PCHR Weekly Report

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 09/2006 02 - 08 March 2006

Palestinian civilians waiting to be allowed to cross an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (2–8 March 2006):

Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 6 Palestinians, including 5 in the Gaza Strip. On Friday morning, 3 March 2006, IOF wilfully killed a Palestinian child in 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of Nablus. On Monday evening, 6 March 2006, IOF carried out another extra-judicial execution in Gaza City, leaving 5 Palestinians (2 members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, and 3 children) dead. In addition, 12 civilian bystanders, including 6 children, were injured.

During the reported period, IOF shelled Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip. They also fired at Palestinian civilians during incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During the reported period, 18 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, were wounded by the IOF gunfire.

Incursions: IOF conducted 29 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. The largest of these incursions was carried out in Nablus and the neighbouring Balata refugee camp. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 38 Palestinian civilians. IOF also transformed one house into a military site. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a comprehensive siege on the OPT, in violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, transforming it into a large prison. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world, has been partially reopened. The crossing point is operated for 8 hours a day only. IOF have continued to close al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City, since 21 February 2006. Many goods are now no longer available in the local markets in the Gaza Strip. IOF have allowed hundreds of Palestinian workers to travel to their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing but only under strict conditions. Other Palestinian civilians, including elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, have not been allowed to travel through the crossing. IOF have also continued to close Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, since 14 February 2006.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, imposing additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians within the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to a report recently published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the OPT, there has been an increase of 25% in the number of checkpoints, with the total number of checkpoints at a current figure of 471 in comparison to 376 in 2005. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF initiated preparations for the construction of a new section of the Wall to the south of Hebron. This section of the Wall will be 32 kilometres long. IOF also razed areas of Palestinian land in Kufor al-Labad and Beit Leed villages, east of Tulkarm, to establish a fence around "Ennab" settlement. Moreover, IOF demolished a house in Kherbat Um al-Fahem village, northwest of Jersualem, which was located near the Wall. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal'ein, Beit Siera and 'Aaboud villages near Ramallah. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. They also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in communities located near the Wall. According to the report published recently by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the OPT, IOF completed the construction of 299 kilometres of the Wall (45%), including 53 kilometres since October 2005. IOF are currently constructing 124 kilometres of the Wall (19%).

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. During the reported period, Israeli settlers demonstrated in the centre of Hebron, throwing stones and empty bottles at Palestinian civilian property and attempting to attack a number of journalists. Four Israeli settlers also attacked a Palestinian child in the centre of Hebron. The child sustained bruises throughout the body.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (2–8 March 2006)

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

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yousef Ahmed Salah and arrested his two sons: Rakez, 22, and Mohammed, 18.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Ma'ajin neighbourhood in Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Essam Rashed al-Aqshqar, 50, a university professor, and arrested him.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled the streets and erected a number of checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:00, an IOF fighter jet launched a missile at Zimmu Street, south of Beit Hanoun town, in the northern Gaza Strip. The missile created a large crater in the road, making it impassable. The blast terrified local Palestinian civilians.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF fighter jets launched two missiles at uninhabited areas to the east of Beit Hanoun, making craters in a number of side roads. Approximately 15 minutes later, an IOF fighter jet launched a missile at al-Banat Street in the southeast of the town, the impact of which caused a crater and cut electricity in the area.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They besieged a house belonging to the al-Raqib family in the west of the town. They ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out. When the residents got out, IOF opened fire indiscriminately. Fawaz Zaki al-Qarib, 42, was injured by shrapnel to the chest. IOF opened fire at the house, damaging its furniture. During this incursion, IOF also arrested 'Abdul Ghani Subhi al-Haroun, 27.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the Artah suburb, west of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mos'ab Mustafa Abu al-Teen, 18.

· In the early morning, IOF killed 'Aamer Hassan Hassan Basiouni, 16, from 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp west of Nablus. They also wounded 'Alaa' al-Din 'Abdul Karim Mohammed Saif, 18, with a live bullet to the foot.

In his testimony to PCHR, the victim's brother, 18-year-old Tamer Basiouni, said:

"At approximately 02:10, IOF moved into 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites, including a house belonging to my brother-in-law Jihad Sa'id Qattawi, approximately 70 meters to the east of our house. My sister informed us by phone that IOF had taken her husband to the third floor of his family's house. My brother, 'Aamer, went up to the fifth floor of our house to check what was happening. Soon, we heard the sound of one live bullet, which was followed by the firing of a tear gas canister at our neighbour's balcony. I heard my neighbours screaming, “'Aamer..'Aamer.” Immediately, my brother, Khaled, and I went up to the fifth floor. There, we found 'Aamer lying on his back. He was dead and had been hit by a gunshot that entered the right cheek and exited the neck."

