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. 27/2006 06- 12 July 2006

IOF Crimes against Palestinian Civilians in the Gaza Strip Continue.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Commit Additional War Crimes against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT); Isolate the Gaza Strip from the Outside World; and Signs of a Looming Humanitarian and Environmental Crisis

As the international community has remained silent, IOF have continued to wage a full scale offensive on the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip, with total disregard for the principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of military power against Palestinians and resistance activists. The lack of accountability and legal action against Israeli war criminals and their political leaders who publicly order the perpetration of these crimes are in fact a “license to kill” given to IOF. This situation is exacerbated by the impotence of the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to enforce the convention in the OPT.

Furthermore, equating the killer with the killed in the positions of the international community is another form of the “license to kill.” PCHR reminds that the number of dead during this report’s period is higher than some of the figures that were registered during operation Defensive Shield by IOF in 2002 in the West Bank, especially in Jenin and Nablus.

IOF have targeted journalists and media crews covering the events. The Centre believes that the direct targeting of journalists and injuring many of them comes is an attempt to prevent them from conducting their professional duty or portraying the events to the outside world, which will embarrass the Israeli government and influence international public opinion.

In light of the continue Israeli offensive for the third consecutive week and subsequent war crimes, the Gaza Strip is experiencing a very serious humanitarian situation that threatens the lives of the civilian populations. PCHR calls upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and United Nations Agency, to immediately intervene to force IOF to stop this offensive and allow the passage of foodstuffs, medical supplies and fuels into the Gaza Strip. PCHR warns the international community of the policies of collective punishment and reprisals practiced by IOF against the Palestinian civilian population, especially the destruction of electricity sources and the denial of passage of foodstuffs and fuels into the Gaza Strip, which will lead to a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

o 345 Palestinian civilians, including 79 children and 14 females, have been wounded by IOF.

o 110 air-to-surface missiles, mostly from fighter jets, and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilians and military targets in the Gaza Strip.

o Two buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.

o Destruction of the Gaza Power Plant, providing 45% of electricity to the Gaza Strip. Half the Strip’s population are without electricity..

o 3 bridges linking Gaza City with the southern Gaza Strip and 3 roads in Khan Yunis and al-Nusairat have been destroyed.

o Hundreds of Palestinians, including 8 ministers and more than 20 PLC members have been arrested.

o Hundreds of families evacuate their houses in Rafah; and UNRWA provides alternative shelters in schools.

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (6-12 July 2006):

Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 79 Palestinians, including 19 children and 2 women. In the Gaza Strip, 76 Palestinians were killed by IOF operations. Thirty-four of the victims were resistance activists targeted in non-combat situations, categorizing these killings as “extra-judicial assassinations.” Forty-two civilians were killed. They included 17 children, 2 women, and 3 handicapped Palestinians. It is noted that during the reported periond, IOF purposely targeted civilians and did not take into account the civilian population when targeting resistance activists. The most notable war crime in this regard is the killing of a man, his wife, and 7 of their children on 12 July 2006. The incident took place when an IOF fighter jet dropped 2 bombs on their house in Sheikh Radway Quarter, north of Gaza City. And in another war crime, a mother and 2 of her children were killed when an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on Gaza City on 8 July 2006.

In the West Bank, IOF killed 3 Palestinians, including 2 children. One of the victims was a Palestinian activist who resisted an IOF incursion into Askar refugee camp in Nablus. The other two victims fell in a failed extra-judicial assassination attempt by IOF in Jenin refugee camp.

The number of Palestinians killed since the imprisonment of the Israeli soldier on 25 June 2006 increased to 78.

In addition, 266 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the OPT. In the Gaza Strip, 241 Palestinians were injured, including 58 children and 14 females. And in the West Bank, 25 civilians were injured, including 5 children. Thus, the number of Palestinians wounded since 25 June 2006 increased to 345, including 79 children. Two journalists and a paramedic were among the injured.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF invaded and reoccupied areas in the northern Gaza Strip, while they have continued to occupy Gaza International Airport in the southern Gaza Strip. In addition, IOF conducted a number of limited incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they detained Palestinians, used civilians as human shields, and took over houses and used them for military purposes. IOF also razed large areas of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Many areas in the Gaza Strip lack electricity supplies as the electricity network of the town was destroyed, an IOF have denied access of maintenance crews, firing at them on a number of occasions. Furthermore, IOF prevented Palestinian ambulances from transporting patients to hospitals, including pregnant women.

In the West Bank, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 67 civilians, including 3 children and a woman. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF since the beginning of 2006 has increased to nearly 2000 prisoners. IOF also raided at least 6 civilian institutions, claiming that they are run by Hamas. In addition, IOF took over 5 Palestinian houses, and converted them to military outposts.

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.

Following an attack launched by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 near the Israeli-Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah, which left two IOF soldiers and two of the attackers dead and a third IOF soldier missing, IOF have closed all border crossings of the Gaza Strip.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. According to information gathered by PCHR, the number of Palestinians stuck in Egypt is more than 3,000. Most of them have been forced to stay in different cities including Cairo, al-Arish and Egyptian Rafah. These Palestinians had traveled to Egypt or through Egypt to other destinations for the purposes of medical treatment, education, visiting relatives or work. In addition, scores of expatriate Palestinian families living in the Gulf States, who had traveled to Rafah International Crossing Point to spend the summer in Gaza, were forced to return to the Gulf. Furthermore, more than 400 Palestinians, mostly patients, are stuck in the waiting hall at the Egyptian side of Rafah Crossing. They are enduring extremely difficult conditions due to the hot weather and lack of adequate services and facilities, especially for patients. These patients were returning to Gaza after undergoing medical treatment abroad, including surgery. Some of the patients have undergone heart, ophthalmic or orthopedic surgeries. Such patients require special facilities that are not available at the border. Travelers are deprived of services required to meet their basic needs, especially for women, children and the elderly. Furthermore, they are being forcibly separated from their families in the Gaza Strip. During the reported period, IOF refused to allow the transfer of the bodies of 3 Palestinian patients who died at an Egyptian hospital into the Gaza Strip. The families were forced to keep the bodies in mortuaries in Egypt.

IOF have closed commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. IOF have prevented the free flow of fuel, food and medical supplies since. The Gaza Strip was suffering from a lack gas and fuel even before the latest tightening of the closure. According to information gathered by PCHR, fuel has run out to run sewage disposal facilities in many communities. In addition, healthcare facilities lack fuel to run their ambulances and transportation vehicles. And on 12 July 2006, IOF divided the Gaza Strip into 2 parts after controlling the main road in the Strip, Salah El-Deen Road, to the north of Khan Yunis. Civilians were barred from using the road.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to separate the north and south of the West Bank. For this purpose, IOF have re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. The checkpoint is used to restrict the movement of civilians in and out of Ramallah. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement on Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abused a number of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including the Second Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF issued a military order seizing at least 45 donums of land adjacent to settler road “60” east of the town of Yatta, south of Hebron. The land was allocated for a military checkpoint surrounding a gate in the Wall in the area. During the reported period, IOF used forced to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. Four demonstrators sustained bruises. In addition, IOF restricted the movement of farmers and denied them access their land behind the was near the town of Beit Ola, west of Hebron.

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, especially in Hebron. During the reported period, settlers from the settlement of Suisia, southeast of Yatta, burned the house belonging to a Palestinian in the area of El-Rakhim Valley to the east of the settlement. And settlers from Kiryat Arba’ resumed constructing a settler road near the settlement.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (6 – 12 July 2006)

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

For the second consecutive week, IOF continued their open-ended attack on the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, after Palestinians captured of an IOF soldier from a military outpost on 25 June 2006. Since then, IOF have been perpetrating war crimes and serious violations in a number of areas in the Gaza Strip. These crimes included willful killing, disproportionate use of lethal force; destroying infrastructure, including electricity and water; large scale destruction of public and private property; air strikes and mock air raids on civilian targets that included educational institutions; governmental compounds; and training sites and activists of Palestinian resistance organizations.

