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

• 5 Palestinians, including a man and his child, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

• 18 Palestinians, including 3 children, were wounded by IOF.

• IOF conducted 24 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 ones into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 68 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children and a woman, in the West Bank.

• IOF arrested Hatem Qafisha, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, in Hebron.

• IOF razed at least 80 donums[1] of agricultural land and destroyed 9 houses in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF destroyed a house in Balata refugee camp near Nablus.

• IOF transformed 3 houses in Hebron.

• 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 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 (1 – 7 November 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including a man and his son, in the Gaza Strip and wounded 18 others in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on IOF killed 5 Palestinians and wounded 14 others, including a child. On 3 November, 2007, IOF shelled a Palestinian police station in Rafah, killing a policeman and wounding 3 others. On 4 November 2007, IOF killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including a man and his son, and wounded 2 others, including a child, when they shelled a guardroom of a factory of concrete in the northern Gaza Strip. Additionally, 9 Palestinians were wounded by IOF gunfire in others attacks in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, IOF wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, in ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, and Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 24 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 68 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,329. During the reporting period, IOF transformed 3 houses in Hebron into military sites.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian communities. During those incursions, IOF destroyed 3 houses completely and 4 others partially, transformed a number of houses into military sites, razed at least 80 donums of agricultural land. They also interrogated scores of Palestinian civilians after taking them to military sites at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.  

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 17 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.

Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On Friday evening, 2 November 2007, Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” and “Kharsina” settlements, southeast of Hebron, attacked 4 Palestinian houses opposite to the settlements with stones and empty bottles. The houses were damaged and their residents were extremely terrified. IOF troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack.
 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (1 – 7 November 2007)

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

Thursday, 1 November 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the Eastern al-Mazra’a village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

1. Sameer Mohammed Shraitah, 55;

2. Mo’tassem Saleh Shraitah, 15;

3. Mohammed Mahmoud Ladadwa, 60;

4. Saleem Ahmed ‘Aayesh, 30;

5. Sa’id Mousa al-Sheikh, 15;

6. Mo’ayad ‘Abdullah Shraitah, 17;

7. ‘Aayesh Ibrahim Ladadwa, 22;

8. Mohammed ‘Aayesh Ladadwa, 56; and

9. Saleh Ahmed Shraitah, 15.

At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided ands earched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Omar ‘Atallah al-Teerawi, 40;

2. ‘Abdul Karim Zaqqout, 22; and

3. Mohammed Jamal Hashash, 19.

At approximately 08:15, IOF troops withdrew from ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, into which they had moved on Wednesday evening, 31 October 2007. During that incursion, IOF troops imposed a curfew and fired at Palestinian civilians and property. Two Palestinian children were wounded:

1. ‘Awni Faisal Mousa, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest; and

2. Ahmed Nazeeh Khlaif, 14, hit by a fire bomb to the back.

At approximately 08:40, IOF troops that had already moved into the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip fired a tank shell at a number of Palestinian civilians who were gathering remnants in the area. Six civilians were wounded:

1. Fat’hi Yassin Rihan, 50, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel to the feet;

2. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Za’anin, 30, from Beit Hanoun, wounded by shrapnel;

3. ‘Atallah ‘Omar Sha’ban, 18, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel to the left foot;

4. Shihda Mahmoud Abu Jabala, 25, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand;

5. Ibrahim Mohammed Abu Ghazal, 43, from Um al-Nasser village, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot; and

6. ‘Ata ‘Abed Khader, 20, from Jabalya, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot.

At approximately 15:00, IOF troops pulled back from al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, into which they had moved on Tuesday, 30 October 2007. As a result of shooting by IOF on that day, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Mohammed Nabeel al-Soufi, 23, a policeman, wounded by shrapnel to the legs; and

2. Mahdi Jom’a Abu ‘Aathra, 18, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

IOF also destroyed 2 houses:

A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house belonging to Subhi Saleem Abu Jarad, in which 7 individuals used to live;

A 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house belonging to Fawzi Saleem Abu Jarad, in which 13 individuals used to live.

Additionally, IOF arrested Saleh Mohammed Abu Shousha, 38.

At approximately 16:00, IOF troops permanently positions in the center and south of Hebron raided and searched 3 Palestinian houses in al-Masharqa and Wadi al-Nassara neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron, and transformed them into military sites. They continued to occupy those houses for 3 days allegedly to ensure protection of Israeli settlers.

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Sarra village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. During this incursion, IOF troops violently beat 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1. Wa’el Adeeb Deeb, 14, sustained cuts to the head;

2. Sabri ‘Aaref ‘Aawadh, 38, injured to the head;

3. Diaa’ Taleb Ghanem, sustained cuts to the head;

4. Nabeel Mohammed ‘Abdullah, 17, injured to the mouth; and

5. Moahmmed ‘Abdul Ra’ouf ‘Abdullah, 22. 

Friday, 2 November 2007

At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Murad Radhi Abu Namous, 22.

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1. Qussai Hussam Sawan, 15;

2. Nidal Yousef ‘Abdullah, 15; and

3. Hasan Ghassan Swaidan, 18.

Saturday, 3 November 2007

At approximately 00:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a police station in Msabbeh neighborhood in the north of Rafah. A policeman, 22-year-old Mohammed Harabi Siam, was instantly killed by shrapnel throughout the body. Three other policemen were wounded:

1. Ussama Mahmoud al-Khayat, 30, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2. Shafeeq Selmi ‘Oukal, 23, wounded by shrapnel to the legs; and

3. As’ad Mas’oud al-Nejdi, 24, wounded by shrapnel to the left foot.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They raided and searched scores of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Sunday, 4 November 2007

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ali Bader Rabbaa’, 20, and arrested him.

