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PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org |
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Weekly
Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied
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No. 35/2007 30 August - 05 September 2007 |
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Israeli Occupation Forces have continued to arrest Palestinian Civilians |
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Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· 16 Palestinians, including 6 children and a woman, were wounded by IOF.
· IOF conducted 31 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 ones into the Gaza Strip.
· IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
· 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 troops arrested a Palestinian civilian at a checkpoint in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued settlement activities.
· IOF demolished 4 houses in Jerusalem.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (30 August – 5 September 2007):
Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 16 Palestinians, including 6 children and a woman, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, 13 Palestinians, including 6 children, a woman and a resistance activist, were wounded by IOF.
On 31 August 2007, a member of the Palestinian resistance was wounded during clashes with IOF in the old town of Hebron. On the same day, a Palestinian woman was wounded when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. On 1 September 2007, a child was wounded in al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, when IOF opened fire at Palestinian civilians at the entrance of the camp. On 4 September 2007, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded in Nablus, when IOF moved into the city and besieged an apartment building to arrested an allegedly wanted Palestinian. On the same day, 2 Palestinian children were wounded when IOF opened fire at houses and shops in ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. Also on the same day, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF opened fire at him in Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.
In the Gaza Strip, 3 members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) were wounded, when IOF attempted to extra-judicially execute them in Khan Yunis.
Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 31 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 1,877. IOF also raided al-Ihsan medical center in Bethlehem. They confiscated medical equipment, electrical appliances, fax machines and documents.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two incursions into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. During these incursions, IOF leveled areas of Palestinian 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 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. 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 were allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip. IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. IOF have 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.
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. 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 arrested a Palestinian civilian at a checkpoint in the West Bank.
Settlement Activities: During the reporting period, IOF demolished 4 houses in Jerusalem and its suburbs, claiming that they were built without licenses. Palestinian civilians have to go through complicated administrative procedures in order to obtain building licenses. IOF impose such procedures in an attempt to vacate and Judaize the city.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (30 August – 5 September 2007)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 30August 2007
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mujahed Jamal Saleem, 26; and
2. Mohammed Ahmed al-Shaf’ei, 23.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Salem village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mo’tassem ‘Azeez Hasan, 22.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched al-Ihsan medical center in the center of the town. They confiscated medical equipment, electrical appliances, fax machines and some documents.
Friday, 31 August 2007
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Salah ‘Awni Raddad, 22.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Qassaba quarter in the old town of Nablus. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF. During the clashes, a member of the resistance, 28-year-old Lu’ai al-‘Akleek, was wounded by a gunshot to the shoulder. IOF withdrew from the area a few hours later and no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They raided a house belonging to the family of Muneer Ma’rouf al-Saradeeh, 28, and arrested him.
Saturday, 1 September 2007
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the Zraiqat clan in the east of the village and arrested Nawaf Mousa al-Haliqa, 33, from al-‘Arroub area.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. Thet raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Khaled ‘Amru and summoned him for interrogation.
· At approximately 03:00, IOF troops positioned at the northwestern entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, fired at a number of Palestinian children. Mohammed Nidal Abu Ghazi, 7, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the forehead. IOF claimed that stones were thrown at one of their vehicles.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village. They raided and searched 2 houses and summoned Ma’an As’ad ‘Asafra and Mohammed ‘Azzam ‘Asafra for interrogation.
Sunday, 2 September 2007
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Be’r al-Mahjar area in the north of Hebron. They stopped and checked prayers near ‘Abdul Hai Shaheen Mosque, but no arrests were reported.
· In the morning, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. During this incursion, IOF warplanes fired 2 missiles at agricultural areas in the town, but no casualties were reported. IOF pulled back from the town at approximately 17:00.
· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Mughayer village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abu ‘Olaya, 35, and arrested him.
Monday, 3 September 2007
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Ein Sarah and Qaizoun neighborhoods in the north northeast of Hebron respectively. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the Srour family and arrested 3 members of the family:
1. Hashem Daoud Srour, 54;
2. Mahmoud Hashem Srour, 19; and
3. Fadi Mohammed Srour, 22.
It is worth noting that a number of members of the family have been detained in Israeli jails. The family also lost two of its members in armed clashes with IOF in 2002. Since then, IOF have practiced various forms of collective punishment against the family.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Waleed Kamal al-Sa’ed, 21.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mohammed Fares Eblan, 24;
2. Jihad ‘Adnan ‘Aamer, 20;
3. Ameen Mohammed Abu Sa’da, 23;
4. ‘Emad Ahmed Abu ‘Asba, 20;
5. Islam Nassim Jeibat, 18;
6. Jamal Nayef ‘Aamer, 20; and
7. Salam Munther Abu Sa’da, 19.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Nazmi Mohammed Raddad, 20;
2. Eyad Hasan Raddad, 19;
3. ‘Abdul Hai Mahmoud Raddad, 24; and
4. Mohammed Mahmoud Raddad, 20.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Nabeel Khader Abu Khalil, 22; and
2. ‘Abdul Rahman Wajeeh Abu Khalil, 23.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayman Mohammed al-‘Assa, 26, and arrested him.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:
1. Wa’el ‘Abdul Karim Hashash, 26;
2. Yasser Ibrahim al-Badrasawi, 43;
3. Ra’ed al-Khatib, 32;
4. Sabri Mahmoud Thouqan, 44;
5. As’ad Abu Goush, 32; and
6. Amjad Abu Ghoush, 30.
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Nasser al-Wraidat, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Suhaib ‘Azeez al-‘Assa, 21;
