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

·          6 Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed by IOF.

·          23 Palestinians, including 9 children, were wounded by IOF.  

·          IOF conducted 35 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 ones into the Gaza Strip.

·           IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and 6 ones in the Gaza Strip.

·           IOF razed 81 donums[1] of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip.

·           IOF will close the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron during the holiday Ramadan Month for 5 sporadic days.

·           IOF raided the local council of Bir Nabala village, north of Jerusalem. 

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

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

·           IOF troops arrested 2 Palestinian civilians at checkpoints in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (6 – 12 September 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 6 Palestinians, including 2 children, and wounded 23 others, including 9 children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 6 September 2007, IOF killed 4 members of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 10 others in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Members of the Palestinian resistance resisted an incursion by IOF into the village and clashed with IOF troops. On 8 September 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child who was hunting birds near Karni crossing, east of Gaza City. Additionally, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, were wounded when IOF fired a missile at the apartment building where they live.

In the West Bank, on 6 September 2007, IOF moved into Jenin to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. IOF troops opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated against this incursion. As a result, two children were wounded. One of these children died from his wound on 10 September 2007. On 8 September 2007, a Palestinian civilian was wounded in ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, when he mishandled a sound bomb of the remainders of IOF. On 10 September 2007, an IOF undercover unit fired from inside a car at a Palestinian who was walking near the entrance of ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. He was wounded to the feet and IOF troops arrested him. On 11 September 2007, 5 Palestinian children were wounded by IOF in Jenin town and refugee camp.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians, including 3 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 1,931. Also during these incursions, IOF raided and searched the headquarters of the local council of Bir Nabala village, northwest of Jerusalem. They confiscated 3 computer sets and several official documents. This raid was the second of its kind this year. On 11 September 2007, IOF issued a military order closing the Ibrahim Mosque for 5 separate days during the holy Ramadan Month, allegedly to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate Jewish occasions.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 3 incursions into Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip. On 6 September 2007, IOF moved into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. During this incursion, IOF killed 4 members of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 10 others. They also razed 66 donums of agricultural land. On 7 September 2007, an IOF undercover unit sneaked into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah and abducted a Palestinian. On 12 September 2007, IOF moved into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They razed 15 donums of agricultural land.

Restrictions on Movement: On Wednesday morning, 12 September 2007, IOF imposed a total siege on the OPT, which will continue until Sunday, 16 SeptemberIOF 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 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 2 Palestinian civilians at checkpoints in the West Bank.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (6 – 12 September 2007)

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

Thursday, 6 September 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 700 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. IOF troops raided a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. Members of the Palestinian resistance discovered the presence of IOF troops and clashed with them. Later, backups of IOF, supported by aircrafts, were brought into the area. A few hours later, 3 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded during clashes with IOF. At approximately 12:15, IOF fired a tank shell at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance, killing 3 of them:

1.      Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mustafa al-‘Abadla, 30;

2.      Ghassan Mustafa Mas’oud al-Saqqa, 23; and

3.      Mohammed Khattab Abu Libda, 26.

Additionally, 6 others were wounded. At approximately 17:00, a fourth member of the Palestinian resistance, 24-year-old Mohammed Kamel Baraka, was killed and another one was wounded in clashes with IOF. During this incursion, IOF razed 66 donums of Palestinian agricultural land and arrested at least 150 civilians who were released later, excluding Zakaria ‘Ali al-Sumairi, 26, and his brother Khaled, 28.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ektaba village, northeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including the wife and son of ‘Omar Daoud Jaber, who is allegedly wanted by IOF:

1.      Daoud Khaled Jaber, 22;

2.      ‘Omar ‘Abdul Fattah Jeetawi, 22;

3.      Mohammed Mousa Qassem, 27;

4.      Tha’er Khaled Mousa, 17;

5.      Ameen Jihad Sanyoura, 24; and

6.      Suhaila Ahmed Jaber, 46.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Suleiman Hamdan, 36, and arrested him.

