PCHR Weekly Report

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Closure on the Gaza Strip

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (01 – 07 October 2009):

Shooting: During the reporting period, a Palestinian child and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded by IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank respectively.

In the Gaza Strip, on 04 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a Palestinian child wounding his seriously with a bullet to the neck.

In the West Bank, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank. As a result, an Israeli human rights defender was wounded.

IOF continued air strikes against civilian targets in the Gaza Strip. On 03 October 2009, they bombarded a marble factory and an iron warehouse in the east of Gaza City, destroying them.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 23 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 46 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted one incursion into the east of Gaza City, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land. They also arrested 5 Palestinian fishers and detained them for several hours.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened closure 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 main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter the Gaza Strip. They have prevented representatives of several international humanitarian organizations from entering the Gaza Strip.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights for more than two years.

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 630 roadblocks, and 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 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by IOF (47 out of 72 roads).

· There are around 500 kilometers 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.

Establishing a Jewish Majority in occupied east Jerusalem: IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing men aged below 50 from entering the Mosque. They have closed the gates of the al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented Palestinian civilians from entering it to pray. On 04 October 2009, hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered near al-Buraq Wall and attempted to break into the yards of the Mosque, but Palestinian civilians were able to stop them. IOF also attacked and violently beat those civilians. Dozens of civilians sustained bruises. IOF also arrested 10 civilians, including Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib and Mr. Hatem 'Abdul Qader. IOF also used force to disperse a gathering of Palestinian civilians in Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood in Jerusalem using tear gas canisters. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation and IOF arrested at least 4 boys. At the same time, IOF used force, including tear gas, to disperse a gathering of Palestinian civilians in al-Tour neighborhood. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. On 06 October 2009, IOF stormed a sit-in tent on the roof of a house in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in Jerusalem. The tent was set up two years ago by the Islamic Movement in Israel. The raid followed an Israeli court ruling that ordered the expulsion of Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, Head of the Islamic Movement, 150 meters away from the old town of Jerusalem.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers living have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On Tuesday, 06 October 2009, two Israeli settlers violently beat a Palestinian child in Hebron. They claimed that he threw stones at their vehicle. The child sustained bruises throughout the body. During the reporting period, a number of Israeli settlers from "Nahna'il" settlement to the south of Deir 'Ammar village, west of Ramallah, uprooted at least 50 olive trees belonging to the 'Ouda family. On 07 October 2009, an inauguration ceremony for a new settlement neighborhood was conducted in "Nov Tzion" settlement in Jabal al-Mukabber, southeast of East Jerusalem. The plan includes the construction of 104 new housing units. The second stage includes another 104 units, and upon completion, the neighborhood would include 400 housing units. The settlement was established on Palestinian-owned land.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (01 – 07 October 2009)

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

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Eastern Barta'a village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned 6 Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Ouja village, north of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mahmoud Suleiman Ka'abna, 20.

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into al-Za'farana area in the east of Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians. They released two of those civilians later, but kept Ahmed Jom'a Warasna, 26, in custody.

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Izbat al-Tabeeb villahe, east of Qalqilya. They held and violently beat three civilians for nearly an hour:

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Ein al-Sultan refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Madama village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Masliya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ayman Faraj Abu al-Rub, 25.

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

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Wad al-Shajna village, southwest of Hebronm and imposed a curfew. The curfew remained effective until midday. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 17:00, an IOF drone fired a missile at a space area in the west of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. No casualties or damage were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Abdul Hakim Mohammed Mousa, 42.

· At approximately 01:35, Israeli fighter jets dropped 3 bombs on Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, allegedly to destroy tunnels. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 01:45, an Israeli fighter jet attacked a marble factory and an iron warehouse belonging to Ashraf Sa'id Loulu, 29, in Jaffa Street in Gaza City. The factory and the warehouse were completely destroyed. It is worth noting that IOF destroyed two workshops and two warehouses belonging to Loulu during the Israeli military offensive against the Gaza Strip in January.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

· At approximately 10:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town fired at Ashraf Bassam Abu Suleiman, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounding him with a bullet to the neck. They then took him into Israel. In the evening, they handed him to the Palestinian liaison near Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. He was transferred to the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where medical sources described his wound as serious. According to the Palestinian liaison, the child told him that he was at the beach when he chased and threw stones at a dog, so IOF troops thought he was throwing stones towards them and fired at him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mo'ayad 'Ali al-Sheikh, 25.

