No. 38/2007

20 - 26 September 2007

Israeli Occupation Forces continue to demolish houses.

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

• 13 Palestinians, including a child, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.

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

• 47 Palestinians, including 12 children and a journalist, were wounded by IOF.

• 30 of these Palestinians, including 6 children, were wounded by IOF in Beit Hanoun.  

• IOF shelled space areas and agricultural lands in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 ones into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 85 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and 4 ones in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF razed 258 donums[1] of agricultural land and demolished 23 houses in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF destroyed 2 apartment buildings in Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp.

• IOF used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield in ‘‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp.

• IOF transformed 3 houses in the West Bank into military sites.

• IOF have closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron during the holy Ramadan Month for 3 sporadic days.

• 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.

• Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

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

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

• Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian child in Hebron and 2 paramedics in Bethlehem. 

• An Israeli settler stabbed a Palestinian civilian in Jerusalem.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (20 – 26 September 2007):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 47 others, including 12 and a journalist, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians and wounded 31 others.

On 20 September 2007, IOF killed 4 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, during an incursion into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. The head of one of the victims was crushed by an IOF bulldozer as he fell in front of it when he was wounded. IOF also arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a wounded one. On 26 September 2007, IOF killed 4 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, in Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. In addition, 30 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded. On the same day, IOF extra-judicially executed 5 members of the Army of Islam in Gaza City.

In the West Bank, 16 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and a journalist, were wounded by IOF. Twelve of these civilians were wounded during the IOF offensive against ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. The other 4 civilians were wounded when IOF used forced to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 33 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF arrested 85 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 2,042.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 4 incursions into Palestinian communities in the Gaza Strip. On 20 September 2007, IOF moved into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. During this incursion, IOF killed 4 Palestinians. They also razed 90 donums of agricultural land and demolished 14 houses. On 20 and 21 September 2007, IOF moved into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. During this incursion, they razed 111 donums of agricultural land and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians. On 25 September 2007, IOF moved into al-Fukhari area in Khan Yunis. They razed 57 donums of agricultural land and 5 houses. On 26 September 2007, IOF moved into Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. This incursion is still ongoing.

Restrictions on Movement: On Wednesday morning, 26 September 2007, IOF imposed a total 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 imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. IOF had already closed Rafah International Crossing Point following an armed attack against an IOF military post in Kerem Shalom area, southeast of Rafah, on 25 June 2006. The crossing point had been partially reopened for short, sporadic periods to allow few numbers of Palestinian to travel through it. The crossing point has been completely closed since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip and the withdrawal of Palestinian security forces from the crossing point. There are approximately 6,000 Palestinians held at the Egyptian side of the border awaiting to return to their homes in the Gaza Strip. Most of them have run out of money and are living on assistance. In addition, 19 of them have died in Egypt. The bodies were returned to Gaza through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. In addition, thousands of travelers were allowed to return to the Gaza Strip through al-Ojah crossing, 8 kilometers southeast of Rafah. From there, they were transported to Erez Checkpoint to enter the Gaza Strip.  IOF have also closed commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. IOF have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. 

West Bank

IOF have 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 imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city since the beginning of the holy Ramadan Month on Thursday, 13 September 2007. Although IOF claimed that they would ease the restrictions on access to holy sites in the city during the Ramadan Month, but they reinforced their presence at various checkpoints on the roads leading to the city. In Hebron, IOF have closed the Ibrahimi Mosque for 3 sporadic days since the begging of the Ramadan Month.

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians at checkpoints in the West Bank.

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, Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian child in Hebron and 2 paramedics in Bethlehem. An Israeli settler also stabbed a Palestinian civilian in al-Malha area, southwest of Jerusalem.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (20 – 26 September 2007)

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

Israeli Offensive on Gaza Valley Village

On Thursday, 20 September 2007, IOF moved into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip. During their incursion into the village, IOF killed 4 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, destroyed 14 houses completely or partially, razed large areas of agricultural land and arrested 2 Palestinians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:30 on Thursday, Special units of IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip, and took position near al-Ihsan Mosque. Nearly half an hour later, a group of the Palestinian resistance clashed with these units. Two resistance activists were wounded. They bled to death as IOF brought large backups into the village and did not allow ambulances to enter the village. The two activists were identified as: ‘Emad Rezeq Abu Hjayer, 30, hit by several gunshots to the abdomen; and Yousef ‘Abdullah Abu Hjayer, 26, hit by several gunshots to the chest and abdomen.

