• 3 Palestinian civilians (2 children and a doctor) were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

• 2 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 66 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, in the West Bank.

• IOF arrested a Palestinian civilian and damaged the infrastructure in Um al-Nasser village near Beit Lahia.

• IOF transformed a house in ‘Allar village near Tulkarm into a military site.

• 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 positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian civilians.

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

• IOF demolished 2 under-construction houses in Bethlehem.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (8 – 14 November 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians ( 2 children and a doctor) and wounded 2 others, including a woman, in the Gaza Strip.

On Friday, 19 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Boreij refugee camp, shot dead 2 Palestinian children. On Saturday, 10 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a home-made rocket launcher at Sha’sha’a intersection to the east of Jablaya town. The missile fell near a civilian vehicle, in which Waheed Rabee’ Saleh, 46, a doctor, and his family were traveling. Rabee’ was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and the vehicle collided with an electricity tower. He was evacuated to Shifa Hospital where he received medical treatment, but he died from his wound on Monday, 12 November 2007. Additionally, a passing civilian wounded. On Tuesday, 13 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah, wounded a Palestinian woman who was on her family’s land.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 68 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council from Hamas. Thus, the number of members of the Palestinian Legislative Council detained by IOF has increased to 45, and the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,395. During the reporting period, IOF transformed a house in ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm, into a military site.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one incursion into Um al-Nasser village in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, 8 November 2007. During this incursion, at least 15 journalists were trapped under the IOF gunfire for nearly an hour. One of them sustained bruises to the leg as he fell when he was attempting to flee. During this incursion, IOF troops arrested 67 Palestinian civilians and moved them to a military site at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They then interrogated the detainees and released them in the evening, excluding one. Also during the incursion, IOF troops damaged the infrastructure of the village.

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

Gaza Strip

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

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 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 5 Palestinian civilians.

Settlement Activities: Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF demolished 2 houses in al-Fraidees village, southeast of Bethlehem, and a shop in Hares village, west of Salfit, claiming that they were built without licenses.  

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (8 – 14 November 2007)

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

Thursday, 8 November 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 19 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

1.      ‘Omar Ahmed ‘Awadh, 22;

2.      Sakher Hussein ‘Allami, 22;

3.      Habes Hisham Abu Hashem, 21;

4.      Eyad Ahmed Abu Hashem, 23;

5.      Nabeel Falah Abu Maria, 22;

6.      Mohammed Bassam al-Za’aqiq, 19;

7.      Mohammed Hussein Abu ‘Ayash, 20;

8.      Ahmed ‘Eissa al-Ja’ar, 23;

9.      Ibrahim Khalil Sabarna, 22;

10.  Mohammed Yousef Salibi, 24;

11.  Rami Yousef Abu Maria, 26;

12.  Muhannad Waleed Ekhleel, 22;

13.  Ahmed Falah Abu Maria, 23;

14.  Wassim Ibrahim Sabarna, 18;

15.  Hamza Mohammed Sabarna, 23;

16.  Nabeel Shihda Sabarna, 20;

17.  Yahia Ahmed Sabarna, 22;

18.  Tha’er Mohammed Sabarna, 21; and

19.  Ibrahim Ahmed Sabarna, 20.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Artah suburb, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mos’ab Mustafa Abu al-Teen, 23, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Kamel Saleem Abu Zant, 20;

2.      ‘Alaa’ Ziad Abu Zant, 18;