· At approximately 15:30, dozens of Palestinian boys demonstrated near Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Imad al-Wadi, 50.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into North 'Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hisham Bassam Shouli, 21.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Hashimiya village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. They leveled areas of land, which they had razed during the offensive against the Gaza Strip in January. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians, including a child:

IOF have continued to impose a tightened closure 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 illegal IOF closure of the Gaza Strip, 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 main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two years.

· IOF have not allowed fuel supplies into the Gaza Strip, excluding limited amounts of cooking gas, since 10 December 2008.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· Living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population have seriously deteriorated; levels of poverty and unemployment have sharply mounted.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more than two years.

Date	Details
30 September 2009	22 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 144 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
01 October 2009	Two Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 135 others and the body of a dead Palestinian were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
02 October 2009	17 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 7 patients and the body of a dead Palestinian were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
03 October 2009	5 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 66 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
04 October 2009	One Palestinian was allowed to travel to Egypt and 13 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
05 October 2009	26 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt.
06 October 2009	One Palestinian was allowed to travel to Egypt and two others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Date	Details
30 September 2009	129 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
01 October 2009	125 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
02 October 2009	Closed.
03 October 2009	Closed.
04 October 2009	102 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
05 October 2009	102 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
06 October 2009	89 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF opened the crossing for one day only and allowed the entry of limited amounts of energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant.

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, workers at international agencies and a few patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. As mentioned above, IOF have allowed a few number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Date	Patients	Companions	Arabs from Israel	International Journalists	Ambassadors	International Workers	Travelers abroad
30 September 2009	20	22	15	8	Nil	35	1
01 October 2009	13	11	3	7	10	63	6
02 October 2009	1	1	Nil	2	Nil	17	2
03 October 2009	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
04 October 2009	20	25	6	4	Nil	13	Nil
05 October 2009	30	23	2	4	8	18	6
06 October 2009	15	14	13	2	Nil	62	Nil

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 30 September 2009, and allowed the entry of 1,440 tons of wheat and 2,840 of fodders. They opened the crossing again on Thursday, 01 October 2009, and allowed the entry of 760 tons of wheat and 2,000 tons of fodder.

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: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Friday, 02 October 2009, IOF prevented thousands of Palestinian civilians from entering Jerusalem to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF troops positioned at Qalandya checkpoint at the northern entrance of Jerusalem prevented thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank from crossing towards Jerusalem. The checkpoint witnessed congestions, which resulted in 35 cases of fainting. Also on Friday, IOF erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of the old town and on roads leading to the al-Aqsa Mosque. At approximately 15:30 on Monday, 05 October 2009, IOF closed Jaba' checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, for several hours.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF troops positioned at an iron gate established on the Nablus-Tulkarm road have continued to conduct prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians, especially in the morning. IOF troops positioned at Shavi Shomron checkpoint on the Nablus-Jenin road, and at Za'tara checkpoint, south of the city, have also continued to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday noon, 22 September 2009, IOF closed Shavi Shomron checkpoint for several hours for no apparent reason.

At approximately 17:00 on Friday, 02 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of

Nablus, stopped Anas Marwan Maraita, 18, from Salfit, when he was on his way to his work in al-Far'a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They asked him for his identity card. He told him that he forgot to bring it. Immediately, they violently beat him. He sustained bruises to the right foot.

· Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian civilians in Jenin. IOF troops positioned at Jaba'-Qalandya checkpoint, southeast of Ramallah, have imposed additional restrictions on movement and conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of temporary checkpoints, and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 03 October 2009, IOF prevented dozens of Palestinian farmers from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, from going to their lands to cultivate grapes.

On Saturday morning, 03 October 2009, Israeli soldiers harassed and violently beat Mos'ab Rashad 'Atiya, 17, from Yatta village south of Hebron, when he was together with another 6 workers on their way to their work in an Israeli workshops. Israeli troops stopped the workers near Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They interrogated the workers and handcuffed and violently beat 'Atiya. He sustained acute bruises to the eye, the left leg and the head, and cuts to the nose and the right eyelid.

