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

·                    10 Palestinians killed by IOF.

o             1 Palestinian youth beaten to death in Bethlehem

o             3 of the victims killed in IOF extra-judicial executions.

·                 12 Palestinian civilians, including 1 woman, were wounded by IOF gunfire.

o          3 were injured in a failed extra-judicial execution.

·                 IOF conducted 26 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

o              IOF arrested 18 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and 2 in the Gaza Strip.

o              IOF raid the Union of the Handicapped and Islamic Club in Qalqilya.

o              IOF raid El-Zuhur Kindergarten and desecrate the Islamic Cemetery in Dura near Hebron.

·                 IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT, and continues to isolate the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

o              Severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip due to the closure.

o              5,000 Palestinians still stuck on the Egyptian side of the Gaza Strip border for 6 weeks. The number of travelers who died in Egypt so far is 17.

o              Approximately 1,000 Palestinians allowed to pass from Egypt through El-Ojeh – Erez route.  

o              IOF positioned at various checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child.

Summary

IOF escalated violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (26 July – 1 August 2007):

Killing and Injury: During the reporting period, IOF killed 10 Palestinians; and injured 12 others, including a woman and child in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition, an Israeli peace activist was injured in the weekly demonstration in Bal'in.

In the West Bank, a 19-year old Palestinian youth was beaten to death at a checkpoint in the town of Taqou’ near Bethlehem. And in the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 9 members of the Palestinian resistance and injured 9 others, including 2 civilians. On 26 July 2007, IOF moved into El-Fokhari village in the southern Gaza Strip and killed 2 resistance activists in 3 aerial bombardments. On the same day, 3 activists were killed in an extra-judicial execution using aerial bombardment against a vehicle to the south of Gaza City. On 28 July, 2 more activists were killed when IOF troops fired at members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades near the border fence north of Beit Lahia. Ambulances were prevented from reaching them for 6 hours. And on 1 August, 2 activists were killed in an incursion in Beit Lahia.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 26 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. During those incursions, IOF arrested 20 Palestinian civilians, including 1 child. IOF raided an association for the handicapped and a sports club in Qalqilya, and raided a kindergarten and desecrated a cemetery by destroyed two graves and exposing the buried bodies in Hebron in the West Bank. And in the Gaza Strip, IOF razed 153 of dunums of agricultural land in El-Fokhari village.  

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 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 had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25 June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. At least 5,000 Palestinians have been stuck in Egypt waiting to be allowed in the Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s documentation, 17 Palestinians of those who are stuck in Egypt have died due to the deterioration in their health conditions. Approximately 1,000 travelers were allowed back into the Gaza Strip from Egypt using El-Ojeh crossing 70 kilometers south of Rafah.

IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. During the reporting period, IOF reopened the crossing for some hours to allow the entry of some goods into the Gaza Strip. If this closure continues, a humanitarian crisis is likely to emerge in the Gaza Strip. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. They prevented traders and patients from passing through. IOF allow very few patients to travel through the crossing, but following coordination through the ICRC. During the reporting period, IOF reopened Kerem Shalom crossing, southeast of Rafah, and Sofa crossing, northeast of the town. During the reporting period, Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, which is deigned for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, was opened for 1 day only.  

West Bank

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Contrary to promises by the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested at least 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (26 July – 1 August 2007)

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

Thursday, 26 July 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the city of Qalqilya and raided the offices of the General Union of the Handicapped and the Islamic Club. The troops broke doors of the General Union, searched files, and confiscated some documents. And in the Islamic Club, they broke the doors and destroyed the sports equipment and other items in the Club’s warehouse.

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Qalandia refugee camp. They raided and searched the house of Mustafa Sa’id Muteir (23), and arrested him.  

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into El-Bireh and raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the village of Beir El-Basha south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, and delivered summons to 3 civilians to meet Israeli security officers in the IOF camp near Salem to the south of Jenin. The summons were directed to:

1-     Mohammad Ramzi Assaf.

2-     Nizar Ghanem.

3-     Mer’ei Mousa Ghawadra.   

