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

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

• 2 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

• One of the victims was shot dead by IOF near a military checkpoint in the West Bank.

• 21 Palestinians, including a child, and an international human rights defender were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

• IOF conducted 29 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

• IOF arrested 49 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.

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

• An old woman died at an IOF military checkpoint in the West Bank as IOF troops obstructed her evacuation to the hospital.

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

• Some Palestinians have been stuck at the Egyptian side of Rafah International Crossing Point, and the number of deaths among them has mounted to 19.

• IOF arrested 2 Palestinian civilians at Erez checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip when they were on their way back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt.

• IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested a Palestinian woman and a wound man.

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

• Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (2 – 8 August 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 5 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and wounded 21 Palestinians, including a child, and a Danish human rights defender in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF carried out an extra-judicial execution attempt in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. The attack killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded 12 others, including a child, and 3 members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). The attack essentially targeted the three members of the al-Quds Brigades. On Wednesday, 8 August 2007, IOF shot dead a member of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and wounded a civilian, who were organizing the movement of Palestinian civilians coming back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt through Erez crossing.

In the west Bank, On Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at ‘Attara Bridge checkpoint, north of Ramallah, fired at Palestinian child, wounding him. The child died from his wound on the following day morning. On the same day evening, IOF shot dead a Palestinian when he attempted to escape from a house in Nablus as they came to arrest him. The victim was a member of the al-Quds Brigades. On 2 August 2007, IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian when they attempted to arrest him at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus. On 3 August 2007, 3 Palestinian civilians and a Danish human rights defender were 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 6 August 2007, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones at military vehicles in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 29 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 49 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 1,702.

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 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.  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. 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 3 days 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 a Palestinian woman.

Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged. IOF witnessed these attacked, but did not intervene to stop them.

·     Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (2 – 8 August 2007)

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

Thursday, 2 August 2007 

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Sahour town. They raided a school belongs to the Islamic Association, and a house and a factory belonging to ‘Eissa Abi ‘Eita. IOF withdrew from the area later, and no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bedia village, northwest of Salafit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ibrahim ‘Abdul Wahab Ahmed, 21;

2.      Sayed ‘Abdul Wahab Ahmed, 19;

3.      Mohammed Mustafa Cana’an, 22;

4.      Jameel ‘Aadel Salama, 22;

5.      Jamal ‘Aadel Salama, 23;

6.      Ahmed ‘Omar Qassem, 24;

7.      Tariq Wassef Musleh, 23; and

8.      Yousef Suleiman Ibrahim, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Daoud Khader Rayan, 22, and arrested him.

·      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.      Mohammed Mustafa Bisharat, 30, the director of Nafha Association for the Defense of Prisoners; and

2.      ‘Omar Mohammed al-Saber, 19.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Nadeem Ahmed Shbaib, 18;

2.      Habeeb Ja’far Shbaib, 18;

3.      Tamer Yasser Daghlas, 21;

4.      Tariq Mohammed Saif, 23;

5.      Ameen Jamal al-Desouqi, 25;

6.      Tha’er Daghlas, 22; and

7.      Najwat Zahi Abu ‘Omar, 19.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yousef Kefaya, 27, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed ‘Aadel Hmaidiya, 31; and

2.      Mohammed Rafeeq Abu Saifain, 22.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Eyad Mansour Abu Snaina, 28; and

2.      ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Dandis, 24.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 23:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into the old town of Nablus, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped in al-Qaisariya quarter. A number of masked IOF soldiers got out of the vehicle. The used ladders to get atop of the roofs of a number of houses in the area. They also besieged a house belonging to the Halawa family. Soon after, a number of IOF military vehiclesmoved into the area. They raided Zafer al-Masri School near the house. Ra’ed ‘Ali Hasan Abu al-‘Adas, 34, from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who was hiding in the house notice the presence of IOF. He immediately attempted to escape through the window, but IOF soldiers noticed him. They shot him dead with several gunshots. IOF soldiers also arrested ‘Izziddin Halawa, 24.

