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. 15/2006 13 - 19 April 2006

Israeli Occupation Forces continue to wage arbitrary arrest campaigns

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

Following a bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006, the Israeli government decided on a series of retaliatory measures against Palestinian civilians, including separating the north and south of the West Bank; denial of access of Palestinian workers to their work places inside Israel; and increasing extra-judicial executions. PCHR reminds the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949 that “No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited. Pillage is prohibited. Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.” (Article 33).

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (13–19 April 2006):

Killing: On Monday evening, 17 April 2006, a Palestinian child, 15-year-old Mamdouh ‘Obaid, was killed and two other were wounded, when IOF fired a number of artillery shells at Sheikh Zayed town, to the east of Beit Lahia. One of the shells hit a playground, where at least 20 children were playing football. On 15 April 2006, ‘Ayada Suleiman ‘Abdullah al-Tarabin, 28, from Rafah, died from a wound he had sustained on 7 April 2006. Al-Tarabin was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body when IOF aircrafts launched missiles at a number of Palestinians in Rafah. The attack left 5 Palestinians, including a child, dead and wounded 6 others.

During the reported period, IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. They fired artillery shells at houses. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged and 10 civilians, including 4 children, were wounded.

During the reported period, 31 Palestinian civilians, including 25 in Nablus, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF carried out repeated incursions into Nablus. IOF also conducted 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 73 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children. In addition, IOF transformed 10 houses into military sites. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions. In an attempt to exert pressure on allegedly wanted Palestinians to surrender, IOF arrested 7 of their wives and mothers. Later, 6 of these women were released, while the seventh has remained in custody.

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. IOF have continued to monitor the movement of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. Although IOF have allowed the transportation of food aid from Egypt into the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, southeast of Rafah, the crossing has not yet been officially opened. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip from reaching their work places in Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. They have continued to prevent hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip from traveling to the West Bank. IOF have closed al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. During the reported period, the crossing was reopened for a few hours. As a result, the economic conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated.

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. Following the bombing that occurred in Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006, IOF decided to separate the north and south of the West Bank. On Tuesday morning, 18 April 2006, IOF closed Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. IOF also reinforced their presence at various checkpoints in the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF closed all outlets of the Wall along the main road between Dahiat al-Bardi checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, and Qalandya crossing, south of Ramallah. According to eyewitnesses, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road in the morning and started to close all outlets. IOF have therefore separated the Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village from the city. Before the closure of these outlets, Palestinian civilians used to travel to the city directly through the Arab Post intersection towards al-Dahia checkpoint, but following the closure, they are forced to pass through Qalandya checkpoint in the north and then must travel back to the south. At least 70,000 Palestinians living in the Dahiat al-Barid area, al-Ram village, the Sameeramis area and Kufor ‘Aqab village, north of Jerusalem, who have Israeli identity cards, are now threatened with separation from Jerusalem and are therefore being deprived of their political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. IOF also closed iron gates in the Wall in some areas of the West Bank and prevented Palestinian civilians from reaching their agricultural lands.

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 and IOF violently beat a Palestinian civilian and his child in Hebron. In addition, Israeli settlers from “Routam” settlement, in the Wadi al-Maleh area of the northern Jordan Valley, positioned a mobile home surrounded by barbed wire in the area.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (13–19 April 2006)

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

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ra’ed and ‘Aa’ed Sidqi Yamin, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired an artillery shell at ‘Abasan village. The shell hit an area of agricultural at the main road that links the village with the villages of Bani Suhaila and Khuza’a, nearly 2500 meters away from the border.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF, reinforced by 3 tanks and a bulldozer, moved 100 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled an area of land already razed during the al-Aqsa Intifada. IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 16:00 but moved into the area again on the following day. They filled up parts of a valley in the area. This incursion followed the killing of two Palestinian militants by IOF on Wednesday, 12 April 2006.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Buqai’a area in the east of Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mahmoud Fathi Bani ‘Ouda, 19.

· Throughout the day, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired dozens of artillery shells at the towns of Jabalya, Beit Lahia and Beit Hanoun. Those shells hit agricultural lands and damaged plants and greenhouses. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched dozens of houses and forced the residents out. They then arrested two Palestinians:

1. Yasser ‘Abdul Rahim Shawish, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces; and

· At approximately 12:30, IOF raided Far’oun elementary school for girls, where a free medical service day to assist residents of the village was organized. Israeli soldiers broke into classrooms and held Mohammed Jihad Budair, 19, from several hours. IOF searched the school. Palestinian civilians were terrified and many of them were not able to reach the school.