2. Ayman Mohammed al-‘Assa, 25;
3. Mohammed Salama Safi, 23.
· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hakam Mohammed al-Janazra, 22, and arrested him.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Sa’ed ‘Omar Abu al-Shawareb, 26;
2. Nidal Mohammed Melhem, 27; and
3. Mahmoud Hafez Melhem, 24.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They besieged an apartment building belonging to Fawzi Qaderi and ordered its residents to get out. They then searched flats and arrested Ahmed ‘Awada, 35, a leader of Hamas in charge of public activities. A few hours later, a number of Palestinian school children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children, wounding 3 of them and 4 bystanders:
1. Rami Marwan al-‘Akleek, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;
2. ‘Aahed Sa’id ‘Akouba, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;
3. Mahmoud Nayef ‘Eissa, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;
4. Rida Musbah ‘Aj’aj, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;
5. Eihab Zaher ‘Ashi, 7, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;
6. Jawad Sa’id Hawash, 52, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand; and
7. Murad Shukri Qamhiya, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.
· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians near houses and shops. As a result, Mohammed Hussein al-Tarwa, 64, was seriously wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets to the neck, the chest and the right leg. IOF troops also fired at the civilian car that evacuated al-Tarwa to the hospital.
· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at houses and shops. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children, wounding 2 of them:
1. ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Shaher Salim, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;
2. Qussai Suleiman Abu Shihab, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left shoulder.
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Odai Mohammed Badu, 16.
· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mahmoud Hassanain, 18; and
2. Saleh Zuhdi al-Safadi, 27.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Lu’ai Sami Tmaizi, 24.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hussam Khalaf al-Za’aqiq, 21.
· At approximately 08:30, IOF heavy military vehicles moved nearly 1,500 meters into Abu Safiya area and agricultural areas in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They leveled areas of Palestinian land. They then moved forward to al-Farta and al-Nazzaz areas in the east of Beit Hanoun.
2. Extra-Judicial Execution
During the reporting period, IOF attempted to extra-judicially execute 3 members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, but the attempt failed.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 15:20 on Sunday, 2 September 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling on Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser road in Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. Three members of the al-Quds Brigades were traveling in the targeted car. The missile hit the right side of the car damaging it. Three passengers were able to jump out of the car. One of them was wounded by shrapnel to the rights hand, while the others sustained bruises and fractures.
3. 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
OF 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. 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.
· 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, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. 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. 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.
· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for a few hours to allow the entry of some goods.
· Nahal Ouz crossing: The crossing, which is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, was open during the reporting period to allow the entry of amounts of fuels. IOF allow 350,000 liters of gasoline, 80 liters of benzene, 312 tons of gas and 500,000 liters of energy fuel into the Gaza Strip daily.
· Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, the crossing point was open to allow the entry of some goods for local traders.
· Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was open to allow the entry of some goods and humanitarian aids.
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.
At approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 1 September 2007, 3 IOF soldiers violently beat Mohammed ‘Ali ‘Oudet Allah, 22, from So’fat area in Jeusalem, at ‘Atarout checkpoint, north of the city. They claimed that he was not carrying a driving license, but he denied this claim. An ambulance, escorted by IOF, evacuated him to the hospital. After he had received medical treatment, he was taken to an Israeli police station for interrogation. No legal action was taken against the three IOF soldiers who violently beat him.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 30 August 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. On Friday, 31 August 2007, IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 1 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city, especially Za’tara checkpoint to the south, conducted prolonged and humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 2 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 3 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to prevent Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through various checkpoints around the town. On Thursday, 30 August 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, from 06:00 to 10:00. On Saturday, 1 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of the town. They restricted the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Qalqilya. On Sunday, 2 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They held civilians aged below 35 and prevented them from passing through the checkpoint. On Monday, 3 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday, 4 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm, and closed the main road in the area for some time.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops positioned at Tayaseer and al-Hamra checkpoints at the entrance of the Jordan Valley have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from entering the area without permission. On Sunday morning, 2 September 2007, IOF erected two checkpoints at the eastern entrance of Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint near ‘Ejja village, southeast of Jenin. On Wednesday morning, 5 September 2007, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on Jenin – Nablus road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
On Friday evening, 31 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint between al-Zababda and ‘Aqqaba villages, southeast of Jenin, arrested Lu’ai ‘Eissa Wishahi, 22, from Jenin refugee camp.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. They erected more checkpoints and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 1 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Saheb intersection in the southwest of Hebron. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians, but no arrests were reported. On Sunday, 2 September 2007, IOF erected 2 checkpoints at the entrances of Beit ‘Awa and Deir Samet villages, southwest of Hebron, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians in the area for several hours.
4. 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 peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and in Um Salamouna village, south of Bethlehem.
Following the Friday Prayer on 31 August 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 soldiers had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, Zuhdiya ‘Ali al-Khatib, 42, was hit by a tear gas canister to her leg, and a number of other demonstrators sustained bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation.
5. 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.
· At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 3 September 2007, IOF the Israeli police besieged a 90-square-meter house belonging to Hussam al-Din ‘Aadel al-Nabulsi, which is located on the third floor of an old building in the old town of Jerusalem. They forced the family out and demolished the house. According to al-Nabulsi, Israeli settlers repeated wanted to buy the building.
· Also on Monday morning, IOF demolished a 200-square-meter hose belonging to Randa al-Shareef in Beit Hanina area in Jerusalem. According to al-Shareef she sought to obtain a license for the house to be able to live in it, and for this purpose, she resorted to an Israeli attorney.
· Also on Monday morning, IOF demolished 2 houses belonging to Zakaria al-Natsha and Jamal Qabbou’a in ‘Anata village near Jerusalem, claiming that they were built without licenses.
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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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