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

• 8 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

• 5 of the victims were killed by IOF during an offensive against the southern Gaza Strip.

• 12 Palestinians were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip, and 9 persons, including 5 journalists and an Israeli human rights defender, sustained bruises in the West Bank.

• IOF conducted 22 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, invaded the south of the Gaza Strip and moved into its north.

• IOF arrested 28 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF razed 133 donums of agricultural land in Khan Yunis.

• IOF transformed a number of houses into military sites.

• IOF raided a number of media institutions in Nablus, confiscated equipment and closed one of them.

• 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.

• The number of patients who died due to the denial of their access to medical treatment increased to 15.

• IOF troops positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a girl.

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

• IOF demolished a house in Jerusalem.

• Israeli settlers uprooted 32 olive trees in Hebron.

Summary

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

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 8 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, and wounded 12 others in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, 9 persons, including 5 journalists and an Israeli human rights defender, sustained bruises by IOF in the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, on 6 December 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian while he was hunting birds near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalya. On 7 December 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian farmer in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. On 11 December 2007, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including one civilian, during a wide scale offensive on the southern Gaza Strip. Nine Palestinians were also wounded. On the same day, an IOF air strike killed a member of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

In the West Bank, On 30 November 2007, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 5 journalists, and an Israeli human rights defender sustained bruises when IOF troops used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations 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, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 22 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 28 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,553. During the reporting period, IOF transformed 3 Palestinian houses into military sites. IOF also raided a number of media offices in Nablus, confiscated media equipment and closed Afaq TV.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 incursions into al-Fukhari area in the southern Gaza Strip and Beit Hanoun town in the north. During those incursions, IOF killed 6 Palestinians, razed 133 donums of agricultural land, damaged a factory and arrested one Palestinian civilian.

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

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 17 months. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. On 19 September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity” and accordingly measures of collective punishment against Gaza escalated. Since that time, IOF have limited the goods exported to the Gaza Strip to only 9 basic materials. As a consequence, local markets ran out of many goods, which caused a sharp increase in prices, which mounted to 500% for some goods. Israeli occupation forces have banned the flow of some medicines, furniture, electrical appliances and cigarettes into the Gaza Strip, and have decreased the amounts of some goods allowed into the Gaza Strip, such as fruits, milk and some dairy products.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 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 troops positioned at checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested at least 7 Palestinian civilians, including a girl and child.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On Tuesday morning, 11 December 2007, IOF demolished a house in the old town of Jerusalem claiming that it was built without a license. On 6 December 2007, Israeli settlers from “Sousia” settlement, south of Hebron, uprooted 32 olive trees from a tract of agricultural land belonging to Yasser Radhi al-Nawaj’a in Kherbat Sousia area, south of Hebron. On 7 December 2007, dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by IOF troops, arrived at al-Jumjoma Mount near bypass road #60, northeast of Hebron. They set up 3 tents and raised the Israeli flag. They remained in the area until night, when the Israeli police eventually evacuated them.

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

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

Thursday, 6 December 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses in Kfar Saba neighborhood in the south of the town and arrested ‘Ali Mahmoud ‘Owaisat, 21.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hussein Ahmed Jawabra, 34.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1.      Ayman Saqer Khanafsa, 17;

2.      Ra’fat Hasan ‘Awad, 17; and

3.      Tha’er Halabiya, 16.

·      In the morning, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip, while he was hunting birds together with a number of other civilians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:00, Majed ‘Awni Matar, 29, from Beit Lahia, went together with his brother Mazen to Abu Safiya area in the east of Jabalya town, nearly 1,000 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, to hunt birds as they used to do. There were some other civilians in the area for the same purpose. At approximately 07:30, IOF soldiers in a military jeep positioned at the border opened fire at those civilians, who attempted to flee. Matar was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head. He bled to death as ambulances were not able to reach the area due to the intense IOF gunfire. 

·      At approximately 22:000, IOF moved into Yatta town, south of Hebron. They raided a 3-storey house belonging to Hussein Hammad Bhais and forced its residents out. They searched the house for allegedly banned objects and wanted Palestinians. They then transformed the third floor of the house into a military site after forcing its residents to stay on the first floor. IOF troops left the house on the following day noon. At approximately 23:00, IOF troops 2 neighboring houses belonging to Hasan Mohammed Nassar and Hussein ‘Ali Nassar, and forced their residents out. They searched the two houses and beat two of their residents: ‘Ali Hasan Nassar, 37; and Hasan Ahmed Nassar, 19.  