In addition, IOF have targeted journalists and media crews covering the events on the ground. PCHR believes that the targeting and injury of journalists aims at hindering journalists from conducting their professional duty of sending the picture of what the Israeli government is perpetrating to world public opinion.

The military escalation coincides with the complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip since 25 June 2006, and the subsequent severe humanitarian and economic conditions. The closure includes (closing) border crossings, keeping thousands of Palestinians at the Egyptian side of the Rafah International Crossing Point, and preventing the flow of food, medicine, and fuel through commercial crossings. As a result, the Gaza Strip is on the verge of a humanitarian and environmental disaster.

 At approximately 01:50, an IOF warplane fired one missile at Ali bin Abi Talib Street in 'Oraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. A section of the street was destroyed, hindering the movement of civilians and vehicles.

 At approximately 3:30, IOF helicopters hit members of a group from Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions, the armed wing of Hamas, near the Khozondar Gas Station, west of Jabalia. One member of the group was killed: Abdallah Mohammad Mohammad Zommar (Salha), a 24-year old resident of El-Karama area in Gaza City.

 At approximately 4:00, IOF supported by tens of tanks, bulldozers, and combat planes moved into the Gaza Strip towards the area northwest of Beit Lahya. The advancing forces heavily fired machine guns, artillery shells, and tank shells. At approximately 11:00 IOF hit Mohammad Ahmad El-Attar (20) with a bullet in the chest, killing him instantly. A number of Palestinians were injured by shrapnel and heavy machine gun fire. Eyewitnesses indicated that El-Attar was killed in front of his house.

 At approximately 10:50, IOF supported by tens of tanks, bulldozers, and combat planes moved 700 meters into El-Farahin are in Greater Abasan, east of Khan Yunis. They fired weapons heavily and indiscriminately, and started to raze agricultural lands and greenhouses. Palestinian fighters arrived and attempted to resist the incursion. And at approximately 13:00, and IOF helicopter fired a rocket at the resistance fighters in an agricultural field in the area. Two were killed and 5 were injured, one seriously. The 2 that were killed are: Mohammad Sabri Shehda Abu Tir (20) and Mohammad Suliman Ali El-Najjar (24).

 At approximately 16:00, IOF IOF withdrew after destroying 3 houses completely. These houses were inhabited by 3 families totaling 15 people. Damages were inflicted on a fourth home, housing a 5-member family. IOF razed approximately 27 dunums of agricultural land that included 6 green houses, destroyed irrigation networks, destroyed 2 agricultural watering pools, and demolished 3 agricultural structures.

 At approximately 15:30, IOF fired a tank shell and a rocket from a plane at a group of resistance fighters in the Isra’ Quarter in Beit Lahya. Eight were killed. IOF troops fired at another group and killed 3 others and injured 32, seven of them very seriously. On the morning of Friday, 7 July 2006, medical sources announced that 2 of the injured died. The Palestinians killed are: Mohammad Anwar Tafish (23), Ahmad Abdallah El-Khaldi (20), Sa’ed Ferwana (24), Mohammad Yousef Faza’ (27), Fadi Jihad El-Obeid (21), Ismail Sa’id Abu Matar (18), Abdel Rahman Hani El-najjar (22), Ibrahim Mohammad Salama Abu Rashid (18), Mohammad Maher Rabah Shaheen (19), Mohammad Jamal El-Dreimli (20), Mohammad Sarhan El-Dreimli (20), Na’el Jaber Halawa (25), and Rif’at Jamal Naser (23).

 At approximately 17:50, and IOF planes fired high-caliber bullets at the Shoka community, east of Rafah, which has been under direct occupation for 2 weeks. Fathi Odeh El-Mahmum (36) was injured by a bullet in the left shoulder as he was driving his taxi with a number of passengers onboard. He was taken to Abu Yusuf El-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, where his condition was listed as moderate.

 At approximately 21:10, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance fighters near El-Salatin Square in Beit Lahya. Three were killed instantly; and 7 others were seriously injured. The dead are: Adham El-Deiri (28), Adel Mohammad El-Atla (25), and Shadi Hamed El-Sakani (30). On the morning of Friday, 7 July 2006, medical sources announced that one of the injured died: Ahmad Fuad Abu Askar (19).

 At approximately 22:40, and IOF plane fired at a group of resistance fighters near Bier El-Na’ja area, east of El-Salatin area. One of them was killed instantly: Basem Awni Riehan (22) from Jabalia. Two others were seriously injured.

 Shortly after the last incident, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a resistance fighter in El-Salatin area, and killed him instantly. The dead man is Khaled Farah Naser (22).

 At approximately 00:00, IOF stationed in the Shoka community, east of Rafah, fired tens of artillery shells at the agricultural land in the community. Many exploded and caused damages to crops. Other shells did not explode; and residents of the area are apprehensive that they could explode anytime, causing human and material losses.

 At approximately 03:30, IOF moved about 1.5 kilometers into the Fokhari area, southeast of Khan Yunis, and raided a house in an agricultural field owned by Moussa Mohammad El-Farra. After searching the house, IOF detained the owner’s son, Mahmoud (19), who is studying in Egypt but was spending the summer vacation in Gaza. In addition, the raiding force detained Omar Saleh Moammar (32) who works for the family.

 At approximately 06:00 on Friday, 7 July 2006, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a Palestinian car in El-Salatin Quarter in Beit Lahya. Five members of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions were in the car, which was hit directly by the rocket. Wa’el Hisham Naser, a 19-year old resident of Jabalia El-Nazla, was killed and the other 4 were seriously injured.

 At approximately 12:40, IOF fired heavily at Palestinians in Al-Atatra area. Mo’taz Mohammad Abdel Qadir El-Fairi, a resident of Beit Lahya was hit by a bullet in the abdomen that killed him on the spot. Others were injured by shrapnel from artillery shells and bullets fired by soldiers from their sniper positions in Palestinian houses. The journalist Hamdi El-Khor (29) who works for the Turkish News Agency was injured by a bullet in the right arm, as he was covering the events in El-Salatin area in Beit Lahya. His injury was listed as serious. In addition, medical teams were targeted by gunfire several times as they attempted to evacuate the wounded.

 At approximately 13:50, IOF fired at the child Shadi Yousef Omar, a 16-year old resident of Sheikh Radwan Quarter in Gaza City. The shooting took place near El-T’wam intersection leading to El-Isra’ Quarter in Beit Lahya. He was hit by a bullet in the chest that killed him instantly. It is noted that the child suffered from a hearing impairment.

 At approximately 15:30, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in El-Salatin Street. Two were killed, and their bodies torn to pieces. A number of others were injured; and one f the injured died his injuries later. The dead activists are Abdel Naser Issa Abu H’weidi (a 42-year old resident of Gaza City), Abdel Jabar Monir Abu Hasira (a 20-year old resident of Beach Camp), and Khalil Ibrahim El-Hajjar (22).

 At approximately 17:00, IOF troops stationed on roof tops of Palestinian houses continued to target Palestinians. Tha’er To’ma El-Tanani (a 22-year old resident of El-Isra’ Quarter in Beit Lahya) was hit killed by a bullet to the chest. He was near El-Isra’ Mosque when he was hit. Others were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment. Many injuries were serious.

 At approximately 17:50, IOF fired artillery shells at Palestinian civilians in the al-'Atatra area. As a result, Musbah Fayez al-'Attar, 25, was killed, and a number of other civilians were wounded. IOF did not allow medical crews to evacuate the victim's body for more than one hour. They fired at ambulances and forced them to travel back.

