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. 37/2006 14 - 20 September 2006

Khaled Hamdan Qeshta’s in Rafah, which was bombarded by Israeli warplanes on 15 September 2006 after he had been warned by Israeli Occupation Forces through a phone call.

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

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. During the reported period, IOF have continued their attacks on Palestinian civilians and property.

PCHR, monitoring with utmost concern the developments of this offensive, calls upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and United Nations, to immediately intervene to force IOF to stop this offensive and lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. PCHR also warns the international community of the consequences of the policy of collective punishment and reprisals practiced by IOF against the Palestinian civilian population, especially the destruction of energy resources and the denial of the flow of fuels needed for providing basic services.

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (14 – 20 September 2006):

Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 3 Palestinians. A Palestinian child also died from a previous wound.

In the Gaza Strip, an IOF special unit shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Rafah on Thursday morning, 14 September 2006. IOF moved into the area to arrest two Palestinians, and shot this civilian dead when he was sitting in front of his house. On 20 September 2006, an IOF drone fired a missile at a Palestinian civilian in Jabalya, when he was in an area from which locally made rockets are fired at Israel. The victim was a resident of the area. On the same day, a 16-year-old child died from a previous wound she had sustained on 2 September 2006, when IOF shot dead her father and brother. In addition, a Palestinian woman was wounded by the IOF shelling in Beit Lahia.

Thus, the number of Palestinians killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip since 25 June 2006 has increased to 231, including 49 children and 12 women. In addition, 814 others, mostly civilians, including 216 children, 31 women, 4 paramedics and 6 journalists, have been wounded.

IOF also launched 3 air strikes on 4 houses Rafah, claming that there were tunnels under these houses. Those houses were totally destroyed and a number of neighboring houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged.

In the west Bank, on Friday morning, IOF extra-judicially killed a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military wing of Fatah movement, in Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. IOF claimed that the victim, who was a resident of Beit Fourik village near Nablus, fired at them when they came to arrest him, but investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim. In addition, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were wounded by IOF gunfire throughout the West Bank.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF conducted at least 42 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they raided dozens of houses and arrested 52 Palestinian civilians, including a child, a woman, a member of the municipal council of Bethlehem, the Mufti of Bethlehem and a university lecturer. IOF also transformed a house into a military site. In an act of piracy, IOF broke into the Jordanian National Bank and 11 money exchange shops in the West Bank. They arrested 7 money exchangers and confiscated big amounts of money. Israeli sources estimated the confiscated money at 6 million NIS (US$ 1.3 million), and claimed that these money exchange shop transferred amounts of money that were used to finance attacks on Israeli targets. In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 4 incursions in the southern Gaza Strip villages of ‘Abasan and al-Shouka, and into Erez industrial zone in the north. During these incursions IOF arrested 5 Palestinians and demolished at least 30 factories and workshops.

Restrictions on Movement: 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.

IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

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. IOF have closed commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. During the reported period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza City, and Sofa and Kerem Shalom crossings near Rafah. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. On Sunday, 17 September 2006, IOF suddenly closed the crossing for alleged security reasons. In addition, IOF have prevented Palestinian fishermen from fishing for 3 months.

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of 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 between the north and south of the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 7 Palestinian civilians.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF issued a military order to construct a new section of the Wall around ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya. According to the order, a 4500-meter-long section of the Wall will be constructed, extending from “Sha’ari Tikva” settlement to “Uranit” settlement. According to local sources, upon its construction, this section of the Wall will isolate at least 2000 donums[1] of agricultural land belonging to Palestinian civilians. IOF also used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli peace activists in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians and 3 Israeli solidarity activists sustained bruises.