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF infantry units moved about 1 kilometer into El-Fokhari village east of Khan Yunis. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. At approximately 6:00, IOF armored units moved 2 kilometers inside the Gaza Strip into the same area. Clashes erupted between IOF and armed resistance activists for several hours. At approximately 10:00, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in the town. Sharif Hussein Bureis (35) who is a member of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions was killed. At approximately 11:45, an IOF plane fired another rocket in a field near the town. Tow of them were lightly injured. IOF called through loudspeakers on all males aged 16-50 to leave their houses. They were taken to the eastern cemetery near the town. They were held in a trench dug by IOF vehicles. Sixty were then taken for interrogation in an IOF outpost inside Israel. Most of them were released at 3:00 on Friday. Two were arrested: Rami Salem Abdallah El-Omor (31) and Mohammad Salim Mohammad El-Omor (24). At approximately 7:45, and IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in the town. Mahmoud Alo Mahmoud Abu Daqqa (26) who is a member of Izzedeen El-Qassam Battalions was killed. Another member of the same group was moderately injured. During this incursion, IOF razed 153 dunums of agricultural land planted with almond and olive trees as well as vegetables.

·      In the morning, Jamila Fahd Mohammad Abdallah (54) from the town of Dammoun, southest of Jenin, was slightly injured by a bullet that grazed her head. And IOF soldier fired a single bullet at the tent where the woman was sitting with her 2 daughters. The incident took place in the Baq’ea area in the northern Jordan Valley, where the woman and her children were herding their sheep. She was taken to Jericho Hospital for treatment.

·      In the morning, Adham Nathmi Ali Samamra (18) from El-Thahereyya, southwest of Hebron, was seriously injured by gunfire from undercover IOF units. He was taken to an Israeli hospital for treatment. PCHR’s preliminary investigation and eyewitness testimonies indicate that at approximately 8:30, undercover IOF units moved into El-Thahereyya. They stopped a Palestinian taxi at gunpoint and forced the occupants out. They drove in the town and fired at Adham Samamra without warning from a distance of about 13 meters. At the time of the attack, the victim was working in a tile factory. He was hit by a bullet in the back, which issued from his chest. He was taken to the town’s medical center, and from there transferred to Soroka Hospital inside Israel.

·      At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses in the areas of Abu Snaima, Wadi El-Samn, and Aqabet Injeela. They arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1-     Sa’ad Ahmad Abu Ramouz (25).

2-     Abd El-Shafi Mohammad Abu Turki (24).

3-     Issa Jamal Abu Turki (34).

4-     Yehya Mahmoud Ashour Abu Esnaya (33).

·      At approximately 12:00, IOF undercover units moved into El-Zahra Quarter in Jenin. They ambushed a Palestinian vehicle near the Directorate of Education building. The troops fired at the car and arrested one of its occupants. It was later learned that the detained person is Adham Yunis (23) from the town of Ateel near Tulkarm. IOF claim that he is a wanted member of Al-Quds Battaltions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad.

·      At approximately 15:50, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a vehicle traveling along Salah El-Deen Road to the south of Gaza City. Three members of Al-Quds Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, who were in the car were killed instantly by the direct hit. All three were from Beach Camp in Gaza City:

1-     Omar Arafat El-Khatib (35).

2-     Ahmad Hosni El-Balawi (22).

3-     Khalil Zeid El-Dueifi (33).

Friday, 27 July 2007

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into the city of Jenin and its refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests or injuries were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the city of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests or injuries were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the town of Kufr Qalil, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests or injuries were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the town of Deir El-Ghosoun. They raided and searched the house of Azmi Zanabit, and confiscated a computer. It is noted that IOF detained Zanabit’s son, Mohji (23) upon his return from Jordan on 21 July 2007.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into the city of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to members of the Mara’ba. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 28 July 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the city of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets in the eastern part of the city. No raids or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 11:30, IOF troops stationed along the Gaza Strip border to the north of Beit Lahia fired heavily at a members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, who came near the border fence. Two members were seriously injured. IOF did not allow ambulances to come near for 6 hours. When ambulances finally arrived, the injured had died of their wounds approximately 15 meters from the border. They were taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital:

1-     Yehya Zakaria Barakat (20) from Beach Camp.

2-     Tamer Mahmoud El-Khatib (22) from Jabalia refugee camp.

Sunday, 29 July 2007

·      At approximately 00:00, IOF troops moved into Wadi El-Samn area in Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Nitham Aref Taha Abu Esnaina (18), and arrested him.

·      At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into the town of Kufr Ra'ei south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and erected a checkpoint on the road connecting the village with the Sa'ida north of Tulkarm. Upon withdrawing in the morning, no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the city of Bethlehem. They raided and searched the house of Romel Ali Mohammad Khallawi (26), and arrested him. It is noted that Romel works in the PNA's National Security Forces.  

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the village of Suqba, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses, and arrested 3 civilians:

1-     Ahmad Mahmoud Nakhla (23).

2-     Ahmad Ramadan Hassan (24).

3-     Mahmoud Theyab Qadah (21).  

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into the city of Jenin and its refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests or injuries were reported.

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into El-Harayeq and Liberation Square areas in Hebron. They erected checkpoints at the entrances of the areas, and searched vehicles. In addition, they raided a number of shops. No arrests were reported.  

Monday, 30 July 2007

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qalandia refugee camp. They patrolled the streets. No arrests or injuries were reported.

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into the town of Beit Ommar, north of Hebron. They raied and searched a number of houses, and arrested 3 civilians, including a child:

1-     Mohammad Sa'adi Bahar (25).

2-     Izzedeen Mohammad Meqbel (16).

3-     Mohammad Haitham Mahmoud Soleibi (24).

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into the village of El-Burj southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched the house belonging to Theyab Mohammad Abd El-Razzaq El-Talahmam who was arrested by IOF 10 days earlier. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 12:00, and IOF plane fired 2 rockets at a taxi traveling along Salah El-Deen Road near the town of El-Zawayda in the center of the Gaza Strip. Two unarmed resistance activists and the taxi driver were in the vehicle at the time. The activist were members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, armed wing of Fatah, and Al-Quds Battalions, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad. The taxi driver, Ramzi Samir Abu Sabra (21) from Deir El-Balah was seriously injured by shrapnel in the left hand in the attack. The activists sustained light shrapnel injuries.

Tuesday, 31 July 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Marah El-Baqar area south of the town of Dura near Hebron. They raided and searched houses belonging to Amr clan. The search included El-Zuhur kindergarten and the Islamic cemetery in the area. Residents of the area were subjected to field interrogations. At approximately 5:00, and IOF bulldozer desecrated the Islamic cemetery, razing parts of if under the pretext of searching for illegal materials. The graves of the late Sami Taleb Hasan Amr (died in 1994) and Sarah Ali Abd El-Fattah Amr (died in 1989) were destroyed. IOF arrested Hasan Ibrahim Amr (35) and Amin Ibrahim Amr (32) before withdrawing. Aziz Ayed Amr (57) informed PCHR's fieldworker that IOF purposely desecrated the two graves, using police dogs and detectors to search them. The bodies of the deceased were exposed as a result.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into the village of Kufr Dan, west of Jenin. They surrounded the house of Mohammad Ali Rahal. They arrested Rami Mohammad Yassin (20) and Baha Mohammad Mas'oud Darwish (19).  

Wednesday, 1 August 2007

·      At approximately 05:30, IOF infantry and armored vehicles moved nearly 2 kilometers inside the Gaza Strip to the north of Beit Lahia. They clashed with Palestinian resistance groups. The clashes resulted in the killing of 2 resistance activists and the injury of a third. IOF troops detained 4 ambulances for 2 hours before allowing them to transport the killed and injured. The 2 killed activists are:

1-     Sa'ad Rajab Mohammad Soboh (24) from Beit Lahia.

2-     Kamal Suliman Salah (19).

The child Amin Riziq Abu Dayer (16), was injured in the left hand by indiscriminate IOF gunfire.

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 one year. 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. As a consequence of the total siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, at least 73% of the families in the Gaza Strip live below the poverty line, and unemployment has been estimated at 55%. In addition, the living conditions in the Gaza Strip have further deteriorated with the non-payment of salaries for the public sector for nearly a year as international donors have frozen aids provided to Palestinians, and Israeli authorities have suspended the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian National Authority since March 2006. 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.

·      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 5,000 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, 17 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. During the reporting period, the 17^th victim fell on the border. In addition, approximately 1,000 travelers were allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through El-Ojeh crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.

·      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. On Friday, 16 February 2007, IOF opened the new Erez International Crossing Point under new procedures. Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have to obtain permits from the IOF Civil Administration as it was the case before. According to Palestinians who traveled through the new crossing point, 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 20 patients are allowed to pass daily. Furthermore, the families of Gazans imprisoned in Israel are deprived of visitation rights for the 7^th consecutive week.

·      Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have continued to close the crossing. However, it was opened partially on 30 July 2007 from 10:00 – 17:00, allowing the passage of 2,820 tons of flour, food, and animal fodder.

·      Nahal Ouz Crossing: This crossing is designed for the entry of fuels. The crossing was opened for one day on 31 July 2007, allowing the passage of 288 tons of gas, 70 tons of kerosene, and 100 tons of benzene.