· At approximately 02:10, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ussama Ibrahim Dwaikat, 25, and arrested him.

· At approximately 16:15, an IOF fighter jet launched a missile at an uninhabited area in the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. The missile created a large crater in the area. About 10 minutes later, an IOF fighter jet launched another missile at the same area. It made a large crater into the road leading to the al-Sayafa area. No casualties were reported but Palestinian civilians were terrified.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. No casualties or arrests were reported.

· In the evening, IOF moved into Southern 'Assira village, south of Nablus. They arrested Munther Yousef Ahmed, 26. They took him to the neighbouring Madama village and violently beat him. They then released him.

· In the early morning, IOF moved into Hebron. They erected a number of checkpoints in various areas in the town. They stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into al-Fara'a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the children, wounding two of them:

1. Mohammed Sameer 'Ammash, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand; and

2. Samer al-Shaf'ei, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to 'Adli 'Abdul Raziq Ghanem, 26, and arrested him.

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sa'ed Yassin al-Masri, 32, and arrested him and his brother, Fathallah, 30. During this house raid, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. IOF fired at the children, wounding a passing civilian, 30-year-old Mufeed Sa'id Mansour, with shrapnel to the neck.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bedia village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abu al-'Asal, 30, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Akram Ameen Swaidan, 35, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Rasheed 'Ouda, 38, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdul Hamid 'Ata 'Abdul Ghani, 18, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hassan Ya'qoub Da'dou' in order to arrest his son, 26-year-old 'Alaa', but he was not present.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF, supported by a helicopter, moved into Krisa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses. They transformed a house belonging to Mohammed Jebril Abu Saleh in to a military site, after holding the 13 residents of the house in one room.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF arrested Ahmed 'Atwan, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) from the Change and Reform list of Hamas, while he was on his way to the Seven Bows Hotel in Jerusalem to attend a meeting between a number of PLC members and some Palestinian National Authority officials.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Wad al-Tuffah Street in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hazem Ghaleb Nairoukh, 32.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled the streets and erected a number of checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians but no arrests were reported.

On Monday evening, 6 March 2006, IOF carried out another extra-judicial execution in Gaza City, leaving 5 Palestinians (2 members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, and 3 children) dead. In addition, 12 civilian bystanders, including 6 children, were injured.

This latest attack came following decisions taken by the Israeli political and military establishments to target Palestinian resistance activists, in response to the launching of locally made rockets from the OPT at Israel.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:55 on Monday, 6 March 2006, an IOF aircraft launched a missile at a civilian car (white Peugeot) that was travelling on a side road in the al-Tuffah neighbourhood in the northeast of Gaza City. The car was destroyed. Two members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, who had been travelling in the car, and 3 children that had been passing nearby, were instantly killed:

1. Muneer Mohammed Mohammed Sukkar, 29, from the al-Shojaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City;

In addition, 12 civilian bystanders, including 6 children and the father of 2 of the victims, were injured by shrapnel:

Shortly after the attack, an IOF spokesman announced that IOF had targeted the car, in which members of the Islamic Jihad had been travelling.

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 Occupied East Jerusalem.

Although IOF have been redeployed around the Gaza Strip, they have maintained the occupation of the Gaza Strip through controlling all outlets and crossings.

· Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. Working hours at the crossing have been limited to 8 hours a day. It is noted that, contrary to media reports, the commercial crossing in Rafah has not been opened. The commercial crossing still requires some technical preparations parallel to those being conducted at the Kerem Shalom crossing to the southeast of Rafah, which is designated for imports under joint Israeli-Palestinian control. For more information on the border crossings agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, please refer to previous PCHR's reports.

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: This is the only crossing point for Gaza Strip workers, medical cases, traders and ordinary citizens into Israel and to the West Bank. On Tuesday, 7 March 2006, 4,062 out of 5,662 Palestinian workers, who have work permits, were allowed to reach their work places inside Israel through the crossing. Only one route has been operated for the passage of workers, which causes severe congestion and delays. Palestinian workers are also checked in a special room that is equipped with an unknown type of x-ray machine. There are concerns that this could be similar to the scanning machines that were previously used at Rafah International Crossing Point, while it was under IOF's direct control. Palestinian workers leave their homes at 22:00 in order to reach their work places on the following day. They are subject to prolonged checking at the crossing and they have to walk for at least 1500 meters before they pass through the crossing. At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 7 March 2006, IOF closed the crossing, claiming that they had arrested a young man who had been carrying an explosive belt. The belt was in fact an ordinary belt, used by the young man to hold money. This closure continued until 16:00. The crossing witnessed a lot of congestion during this time and IOF opened fire into the air. No casualties were reported but workers reached homes after 23:00, as a result of the delay.

· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: Since the evacuation of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, IOF have repeatedly closed the crossing under security pretexts. IOF have kept the crossing closed since Tuesday, 21 February 2006. Al Mentar crossing is the only one that serves commercial transactions to and from the Gaza Strip and its closure constitutes a form of collective punishment. There is currently an economic crisis in the Gaza Strip, as many goods, especially milk and some types of medicine, are no longer available in the markets. Before this closure, IOF prevented the exportation of many goods from the Gaza Strip and the importation of certain types of pipes, under the pretext that they are used in the manufacture of locally made rockets.

· Sofa crossing: IOF also control Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, which is designated for the transportation of construction raw materials. IOF have continued to close the crossing since 14 February 2006, without giving any valid reason for the closure.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military, which uses helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. On a number of occasions the Israeli military has opened fire against the civilian fishermen in order to enforce the 9 nautical mile limit imposed on them. The Oslo Accords make provision for Gaza’s sea to be fished to 20 nautical miles.

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 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 imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 3 March 2006, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were unable to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town, due to the restrictions on movement imposed by IOF. At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the Wadi al-Ghrous–Khellat Ja'bar intersection in the southeast of Hebron. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 6 March 2006, IOF prevented hundreds of students and employees from al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, from reaching their schools and work places. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at the entrance of al-'Arroub refugee camp prevented hundreds of students from reaching their schools in the neighbouring Beit Ummar village, claiming that stones and empty bottles had been thrown at IOF vehicles.

On Monday morning, 6 March 2006, IOF opened fire at a Palestinian civilian vehicle near al-Ramadin village, southwest of Hebron. The driver, Tala'at 'Ali Samamra, 35, from al-Zahiriya village, was seriously wounded by 3 live bullets to the thigh and the abdomen. According to PCHR's investigations, two IOF jeeps chased a Palestinian civilian vehicle that had been travelling on a side road to the south of al-Ramadin village. IOF opened fire at the vehicle without any warning, seemingly to prevent Palestinian workers from travelling to their work places inside Israel.

· Bethlehem: At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians.

On Sunday morning, 5 March 2006, IOF positioned at the Container checkpoint near Bethlehem arrested Ahmed Shawqi Shu'aibat, 20, from Beit Sahour.

· Nablus: On Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Sairafi Park, northeast of Nablus. According to eyewitnesses, IOF prevented civilian vehicles coming from Jenin and Tubas from entering the city. On Saturday morning, 4 March 2006, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checks of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a checkpoint near al-Sairafi Park, northeast of Nablus. They prevented Palestinian civilians coming from Jenin, Tulkarm and Qalqilya from entering the city. At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented Palestinian civilians from leaving the city. IOF also closed Hawara checkpoint, south of the city.

At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, IOF positioned at a checkpoint on the al-Bathan–Nablus road arrested 'Alaa' Kamal Wahdan, 20, from Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin.

At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 6 March 2006, IOF positioned at Hawara village, south of Nablus, arrested 'Ezzat 'Abed Rayan, 38, from Qarawat Bani Hassan village.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF erected 3 checkpoints on al-Sha'rawiya road, north of Tulkarm. They obstructed the passage of Palestinian civilians towards their work places and educational institutions. They also chased civilians who had resorted to using alternative dirt roads. They held dozens of these civilians for several hours. In the meantime, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They chased and beat Palestinian civilians who arrived at the checkpoint and forced them to travel back. On Friday, 3 March 2006, IOF closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 4 March 2006, IOF closed Jebara checkpoint. They started to allow students to go to their schools at 08:30, but continued to prevent other civilians from passing through the checkpoint. IOF continued to close 'Ennab checkpoint. On Sunday, 5 March 2006, IOF closed the dirt road linking between 'Attil and Deir al-Ghosoun villages, north of Tulkarm. On Monday, 6 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal'a intersection, east of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also held civilians who had resorted to using alternative dirt roads. At noon, IOF allowed Palestinian civilians to cross the checkpoint but following prolonged searches on vehicles.

On Saturday, 4 March 2006, hundreds of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration near Jebara checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. IOF attacked the demonstrators and violently beat them. Six civilians, including 5 journalists, sustained bruises:

· Jenin: On Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Jenin–Nablus road. They also erected another checkpoint between 'Arraba and Kufor Ra'ei villages, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and obstructed the passage of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a checkpoint in the al-Fara'a area, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday, 3 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Bardala village, east of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 3 March 2006, IOF patrolled the northeastern entrance of Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They arrested two Palestinian civilians: Jihad Muneer Abu Baker, 17, and Husni Tayseer Qanneeri, 18.

On Saturday noon, 4 March 2006, IOF positioned at Salem checkpoint, west of Jenin, arrested two Palestinian children claiming that they had been carrying knives: Ahmed Kamal Hindawi, 17, and Ziad 'Omar 'Atallah, 15.

On Tuesday morning, 7 March 2006, IOF positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint, arrested Ra'ed Suleiman Marshoud, 34, from 'Askar refugee camp northeast of Nablus.

· Qalqilya: On Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, IOF erected a number of checkpoints around the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, and verified the identity cards of civilians. On Tuesday morning, 7 March 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· On Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF started preparations for the construction of a new section of the Wall to the south of Hebron. They placed cement blocks on the sides of settler bypass roads 60 and 317, southwest of al-Sammou' village. They also levelled areas of land, where the new section of the Wall will be constructed. According to eyewitnesses, this new section of the Wall will form 32 kilometres along settler bypass roads 60 and 317, up to "Karbi'el" settlement to the east of Yatta village. Dozens of Palestinian families living in 16 communities will be isolated as a result of the construction of this new section of the Wall.

· At approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 2 March 2006, IOF moved into Kherab Um al-Lahem village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. They demolished a 100-square-meter house belonging to Ibrahim Mohammed al-Faqeeh, in which 4 individuals lived. The demolition of the house came in the context of the construction of the Wall in the area.

· Also on Thursday morning, 2 March 2006, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian land in the villages of Kufor al-Labad and Beit Leed, in order to establish a separating fence around "Ennab" settlement, east of Tulkarm. They uprooted dozens of olive trees. It is worth noting that IOF declared one year ago that they would seize these areas of land. Palestinian civilians submitted appeals against the seizure of their land to Israeli authorities but these appeals have not been considered yet.

· At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 2 March 2006, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. Some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.

· At the same time, around 300 Palestinian civilians organized a similar demonstration in 'Aaboud village, north of Ramallah. IOF fired tear gas canisters at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· Around 400 Palestinian civilians and a number international and Israeli solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Siera village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall in the area. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, dozens of Palestinian children gathered in Kharabtha al-Misbah village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the children. A number of children suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· During the reported period, IOF prevented Palestinian farmers from Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm, from reaching their agricultural land located behind the Wall, although they possess valid permits issued by IOF to reach their land. According to local sources, IOF positioned at an iron gate established opposite to "Sal'eit" settlement prevented Palestinian farmers from crossing the gate, claiming that the gate is designated for the passage of workers in the settlement only. It is worth noting that at least 4000 dunums[1] of agricultural land belonging to the village has been isolated by the Wall.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

Israeli settlers (living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law) have continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:

· At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, dozens of Israeli settlers, living in settlement outposts in the centre of Hebron and "Kiryat Arba" and "Kharsina" settlements, east of the town, demonstrated in the old town of Hebron, while being escorted by IOF. They called for the killing or expulsion of Arabs. They also threw stones at Palestinian houses and attacked a number of journalists to prevent them from filming the violent demonstration.

· At approximately 16:50 on Saturday, 4 March 2006, 4 Israeli settlers, living in a settlement outpost in the Tal Rumaida neighbourhood in the centre of Hebron, chased and violently beat Ashraf Tayseer Abu 'Eisha, 11. IOF witnessed the attack, but did not intervene to stop it. This attack came in the context of efforts to force the child's family to leave the area.

· At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 7 March 2006, IOF moved into Beit Eksa village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. They demolished a 140-square-meter house belonging to Amjad Kamel Shihada, in which 5 individuals lived. IOF claimed that the house had been built without a permit but the owner possessed a permit issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Local Government.

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfil 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 that 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 exposing 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 Gaza disengagement plan for what it is - not an end to the occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

9. In recognition of the ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of 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 with Israeli citizens in a similar manner.

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.

[1] 1 dunum is equal to 1000 square meters.

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