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

In the morning, IOF killed 4 Palestinian civilians and wounded 2others, including a child, when they shelled twice a guardroom at the entrance of a factory of concrete in the northern Gaza Strip. A field worker and volunteer working at PCHR survived the second attack, which took place only 30 seconds after they had left the place.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 07:15, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a guardroom at the entrance of al-Nasser Factory of Concrete in the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, the guard, his son and a worker were killed:

1. Zaher Salman Salim al-‘Err, 38, the guard;

2. Ashraf Zaher Salman al-‘Err, 18, his son; and

3. Mohammed Suleiman Abu Harbeed, 28, a worker.

Additionally, a passing civilian, 23-year-old Wajdi Ibrahim Abu Ehmaidan, was lightly wounded to the right leg and arm.

At approximately 08:35, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at the same place as people gathered to check the outcome of the first attacks. As a result, Hashem ‘Eid Khaddoura, 20, was killed, and Muhannad Mahmoud ‘Aabed, 15, was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

PCHR’s field worker in the northern Gaza Strip reported that the targeted guardroom is located nearly 50 meters away from a place from where home-made rockets are launched. The second attack came only half a minute after PCHR’s field worker and a volunteer has left the place. Khaddoura and ‘Aabed were seen near rocket launchers and did not respond to warnings by PCHR’s field worker and other people in the area.

At approximately 16:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, eats of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at 4 Palestinian farmers who were cultivating vegetables nearly 200 meters away from the border. One of the farmers, 19-year-old Mohammed Fu’ad al-Ma’ni, was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh.

Monday, 5 November 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Jameel Bidu, 24, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces.

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Odai Hamza ‘Enaya, 21;

2. Ahmed Yousef Salama, 19; and

3. ‘Alaa’ Bassem Hussein, 20.

At approximately 13:45, an IOF undercover unit moved into the eastern part of Jenin, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The unit besieged a house belonging to Tariq Jom’a Abu Ghali. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the area to support the undercover unit. They besieged the house, fired at it and ordered its residents to get out. This military operation continued until 16:00, during which time IOF troops arrested Fadi Mohammed Jalamna, 24.

Tuesday, 6 November 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Wad al-Hariya neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hatem Rabah Qafisha, 46, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas, and arrested him.

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

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

At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Ahmed Mohammed Abu al-‘Eish, 17;

2. Sheikh Maher al-Kharraz, 55;

3. Ghaith Ghassan ‘Awawda, 23;

4. Mohammed ‘Ammar Abu Saleh, 19;

5. Jalal Mahmoud al-Halbouni, 33;

6. Mahmoud Rayeq Kalbouna, 23; and

7. ‘Alaa’ Jameel Ghunaim, 25.

Wednesday, 7 November 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ibrahim Yousef Miskawi, 30; and

2. Nour Ahmed Jo’aidi, 25.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Hawoz area in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khalil Ahmed al-Ja’ba, 22.

At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin. They besieged a house belonging to Jom’a Abu Ghali, 60, in al-Almaniya neighborhood. They called on residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF troops interrogated the residents about the owner’s son, Tariq, who is allegedly wanted. They threatened to destroy the house if he did not surrender to them. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF troops arrested the owner and his other son, 33-year-old Ramzi, to pressure Tariq to surrender. It is worth noting that IOF troops raided the same house 2 days earlier and arrested Fadi Mohammed Jalamna, 24.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. They then razed at least 80 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and vegetables, and destroyed 3 houses completely and 4 others partially. They also took at least 50 civilians to the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel for interrogation. IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 21:00.

At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They besieged a house belonging to the family of Hani Mohammed Ka’ba, 24. They ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF troops interrogated the residents of the house about Hani who was not there. At approximately 04:30, IOF destroyed the first floor of the house, rendering the upper floors uninhabitable. During this incursion, IOF raided and searched many houses and arrested 30 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bassam Ibrahim ‘Alama, 19.

At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at them wounding 18-year-old Firas Mohammed Mar’ei with a gunshot to the back.

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 17 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.  

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

Nahal Ouz crossing: It is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip. The amounts of fuels allowed into the Gaza Strip have been decreased starting from Sunday, 28 October 2007.

Sofa Crossing: It has been closed for the second successive week.  

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was partially opened for 2 days to allow the entry of some goods.

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. At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 5 November 2007, IOF naval troops arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen opposite to Rafah seashore: Khaled ‘Ali al-Bardawil, 33; ‘Ali Sameer al-Bardawil, 22; Mohammed ‘Aadel al-Bardawil, 16; and Ahmed Jom’a Abu Sulaima, 19. They forced the fishermen to jump out of their boat into the water and swim towards the IOF gunboat. IOF naval troops took the fishermen to Ashdod Harbor and interrogated them. The fishermen were released in the evening.

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, 1 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 4 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 5 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hawara village, south of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday morning, 6 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 1 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 3 November 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and prevented Palestinian civilians from passing through. On Sunday, 4 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. On Friday and Saturday, 2 and 3 November 2007, IOF closed the Ibrahimi Mosque allegedly to allow Israeli settlers to celebrate the Jewish Sarah festival. During the reporting period, IOF troops imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside the town.

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 16:30 on Friday, 2 November 2007, at least 100 Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” and “Kharsina” settlements, southeast of Hebron, attacked 4 Palestinian houses opposite to the settlements with stones and empty bottles. The houses were damaged and their residents were extremely terrified. The settlers also attacked Ramzi ‘Abdul Karim al-Ja’bari, 22. He sustained bruises throughout the body.

…………………………………………………………

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.

…………………………………………………………

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).