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

 

• A Palestinian was killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
• A Palestinian died from a wound he had sustained during an extra-judicial execution attempt carried out by IOF.
• 17 Palestinians, including 8 children, were wounded by IOF.
• IOF carried out 2 extra-judicial executions against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, but they failed.
• IOF conducted 21 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 ones into the Gaza Strip.
• IOF arrested 34 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
• IOF razed at least 100 donums[1] of agricultural land and destroyed a number of civilian facilities in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
• 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.
• Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
• IOF troops arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at checkpoints in the West Bank.
• IOF confiscated at least 1,130 donums of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem to construct new sections of the Annexation Wall.
• IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.
• IOF started to establish a road for settlers inside Palestinian communities in the north of Jerusalem.

 

 

 

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (4 – 10 October 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip, while another one died from a previous wound n the West Bank. In addition, they wounded 17 Palestinians, including 8 children.  

In the Gaza Strip, on Friday morning, 5 October 2007, IOF killed a Palestinian near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp. The victim was carrying a knife. During the reporting period, 7 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, 7 October 2007, IOF troops wounded 2 Palestinian children in the east of Gaza City. Moreover, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in 2 failed execution attempts carried out by IOF.   

In the West Bank, on Sunday morning, 7 October 2007, a Palestinian from Jenin refugee camp died from a wound he had sustained on 25 August 2007, when IOF extra-judicially executed 2 Palestinians and wounded 3 others, including this victim.

On 4 October 2007, 2 Palestinian children were wounded by IOF during incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 3 civilians were wounded on 5 October 2007 when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. On 10 October 2007, 3 Palestinian school children were wounded by IOF in Qalqilya.  Additionally, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF troops opened fire at a vehicle that was transporting a number of workers.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 21 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 34 Palestinian civilians. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,091.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 incursions into Rafah, Khan Yunis and Beit Hanoun towns on 10 October 2007. During these incursions, IOF transformed a number of houses into military sites. They also razed at least 100 donums of agricultural land and destroyed some civilian facilitations.  

Annexation Wall: During the reporting period, IOF issued a military order confiscating at least 1,130 donums of land in the Abu Dis and al-Sawahra villages, east of Jerusalem, for the purpose of the construction of the eastern section of the Wall around East Jerusalem. IOF gave the owner 21 days to appeal against the order. The construction of this section of the Wall would cut off Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and undermine the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state. The construction of the Wall to the south, north and east of Jerusalem is a part of a settlement project known as “Jerusalem Ring,” whose length is nearly 50 kilometers.

Restrictions on Movement: Since Wednesday morning, 26 September 2007, IOF have imposed a total 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 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, 8 kilometers southeast 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 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 imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city since the beginning of the holy Ramadan Month on Thursday, 13 September 2007. Although IOF claimed that they would ease the restrictions on access to holy sites in the city during the Ramadan Month, but they reinforced their presence at various checkpoints on the roads leading to the city.

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 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at checkpoints 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. IOF have continued to establish a settler road linking “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement, which was established on the lands of Beit Hanina and Shu’fat suburbs, and “Ramot” settlement, which was established on the lands of Lifta and Beit Eksa villages. The road also links the two settlements with the highway leading to Tel Aviv inside Israel. For the purpose of the project, IOF have leveled large areas of land and have demolished many houses and public buildings, including two colleges and a school.  The establishment of this road will lead to the closure of a number of roads used by Palestinian civilians. It will cut off a church near Hazma village with its housing compound, which consists of 6 apartment buildings, where 36 Palestinian families live.    

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (4 – 10 October 2007)

 

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

 

Thursday, 4 October 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and property, wounding 14-year-old ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Qaher Abu Haniya, 14, with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. Dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF military jeeps. Immediately, IOF troops fired at them, wounding 9-year-old Majd Eyad Bernat with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the face. IOF troops also arrested Mohammed ‘Othamn Mansour, 14, and Sari ‘Ali Suleiman, 18, but released them at night after interrogating and beating them.  

 

Friday, 5 October 2007

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided a number of houses and arrested Yasser Maher Ash’al, 19.

At approximately 05:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp opened fire at Tariq Taleb Abu Jari, 22, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard from Nusairat refugee camp, when he got close to the border. He was instantly killed by several gunshots throughout the body. According to the medical crew that evacuated the body to the hospital, the victim was carrying a knife. The victim’s motive to go to this area is unclear. 

 

Saturday, 6 October 2007

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian brothers:

1. Amjad Mahmoud Shihada, 23;

2. Ahmed Mahmoud Shihada, 20; and

3. Anas Mahmoud Shihada, 27.

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They intercepted a civilian car. They forced 3 Palestinian civilians, who were in the car, out and arrested them:

1. Hammad Abu Qare’, 26;

2. Hazem Abu Qare’, 23; and

3. Munadel Abu Qare’, 22.

 

Sunday, 7 October 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Riad Abu Zaghlan, 32.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mahfouz ‘Omar Taraida, 22.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Husni Mohammed Zakarna, 22.

At approximately 16:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza City fired at 2 Palestinian children who were near the industrial zone adjacent to Karni crossing. The two children were wounded:

1. Ameen Mohammed al-Gharabli, 14, wounded by 2 gunshots to the left hand and leg; and

2. Moahmmed Sameer al-Bassous, 14, wounded by a gunshot to the left leg.

 

Monday, 8 October 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Fujjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Hani ‘Ali Taqatqa, 30; and

2. Mohammed Zaid Taqatqa, 27.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh towns. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tamer Yasser Shawamra, 18, near Qaddoura refugee camp in the center of Ramallah, and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Nasser Ahmed Barakat, 18; and

2. Khaled Mahmoud Abu Za’rour, 26.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They besiged a house belonging to Ahmed Sadiq Tahaina, 35. They ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF immediately arrested Tahaina and 2 other Palestinians who were hosted by him: Salah al-Zayoud, 40; and ‘Omran Hasan Tahaina, 23. IOF claims that al-Zayoud is the leader of Islamic Jihad in Jenin, while the other two Palestinians are members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad).

 

Wednesday, 10 October 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yousef Mohammed al-Natsha, 50, a member of the municipal council of the town, and arrested him.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh towns and the neighboring al-Am’ari refugee camp. They raided and serched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Nader ‘Eissa ‘Abbas, 23;

2. Muhannad ‘Eissa ‘Abbas, 20; and

3. Shadi ‘Othman Jaber, 20.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Shyoukh village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ashraf Sameer al-Halaiqa, 21, and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. In the afternoon, IOF troops chased and fired at school children when they left their schools to go back homes. Three children were wounded:

1. Mo’men Bassam Abu Shareb, 13, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

2. Fadi Saqer al-‘Aaidi, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the foot.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Doha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed ‘Adnan al-Shareef, 18, and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved nearly 2 kilometers into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. This incursion is still ongoing.

Also at approximately 03:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 700 meters into al-Fukhari areas in the southeast of Khan Yunis. Backups of IOF were brought into the area. They raided a number of houses and leveled areas of land. They also opened fire at the area, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. During this incursion, which continued until 18:00, IOF razed at least 100 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus. They also demolished the fences of a college and a cemetery.

At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Aadel ‘Eissa ‘Awad, 40; and

2. ‘Essam ‘Ouda ‘Awad, 25. 

 

Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF carried out 2 extra-judicial execution attempts, one of which failed, whereas in the other one, 2 targeted persons were wounded.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

At approximately 15:25 on Thursday, 5 October 2007, an IOF warplan fired 2 missiles at a civilian car that was traveling near in the Airport Street in Rafah, in which a leader of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), 32-year-old ‘Awadh ‘Abdul Fattah al-Qeeq. The two missiles went astray and fell in front of a shop in the area, wounding 3 civilian bystanders:

1. Mohammed Hashem al-‘Arja, 12, wounded by shrapnel to the head;

2. Bassel Hussein Abu ‘Oun, 43, wounded by shrapnel to the face and the chest; and

3. Ibrahim Mohammed al-Kurd, 40, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand.

At approximately 01:30 on Monday, 8 October 2007, an IOF warplane fired a missile at 2 activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) who were near al-Tawfiq Mosque in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The two activists were seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout their bodies:

1. ‘Arafat Kamel al-‘Ar’eir, 19; and

2. Ziad ‘Essam Helles, 22.

On Sunday morning, 7 October 2007, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital declared that ‘Ali Hasan Abu Rmila, 42, from Jenin died from a previous wound. According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 6:10, an IOF undercover unit moved into Jenin traveling in two civilian vehicles with Palestinian registration plates. The two vehicles entered the town through Jenin – Nazareth road, northeast of the town. They stopped in front of Jordan Bank in the center of the town. In the meantime, a car (a grey Mazda), in which 5 members of the al-Quds Brigades, was heading towards the center of the town. The car stopped near a man who sells coffee. Immediately, members of the IOF undercover unit opened fire at the car, killing 2 passengers and wounded the other 3 ones, including Abu Rmaila, who was wounded by several gunshots to the abdomen, the shoulder and the legs. He was first evacuated to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin, and from there he was transferred to Ramallah Hospital because he was in a serious conditions. He received medical treatment there until his death. . ‘Alaa’ Saleh Mohammed Sorour, 30, was instantly killed by several gunshots throughout the body. Mustafa Nader ‘Ateeq, 21, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head and was pronounced dead at noon. The other three Palestinians were wounded:

 

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

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

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank.  Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing.  IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing.  With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have allowed nearly 400 traders to pass through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. 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 20-25 patients are allowed to pass daily. On 26 September 2007, IOF closed the crossing for the Jewish Sukkot.

Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for several 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, witnessed an active movement during the reporting period.    

Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, the crossing was opened fro 3 days only to allow the entry of some goods for local traders.

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was opened fro 3 days to allow the entry of some goods.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

 

The West Bank

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city since the beginning of the holy Ramadan Month on Thursday, 13 September 2007. Although IOF claimed that they would ease the restrictions on access to holy sites in the city during the Ramadan Month, but they reinforced their presence at various checkpoints on the roads leading to the city. On Friday, 5 October 2007, IOF prevented thousands of Palestinian civilians from attending the al-Aqsa Mosque for the Friday Prayer. IOF required men aged below 50 and women aged below 45 to obtain special permits to be able to enter al-Aqsa Mosque. Howver, at least 150,000 Palestinians were able to pray in the Mosque, while at least 30,000 Israeli policepersons were deployed around the Mosque and the old town.

Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday morning, 5 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 7 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 8 October 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Nablus. They erected a checkpoint on al-Bathan road, northeast of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.    

On Friday morning, 5 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint erected on Ussarin – Beeta road, south of Nablus, arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, claiming that there were carrying a hom-made gun: Mousa Braham, 21; and ‘Aassef ‘Izziddin, 24.

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 4 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, closed the checkpoint and banned the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. On Friday, 5 October 2007, IOF closed most agricultural roads in the east of Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. On Saturday, 29 September 2007, IOF erected additional checkpoints around the town and imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. On Sunday, 7 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on the main road leading to al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm, and blocked the southern road leading to Bal’a village, east of the town, with sand barriers. On Sunday, 7 October 2007, IOF closed all checkpoints around Tulkarm until 11:00. On Monday, 8 October 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east 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 Hebron. They have erected more checkpoints inside and around the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians. On Monday evening, 8 October 2007, IOPF prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilians, especially those aged below 30 from entering the Ibrahimi Mosque. On Tuesday morning, 9 October 2007, IOF troops positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque detonated sound bombs near Palestinian civilians praying in the Mosque and those waiting at various checkpoints.   

At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 8 October 2007, IOF troops positioned in the south of the old town of Hebron arrested Mo’tassem Hisham Abu ‘Aqel, 22.

At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 9 October 2007, IOF troops positioned near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested Sa’ada Mousa al-Ja’ba, 20.

Salfit: at approximately 17:00 on Friday, 5 October 2007, IOF troops positioned at Deir Ballout checkpoint, west of Salfit, opened fire for no apparent reason at a civilian vehicle with an Israeli registration plate that was transporting a number of Palestinian workers from their work places inside Israeli to their homes. Sati Suleiman ‘Assous, 45, from Jenin, was wounded by shrapnel from gunshots to the limbs. The driver, who is a residents of Kufor Qassem village inside Israel, was also wounded.    

 

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.

During the reporting period, IOF issued a military order confiscating at least 1,130 donums of land in the Abu Dis and al-Sawahra villages, east of Jerusalem, for the purpose of the construction of the eastern section of the Wall around East Jerusalem. IOF gave the owner 21 days to appeal against the order. The construction of this section of the Wall would cut off Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank and undermine the possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian state. The construction of the Wall to the south, north and east of Jerusalem is a part of a settlement project known as “Jerusalem Ring,” whose length is nearly 50 kilometers.

Following the Friday Prayer on 5 October 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF soldiers had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. ‘Amru Hisham Nasser, 22, hit by a tear gas canister to the back;

2. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Fattah Bernat, 25, hit by a tear gas canister to the leg; and

3.  ‘Eissa Mahmoud Abu Rahma, 37, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

  

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.

IOF have continued to establish a settler road linking “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement, which was established on the lands of Beit Hanina and Shu’fat suburbs, and “Ramot” settlement, which was established on the lands of Lifta and Beit Eksa villages. The road also links the two settlements with the highway leading to Tel Aviv inside Israel. IOF have been working on the project for at least 30 months. For the purpose of the project, IOF have leveled large areas of land and have demolished many houses and public buildings, including two colleges and a school.  The establishment of this road will lead to the closure of a number of roads used by Palestinian civilians. It will cut off a church near Hazma village with its housing compound, which consists of 6 apartment buildings, where 36 Palestinian families live.

On Thursday morning, 4 October 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, a tract of agricultural land belonging to ‘Abdul Hafez Younis Da’na, 80. They cut at least 2 tons of grapes and threw them on the ground. According to Da’na, the settlers also attacked his house with stones.

At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 8 October 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Qidoumim” settlement, east of Qalqilya, attacked Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the main road leading to Qalqilya. Two vehicles were damaged.

At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 10 October 2007, a number of armed Israeli settlers closed the road that links Dura village with Kherbat Salama, southwest of Hebron. This closure continued until midday, when IOF troops arrived at the area to negotiate with the settlers to open the road.  

 

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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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