PCHR Weekly Report

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 08/2008 14 - 20 February 2008

The Injured Tamer Abu Sha'ar (11) before his death by IOF fire east of Deir El-Balah on 19 February 2008

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 (14 – 20 February 2008):

Shootings: During the reporting period, IOF killed 6 Palestinians, including a child, in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinians also died from previous injuries in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In addition, IOF injured 13 Palestinians, including one woman and a journalist.

In the Gaza Strip, on 17 February, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, and injured 9 others, including a woman, during an incursion into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. On the same day, a Palestinian resistance activist died from an injury he had sustained on 12 February during armed clashed with IOF troops who had invaded Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. On 19 February, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child during an incursion into the same village, Wadi al-Salqa.

In the West Bank, on 14 February, a Palestinian civilian died from an injury sustained on 7 February during an incursion by IOF into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. On the same day two Palestinian civilians were wounded in ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm, when IOF troops opened fire during an incursion into the village. A Palestinian journalist was also injured when IOF troops used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration protesting the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 23 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and arrested 48 Palestinian civilians. To date the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of the year stands at 432.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian communities. On 17 February, IOF moved into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They killed five Palestinians and arrested 70 others. The detainees were released after interrogation. On 19 February, IOF moved into Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. During this incursion they killed a Palestinian child.

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.

To date, IOF have closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than 18 months continuously. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly their 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 of 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 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 to enter the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have been forced to close. Regarding the movements of civilians, IOF permit an extremely limited number of Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in order to travel to the West Bank. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is therefore the Gaza Strip's sole gateway to the outside world. However, IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, although they do not directly control the Crossing. IN addition, they have prevented European observers working at Rafah International Crossing Point from reaching the Crossing in order to monitor it.

The closure of these border crossings deprives the entire Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their human rights to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive harassment by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor and intimidate the fishermen. The Interim Arrangements singed in 1994/95 permit Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore. However, IOF continue to violate the Interim Arrangements and prevent Gaza fishermen from working.

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 systematically 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 in order to prevent them from praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently assault 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, further limiting the freedom of movement of civilians.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (14 – 20 February 2008)

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

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Be’r al-Mahjar neighborhood in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the Zghayer clan. They confiscated documents, books and computer accessories and arrested 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 brothers:

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha’er Tawfiq Khandaqji, 20. They violently assaulted Sameh ‘Abboud Yahia, 21, before arresting him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sabastia village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Khillat al-Maya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bader Ahmed Zain, 60, and arrested him.

· During the morning of February 14, IOF ended a military operation in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, which had started the previous morning (Wednesday, 13 February). During this extensive operation, IOF damaged the infrastructure and doors of a number of houses and shops. They also demolished a 100-square-meter booth belonging to Saber Zamel Abu Maria, and razed a 350-square-meter area of land belonging to ‘Othman ‘Amayra. Before their withdrawal from the village, IOF arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 11:00, medical sources at Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin declared that Tayseer Mohammed Nazzal, 58, from Qabatya village southeast of Jenin, had died from a serious injury. According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. Tayseer Nazzal was injured by 3 gunshots to the feet whilst on his way to the mosque for the Dawn Prayer. IOF prevented medical crews from reaching him for almost 35 minutes. He was transferred to the Suleiman hospital, where he died of his injury.

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into al-Salam suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a coffee shop and checked all customers. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and property. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops opened fire wounding 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ Nassim al-‘Anati, 23, and arrested him.

· At approximately 00:05, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, launched a surface-to-surface missile at ‘Izbat Bein Hanoun area in the northern Gaza Strip. The missile hit the rooftop of a 400-square-meter house belonging to Hassan Hussein Kalloub, in which 18 people live. The roof, the kitchen and the bathroom were all destroyed, although no casualties were reported. In addition, nine neighboring houses were damaged.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ ‘Abdul Mo’ti Qadriya, 17, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. They patrolled the streets. They withdrew later, and no house raids nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Burqa village, east of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nizar ‘Abdullah, 30, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved almost 2,000 meters into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. A number of Palestinian resistance activists exchanged fire with IOF troops. At approximately 02:00, IOF troops fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of Palestinian police officers guarding Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. A police officer, Ibrahim Salman Sabbah, 28, was killed instantly, and three others were wounded. At approximately 10:30, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of Palestinian resistance activists who were near an UNRWA clinic in the same village. Two activists were killed: ‘Abdul Salam Mohammed Abu Sousain, 33; and Nasser ‘Ali Abu Shabab, 23. Between 10:30 and 15:00, IOF troops fired live ammunition at a number of Palestinian civilians in the villlage. As a result, ‘Abdul Karim Mohammed al-Ghalban, 24, was killed by a gunshot to the chest when he was on his way to his agricultural land in the local area. In addition, ‘Awni Mohammed Abu Taha, 40, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head whilst was near his house, and died from his wound the following morning. Nine Palestinians, including a woman, were also injured during the incursion.