 At approximately 18:30, IOF forced dozens of Palestinian civilians out of their homes and used them as human shields. They also continued to occupy a number of houses, holding their residents in one room.

 At approximately 21:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Anwar Isma'il 'Abdul Ghani 'Atallah, 12, from Beit Hanouan, had died from his wounds. The child was hit by a live bullet to the head fired by IOF near Erez industrial zone on Wednesday, 5 July 2006.

 On Saturday morning, as IOF redeployed outside the El-Salatin neighborhood, residents of the neighborhood found the body of Jaber Raihan, 42, who was mentally disabled, on agricultural land in the al-'Israa' neighborhood in the west of Beit Lahia. The victim had been hit by a live bullet to the abdomen and apparently bled to death. IOF caused major destruction to civilian property in the area. They partially destroyed at least hundred houses, razed at least 50 dunums of agricultural land, destroyed the fence of a cemetery and damaged many civilian vehicles. They also arrested four Palestinian civilians, including three brothers from the al-'Attar family.

 While IOF were redeploying in Beit Lahya, IOF troops, reinforced by helicopters, moved into areas on the edges of al-Shojaeya and al-Zaytoun neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip. They opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, two members of the Palestinian resistance were killed: Ahmed Isma'il al-Sarsak, 35, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood; and Hani Mohammed Abu al-Qumboz, 25, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood. In addition, ten others were wounded, including Mohammed al-Za'noun, 22, a photographer from Ma'an news agency, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen and shrapnel to the face.

 At approximately 13:00, IOF moved a few hundred meters into El-Nahda neighborhood in El-Shoka village, east of Rafah. Under a cover of heavy artillery and machine gunfire, the force started to raze and destroy agricultural land and chicken fams in the area. The destroyed properties belongs to members of Abu Mo’ammar, El-Hissi, El-Farra, Abu Dakka, Abu S’neima, and El-Dabari clans. PCHR’s fieldworker indicated that it is difficult to assess the damage due to the continued presence of IOF forces in the vicinity and the indiscriminate bombardment. Due to the continuous bombardment in the area around Sofa checkpoint and El-Shoka village over the past few days, UNRWA provided shelter to 39 families (365 members) in the Rafah Elementary School for Refugees. Today the number of displaced families is 200, with a total number of nearly 1000 members.

 In a new crimes stemming from the indiscriminate bombardment of civilian areas, IOF killed a Palestinian women and 2 of her children. Another 5 family members were injured in the bombardment that took place in the vicinity of Al-Muntar (Karni) checkpoint on the eastern outskirts of Gaza City. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicate that at approximately 19:50, an IOF plane fired one bomb that fell near the house belonging to Farid Hajjaj, located near Obeid Petrol Station at the end of Mansour Street, east of Sheja’iya in the eastern part of Gaza City. The house is located 800 meters from the border with Israel. The bomb shrapnel spread to the area and inside the house. As a result, Farid’s wife and two of his children were killed. Five other family members were injured. The family was sitting in the garden of the house when the bomb hit. Medical sources indicated that the three dead family members had been hit by shrapnel at very close range. The conditions of the injured are described as moderate to serious. The dead family members are: Ammouna Yousef Hajjaj (42), Rawan Farid Hajjaj (6), and Mohammad Farid Hajjaj (20). After the incident, an IOF spokesman confirmed that IOF planes had dropped one bomb near Al-Muntar (Karni) crossing (near the house) in an attempted targeting of a Palestinian militant. It is noted that IOF have been conducting an incursion in the area since the early morning hours of Saturday (8 July 2006), and are conducting a wide military operation in the area.

 During the evening, IOF killed Emad Mohammad El-Athamna (26), when an artillery shell was fired at him while he was in the industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip. In addition, Jaber El-Shantaf, a 26-year-old resident of Beit Lahya, died of wounds he sustained earlier. He is a member of the Palestinian resistance.

 At approximately 00:00, an IOF plane dropped a bomb on a training area used by “Ahmad Abu El-Riesh Battalions,” an armed wing of Fatah in Khan Yunis. The bomb fell in the sand dunes around the training area. No injuries or damages were reported.

 At approximately 00:00 also, IOF stationed in El-Shoka, east of Rafah, fired machine guns at houses in the village. Amin Radwan Abu Sha’ar (30) was injured by shrapnel in different parts of the body. He was taken to the European Hospital for treatment.

 At approximately 00:20, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in Mansour Street in the Shejaeya Quarter in Gaza City. Four of them were injured, one seriously. The activists are from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah.

 At approximately 03:00, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb at the Beit Hanoun bridge, on the southern entrance of the town. The bridge was destroyed, cutting off the town from its surroundings. In addition, the electricity was cut off the northern part of the Gaza Strip as a result of the bombardment. It is noted that this bridge had been repeatedly targeted during Al-Aqsa Intifada and after the implementation of the disengagement plan.

 At approximately 03:35, and IOF plane fired a rocket at a vehicle in which 3 members of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions were traveling. The attack took place in front of the municipality building in El-Shoka, east of Rafah. The rocket landed beside the vehicle, and the occupants fled without injury. A few minutes later, they returned to the car and headed to the west (towards Rafah). IOF planes fired a second rocket that also fell near the car, and didn’t hit it directly. Bilal Suliman Raba’ (18) was killed and two of his brothers were injured as they were in their father’s grocery store. Six others were injured, including 4 civilians and 2 members of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions. One of the civilians suffered serious injuries.

 At approximately 21:30, and IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists riding in a car in the densely-populated El-Tuffah Quarter in Gaza City. The rocket missed the car, and the activists fled. They returned a few minutes later to retrieve the car, but an IOF plane fired a second rocket at them. They escaped the second attack as well. However, 5 civilian bystanders, including a woman, suffered light shrapnel injuries.

 At approximately 23:50, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a metal works facility owned by members of the Zarandah clan in Zaitoon Quarter in Gaza City. The facility was completely destroyed. In addition, nearby houses sustained damages. IOF claimed that the air raid targeted an arms storage for Al-Quds Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. However, Islamic Jihad denied the allegation. No injuries were reported in the attack.

 Due to the indiscriminate firing of artillery shells and machine guns at the outskirts of Shejaeya and Zaitoon Quarters, 12 Palestinian civilians were injured, including a woman and 7 children. The injuries were caused by bullets and artillery shrapnel. The victims were in or around their houses at the time of the injury.

 At approximately 02:00, medical sources at Ichilov Hospital in Israel announced the death of the infant child Khaled Nidal Wahba (15 months) as a result of serious wounds sustained in an IOF aerial bombardment on 21 June 2006. PCHR’s preliminary investigation at the time indicated that at approximately 18:10 on Wednesday, 21 June 2006, the IOF air force fired a missile at the Salah al-Din area of Khan Yunis, while a number of members of Islamic Jihad were passing in the area, traveling in a civilian car. They managed to escape but the missile hit a nearby house belonging to ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed, 57. Ahmed’s family and his two sisters’ families were in the house at the time. His brother and his sister were killed. In addition, 11 others, including 6 children, were wounded inside the house. Khaled was seriously injured and transferred to Ichilov Hospital.

 At approximately 03:15, IOF warplanes fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists near El-Tawfiq Mosque in El-Nazal Street in Shejaeya Quarter in Gaza City. One of them was killed and another 2 were moderately injured. The activist who was killed is Metwali Jamal El-Arqan, a 27-year old resident of Ziatoon Quarter in Gaza City.

 At approximately 10:05, IOF warplanes fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in a car in the Mansour Street in Shejaeya Quarter in Gaza City. The activists fled the car before the rocket hit the vehicle directly. Two bystanders were injured. Mohammad Jamal Bordo’ (20) was seriously injured, and his leg was amputated. The child Fadel Esam El-Dahdar (17) was moderately injured by shrapnel to different parts of the body.

