Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and Impose More Measures of Collective Punishment against the Gaza Strip

·              15 Palestinians were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

·               The victims include a disabled civilian and 4 policemen.

·               A Palestinian from Nablus died from a previous wound.

·              29 Palestinians, including 9 children, 2 women, an old man, a journalist and human rights defender, were wounded by IOF.

·              IOF conducted 37 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 12 ones into the Gaza Strip.

·               IOF arrested 78 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 2 women, in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip.

·               IOF razed at least 32 donums[1] of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip.

·               IOF destroyed a complete community near Hebron and forced Palestinian civilians to move to the east of the Wall.

·              IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

·               IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and a humanitarian crisis has emerged.

·              IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank.

·              IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (25 – 31 October 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 15 Palestinians, including a disabled civilian, in the Gaza Strip, and a 16^th Palestinian from Nablus died from a previous wound. IOF also wounded 29 others, including 9 children, 2 woman, an old man, a journalists and human rights defender, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 15 Palestinians, including a disabled civilian and 4 policemen, and wounded 29 others, including 5 children and 2 women and an old man. In the West Bank a Palestinian died on 30 October 2007 from a previous wound he had sustained on 16 October 2007. Six civilians, including 4 children, were also wounded by IOF. Three of these civilians (a Palestinian child, an Italian journalist and an Italian human rights activist) were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.  

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 37 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 78 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 2 women. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,261.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 12 incursions into Palestinian communities. During those incursions, IOF troops killed a number of Palestinians, transformed a number of houses into military sites, arrested one Palestinian civilian and razed 32 donums of agricultural land.

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.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 16 months. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. During the reporting period, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “an enemy entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population.  On 19 September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “an enemy entity” and accordingly measures of collective punishment against Gaza escalated. Since that time, IOF have limited the goods exported to the Gaza Strip to only 9 basic materials. As a consequence, local markets ran out of many goods, which caused a sharp increase in prices, which mounted to 500% for some goods. Israeli occupation forces have banned the flow of some medicines, furniture, electrical appliances, cows and cigarettes into the Gaza Strip, and have decreased the amounts of some goods allowed into the Gaza Strip, such as fruits, milk and some dairy products. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also 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 also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. on Tuesday, 30 October 2007, IOF, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into Kherbet Qussa area, northwest of Hebron, which is isolated behind the Wall. They opened fire into the air. They then demolished 15 houses, 12 caves and 27 barnyards. At least 250 Palestinian civilians have become homeless, and IOF forced them to leave the area.

Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On Friday, 26 October 2007, IOF informed 7 Palestinian civilians in Hares village, west of Salfit, that their houses, in which at least 30 individuals live, would be demolished, claming that they were built without licenses. On the same day, 5 Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron attacked a nearby house belonging to Mohammed Hamed Abu ‘Eisha with stones and empty bottles.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (25 – 31 October 2007)

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

Thursday, 25 October 2007

·      At approximately 00:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into al-Snati area in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. IOF troops set up an ambush in a greenhouse located nearly 1,000 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Approximately half an hour later, members of the Palestinian resistance discovered the presence of IOF troops and exchanged fire with IOF troops. Two members of the Palestinian resistance were killed by several gunshots in the exchange of fire:

1.      Ayman Salah Fsaifes, 23; and

2.      Ahmed Suleiman Tabash.

·      At approximately 00:10, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians

1.      Mohammed Mahmoud Hammad, 35; and

2.      Murad Sabbri Darwish, 25.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Wadi al-Jouz quarter in the southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hatem Fares Sammouh, 18.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ahmed Noah, 17; and

2.      Montasser ‘Ata, 16.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Zaher Abu Kamel, 30;

2.      Mousa Mohammed Ma’marji, 21; and

3.      Mohammed Sami Cana’an, 27.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Heborn. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed ‘Abdul Ghani ‘Ar’ar, 45.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They raided and searched a number of houses and interrogated Palestinian civilians. They then razed at least 30 donums of agricultural land. IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 14:00.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beir Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed ‘Ali Ekhlayel, 26.

·      At approximately 12:00, a number of Palestinian school children organized a peaceful demonstration at the northern and western entrances of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IOF troops positioned at the entrances of the camp fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the children and beat a number of them. Two children were wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullets:

1.      Ahmed Khalil ‘Aadrba, 13, wounded to the head; and

2.      Nader Mohammed al-Hmouz, 16, wounded to the left leg.

Additionally, IOF troops arrested ‘Abdul Rahman Ahmed al-Titi, 14.