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. Israeli settlers raided a house in Hebron and violently beat the owner and his son. Other Israeli settlers damaged the fence of a house in Hebron. In addition, Israeli settlers violently beat an old Palestinian civilian in Yatta village, south of Hebron. In Qalqilya, Israeli settlers seized a house in Kufor Qddoum village for some time. In the context of settlement expansion activities, IOF razed large areas in the south of al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron, to establish a new settlers road.

o 267 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 52 children and 12 women, have been killed by IOF.

o At least 993 Palestinian civilians, including 284 children and 37 women, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.

o At least 259 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip.

o Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.

o The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked.

o 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed.

o Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed.

o Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 9 ministers and 31 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, have been arrested. Minster of Prisoners’ Affairs, Minister of Labor and Second Deputy Speaker of the PLC were released.

o Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses.

o IOF intelligence has warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked.

o 43 houses belonging to activists of Palestinian factions were destroyed by IOF warplanes.

o IOF have imposed a strict siege on the OPT, and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (14 – 20 September 2006)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank

· At approximately 00:30, IOF permanently positioned in the center and south of Hebron, raided some houses in the old town. They forced dozens of male Palestinian civilians aged over 14 out of their houses and held them for more than an hour near the Ibrahimi Mosque. IOF claimed that they wanted to identify the people living in the area. IOF soldiers checked and verified the identity cards of these civilians.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Ibrahim Naghneghia, 27.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Marda village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Dwairban neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Arafat Shaher al-Fakhouri. The held the ten residents of the house in one room and transformed the house into a military sites. They also damaged the furniture and windows of the house. IOF soldiers left the house on the following day afternoon.

· In the morning, an IOF special unit shot dead a Palestinian civilian who was sitting near his house in Rafah. The unit infiltrated into the area in the predawn to arrest two Palestinians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 07:30, Eyad ‘Atwa Abou Mour, 31, went out of his house in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, to buy some groceries from a neighboring shop. His neighbors told him that an IOF special unit moved nearly 1000 meters into the area and that it was not clear where IOF soldiers were hiding. Abu Mour then sat in front of his house and asked his wife to prepare tea for him. Soon, an IOF soldiers hiding in a house belonging to ‘Abdul Karim Abu Mour, nearly 50 meters away, shot him dead with a live bullet to the head. The IOF soldiers had already raided ‘Abdul Karim Abu Mour’s house and transformed it in a military site. Before their withdrawal from the area at approximately 17:00, IOF soldiers arrested Abu Mour’s two sons: Hashem, 30; and Hatem, 20.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into al-Duha village, west of Bethlehem. They raided a café in the village, and arrested Eyad Habib, 33.

· At approximately 01:00, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 220-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 24 people (5 families) live, belonging to Khaled Hamdan Qeshta, near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. The house was destroyed, and 8 neighboring houses, where 90 people (14 families) live were severely damaged. According to Qeshta, he received a call on his mobile phone at 00:45 from a person who identified himself as an Israeli intelligence officer, who informed him that the house would be attacked in 15 minutes. As Qeshta was out of the house, he informed his family to vacate the house. IOF claimed that the house was attacked for suspicions that a tunnel was under it, which was used by Qeshta to smuggle weapons.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim ‘Abdul Jalil Qutaina, 21, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. They withdrew from the town at approximately 04:00 and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and beat their residents. According to eyewitnesses, IOF soldiers violently beat Mohammed Rashid ‘Ennab, 32. He was evacuated to the hospital. Before their withdrawal from the camp at approximately 05:30, IOF soldiers arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, and erected two checkpoints; one on al-Zababda – Qabatya road and the other one on the road leading to the Arab American University. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into Erez industrial zone to the north of Beit Hanoun. They demolished at least 30 factories and workshops, belonging to Palestinians and Israelis. These factories and workshop had stopped working following the IOF redeployment from the Gaza Strip. At least 5000 Palestinian used to work in them.

· At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF opened fire into the air to disperse the children. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They opened fire indiscriminately. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at the children, wounding 16-year-old Ayman Nour Bani ‘Ouda with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Battir village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested Mazen Bashir Qasqas, 23.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Artas village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Aqabet Taffouh neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Sami al-Hashlamoun, 35, who has been detained in an Israeli jail, and arrested his wife, 34-year-old Noura Mohammed Jaber, a mother of 6 children, the eldest of whom is 13 yeards old. IOF soldiers terrified the children and damaged the house.

· At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Duha village. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 05:30, IOF positioned along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north and east of Beit Lahia, fired a number of artillery shells at agricultural areas the north and east of the town. As a result, Yasmine Madi Khudair, 20, was wounded by shrapnel to the left hand, when she was inside her house.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided a number of agricultural nurseries in the east of the town. They arrested two Palestinian civilians: Eihab Hassan Shwahna, 20; and Munther Qassem Mehzen, 25. The two civilian were released later after they have been interrogated by IOF.