 At approximately 13:25, an IOF plane fired a missile at a group of resistance activists attempting to fire a home made rocket in the Farahin area, east of Greater Abasan. The IOF rocket hit the activists directly, killing them instantly. They were members of Al-Quds Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad: Ra’if Moussa Abu Salah (a 24-year old resident of Greater Abasan) and Mohammad Jamil Khalifa (a 21-year old resident of Khan Yunis refugee camp).

 At approximately 19:00, an IOF warplane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists near Obeid Petrol Station east of the Shejaeya Quarter in Gaza City. One of them was killed: Aymad El-Akkawi (20). Another 5 were injured, 2 seriously.

 In the evening hours, and in a new crime targeting Palestinian civilians directly, IOF killed 3 Palestinian children, and injured a fourth one seriously. The incident took place when an IOF plane fired a rocket at the children in Beit Hanoun. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 19:15 on Monday, 10 July 2006, and IOF plane fired a rocket at 4 children who were near Hayel Abdel Hamid Secondary School in northern part of Beit Hanoun. They were in an area previously used as soccer field near their homes. The rocket fell amidst the children. Three were killed instantly; and their bodies were torn by the blast. The fourth child suffered serious injures. The dead children are: Mahfouth Farid Nuseir (16), Ahmad Ghalib Abu Amsha (16), and Ahmad Fathi Shabat (16). The injured child is Raji Omar Deifallah (16)..

 At approximately 09:00, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of Palestinian resistance activists in a car to the east of Zimmo Street in Beit Hanoun. The rocket fell near the car and the activists escaped. Two bystanders were injured by shrapnel. The injured are Mohammad Jamil El-Za’anin (23), injured by shrapnel in the back, and Mohammad Moussa Hasan (20), was injured by shrapnel in the right foot. And at approximately 11:10, Ahmad Mohammad Shahin, a 26-year old member of the National Security Force, went to the car to evacuate it from the scene. An IOF plane fired a rocket at the car, which burned completely. The driver was killed instantly. In addition, 2 sisters were injured. They are Aisha Mohammad Hamad (a 28-year old pregnant woman), was seriously injured, and Hanan Mohammad Hamad (36).

 At approximately 12:30, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City announced the death of the child Walid Mahmoud El-Zeinati (a 12-year old resident of Sheikh Radwan Quarter in Gaza City) of serious wounds sustained in El-Salatin area in Beit Lahya on 6 July 2006. He was injured by shrapnel from a rocket fired by an IOF plane during the incursion into El-Salatin.

 At approximately 00:00,IOF infantry units moved to the south and north of the Kissofim road between El-Qarara and Wadi El-Salqa areas in the center of the Strip. The IOF troops exchanged fire with members of the National Security Force in Wadi El-Salqa. The clash lasted for 10 minutes, and led to the death of Zeyad Salman Hussein Abu M’ghasib (24). He was hit by several bullets and shrapnel in different parts of the body. IOF deployed along both sides of the Kissofim road; and raided and searched a number of houses. After about 1 hour, IOF armored vehicles and planes reinforced the infantry troops. The incursion was accompanied by intense aerial, land, and naval bombardment of evacuated settlements and agricultural land. Then IOF moved to the south of the Kissofim road and raided 4 houses in the Abu Eid area in El-Qarara. A number of resistance activists arrived in the area to assess the incursion. And at approximately 05:40, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists. Hisham Radwan Abu N’seira (35), the leader of Naser Salah El-Deen Brigades in Khan Yunis, was killed. Four others were moderately injured by shrapnel. During the incursion, IOF hit the main power transformer on the Kissofim road. As a result, electricity was cut of El-Qarara and most of the city of Khan Yunis. In addition, IOF troops moved north of the Kissofim road and razed land in the Ja’farawi area.

 At approximately 07:00, IOF armored vehicles reached Salah El-Deen Road, and started to erect earth barriers in the area previously known as the “Abu Holi Checkpoint.” This action effectively divided the Gaza Strip into 2 parts, and prevented civilians from traveling along the road. In addition, IOF tanks and gunboats continued to bombard the sites of the evacuated settlements and agricultural land. In addition, IOF troops moved a few hundred meters into El-Qarara, and razed land in El-Farra neighborhood and Abdeen Street. An IOF spokesman announced that the incursion is part of an operation that continue for day to lay the ground for locating the missing Israeli soldier and to eliminate Palestinian activists. Palestinian security forces informed PCHR’s fieldworker that IOF informed the Liaison Office that residents of El-Matahin and Kissofim junction area cannot leave their homes or move in the area.

 In a new war crime, IOF killed 9 members of one family, mostly children, after their house was bombed by IOF fighter jets. The declared objective of the bombardment was to kill Mohammad El-Deif, the leader of the Hamas military wing, who escaped the bombardment. In simple words, Jihad Mohammad El-Saloul, the neighbor of the targeted house, described the crime:

“My name is Jihad Mohammad El-Saloul. I’m 49 years old, and work as a teachers. I’m a neighbor of Dr. Nabil Abu Salmeya.

Tonight at approximately 2:45 in the morning, I heard a small explosion. My wife, our children, and I woke up. I thought it was a sound bomb. My children were standing near the window. After about 10 minutes I heard a second explosion. The glass fell over our heads. I got out of the house to see what happened. One of our neighbors is Ahmad Bahar “Abu Akram,” a political leader in Hamas. I thought the explosion was in his home. As I walked, I was surprised that the explosion was in Dr. Nabil Abu Salmeya’s house. I went towards the bombed house. Smoke and thick dust was issuing from the house. I saw an injured, bearded man among the rubble (El-Ja’bari). We put him in a blue Fiat with 3 young men from among the neighbors. After that, I went to help save others.

We found Abu Salmeya’s son Ahmad, who studies engineering at university. He was injured in the face. He was in pain, and was standing on the balcony of the bombed house. He was calling us. We took him to an ambulance.

After that I saw a girl, Abu Salmeya’s daughter, who was about 17. She was handicapped. Her body was thrown on the ground, between the trees in the garden.

Then we found the body of his son, Yehya, who is in fourth grade. It was a headless body. We found the head in the hallway of a neighbor’s house, from Abass family. I knew Yehya and the girl well.

As to the house next to Abu Salmeya’s house, it belongs to my neighbor Rajih Abbas. Most of the household was injured by glass and brick shrapnel. We took out an elderly woman (65) who is

Rajih’s mother. She injured in the leg, which was broken. We took out a child from the same room, from under the rubble and dust. The child was still breathing. I couldn’t believe that the child was still alive.

The Civil Defense Corps started to search the rubble immediately after the bombardment. At approximately 7:00 in the morning, they found Awad Nabil Abu Salmeya (19), who studies engineering. He was suffering from moderate injuries. He survived by a miracle.

Dr. Abu Salmeya’s family consisted of 11 members: himself, his wife, 5 girls, and 4 boys.

We only saw his sons Mohammad and Awad. Till now, we don’t know anything about 3 of his girls, who are still under the debris.

This is a residential area. Even if there were one or two wanted (activists), how can a whole neighborhood be targeted and bombed by planes, causing all this death and destruction to us, them and neighbors who are civilians. They do not want to kill the wanted, but to destroy civilians, kill them, and terrorize them.

The house is built on an area of 200 square meters. It is two parts. The southern part is old, and consists of a ground floor and a second floor. The second part is an open area with two rooms and a salon for the children.

