PCHR Weekly Report

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 46/2007 15 - 21 Nov. 2007

Na’el al-Kurdi, 21, who died on 17 November 2007 as Israeli occupation forced denied him access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip

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

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (15 – 21 November 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 6 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and wounded 23 others and a Japanese human rights defender in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 15 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were at the entrance of Beit Hanoun town attempting to launch home-made rockets at Israeli town. As a result, 2 members of the resistance were killed and 4 others were wounded. On 19 November 2007, IOF troops shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, even though he obeyed their order to stop and raised hands up. They also seriously wounded another civilian who was inside his house. He died from his wound 2 days later. Additionally, 2 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded when they exchanged fire with IOF troops that moved into the village. On 20 November 2007, IOF troops killed 2 members of the Palestinian resistance who were attempting to infiltrate through the border. On 18 November 2007, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at a civilian car, in which a number of members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) were traveling, in al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. The missiles went astray, and the passengers were able to flee from the car. Soon after, the IOF warplane fired 2 additional missiles at the car, destroying it. No casualties were reported. On 21 November 2007, 3 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded when they exchanged fire with IOF troops that moved into ‘Abassan village, east of Kahn Yunis.

In the West Bank, on 16 November 2007, 4 Palestinian civilians and a Japanese human rights defender were wounded when IOF troops used to force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. On 20 November 2007, 9 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were wounded when IOF troops that moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp, south of Tubas, opened fire at children who threw stones at IOF military vehicles.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 51 Palestinian civilians, including a girl. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,446. During the reporting period, IOF transformed 3 Palestinian houses into military sites.

In the Gaza Strip, on 21 November 2007, IOF moved into Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They withdrew from the village 2 hours later.

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.

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. During the reporting period, 2 Palestinian patients, including a child, died due to the denial of their access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip. This brings to 10 the number of Gaza patients who died since last August as a result of denying them their medical rights. The victims include 2 women and an infant. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip.

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.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. On 18 November 2007, IOF destroyed an 800-meter-long main road in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, because of its closeness to the Wall. The road links Khellat al-Samak area with the school of the village. On 21 November 2007, IOF handed notices to 6 Palestinian civilians from the Salah clan in al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem, ordering stoppage of the construction of their houses, claming that the construction was taking place without licenses and their sites overlap with the tract of the Wall in the area.

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. During the reporting period, IOF destroyed a barnyard in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. Israeli settlers also attacked a house in Brouqin village near Salfit and a car near Nablus.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (15 – 21 November 2007)

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

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp near Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Waleed Mohammed Khader, 28. They also summoned Mohammed Mohammed ‘Aatiya for interrogation.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Omar Mohammed al-Afandi, 46.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Doha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Mousa Da’amsa, 24.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camps and patrolled in the streets. They withdrew at approximately 06:00 and no arrested were reported.

· At approximately 12:55, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of Beit Hanoun, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who were near the southern entrance of the town attempting to launch home-made rockets at Israeli towns. Two members of the resistance were killed and 4 others were wounded. The two victims were identified as Mohammed Sami al-Qeishawi, 22, from Jabalya; and ‘Aa’ed Ibrahim al-Bayari, 20, from Beit Hanoun. Medical sources refused to give names of the wounded. Nearly half an hour later, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a rocket launcher in the same area, destroying it.

· At approximately 20:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bethlehem traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped in the center of the town. IOF troops got out of the car and arrested ‘Aadel Fawzi Nawawra, 27, and ‘Aayesh Ibrahim Nawawra, 29.

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They erected a checkpoint on the main road leading to al-Shurfa area. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF troops withdrew from the town at approximately 01:30 and no arrests were reported.

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

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin, and patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no casualties or arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Aqqaba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and a hostel of students of the Arab American University. No arrested were reported.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Samer Anwar al-Deek, 29, and arrested him.

· At approximately 08:15, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They broke into ‘Azzoun secondary school. When the director and staff of the school expressed their rejection, an IOF officer told them that his troops could break into the school when they wish.

· At approximately 21:55, an IOF undercover unit moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The car stopped in the center of the village. IOF troops raided a shop belonging to Ahmed Harbaj Nazzal, and arrested his three sons: Ameen, 35; Ma’moun, 27; and ‘Allam, 25.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Askar refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched house belonging to Daoud Mohammed Hmaida, and arrested two of his sons: Hafez, 26; and ‘Emad, 28.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Subhi ‘Aabed, and transformed it into a military site.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Fraidees village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mousa Mohammed Tannouh, 20, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nidal Mahmoud Rabai’a, 21, and arrested him.

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

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis village, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Emad Isma’il Abu Hawash, 22.