· At approximately 11:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tanfar neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron, traveling in a civilian vehicle. The vehicles intercepted a civilian car near al-Tahreer Square, and IOF soldiers arrested two Palestinians from the car:

· At approximately 12:15, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and erected a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the village. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· At approximately 19:30, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tulkarm refugee camp, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicles stopped near a house belonging to Mohammed Qawzah, who is allegedly wanted by IOF. Palestinian civilian discovered the presence of the unit. Immediately, IOF soldiers opened fire indiscriminately. Soon after, a number of IOF military vehicles moved in the camp. IOF soldiers fired at Palestinian civilians who threw stones at their vehicles. Two civilians were wounded:

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Awad ‘Atawna, 24, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed ‘Abdul Majid Abrayoush, 22, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Fadi Khaled ‘Aamer, 20.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Be’r al-Mahjar neighborhood in the northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sheikh Hazem Yusri al-Haimouni, 40, and arrested him.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Abu Rumman neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They besieged a Palestinian police station. They forced those who were inside the station to get out. IOF then raided and searched the station, and arrested two police officers:

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They opened fire indiscriminately and leveled areas of agricultural land, which they had already razed. IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 17:00.

· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin. a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the children. As a result, 4 civilians, including 3 children, were lightly wounded:

1. Hassan ‘Aassem Mansour, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

2. Mahmoud Mousa Abu ‘Olayan, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

3. Ahmed Sa’id Abu ‘Ata, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg; and

4. Tawfiq Naji Abu Muhsen, 58, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

· At approximately 23:20, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 270-square-meter, two-storey house, in which 27 people (6 families) live, belonging to Sakta Mohammed al-Rumailat in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. According to Musallam al-Rumailat, a resident of the house, the family received a number of phone calls from the IOF intelligence, in which he was informed to vacate the house because it would be attacked. IOF claimed that they received information that there was a tunnel under the house.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Shawawra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Ussarin village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Baraa’ Mohammed Abu Ja’far, 21.

· At approximately 12:35, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin, traveling in a civilian car. The car stopped in front of a shop of construction raw materials belonging to Suhail Ghanem in the east of the village. Three persons wearing civilian clothes got out of the car. One of them pointed a pistol to the head of Ayman ‘Abdullah ‘Ateeq, 30, a worker in the shop, and ordered him to end a phone call he was making. The three persons then ordered him to stand up, took him into their car and left the area. IOF claimed that they arrested a wanted member of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of shops and commercial buildings. They also stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. IOF withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of shops and restaurants. They checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians. IOF withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and fired live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. IOF soldiers chased the children and arrested 14-year-old Wissam Yousef Nazzal.

· At approximately 01:10, an IOF fighter jet dropped 3 bombs at two houses belonging to Fathi ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Jaradat, in which 8 people (two families) live, in al-Shouka village in the east of Rafah. The two houses were destroyed. Jaradat received two calls on his mobile phone at 00:00 and 00:30, in which he was informed by the IOF intelligence that his houses would be attacked. He informed his family and the neighbors about these calls to take precautions.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to a number of money exchangers. They forced those exchangers to go to their shops and open then, and then confiscated amount of money and checksز

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, IOF broke into a house belonging to Kamal ‘Abdul Haim Diab, 52, in the east of the town. They held the family in one room and searched the house. They then forced him to a company them towards shop of money exchange in the center of the town. They ordered him to open the door, but he told him that he gave the keys to his sister. They did not wait for him to bring the keys, and broke the locks. They searched the shops. They then confiscated amounts of money and some jewelry, and arrested Diab.

In the west of the town, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Mustafa ‘Awad, 40. They forced him to accompany them towards his shop of money exchange and jewelry in the center of the town. They forced him to open the shop. They searched the shops and confiscated amounts of money, some jewelry and checks. They then arrested him.

Soon after, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed ‘Awad. As he is ill, they forced his son, 26-year-old Nihad, to accompany them towards a shop of money exchange in the center of the town. They forced him to open the door. They then searched the shop, confiscated amounts of money and checks and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They broke into the Jordanian National Bank in the center of the city. They damaged its contents and confiscated computer sets.

IOF also broke into a money exchange shop belonging to Hussam Fakhri Abu ‘Olayan, opposite to the bank. They blew up the coffer and confiscated US$ 50,000 and a number of documents.