This are is called “Shanti neighborhood, Amer Project, Sheikh Radwan Quarter.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation into the crime indicates that at approximately 2:45 on Wednesday, 12 July 2006, an IOF fighter jet dropped 2 bombs at the house belonging to Nabil Abdel Latif Abu Salmeya (46), a leader in Hamas who works as a lecturer in the Islamic University. The 2 bombs hit the 2-story house built on 200 square meters in the Shanti lands are in the town of Jabalia. The house was destroyed on top of the occupants. The owner was killed, and so were his wife Salwa Ismail Abu Salmeya (42) and 7 of their children: Basma (16), Somaya (17, handicapped), Aya (9), Yehya (10), Nasr (7), Huda (13), and Eman (12). The son Awad (19) was rescued, and is suffering from serious injuries. The house was completely destroyed. In addition, 34 civilians were injured, including 5 children and 6 women. Extensive damage was inflicted on 15 houses surrounding the targeted house. IOF declared that the bombardment targeted Mohammad El-Deif, the commander of the Hamas military wing, and others with him, claiming that they were in the house. For their part, Hamas confirmed that El-Deif is safe. This crime is a reminder of the war crime perpetrated on 23 July 2003 to assassinate Salah Shehada, a Hamas leader. In that incident, IOF targeted a residential building in the densely-populated El-Daraj neighborhood. More than 20 people were killed, including women and children, and dozens were injured.

 At approximately 10:00, IOF troops stationed near Karm Abu Salim Checkpoint overlooking the Gaza International Airport, south of Rafah, fired machine guns towards the airport. The child, Ismail Thabit Abu Olwan (15) was injured by a bullet in the left foot. It is noted that IOF had withdrawn from the airport in the predawn hours of the same day, leaving behind extensive damage to the water and electricity infrastructure, roads, airport clinic, garden, and offices, arrivals hall. After withdrawing, IOF fire at any person in the airport area.

 At approximately 10:30, IOF troops took over the Palestinian Granary Company, and transformed it into a military outpost. Ihsan El-Farra, the company lab director, informed PCHR’s fieldworker that IOF too over the company building and cut off electricity by bombing the power transformer feeding the area. He stated that the IOF takeover will stop the production of 250 tons of wheat daily. The company will not be able to meet commitments to UNRWA and the World Food Programme. In addition, preventing access to the company will stop the flow of wheat to bakeries, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis. Engineer Na’im Awad, the director of the Electricity Company in Khan Yunis, stated that IOF have destroyed power lines on “Line 11” near Kissofim and a number of transformers, cutting power off nearly half of the residents of Khan Yunis. Thus, the available power supply was divided among the areas of the city, with each getting electricity 4 hours a day.

 At approximately 12:00, indiscriminate IOF gunfire during the incursion into El-Qarara, Salim Kamel El-Saqqa (19) was injured by a bullet in the right side, as he was near his house. His condition is moderate.

 At approximately 12:00, and IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in the Ja’farawi area, east of Deir El-Balah. One was killed instantly, and another was seriously injured and died two hours later. The dead are: Tariq Fayez Nassar (20) and Hamza Hasan El-Horani (20).

 At approximately 14:00, IOF troops in the Palestinian Granary Company fired at 3 resistance activists in agricultural fields east of the company. In addition, an IOF tank fired a shell at them. Two were killed instantly and the third suffered serious injures. They were members of Fatah movement. The dead activists are Mohammad Khamis Ahmad El-Masri (a 22-year old resident of Khan Yunis refugee camp) and Tamer Jamal Muhareb (a 20-year old resident of Khan Yunis).

 At approximately 14:30, indiscriminate IOF gunfire killed two Palestinians. They are Jum’a Ibrahim Mohammad Esliem (a 23-year old resident of Khan Yunis) and Ahmad Salem Kaware’ (23). Both were killed by shrapnel and bullets in different parts of their bodies.

 At approximately 15:05, and IOF plane fired a rocket at the entrance of the Police Station in El-Qarara. One policeman was killed and others were moderately injured. The dead policeman is Salama Ahmad Ibrahim El-Bashiti (a 20-year old resident of Khan Yunis). The injured are Esliem Ahmad Abu Sebla (33-year old resident of Khan Yunis) and Samir Fathi El-Majayda (23-year old resident of Khan Yunis).

 At approximately 18:00, IOF troops on the outskirts of Beit Hanoun fired several artillery shells at the town. Five civilians were moderately injured, including 2 children and 2 women. They were injured inside their houses. As a result, eight families of 100 members evacuated their houses and spent the night in the courtyard of the Beit Hanoun hospital. Their houses are nearly 800 meters from the border with Israel and are targeted by shelling.

 In a new crime against civilians, at approximately 19:20, and IOF plane fired 2 rockets at a gathering of youth and children on Salah El-Deen Road, nearly 400 meters away from IOF armored vehicles in the area. Six of them were killed, including 2 children. Another 6 were injured, including 4 children. None of the bodies have been identified. The dead are: Salah El-Deen Hasan Abu Maktouma (18), Ahmad Abdel Mun’im Hajjaj (17), Ibrahim Ali El-Nabahin (16), Hasan Yousef Abu Obeid (19), Mahmoud Mohammad El-Assar (19), and an unknown victim. PCHR possesses a list of the injured.

 At approximately 21:00, medical sources in Shifa Hospital announced the death of Nathmi Fathi Aziz (a 22-year old resident of Jabalia) of wounds sustained on 7 July 2006 in an aerial bombardment on El-Salatin area in Beit Lahya. He was hit by shrapnel and burns all over his body. He is a resistance activist.

 At approximately 00:45, IOF troops moved into Nablus and the old Askar refugee camp, east of the city. They raided and searched a number of houses, transforming 2 into military outposts. The 2 houses belong to Ibrahim Hirzallah and Moath El-Masri. IOF detained 7 Palestinians, including 2 policemen. The detainees are: Farouq Mohammad Talib Issah 922), Mohammad Jum’a Buraq Qasie’ (21), Atef El-Selwadi (40), Ahmad Ata Werad (18), Rawhi Mohammad El-Sousa (20), Yousef Zuheir Zabaro (21), and Ahmad Hani El-Qedeh (22).

 At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the Jenin and the adjacent refugee camp. They patrolled the streets and withdrew. No injuries or detentions were reported.

 At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the town of Atil, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched tens of houses, and detained 8 Palestinians before withdrawing: Mohammad Abdel Mo’ti Mohammad Makhoul (24), Hakam Makhoul (23), Osama Makhoul (20), Mo’taz Makhoul (19), Mo’aweya Makhoul (18) [all are brothers], Sanad Mohammad Wajih Talhawi 918), Mo’min Taysir Ahmad Ajami (19), and Ehab Sa’id Ahmad Ba’ja (19).

 At approximately 03:00 also, IOF moved into the town of Toubas, southeast of Jenin. They raided 3 civilian institutions and confiscated computers and documents. The organizations are Culture and Art Roots Center, Islamic Union, and Quran School. The accountant of the Culture and Art Roots Center informed PCHR’s fieldworker, “at approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF raided the Culture and Art Roots Center, the Islamic Union opposite to our office, and the Quran School for women. All are located in the 3^rd floor of the Ghassan Abdel Raziq Building in the center of Toubas. The troops destroyed furniture and confiscated 12 computers and documents from the Culture and Art Roots Center. They confiscated a computer and documents from the Islamic Union and a computer and documents from the Quran School.”

 At approximately 04:00, IOF moved int Nabi Elyas village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched 3 houses. Then they detained 3 Palestinians: Nimr Tawfiq Mohammad Hannoun (29), Gharib Tawfiq Mohammad Hannoun (27), and Thieb As’ad Salim (24).

 At approximately 23:00, and undercover IOF unit moved into the town of Kufr El-Lubad, east of Tulkarm. They surrounded the house belonging to Yousef Amin Barhuosh (27). IOF reinforcements arrived and searched the house for Yousef, who wasn’t in the house at the tiem.

 At approximately 23:00 also, IOF moved into the town of Anabta, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and withdrew. No injuries or arrests were reported.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF troops moved into the Killat El-Amoud Quarter in Nablus, and searched a number of houses. They arrested the child Salah Ali El-Saber (17) from his house before withdrawing.