3.      Mahdi Baker Nassar, 22;

4.      Fadi Nizar al-Zurba, 19;

5.      Mahmoud Malek al-‘Afouri, 21;

6.      Majed al-Masri, 20; and

7.      Samer al-Shami, 21.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

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

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Dura town, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Majed ‘Amru, 25, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 03:30, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 1,000 meters into Um al-Nasser village, northeast of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF troops raided a number of houses and held their residents in one room in each. They also stopped and checked Palestinian civilians who were on their way to mosques for the Dawn Prayer. Soon after, IOF sent backups. IOF troops moved forwards inside the village and opened fire indiscriminately. IOF aircrafts also shelled the site of a deserted house belonging to Yasser al-Ramli, which had been already destroyed. At approximately 11:30, IOF opened fire at the vicinity of Hamza Ben ‘Abdul Muttaleb School, where at least 15 journalists were covering this incursion. The journalists remained stuck in the area for nearly an hour. One of them, Mahmoud al-‘Ajrami, 31, sustained bruises to the leg as he fell when he was attempting to flee. During this incursion, IOF troops arrested 67 Palestinian civilians and moved them to a military site at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. IOF troops forced the detainees to take off their upper clothes and wear blue uniforms. They then interrogated the detainees and released them in the evening, excluding Fareed Hammad Abu Farya, 32. Also during the incursion, IOF troops damaged the infrastructure of the village.

Friday, 9 November 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Jala. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdullah Mahmoud Sbaih, 39, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-‘Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad Ibrahim al-Nashash, 18, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Essam Hussein Abu Mustafa, 43, and arrested him. 

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire and patrolled in the streets. They withdrew from the city later, and no arrests or casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the town later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire.  They withdrew from the village later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire.  They withdrew from the village later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 18:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at 2 Palestinian children who were, for no apparent reason, a few meters away from the border. The two children were instantly killed. IOF informed about the attack only at approximately 12:00 on the following day. Soon, a Palestinian ambulance moved to the area and the medical crew and families found the two children’s bodies. The two victims were identified as:

1.      Bilal Ahmed al-Nabahin, 14, hit by several gunshots to the head; and

2.      Jihad ‘Olayan al-Nabahin, 15, hit by several gunshots to the abdomen and the lower limbs.

Saturday, 10 November 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire.  They withdrew from the town and the camp later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 19:20, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a home-made rocket launcher at Sha’sha’a intersection to the east of Jablaya town. The missile fell near a civilian vehicle, in which Waheed Rabee’ Saleh, 46, a doctor, his wife, his sister-in-law and her 6 children were traveling. Rabee’ was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and the vehicle collided with an electricity tower. He was evacuated to Shifa Hospital where he received medical treatment, but he died from his wound on Monday, 12 November 2007. Additionally, a passing civilian, 22-year-old Yousef ‘Aaref al-‘Err, was wounded by shrapnel to the left leg. 

Monday, 12 November 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ra’ed ‘Abdul Hamid Qawzah, 23;

2.      Rami Mahmoud Melhem, 22;

3.      Jamal Mahmoud Kharyoush, 32;

4.      Mustafa Mahmoud Kharyoush, 28;

5.      Mousa Ghanem Zaidan, 29; and

6.      ‘Omar Zaki Ghazal, 19.

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

1.      Majd ‘Abdul Salam Jendeb, 16;

2.      ‘Abdul Mon’em Tayseer Ghanem, 17;

3.      Hani Tayseer Zbaidi, 17;

4.      Muhannad ‘Abdul Jabbar Badran, 24;

5.      Mohammed Jawdat Ghanem, 20; and

6.      Samer Majed al-Bahri, 21.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ahmed Khaled Jeetawi, 23; and

2.      Sameer Khaled Jeetawi, 24.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ektaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      ‘Emad Hussein Yassin, 24;

2.      Riad ‘Abdul Raziq Yassin, 54; and

3.      Lu’ai Riad Yassin, 24.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ramallah. They raided and searched the house of Dr. Miriam Salehm, 52, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas, and arrested her.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched the house of Sheikh Khaled Tafesh, 43, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas, and arrested him.

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

1.      Eyad Lutfi Abu Salah, 30;

2.      Mahmoud ‘Ali Hwaiti, 28; and

3.      Mo’tassem Hussein Shelbaya, 26.

Tuesday, 13 November 2007

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ematin village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ameen Hasan Sawan, 42, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Saleem ‘Abdul Haq, 47;

2.      Fadi Saleem ‘Abdul Haq, 20;

3.      Radi Ameen Qaderi, 22;

4.      Rami Hussein ‘Aashour, 24;

5.      Mohammed Ahmed Darwaza, 22;

6.      Bilal Hani al-Halbouni, 24;

7.      ‘Ameed Fayiq Hawash, 25; and

8.      ‘Izziddin Abu al-Kalbat, 33.