Friday, 7 December 2007

·      In the morning, IOF shot dead a Palestinian farmer in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, while he was farming agricultural land.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 07:40, Bahjat Mohammed Barak Abu Daqqa, 30, from al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis, was driving a tractor farming a tract of agricultural land belonging to the Hamad clan in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, nearly 600 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Two of his uncles were with him. As soon as, they started their work, IOF troops positioned on a military observation tower at the border opened fire at them. Abu Daqqa attempted to flee, but IOF troops continued to fire at him and his uncles. He was killed by a gunshot to the neck.

Saturday, 8 December 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ras Teera village, south of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Nasser al-Din Yousef Shawahna, 56;

2.      Sa’ad Nasser al-Din Shawahna, 19;

3.      Saddam Nasser al-Din Shawahna, 18;

4.      Eyad Yousef Shawahna, 36;

5.      Firas Sameeh Shawahna, 29; and

6.      Bassam Yousef Shawahna, 40.

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses in al-Mrouj area in the north of the town and arrested Majed Darwish ‘Aamer, 26, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service.

Sunday, 9 December 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ziad Khalil Jawabra, 19, and arrested him.

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

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Maithaloun and Sirrees villages, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched dozens of houses in the two villages, but no arrests were reported.

Monday, 10 December 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nazlat ‘Eissa village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tha’er ‘Abdul Qader Younis, 17, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ra’ed ‘Ouda al-‘Otal, 32.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Qassem Mohammed al-Douda, 19.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Maher ‘Abed Jaradat, 35.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 21:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into al-Bireh. IOF troops raided an office of Fatah movement in al-Balou’ area in the north of the town, and arrested Mohammed al-Bawab, 22. Al-Bawab was on the list of amnesty issued by IOF lately towards wanted Palestinians.

Tuesday, 11 December 2007

·      As IOF have continued to threaten to invade the Gaza Strip, they moved into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They moved forwards to reach Sofa intersection. They cut off Salah al-Din Street, which links Khan Yunis with Rafah. During this military operation, which lasted for at least 20 hours, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including one civilian, and wounded 12 others. They also arrested one Palestinian civilians and razed areas of agricultural land.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:00, IOF heavy military vehicles moved into al-Fukhari areas in the southeast of Khan Yunis. IOF troops raided a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. A few hours later, IOF troops ordered through megaphones Palestinians aged 15-50 to get out of houses and gather on a yard in the area. IOF troops took a number of those civilians to military sites, but released them in the evening, excluding ‘Atwa ‘Abdullah al-‘Omour, 40.  At approximately 08:00, IOF heavy military vehicles moved towards Salah al-Din Street and cut off transportation between Khan Yunis and Rafah. At approximately 09:10, an IOF tank fired a shell at the roof of an under-construction house belonging to the ‘Ashour clan in al-Nasser village, west of Salah al-Din Street. Three Palestinians, including 2 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded. A few minutes later, as Palestinian civilians and two journalists moved into the house to check what happened, IOF tanks fired 2 additional shells at the house. As a result, 3 Palestinians were killed:

1.      Khalil Mohammed al-Aswad, 26, a member of the Palestinian resistance, from Rafah;

2.      Mohammed Jamal Abu Hamra, 19, a member of the Palestinian resistance, from Rafah; and

3.      Mohammed Hussein ‘aashour, 36, from al-Nasser village near Rafah.

The two journalists survived the attack, whereas on of the house owner’s sons, 23-year-old Wa’el Mas’oud ‘Aashour, was wounded.

In his testimony to PCHR about the attack, Rami Abu Shammala, a cameraman of the local Ramattan news agency, stated that he arrived at the place together with Ya’qoub Abu Ghalwa, a cameraman of Associated Press and the Palestine News Agency (Wafa), to film the scene. He added:

“I photographed 3 corpses that were on the roof. One of the corpses was cut into 2 parts. IOF troops were firing at the area, so I had shelter and continued to photograph. Soon, a tank shell hit the room where we found the corpses. Shortly after that, IOF troops fired another tank shell at the place. Dust and smoke covered the place, and Abu Ghalwa fainted. A few minutes later, people took two of the corpses down and an ambulance took them to the hospital. I transported the third corpse in my car towards an ambulance.” 

