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

• 9 Palestinians were killed by IOF.

• 4 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF in Bethlehem.

• 3 of the victims bled to death.

• A Palestinian died from a previous wound.

• 17 Palestinians, including 7 children and a woman, were wounded by IOF.   

• IOF conducted 47 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 78 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, in the West Bank.

• IOF razed at least 24 donums[1] of agricultural land and demolished a house in the Gaza Strip.  

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

• The number of Palestinian patients who have died due to the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since June 2007 has mounted to 30.

• One Palestinian civilian was arrested by IOF at a checkpoint in the West Bank.

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

• The construction of 1,150 housing units in East Jerusalem was approved.

• 10 houses were demolished by IOF.

• Israeli settlers attacked the car of a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law seriously escalated in the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, during the reporting period (6 – 12 March 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 9 Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and a civilian died from a previous wound. IOF also wounded 17 Palestinians.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 4 activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in 2 separate attacks in the south and north on 6 March 2008. Three of the victims bled to death as ambulances were not able to attend them due to the presence of IOF. On 10 March 2008, a Palestinian civilian died from a wound he had sustained on 1 March 2008, when IOF aircrafts bombarded a house in Gaza City. Additionally, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip during the reporting period.

In the West Bank, IOF killed 5 Palestinians on 12 March 2008. They first killed an activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Saida village, north of Tulkarm. An IOF undercover unit then extra-judicially executed 4 activists of the Palestinian resistance in Bethlehem. During the reporting period, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman, were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the West Bank. 

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 78 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 642. IOF also closed al-Majd Radio in Jenin after confiscating its equipment.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. 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 nearly 1.5 million 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. 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. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fuel supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip.  IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. 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 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. 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.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF imposed a total closure on the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from 7 to 10 March 2008. IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested one Palestinian civilian.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 9 March 2008, the Israeli government approved the construction of 1,150 new housing units for Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem. During the reporting period, IOF demolished 10 houses in the West Bank rendering 64 Palestinians homeless. Israeli settlers also attacked the car of a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council when she was traveling from Tulkarm to Ramallah. She was injured and her car was damaged.   

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (6 – 12 March 2008)

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

Thursday, 6 March 2008

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      Isma’il Mohammed Marshoud, 32;

2.      ‘Ali ‘Abdul Rahman al-Srouji, 17; and

3.      Yahia Waleed Maraheel, 20.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khaled Hussein Jaradat, 47, a political leader of Islamic Jihad.

·      At approximately 06:00, IOF gunboats positioned opposite to Rafah coast in the southern Gaza Strip fired 7 small rockets at the beach. The rockets fell near a fishing boat belonging to Ziad and Yousef Miqdad. The boat was heavily damaged. The IOF gunboats fired the rockets while a number of Palestinian fishermen were fishing, so they escaped towards the beach.

·      At approximately 11:20, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at an activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) when he was near a launcher of home-made rockets in Qlaibu area to the east of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. He was instantly killed as his body was dismembered. The victim was identified as Nader ‘Aadel Abu Dayer, 21, from Beit Lahia.

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1.      A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to ‘Abdul Hamid Thabet al-Qedra;

2.      A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, figs and almonds belonging to the heirs of Suleiman ‘Ali Abu Sabet; and

3.      A 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to ‘Abed Rabbu ‘Ali Abu Sabet.

At approximately 21:55, IOF tanks positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of al-Qarara village fired 6 shells and opened fire intensely at houses and fields in the village, targeting 3 activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), who were nearly 500 meters away from the border. The three activists were wounded. They bled to death as ambulances were not able to enter the area. Following the withdrawal of IOF from the area, medical crews found the bodies of the three activists. They were identified as:

1.      Fadi Ahmed Suleiman Abu Haddaf, 19;

2.      Sa’ed ‘Ali Salem Abu Haddaf, 18; and

3.      Zakaria Suleiman ‘Atwa al-‘Emawi, 21.

As a result of the IOF shelling, a 120-square-meter house belonging to Nasser ‘Atwa Abu Mediaf was destroyed, and a donkey belonging to Salama ‘Atiya Abu Mediaf was killed.

Friday, 7 March 2008

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

1.      ‘Abdul Rahman ‘’Eissa Abu ‘Asba, 23; and

2.      Murad Mahmoud Nisnas, 24.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Ibrahim Raddad, 28, and arrested him. IOF troops also fired at a major electricity transmitter in the village. As a result, electricity was cut off from the village and neighboring areas.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Nizar ‘Abdul Salam ‘Aaref, 20; and

2.      Nidal ‘Abdul Salam ‘Aaref, 16.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

Saturday, 8 March 2008

·      At approximately 18:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beit Lahia town, fired at Mahmoud ‘Abed Hassanain, 25, from Rafah, when he got close to the border. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg. According to his family, he is mentally disabled.