·      Also at approximately 12:00, a number of Palestinian school children organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Hebron in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. IOF troops positioned in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the children wounding Qussai Mohammed al-Muhtasseb, 17.

·      At approximately 12:30, an IOF infantry unit that had already moved nearly 200 meters into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beil Lahia opened fire at animal cart, which was being ridden by 2 Palestinians wearing civilian clothes, who apparently were on their way to plant an explosive device near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. One of these Palestinians, 24-year-old Mohammed ‘Eissa al-Kurdi, 24, was killed by several gunshots to the chest, and IOF troops arrested the other Palestinian, 19-year-old Mahmoud ‘Abdullah al-‘Aabed, 19.

·      At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They opened fire at houses, damaging a number of them. They also raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Friday, 26 October 2007

·      In the early morning, an IOF infantry unit, covered by warplanes, moved nearly 1,000 meters into the east of Jabalya. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF unit. A member of the Palestinian resistance, 21-year-old Yousef ‘Ouda Salama Walaida, was killed in the exchange of fire.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jamma’in village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Suleiman Hamad and arrested 3 of his sons: ‘Azmi, 25; Mohammed, 23; and Muhannad, 21.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into al-Farrahin area in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops. A member of the Palestinian resitance, 22-year-old Yasser Nasser al-Din ‘Asfour, was killed by several gunshots throughout the body, and 4 others were wounded.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Einabous village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Nafez Suleiman Hussein, 22; and

2.      Nasser Nazmi Hussein, 20.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a man and his son:

1.      ‘Abdullah al-Qouqa, 52;

2.      Ra’ed ‘Abdullah al-Qouqa, 25;

3.      ‘Aamer al-Tanbour, 23; and

4.      ‘Omar Sherhabil Jabrini, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabalan village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Saleh Najem, 24.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Northern Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Emad ‘Awad al-Shouli, 23.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beeta village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ziad Mohammed Abu Ghazala, 23.

·      At approximately 05:30, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the est of Gaza City. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF. A member of the Palestinian resistance, 21-year-old Ibrahim ‘Ali al-Shamali, was killed in the exchange fire. Approximately half an hour later, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance, killing one of them, 21-year-old ‘Abdul Rahim ‘Omar Hamdouna, and wounding another one, 21-year-old Ra’ed Nabeel al-Zaharna. At approximately 11:00, IOF fired a tank shell at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance, wounding 3 of them. At approximately 12:00, IOF fired another tank shells at members of the Palestinian resistance, killing one of them, 26-year-old Mohammed Sa’id Shalabiya. Two other members of the resistance were wounded:

1.      Ahmed Nahidh Hassanain, 21, who died from his wound in the evening; and

2.      Shadi Mohammed Duhair, 22.

Saturday, 27 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched offices of Charitable Solidarity Association in the center of Nablus and confiscated computer sets and documents.

Sunday, 28 October 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor Thuloth village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped Nabeel Mahmoud Abu al-‘Oun, 23, while he was riding his motorcycles and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 03:30, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided and searched 2 houses and transformed them into military sites. They then raided and searched a number of houses in the area and brought a number of young men to one of the two houses. At approximately 08:30, IOF troops fired at Ahmed ‘Awadh al-‘Omaour, 23, when he got out of his house to go to his work. He was wounded by shrapnel from gunshots to the chest. At approximately 11:00, IOF troops fired at Thuraya Mohammed Abu Mghassib, 51, as she wanted to go to her son-in-law’s house when she learnt that he was wounded. She was wounded by 2 gunshots to the right arm. IOF troops prevented her evacuation to the hospital until the end of the incursion at 16:30. During this incursion, IOF destroyed a greenhouse and razed a one-donum area of ahricultural land belonging to the Abu Mghassib clan.

·      At approximately 12:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Lahia, fired at ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Sultan when he was preparing a net for fishing at the coast. He was wounded by a gunshot to the right foot.

·      At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into the north and west of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets for several hours, but no arrests were reported.

Monday, 29 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 2,000 meters into the northeast of al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops. A member of the Palestinian resistance, 22-year-old Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Tahoun, from Khan Yunis, was killed in the exchange of fire. IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 06:30.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Mazra’a and Abu Shkhaidem villages, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

1.      Sa’id Shraitah, 45;

2.      Mohammed Saleh Shraitah, 15;

3.      ‘Omar Saleh Shraitah, 16;

4.      Hasan Mohammed Shraitah, 46;

5.      Mohammed Hasan Shraitahm, 20;

6.      Hareem Mohammed Abu Qare’, 21;

7.      Tha’er Faisal Hannoun, 17;

8.      Ra’ed Rebhi Hannoun, 42;

9.      Faisal Rebhi Hannoun, 37;

10.  Riad Rebhi Hannoun, 31;

11.  Fu’ad Hasan Hannoun, 35; and

12.  Majed Ibrahim al-Ladadwa, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khalil Mohammed ‘Awawda, 26, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata village and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Ibrahim Dahbour, 30;

2.      Suhail Hassan al-Qouqa, 22; and

3.      ‘AlaaAhmed ‘Eissawi, 19.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Rami Sa’id al-Sarahin, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Murad ‘Aayesh al-Badan, 24.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wa’el Hasan Hroub, 30, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Eizariya village, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Eihab Aslan Far’oun, 18, and his brother Lo’ai, 19.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 brothers:

1.      ‘Abdul Raziq Jamal Jaradat, 27;

2.      Mahmoud Jamal Jaradat, 25;

3.      Ma’moun Jamal Jaradat, 21;

4.      Ameen Saleh Tahaina, 25;

5.      ‘Emad ‘Abdul Mon’em Jaradat, 22; and

6.      Mohammed Tayseer Zayoud, 20.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Rama village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Qutaiba ‘Izziddin Khanfar, 35.

·      At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into the northern Gaza Strip. They stationed inside the campus of the Faculty of Agriculture of al-Azhar Univseity and near a secondary school. At approximately 07:00, IOF troops fired at school children who were on their way to school. Ahmed ‘Ata al-Za’anin, 17, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the chest. UNRWA was forced to evacuate its school and suspend education due to the intense shooting by IOF. At approximately 07:45, Fareed Ibrahim Abu ‘Ouda, 44, who is physically disabled, was killed by 3 gunshots to the head, when he was inside his house as IOF troops opened fire indiscriminately at houses. Two civilians, including a child, were also wounded:

1.      Ahmed Shihda Abu Salah, 17, wounded by a gunshot to the right arm; and

2.      ‘Adnan Mahmoud Yousef, 44, wounded by a gunshot to the left knee.

At approximately 09:20, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at members of the Palestinian resistance who were near a school. As a result, a member of the Palestinian resistance, Mohammed Yousef Hamad, 28, was killed, and 2 others and 4 civilian bystanders were wounded:

1.      Hamdi Ahmed Abu ‘Ouda, 29, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the chest and the neck;

2.      Lu’ai Ramadan Shabat, 27, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

3.      Rami Daoud al-Kafarna, 25, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

4.      Ikrami Suleiman Abu ‘Ouda, 25, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

5.      Hassan ‘Abdullah Abu ‘Ouda, 35, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

6.      Mohammed Subhi Abu ‘Ouda, 24, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

IOF withdrew from the town at approximately 11:00.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians, including 2 brothers:

1.      Jaber Ahmed Yahia, 28, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forcesl

2.      Aysar Mahmoud Yahia, 21;

3.      ‘Aamer Mahmoud Yahia, 22;

4.      ‘Emad Mustafa Yahia, 24;

5.      ‘Essam ‘Aatef Hammad, 26;

6.      Ra’fat Hamdan Waked, 27;

7.      Laith Anees Hammad, 25;

8.      Mustafa Mohammed Saleh, 25; and

9.      Ahmed Mohammed Saleh, 24.

Tuesday, 30 October 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yousef Fat’hi Sabarna, 22, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camps. They raded and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      Hasan Majed Abu ‘Eisha, 22;

2.      Majed Dib al-Saqqa, 16; and

3.      Mohammed al-Saqqa, 20.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 women:

1.      Fardous Fahed Samman, 40;

2.      Kawthar Yousef Abu Diab, 50; and

3.      Ahmed Farah Samhan, 23; and

4.      Ibrahim Suleiman ‘Aatiya, 25.

·      In the evening, medical sources at the Arab Women Union Hospital in Nablus declared that ‘Abdul Rahman Hasan al-Shinnawi, 24, died from a wound he had sustained on 16 October 2007. According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 03:30 on 16 October 2007, a heavy explosion was heard in the old town of Nablus near 4 members of the Palestinian resistance. Three of them, including al-Shinnawi, were wounded. One of them died from his wound a few hours later. Al-Shinnawi received medical treatment at the hospital until his death.

·      At approximately 18:05, IOF troops fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who had fired home-made rockets at Israeli towns from al-Bukhari neighborhood in Jabalya town. The missile his at a 3-storey house belonging to ‘Abdul Latif Saleh Radwan, in which 21 individuals (3 families) live. As a result, the owner and 5 residents of the house were wounded:

1.      ‘Abdul Latif Saleh Radwan, 82, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot;

2.      Zahiya Hasan Radwan, 75, wounded by shrapnel to the body and sustained a fracture to the left hand;

3.      Nidaa’ ‘Abdul Latif Radwan, 29, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot;

4.      Ussama al-‘Afeefi, 30, wounded by shrapnel to the face;

5.      Shahed Ussama al-‘Afeefi, 1, wounded by shrapnel to the body; and

6.      Mohammed Ibrahim Radwan, 3, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the body.

·      At approximately 20:30, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into the east of the central Gaza Strip of Deir al-Balah. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed one of them, which belongs to Hasan Suleiman al-Hmaidi into a military site after forcing the family to stay in one room. This incursion is still ongoing.

·      At approximately 21:30, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They took position near Gaza International Airport. Fierce armed clashes erupted between them and members of the Palestinian resistance.

·      At approximately 21:40, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at a site of the riot control police of the dismissed Palestinian government in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. The missiles hit the entrance of the site, where 4 policemen were positioned guarding the site. The four policemen were instantly killed:

1.      Maher Shihda Abu Tair, 25;

2.      Bilal Ibrahim ‘Awad, 22;

3.      Isma’il Suleiman Qudaih, 23; and

4.      Mahmoud Jamal Radwan, 21.

Israeli military sources stated that the air strike, which they described as rare recently, is “a sign that Israel will not maintain restraint towards launching mortars at Israeli communities.”

·      At approximately 22:30, an IOF undercover unit moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the village. IOF troops raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdul Mon’em Rahal and arrested two of his sons: Eyad, 23; and Eihab, 20.

Wednesday, 31 October 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ramallah. They stormed commercial compounds in the center of the town and damaged a number of shops. They also confiscated the personal weapon of the guard of Welfare Bank. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit. They raided besieged dozens of houses and forced their residents out. They then arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      ‘Awni ‘Aziz Ersheed, 17;

2.      ‘Ezzat Isma’il Mar’ei, 40;

3.      ‘Atiya Rebhi ‘Aassi, 22;

4.      Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mar’ei, 23;

5.      Saif al-Islam Ahmed Mar’ei, 19; and

6.      Mustafa Ameen Mar’ei, 19.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Moneer Mustafa Abu al-Rub, 39, and his brother Munther, 31, and arrested the two brothers.

·      At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Roujib village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Faleh Yousef al-Shayeb, 21, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into Um al-Nasser village, north of Beit Lahia town. They took position on al-Hawoz Hill, nearly 500 meters away from the Bedouin village and al-Nada apartment buildings. At approximately 16:30, they fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance, who were nearly 200 meters away from al-Nada apartment buildings. The missile went astray and no casualties were reported. Approximately an hour later, IOF fired another missile at a civilian car that was traveling near al-Nada apartment buildings. The missile fell near the car, and a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who was traveling in the car, was wounded.

2.      Continued Siege on the OPT

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.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 16 months. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. During the reporting period, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “an enemy entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. 

·      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. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006. During the reporting period, the crossing point was not reopened.  There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 8 kilometers to the east of Rafah International Crossing Point. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.  Hundreds Palestinian civilians who have residencies in other countries were allowed to travel out of the Gaza Strip the same way.

·      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.  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. IOF have allowed nearly 400 traders to pass through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. According to Palestinians who traveled through the crossing, IOF impose the same restrictions on their movement as in the past. IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through the crossing for alleged security claims, even though those patients do not pose any threat to the security of Israelis and they are badly in need for advanced medical treatment. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients. Approximately 50 patients are allowed to pass daily.

·      Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for several hours on 2 days to allow the entry of some goods.

·      Nahal Ouz crossing: The amounts of fuels into the Gaza Strip have been decreased starting from Sunday, 28 October 2007. On the following day, IOF denied the entry of benzene into the Gaza Strip.

·      Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, the crossing was opened for a few hours to allow the entry of some goods for local traders.

·      Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was partially opened for to allow the entry of some goods.

On Tuesday the Israeli Ministry of Defense established a special security committee headed by Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna’ei to consider the issue of rockets launched at the Israeli territory from the northern Gaza Strip. The committee concluded a number of recommendations to the Israeli Minister of Defense to be implemented from Thursday, 25 October 2007. The Minister of Defense declared on Thursday afternoon his approval of such recommendations, which include a gradual decrease in the supplies of electricity, fuels and goods imported by the Gaza Strip from Israel and the closure of border crossings of the Gaza Strip for unlimited periods, if Israel came under fire. It is worth noting that the Gaza Strip consumes nearly 200 megawatts of electricity, 120 megawatts of which bought from Israel The Gaza Strip relies completely on fuels imported from Israel.

PCHR is following up with utmost concern the deterioration to the economic and social conditions resulted from the total siege imposed by Israeli occupation authorities on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially the Gaza Strip. PCHR is worried from further deterioration of the living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population if the recommendations of the security committee were implemented, as at least 60% of the Palestinian civilian population would be deprived of electricity supplies and many civilian facilities that provide vital services would stop providing services to the civilian population due to the lack of electricity supplies.

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. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

The West Bank

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.

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 25 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 28 October, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 30 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hawara village, south of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 25 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. Also on Thursday, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, prevented Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through. On Saturday, 27 October 2007, IOF erected a number of checkpoints around the town and imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 28 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. On Monday, 29 October 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and prevented Palestinian civilians from passing through. They closed it again on Wednesday, 31 October 2007, from 06:00 to 10:00.

·      Qalqilya: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Qalqilya. On Thursday, 25 October 2007, IOF closed the eastern checkpoint of Qalqilya from 06:00 to 10:00. On Saturday, 27 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Seer village, east of Qalqilya. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 29 October 2007, IOF closed the permanent checkpoint established at the entrance of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya.

·      Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. On Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They stopped and thoroughly checked civilians. During the reporting period, IOF troops prevented Palestinian civilians from using carts on roads located near “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron. 

3.     Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 26 October 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded:

1.      Antonio, 29, an Italian journalist, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

2.      Andre, an Italian peace activist, a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

3.      Mustafa Shawkat al-Khatib, 16, a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

·      At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 30 October 2007, IOF, accompanied by bulldozers, moved into Kherbet Qussa area, northwest of Hebron, which is isolated behind the Wall. They opened fire into the air. They then demolished 15 houses, 12 caves and 27 barnyards. At least 250 Palestinian civilians have become homeless, and IOF forced them to leave the area.

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

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

·      On Friday, 26 October 2007, IOF informed 7 Palestinian civilians in Hares village, west of Salfit, that their houses, in which at least 30 individuals live, would be demolished, claming that they were built without licenses:

1.      A 100-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to ‘Abdullah Ahmed ‘Atallah;

2.      A 100-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to Aassi ‘Abdullah ‘Atallah;

3.      A 140-square-meter house belonging to Sa’ed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Qassem;

4.      A 125-square-meter house belonging to Nasser Mohammed Sultan;

5.      A 130-square-meter house belonging to Yasser ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Qassem;

6.      A 100-square-meter house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed ‘Atallah; and

7.      A 130-square-meter house belonging to ‘Abdul Rahim Sharif Qassem.

·      On Friday evening, 5 Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron attacked a nearby house belonging to Mohammed Hamed Abu ‘Eisha with stones and empty bottles. They continued to attack the house even when IOF troops intervened to stop the attack, which ended only when IOF troops forced the family to stay at home and close the door.

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Recommendations to the International Community

1.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3.      PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4.      PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5.      PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

6.      PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel.  PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7.      PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented last year, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

8.      In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9.      PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10.  PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11.  PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.  Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region.  Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

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Public Document

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