Approximately 20 minutes later, IOF troops fired 2 shells at 2 groups of the Palestinian resistance in al-Fukhari area, wounding 6 resistance activists. Most of those activists were in a very serious condition as some of their limbs were cut, and one of them died at approximately 15:15. He was identified as Mahmoud Suleiman Abu Mustafa, 23, from Khan Yunis refugee camp. As a result of the indiscriminate IOF shelling, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded.

At approximately 17:30, an IOF drone fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance, killing one of them. He was identified as ‘Omar Hasan ‘Omar Khalil, 22, from Rafah.

During this incursion, IOF razed 133 donums of agricultural land. They also damaged a factory of antiques belonging to Ayman Zayed al-Jbour. IOF started to withdrew from the area at approximately 20:30.

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF heavy military vehicles moved nearly 1,500 meters into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. IOF troops opened fire indiscriminately to cover the withdrawal of an IOF special unit that had been near the College of Agriculture. Approximately 20 minutes later, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were near an UNRWA clinic. An activist, 26-year-old Hussam Zaki Saleh Nashwan, was killed, and 3 others were wounded. IOF withdrew from the town at approximately 05:00.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Na’im Fayez Shahmawi, 17; and

2.      Fayez ‘Omar Nassar, 22.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Shioukh al-Arab village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Omar Shihda Halaiqa, 23.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hussein Mahmoud al-Teeti, 22.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Rami Fat’hi Radwan, 22;

2.      Khaled Zaki Radwan, 24;

3.      ‘Aadel ‘Othman Zamari, 21; and

4.      Hamdan Fayeq Hannoun, 19.

Wednesday, 12 December 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They ransacked Palestinian media offices on the 5^th floors of ‘Antar Building. IOF soldiers broke the main door of the building and mounted to the 5^th floor. They then broke doors of 6 offices, including Ar-Ruwad media office. They confiscated 8 computer sets and some documents. According to Suhail Khalf, the director of the office, he received a phone call from the owner of the building who informed him that IOF troops raided the office and broke the doors. He did not pay attention to the phone call. When he went to the office as usual, he noticed the damage incurred to the office and the confiscation of computer sets and documents. The office belongs to the daily al-Quds, which is subject to the Israeli military censorship. In the same context, IOF troops raided an-Najah media office, which belongs to Farid Abu Duhair, on the 6^th floor of Kamil Sa’d al-Din Building in al-‘Adel Street, and confiscated 3 computer sets and some documents. IOF troops further seized computers and transmission equipment from the offices of Afaq TV on the pretext that the station supports ‘terrorism.’ According to Samehh Qandilo, a transmission worker at Afaq TV, IOF troops raided the station's office and beat him.
They informed him that the Israeli military ordered the station closed for security reasons.

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

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly 17 months. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. During the reporting period, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile 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 of Palestinian civilians who have residencies in other countries were allowed to travel out of the Gaza Strip the same way. The problem has emerged again as at least 1,500 Palestinians have been stuck at the Egyptian side of Rafah International Crossing Point waiting to be allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip. Additionally, 30 Palestinians have been stuck at al-‘Areesh Airport in Egypt. On 3 and 4 December 2007, the Egyptian authorities allowed 2,200 Palestinian pilgrims to pass through Rafah International Crossing Point to travel to Saudi Arabia. On 7 December 2007, 29 administrative staff members of the pilgrimage mission were allowed to travel through the crossing point. Additionally, at least 1,500 Palestinians have been stuck at the Egyptian side of the crossing point waiting to be allowed to travel back to 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. A few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF allowed hundreds of Palestinian civilians to pass through the crossing to travel towards al-‘Ouja crossing on the Israeli – Egyptian border and then travel abroad, following coordination with the Palestinian Civil Affairs Department. These civilians were allowed to travel in 3 groups on 3 days as shown in the following table:

A few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. The following table the number of patients who were allowed to pass through the crossing during the reporting period to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank:

·       Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for several hours on Monday, 10 December 2007, to allow the entry of aggregate for an UNRWA project and 60 containers of animal feeds.