·      Sofa & Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom ) Crossings: The crossings were opened except for Friday and Saturday, allowing the entry of some food and medical products. However, there has been a complete ban on construction materials to Gaza, stopping work in all construction projects in the Strip.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip.  Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families.  Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. 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.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On the morning of Thursday, 26 July 2007, IOF tightened security procedures at all checkpoints surrounding the city. And on Saturday, 28 July 2007, IOF troops on checkpoints surrounding the city used very slow search and security procedures against civilians and their possessions. Travelers were delayed for hours from reaching their destinations. And on Sunday, 29 July 2007, IOF troops stationed at Za'tara checkpoint imposed additional restrictions on civilian movement. And troops on the Bathan road checkpoint detained hundreds of civilians on their way into Nablus by closing the checkpoint completely. Also on Saturday, IOF detained a Palestinian whose identity at Huwara checkpoint to the south of Nablus. IOF troops claimed to find two explosive devices with the detainee. And on Monday, 30 July 2007, IOF closed the Bathan road checkpoint, preventing passage both ways. Also on Monday, IOF troops at Huwara checkpoint detained 2 Palestinians from the village of Majdal Bani Fadel southeast of Nablus: Nader Talab Zein El-Deen (32) and rozi Abd El-Mon'em Zein El-Deen (30).

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 26 July 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Far'un town intersection to the south of Tulkarm. The troops prevented passage through the checkpoint after subjecting travelers to stringent search procedures. And on Friday, 27 July, IOF tightened search and security procedures on the Wadi El-Teen checkpoint, subjecting travelers to body searches as well as checking their ID's. On Saturday, 28 July, IOF erected a checkpoint on the entrance of the town of Fuqqin, north of Tulkarm, and prevented the town's residents from passage through the checkpoint. Civilians who attempted to take dirt roads to bypass the checkpoint were chased and held for hours. Also on Saturday, IOF troops on Ennab checkpoint used police dogs to check vehicles and travelers. And on Sunday, 29 July, IOF erected a checkpoint on the El-Ras intersection, south of Tulkarm. Troops forced travelers to and from Qalqilya were forced out of their vehicles and detained under the pretext of checking their ID's. And on Monday, 30 July, IOF troops at Ennab checkpoint used lengthy search and security procedures against vehicles and travelers, forcing some to take dirt bypass roads.

·      Bethlehem: At approximately 10:15 on Thursday, 26 July, Jihad Khalil Hussein El-Sha'er (16) was beaten to death by IOF troops in the town of Taqou' east of Bethlehem. IOF troops claimed that he attempted to stab one of them, which forced them to beat him with sticks. The victim's father informed PCHR's fieldworker that his son left the house near Taqou' secondary school and walked on the main street searching for a taxi to take him to Bethlehem in order to register at university. Troops on a checkpoint on the road screamed at him, and detained him as he was walking meters away from them. Troops ridiculed him and forced him to stand in the sun, and started to abuse him. He complained about the abuse. After he complained, the troops began to severely beat him with sticks and gun butts. They hit him all over the body. He died within minutes of the beating. The father stated that neighbors came to him and told him that his son was being held by troops. He went to the checkpoint and talked to the troops in Hebrew trying to get his son. Troops threatened to shoot him and detained him about 30 meters away from where his son was held. The troops prevented a Palestinian ambulance from taking Jihad. And at approximately 11:20, and Israeli ambulance took the boy. At approximately 14:30, IOF delivered Jihad's body to a Palestinian ambulance at the entrance of Kfar Etzion settlement bloc. The body was delivered with a death notice from the Israeli police stating that "Jihad Khalil El-Sha'er died as a result of a severe wound caused by a strong hit to the head." At approximately 15:00, the body arrived in Beit Jala Hospital. Sources in the hospital stated that there were fractures in the skull and bruises all over the body caused by beating with a sharp object."

·      Ramallah: On Saturday, 28 July 2007, IOF troops stationed at Ottara Bridge checkpoint on the entrance of Birzeit, north of Ramallah, arrested the child Majed Nizar El-Rimawi (17) from the town of Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah.  

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 27 July 2007, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah in protest to the construction of the Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the gate at the Wall established in the village and attempted to cross it. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, an Israeli activist was injured by a tear gas bomb that hit his hand. In addition, tens of demonstrators suffered from inhalation of tear gas. The injured Israeli is Elan Shalif (70).

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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

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