· Qalqilya: At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 04 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at an iron gate on the Annexation Wall in 'Azzoun 'Atma village near Qalqilya arrested 5 Palestinian workers from the nearby Bein Amin village:

At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 05 October 209, IOF troops positioned in the same area arrested Mo'ayad 'Ali al-Sheikh, 25.

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 to the construction of the Wall.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 02 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and, following altercations, threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Eleanor, 29, an Israeli human rights defender, was hit by a tear gas canister to the right leg, and Judy, 20, a physically disabled British human rights defender, sustained bruises.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 02 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

IOF has recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. PCHR has devoted this section in the Weekly Report to highlight violations of human rights perpetrated by IOF against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem.

· IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the al-Aqsa Mosque, preventing men aged below 50 from entering the Mosque. At least 200 Palestinian civilians, who have stayed in the Mosque to protect it. IOF have threatened to arrests those civilians once they get out, or to storm the Mosque and arrest them. IOF have imposed a strict siege on the old town of Jerusalem since Sunday morning, 04 October 2009, the third day of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles. They have closed the gates of the al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented Palestinian civilians from entering it for praying. On Sunday, hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered near al-Buraq Wall and attempted to break into the yards of the Mosque, but Palestinian civilians were able to stop them. IOF erected a number of checkpoints at the entrance of the old town and prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians who gathered near al-Asbat Gate from reaching the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF also attacked and violently beat those civilians. Dozens of civilians sustained bruises. IOF also arrested 10 civilians, including Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib and Mr. Hatem 'Abdul Qader. They released the two public figures on bail and ordered them not to enter the old town for 15 days. On Monday, 05 October 2009, IOF released two of the detainees and expelled them from Jerusalem for 90 days: Ibrahim Khalil; and Ayman Abu Isma'il.

· On Sunday noon, 04 October 2009, IOF used force to disperse a gathering of Palestinian civilians in Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood in Jerusalem using tear gas canisters. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation and IOF arrested at least 4 boys.

· At the same time, IOF used force to disperse a gathering of Palestinian civilians in al-Tour neighborhood using tear gas canisters. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· On Monday noon, 05 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance of Shu'fat refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem, arrested Yousef Khalil al-Tartir, 21, claming that he attempted to attack two Israeli soldiers in the area. Soon after, IOF moved into the camp firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters. They arrested 8 boys, including two children aged below 13.

· On Tuesday evening, 06 October 2009, IOF stormed a sit-in tent set up by the Islamic Movement in Israel on the roof of a house in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood in Jerusalem two tears ago. The raid followed an Israeli court ruling that ordered the expulsion of Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, Head of the Islamic Movement, 150 meters away from the old town of Jerusalem. At approximately 20:00, IOF and Israeli police stormed the building and handed to Sheikh Salah an arrest warrant issued against him by the Israeli chief of police. They took him to al-Maskoubiya detention center, where they interrogated him for more than two hours. The Israeli police demanded the Israeli Central Court to extend the detention of Sheikh Salah for 5 days, but the court rejected the demand, but approved the expulsion of Sheikh Salah from Jerusalem for one month. Palestinian civilians protested this raid. IOF and the Israeli police arrested two civilians.

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

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

· At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 06 October 2009, two Israeli settlers intercepted a Palestinian child, Mos'ab Bassem al-Rajabi, while he was on his way back home in the south of Hebron. They claimed that he threw stones at their vehicle. The child sustained bruises throughout the body.

· During the reporting period, a number of Israeli settlers from "Nahna'il" settlement to the south of Deir 'Ammar village, west of Ramallah, uprooted at least 50 olive trees belonging to the 'Ouda family.

· On Wednesday evening, 07 October 2009, an inauguration ceremony for a new settlement neighborhood was conducted in "Nov Tzion" settlement in Jabal al-Mukabber in the southeast of East Jerusalem. The plan includes the construction of 104 new housing units. The second stage includes another 104 units, and upon completion, the neighborhood would include 400 housing units. The settlement was established on Palestinian-owned land.

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 in September 2005, 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 LTD (non-profit) http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 39/2009 01 - 07 Oct. 2009
Israeli soldiers arresting a Palestinian child during clashes at Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem