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. 16/2006 20 - 26 April 2006

The car in which two Palestinians, who were extra-judicially executed by Israeli Occupation Forces in Bethlehem on 23 April, were traveling.

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

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (20 – 26 April 2006):

Killing: On Sunday evening, 23 April 2006, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) extra-judicially executed two members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, in Bethlehem. IOF also wounded and arrested a third member. IOF later claimed that one of the victims had died from his wounds following his evacuation to Hadasa Hospital in Jerusalem, but investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and indicated that IOF might have executed the victim after his arrest. On Wednesday evening, 26 April 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian in al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin, as he raided a pistol when IOF were surrounding a house in the village.

During the reported period, 17 Palestinian civilians, including 13 ones in Nablus, were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

During the reported period, IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged and 3 civilians, including two children, were wounded.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF repeatedly moved into Nablus. IOF also conducted 41 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 72 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and 4 women. In addition, IOF transformed a house into a military site. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions. In an attempt to exert pressure on allegedly wanted Palestinian to surrender, IOF arrested 4 of their wives and mothers.

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. Even though IOF allowed the transportation of food aids from Egypt into the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, southeast of Rafah, the crossing have not 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 closed al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City, on 26 April 2006, after it had been opened for a few days. As a result of the repeated closure of the crossing, the economic conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank as they imposed a total siege on the OPT. 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. IOF claimed that this measure is temporary and was taken following the bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006. However, Palestinians wishing to travel from the north to the south of the West bank are required by IOF to obtain permits from the IOF civil administration. A Palestinian civilian died as rain floods pushed him when he attempted to bypass a checkpoint near Nablus, which was closed by IOF. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a girl.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF razed areas of Palestinian land to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, to construct a new section of the Wall. IOF also used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Wall. One demonstrator was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet, and 11 others sustained bruises as they were beaten by IOF. In addition, IOF arrested 11 demonstrators, including a number of international and Israeli solidarity activists.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (20 – 26 April 2006)

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

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. Before their withdrawal from the city at approximately 07:00, IOF arrested 3 women to pressure their allegedly wanted sons and husband to surrender to IOF: Ameen Libbada’s mother; Sami Qandeel’s mother; and Fadi Qaffisha’s wife. The three women were arrested and later released by IOF on the preceding day.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but no arrests were reported. It is worth noting that the Palestinian who carried out the bombing in Tel Aviv on 17 April 2006 was a resident of the village.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at houses and shops, damaging a number of them. Later, IOF withdrew from the village and no casualties or arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Shaher Ahmed al-Tumaizi, 30, and arrested him.

· At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into al-‘Aqaba village, southeast of Jenin. The head of the local council of the village, Sami Sadiq, told PCHR that IOF chased his car in the streets and forced him to stop. They searched the car, which has a governmental registration plate.

· At approximately 18:30, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers besieged a house belonging Ziad Mohammed Dakhlallah, 27, in Jabal al-Mawaleh area in the south of the town. Soon, at least 10 IOF vehicles moved into the town to support the undercover unit. IOF raided and searched the house and arrested Dakhlallah.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. Dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. IOF fired at, and chased the stone throwers and arrested 4 of them, including 3 children:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. Before their withdrawal from the city at approximately 08:00, IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Talha ‘Abdullah ‘Eissa, 25, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched two houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Subhi Waleed al-Sa’ou, 24, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved in Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Dakheel Salem Nawawra, 33, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Haramla, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tariq ‘Aadel ‘Atallah, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, northeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians: Hassan Mohammed Sharif, 23; and Ameen Mohammed Yassin, 22. According to eyewitnesses, IOF fired at Mustafa ‘Awad, 22, wounding him with a live bullet to the right hand, but he was able to escape. ‘Awad is allegedly wanted by IOF for being a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah movement.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire indiscriminately. Three Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:

1. ‘Alaa’ Kayed Sabri, 24, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the left hand and side;

2. ‘Essam ‘Omar al-Najjar, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot; and

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They patrolled in Bethlehem – Hebron road. Dozens of Palestinian children gathered at the entrances of al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of the town, and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the children, seriously wounding 15-year-old Khaled ‘Ali al-Masri with a live bullet to the head.

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved again into Nablus. They raided and searched al-‘Aqqad apartment building in the north of the city. No arrests were reported. More IOF reinforcements were brought into the city. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Fathallah Juraiban, 43.

· At approximately 00:50, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Tariq Khaled al-Ballasi, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed one of them, which belongs to Radi Ibrahim al-Jabarin, into a military site after holding the 18 residents in one room.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jeet village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Omar ‘Ali Younis, 19, and arrested him.

· At approximately 11:45, IOF moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They opened fire indiscriminately. A number of Palestinian school children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF opened fire at the children, wounding two of them, in addition to a journalist and a passing civilian:

1. Mohammed Shaqwara, 17, seriously wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets to the left eye, the right hand and the left foot;

2. Rami Bassam Shilbaya, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the neck;

3. Bashar Mohammed Smehna, 33, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg; and

4. Ashraf Mahmoud Abu Shawish, 28, a freelance journalist, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the chest and the right leg.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Namera and Khellat Batrakh neighborhoods in the east and north of Hebron respectively. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at houses. They raided and searched al-Amal Handicapped Rehabilitation Center, which belongs to the Palestinian Union of Medical Care Committees. They detonated sound bombs into the center. They forced the staff members out, verified their identity cards and searched the center using trained dogs. They claimed that they were searching for a wanted person.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-‘Eizariya village, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a Palestinian police station, and arrested its director, ‘Abdul Raziq Far’oun, and another officer, ‘Abdul Qader al-‘Aaloul.

· At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Duha village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Munther Mahmoud Jawabra, 21, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ali Ibrahim Sabbah, 23, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mousa Khalil al-Najjar, 42, and arrested him.

· At approximately 12:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery shells at Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. One of those shells fell near a bird farm in the north of the town, wounding 24-year-old Lu’ai Hassan al-Mauzayen with shrapnel to the abdomen and the limbs, when he was in the farm.

· At approximately 13:15, IOF fired a number of artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip. One of those shells fell nearly 15 meters away from a house belonging to Majdi Ibrahim al-Shabari in the southeast of Beit Hanoun. The explosion made al-Shabari’s child, 5-year-old Suhaib, fall down from the roof. He sustained bruises and cuts.

· At approximately 14:00, IOF fired a number of artillery shells at the northern Gaza Strip. One of those shells fell near a house belonging to Nasser Abu Fares in the Bedouin village. His blind child, 13-year-old Ramzi, was wounded by shrapnel to the right hand. Half an hour later, a shell fell near a cow farm belonging to Saleem Abu Safiya in the southeast of Beit Hanoun, killing two cows and damaging the farm.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into the northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Ebayat village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and a child:

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Teera neighborhood in the south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to As’ad Farahat Mohammed, 43, the spokesman of Hamas in the West Bank, and arrested him.

· At approximately 11:00, IOF broke into al-Ma’aref Elementary School in Hebron and arrested 12-year-old ‘Abdul Rahman Sa’ad al-Zour, claiming that he threw stones at IOF vehicles.

· Also at approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Nablu through its southwestern entrance. They besieged an apartment building and two under-construction buildings at Til Street. They ordered residents of the apartment building through megaphones to get out. They also opened fire at the building. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF arrested Mohammed Fayez Saleem, 20, a university student from Qabatya village southeast of Jenin.

· At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Nablus again through its northeastern entrance. They took position near ‘Askar refugee camp. A number of Palestinian school children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the children, wounding 5 of them in addition to a passing civilian:

1. Mohammed Ahmed Saqer, 24, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

2. Ahmed Mohammed ‘Atallah, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right thigh;

3. Khaled Mohammed al-Bouhi, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

4. Ashraf Mirsal Khattab, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

5. ‘Abdul Nasser Mohammed Hassan, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

6. Nidal Mohammed al-Shaf’ei, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand.

· At approximately 01:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Jenin refugee camp. Israeli soldiers besieged a house belonging to Bassam al-Sa’di, who is detained by IOF. Soon, IOF moved into the refugee camp to support the undercover unit. They ordered residents of the house out and arrested al-Sa’di’s son, 18-year-old ‘Ezziddin.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Majd village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed ‘Amru, 65. They held the family in one room and started to dig into the garden. They then arrested the owner and his son, 20-year-old Durgham.

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. The besieged and opened fire at a house belonging to ‘Abdul Karim Mahmoud Samar. They ordered residents of the house to get out. ‘Aamer ‘Awni Hassan Hoshiya, 24, who was passing by the area, raided a pistol. Immediately, an Israeli soldier shot him dead with a live bullet to the head. According to eyewitnesses, Hoshiya did not fire at IOF. Later, residents of the besieged house got out. IOF broke into the house and searched it. They arrested the owner’s two sons: Mo’ayad, 26; and Eyad, 24.

On Sunday evening, 23 April 2006, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) extra-judicially executed two members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, in Bethlehem. IOF also wounded and arrested a third member. IOF later claimed that one of the victims had died from his wounds following his evacuation to Hadasa Hospital in Jerusalem, but investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and indicated that IOF might have executed the victim after his arrest. This latest attack comes after decisions taken by the Israeli political and military establishment to continue to target Palestinian activists.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 23 April 2006, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bethlehem using two civilian vehicles with Israeli license plates. Israeli soldiers took position at roadsides near Bethlehem Mental Hospital in the west of the town. A Palestinian civilian car (a blue Honda) arrived at the area on its way from the central vegetable market. The driver was Ahmed Mohammed ‘Ali Musleh, 28, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem. Daniel Saba George Abu Hamama, 25, from Bethlehem, was sitting in the front seat beside the driver, and ‘Arafat Mahmoud Abu Sha’ira, 22, from al-‘Azza refugee camp north of Bethlehem, was sitting in the back seat.

Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the car from a range of less than 10 meters. The car collided with the wall of the hospital, as the driver had been instantly killed by several bullets. Soon after, 15 IOF jeeps arrived at the area. IOF opened fire at the Palestinian civilian car from a range of one meter. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers pulled Abu Hamama and Abu Sha’ira out of the car. A number of Israeli soldiers pulled Abu Hamama, who was wounded in the thigh, on the ground towards a used furniture shop, nearly 100 meters away from the car. Abu Hamama screamed with pain as he was dragged. Other Israeli soldiers took Abu Sha’ira a few meters away and violently beat him. A few minutes later, residents of the area heard the sounds of two live bullets coming from the furniture shop. Israeli soldiers were then seen carrying Abu Hamama on a litter and put him into an Israeli ambulance. They also took Abu Sha’ra into the same ambulance. Later, IOF declared that Abu Hamama died from his wound. The three targeted persons were allegedly wanted by IOF for being members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah. PCHR has continued to investigate this crime as there are indications that IOF might have executed Abu Hamama after having arrested him.

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 work 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 have not operated. The crossing was opened a few weeks ago to allow the transportation of food aids from Egypt into the Gaza Strip due to the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by repeated closures of al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing.

· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: The crossing is the only commercial one serving the Gaza Strip. IOF frequently close the crossing as a means of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians. IOF reopened the crossing on 20 April 2006 following repeated closures, but closed it again on 26 April 2006. According to a Palestinian official source, IOF impose complicated measures on the movement of goods at the crossing.

The crossing was operated from 08:30 to 17:00, and IOF allowed the entry of 394 trucks of goods into the Gaza Strip, but allowed the exportation of only 9 trucks loaded with vegetables and citrus.

The crossing was operated from 09:00 to 13:30, and IOF allowed the entry of 585 trucks loaded with imported goods to enter the Gaza Strip, but allowed the exportation of 5 trucks only loaded with vegetables and citrus.

IOF allowed 388 trucks loaded with aggregate (a raw construction material) to be entered into the Gaza Strip.

The crossing was operated from 09:00 to 17:00, and IOF allowed 345 trucks loaded with imported goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip, but allowed the exportation of 6 trucks only loaded with vegetables and citrus.

The crossing was operated from 08:45 to 16:30, and IOF allowed 343 trucks loaded with imported goods to be entered into the Gaza Strip, but allowed the exportation of 5 trucks only loaded with vegetables and citrus.

· 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. IOF repeatedly close the crossing for no apparent reasons.

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 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. During the reported period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. IOF also reinforced their presence at these checkpoints. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Jerusalemites since the operation of Qalandya crossing on 4 April 2004. These restrictions coincided with celebrations of the Easter. Thousands of Palestinian Christians were denied access to the city to celebrate the Easter. IOF claimed that they would issue permits to Christians who wish to enter the city for these celebrations, but they forced applicants for permits to stamp and sign their applications by their churches. This measure complicated the process due to the lack of enough time.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF started to a implement a plan to separate the north of the West Bank from its center and south. On Thursday morning, 20 April 2006, IOF positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilians, excluding patients, internationals and medical crews, from passing through the checkpoint towards the south of the West Bank. On Saturday morning, 22 April 2006, IOF closed Za’tara checkpoint and prevented Palestinian civilians from passing through it. This closure is still in effect. It is worth noting that the checkpoint links between the north and south of the West Bank. IPF plan to transform it into a border crossing similar to Qalandya crossing. On Monday noon, 24 April 2006, IOF closed the northeastern entrance of Nablus with sand barriers, and opened fire to force Palestinian civilians to travel back homes. On Tuesday noon, 25 April 2006, IOF re-closed the northeastern entrance of Nablus with sand barrier after a number of Palestinian civilians had been able to partially open it. IOF threatened to shoot Palestinian civilians who gathered in the area and violently beat a number of them. On Wednesday morning, 26 April 2006, IOF closed the northeastern entrance of Nablus and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city.

At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 23 April 006, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested ‘Omar As’ad Ghanem, 23, from Nablus.

On Monday morning, 24 April 2006, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented Palestinian civilians aged below 32 from passing through the checkpoint. At approximately 08:15, a number of these civilians, including university students, in an attempt to pass through the checkpoint. IOF fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at these civilians to disperse them. Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahim Eshtaiwi, 23, from Kufor Qaddoum village east of Qalqilya, was hit by a sound bomb to the face.

On Monday noon, 24 April 2006, a Palestinian civilian drowned as rain flood pulled him near Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus. According to eyewitnesses, IOF closed the checkpoint in the afternoon. A number of Palestinian civilians tried to bypass the checkpoint to travel back homes. Two civilians fell into a valley near Nablus – Tulkarm road. One of them survived, while the other was found dead near Deir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus. IOF stopped the ambulance that was evacuating the body to a hospital in Nablus. They took the body to an Israeli forensic medical center. IOF claimed that the victim was wanted. Medical sources were not able to identify him. On the following day, the victim was identified as ‘Aatef Hamdallah Hamad ‘Eissa, 19, from Kufor Thuluth village east of Qalqilya. In his testimony to PCHR, Ra’ed Hazzaa’ Suleiman Hazzaa, 41, a fireman in Nablus, said:

“At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 24 April, we received a phone call from a citizen informing us that two citizens who resorted to a dirt road in an attempt to bypass Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, were pushed by rain floods. Immediately, 3 fire engines and two ambulances moved to the area, which is 40 meters away from the checkpoint. There, we found that a number of people were able to save one of the two citizens, and were searching for the other one. We divided ourselves into 3 groups to search for him. At approximately 17:15, we found him dead. We were able to take his body out of water. We transported the body in an ambulance. We were not able to identify the victim. IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint stopped is and took the body. We made contacts inquiring about the destiny of the body. We learnt later that the body was taken to an Israeli forensic medical center.”

· Ramallah: IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, and prevented Palestinians coming from the northern West Bank from entering the town. IOF also erected a checkpoint near “Oufra” settlement, east of Ramallah, and another one near “Halmish” settlement, northeast of the town, to prevent Palestinians coming from the north from entering the town. Since Monday morning, 24 April 2006, IOF have prevented Palestinians aged 16-30 from passing through ‘Attar checkpoint to enter Ramallah.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 20 April 2006, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also detonated sound bombs to force Palestinian civilians away from the checkpoint. IOF also closes Jebara checkpoint, south of the town, and Ennab checkpoint, east of the town. They detained dozens of young men who attempted to bypass ‘Ennab checkpoint for several hours. In the morning, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Paletsinian civilians until 10:00. On Friday, 21 April 2006, IOF positioned at the Tunnel checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF positioned at Ennab checkpoint detained dozens of Palestinian workers coming from their work places inside Israel for several hours. On Saturday, 22 April 2006, IOF positioned at Eannab checkpoint, prevented all Palestinians, excluding residents of Shoufa village, from passing through the checkpoint. At approximately 11:30, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 23 April 2006, IOF prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. They erected more checkpoints around the town. On Monday, 24 April 2006, IOF reinforced their presence at checkpoints and on the main roads leading to the town. They also erected a number of temporary checkpoints and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They detained a number of young men for several hours.

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 23 April 2006, IOF positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, arrested ‘Abeer Mahmoud ‘Ouda, 24, from Saida village north of Tulkarm. She was on her way to a hospital in Ramallah to receive medical treatment as she suffered from acute pains in the ears and the left eye because of the torture she was subject to during her detention in Israeli jails. She spent 3 years in administrative detention. She was released on 20 March 2006. Her four brothers have been also detained in Israeli jails.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to close the northern Jordan Valley. They have closed al-Hamara and Tayseer checkpoints. On Saturday morning, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 25 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint between Sanour and Mesalliya village, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At the same time, IOF erected another checkpoint in al-Swaitat area in the east of Jenin, and imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 20 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint between al-Kufair and ‘Aqqaba villages, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles, and arrested Sayel Anees Daraghma, 20, from Tubas village.