At approximately 03:00, Furaih al-Nabahin, 35, went out of his house towards al-Ihsan Mosque for the Dawn Prayer. Immediately, IOF troops fired at him without warning. He was wounded by 2 gunshots tp the abdomen and the foot. He was able to reach a nearby house. Residents of the house attempted to offer him first medical aid, but he continued to bleed and ambulances were not able to attend him. IOF later arrested him.

At approximately 06:30, IOF troops violently raided 4 houses belonging to the Hjayer clan and transformed them into military sites.

At approximately 08:30, a number of boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles and some of them climbed IOF bulldozers. An IOF tank positioned nearly 50 meters away opened fire at the boys wounding Mahmoud Kayed Kafafi, 19, with a gunshot to the neck. He fell in front of a bulldozer, which moved over him and crushed his head.

At approximately 14:00, an IOF sniper positioned inside a house belonging to Ameen Abu Hjayer fired at Mohammed Suleiman Abu Hjayer, 20, when he was atop of a building, nearly 700 meters away from the are into which IOF had moved. He was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head. He died an hour after he had been admitted into the hospital.

At approximately 17:30, IOF started to redeploy outside the village. The redeployment ended at 19:00. During their withdrawal from the village, IOF arrested 20 Palestinians, who were released on the following day noon, excluding 2: Mohammed Rezeq Abu Hjayer, 24; and Furaih Ahmed al-Nabahin, 35, who had been already wounded.

During this incursion, IOF demolished 8 houses completely and 6 others partially, in which 86 people used to live. Those houses belong to the Abu Hjayer clan. IOF also razed 90 donums of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to the families of Abu Hjayer, Hajjaj and al-‘Owaidat.

Israeli Offensive on ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ Refugee camp

During the reporting period, IOF continued their military operation in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus, which they had initiated on Tuesday morning, 18 September 2007. During this operation, which continued until Friday morning, 21 September 2007, IOF killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded 23 others. They also demolished an apartment building and made hole in walls to move from one house to another.

On the first day of this operation, as IOF troops were making holes in the wall of a house belonging to Anees Mohammed Yahia to enter a neighboring house belonging to Khalil Mohammed Abu Zaytoun, 75, a wall collapsed over Abu Zayotoun. He was seriously injured.

Also during this operation, IOF troops used Ayman Saleh Waked, 34, as a human shield.

On Thursday noon, 20 September 2007, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops opened fire indiscriminately, wounding 12 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and a journalist:

1. Mo’tassem Sameer Majdi, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot;

2. Faraj Mohammed Hammoud, 17, wounded by 2 gunshots to the feet;

3. Mohammed Sameer Abu Zant, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;

4. Zuhair Mohammed Jadallah, 39, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot;

5. Ahmed Hasan Qatanani, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot;

6. Hasan Munjed Jouda, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

7. Majed Deeb al-Saqqa, 16, hit by a sound bomb;

8. Mohammed Jihad Massimi, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the face;

9. Ghaleb Khaled Samihna, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the right hand;

10. Asyad Ahmed Taha, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the face;

11. Mohammed Khaled al-Keilani, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the face; and

12. Nasser Suleiman Eshtayeh, 37, a cameraman of Associated Press, hit by a sound bomb to the feet.

At approximately 12:00 on the same day, IOF started to demolish a 120-square-meter, 5-storey apartment building belonging to ‘Ali Qassem Mabrouk. IOF completed the demolition of the building by 19:00, rendering 20 people (5 families) homeless.

IOF withdrew from the camp on Friday morning, 21 September 2007. During this military operation, IOF arrested 22 Palestinians, including a child.

Israeli Offensive on al-Shouka Village near Rafah

On Thursday and Friday, 20 and 21 September 2007, IOF continued their military operation inside al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, which they had initiated on Wednesday morning, 19 September 2007.

On Thursday, 20 September 2007, IOF razed at least 11 donums of agricultural land planted with vegetables. They also partially destroyed 3 houses and damaged the infrastructure of the village.

IOF also arrested 20 Palestinian civilians. They released them all on Thursday evening, 20 September 2007, excluding 2: Ayman Mansour Mo’ammar, 40; and Hatem ‘Abdul Karim Abu Mour, 19.

IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 20 September 2007. However, IOF moved into the village again on the following day morning. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians, but released them two days later. According to a Palestinian woman, when IOF troops raided her house to arrest her husband and two of her children, they stole some money and jewelry, 2 mobile phones and personal photographs. They also damaged the furniture.

Other Incursions

Thursday, 20 September 2007

In the early morning, IOF that had moved into Far’oun village on Wednesday evening, 19 September 2007, raided and searched dozens of Palestinian houses and arrested Mohammed Akram Salama, 25.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sameer Mohammed Na’alwa, 22, and arrested him.

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

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

1. ‘Abdul Rahman Banan Qashwa’, 23;

2. ‘Alaa’ Ahmed al-Far, 26; and

3. Radwan Mohammed Abu Miriam, 19.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Salah Mousa Hussein, 43, and arrested him.

At approximately 14:00, a number of Palestinian children gathered to the west of Qoussin village, west of Nablus, and blocked the road leading to the industrial zone with stones. Soon after, IOF moved into the village. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 children aged 17:

1. Mustafa Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu;

2. Hassan Fakhri Salman;

3. Fu’ad Lutfi Salman;

4. Eihab Ahmed Salman; and

5. Ahmed Wasfi Zbadi.

Friday, 21 September 2007

At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ma’zouz ‘Abdul Rahim al-Hasan, 22.

Saturday, 22 September 2007

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Simiya area in the southwest of Dura village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Murad ‘Aayesh Awlad Mohammed, 23.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ras al-Joura neighborhood in the north of Hebron. They raided ands searched a house belonging to Mohammed Diab Hraiz, 21, and arrested him.

At approximately 04:00, IOF raided two houses in Wad al-Husain neighborhood in the southwest of Hebron belonging to Nader Mohammed al-Ja’bari and ‘Awni Mdahhi Da’na, and transformed them into military sites.

Sunday, 23 September 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Khalil ‘Ali Taraira, 50, head of the Islamic Association in the village;

2. Fayez Ibrahim al-Khodour, 43, manager of the Islamic Association;

3. Muneer Farah al-Hajjouj, 36;

4. Musleh ‘Atiya Ballout, 36; and

5. Hasan ‘Abdul Halim Manasra, 28.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the old town of Nablus. They besieged and fired at a 5-storey house belonging to the family of Khaled ‘Abdul Khaliq Darwaza, 35, in al-Qaisariya quarter. IOF troops called on residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF troops interrogated the residents and threatened them to destroy the house if they did not tell where Khaled was, but the residents denied their knowledge of where he was. At approximately 03:30, IOF troops broke into the house and planted explosives inside. They then destroyed the house. IOF claimed that Khaled, is allegedly wanted for being a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas, was hiding in a tunnel beneath the house. When IOF withdrew from the area, it was revealed that no one was in the house.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bazaria village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Jaber Salem, 22.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided a house belonging to Ahmed Najeh Khuffash. They held the family in one room and transformed the roof into a military site. After the Dawn Prayer, Palestinian civilians gathered around the house. IOF troops held the mayor with the family. According to Khuffash, IOF troops told him that they seized his house because it overlooks Trans-Samaria settler road. They left the house at approximately 08:30.

At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. They stormed a house belonging to the family of Fares Nasser Mansour, 22, and arrested him. Mansour is a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), and his name was included the list of amnesties issued by IOF earlier this year.

Also at approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Qoussin village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1. Mohammed ‘Aayed ‘Abed Rabbu, 18;

2. Sarhan Fa’eq Salman, 17;

3. Ahmed Yahia al-Baz, 11;

4. Muhannad Nabeel Yadak, 18; and

5. Mohammed al-Ghazzawi, 18.

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Qoussin village again. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian children:

1. Mos’ab ‘Abdullah Suleiman, 17;

2. ‘Ammar Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu, 17;

3. Ahmed Sami al-Baz, 16; and

4. Ahmed Wasfi Ziada, 17.

Monday, 24 September 2007

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Yasser Suleiman Balalu, 21; and

2. Fadi Kamal al-Sabbagh, 28.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Jamal Abu Msallam, 16, from Balata refugee camp.

Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Aawrta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nabeeh ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Awad, 28.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed Yousef Abu Ghalma, 35;

2. Sajed ‘Abdul Latif Mlaitat, 30;

3. Ayman Nemer al-Haj Mohammed, 35;

4. Zahi ‘Aadel Khatatba, 33;

5. Cana’an ‘Aadel Khatatba, 27;

6. Ahmed ‘Abdul Jaleel Mlaitat, 36;

7. Fares Fawaz Hanani, 28;

8. ‘Aassef ‘Abdul Rahim Hanani, 32; and

9. Khaled Mohammed Hanani, 38.

Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Hatab village, northeast of Nablus. They besieged and fired at a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Tayel Mash’ati. They called on he residents through megaphones to get out and they dead. IOF troops interrogated the residents about Ahmed. They then stormed and searched the house. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF troops threatened to destroy the house if Ahmed, who is allegedly wanted, did not surrender to them.

At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Also at approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Beit Ta’mar village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 25 September 2007

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mahmoud ‘Abdul Fattah al-Hour, 47, the mayor of the village;

2. Khader Lafi Ghnaimat 60;

3. Mohammed ‘Abdul Hadi al-Hour, 40; and

4. Mohammed ‘Abdul Ghani ‘Ar’ar, 29.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fat’hi Nader ‘Ajaj, 26, and arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Eiba village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. ‘Emad Khaled Walweel, 20;

2. Mo’taz Bashar Sama’na, 22;

3. Mohammed al-Haj Qabala, 18; and

4. Ja’far Mohammed Thuthuth, 24.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Zahi al-Kousa, 32; and

2. ‘Alaa’ ‘Ali al-Najmi, 19.

Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They razed 57 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, almonds and vegetables, and on which 15 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood. They also demolished 4 houses completely and one partially, rendering 55 people (7 families) homeless.

At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Tha’er Mohammed Hayan, 20; and

2. Mohammed Kamel Thawabta, 21.

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh town. They raided and searched a house belonging to Dr. Miriam Salem, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and arrested her son, 27-year-old ‘Abdul Fattah Musleh. They also confiscated computer sets and documents from the house.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ayman al-Zeben, 24.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Attara village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mustafa Sabri Qadadha, 22;

2. Sa’id Mousa Qadadha, 31;

3. Mohammed Subhi Abu Rjaila, 30;

4. Mohammed Faraj Abu Rjaila, 34; and

5. Ra’ed ‘Abdul Hadi Sarahna, 32.

At approximately 07:40, IOF warplanes fired 2 missiles at a space area to the northeast of Sheikh Zayed town in the northern Gaza Strip. The missiles targeted launchers of home-made rockets. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Faza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, fired 2 surface-to-surface missiles at a space area to the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified.

At approximately 08:20, an IOF warplane fired 3 missiles at agricultural area to the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip, while other warplanes opened fire at the same area, forcing Palestinian farmers to leave their lands.

At approximately 12:30, IOF troops, reinforced by 60 military vehicles and a number of aircrafts, moved into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They moved towards the southern entrance of the town and the building of the municipality. At approximately 17:00, IOF troops fired an artillery shell and several gunshots at some Palestinian civilians in al-Zaytoun quarter in the south of the village. As a result, 3 civilians were killed and 30 others were wounded. Five of the wounded were in a serious condition, and one of them, who was a member of the Palestinian resistance, died from his wound later. The four victims were identified as:

1. Yousef Talal al-Basiouni, 18;

2. Khairi Mousa Hamdan, 22;

3. Mohammed Ussama ‘Edwan, 21; and

4. Tha’er ‘Abdul Wahab al-Basiouni, 22, a member of the Palestinian resistance.

Extra-Judicial Execution

On Wednesday, 26 September 2007, IOF extra-judicially executed 5 members of the Army of Islam, one of 3 Palestinian groups that captured an IOF soldier nearly 16 months ago. This attack has been the first of its kind against this group.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:45 on Wednesday, 26 September 2007, an IOF warplane fired 2 missiles at a civilian vehicle (a white Mitsubishi Mgnum), in which 5 members of the Army of Islam were traveling, near Doul intersection in al-Zayourn neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The missiles hit the vehicle and killed the five passengers:

1. Sami Sameer al-Za’im, 25, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City;

2. Fawzi Fares al-Ashram, 27, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City;

3. Ayman Mohammed Dalloul, 26, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City;

4. Ussama Salem al-Reefi, 35, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City; and

5. Hussein Deeb Ahel, 27, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City.

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 16 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. On Friday, 16 February 2007, IOF opened the new Erez International Crossing Point under new procedures. Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have to obtain permits from the IOF Civil Administration as it was the case before. According to Palestinians who traveled through the new crossing point, IOF impose the same restrictions on their movement as in the past. IOF have decreased the number of patients allowed to travel through the crossing for alleged security claims, even though those patients do not pose any threat to the security of Israelis and they are badly in need for advanced medical treatment. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients. Approximately 20-25 patients are allowed to pass daily. On 26 September 2007, IOF closed the crossing for the Jewish Sukkot.

Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened the crossing for several 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, witnessed an active movement during the reporting period.    

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

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

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

The West Bank

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

Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the city since the beginning of the holy Ramadan Month on Thursday, 13 September 2007. Although IOF claimed that they would ease the restrictions on access to holy sites in the city during the Ramadan Month, but they reinforced their presence at various checkpoints on the roads leading to the city. On Friday, 21 September 2007, IOF prevented thousands of Palestinian civilians from attending the al-Aqsa Mosque for the Friday Prayer. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 23 September 2007, IOF closed ‘Atarot checkpoint.

Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 20 September 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. On Saturday morning, 22 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city, especially Za’tara checkpoint to the south, conducted prolonged and humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 23 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday noon, 24 September 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Nablus.   

Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 20 September 2007, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, from 06:00 to 10:00. On Saturday, 22 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Ras intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 23 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and prevented civilians aged below 35 from passing through the checkpoint. On Monday, 24 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday morning, 25 September 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. They have erected more checkpoints inside and around the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians.

On Sunday morning, 23 September 2007, IOF troops positioned at “Kfar Etzion” intersections, north of Hebron, arrested Ra’fat Maher al-‘Odra, 23, from Yatta village south of the town.

On the same day evening, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Mo’tassem Rasmi Jaber, 17;

2. Mazen Munther Jaber, 18; and

3. Ashraf Noah Edris, 21.

On Tuesday morning, 25 September 2007, IOF troops positioned in the center and south of Hebron arrested Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu al-Batran, 18, from Ethna village west of the town. 

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 21 September 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 demonstrators were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:

1. Mohammed Khalil Abu Rahma, 20, wounded in the back;

2. Wa’el Fahmi Nasser, 30, wounded in the hand;

3. ‘Omar ‘Aadel al-Khatib, 20, wounded in foot; and

4. Tariq Shawqi al-Khatib, 20, wounded in the thigh.

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 Saturday morning, 22 September 2007, an Israeli settler from “Kiryat Arba” settlement attacked 16-year-old Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim ‘Assila, when he got out of his house, which is located to the north of the aforementioned settlement. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, the settler who was traveling in his own car stopped near the child and hit him to the chest, using a sharp tool. The child was moderately injured.

On Saturday evening, a number of Israeli settlers attacked two Palestinian paramedics near Bethlehem. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:50, on Saturday, 22 September 2007, Sameer Judai’ Abu Sarah, 23, and Mohammed Hisham Abu ‘Ajamiya, 25, were traveling in an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society towards the south of al-Fraidees Mount, southeast of Bethlehem, to evacuate a sick Palestinian child to the hospital. The child’s family live together with other Palestinian families near “Nikudim” settlement. Their travel to the area was coordinated with IOF in advance. IOF troops allowed the ambulance to cross a checkpoint established at the entrance of a single road leading to the area, but they ordered the driver to travel before an Israeli civilian car. Soon after, a number of armed Israeli settlers intercepted the ambulance. They pointed their guns at the two paramedics and forced them out of the ambulance. They then violently beat the two paramedics before the eyes of an IOF soldier positioned at an observation point nearly 20 meters away. The settlers continued to beat and humiliate the two paramedics and the IOF soldier did not intervene. The Palestine Red Crescent Society mad contacts with IOF, which ended with the release of the two paramedics and the ambulance. The two paramedics were then evacuated to the hospital.

On Sunday evening, 23 September 2007, an Israeli settler stabbed a Palestinian civilian in al-Malha area, southwest of Jerusalem. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 21:30, Hamza Taleb Suleiman, 25, from Beit Safafa neighborhood in Jerusalem, was walking in al-Malha area, southwest of the city. An Israeli settler who was also walking in the area took a knife out of his pocket and stabbed Suleiman. A number of Palestinian civilians attempted to offer him first medical aid, but Israeli settlers drove them away from the area. Later, the Israeli police and ambulances arrived at the area, and Suleiman was evacuated to an Israeli hospital.  

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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).