·      Nahal Ouz crossing: It is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip. On 28 November 2007, IOF decided a new reduction in the supply of fuel to the Gaza Strip, which already suffers from serious shortages in fuel. It is noted that this decision preempted a pending decision by the Israeli High Court on a petition submitted by PCHR and several human rights organizations against the IOF decision on 25 October 2007 to reduce the fuel and electricity supplies to the Strip. The Israeli High Court held a session on 30 November to review the petition and it rejected it. Statistics indicate that the Strip’s fuel supply was reduced by more than 50% since the IOF decision was issued on 25 October 2007. During the reporting period, IOF increased the amounts of gasoline allowed into the Gaza Strip to 250,000 liters a day, and benzene to 70,000 liters a day.  The amount of natural gas allowed into the Gaza Strip has dropped to 100 tons a day due to a technical problem.  

·      Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for 2 days allowing the entry of limited amounts of aggregate into the Gaza Strip.  

·      Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing witnessed active movement. On 5 December 2007, 56 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip, and 7 containers of strawberries and flowers were exported. On 6 December 2007, 52 containers of goods for local traders and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip, and 6 containers of strawberries and flowers were exported. On 7 December 2007, 37 containers of goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip. On 9 December 2007, 49 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip, and 2 containers of flowers were exported. On 10 December 2007, 63 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip, and 2 containers of flowers were exported. On 11 December 2007, 53 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip, and 2 containers of flowers were exported.

PCHR is following up with utmost concern the deterioration to the economic and social conditions resulted from the total siege imposed by Israeli occupation authorities on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially the Gaza Strip. PCHR is worried from further deterioration of the living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population if the recommendations of the security committee were implemented, as at least 60% of the Palestinian civilian population would be deprived of electricity supplies and many civilian facilities that provide vital services would stop providing services to the civilian population due to the lack of electricity supplies.

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

The West Bank

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

·      Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday and Saturday, 6 and 8 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at Hawara and Za’tara checkpoints, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement through the two checkpoints and conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday evening, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint. On Sunday morning, 9 December 2007, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Nablus. Also on Sunday, IOF closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, for several hours claiming that they found an explosive belt. On Monday morning, 10 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians passing through the checkpoint.

At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 8 December 2007, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus. They arrested Jihad Mahmoud Bisharat, 16, claiming that he was carrying explosives.

At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 9 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested ‘Abdul Latif Mohammed Nabhan, 55, from Jenin.

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 10 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Rashad Basem Melhem, 25, from Tulkarm.

On Monday noon, IOF troops positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border, arrested Saif Abu Keshek, 28, from ‘Askar refugee camp northeast of Nablus, when he was on his way back to the West Bank.

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 6 December 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, until 11:00. On Saturday, 8 December 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. On Sunday, 9 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Tulkarm imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. On Tuesday morning, 11 December 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, until 11:00.

·      Jenin: At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 10 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at ‘Arraba checkpoint, south of Jenin, arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Sa’el Miqbel ‘Asrawi, 35; and

2.      Mohammed Fawzi Hamdan, 25, both from Tulkarm.

·      Bethlehem: On Tuesday noon, 11 December 2007, IOF troops positioned at Gush Etzion checkpoint, south of Bethlehem, arrested a Palestinian girl claiming that she attempted to stab an IOF soldier.

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 al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.

·      Following the Friday Prayer on 30 November 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 troops 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 demonstrators and a journalist sustained bruises:

1.      Sharaf Mahfouz Abu Turk, 22;

2.      Mohammed ‘Ali Abu Sa’di, 65;

3.      ‘Abdullah Mahmoud Abu Rahma, 36; and

4.      Sarit, 30, an Israeli human rights defender.

·      Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 November 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move towards the Wall. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, 4 journalists and a demonstrator sustained bruises:

1.      Mousa al-Sha’ar;

2.      Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Haniya;

3.      Eyad Hamad;

4.      Nasser Hussein al-Shyoukhi; and

5.      Mahmoud Zawahra.

IOF troop also detained Abu Haniy and Hamad until the evening. Additionally, 5 demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.