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They opened fire into the air and fired tear gas canisters. The patrolled in alleys and chased young men and children. IOF withdrew from the camp later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:00, Ibrahim Na’im al-Sinwar, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, was wounded by shrapnel to the left foot, when he was in Sheikh Zayed town to the east of Beit Lahia, which was shelled by IOF.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They opened fire at a civilian vehicle belonging to a bakery in the town. Nader Sa’di al-Dahdouh, 31, was seriously wounded by two live bullets to the back and the side. Before their withdrawal at approximately 06:00, IOF arrested two Palestinian civilians:

In his testimony to PCHR, Mojahed Mustafa Ahmed ‘Ouda, 26, the driver of the bakery’s vehicle, stated:

“At approximately 02:45 on Saturday, 15 April 2006, I brought my colleague, 31-year-old Nader al-Dahdouh, from his house in the industrial zones to the northwest of Balata refugee camp. Al-Dahdouh sat on the front seat near me. We moved out of the industrial zone traveling to the bakery in Nablus. Suddenly, our vehicle was fired at from the market of Balata refugee camp. Al-Dahdouh was wounded to the back and the side. I was forced to escape towards the city.”

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Farouq ‘Abdul Latif Zamel, 20, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Burj village, west of Hebron. They raided ands searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Amru, 41, and arrested him.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery shells at al-Sayafa area in the northwest of Beit Lahia. One of those shells fell nearly 300 meters away from a house belonging to Naji Yasser Tafseh, 22. He was wounded by shrapnel to the back.

· At approximately 17:25, medical sources at the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that ‘Ayada Suleiman ‘Abdullah al-Tarabin, 28, from Rafah, died from a wound he had sustained on 7 April 2006. Al-Tarabin was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body when IOF aircrafts launched missiles at a number of Palestinians in Rafah. The attack left 5 Palestinians, including a child, dead and wounded 6 others (see PCHR’s previous report).

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They besieged a Palestinian police station in the south of the village and prevented Palestinian civilians from reaching it. They confiscated the guard’s gun and withdrew from the village.

· At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They ordered residents of the village through megaphones to get out of their houses and gather at a school in the village. At least 40% of the residents gathered at the school. IOF verified their identity cards. At approximately 12:00, IOF placed 14-year-old ‘Abdullah Nizar Ziada into a military jeep and interrogated him. IOF raided and searched a number of houses. Before their withdrawal from the village at approximately 03:00 on the following day, IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

· At approximately 22:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip. The shelling continued until the following morning. The average number of shells fired at the area was 15 per minute. A number of shells fell near Palestinian house in the Bedouin village, northwest of Beit Lahia. A number of houses were damaged and Palestinian civilians, especially children, were terrified.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed two of them into military sites. They then arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

At approximately 07:30, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles in the village. Immediately, IOF opened fire at these civilians, wounding 4 of them:

3. Mohammed Sa’id ‘Amarna, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the buttocks; and

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. According to eyewitnesses, IOF transformed a house belonging to attorney Mohammed Ahmed ‘Eissa in the west of the town into a military site. At approximately 10:00, IOF reinforced their presence in the town and the refugee camp.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qoud village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’ed Thabet Abu ‘Obaid, 22, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Sourfi village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses in al-Farraza area in the west of the village. They arrested Ra’ef Sharif Humaidat, 27.

· At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Zeif area in the northeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided a two-storey house belonging to Mahmoud Yousef Jebril. They held the 10 residents of the house in one room and transformed it into a military site.

· At approximately 16:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip fired dozens of artillery shells at the industrial zone to the southeast of Beit Hanoun. A number of shells fell onto a cow farm belonging to the ‘Afana family. As a result, 46 cows were killed and the farm was damaged.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Fayez Gharib, 21, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ra’fat Mustafa al-Najjar, 21, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed 4 of them into military sites. They also arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

At approximately 08:30, a number of Palestinian children gathered in Sheikh Musallam neighborhood and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the children, wounding 16-year-old Bassel Sa’id al-Fakhouri with shrapnel to the buttocks. At approximately 11:30, a number of Palestinian children gathered in the al-Qaisariya area in the old town. They observed journalists who were photographing a house belonging to Bassem Bishara, which was seized by IOF. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the journalists and the children from inside the house. Two Palestinian children were wounded:

A live bullet also hit the front window of a car belonging to Nasser Eshtayeh, a cameraman from Associated Press. The car was clearly marked “press”.

