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

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

• 10 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

• 18 Palestinians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

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

• IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank.

• IOF shelled fishing boats and arrested 8 Palestinian fishermen in Rafah.

• 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.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (16 – 22 August 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 16 Palestinians, including 3 children, and wounded 18 others, including 2 children, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including two children. Ten of the victims were extra-judicially-executed by IOF in less than 48 hours.

On 18 August 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian and arrested two others when they attempted to cross the border into Israel to search for jobs. On 20 August 2007, IOF extra-judicially 4 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) and two members of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. On 21 August 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at 3 armed Palestinians in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Soon after, an IOF infantry unit moved into the area and opened fire. The three Palestinian were killed. On 22 August 2007, IOF extra-judicially executed a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades and wounded another one in the east of Gaza City. Since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada, 655 Palestinians, including 221 civilian bystanders, have been extra-judicially executed by IOF. The victims have included 73 children. On 22 August 2007, two Palestinian children were killed, when IOF fired a missile at them while they were playing near a launcher of home-made rockets. Additionally, during the reporting period, 6 Palestinians, including two children, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday morning, IOF shelled fishing boats and arrested 8 Palestinian fishermen in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.  

In the west Bank, IOF killed 3 Palestinians, including a child. On 16 August 2007, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child during an incursion into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. A Palestinian resistance activist was killed by IOF during clashes that followed the child’s death. On 21 August 2007, a Palestinian resistance activist was killed in armed clashes with IOF during their incursion into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. During the reporting period, 11 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank.  In addition, on 17 August 2007, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and 4 journalists suffered from tear gas inhalation when IOF used force against 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.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 1,803.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted two incursions into al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip and ‘Abasan village in the southern Gaza Strip. During these incursions, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded.

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 imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. IOF had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25 June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.  IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. 

West Bank

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16 - 22 August 2007)

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

Thursday, 16 August 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Sfi ‘Allan and arrested his two sons: Yousef, 29; and Eyad, 24.

Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jaber ‘Eissa al-‘Adarba, 40, and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Ammar Hamami, 24;

2. Nasser ‘Ammar ‘Akoub, 17; and

3. Jihad Ibrahim al-‘Ajwa, 35.

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into al-Hawouz neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a barbershop in the area and arrested Ayman Ibrahim ‘Obaidu, 20.

Friday, 17 August 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kharsa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Muntasser ‘Eissa Shadeed, 23; and

2. Nidal Mohammed Hantash, 30.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Burj village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Subhi Yousef Faqiyat, 30, and arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles that were patrolling in the streets. Immediately, IOF troops opened fire at the children, killing 14-year-old Nour al-Din Ibrahim Yousef Mar’ei with several gunshots throughout the body. Following the child’s death, a number of activits of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF. A resistance activist, 25-year-old Mahmoud Saleh ‘Aashour Darwish, was killed by a gunshot to the head. It is worth noting that Dawish’s brother Khaled had been extra-judicially executed by IOF on 4 May 2007.

IOF continued to open fire indiscriminately. As a result, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded:

1. Ahmed Mahmoud Ghazal, 16, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the chest;

2. ‘Omar Suleiman Mar’ei, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the leg;

3. ‘Ali Mo’ayad Subeh, 13, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

4. ‘Abdul Rahman Burhan Mar’ei, 20, wounded by shrapnel to the body;

5. ‘Alaa’ mas’oud Drawish, 21, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand;

6. Jamal Ibrahim ‘Eissa, 37, wounded by shrapnel to the body; and

7. ‘Adnan Saleh Mar’ei, 26, wounded by shrapnel to the left leg.

IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 22:00.

At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Maher Mohammed Abu Zalata. They violently beat the owner, claiming that he was late in opening the door for them. IOF then held the family in one room and transformed the house into a military site. They left the house at approximately 06:00 on the following day.

Saturday, 18 August 2007

At approximately 00:10, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, opening fire. Ahmed Rashad Daraj, 23, was wounded by 2 gunshots to the thighs. At approximately 02:00, IOF expanded their military operation to include Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They opened fire at houses. Na’ema Nasser Mabrouk, 36, was wounded by shrapnel to the chest, when she was inside her house in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. IOF then raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported. The military operation ended at approximately 06:30.

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They intercepted a car near the Islamic College in the east. They forced the driver, 20-year-old ‘Aadel Mahmoud Abu Raheel, to get out of the car and arrested him.

At approximately 15:00, IOF troops positioned along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza Valley village opened fire at 3 Palestinian civilians who attempted to cross the border to search for jobs inside Israel due to the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip. One of these civilians, 21-year-old Nizar Raji ‘Abdullah al-‘Abeed, from Nusairat refugee camp, was killed by a gunshot to the back. IOF troops arrested the other two civilians, but released them later.

At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a shop of computer sets belonging to Nasri ‘Atwan Salah, 28, and arrested him.