 At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the town of Yatta, south of Hebron. They raided and searched 4 houses belonging to Khalil Ibrahim Zein (80) and his sons. The arrested Khalil before withdrawing, and took him to an unknown location.

 At approximately 04:30, IOF operating in Yatta moved to the Islamic Benevolent Society for the Care of Orphans in the center of the town. The searched the institutions, damaged furniture, and confiscated 2 computers and documents.

 At approximately 16:30, IOF troops operating in Hebron rained the house of Mohammad Taysir Yasir Ashour in the southern part of the city. The troops claimed to be searching for illegal material. After the troops left the house, the family found that 350 grams of gold jewelry and 2500 NIS were stolen.

 In the early morning hours, IOF killed a Palestinian resistance activist in Askar refugee camp and injured 5 civilians, including 3 children. One was injured seriously. PCHR’s preliminary investigation into the incident indicates that at approximately 06:00 in the morning IOF moved into the old Askar refugee camp. Resistance activists confronted the troops in the streets of the camp. During the battle, IOF saw a resistance activist on the roof of the house belonging to Bakhit Nasir Jam’an. IOF fired at the activist and killed him. Then they raided the house and confirmed the kill before handing the body to medical crews. The dead activist is Tamer Fathi Abdel Fattah Qandil (21). He was hit by 8 bullets in the head, neck, chest, and hand. Youth gathered in the area and threw stones at the IOF troops in the area. IOF withdrew at approximately 11:00 after injuring 5 civilians, including 3 children and a bystander. The injured are:

- Khaled Hussein Ahmad El-Teibi (42), seriously injured by 3 bullets in the head, chest, and left shoulder;

- Oday Shaban Abu Quthama (16), injured by a plastic covered bullet in the buttock;

- Ahmad Maher Balawla (16), injured by 3 plastic covered bullets in the left foot; and

 At approximately 00:00, IOF troops stationed in Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem fired automatic guns at the houses of Palestinians in the vicinity. The houses sustained material damages, and no injuries were reported.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into El-Masharqa El-Fouqa, El-Masharq El-Tahta, Jaber, El-Salayma, and Ibrahimi Mosque neighborhoods in the old city of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. This is a standard procedure for IOF in the old town of Hebron, which is conducted on a regular basis to terrorize civilians.

 At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the town of Qabatia, southeast of Jenin, and patrolled the streets. No detentions were reported.

 At approximately 22:15, IOF moved into Askar El-Balad and the community housing area in the northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses; but no detentions were reported.

 At approximately 23:15, IOF moved into El-Tur area, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses; but no detentions were reported.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ein Beit El-Ma’ refugee camp and Asira El-Shamaleyya road west of Nablus. The raided and searched a number of houses. They detained Mustafa Ibrahim Mohammad Ramaha (32) before withdrawing.

 At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched the house belonging to Nazih El-Rimawi. They detained 2 of his sons, Mohammad (20) and Majed (22), before withdrawing.

 At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp and patrolled the streets. No detentions were reported.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the southeast part of Bethlehem, and raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing, they detained 4 Palestinians:

 At approximately 01:00 also, IOF moved into El-Obeideya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched the house belonging to Mohammad Dawoud Radayda. No detentions were reported.

 At approximately 01:00 also, IOF moved into the town of Bieta, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested Sa’id Ghalib Sa’id Bani Shamsa (25).

 At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, and took over two buildings, converting them into military outposts. They withdrew at 06:00 after detaining Salam El-Sereisi El-Khammash (36), who is a mother of 6 children. They took her to the Huwarra detention center for questioning, and released her at about 12:30.

 At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into the eastern part of Qalqilya, and fired indiscriminately at agricultural structures. Damages were reported in greenhouses. No injuries were reported.

 At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into the town of Bani Na’im, southeast of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Ibrahim Shehda El-Manasra, and converted it into a military outpost. The troops left at 10:00.

 At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into the southern part of Nablus. Youth gathered and threw stones at the IOF force, which responded by immediate gunfire. Khalil Jamal Ibrahim Abu Za’rour (13) was injured by bullets in the hand and left foot. He was taken to Rafedia Hospital, where his condition is listed as moderate.

 At approximately 00:30 IOF moved into Bethlehem and closed the Jabal Street in the southwest of the city. The raided and searched a number of houses, including the house belonging to Mahmoud Ismail Fannoun. They handed a summons to Fannoun’s family requiring him to surrender to IOF.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron, and raided and searched a number of houses in the Jabal Abu Mazen and Abu Sneina neighborhoods. The detained 2 Palestinians before withdrawing: Yousef Omran Salim Abu Hussein (19) and Moneer Robien Abu Eisha (22).

 At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into the western quarter of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing, they detained Bashar Na’im Salim El-Karmi (32) and Nasr Taysir Samara (27).

 At approximately 02:30 also, IOF moved into the Thanaba Quarter in Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing, they detained:

 At approximately 02:30 also, IOF moved into Izbit Yassin, northeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched the house belonging to Hasan Yassin. Before withdrawing, they detained the house owner’s son Ibrahim (24).

 At approximately 04:00 IOf moved into Asira El-Shamaleya, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, including the house belonging to Nimr Abdallah Jawabra. At about 08:00, IOF destroyed the house with explosives, claiming to have found explosives in the house. The house consisted of 2 stories and was not inhabited. Before withdrawing at about 09:00, IOF detained:

 At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Nablus and surrounded Yunis Building near Nablus Mall. They called the inhabitants out with loudspeakers, threatening to blow up the building if they did not comply. The residents complied, and IOF detained from among thm Jamil Foqaha (22). And at approximately 09:15 when the troops were withdrawing, youth gathered in Ras El-Ein neighborhood and threw stones at the troops. IOF responded with immediate gunfire and injured 2 youth and a paramedic, Feras Mahmoud Mohammad Yousef (26) who was injured by a bullet in the left foot. The injured youth are Tamer Abdallah Soboh Yamin (20) who was injured by a bullet in the right foot, and Fadi Bilal Abdallah (17) who was hit be a bullet in the face.

 At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into the town of Yatta, south of Hebron. The erected roadblocks on the eastern and northern entrances to the town, and searched a number of houses in the Qafir area in the town.

 At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Ein El-Qarna Quarter in Hebron, and chases youth in the vicinity of the Hebron Governmental Hospital. They detained Rami Nayef Naser El-Deen (17).

 At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into the town of Taqqou’, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses. No detentions were reported.

 At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron and rainded the Mawardi Building in Ein Sara Street in the north of the city. They raided the offices of the “Scientific Mission Association” and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and confiscated documents from the offices.

 At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into the town of Tarqoumya, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, and detained Mohammad Wahid Mohammad Shallaf (31).

 At approximately 01:15 also, IOF moved into the town of Sourif, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, and detained Yousef Moussa Abu Khudeir (23) and Baha’ Kamal Baradeya (18)

 At approximately 01:15 also, IOF moved into El-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron They raided and searched a number of houses, and detained Ashraf Ayed El-Gharous (18) and Sa’id Dieb Hajajra (18).

 At approximately 01:30 IOF moved into El-Ma’ajin Quarter in the south of Nablus. They raided the house of Dr. Mustafa Ahmad El-Shinnar (44) who is a lecturer at El-Najah University. They detained Dr. Shinnar before withdrawing.

 At approximately 01:30 also, IOF moved into the town of Rojiet, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, and detained Amer Abdel Latif El-Halabi (27).

 At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into the town of Salfit, southwest of Nablus. They surrounded tens of houses, raiding and searching many of them. Before withdrawing they detained:

- Sa’id Omar Abdel Raziq Esliem (21), the son of the detained Minister of Finance;

Three hours later, IOF released Riziq Fattash, who told PCHR’s fieldworker that he was taken for questioning to Ariel Settlement.