2. Ibrahim Subhi Zo’rob, 22, a police officer, sustained serious shrapnel wounds.

8. ‘Omar ‘Abdul Rahman al-Debari, 21, seriously wounded by a gunshot to the head; and

· At approximately 01:00, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that ‘Alaa’ Adnan Abu Haddaf, 21, from al-Qarara village, had died from a previous injury. According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, 12 February, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 800 meters into Abu Sha’ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided and searched a number of houses and forced Palestinian civilians outside. Approximately an hour later, IOF military vehicles moved into the area to support the infantry unit. They opened fire indiscriminately. A number of Palestinian resistance activists exchanged fire with the IOF troops. During the exchange of fire, two activists, including Abu Haddaf, were wounded.

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, north of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis village, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses. They violently assaulted Salha Bani ‘Ouda, 50, when she attempted to prevent them from arresting her son. She sustained bruises and cuts. IOF troops also arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Abdul Hakim Wassef al-Qadah, 40.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Essam Khaled Melhem, 22.

· At approximately 13:00, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 400 meters into Abu Sha’ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. A number of Palestinian resistance activists exchanged fire with IOF troops. An activist was seriously injured. At approximately 16:00, IOF troops opened fire at houses in the area. As a result, Tamer Mohammed Abu Sha’ar, aged 11, was killed by a gunshot to the head while he and his family attempted to escape from their house due to the intense IOF gunfire. IOF troops withdrew from the area at approximately 19:00 having damaged a number of houses.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Sheikh neighborhood in the center of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Emad Rateb al-Zghayer, 22.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Na’im Sa’id Abu Hasna, 25.

· At approximately 11:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tulkarm, traveling in a vehicle with a civilian registration plate. IOF troops raided a coffee shop belonging to Ziad Abu Zant in the north of the town. They searched the coffee shop and verified the ID’s of the customers. They then arrested 13 Palestinian civilians, including ‘Omar Mahmoud al-Badawi, 20, who was apparently the target of the raid. Later, IOF released most detainees, including 14-year-old Mohammed Ziad Abu Zant, who sustained bruises as a result of having been beaten.

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 close all border crossing to the Gaza Strip for more than 18 months continuously. IOF has maintained the effective closure of the commercial crossings of al-Mentar (Karni), Sofa, and Nahal Oz. IOF have sporadically opened these crossings in order to facilitate the passage of some humanitarian aid into Gaza. However these opening have not been regular, and have not allowed sufficient good into Gaza in order to meet the basic needs of the civilian population.

IOF have further banned exports from leaving the Gaza Strip. IOF only allowed the exportation of limited amounts of flowers and strawberries. Following the breach of the Palestinian-Egyptian border, IOF completely banned exports, causing Palestinian traders and farmers immense financial losses during the harvest season.

As a reaction to the economic and humanitarian stranglehold practiced by IOF against the Gaza Strip, on 23 January, hundreds of thousands of Gazans crossed the border into Egypt after Palestinian resistance activists blew up entire sections of the border fence in Rafah. In addition to residents of Gaza crossing into Egypt en masse, hundreds of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who had been stranded in Egypt, due to the enforced closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, also returned home to Gaza. The Egyptian authorities responded positively and with restraint, allowing Palestinian civilians to purchase foods, medicines, and other supplies which are not available in Gaza due to the escalating IOF siege and closure of Gaza. However, opening the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip did not meet all the basic needs of the civilian population of Gaza. Civilians across the Gaza Strip still suffer from severe shortages, or total unavailability, of many essential items, including domestic fuel and industrial fuel for Gaza's single power plant. In addition, hundreds of students, patients and Gazans living abroad remain in effective limbo; many have been waiting for permission to leave the Gaza Strip legally since June 2007. PCHR has learned that approximately 1,500 Gazans have gathered in the Egyptian town of al-Arish, and have asked the Egyptian authorities to allow them to travel via Cairo to third countries, where they can pursue their work, study or medical treatment. They are currently awaiting an official decision from the Egyptian authorities. PCHR reiterates its position that the chaos on the Rafah border during the past week is an inevitable consequence arising from the IOF siege and closure of the entire Gaza Strip. The IOF have deliberately deprived the entire civilian population of the Gaza Strip of their human right to safe movement and unrestricted travel. In addition, the closure has prevented essential goods and medicines reaching the civilian population. PCHR notes that IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip since June 2007. Since then, all border crossings into and out of Gaza have been effectively sealed, including Rafah International Crossing Point.

During the reporting period, IOF reopened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, in order to allow some goods for local traders to enter Gaza, as well as some humanitarian food aid. However, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing for almost one month.

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City, for limited hours on Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 February, in order to allow the entry of 3,400 tons of seeds and animal feed into the Gaza Strip.

Regarding Nahal ‘Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which is designed for the entry of fuels in the Gaza Strip, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuel:

Date	Benzene	Gasoline	Domestic gas	Energy fuel
14 February	25,000 liters	155,000 liters	190 tons	492,000 liters
15 February	Nil	Nil	175 tons	Nil
17 February	25,000 liters	161,000 liters	277.300 tons	473,800 liters
18 February	25,000 liters	160,000 liters	314 tons	418,000 liters
19 February	Nil	175,000 liters	312.620 tons	437,400 liters

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. In addition, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following an attack on the IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF have consistently prevented local fishermen from fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,00 people in and around Gaza's coastal communities are economically dependent on the fishing industry, including 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. As previously noted, fishermen are being subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gun-ships and gunboats to harass and intimidate them.

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

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the city. On the evening of Friday, 15 February, IOF erected a checkpoint at Beit ‘Einoun intersection, east of the town. On Sunday 17 February, at approximately noon, IOF stopped and checked dozens of Palestinian civilians near the Ibrahimi Mosque. IOF have also continued to close the northwestern entrance of Hebron for the fourth consecutive week.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 14 February, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, by preventing civilians aged 16-35 from passing through checkpoints. In the evening of the same day, IOF closed a number of roads with sand barriers and rocks. On the morning of 16 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. They also prevented civilians aged below 35 from passing through those checkpoints. On Sunday morning, 17 February, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On the same day, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close all roads leading to and from the town. They have also continued to prevent Palestinian civilians aged below 35 from passing through checkpoints. On Thursday, 14 February, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from oving to and from the town. At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 15 February, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village and at another one at the southern entrance of Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. On Saturday, 16 February, IOF imposed a total siege on Tulkarm, and denied all access to the town. On Sunday, 17 February, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing it. On Monday, 18 February, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They checked Palestinian civilians and prevented those aged under 35 from passing the checkpoint.

At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 14 February, Fawzia ‘Abdul Fattah al-Darak, 59, from Deir al-Ghossoun, north of Tulkarm, died when IOF prevented an ambulance from transferring her to a hospital in Tulkarm. Her husband, Mohammad al-Darak, informed a PCHR fieldworker that his wife started to experience severe chest pains. They called the emergency department in the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Tulkarm in order to transfer her to a hospital. However, IOF troops stationed on the checkpoint to the south of Deir al-Ghossoun village prevented the ambulance from entering the village. The woman’s family put her in a private taxi and tried to take her to the ambulance. However, IOF troops prevented the vehicle from passing through the checkpoint despite being informed of the woman’s deteriorating condition. The ambulance was waiting on the other side of the checkpoint; but the troops did not allow it to pass. The family took the woman back to a private physician in the village. However, she died of a heart attack.

· Jericho: On Saturday morning, 16 February, IOF troops positioned at the southern entrance of Jericho arrested Sa’id Saleem al-Bournu, 25, from Gaza City, who currently lives in Ramallah.

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 15 February 2008, 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 troops had placed barbwire 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 assaulted them. As a result, ‘Emad Mohammed Bernat, 36, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered tear gas inhalation.

3. 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 Sunday morning, 17 February, IOF placed a barbwire fence on the eastern lands of ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, near Nablus – Qalqilya road. According to local sources, the fence was placed dozens of meters away from the road, which would deprive Palestinian farmers of access to their lands as it would be secured behind the fence. IOF claimed that this measure was taken in order to prevent local Palestinians throwing stones at Israeli vehicles.

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).