Sunday, 19 August 2007

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camps. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. They besieged and opened fire at a house belonging to the family of Shaher Munjed al-Qinni, 32. Al-Qinni attempted to escape, but IOF troop fired at him wounding him to the feet. They arrested him. IOF troops them called on residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF troops checked and interrogated the residents and arrested Buraq Qassem ‘Awad, 24, al-Qinni’s borther-in-law.

Monday, 20 August 2007

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved nearly 100 meters into al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of land. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF. In response, IOF opened fire indiscriminately, wounding a Palestinian civilians, 56-year-old Mohammed ‘Obaid S’oud, with a gunshot to the right hand, while he was nearly 1000 meters away from the area.

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Fadi Hussein Matar, 25;

2. Mohammed Mahmoud Nassar, 19;

3. Fadi Ahmed ‘Ammouri, 30; and

4. Firas Hasan al-Haroun, 26.

Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched an apartment building in the center of the town. They forced the residents out and searched the flat. They then arrested Zaki ‘Abdul Fattah Daoud, 26.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sameeh Ra’fat al-Deirani, 44, and arrested him.

At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into al-Rashaida village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nawaf Suleiman Mubarak, 25, who was getting ready for his wedding party, and arrested him and his brother Mubarak, 30. The bridegroom was released 6 months ago after he had served 36 months under administrative detention in Israeli jails.

At approximately 16:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into ‘Abasan village, east of Jahn Yunis. They opened fire indiscriminately and leveled areas of land that had been already razed. As a result of the indiscriminate gunfire, 17-year-old ‘Alaa’ Majdi Sammour was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg.

At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They besieged a flat belonging to the family of ‘Abdullah al-‘Aker, 22, in al-‘Aker apartment building. They called on residents of the building through megaphones to get out. IOF troop checked and interrogated the residents and arrested al-‘Aker. While IOF troops were withdrawing from the city, a number of Palestinian boys gathered at the southern entrance of ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus, and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the boys wounding 2 of them:

1. Fadi Jamal Khraim, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg; and

2. Asyad Ahmed Taha, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

Tuesday, 21 August 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta dn Kufor Dan village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mousa Lutfi Shihada, 20;

2. Eihab Lutfi Shihada, 22;

3. Hussein Mustafa Jadallah, 22;

4. Ahmed Nabeel Melhem, 22;

5. ‘Ali Sami Hijaz, 25;

6. Bahaa’ Yahia Masharqa, 20;

7. Eyad Ramadan Thawaba, 24;

8. Mohammed Hussein Hijazi, 26;

9. Mohammed Mazen Melhem, 20;

10. ‘Ammar Sami Fuqaha, 27; and

11. Mohammed Maher Zain, 23.

At approximately 01:10, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops. During the exchange of fire, a resistance activist, 38-year-old Nasser ‘Ali Qassem Mabrouk, 38, was killed by a gunshot to the head.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Dura al-Qare’ village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Murad Wheed Hamdan, 26.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed ‘Adnan ‘Assida, 35;

2. Mohammed Saqer ‘Assida, 23; and

3. Khaldoun ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Assida, 31.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Wajdi Mohammed al-Wohoush, 17;

2. Hamza ‘Abdul Rahman al-Wohoush, 17;

3. Mustafa Mohammed Wahesh, 18; and

4. Yousef ‘Abdul Rahim Wahesh, 16.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Yassin Suleiman Saba’na, 25.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Wasfi Abu Taha, 28.

In the evening, two Palestinian children were killed and a third one was wounded when IOF fired a missile at them, when they were playing near a launcher of home-made rockets in the northern Gaza Strip.

In his testimony to PCHR, Ahmed Sa’id al-Bo’, 13, the child who was wounded, said:

“At approximately 18:00 on Tuesday, 21 August 2007, I and some of my friends went to watch a football match at the Agricultural Secondary School in the north of Beit Hanoun. While we were watching the match, two of my friends, 13-year-old ‘Abdul Qader Yousef ‘Aashour and 11-year-old Fadi Mansour al-Kafarna, decided to go to cut fruits from neighboring fields. They walked towards the trees nearly 50 meters away from me. When they were there, they got close to a launcher used by members of the resistance to launch home-made rockets at Israeli towns. Soon after, I saw a missile fired by IOF positioned at the border with Israel falling near them. I was wounded by shrapnel to my right leg, and my two friends were killed.”