· At approximately 23:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into al-Najjar neighborhood in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Some IOF troops took position on agricultural areas, while others took position near the door of a house. At approximately 23:55, Mohammed Zaki al-Najjar, 20, was on his way back home. He did not notice that IOF troops were in the area. IOF trooped ordered him to stop. He stopped with his hands up, nearly 7 meters away from them. an IOF soldier fired at the young men. He was wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen. He fell onto the ground. IOF troops then opened fire at him. He was hit by several gunshots and IOF troops left him bleeding to death. Soon after, members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops when they noticed their presence. During the exchange of fire, 2 members of the resistance were wounded. While they were withdrawing from the area, IOF troops opened fired at houses. As a result, Nidal Mohammed Suleiman al-Najjar, 37, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head, when he was taking his children to a safer place inside his house. He bled for nearly half an hour before a Palestinian ambulance was able to reach the area and evacuate him to the hospital. At approximately 22:30 on Wednesday, 21 November 2007, medical sources declared that he died from his wound.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They deliberately fired at an UNRWA vehicle designed for the collection of garbage, damaging it. An IOF military jeep also hit a wall in a house belonging to Waleed Mahmoud Abu Kayed and demolished a part of a room. IOF troops then raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:

A few hours later, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops opened fire, wounding 9 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children:

3. Mohammed Majed Abu Sirrees, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

4. Ahmed Majed al-Ghazzawi, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

5. Hasan ‘Aassem Mansour, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

6. Mahmoud Sameer Abu Dughaish, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the side;

7. Mohammed Zaid Subeh, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

8. Mohammed Nasser Sawalma, 9, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the face; and

9. Mahmoud Saleh Jabarin, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia, opened fire at a number of members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), who were attempting to infiltrate through the border. Two members of the group were killed. At approximately 11:30, IOF informed the Palestinian liaison that there were two bodies to the north of Beit Lahia. An ambulance went to the area and found the bodies only at approximately 16:00, a few meters away from the border. IOF troops asked the medical crew to gather the weapons, which were near the body, put them in a plastic sac and hand them to the troops. The two bodies were taken to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, and the two victims were identifies as: Ahmed ‘Ali Abu Sitta, 22, from Khan Yunis; and Guevara Ahmed Saleh, 21, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians, including a girl:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir Dibwan village, east of Ramalllah. They erected a checkpoint in the center of the village. They then stopped a civilian car driven by Tha’er Jouda ‘Aadel, 28, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

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

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raioded and searched a house belonging to Zaid Ahmed al-Jabarin, 38, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Sirris village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 21:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 800 meters into ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. Members of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops. During the exchange of fire, 3 members of the resistance were wounded. IOF troops withdrew from the village 2 hours later.

On Sunday, 18 November 2007, IOF attempted to extra-judicially execute a number of members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Khan Yunis, but the attempt failed.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 18 November 2007, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at a civilian car, in which a number of members of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) were traveling, in al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. The missileswent astray, and the passengers were able to flee from the car. Soon after, the IOF warplane fired 2 additional missiles at the car, destroying it. No casualties were reported.

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.

· 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. 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. On Monday, 19 November 2007, Amir Shaher Abdullah al-Yazji, 8, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City died, as IOF delayed his entry through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Ichilov Hospital in Israel despite having the necessary permits to enter. This brings to 10 the number of Gaza patients who died since last August as a result of denying them their medical rights. The victims include 2 women and an infant. Since 19 September 2007, IOF have allowed a very limited number of traders to enter Israel through the crossing. They have also continued to prevent Palestinian from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails.

· 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: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing following 3 weeks of complete closure, and allowed the entry of 2,738 cows.

· Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom): During the reporting period, the crossing was opened to allow the entry of some goods and humanitarian aids, but was closed for 3 days.

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.

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 Thursday noon, 15 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at the Container checkpoint arrested Mahmoud Hussein Ta’amra, 24, from Bethlehem.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 15 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Hawara and Za’tara checkpoints, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Such restrictions were escalated on Saturday, 17 November 2007. On Sunday morning, 18 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 19 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 20 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus and imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 15 November 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, for several hours. On Saturday, 16 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 17 November 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the town imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Jenin: On Thursday morning, 15 November 2007, IOF troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint in the central Jordan Valley arrested a Palestinian civilian who has not been identified.

· Hebron: On Thursday morning, 15 November 2007, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron arrested Ahmed Mousa al-Tubassi, 17, from al-Rihiya village, claiming that he was carrying a knife. On Friday noon, 16 November 2007, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron arrested the twins Mohammed and Hasan Mazen al-Joulani, 21.

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.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 16 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 soldiers had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians and a Japanese human rights defender were wounded:

4. Bassem Ibrahim Abu Rahma, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg; and

5. Taka, 28, a Japanese human rights defender, , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

· At approximately 10:30 on Sunday morning, 18 November 2007, IOF destroyed an 800-meter-long main road in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, because of its closeness to the Wall. The road links Khellat al-Samak area with the school of the village.

· On Wednesday, 21 November 2007, IOF handed notices to 6 Palestinian civilians from the Salah clan in al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem, ordering stoppage of the construction of their houses, claming that the construction was taking place without licenses and their sites overlap with the tract of the Wall in the area.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· On Thursday morning, 15 October 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Elli Zahav” and “Biduel” settlements, west of Salfit, Attacked a house belonging to Hikmat Isma’il ‘Abdul Rahman in Brouqin village, using stones. A number of windows were broken. The settlers set fire near the house, attacked a car and damaged a barnyard. IOF troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the attack.

· On Sunday morning, 18 November 2007, IOF demolished a 70-square-meter barnyard belonging to Mohammed Khalil Sha’lab in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem.

· At approximately 21:00 on Monday, 19 November 2007, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yits’har” settlement, south of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian taxi that was traveling from Ramallah, using stones and iron bars. The windows of the taxi driven by Hatem Qash, 35, from Bourqin village southwest of Jenin, were broken.

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.

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).