PCHR Weekly Report

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against 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 (28 August – 3 September 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 18 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Fifteen of the civilians were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall.

In the Gaza Strip, on 1 September, 2 Palestinian fishermen were wounded when an IOF gunboat fired a shell at their boat opposite Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, 16 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were wounded by IOF gunfire.

On 1 September, a Palestinian civilians was seriously wounded, when IOF fired at him as they went to his house to arrest his son.

During the reporting period, 15 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in N’elin and Bal’ein villages, west of Ramallah. IOF also used a liquid with a disgusting smell to target the demonstrators.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. The number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year stands at 1,866.

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 to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The Egypt brokered ‘Tahdiya’ or truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel began on 19 June; however, there have been no major changes regarding the movements of civilians and goods through the six Gaza Strip border crossings.

· Rafah International Crossing Point, the only border crossing from the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel, remains closed.

· Health services continue to be severely affected by the siege, with healthcare facilities also registering a 25% drop in clients due to continuing chronic fuel shortages. Critically ill patients are still being denied permits to access vital health services in the West Bank, Israel and abroad. .

· Water facilities, including access to clean drinking water, and the treatment of raw sewage continue to be severely disrupted by fuel shortages. 50-60 million litres of untreated and partially treated sewage are being dumped into the Gaza Strip Mediterranean Sea daily, posing a public health risk.

· Hundreds of Gazan students are currently unable to resume their university studies abroad as they cannot exit the Gaza Strip. In addition, up to 1,200 school leavers are in the process of applying to study at foreign universities, and are dependent on being issued exit permits by the IOF.

· There are at least 900 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in jails in Israel who have been denied all visitation rights since 6 June 2007.

· Continuing chronic shortages of construction materials, including cement, aggregate and iron, have led to the collapse of the Gaza construction industry. Thousands of construction workers have been laid off, and vital infrastructure projects have been forcibly suspended.

· IOF have repeatedly closed border crossings of the Gaza Strip claiming that home-made rockets were launched at Israeli towns.

· The Gaza Strip had been suffering from chronic shortages of fuel supplies, especially cooking gas, and electricity is still being cut-off for long periods of time.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately permanent 600 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometres around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kms of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· There are around 500 kms of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· IOF continue to harass, and assault, demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

· During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint in the West Bank arrested four Palestinian civilians.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 29 August, Israeli settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron and other settlers who had seized a house belonging to the al-Rajabi family in the southeast of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilians and property in the area using stones and empty bottles. IOF troops were present in the area but did not intervene to stop the attacks

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (28 August – 3 September 2008)

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

· At approximately 00:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Nablus, traveling on a tractor. The tractor stopped near the campus of an-Najah National University. Soon after, a number of IOF military vehicles arrived at the area. IOF troops raided and searched a house belonging to Abu Salah al-Khalili. They arrested 7 university students:

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa; Mohammed Braijiya, 35, and arrested him.

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

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 12:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Nablus traveling in two civilian vehicles with Palestinian registration plates. The two vehicles stopped in front of a shop selling electric car parts. A number of IOF soldiers got out of the vehicles and broke into the shop. They violently assaulted the people who were in the shop, and arrested Adham Mahmoud Libbada, 22, who was given amnesty by IOF on 24 April 2008.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bassel ‘Abdul Rahman Daoud, 20.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nasouh Waleed Bani Fadel, 21.

· At approximately 07:00, IOF gunboats opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishing boats sailing opposite to Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. An IOF gunboat them moved towards the fishing boats and ordered the fishermen to sail their boats towards a larger gunboat. IOF troops ordered the nine fishermen who were on the boats to tie their boats to an IOF gunboat. IOF arrested the nine fishermen and interrogated them. The fishermen were released at approximately 18:00.

· At approximately 14:00, an IOF infantry unit moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. IOF troops took position near Til secondary school. They arrested Isma’il Ibrahim ‘Afana, 20, who was near his aunt’s house in the area.

· 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 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sari Mansour Abu ‘Allan, 24, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to ‘Awad Sadiq Sorour, 40, and his brother ‘Aqel, 33. IOF arrested Aqel. They then demanded to know the whereabouts of the son of ‘Awad Sorour. As he was attempting to tell IOF that his son was not at home, IOF fired several rubber-coated metal bullets at ‘Awad Sorour. He was seriously wounded by three bullets to the face. He subsequently lost one eye as it was directly hit by one of the bullets. According to eyewitnesses, IOF troops fired at ‘Awad Sorour from a range of just three metres.

· At approximately 06:00, an IOF gunboats fired a shell at a Palestinian fishing boat that was sailing 50 meters opposite to Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip. Two fishermen who were on the boat were wounded:

1. Mohammed Nouri al-Sultan, 18, from al-Salatin area in Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2. Hussam Fat’hi al-Sultan, 32, from al-Salatin area in Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the head and the hands.

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Eissa Mohammed Qbaita, 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Mahmoud al-Talahma, 25, and arrested him..

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:50, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Shadi Talal Zakarna, 23.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Aqaba village, east of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets. Palestinian civilians were afraid as IOF repeatedly threatened to demolish houses and confiscate areas of land in the village. IOF withdrew from the village at approximately 07:00.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Araqa village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests 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.

As previously noted, IOF have continued to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s collective punishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure its basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing the chronic poverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on sufficient fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. In addition, the health sector is on the verge of collapse due to the stoppage of some ambulances due to lack of fuel. The transportation sector continues to be affected throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the majority of Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and continuing restrictions on the movement of goods and individuals.

During the reporting period, IOF closed Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah. Regarding Sofa Crossing, northeast of Rafah, during the reporting period the following amounts of goods entered the Gaza Strip.

Date	Details
27 August 2008	Closed
28 August 2008	72 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
29 August 2008	79 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
30 August 2008	Closed
31 August 2008	82 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
1 September 2008	76 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
2 September 2008	63 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

On Thursday, 28 August, and Monday, 1 September, IOF partially reopened al-Mentr (Karni) commercial crossing and allowed the entry of 5,850 tons of animal fodder and seeds.

Regarding Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities have started to open it on a limited basis. During the reporting period, movement at the crossing point was as shown below:

Date	Rafah Crossing Details
30 August 2008	1,702 people (Egyptians stuck in the Gaza Strip; holders of international passports; holders of residences abroad; patients; and students) were able to travel to Egypt and 882 others were able to travel back to the Gaza Strip
31 August 2008	1,639 people were able to travel to Egypt and 182 others were able to travel back to the Gaza Strip. Additionally, the Egyptian authorities did not allow 890 people to travel out of the Gaza Strip as they do not meet the determined conditions of travel.

Regarding movement at Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, the amounts of permitted fuel have been decreased, which could cause another major fuel crisis across Gaza. During the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuels:

Date	Benzene	Diesel	Cooking Gas	Energy Fuel
28 August 2008	Nil	208,430 liters	332.380 tons	1,131,230 liters
29 August 2008	119,000 liters	772,170 liters	242.370 tons	289,440 liters
31 August 2008	120,308 liters	861,240 liters	375.910 tons	614,300 liters
1 September 2008	Nil	219,000 liters	240 tons	518,000 liters
2 September 2008	Nil	124,000 liters	180 tons	529,000 liters

IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007. During the reporting period, movement at Erez crossing was as shown below:

Date	Patients	Companions	Traders	Journalists	International workers	Travelers abroad
28 August	12	12	14	3	49	4
29 August	5	4	1	21	24	2
30 August	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
31 August	15	10	13	5	13	5
1 September	16	14	13	Nil	17	2
2 September	16	16	15	5	7	Nil

The closure of these border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their rights to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen are subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor and harass them. The Oslo Interim Agreement permits Palestinian fishermen to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the Gazan coastline.

During the reporting period, IOF naval troops wounded 2 Palestinian fishermen and arrested 9 others (see above).

As previously noted, IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· Jerusalem: On the eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside, to and from the city. IOF reinforced their presence at military checkpoints inside and around the city. An IOF spokesman declared on the first day of the Holy Month of Ramadan that only male Palestinian aged over 45 and females over 30 would be allowed to pray in al-Aqsa Mosque. This measure constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of worship.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 28 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 30 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 1 September, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus, and at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 28 August, IOF erected a checkpoint to the east of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. In the meantime, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, prevented Palestinian aged below 35 from passing through the two checkpoints. On Saturday, 30 August, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and a second checkpoint Beit Leed intersection, east of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 31 August, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 1 September, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 2 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at Deir al-Ghossoun intersection, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On the eve of the Holy Month of Ramadan, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. For this purposes, they erected more checkpoints the main intersections inside and around the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.

· Tubas: At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 30 August, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint near al-Far’a Valley, south of Tubas, arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

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 civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah. As a result, 17 demonstrators were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· On Thursday noon, 28 August, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 11 demonstrators, including 7 children, were wounded:

1. Rezeq Khalil Dabbous, 38, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

2. Ra’fat Mohammed Sorour, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

3. Mo’men ‘Abdul Rahman Shihada, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

4. ‘Abdul Qader Muatafa al-Khawaja, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

5. Hanifa ‘Abdu al-Habazi, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

7. Yassin Qassem Sorour, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

8. Mohammed Salah al-Khawaja, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the neck;

9. ‘Abdullah Jamal Nafe’, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

10. Hamza Mustafa Khawaja, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

· At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 28 August 2008, IOF troops patrolling in the vicinity of the Annexation Wall to the west of Ethna village , northwest if Hebron, arrested 5 Palestinian civilians in the area.

· Following the Friday Prayer on Friday noon, 29 August, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 demonstrators, including 2 children, were wounded:

1. ‘Odai Sa’di ‘Abboud, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;

3. Sa’id Ibrahim ‘Amira, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 29 August, 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. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sprayed waste water treated with chemicals at the demonstrators, which stuck to their clothes for several hours. Mohammed Jasser Daraghma, 23, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

· On Friday afternoon, 29 August, following a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, IOF troops raided and searched a number of houses in the village and arrested ‘Ali Mousa Zwahra, 19; Khaled Mahmoud Braijiya, 23; and 8 international and Israeli human rights defenders.

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

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

· At approximately 22:30 on Friday, 29 August 2008, Israeli settlers from Kiryat Arba settlement, and other settlers who had seized a house belonging to the al-Rajabi family in the southeast of Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and property in the area using stones and empty bottles. IOF troops were present in the area but did not intervene to stop the attacks.

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).

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 36/2008 28 Aug. - 03 Sep. 2008

Israeli soldiers arresting a Palestinian boy in the old town of Hebron