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF gunboats positioned opposite to Khan Yunis coast opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen. ‘Alaa’ Selmi Braik, 24, from Deir al-Balah, was wounded by 2 gunshots to the left thigh and testicle.

Sunday, 9 March 2008  

·      At approximately 09:00, IOF moved broke into Hawara Secondary School in Hawara village, south of Nablus, claiming that students threw stones at IOF military vehicles.

Monday, 10 March 2008

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian children:

1.      ‘Abdul Rahim Mohammed Daoud, 17; and

2.      Mohammed ‘Omar Sabbah, 16.

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They besieged a number of houses and forced their residents out. They then arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1.      ‘Alaa’ Khalil ‘Attili, 15;

2.      Muntasser Ahmed Makhoul, 16; and

3.      Samer Hussein Abu Khazna, 16.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Mousa ‘Awad, 60.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Sahour. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Yousef al-Shoumali, 47.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Hassan Mahmoud Fararja, 53, member of the board of the Union of Journalists;

2.      Shihab Hassan Mezher, 33; and

3.      Mohammed Fawzi al-Sajdi, 29.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Doha village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      ‘Ouda Khader al-Hraimi, 17; and

2.      ‘Aayed Khalil Houshiya, 36.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 21 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children:

1.      Marwan Mahmoud Hamdi, 23;

2.      Anas Sameer Hamdi, 17;

3.      Mohammed Saleh Hamdan, 17;

4.      Mohammed Saleh Khabbas, 17;

5.      Hassan Saleh Khabbas, 23;

6.      Mo’tassem Saleh Khabbas, 21;

7.      ‘Alaa’ al-Din Hamad al-Sumairi, 21;

8.      Mahmoud Suleiman Fahmawi, 46;

9.      Mohammed Suleiman Fahmawi, 27;

10.  Bahaa’ al-Din Mohammed al-Masri, 26;

11.  ‘Alaa’ Mohammed al-Masri, 34;

12.  Ra’ed Hussein Abu Daoud, 23;

13.  Ayoub Hussein Abu Daoud, 32;

14.  Shihada Shihada Abu al-Reesh, 39;

15.  Shadi Shihada Abu al-Reesh, 18;

16.  Hatem Mohammed al-Damouni, 23;

17.  Bassel al-Badawi, 50;

18.  Ghassan Bassel al-Badawi, 20;

19.  Mo’ayad Swaisa, 22;

20.  Eihab Swaisa, 18; and

21.  Ahmed ‘Ali Abu Zir.

·      Also at approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Ramallah. They stormed the headquarters of the Palestinian civil defense and arrested Zaher Hamdallah ‘Edwan, 34, a fire fighter, from ‘Azzoun village east of Qalqilya. ‘Edawn was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), and his name was included on the list of amnesty issued by IOF.

·      At approximately 16:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, declared that ‘Alaa’ Yasser ‘Atallah, 35, from Gaza City, died from a previous wound. ‘Atallah was seriously wounded on 1 March 2008, when IOF aircrafts attacked his uncle’s nearby house in al-Nafaq Street in the east of Gaza City. The attacks killed 6 civilians and wounded 8 others, including ‘Atallah. He had been receiving medical treatment at Shifa Hospital.

·      At approximately 16:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at agricultural areas in ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian farmer, Yousef Suleiman Abu Hamad, 55, was wounded by a gunshot to the left leg when he was nearly 700 meters away from the border.

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Marda village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ghazi Zaki al-Khuffash, and transformed its roof into a military site.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided al-Salam Press belonging to Suahil al-‘Abdullah in Khillat al-Sawaha area in the southeast of the town, and confiscated some of its contents. They also stormed offices of al-Majd Radio on the 4^th floor of al-Maithalouni Building in the center of the town and confiscated their contents. They then ordered the closure of the radio station, claiming that “it serves illegal activities for Islamic Jihad, so its closure is necessary to protect the security and public order.”

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Firas Mohammed Ya’ish, 22.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Zawata village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hafez ‘Abdul Rahim ‘Olaiwi, 24.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ussama Tayseer Yassin, 23.

·      Also at approximately 03:00, IOG moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khaled Salah Hamayel, 24.

·      At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Qoussin village, west of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians. They arrested 2 civilians:

1.      Mustafa Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu, 19; and

2.      Fadi Khaled al-Salman, 28.

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, who had been released from Israeli jails:

1.      Ramzi ‘Aadel Salah, 23;

2.      ‘Ata Salah ‘Oraiqat, 22; and

3.      Malek Radi Qurai’, 22.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jabal al-Mukabber village, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      ‘Ali Zahaika, 23; and

2.      Murad Zahaika, 26.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mousa Rebhi Massarwa, 18.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Shawqi Shawahna, 26, a training lawyer at Prisoners Center for Studies in Jenin.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Rummana village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed Mustafa ‘Omour, 32; and

2.      ‘Ameed Tawfiq ‘Omour, 19.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Othman ‘Ali Zayed, 23.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bourqin village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ayman ‘Abdullah ‘Ateeq, 24.

·      At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Khader ‘Adnan Mousa, 34; and

2.      Tariq Hussein Qe’dan, 37.

·      Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed ‘Abdul Latif Nawasra, 24.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched many houses looking for allegedly wanted Palestinians. They also stormed and damaged a mosque and a college. In the morning and the evening, dozens of Palestinian children threw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOF troops opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman, were wounded:

1.      Mustafa Subhi Sabri, 4, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

2.      Khawla Ahmed Qe’dan, 33, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right thigh;

3.      Haneen Ashraf Qaraqe’, 7, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand;

4.      Shirine Hakam Qaraqe’, 8, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;

5.      Salah Is’haq Abu Riash, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

6.      Majdi Bassem Nazzal, 24, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

7.      Mohammed Jawad Hamed, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      ‘Ali Daoud Hamamra, 23; and

2.      ‘Omar Daoud Hamamra, 17.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tarama village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Khalil Ibrahim Awlad Mohammed, 38; and

2.      Mohammed Ibrahim Awlad Mohammed, 37.

·      At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Waleed Ahmed Zakarna, 25.

·      At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They besieged a house belonging to Yousef ‘Abdullah Hamad. They ordered those who were inside the house through megaphones to get out, and they did excluding Saleh ‘Omar Karkouir, 26, from ‘Attil village north of Tulkarm. IOF troops opened fire at the house and ordered Karkour to get out, but he refused. He mounted up to the roof and exchanged fire with IOF troops. He was wounded. When the fire ceased, an IOF bulldozers demolished the house. Karkour fell from the roof onto the ground. Immediately, IOF troops shot him dead from a close range. The victim was the leader of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Tulkarm. He was shot to the head and the neck.

·      At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into Zaher al-Harabeesh area in the south of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided a number of houses. Dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children wounding 2 of them:

1.      Khaled Mohammed ‘Awadh, 15, wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh; and

2.      Baker Isma’il Za’aqiq, 16, wounded by a gunshot to the left foot.

2.      Extra-Judicial Execution

During the reporting period, IOF extra-judicially executed 4 activists of the Palestinian resistance in Bethlehem.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 18:15 on Wednesday, 12 March 2008, 4 Palestinians were traveling in a car in Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser Street in the center of Bethlehem. Another civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate intercepted them. Members of an IOF undercover unit were traveling in the car. Members of the unit jumped out of the car and opened fire at the four Palestinians from a very close range. The four Palestinians were instantly killed by dozens of gunshots to their heads and chests. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the town and opened fire to secure the withdrawal of the undercover unit.

The four victims were identified as:

1.      Mohammed Shihada ‘Abed al-Ta’mari, 45, a prominent activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), whose house was demolished by IOF last week;

2.      Ahmed Khalil Salem al-Balboul, 48, the leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) in Bethlehem;

3.      ‘Emad Hassan Mahmoud al-Kamel “al-‘Asakra”, 35, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces; and

4.      ‘Eissa Marzouq Zawahra, 36, an activist of Islamic Jihad and an elected member of the municipal council of Bethlehem.

3.      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

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. 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 nearly 1.5 million 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. 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. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fuel supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip.  IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. 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. 

IOF has also maintained the effective closure of the commercial crossings of al-Mentar (Karni), Sofa, and Nahal Ouz. IOF have sporadically opened these crossings in order to facilitate the passage of some humanitarian aids into Gaza.

Concerning fuel supplies, the following table shows amounts of fuels entered into the Gaza Strip during the reporting period:

During the reporting period, the Egyptian authorities partially reopened Rafah International Crossing Point and allowed approximately 150 Palestinian patients in critical conditions to travel to Egyptian hospitals.

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.