At approximately 19:4, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a training site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) in ‘Oraiba area in the northwest of Rafah. A member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, 27-year-old Ramzi ‘Omar al-Mis’hal, was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

Wednesday, 22 August 2007

At approximately 08:30, IOF gunboats and helicopter gunships chased Palestinian fishing boats opposite to the Swedish Village at Rafah seashore. As a result, 7 fishing boats were damaged. Although a number of fishermen were able to escape to the beach, IOF arrested 8 fishermen:

1. Kamel Rajab Abu ‘Ouda, 47;

2. Eyad Bassem Abu Saleema, 17;

3. ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Abdul Hadi al-Qun, 15;

4. Ahmed Mohammed al-Najjar, 24;

5. Mohammed Faraht ‘Ashour, 16;

6. Khalil Kamel Abu ‘Ouda, 17;

7. ‘Ali Hasan al-Najjar, 17; and

8. Yousef ‘Abdullah al-Najjar, 17.

Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF committed 3 extra-judicial executions in the Gaza Strip in less than 48 hours, in which 10 Palestinians were killed. 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 20 August 2007, IOF positioned along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a civilian vehicle (a white Peugeot), in which 4 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas) and 2 members of the Executive Force the Palestinian Ministry of Interior were traveling, nearly 400 meters away from the border. The missile hit the vehicle and killed the six Palestinians:

1. Mohammed Ibrahim al-Qrainawi, 22;

2. ‘Abed Rabbu Khaled Abu Hilu, 22;

3. Isma’il Mohammed Abu ‘Aabda, 22;

4. Ahmed ‘Ali al-Qrainawi, 23;

5. ‘Ali Sa’id Baroud, 34; and

6. Mohammed ‘Atiya Abu ‘Arab, 35.

Additionally, a civilian bystander, 22-year-old Mohammed Ramadan al-Shaimi, was wounded by shrapnel to the back. Israeli media reports claimed, according to the Israeli military, that the attack targeted a vehicle that was transporting suspects who were on their way to launch home-made rockets at IOF and Israeli towns.

At approximately 13:10 on Tuesday, 21 August 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at 3 persons who were in civilian clothes and carrying guns on an olive field in al-Qarra village, northeast of Khan Yunis, nearly 500 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Soon after, an IOF infantry unit moved into the field. IOF troops opened fire in the area and confiscated the guns of the three persons. Ambulances evacuated the bodies of the three persons to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to medical sources, the victims were killed by shrapnel from the missile. A cameraman of Ramattan news agency, Rami Abu Shammala, stated that he traveled to al-Qarara village when learnt about the IOF shelling. When he arrived at the area, he heard sounds of shooting. He was able to film IOF soldiers who were in the area and were heading towards the border, where military jeeps were waiting for them. The bodies of 3 young men were on the ground. The victims were identified as members of the al-Quds Brigades (the military wing of Islamic Jihad):

1. ‘Awadh Ibrahim al-Masri, 29;

2. Shadi Mustafa al-Saqqa, 23; and

3. Mohammed Ahmed Abu Salem, 23.

At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 22 August 2007, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at two members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Hamas), who were on agricultural land, nearly 200 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City. One of the, 20-year-old Yahia ‘Omar ‘Abdul Malek Habeeb, was killed, whereas the other one, 22-year-old ‘Alaa’ ‘Abdul Malek Habeeb.

Since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada, 655 Palestinians, including 221 civilian bystanders, have been extra-judicially executed by IOF. The victims have included 73 children.

Continued Siege on the OPT

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

Gaza Strip

OF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for nearly one year. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated.

Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006. During the reporting period, the crossing point was not reopened.  There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers have allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 70 kilometers south of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter 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.  IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing.  With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have allowed nearly 400 traders to pass through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem. On Friday, 16 February 2007, IOF opened the new Erez International Crossing Point under new procedures. Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have to obtain permits from the IOF Civil Administration as it was the case before. According to Palestinians who traveled through the new crossing point, IOF impose the same restrictions on their movement as in the past. IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through the crossing for alleged security claims, even though those patients do not pose any threat to the security of Israelis and they are badly in need for advanced medical treatment. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients. Approximately 20 patients are allowed to pass daily.

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

Nahal Ouz crossing: The crossing, which is designed for the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, was open for during the reporting period to allow the entry of amounts of fuels.   

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

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

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

The West Bank

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

Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday afternoon, 16 August 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. On SaIOF closed al-Bathan checkpoint, northeast of Nablus. On Saturday morning, 18 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city conducted prolonged and humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 19 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 20 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to prevent Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through various checkpoints around the town. On Thursday, 16 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Friday, 17 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement to and from the town. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 18 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the village. IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 5 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-ras intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 20 August 2007, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians.

Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 16 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF also imposed severe restrictions on access to the central Jordan Valley. On Saturday morning, 18 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. In the vening, IOF erected two checkpoints on the road linking Tubas village with the northern Jordan Valley. On Sunday morning, 19 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on al-Jarba – Qabatya road, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tueaday morning, 21 August 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Kfair intersection, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles.

Construction of the Annexation Wall

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

Following the Friday Prayer on 17 August 2007, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF soldiers had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, a members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and 4 journalists suffered from tear gas inhalation:

1. Qais ‘Abdul Karim (Abu Leila), 55, PLC member;

2. Ayman al-Noubani, 28, from Apollo news agency;

3. Fadi Um ‘Eid, 23; from Ramattan news agency;

4. Baker Abu Rjaila, 23, from Ramattan news agency; and

5. Kamal al-Azraq, 22, from Ramattan news agency.

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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).