18;

3.      Murad Mohammed Taqatqa, 28; and

4.      'Emad Mohammed Taqatqa, 18.

 

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Majes Mahmoud al-Najajra, 22, and arrested him. 

 

·      Also at approximately 01:15, IOF IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested three Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Hussein Isma'il Tubaish, 33;

2.      Ahmed 'Atiya Abu Warda, 24; and

3.      Mustafa Hassaniya Abu Shamiya, 38. 

 

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Sammou' village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdullah Jamil al-Daghamin, 22, and arrested him. 

 

·      Also at approximately 0:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Fares Fawzi al-Tubasi, 23, and arrested him.  

 

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses in al-Muqata'a, Wadi al-Hariya and Beir al-Mahjar neighborhoods.  They arrested seven Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Nadim Mohammed Abu Khalaf, 22;

2.      Jawad Mohammed al-Qawasmi, 26;

3.      'Aassem 'Aadel al-Qawasmi, 23;

4.      'Emad Hisham al-Khatib, 27;

5.      'Abdul Karim Asa'ad al-Qawasmi, 24;

6.      Ibrahim Hisham Abu Esnaina, 27; and

7.      Khaldoun Humaidan al-Sharbati, 29. 

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Alaa' 'Ayad Abu 'Aker, 22. 

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Taqqou' village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ziad Ahmed Jibril, 24. 

 

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into the northern 'Assira village, north of Nablus.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested four Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Nasser 'Ayad Jarara'a, 22;

2.      Samer 'Abdullah Sawalha, 25;

3.      Nayef Hamed Hamadna, 23; and

4.      'Alaa' Hassan al-Shouli, 24. 

 

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tamoun village, southeast of Jenin.  They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the family of Mohammed Nihad Bani 'Ouda, 24, and arrested him. 

 

·      At approximately 09:30, IOF moved nearly 100 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City, near "Netzarim'' settlement.  They leveled areas of land along the road leading to the settlement.  Then, an infantry unit of IOF raided two houses belonging to 'Ata Sa'id al-Hilu and Saqer 'Eid Abu Leila.  IOF held residents of the houses in one room in each.  They also forced the family of Khader Abu Leila to stay for two hours outside their house.  Before withdrawing from the area, IOF threatened to demolish the houses if their military posts in the area were fired at.

 

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and chased Palestinian civilians.  They also fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at these civilians. 

 

Sunday, 17 July 2005

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved Nablus and neighboring refugee camps, opening fire indiscriminately.  They patrolled the streets, however, no casualties or arrests were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into 'Attil village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Emad 'Allam Daqqa, 17, and arrested him.

 

·      Also at approximately 02:45, IOF moved into IOF moved into 'Allar village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided Ra'fat Jaibat's house and threatened to kill him if his son Mohammed, 23, who is wanted by IOF, did not surrender.   

 

·      Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ne'ma village, west of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Anwar Jaber 'Aabdi, 30, and arrested him. 

 

·      At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, southwest of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested five Palestinian civilians;

 

1.      Samer Subhi Bader, 22;

2.      Adib Mohammed Jamal, 23;

3.      Najib Ahmed Najib, 25;

4.      Adham Fawaz Hussein, 22; and

5.      Mohammed Rabah Shukri, 23. 

 

·      At approximately 04:00, IOF, accompanied by an undercover unit, moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp and Arats village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and broke windows of a number of cars parking near these houses. 

 

·      Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested four Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Yousef Waddah 'Enaya, 17;

2.      Ghassan Asa'ad Daoud, 33;

3.      Bassem Hassan Daoud, 21; and

4.      Suhail Mahmoud al-Ghazzawi, 19. 

 

 

·      At approximately 12:00, IOF, accompanied by an undercover unit, moved into al-Haras neighborhood in the north of Hebron.  They raided a shop of electrical sets and arrested its owner, 42-year-old 'Omar 'Abdul Qader al-Qawasmi. 

 

·      At approximately 15:30, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired an artillery shell at Palestinian houses in Baten al-Samin area in the southwest of Khan Yunis.  A Palestinian child and a woman were injured when they were near their houses:

 

1.      Khader Sa'di Zo'rob, 14, injured by shrapnel to the left side; and

2.      Jawaher Hamdi Zo'rob, 8, injured by shrapnel to the right thigh. 

 

Monday, 18 July 2005

·      At approximately 0:00, IOF moved into Harmala village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jamal Ibrahim Abu Nassar, 22, and arrested him. 

 

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Shaqba village, north of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Husni 'Awad Hassan, 23, and arrested him. 

 

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ussama Mohammed al-Sawarka, 20, and arrested him. 

 

·      At approximately 04:45, IOF positioned in Saida village, north of Tulkarm, arrested Mohammed Mahmoud Raddad, 26, when he exited the mosque following the Dawn Prayer. 

 

·      At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm.  They opened fire at houses.  Then, an Israeli military bulldozer closed the entrances of the village with sand barriers. 