·      At approximately 14:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah, fired at a number of Palestinian farmers who were cultivating carrots from their land, nearly 300 meters away from the border. As a result, ‘Aa’esha Hasan Sa’id, 50, was wounded by a gunshot to her right hand.

Wednesday, 14 November 2007

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. A helicopter also airdropped IOF troops on mountains surrounding the village. IOF troops then raided a house belonging to Shadeed Saif al-Din Shadeed and transformed it into a military site.

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

1.      Zakaria Salah al-‘Omour, 25; and

2.      Shadi Mohammed Nawaj’a, 21.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Eyad Habeeb, 21.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Jala. They raided and searched a number of workshops and stores in the industrial zone, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They raided and searched an apartment building in the camp, but no arrests were reported.

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 “an enemy entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. 

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

·      Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank.  Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing.  IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing.  With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have allowed nearly 400 traders to pass through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. According to Palestinians who traveled through the crossing, IOF impose the same restrictions on their movement as in the past. IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through the crossing for alleged security claims, even though those patients do not pose any threat to the security of Israelis and they are badly in need for advanced medical treatment. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients.  

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

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

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

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

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

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore. At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 5 November 2007, IOF naval troops arrested 4 Palestinian fishermen opposite to Rafah seashore: Khaled ‘Ali al-Bardawil, 33; ‘Ali Sameer al-Bardawil, 22; Mohammed ‘Aadel al-Bardawil, 16; and Ahmed Jom’a Abu Sulaima, 19. They forced the fishermen to jump out of their boat into the water and swim towards the IOF gunboat. IOF naval troops took the fishermen to Ashdod Harbor and interrogated them. The fishermen were released in the evening.

The West Bank

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

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

On Sunday morning, 11 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the Container checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, arrested Bassel Na’im al-Halaiqa, 22, from Shyoukh al-‘Arroub village, north of Hebron, when he was traveling to Ramallah to the participate in the ceremony of the 3^rd anniversary of the death of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 8 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 11 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 12 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops also re-established their presence at Yits’har checkpoint, south of Nablus, and imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 8 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, continued to prevent Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through. On Friday, 9 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Ektaba intersection, northeast of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 10 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and another one at the entrance of Beit Leed village, east of the town. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 11 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 12 November 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 13 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint to the east of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

·      Al-Karama International Crossing Point: On Thursday evening, 8 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Jad Mohammed Shatarat, 22, from al-Duha village, south of Bethlehem, when he was on his way back to the West Bank from Jordan. On Sunday afternoon, 11 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point arrested Khaled Salama, 48, from Nablus, when he was on his way back to the West Bank from Jordan.

·      Hebron: On Tuesday noon, 13 November 2007, IOF troops positioned in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, claming that they were carrying a knife and attempted to stab an IOF soldier:

1.      Aseed ‘Abed Rabu Abu Znaid, 23; and

2.      Mohammed al-Masalma, 22, both from Dura town southwest of Hebron.

3.      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 07:00 on Thursday, 8 November 2007, IOF moved into al-Fraidees village, southeast of Bethlehem, and imposed a curfew. At approximately 08:00, they demolished 2 Palestinian houses, claming that they were built without licenses:

1.      A 130-square-meter house belonging to Daoud Hamada al-Teneh; and

2.      A 140-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to Nasser Mousa al-Teneh.

·      At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007, IOF moved into Hares village, west of Salfit. They besieged a house belonging to ‘Abdullah Mohammed Daoud and forced him to vacate his shop. They then demolished the shop. IOF had demolished a house belonging to the same Palestinian in 1994 claming that it had been built without a license.

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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

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).