· At approximately 13:40, IOF, reinforced by at least 30 military vehicles, moved into Nablus. They opened fire indiscriminately. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF opened fire at houses and markets, wounding 14 civilians, including 5 children and a woman:

2. Jihad Jamal Zanati, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot;

4. Nidal al-Sheikh Qassem, 37, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

5. ‘Aahed Kamal Daoud, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

6. Ma’ath Mohammed Tawfiq, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

7. Basma Muneeb’Abdul Fattah, 35, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot;

8. ‘Ali ‘Azmi Abu Shamat, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

9. Yasser Khaled al-Karmi, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the ear;

11. Ahmed Majdi Wahbi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

12. Ra’ed Shaker Mashi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

13. Fadi Mahmoud Qassem, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand; and

· At approximately 17:30, IOF gunboats positioned opposite to the Rafah seashore fired a number of artillery shells and heavy caliber bullets at the coasts. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 18:30, IOF fired a number of artillery shells at Sheikh Zayed town to the east of Beit Lahia. One of the shells fell near a playground located approximately 300 meters away from a residential area, where at least 20 Palestinian children were playing football. Soon afterwards, another shell was fired at the children before they had managed to leave the area, leaving 3 children wounded. They were evacuated to al-‘Awda Hospital in Jabalya. One of the children, 17-year-old Mamdouh Mohammed ‘Obaid, died on the way to the hospital. The other two children who were wounded are: Mohammed Hamdi Abu Tabaq, 14, and ‘Ammar Abu al-Kas, 15.

· At approximately 00:10, an IOF aircraft launched a missile at a workshop belonging to Mousa Ramadan al-Banna in ‘Asqoula neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The workshop was severely damaged, but no casualties were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mazen Hassan Abu Sakout, 24, and arrested him. They also arrested his nephew, 24-year-old Mahmoud ‘Ali Hamdan al-Taraira, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard, who was allegedly wanted by IOF.

· At approximately 02:25, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm and neighboring refugee camps. In the west of the town, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khaled Jamal al-Zaqla, 21, and arrested him. In the east of the town, IOF raided a number of houses belonging to the Abu Shanab family. They forced the residents out and checked their identity cards. They then searched the houses and arrested Bader ‘Abdul Karim Abu Shanab, 18, and Jameel Jamal Abu Shanab, 21. IOF also besieged a house belonging to Ghaleb Mahmoud al-Tuhal, 59, who is blind. Israeli soldiers detonated a sound bomb at the door. His wife opened the door and Israeli soldiers violently broke into the house. Al-Tuhal was angry and protested this raid. A number of Israeli soldiers took him out of the house and violently beat him. He sustained bruises to the shoulders, the chest and the neck. He also suffered from shock. Israeli soldiers prevented ambulances from attending him for two hours. Other Israeli soldiers searched the houses and arrested his three sons: Mahmoud, 29; Bahaa;, 26; and ‘Alaa’, 21.

In the south of the town, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Husni al-Jallad, 19, and arrested him.

In Tulkarm refugee camp, IOF besieged a number of houses in al-Nadi quarter and forced their residents out. They verified the identity cards of these residents and arrested 4 of them:

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Ghazi al-Wawi, 21, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mo’men Hisham ‘Edwan, 19, and arrested him. The family held IOF responsible for his safety, as he had been wounded by two live bullets to the legs, when IOF opened fire at a peaceful demonstration in the village on 12 February 2006. He has not yet recovered from these injuries.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Isma’il al-Hourani, 24, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the al-Swaiti family and arrested Zaid Nader al-Swaiti, 18.

· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Samer Sameeh Qassem Hammad, 20, who carried out a bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006. They arrested his father, 51; his brother Sami, 15; and his relative Saleh Hammad, 15.

· At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 11:30, IOF shelled Palestinian towns in the northern Gaza Strip. A number of shells hit the al-‘Atatra area in Beit Lahia. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Na’im al-‘Attar, 25, was wounded by shrapnel to the head, while he was working on his agricultural land.

· At approximately 12:00, a number of shells fired by IOF fell near the Palestinian customs department in the east of Jabalya. A Palestinian civilian, 30-year-old Ahmed Saber Salha, was wounded by shrapnel to the face, while he was driving a truck on the main road in the area.

· At approximately 13:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery shells at towns in the northern Gaza Strip. One of these shells fell near a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdul Malek Abu Ghazara, 42, in the Bedouin Village to the north of Beit Lahia. He was wounded by shrapnel to the right knee.

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, for the second time that day. According to eyewitnesses, 3 IOF jeeps moved into the village and stopped near the headquarters of the Palestinian Civil Defense. Three persons got out of one of the jeeps and photographed the headquarters.

· At approximately 17:00, IOF resumed shelling of towns in the northern Gaza Strip. A Palestinian civilian, 24-year-old Mohammed ‘Abdul Hai Hassanain, was wounded by shrapnel to the right shoulder and the jaw, while he was grazing sheep in the east of Beit Hanoun.

· At approximately 17:50, IOF shelled Tal Qulaibu area in the east of Beit Lahia and Sheikh Zayed town. A Palestinian civilian, 21-year-old Suleiman Saber Nusair, was wounded by shrapnel to the head, while was walking on Salah al-Din road to the east of Beit Hanoun.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled the streets, opened fire indiscriminately and raided and searched a number of houses. They also raided two mosques in the old town. IOF arrested Hussam Mahmoud Mefleh, 22. In an attempt to exert pressure on allegedly wanted Palestinians, IOF arrested 7 women who are the wives and mothers of these Palestinians. IOF released 6 of them later, while kept the seventh woman in custody. She is Samia Qaffisha, the wife of Fadi Qaffisha, who is a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement. Before their withdrawal at 09:00, IOF confiscated a camera belonging to Nasser Eshtayeh, a cameraman from the Associated Press.

· At approximately 09:45, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel shelled towns in the northern Gaza Strip. A Palestinian child, 16-year-old Isma’il Mohammed Balli, was wounded by shrapnel to the back, while he was walking on a road in the Bedouin village, north of Beit Lahia.

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Nablus again. They patrolled the streets and opened fire indiscriminately. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at these children, wounding 5 of them and two passing civilians:

3. Ayman Mustafa Killab, 30, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

5. Mohammed Jihad al-Natour, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot;

6. Sari Basel Mansour, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot; and

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. Daily working hours at the crossing point have been increased to 10 hours. It is noted that Kerem Shalom commercial crossing to the southeast of Rafah, which is designated for imports under joint Israeli-Palestinian control is not operating. The crossing was opened a few weeks ago to allow the transportation of food aid from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, as a result of to the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by repeated closures of al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing. On 11 April 2006, IOF established an observation tower equipped with cameras near the crossing, which might in preparation for officially opening the crossing.

· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: This crossing is the only commercial crossing serving the Gaza Strip. IOF frequently close the crossing as a means of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 16 April 2006, IOF closed the crossing. The crossing was reopened for only 4 hours on the following day. IOF re-closed the crossing on Tuesday, 18 April 2006, and this closure has remained effective. Since the beginning of 2006, IOF have repeated closed Karni crossing. As a result of this closure, many basic foodstuffs, medicines and raw materials have become unavailable in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Minister of Health stated that at least 150 types of medicines have disappeared in the markets of the Gaza Strip. According to sources of the Palestinian Ministry of Education, the examinations of the General Secondary Certificate (Tawjihi) may be threatened with postponement due to the lack of paper.

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. During the reported period, IOF decreased the number of patients permitted to travel to Israeli hospitals from 50 to 20. IOF have allowed international workers and Palestinian National Authority officials who have VIP cards to pass through the crossing, but without their private cars.

· Sofa crossing: IOF also control Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, which is designated for the transportation of construction raw materials. On 26 March 2006, IOF reopened the crossing after it had been closed since 14 February 2006. On 13 April 2006, IOF closed the crossing for no apparent reason. They reopened it on 16 April 2006, but re-closed it two days later. The crossing is designed for the exportation of construction raw materials. During the reported period, wheat was allowed to be imported through the crossing.

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 IOF, 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 Palesti