IOF then broke into a money exchange shop belonging to Anwar Mustafa ‘Olayan and Amjad Mahmoud Hamad near the central market, and confiscated at least 180,000 NIS (approximately US$ 41,500) in checks and 50,000 NIS (approximately US$ 11,500) in cash, in addition to a computer set, a printer and a fax machine.

Later, IOF broke into a money exchange shop belonging to ‘Afif Mohammed Mulaitat opposite to the post office, and confiscated 40,000 NIS (approximately US$ 920) and a number of checks. IOF also arrested Ghaleb Hussein Swaidan, a money exchanger.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They broke into 3 money exchange shops belonging to Sa’id Marara Abu Marar, Mohammed Ibrahim Nassar and Younis Helmi al-Jermi. They confiscated all the money in these shops. According to Nassar, IOF brought him from his house to his shop. He saw IOF soldiers blowing up the door of his shop. He stated that IOF soldiers confiscated 1.5 million NIS (approximately US$ 345,000).

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. IOF broke into two money exchange shops belonging to Khaled Mohammed al-Hawari and Ghazi al-‘Ajouri in the center of the town. According to al-Hawari, IOF blew up the door of his shop. They then broke into it and confiscated 500,000 NIS (approximately US$ 115,000) and a number of documents. They also destroyed the shop. IOF took al-‘Ajouri from his house and forced him to open it. They broke into the shop and confiscated amounts of money, documents and computer sets. Before their withdrawal, IOF arrested al-‘Ajouri and his two sons.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Nahda area in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, opening fire indiscriminately. They besieged a number of houses and ordered their residents to get out. They then ordered males aged over 13 to gather near a mosque in the area. Soon after, IOF soldiers raided and searched the houses. IOF arrested least 50 civilians and held them in custody until midnight. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Siraj Muneer Yousef, 23, a police officer, and arrested him.

· At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Bashar Mohammed Bisharat, 24, and arrested him.

· In the morning, Hanan Mohammed Isma’il Abu ‘Oudeh, 16, from the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, died from a previous wound she had sustained on 2 September 2006, when her father and brother were also killed by IOF.

According to PCHR’s documentation at approximately 02:30 on Saturday, 2 September 2006, an IOF undercover unit moved nearly two kilometers inside the Gaza Strip into the town of Beit Hanoun. The unit advanced towards al-Amal neighborhood in the northeast of the town, and besieged a number of houses in the area. Under a cover of intense gunfire, the IOF troops stormed a house belonging to Naser Subeih Abu Lfeeta, 48, to arrest one of his sons. The house’s owner was wounded in the abdomen and legs. The troops ordered the household to leave their house. Mohammad Isma’il Abu ‘Odeh, 53, went out of his nearby house to see what was going on. IOF fired at him from a range of 20 meters, killing him with live bullets to the head. A few minutes later, Abu Odeh's son, Isma’il, 27, went out of the house to look for his father. The IOF undercover unit fired at him, killing him with live bullets to the chest and neck. He fell near his father. Abu ‘Odeh's daughters, 16-year-old Hanan and 17-year-old Azhar, went out to look for their father and brother. The troops fired at them. Both were wounded by gunshots throughout their bodies. Following nearly two hours of bleeding, Palestinian medical crews were allowed into the area to evacuate the girls to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital. Both girls were in a critical condition. Hanan was transferred to an Israeli hospital on 5 September 2006, where she had stayed until her death.

· At approximately 12:15, an IOF drone fired a missile at ‘Omar Lafi ‘Ouda Jarada, 23, from Sha’sha’a area in Jabalya, when he was in al-Wad area in the east of Jabalya, nearly 2000 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. He was instantly killed. According to eyewitnesses, locally made rockets had been fired by Palestinian resistance activists from the area in the morning. The victim was civilian and had no relation with resistance activities. He was in the area accidentally.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters to disperse the children. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the children, wounding two of them:

1. Bahaa’ Fawaz Abu ‘Omar, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head; and

On Tuesday morning, 19 September 2006, IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian in Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. They claimed that that they fired at the victim when he fired at them, as they came to arrest him, but investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim. The victim was an activist of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military wing of Fatah movement.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:45 on the aforementioned day, IOF moved into Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. They besieged a house belonging to Ramzi ‘Abdul Latif Walad ‘Ali, 55. IOF soldiers transformed the roofs of a number of neighboring houses into military sites. IOF then ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out, and they did. IOF asked the residents if there was anyone inside the house and they denied. At approximately 04:10, sound of a one-way shooting was heard. Before their withdrawal from the village at approximately 06:15, IOF arrested the owner and his 3 sons: Motee’, 28; Ma’awia, 26; and Mohammed, 22. Soon, Palestinian civilians arrived at the area. They found the body of a young men nearly 20 meters away from the house. The victim was identified as Nabeel Ma’rouf ‘Araef Hanani, 26, from Beit Fourik village east of Nablus. He was hit by several live bullets throughout the body. When IOF were besieging Walad ‘Ali;s house, Hanani got out of it and hid on olive fields, where he was later shot dead by IOF.

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.

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:

· 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. Thousands of Palestinian civilians have been stuck at the Egyptian side of the crossing, and hundreds of others have been deprived of their right to receive medical treatment abroad. During the reported period, the crossing point was completely closed. The crossing point was partially reopened on 18 and 19 July 2006 to allow thousands of Palestinians stuck at the Egyptian side to cross towards the Gaza Strip. Thousands of Palestinians visiting the Gaza Strip from other Arab countries have been stuck inside the Gaza Strip. As a result of the closure of the crossing point, 7 patients died at the Egyptian side of the crossing point, the latest of whom was Ghifra Mohammed Hussein al-‘Arja, 61, from Rafah. She died at al-‘Areesh Hospital. She received medical treatment in an Egyptian hospital. As the crossing point has been closed, she was forced to stay in al-‘Aresh, but her health condition deteriorated. She was evacuated to the hospital, where she remained until her death. On 10 August 2006, the crossing point was opened at 10:00 and was re-closed at 12:45 as the EU observers withdrew from it. Approximately 1596 Palestinians were able to travel to Egypt and other countries through the crossing point. On Friday, 11 August 2006, the crossing was opened at 10:00, but it was re-closed at 14:00. Approximately 2800 Palestinian were able to travel from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and other countries. On 25 August 2006, the crossing point was opened on both directions from 08:00 until 18:00. On that day, 3104 Palestinians were able to travel abroad and 3204 others were able to travel back to the Gaza Strip. On 26 August 2006, the crossing point was operated from 08:00 until 14:00. On that day, 2500 Palestinians were able to travel abroad, and 1070 others were able to come back to the Gaza Strip. The suffering of thousands of Palestinians as a result of the closure of the crossing has continued since 25 June 2006.

· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. On Sunday, 17 September 2006, IOF suddenly closed the crossing for alleged security reasons. All patients, including 3 ones who suffer from cancer, were prevented from traveling to Israeli hospitals. The crossing was reopened at 13:00. According to Dr. Ma’awia Hassanain, director of the emergency department at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, between 9 and 17 September 2006, the Ministry submitted applications to transfer 59 patients to Israeli hospitals, and only 39 of them were approved. In addition, patients aged under 40 have not bee allowed to enter Israel to receive medical treatment. Due to such restriction, on 16 September 2006, Mohammed Yousef al-Zumaili, 53, from Gaza City, died as IOF rejected dozens of application to allow him to travel to Israeli hospitals to receive medical treatment.

· 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. During the reported period, IOF partially reopened the crossing. They allowed the importation of foodstuffs and medicines into the Gaza Strip, and the exportation of several goods from the Gaza Strip to Israel and the West Bank. About 250 trucks loaded with goods entered the Gaza Strip daily, whereas only 30 trucks were allowed to export goods from the Gaza Strip to Israel and the West Bank. IOF also partially reopened Sofa and Kerem Shalom crossings near Rafah, and allowed the entry of humanitarian aids provided by Arab countries into the Gaza Strip.

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. 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, IOF 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 imposed a tightened siege on 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.

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints around the town, especially Attara checkpoint, north of the town, and Qalandya checkpoint, south of the town. During the reported period, IOF positioned at ‘Attara checkpoint conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians. On Sturday morning, IOF erected more checkpoints on the roads leading to Ramallah and al-Bireh, and imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 17 September 2006, IOF positioned at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.