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

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Shareef ‘Eissa al-Shwaiki, 28;

2.      ‘Abdul Hakim Hasan Badawi, 45; and

3.      ‘Omar Diab Shkhaiden, 26.

·      At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tunaib village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and confiscated national flags and stickers from the house of Bayan al-Tunaib, the mayor.

·      At approximately 05:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into Jenin. IOF troops besieged a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Jom’a Abu Ghali, and opened fire at it. Soon after, backups of IOF were brought to the area. IOF called on residents of the house through megaphones to get out of the house and they did. IOF interrogated the residents and arrested 3 Palestinians, who are allegedly wanted:

1.      Ahmed Bassam al-‘Arqawi, 22;

2.      Fares Hatem al-Sa’di, 23; and

3.      Hussein Tameem Jaradat, 21.

A few hours later, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children wounding two of them:

1.      Wadee’ Khalil Samara al-Ghazzawi, 13, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head and was pronounced dead on Monday evening, 10 September 2007; and

2.      Mustafa Abu al-Sorour, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

Before their withdrawal from the town, IOF troops destroyed a car, which was used by the three detainees for their movement.

Friday, 7 September 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nemer ‘Abdul Rahman Khudroj, 27.

·      At approximately 20:00, an IOF undercover unit, whose members were wearing civilian clothes and uniforms of the Executive Force of the dismissed Palestinian government in Gaza, was able to sneak nearly 3,000 meters into al-Salam neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. In the meantime, Mihawesh al-No’aimat was traveling in his car together with his wife, moth and 9 children, from his summer house in al-Salam neighborhood to his house in al-Tannour neighborhood to the east. On the way back home, he saw a civilian car blocking the road as if it needed maintenance, so he resorted to an alternative dirt road. When he got close to al-Bahaisa Mosque in al-Salam neighborhood, he saw an old man carrying a basket. The man fell onto the ground in front of the car. Al-No’aimat stopped the car to offer help to the old man. Immediately, 4 militants – two of them were wearing civilian clothes whereas the others were wearing the uniform of the Executive Force attacked him. One of the militants anesthetized him. They and the person who appeared as an old man pushed him onto the ground and completely anesthetized him. They then forced the family out of the car, put al-No’aimat in the car and drove the car towards Gaza International Airport, which is close to Kerem Shalom crossing, and from there he was transferred to Israel. IOF refused to comment on the operation, but the Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Avi Dichter, stated to the Israeli media on Monday, 10 September 2007, that the detention of al-No’aimat, a senior leader of Hamas, will promote Israel’s position in any deal aimed at the release of Gilad Shait, and IOF soldiers has been detained by 3 Palestinian organizations, including Hamas, for nearly 15 months.

Saturday, 8 September 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. 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 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mo’ayad Mohammed Baryoush, 24.

·      In the morning, IOF killed a Palestinian child when he was hunting birds near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City. In his testimony to PCHR, an eyewitness, 19-year-old Fayez Abu al-‘Ata, stated:

“I live in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 8 September 2007, my friend Ramzi Rajab Helles, 17, came to my house as we wanted to go hunting birds together with two other friends. We took nets and went towards an area located near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, where many birds can be hunted. We were nearly 500 meters away from the border. As we were preparing the nets, IOF troops positioned at the border fired at us. Helles was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh. He ran a few meters, but then fell onto the ground and asked for help. We went to offer him help, but IOF troops opened fire at us. We attempted to offer him help, but IOF troops continued to fire at us. We called an ambulance, which came nearly an hour later, when Helles was dead.”   

·      At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into ‘Izbat al-Tunaib village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 17:50, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched two houses in Jabal al-Tour neighborhood in the south of the city. During this incursion, an IOF military jeep hit an ambulance of the Palestinian Union of Medical Work Committees, heavily damaging its right side. According to the ambulance driver, Wa’el Mohammed Hawash, 37, the jeep hit the ambulance more than once and heavily damaged its left side. The driver wrote down the registration number of the jeep.

·      At approximately 18:00, ‘Abdul Haleem ‘Abdul Rahman Hussein, 20, from ‘Azzoun village east of Qalqilya. Was wounded by the explosion of a sound bomb of the remainders of IOF. According to eyewitnesses, Hussein found the bomb at the northern entrance of the village, where IOF troops often station. He caught the bomb, detonated it and threw it away. He was wounded in the forehead.

Sunday, 9 September 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Karem ‘Azzam al-Jallad, 26, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ashraf Nour Abu Daghash, 30.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Masqoufa village, north of Tulkarm. They threw sound bombs inside a house belonging to Amjad Mohammed Abu Zahra, damaging it. They then raided and searched the house, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bir Nabala village, northwest of Jerusalem. They raided and searched the headquarters of the local council. They confiscated 3 computer sets and several official documents. This raid was the second of its kind this year.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      Saqer Mustafa al-Qawasmi, 20;

2.      Mohammed Hisham al-Ja’bari, 17;

3.      ‘Alaa’ Fayez al-Hashlamoun, 26; and

4.      Salman Na’im al-Qawasmi, 19.

·      At approximately 19:20, IOF moved into al-Salam Street in the northwest of Hebron. They besieged al-Ansar Mosque during the sunset prayer. They forced the prayers out and photographed them individually. 

Monday, 10 September 2007

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also 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 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Bilal al-Sonounu, 22;

2.      Mohammed Siddiq ‘Aashour, 27;

3.      Taha Mohammed al-Bishtawi, 21; and

4.      ‘Aassem Ghunaim, 16.

·      At approximately 19:30, an IOF undercover unit moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. IOF troops fired at Amjad ‘Olayan Zamel, 30, and activist of Hamas. He was wounded to the feet. IOF troops then arrested him.

·      At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and beat their residents. As a result, Firas Mahmoud Erzaiqat, 23, sustained bruises throughout the body.

Tuesday, 11 September 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ras al-Joura neighborhood in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khaldoun Mohammed al-Natsha, 20, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Wissam Ghaleb al-Haimouni, 28;

2.      Ahmed Ghaleb al-Haimouni, 20;

3.      Mahmoud Mohammed al-‘Owaiwi, 21; and

4.      Firas Tayseer al-Qawasmi, 26.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Subhi al-Qutib, 45; and

2.      Mohammed Farhan Abu Lail, 65.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Fares Wasfi Mansour, 34.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They besieged a 3-storey house belonging to Mohammed Abu Ghalyoun in the south of the camp. They opened fire at the house and ordered its residents to get out and they did. IOF troops interrogated the residents claiming that wanted people were hiding inside the house. A few hours later, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children wounding 5of them:

1.      Mohammed ‘Allam Abu Hatab, 16, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the back;

2.      Rami ‘Alaa’ al-Din ‘Ejjawi, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the pelvis;

3.      ‘Odai Yousef Rasheed, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chin;

4.      Karam Fayez Abu ‘Eita, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right thigh; and

5.      Yasser Mustafa Hannoun, 11, hit by a sound bomb to the neck.

·      At approximately 06:20, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a surface-to-surface missile at Sheikh Zayed town in the northern Gaza Strip, nearly 3 kilometers away from the border. The missile hit a flat belonging to Mohammed Abu al-Qumsan in a 5-storey apartment building. Five residents of the building, including Abu al-Qumsan’s wife and daughter, were wounded:

1.      Nadrin Mohammed Abu al-Qumsan, 17, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2.      Eyad Jihad Abu al-Qumsan, 34, wounded by shrapnel to the hand and the legs;

3.      Nadia ‘Ali Abu al-Qumsan, 27, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

4.      Rawan Rami Abu al-Qumsan, 7, wounded by shrapnel to the head; and

5.      Ahmed Khamis Abu al-Qumsan, 17, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

·      At noon, IOF issued a military order closing the Ibrahim Mosque on 13, 19, 22 and 30 September and 1 October 2007 during the holy Ramadan Month, allegedly to allow Jewish settlers to celebrate Jewish occasions.

Wednesday, 12 September 2007

·      At approximately 00:10, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ahmed Hamed al-Beetwai, 27;

2.      Bassam Najeeb al-Bustami, 23; and

3.      Ayman Zuhdi Kharma, 33.

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Maher Shaker Erzaiqat, 38, secretary of Fatah movement in the village;

2.      Ramadan Mohammed Erzaiqat, 25;

3.      Ayman ‘Abdullah Erzaiqat, 30;

4.      ‘Azmi ‘Azzam Erzaiqat, 32; and

5.      Shaher Sadiq Erzaiqat, 32.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed As’ad ‘Ajouli, 32.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nizam Mustafa Sawafta, 34.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Lu’ai Faisal Tannina, 24, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Ktaila and Farsh al-Hawa neighborhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Khalil Yaghmour, 28; and

2.      Muhannad Isma’il al-Qawasmi, 20.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved nearly 400 meters into the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the Sa’id clan and arrested a man and his three sons, but released them in the evening. During this incursion, which continued until 13:00, IOF razed 15 donums of agricultural land planted with guavas and olives belonging to the Sa’id Clan.

2.      Continued Siege on the OPT

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

OF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 15 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.

·      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.

·      Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for a few hours to allow the entry of some goods.

·      Nahal Ouz crossing: The crossing, which is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, was open during the reporting period to allow the entry of amounts of fuels. IOF allow 350,000 liters of gasoline, 100,000 liters of benzene, 220 tons of gas and 500,000 liters of energy fuel into the Gaza Strip daily.    

·      Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, the crossing point was open to allow the entry of some goods for local traders.

·      Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was open to allow the entry of some goods and humanitarian aids.

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

The West Bank

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

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. On 12 September 2007, IOF imposed a comprehensive closure on the OPT, under which Palestinians were denied access to the city. At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 10 September 2007, IOF partially closed Qalandya crossing. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians and prevented young men from passing though. During the reporting period, IOF established a military outpost at Jerusalem – Ramallah road near Beit Hanina checkpoint. They completely closed the area, where at least 50 Palestinian families live. No one other than these families can pass through the area. At approximately 15:00 on Wednesday, 12 September 2007, IOF closed Qalandya crossing, north of Jerusalem. This closure continued for two hours.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 6 September 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. They prevented Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through checkpoints. On Friday, 7 September 2007, IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 8 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city, especially Za’tara checkpoint to the south, conducted prolonged and humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 9 September 2007, IOF erected 5 additional checkpoints around Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF also closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus for two hours.  

On Sunday morning, 9 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Bahaa’ al-Shahrouri, 18, claiming that he was carrying 3 bombs.

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 8 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, violently beat ‘Ameed ‘Aaref Najjar, 23, from Yatma village south of the city. He sustained cuts to the head.

·      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, 6 September 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, from 07:00 to 10:00. On Saturday, 8 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and prevented residents of nearby villages from traveling to Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 11 September 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for several hours. At approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 12 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Ektaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. IOF also erected a checkpoint between Thinnaba auburb and Kufor al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm.

At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 6 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, arrested Laith ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Enaya, 28, a member of the Palestinian Military Policeman from Tulkarm.

·      Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. They erected more checkpoints and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 9 September 2007, IOF established a permanent checkpoint and an observation tower on the road that links Hebron with villages located to the west of it. On Monday noon, 10 September 2007, IOF reinforced their presence at military checkpoint and main intersections in the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilians, including some school children.

3.     Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and in Um Salamouna village, south of Bethlehem.

Following the Friday Prayer on 31 August 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF soldiers had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, Zuhdiya ‘Ali al-Khatib, 42, was hit by a tear gas canister to her leg, and a number of other demonstrators sustained bruises and suffered from tear gas inhalation.

4.     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 12:00 on Tuesday, 11 September 2007, a number of Israeli settlers living in Abraham Abino settlement outpost in the old town of Hebron, escorted by IOF troops, took over the roof of al-Aqtab Mosque and started to build on it to expand the outpost. IOF have closed the area located near the aforementioned settlement outpost and seized the mosque since 1994 following the massacre of the Ibrahimi Mosque, in which dozens of Palestinians were killed.

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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.