PCHR
 Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org

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

No. 20/2005

19 - 25 May 2005

 

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Launch More Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

 

Palestinian civilians sitting on the ruins of  their  property destroyed by Israeli occupation forces.

 

 

  
Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (19-25 May 2005): 

Incursions: Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) conducted at least 16 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank territory.  During these incursions, IOF injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested 14 others.  IOF also raided two registration centers of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC).  On Saturday, 20 May 2005, IOF moved into al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip.  They raided and searched a house.  They used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield while searching the house.  On Wednesday, 25 May 2005, a Palestinian child was injured when IOF opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis. 

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Occupied East Jerusalem.  In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close some roads and border crossings of the Gaza Strip and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Friday, 20 May 2005, IOF closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).  They also closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for three days.  In the West Bank, IOF positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including three children.  On Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF fired at a Palestinian civilian vehicle near Beit Fourik checkpoint, east of Nablus.  The driver was wounded by seven live bullets to the thigh.  On Monday, 21 May 2005, IOF fired at a Palestinian worker near Tulkarm, wounding him with four live bullets. 

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the "Annexation Wall" inside the West Bank territory and seize more land for this purpose.  On Tuesday, 24 May 2005, IOF demolished a house and three civilian facilities in Ethna village, west of Hebron.  IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall.  A number of demonstrators were injured or 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.  On Friday, 19 May 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from "Efrat" settlement, south of Bethlehem, razed an area of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Khader village.  This week, Israeli settlers from "Qidoumim" settlement, east of Qalqilya, razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Kufor Qaddoum village.  On Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF demolished a number of small houses in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. 

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Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19–25 May 2005)

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

Thursday, 19 May 2005

·        At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus through its southern and western entrances.  They opened fire at houses and patrolled in the streets.  A few hours later, IOF withdrew from the city and no arrests were reported. 

·        At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ayoub Abu 'Arram, 35, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, and arrested him. 

·        At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into 'Ein Bani Salim in the northeast of Hebron.  They raided 35 houses and made a census of their residents.  They searched houses, gathered families, photographed them and wrote information about them. 

·        At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Abdul Salam al-Samamra and arrested his son, 22-year-old Ibrahim. 

 

Friday, 20 May 2005

·        At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at houses.  They raided and searched a number of houses looking for allegedly wanted Palestinians.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF surrounded Nidal 'Aqel 'Eissa's house to arrest his son Samer.  Samer escaped to the roof of the house and jumped onto the roof of a neighboring house.  IOF, accompanied by dogs, chased him and fired at him.  He was wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen and arrested him.  IOF also fired at 'Ezziddin Mohammed Hamdan, 27, while they were attempting to arrest him.  He was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder.  In addition, IOF arrested four Palestinian civilians:

1.      Yahia Mahmoud 'Araisha, 22;

2.      Mahmoud Mohammed Eshtaiwi, 20;

3.      Hani al-Bakri, 23; and

4.      Samer Sabra, 25. 

·        At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm.  They surrounded several houses in the western part of the village.  They threw stones at these houses and knocked down their doors.  They broke into these houses and forced their residents out.  IOF searched the houses and checked the identity cards of their residents.  They arrested three Palestinian civilians:

1.      Marwan Yousef Nemer 'Ajaj, 25;

2.      Eyad Jamal Raddad, 34; and

3.      Kamal 'Abdul Ghani Raddad, 18. 

·        At approximately 23:00, IOF moved nearly 70 metres into al-Mughraqa village near "Nitzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City.  They surrounded 'Ata Sa'id al-Hilu's house and ordered its 19 residents through megaphones to get out.  They gathered residents of the house in the yard and searched the house.  They used the owner as a human shield while searching the house.  IOF left the house at approximately 02:00 on the following day and no arrests were reported. 

 

Saturday, 21 May 2005

·        At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp.  They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at houses.  No casualties or arrests were reported. 

·        At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Karma village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided a house belonging to Ahmed 'Abdul Rahman al-'Awawda.  They held the six residents of the house in one room and then transformed the house into a military site. 

·        At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-'Arouj village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Ali 'Abed al-'Arouj, 20, and arrested him.

 

Sunday, 15 May 2005

·        At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into 'Aaroura village, north of Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinians:

1.      'Aayed 'Abdullah 'Aref, 21; and

2.      Tha'er 'Awad Musleh, 23. 

·        At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Harmala village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They raided a registration centre of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC).  They held the staff and one client for three hours and then withdrew from the area. 

·        At approximately 12:00, a unit of the Israeli "Border Guard" moved into Nabi Samuel village, north of East Jerusalem.  Israeli troops raided a registration centre of the CEC.  They checked the identity cards of the staff and then left the centre.  The CEC extended registration of Palestinian electors until Friday, 27 May 2005, to allow as many Palestinian citizens as possible to register for elections. 

·        At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Janata village, southeast of Bethlehem.  They patrolled in the streets and erected a number of checkpoints.  They stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians.  No arrests were reported.

·        At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into the east of Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a number of houses and two agricultural nurseries.  No arrests were reported. 

 

Monday, 16 May 2005

·        At approximately 07:30, IOF, accompanied by officials of the Israeli Ministry of Interior, moved into Beit 'Ouna village near Bethlehem and imposed a curfew.   Officials of the Israeli Ministry of Interior made a census of residents of the village, apparently to order those who do not have Israeli identity cards to leave the area. 

·        At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Shurafa area in the east of Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided 'Aaref Sayed Ahmed's house at the entrance to the area and transformed it into a military site.  Then, they raided a number of houses and stopped and checked passing Palestinian civilians.  Schoolchildren were stopped from leaving schools.  When these schoolchildren protested, IOF opened fire in the air.  The children then threw stones at the IOF who immediately returned fired at the stone throwers, wounding 15-year-old 'Uqail Ahmed al-'Awawda seriously with a live bullet in the abdomen.  Later, IOF brought reinforcements to the village and moved into other parts of it. 

 

Tuesday, 24 May 2005

·        At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khairallah 'Abdul Hamid Farajallah, 19, and arrested him.  IOF damaged the house during this raid. 

 

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

·        At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Hebron, fired at a number of Palestinian children in al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the town, who threw stones at an Israeli military patrol.  One of the children, 12-year-old Nour 'Abdul Karim al-Jad, was wounded by a live bullet in the buttocks.

 

2.   Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose a 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. 

·        Internal movement: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).  This is despite increased operating hours at the two checkpoints. They often closed the two checkpoints and hold and check Palestinian civilians in between. 

IOF have also continued to close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada, such as the western Rafah – Khan Yunis road in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu al-'Ajeen road between the villages of al-Qarara and Wadi al-Salqa in the central Gaza Strip and Salah al-Din Street at "Netzarim" and "Kfar Darom" junctions in the central Gaza Strip. Furthermore, IOF have continued to prohibit Palestinian civilians from using "Kissufim", "Morag" and al-Mentar roads in the southern and central Gaza Strip, which have been devoted for the movement of IOF and settlers.  IOF have continued to close Gaza International Airport for the fourth consecutive year. 

·        Enclaves: IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli military posts and settlements:

o       Al-Mawasi: approximately 5,800 Palestinians live in al-Mawasi situated within the Israeli Gush Katif settlement bloc in the southern Gaza Strip.  Restrictions imposed on the movement of residents include: (1) Male Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prohibited from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area; (2) IOF allow the entry of foodstuffs into the area on Saturdays and Sundays, and allow the entry of other goods on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  On other days, they allow the transportation of agricultural products out of the area.  IOF and settlers in the area have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property; (3) Education continues to be drastically affected: 1430 schoolchildren study at one school in the area, which lacks electricity and water.  The school also lacks teachers of a number of subjects, such as mathematics, physics and chemistry.  Only one teacher from outside the area is allowed to teach at this school and he is sometimes prevented from entering the area.  As a result of such conditions, the school was forced to cancel science classes and students who wish to study science have to go to Khan Yunis; and (4)  IOF troops frequently close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area. 

o       Al-Sayafa: approximately 180 Palestinians civilians live in al-Sayafa, an area located between "Dogit" and "Elli Sinai" settlements in the northern Gaza Strip.  Restrictions imposed on the movement of residents include: (1) Palestinian civilians under the age of 30 are prohibited from moving out and into the area without prior coordination; (2) A limited number of farmers are allowed to enter the area but only following prior coordination.  Farmers face extreme difficulties in marketing their products or bringing agricultural equipment into the area. ; (3) University students have been forced to live outside the area due to the prohibition imposed on the movement of those who are under 30; (4) the area lacks paved roads, which makes transportation extremely difficult, so residents of the area have to move on foot; (5) IOF open the iron gate at the entrance of the area between 07:00 to 09:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 only; (6) The area lacks basic services, such as electricity, as IOF have prevented establishing an electricity network in the area; and (7) Medical patients have to walk or use animal cart as ambulances are not allowed to enter the area without lengthy prior coordination. 

o       Al-Ma’ni: IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Ma'ni area near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip where approximately 180 Palestinians reside.  The area has lacked water and telephone networks for three years after IOF destroyed this infrastructure.  According to residents of the area, they obtain water from a well in the area or bring it from Deir al-Balah.  IOF do not allow any Palestinian living outside the area from entering the area.

On Thursday, 19 May 2005, IOF started to check residents of the area using a special register.  According to a resident of the area, his name was not included in the register, so he was forced to leave the area.  IOF do not allow any Palestinian living outside the area from entering the area.  On Friday, 20 May 2005, IOF closed the area and prohibited movement of Palestinian civilians.  This closure continued until Saturday morning.

·        External movement:

o       Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing: On Thursday, 19 May 2005, IOF closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, prohibiting access of dozens of Palestinian workers to their work places in Israel and several patients to hospitals.  The crossing was reopened on Sunday morning, 22 May 2005.  Prior to this closure, IOF had allowed only approximately 5,800 Palestinian workers out of 25,000 workers who used to hold work permits before the current Intifada, to continue to enter Israel.  These remaining workers are subject to prolonged checking and humiliation by the IOF when the crossing is open.  Some of workers are subjected to interrogation by Israeli Security Services while many other workers are arbitrarily prevented from entering Israel under the guise of ‘security’ concerns.  Compounding these strict security procedures, which often result in workers being denied entry, is the rule that if workers do not go to their workplaces in Israel for more than one then there work permit is cancelled.  With regard to patients, IOF allow less than ten patients daily to enter Israel to receive medical treatment.  Palestinian patients aged 25-40 are prohibited outright from entering Israel; 46 women have been prevented by IOF from entering Israel this month alone.  Patients have to walk a very long distance between the checking points which cause stresses on their already ill health.  Further, Palestinian ambulances are prevented from entering Israel, so patients travel to Israeli hospitals in private cars.  Many patients have been prevented from entering Israel for security claims.  For instance, a 6-year-old child has been prevented from entering Israel to receive medical treatment for security reasons.

o       Al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on commercial transactions at al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City.  This is despite the IOF declaration that they have eased such restrictions.  During the reporting period they allowed only 30-35 trucks to enter Israel and 270 to enter the Gaza Strip from Israel. These restrictions have caused goods to perish and large losses to Palestinian traders. 

o       Sofa crossing: IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinian workers from entering Israel through Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah.  This crossing has been closed for people for more than one year and only raw construction materials are allowed to be enter. 

o       Rafah International Crossing Point: Even though this crossing point on the Egyptian border is open, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel.  The crossing point is opened from 09:00 to 17:00 everyday.   The official policy of the IOF restricting the movement of all Palestinians between the ages of 16-35 has officially been lifted but in reality the IOF continue to arbitrarily refuse movement for many Palestinians within this group.  The IOF have also continued to use a special checking machine despite Palestinian and international concerns surrounding the heath side effects.  IOF have not allowed patients who have metal objects in their bodies from traveling through the crossing. 

 

The West Bank

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank Territory.  They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

·      Hebron:  IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in this area: 

o       On Thursday morning, 19 May 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians. 

o       On Thursday morning, 19 May 2005, the IOF position at Ibrahimi Mosque arrested IOF positioned Ibrahim Khalil al-Zeer, 20, a college student from al-Ta'amra village near Bethlehem.

o       On Friday morning, 20 May 2005, IOF closed the western and northern entrances of 'Ein Bani Salim neighborhood near "Kharsina" settlement, southeast of Hebron.  They also erected two more checkpoints in the area and stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians.  IOF also raided a number of houses to gather information about their residents.  At noon, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were not able to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque for the Friday Prayer, due to the severe restrictions imposed by IOF on the roads leading to it.  At approximately 03:00 on Saturday, 21 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the western entrance of Tarqoumia village, west of Hebron.  They stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians. 

o       At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 23 May 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Tabaqa village, southwest of Hebron, arrested Fawzi Mohammed Abu 'Atwan, 27.

o       At noon on Tuesday noon, 24 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in Qalqas area in the east of Hebron.  They arrested Mohammed Zayed Zaidat, 18, from Bani Na'im village. 

o       On Tuesday noon, 24 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint near Dura village, southwest of Hebron.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested Ameen 'Eissa Hamad Abu 'Atwan, 21. 

·        Bethlehem:  On Thursday morning, 19 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the western entrance of al-'Asakra village, south of Bethlehem.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

·        Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in this area.  They erected a number of sudden checkpoints around the city:

o       On Saturday morning, 21 May 2005, IOF held hundreds of Palestinian civilians on al-Bathan road, north of Nablus.  According to eyewitnesses, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road and held Palestinian civilian vehicles for several hours.  In the meantime, IOF erected a checkpoint at the crossroads of "Shavi Shomron" settlement, northwest of Nablus. 

o       At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 21 May 2005, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Ibrahim Mohammed Isma'il Humaid, 17, from Talfit village southeast of Nablus. 

o       At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at Jeet crossroads, southwest of Nablus, arrested Shadi 'Abdul Latif Joma'a, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force from Kufor Qaddoum village east of Qalqilya.

o       At approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, closed the checkpoint.  They surrounded 14-year-old Mohammed Mustafa al-Nadi, from 'Askar refugee camp, and forced him to take off his clothes.  Then, they checked and arrested him.  They claimed that he was carrying two home-made bombs, which he intended to explode at the checkpoint. 

o       At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF positioned at Beit Fourik checkpoint, east of Nablus, opened fire without warning at a Palestinian civilian vehicle.  The driver, 21-year-old 'Orabi 'Abdul Fattah Joudallah, was wounded by seven live bullets in the thigh.  IOF arrested him. He was released on Monday morning and then was evacuated to the hospital.

o       On Tuesday morning, 24 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Bathan village, northeast of Nablus.  They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

o       On Tuesday morning, 24 May 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint near Deir Sharaf village, west of Nablus, arrested Subhi Mahmoud Subhi, 24, from Tulkarm.  They released him later. 

·        Tulkarm:

o       At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 20 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far'oun crossroads, south of Tulkarm.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

o       On Saturday, 21 May 2005, IOF positioned at al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. 

o       At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 23 May 2005, IOF chased a number of Palestinian workers in Kherbat Jebara area, south of Tulkarm, when they were on their way back homes from their workplaces in Israel.  IOF fired at these workers, wounding 29-year-old Majdi Subhi 'Edwan with three live bullets in the rights side and a fourth bullet in the left thigh. 

o       At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 23 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Tulkarm.  They stopped and checked some Palestinian civilians. 

o       On Tuesday, 24 May 2005, IOF closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint from 06:00 to 09:30. 

o       Also on Tuesday, IOF erected a checkpoint at the crossroads of "Ennab" settlement, east of Tulkarm.  They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. 

 

3.  Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory:  

·        At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 20 May 2005, hundreds of Palestinian civilians and dozens of international solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah.  IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.  Hussein Mohammed Hassan, 40, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand.  A number of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.  In addition, IOF arrested 26 international solidarity activists. 

·        On Monday, 23 May 2005, IOF positioned at the entrance to 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya, prevented a medical crew of Palestine Red Crescent Society from entering the village to participate in a medical service day.  According to the local council of the village, IOF closed the iron gate at the entrance of the village and prohibited movement of Palestinian civilians from and to the village.  It is worth noting that the construction of the Wall in the area has isolated the village from the rest of Qalqilya district.  The village mainly depends on agriculture as a source of income.  Agricultural land is located outside the village, and Palestinian farmers must cross the iron gate established at the entrance of the village, using permits issued by IOF, to reach their land. 

·        On Tuesday, 24 May 2005, IOF moved into the west of Ethna village near the Wall, west of Hebron.  Two Israeli military bulldozers demolished a house and two animal farms, nearly 400 metres away from the wall:

o       They demolished a 60-square-meter house, in which 25 individuals lived, and a 700-square-meter animal farm owned by 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Fattah Tumaizi.

o       They demolished a 1100-square-meter animal farm owned by Mahmoud Shehada al-Jeetawi. 

 

4. Illegal Settlement Activities: Expansion of Settlements and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israel continued to expand settlements in the West Bank and Israeli settlers (living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law) have continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:

·        At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 19 May 2005, two Israeli settlers from "Ramat Yishai" settlement post in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the centre of Hebron severely beat an old Palestinian woman, 73-year-old 'Aaisha Mohammed Abu 'Eisha, when she threw a garbage sack into a garbage container near her house.  The settlers claimed that the container is devoted for them only.

·        On Thursday morning, 19 May 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from "Efrat" settlement, south of Bethlehem, started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the neighboring al-Khader village to establish a settler road and expand the main road in the area.

·        At approximately 16:00 on Friday afternoon, 20 May 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arab" settlement, southeast of Hebron, severely beat three Palestinian girls when they were on their way back home in Wad al-Nasara neighborhood.  The settlers claimed that the three girls, who are sisters, walked on the Prayers Road that it is devoted for settlers, even though it is the only road that crosses the aforementioned neighborhood.  Two of the girls sustained bruises in the upper part of the body: Rajaa' Jamil Abu Su'aifan, 22; and Ghada Jamil Abu Su'aifan, 23.  The third sister, 21-year-old Su'ad, suffered injuries to the head.

·        At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2005, Israeli settlers living in "Beit Hadasa" settlement post in al-Dabouya neighborhood in the center of Hebron gathered at the entrance of the post and threw stones at a neighboring Palestinian female elementary school.  They chased schoolchildren and threw eggs and tomatoes at them in front of the IOF.  A schoolchild, 14-year-old Samah Fadel al-Sharbati, was injured as she fell onto the ground.  She was using canes to be able to walk as she sustained fractures in a previous attack by settlers. 

·        On Saturday evening, 21 May 2005, dozens of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian houses in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron, when a number of Israeli peace activists were visiting the neighborhood to express solidarity with its residents.  According to the Abu Haikal family, Israeli soldiers who intervened later arrested Hani Abu Haikal, 36, when he attempted to stop attacks against his family's house.  The settlers threw stones and empty bottles at four other houses, breaking windows.

·        At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 23 May 2005, three armed Israeli settlers from Ma'oun settlement, south of Hebron, attacked a Palestinian shepherd, Shehada Salama Makhamra, in al-Tawani village.  They severely beat him and stole seven sheep.  Makhamra sustained injuries and bruises throughout the body.  The Israeli police also arrested him instead of arresting the three settlers.    

·        This week, Israeli settlers from "Qidoumim" settlement, east of Qalqilya, razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the neighboring Kufor Qaddoum village.  According to the local council of the village, the settlers razed seven donums of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to 'Abdul Latif Mohammed Abu Daya.  

 

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Recommendations to the International Community

1.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4.      PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of searching for Israeli those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

5.      PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

6.      PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law. 

7.      PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.

8.      PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the proposed Gaza disengagement plan for what it is - not an end to occupation but compounding the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

9.      In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

10.  PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

11.  In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli citizens. 

12.  PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

 

Public Document

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