 

·      At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Palestinian agricultural land to the west of 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.  They surrounded a number of Palestinian farmers and arrested three of them for no apparent reason:

 

1.      Marwan Rashid Radwan, 25;

2.      Nassar Mohammed Dahbour, 22; and

3.      Mo'taz 'Aaref Dahbour, 22. 

 

 

·      At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Ramallah, opening fire indiscriminately.  They broke into al-Baitouni commercial center in the center of the town and raided Afaq Center for Student Services, which belongs to Yousef al-Fuqaha who has been detained by IOF for several months for being a member of the Islamic Jihad.  IOF confiscated three computer sets and a number of mobile phones and arrested six Palestinian civilians.  Three of the detainees were identified as:

 

1.      'Abdullah Fayad, 30, from Nour Shams refugee camp near Tulkarm;

2.      Eyad Hassan, 27, from Qasra village near Nablus; and

3.      Bilal Shalash, 25, from Shaqba village near Ramallah. 

 

 

·      Also at approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Um al-Sharayet neighborhood in al-Bireh.  They raided a house in the area and arrested four Palestinian civilians.  These civilians have not been identified. 

 

·      At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into 'Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF.  Immediately, IOF chased the children and arrested one of them, 10-year-old Laith 'Abbas.  

 

·      At approximately 17:20, IOF positioned at Abu Houli checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint, which was closed, to prevent them from crossing it.  A Palestinian child, 14-year-old Ragheb 'Abdul Rahman Ahmed al-Masri, from Deir al-Balah, was killed by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest.  A PCHR field worker reported that the child was not waiting to cross the checkpoint, but was offering help to many civilians who had waited at the checkpoint for a number of days. 

 

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, east of Qalqilya.  They opened fire at houses.  No casualties were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They took position in the center of the village and provoked passing Palestinian civilians.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF.  Immediately, IOF fired the children wounding two:

 

1.      'Awad 'Omar al-Fasfous, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot; and

2.      Nizar Mousa al-Sayed Ahmed, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot. 

 

Tuesday, 19 July 2005

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin.  They surrounded a 170-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Tamer Bassam Sammar at the northern entrance of the village.  They ordered, using megaphones, all those who were inside the house, including Ibrahim Zaher Mohammed 'Abahra, 29, to get out.  Sammar's family left the house.  Then, IOF opened fire at the house.  'Abahra exchanged fire with IOF.  At approximately 06:00, an Israeli military bulldozer moved towards the house and uprooted a number of olive trees around it.  At approximately 06:45, IOF started to demolish the house.  It demolished more than half of it.  In the meantime, 'Abahra's nephew, 27-year-old Warrad Mohammed Zaher 'Abahra, arrived at the area and exchanged fire with IOF.  He was killed by ten live bullets throughout the body.  At approximately 10:30, IOF withdrew from the village.  Immediately, ambulances and civil defense crews arrived at the area to search for the uncle who was inside the house.  They found him dead.  The two victims were members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement.  During this operation, IOF also arrested two Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Ra'ed Saleh Abu al-Hassan, 30; and

2.      'Azmi Saleh Abu al-Hassan, 32. 

 

 

·      At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Hebron.  They raided a sewing workshop in al-Marzouq area and arrested Mohammed Khalil Helmi Yaghmour, 18.  They also raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Bilal Ahmed al-Zaghir, 23, in Abu Ghannam Street and arrested him. 

 

·      Also at approximately 05:00, IOF moved in Shwaika neighborhood in Tulkarm.  They raided and searched a number of houses.  No arrests were reported. 

 

·      At approximately 11:00, an undercover unit of IOF moved into Bethlehem.  Israeli soldiers moved towards al-Munawara area in the center of the town and surrounded a bookshop.  Soon, more reinforcements of IOF arrived at the area.  They raided the bookshop and arrested Hassan Abu Hulayel, 40. 

 

Wednesday, 20 July 2005

·      At approximately 06:00, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Mohammed Musbah Hassan Ghannam, 22, from Nour Shams died from a wound he had sustained on Wednesday, 13 July 2005. 

According to PCHR's documentation, at approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 13 July 2005, IOF moved into Tulkarm through its western entrance.  They opened fire at a roadblock of the Palestinian National Security Force (NSF).  One member of NSF, 19-year-old Mohammed Fawzi Yousef Shihada, was killed by several live bullets throughout the body, and another member, 22-year-old Mohammed Musbah Hassan Ghannam, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.  The latter was later pronounced clinically dead at the hospital.  He remained at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus until his death.

 

Israeli Offensive on Tulkarm

On Wednesday morning, 13 July 2005, IOF invaded Tulkarm town and the neighboring Tulkarm and Nour Shams refugee camps and imposed a curfew.  This invasion continued until Sunday evening, 17 July 2005.  During this offensive, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian National Security Force and wounded another (see the previous report).  The latter was pronounced dead on Wednesday, 20 July 2005.  IOF also perpetrated a series of human rights violations.

o     Shooting at Palestinian Civilians: IOF fired at Palestinian civilians who broke the curfew or gathered and threw stones at IOF.  As a result, 22 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live and rubber-coated metal bullets (PCHR has a list of their names). 