Friday, 3 August 2007

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Wajdi Mustafa Rajab, and arrested his two sons: Mohammed, 22; and Mahmoud, 18.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’id Khalil Abu Hamdiya, 20, and arrested him.

Saturday, 4 August 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Sunday, 5 August 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir Ebzee’s village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into several areas in Hebron. They patrolled in the streets, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets, but no arrests were reported.

Monday, 6 August 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed ‘Ali Abu ‘Ayash, 23; and

2.      Ra’ed Rassem Ekhlil, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ali ‘Orabi Nakhla, 22, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They imposed a curfew on the camp. They raided and searched several houses in the camp and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Mahmoud Mabrouk, 20;

2.      Jihad Mahmoud Mabrouk, 21;

3.      Riadh Jawdat al-Nadi, 35;

4.      ‘Abed Jawdat al-Nadi, 28;

5.      Mo’taz Musbah al-Khattari, 24;

6.      ‘Adnan Ibrahim Qatouni, 33;

7.      Majid ‘Abdul Ghani Taha, 31 (he was released later);

8.      ‘Omar Shawkat Abu Khamis, 45; and

9.      Hazem ‘Othman al-Sa’di, 28.

While IOF were withdrawing from the camp at approximately 12:00, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at these civilians, wounding Uassam Mohammed Daoud, 18, with 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the left side and hand. According to eyewitnesses, during house raids, IOF soldiers moved from one house to another through holes they opened into walls, like they did during Operation Defensive Shield in Spring 2002.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Arafat Ya’qoub Abu Sabtan, 19, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Salem village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 7 August 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Hisham Hasan Zaitawi, 30;

2.      Hakeem Suleiman al-Hadeedi, 30; and

3.      Mohammed Yousef Khader, 24.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ektaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sameer Khaled Jeetawi, 22, and arrested him.

Wednesday, 8 August 2007

·      At approximately 14:50, IOF soldiers positioned on an observation tower near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip fired at Ekrami Ghaleb Nember Abu ‘Amsha, 23, a member of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior. He was wounded by several gunshots to the chest and the legs. He died from his wound during his evacuation to the hospital. In addition, Yousef Ahmed al-Shanbari, 37, a bag porter, was wounded by a gunshot to the left side. It is worth noting that members of the Executive Force were present in the area to organize the movement of Palestinian civilians coming back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt through the crossing.

2.      Extra-Judicial Execution

During the reporting period, IOF carried out an extra-judicial execution attempt in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. The attack killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded 12 others, including a child, and 3 members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). The attack essentially targeted the three members of the al-Quds Brigades.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:15 on Saturday, 4 August 2007, an IOF warplane fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling on Salah al-Din road to the north of Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. Three members of the al-Quds Brigades were traveling in the car. The missile hit the front of the car and the three men were seriously wounded, but they were able to jump out of the car. A few minutes later, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at another civilian vehicle that was carrying a container, which stopped nearly 20 meters away from the entrance to Rafah International Crossing Point. As a result, the driver of the vehicle, 42-year-old Midhat Ahmed al-Halabi, and a civilian bystander, 30-year-old Hisham Nasser al-Jamal, were killed. In addition, 12 civilian bystanders, including a child, were wounded. A jeep belonging to the Islamic Jihad was loaded in the container, which was apparently the target of the attack. 

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. 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 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.  

·      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: 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 for 3 days during the reporting period to allow the entry of amounts of fuels. IOF allowed the entry of approximately 400,000 liters of gasoline, 100,000 liters of benzene and 192 tons of domestic gas 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.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF closed al-Bathan checkpoint, northeast of Nablus. On Saturday morning, 4 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city conducted prolonged and humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 8 July 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 6 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 12:05, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, chased and fired a Palestinian who had just passed through the checkpoint. He was wounded by 2 gunshots to chest and the left hand. He was evacuated to an Israeli hospital. He was identified as Yousef Hussein Abu Mustafa, 30, from Qalqilya. According to his wife, they were traveling towards Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, to visit the husband’s parents. When IOF troops checked the husband’s identity card, they told him that he was wanted, so he attempted to escape.

·      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, 12 July 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Tulkarm imposed additional restrictions on the movement to and from the town. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday, 4 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 5 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Jaroushiya intersection, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 9 July 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, from 06:00 to 09:00. On Tuesday morning, 10 July 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, until 10:00. When IOF reopened the checkpoint, they prevented Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint.

·      Ramallah: On Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at ‘Attara Bridge checkpoint, north of Ramallah, fired at Palestinian child, wounding him. The child died from his wound on the following day morning.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:30, a Palestinian police vehicle, which was transporting 3 detainees to Ramallah, stopped at ‘Attara Bridge checkpoint, waiting to be allowed by IOF troops to pass through. A Palestinian child got out of the vehicle and ran towards the checkpoint. Immediately, IOF troops positioned on an observation tower in the area fired at the child. He was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the chest. He was evacuated to Ramallah Hospital, where he died from his wound on the following day morning. The child was identifies as Mohammed ‘Oraib Ahmed al-Maloukh, 17, from Qarawat Bani Zaid village northwest of Ramallah.

·      Bethlehem: On Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at the Container checkpoint near Bethlehem arrested Muna Hussein Qe’dan, 37, from ‘Arraba village south of Jenin. The woman was arrested by IOF twice in the past.

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 a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

·      On Thursday morning, 2 August 2007, IOF prevented dozens of Palestinian farmers from ‘Aaneen village, west of Jenin, from reaching their agricultural lands located behind the Wall, although they have valid permits issued by IOF to go to their lands. IOF soldiers positioned at the Wall informed the farmers that their permits were invalid and that they must obtain new ones.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 3 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, 3 Palestinian civilians and a Danish human rights defender were wounded:

1.      Tamar Keila, 20, hit by a tear gas canister to the back;

2.      Yassin Mohammed Yassin, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

3.      Eyad Mohammed Bernat, 34, hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen; and

4.      Adam, 21, a Danish human rights defender, hit by a tear gas canister to the abdomen.

·      On Monday morning, 6 August 2007, an old Palestinian woman died in Barta’a village, southwest of Jenin, which has been isolated by the Wall, when IOF soldiers positioned at gate established at the entrance of the village obstructed her evacuation to the hospital.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:50 on Monday, 6 August 2007, Kamela Ibrahim Qabaha, 75, suffered from an indisposition. Immediately, he son called for an ambulance from Jenin to evacuate her to the hospital. However, the ambulance did not arrive, so the family decided to take her to the hospital in a civilian car. The car traveled towards Barta’a checkpoint. As soon as the car arrived there, the old woman died. According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Jenin, the society received a phone call at approximately 06:50, which informed about a patient who needed to be evacuated to the hospital. An ambulance immediately moved towards Barta’a village to bring the patients. However, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of the village stopped the ambulance for nearly 2 hours, during which time the patient died.  

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.

·      On Saturday morning, 4 August 2007, Israeli settlers from “Sousia” settlement to the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, resumed their attempted to take over at least 10 donums[1] of Palestinian land located nearly 1500 meters to the west of the settlement. The targeted land is located nearly 50 meters away from Palestinian houses. Palestinian civilians living in the area have been waiting for a decision to be issued by the Israeli High Court concerning the licensing of their houses.

·      On Sunday evening, 5 August 2007, and Monday morning, 6 August 2007, scores of Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, and in settlement outposts in the center of the town launched a series of attacks on Palestinian civilians and property, using stones and empty bottles. IOF soldiers witnessed the attacks, but did intervene to stop them.  A number of houses were damaged. IOF also arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child, when they attempted to stop the attacks by settlers

·      On Monday morning, 6 August 2007, scores of Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron. They attacked a mosque and burnt an office and 2 uninhabited houses. IOF soldiers were present, but did not intervene to stop the attacks.

·      On Monday afternoon, Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement near Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and property in the town using stones and empty bottles. A number of houses were damaged.

…………………………………………………………

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).