 At approximately 15:30, an undercover IOF unit moved into Nablus and was followed shortly by regular IOF troops. They surrounded the house belonging to Abdel Ra’ouf Hussein Ahmad El-Khalili (40). They fired at the house and ordered the inhabitants to come out. The household complied; and IOF checked their ID’s. They detained the house owner and 4 of his nephews. El-Khalili is an officer in the Preventive Security Apparatus, and has been wanted by IOF for 4 years. The other detainees are:

On Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF committed a failed extra-judicial assassination in Jenin refugee camp, targeting Zakaria El-Zubeidi (an activist in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah) and Mahmoud El-Sa’di (an activist in Al-Quds Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). The failed attempt was conducted by undercover IOF units, and resulted in the injury of 18 civilians and detention of 5 others. Two of the injured died of their wounds later.

PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 20:30 on Thursday, 6 July 2006, an undercover IOF unit infiltrated Jenin refugee camp in two cars with Palestinian license plates. The cars stopped in front of the Popular Service Committee in the camp, near Dr. Khalil Suliman Hospital. A house of mourning for Fida’ Qandil had been set up in the committee’s premises. The undercover unit got out of the car and opened fire indiscriminately at the house of mourning. Zakaria El-Zubeidi, a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah), and Mahmoud El-Sa’adi, an activist in the Al-Quds Battalions (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) were in the house of mourning. Both managed to get away. Eighteen Palestinians were injured, three of them seriously. Immediately afterwards, nearly thirty IOF vehicles supported by a helicopter moved into Jenin and the refugee camp to ensure the withdrawal of the undercover unit. IOF detained five of the injured. At approximately 22:20, Israeli media outlets announced that one of the kidnapped Palestinians had died. 40 minutes later, the body was handed to a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance. The dead Palestinian was identified as Ahmad Eid Ibrahim Naghnagheya (16). And at approximately 01:00 on the next day, IOF released Ammar Mustafa Abdel Rahman Hannoun (16), who was immediately admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in El-Razi Hospital in Jenin. He was pronounced dead due to his injury 12 hours later.

It is noted that IOF conducted 4 extra-judicial assassinations in the Gaza Strip. Three failed and the fourth succeeded in killing the targeted activist. For more details, refer back to the crimes perpetrated in the Gaza Strip in the first part of the report.

 In the morning of Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF issued a military order confiscating 45 donums adjacent to the settler bypass road “60” east of the town of Yatta, south of Hebron. The land is to be used for a military outpost near the gate in the Annexation Wall along the mentioned bypass road. Saber Hussein El-Hereini, the Head of the Village Council in El-T’wani village stated that the order was delivered to the village council. It confiscates land belonging to the families of Abu Sobha and Abu Arram. The land is adjacent to the western side of the Annexation Wall. The 22 kilometer section of the Wall in the area has cut off nearly 23,000 donums belonging to about 3,500 Palestinians from 11 communities. IOF imposes severe restrictions on movement in the area. The planned military outpost will control the movement of Palestinians in the area between both sides of the Wall.

 At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 7 July 2006, four hundred Palestinians and tens of international and Israeli solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration against the Wall in the village of Bal’in, west of Ramallah. As soon as the demonstrators got near the wall, IOF fired at them and beat them. Four demonstrators suffered bruises. The injured are:

 In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF troops deployed around the Wall in the northwest of Hebron stopped a number of farmers from the town of Beit Ola, and prevented them from accessing their land and harvesting their crops, in land beyond the Wall. The patrol confiscated the farmers’ ID’s and instructed them to go to El-Ja’ba checkpoint north of Sourif. There, they were informed officially that they are barred from accessing their land.

 In the evening of Thursday, 6 July 2006, settlers from the settlement of Suisa, southeast of Yatta, renewed their attacks of Palestinian civilian property around the settlement. They set fire to a Palestinian house in the area. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 12:00 on the day in question, armed settlers from Suisa settlement attacked the house belonging to Mohammad Aziz Shanaran. They destroyed the dwelling, made of rags and canes before setting fire to it. They also burned some fodder for livestock that was stored near the house. About 90 minutes later, IOF arrived at the scene and hindered firefighters from reaching the area.

 In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, settlers from Kiryat Arba’, east of Hebron, resumed construction of a new settler road near the settlement. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that the construction has been on-going under the guardianship of IOF since the evening of Wednesday, 5 July 2006. The road connects the settlement with the “Road of Worshippers” that ends at the Ibrahimi Mosque. The construction is on a 500-meters long road that intrudes land belonging to Sa’id Kayed Da’na, Moussa Mahmoud Jaber, and Jamal Jamil Abu S’eifan.

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.

 Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. PCHR has always warned following the agreement reached between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, which was brokered by the United States and the European Union, that IOF have complete, even though indirect, control over the crossing point. In the past, PCHR has repeatedly warned that the American-brokered borders agreement signed after the implementation of the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip gives Israel complete control over the border crossing and movement through the crossing.

According to information gathered by PCHR, the number of Palestinians stuck in Egypt is more than 4,000. Most of them have been forced to stay in different cities including Cairo, al-Arish and Egyptian Rafah. These Palestinians had traveled to Egypt or through Egypt to other destinations for the purposes of medical treatment, education, visiting relatives or work. In addition, scores of expatriate Palestinian families living in the Gulf States, who had traveled to Rafah International Crossing Point to spend the summer in Gaza, were forced to return to the Gulf.

More than 800 Palestinians, mostly patients, are stuck in the waiting hall at the Egyptian side of Rafah Crossing. They are enduring extremely difficult conditions due to the hot weather and lack of adequate services and facilities, especially for patients. These patients were returning to Gaza after undergoing medical treatment abroad, including surgery. Some of the patients have undergone heart, ophthalmic or orthopedic surgeries. Such patients require special facilities that are not available at the border.

Travelers stuck at the border are also suffering from depleted financial resources and the inability to cope with the expenses of being stuck outside longer than expected. They rely on assistance provided by the Egyptian Red Crescent. They are deprived of services required to meet their basic needs, especially for women, children and the elderly. Furthermore, they are being forcibly separated from their families in the Gaza Strip.

Since the closure of the crossing, 5 Palestinian patients have died in Egyptian hospitals. They are an elderly, 2 women, a girl, and a child. The last one was Fatima Sobhi Mohammad El-Bayyouk (27), who is a mother of 2 children. She arrived at the border on 25 June 2006 after a trip to Saudi Arabia. She was suffering from cancer and spent 3 days at the border. Then she went to stay in the town of Rafah on the Egyptian side. She came to the crossing daily to check and see if it has opened. And at approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 12 July 2006, she fainted outside the crossing’s outer gate. Her brother took her to a nearby hospital. She was admitted to the intensive care unit; but efforts to save her life failed.

IOF refuses to allow the entry of bodies of dead Palestinians for burial in the Gaza Strip. Two were buried in Al-Arish, while 3 others are kept in mortuaries in Cairo.

 Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Patients, families of prisoners on visits to their kin in Israeli jails, laborers, Palestinian government officials and parliamentarians, international aid workers, and diplomats have been prevented from passing through the checkpoint. During the reported period, the crossing was opened for 2 hours only to allow some internationals to pass through.

 Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have closed the crossing, which is the main commercial crossing for the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. IOF have prevented the free flow of fuel, food and medical supplies since. The Gaza Strip was suffering from a lack gas and fuel even before the latest tightening of the closure. The crossing was not opened at all this week despite Israeli media claims that it was to be opened for food products.

The Nahal Oz checkpoint was opened for a few hours to allow some fuel into the Strip.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. 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 IOF, which use 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.

 Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in occupied Jerusalem. They reinforced their presence at checkpoints erected at the entrances of the city and stopped and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles. They also patrolled in the streets and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. Qalandia checkpoint is crowded during rush hour traffic in the morning and evening due to the slow search and verification procedures. Only 2 Palestinians at a time are allowed into the electronic search rooms at the checkpoint.

At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the eastern entrance of El-Eizareya, east of Jerusalem. The searched vehicles, and detained two Palestinians: Jeyad Salim El-Emour (22, from Taqqou’) and Yaqoub Salama Askar (25) from El-Fardis in Bethlehem.

 Ramallah: IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They reinforced their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at the checkpoint abuse Palestinian civilians.

In the evening of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the new road adjacent to Ramallah, east of Qalandia checkpoint. They searched passing vehicles and hindered the movement of an ambulance for 35 minutes. Also, the troops at the checkpoint beat Emad Mohammad El-Atrash (36) from Hebron. He suffered severe bruises in the face.

In the morning of Monday, 10 July 2006, IOF closed the Yabroud Road, northeast of Ramallah. The road serves 15 villages in the area.

 Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close Nablus-Jenin road for 10 months, and al-Bathan road, northeast of the city, for 12 weeks. In the morning of Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint detained hundreds of commuters, subjecting them to slow search procedures.

In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF closed the Nablus-Jenin road almost completely. The road was closed near the entrance of Homish settlement. In addition, IOF erected 2 roadblocks on the Nablus-Ramallah road. Search procedures were extremely slow.

At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road between Yasid and Asira El-Shamaleya. The stopped a Palestinian car and detained its 4 passengers till 02:00 the next day, claiming to have found a knife with them. The detainees, who are all from Yasid, are:

In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, detained Rami Eyad Abu Warda (18, from Nablus) and Walid Mustafa Ateyya Shehab (28) from Anabata, east of Tulkarm.

At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 10 July 2006, IOF detained Ahmad Mahmoud Ahmad Yassin (22) from Asira El-Shamaleya, north of Nablus. He was detained as he crossed the settler bypass road adjacent to the town leading from the Jabal Atil outpost to Shavi Shamron settlement northwest of Nablus.

At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 11 July 2006, IOF troops stationed at Biet checkpoint, northwest of Nablus detained Adham Tahsin El-Shouli (20) from the Asira El-Shamaleya. He was on his way home from El-Najah University, where he studies.

 Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. In the evening of Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF troops stationed at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, prevented Palestinians returning to the city from passing through. The closure coincided with the return of hundred of employees from Ramallah to spend the weekend with their families.

On Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF closed the Wad El-Teen and Ennab checkpoints, preventing hundreds of employees from leaving the city to other West Bank areas. The checkpoints were reopened at about 10:00, but passage was subject to slow and strict search procedures.

On Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF closed the Ramatin plain road near Ennab checkpoint with earth barriers. They also closed the Wad El-Teen dirt road near the Wad El-Teen checkpoint with earth barriers. Furthermore, IOF erected a checkpoint near Bala’ intersection, east of Tulkarm. They detained commuters for hours under the blazing sun under the pretext of verifying their ID’s.

On Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF at El-Karama International Border Crossing with Jordan detained Dr. Hasan Khreisha, the Second Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, on his way to the OPT from Strasburg.

 Jenin: On Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF erected 2 checkpoints at the Arraba intersection and on the southern entrance of Bier El-Basha village on the Jenin-Nablus road. They detained tens of vehicles, and checked the ID’s of passengers.

In the morning of Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF erected a number of checkpoints around the town of Toubas, southeast of Jenin. One was at the entrance of the town of Tammoun, another on the entrance of Anabta, and a third near the Wadi el-Far’a area. They detained tens of vehicles, and searched passengers.

In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF sealed off the northern Jordan valley area east of Toubas. IOF closed the Tayasir checkpoint and prevented travel in and out of the area.

In the morning of Monday, 10 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Arraba intersection on the Jenin-Nablus road. They detained tens of vehicles, verified ID’s of passengers, and searched the vehicles.

 Bethleham: IOF continue to close the main and western entrances of Beit Jala since Wednesday, 5 July 2006. These are the only western terminals of Bethlehem. PCHR’s fieldworker reported that IOF on the permanent checkpoint at the Housing Intersection west of the city are preventing Palestinian vehicles from traveling either way of the checkpoint. Only medical crews are allowed to pass after they are searched. In addition, IOF impose restriction on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout Bethlehem, barring their travel on road 60 west of the Bethlehem.

In the morning of Thursday, 6 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the Taqqou’ village intersection. They detained vehicles and pedestrians for hours, subjecting them to searches and field interrogations. And at approximately 15:00, IOF erected a checkpoint at the intersection of the villages of Dar Salah and El-Khalsa, east of Beit Sahour. They detained vehicles and pedestrians for hours under the blazing sun, subjecting them to searches and field interrogations.

In the afternoon of Monday, 10 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the main entrance of the village of Taqqou’, southeast of Bethlehem. IOF detained vehicles and subjected passengers to searches. Many were kept under the sun for 2 hours.

In the evening of Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF on the permanent checkpoint on the Wadi El-nar road detained Mohammad Yehya El-Qassas (36) from D’heisha refugee camp. He was detained as he attempted to return home from work through the checkpoint.

 Hebron: IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of civilians. For the second consecutive week, IOF closed roads 60 and 35, preventing Palestinians from using them. IOF troops patrol these roads around the clock, and fire at Palestinians suspected of attempting to use them.

On Friday, 7 July 2006, IOF prevented thousands of Muslim worshippers from reaching the Ibrahimi Mosque and nearby Quarters of the old city in Hebron.

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Wadi Sa’ir intersection, northeast of Hebron. They detained vehicles and pedestrians for hours under the blazing sun, subjecting them to searches and field interrogations.

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 8 July 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on El-Nasba intersection, and another on El-Kanab area on the Halhoul bridge, north of Hebron. A third checkpoint was erected on the western entrance of the town. IOF troops at these checkpoints detained vehicles and pedestrians for hours under the blazing sun, subjecting them to searches and field interrogations. Many youth were kept standing under the sun for hours.

In the morning of Saturday, IOF troops stationed at permanent checkpoints on the entrance to the Ibrahimi Mosque stopped renovations in the mosque. The renovations committee members were instructed by IOF to go for interviews by Israeli intelligence (Shin Bet).

In the morning of Sunday, 9 July 2006, IOF renewed a military order to close hundreds of shops and commercial enterprises as well as 12 streets in area 2H in Hebron, including the Ibrahimi Mosque and old city. The order runs till next November. Access to the area and shops is restricted to those who obtain a special permit from the IOF civil administration. The closure order has been renewed repeatedly. PCHR’s fieldworker reported that the closed areas are the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque and the following streets: Shuhada, Old El-Shalala, New El-Shalala, El-Sahla, Old City Square, Khan Shahin, El-Qazazin, El-Hadadin, El-Salayma, El-Masharqa El-Tahta, El-Masharqa El-Fouqa, Wadi El-Husein, El-Nasara, Tal El-Rumeida, El-Karantina, El-Daboya, and other alleys and streets adjacent to the Israeli settlement enclave inside Hebron. The closure order affects nearly 1,000 enterprises. Although security reasons are cited as the motive for the closure, it is clear that this effort contributes to Judaizing the city.

On Monday, 10 July 2006, IOF renewed a military order closing 9 shops under the building where the settlement enclave of Beit Hadasah is located, in the Old Shalala Street. The order runs for one year.

At approximately 19:00 on Sunday 9 July 2006, IOF troops stationed at the checkpoint on the entrance of Wadi El-Ghoros Quarter in the southeast of Hebron detained a Palestinian from a taxi. The detainee’s identity remains unknown.

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 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 proposed Gaza disengagement plan for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of 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 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.

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).