 

o     Arrests: IOF raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 13 Palestinian civilians:

 

1.      Riad 'Abdullah 'Abdul Ghani, 26;

2.      Jasser Rasmi 'Ouda, 25;

3.      Wadee' Ibrahim Shadid, 28;

4.      Mohammed Ahmed Hamad, 25;

5.      'Omar Mohammed Bashir, 22;

6.      Nabils Khader Abu Khalil, 17;

7.      Maher Burhan Haidar, 21;

8.      Nasser Hussein Shaf'ei, 37;

9.      Salah 'Ezziddin Edhailiya, 18;

10.  Firas 'Abdullah Khalifa, 30;

11.  Anas Ahmed 'Ajaj, 18;

12.  Amjad Ibrahim al-Hamshari, 20; and

13.  Mohammed 'Ali al-Hamshari, 26.   

 

IOF also held and interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians for several hours. 

 

o     Seizure of Houses: IOF seized 15 houses and apartment and commercial buildings and transformed them into military sites. 

                                                                                                                                                           

1.     Extra-Judicial Execution

This week, IOF resumed the policy of extra-judicial execution after a halt of a few months.  This policy is officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments.  This escalation followed a bombing in the Israeli town of Netanya last week.  IOF committed three extra-judicial executions and failed in a fourth one.  These attacks left eight Palestinians dead.  The victims were all members of Hamas.  Two of these killings were committed in less than an hour. 

·      At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 15 July 2005, two Israeli helicopter gunships fired six missiles at three Palestinians who were on agricultural land in Wadi al-Sha'er area in the southeast of Salfit, southwest of Nablus.  Palestinian ambulances immediately arrived at the area and they found the body of one of the three Palestinians.  Another Palestinian was found seriously injured.  The ambulances evacuated the body and the injured one to the Emergency Hospital in Salfit.  The dead person was identified as Mohammed Ahmed Salama Mar'ei, 20, from Qarawat Bani Hassan village.  As the injured person, Mohammed Yousef 'Abdul Fattah 'Ayash, 30, from Rafat village southwest of Nablus, was in a serious condition, medical crews decided to transfer him to Ramallah Hospital.  Soon, IOF moved into the village and intercepted the ambulance that transported him and arrested him.  IOF broke into the Emergency Hospital searching for a third Palestinian who accompanied the aforementioned persons.  At approximately 20:20, Palestinian medical crews found his body.  He was identified as Samer 'Abdul Hadi Mohammed Dawahqa, 26, from Salfit.  On Saturday evening, 16 July 2005, IOF declared that 'Ayash died from his injury at an Israeli hospital.  IOF claimed that the three victims were activists of 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. 

 

·      At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 15 July 2005, IAF fired a missile at a civilian vehicle, a Volks Wagen microbus, near the crossroads of the Palestinian Ministry of Finance in a densely populated area in Gaza City.  Four Palestinians who were traveling in the vehicle were killed;

 

1.      'Assem Marwan Abu Ras, 24, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City;

2.      'Aadel Nahed Haniya, 28, from al-Shati refugee camp;

3.      Amjad Anwar 'Arafat, 26, from Gaza City; and

4.      Saber Abu 'Aassi, 25, from al-Zaitoun neighborhood in Gaza City. 

 

In addition, five civilian bystanders were injured, one of whom was in a serious condition.  A number of buildings in the area were damaged.  IOF admitted responsibility for the attack. 

 

·      At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 17 July 2005, an Israeli sniper positioned in a military post near "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, fired one live bullet at Sa'id 'Eissa Jaber Siam, 32, from al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, when he was at the door of his house, nearly 150 meters away.  The live bullet hit Siam to the neck and killed him.  Shrapnel from the bullet also injured Siam's father, 60, to the right thigh.  Siam was an activist of Hamas, who was wanted by IOF. 

 

·      At approximately 17:15 on Sunday, 17 July 2005, IAF fired a missile at two cars that were parked near al-Misbah Kindergarten in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.  A number of members of 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, were standing near the two cars.  The missile hit the front of one of the cars and injured one of those who was standing near it, while the others escaped.  The car was severely damaged.  Three minutes later, IAF fired another missile, which fell near the other car.  Two civilian bystanders were injured by shrapnel.    

 

 

2.     Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.   

 

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, especially at border crossings. 

·        Internal Movement: On Thursday morning, 14 July 2005, IOF closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).  They reopened them in the evening.  However, at night, they closed the two checkpoints again and closed the costal road between Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip; thus dividing the Gaza Strip into three separate zones.  This closure continued until Tuesday morning, 19 July 2005.  Palestinian civilians were prevented from moving from one zone to another.  Thousands of Palestinian civilians were not able to travel back home.  On Saturday evening, 16 July 2005, a number of Palestinian civilians who were not able to endure the suffering of waiting at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints tried to cross the two checkpoints.  Immediately, IOF fired at them.  Six civilians were wounded.     &n