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

• 19 Palestinians were killed by IOF and 3 others died from previous injuries.  

• 7 of the victims, including 2 women, were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

• IOF devastated a wedding party in Gaza when they killed the aunt of the bridegroom.

• 71 Palestinians, including 24 children and 3 women, were injured by IOF gunfire.

• IOF conducted 33 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 5 into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 58 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, in the West Bank, and 32 others, including 3 children, in the Gaza Strip.

• IOF destroyed a house in Tulkarm.

• IOF demolished 4 houses and razed areas of agricultural land in Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip.

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

• IOF closed border crossings to the Gaza Strip for 5 days, preventing vital supplies of fuels and food from entering the Gaza Strip.

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

• Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (17 – 23 January 2008):

Shootings: During the reporting period, IOF killed 19 Palestinians, including 3 women, and wounded 72 others, including 24 children and 3 women, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Three Palestinians also died from previous IOF injuries.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 26 Palestinians, and wounded 44 others.

On 17 January, 7 Palestinians, including 2 women, were killed. Four of the victims, including 3 civilian bystanders, were extra-judicially executed by air strikes. An 8^th Palestinian died from a previous injury. On 18 January, IOF launched an air strike against a governmental building in Gaza City. The building was destroyed. A woman in a nearby wedding party was killed by the blast, and 46 civilians, including 19 children and 3 women were injured. On the same day, a Palestinian died from a previous IOF injury. On 19 January, IOF killed 2 Palestinians during an incursion into Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip. On the same day, an IOF air strike killed one Palestinian and wounded another in Gaza City. On 22 January, IOF killed a Palestinian in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. On 23 January, IOF killed a Palestinian farmer in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. On 21 January, a Palestinian died from a previous IOF inflicted injury

In the West Bank, IOF killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 6 others, including a child. A Palestinian civilian also died from a previous wound.

On 18 January, IOF killed a Palestinian and wounded 2 others, including a child, in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. On 20 January, IOF killed a Palestinian during an incursion into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm, and wounded a civilian in al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. On 23 January, a Palestinian civilian from Nablus died from a previous IOF inflicted injury. In addition,

3 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 33 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 58 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children. The number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year stands at 207. IOF troops also destroyed a house in Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian communities. During those incursions, IOF arrested 32 Palestinian civilians, destroyed 4 houses and razed areas of agricultural land.

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.

Gaza Strip

To date, IOF have closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for almost 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. During the reporting period, IOF cut off food and fuel supplies.

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 systematically been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints in and around 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 harass and 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 have also erected checkpoints on main roads and intersections across the West Bank.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities, and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians in Hebron. A journalist and a human rights defender were injured.  

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (17 – 23 January 2008)

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

Thursday, 17 January,

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Murad Mahmoud Zaidan, 22.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They opened fire indiscriminately. They raided al-Masri building and transformed it into a military site. They withdrew from the city a few hours later. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tha’er Mousa Hammad, 23, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Tarqoumia village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sameer ‘Awad al-Fatafta, 23, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the old town of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      Samer Salah al-Din al-Joulani, 23.  

2.      Tha’er Nidal al-‘Owaiwi, 17.

3.      ‘Ammar Nafez Abu Hussein, 18.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

1.      ‘Emad Zuhair Abu Warda, 17.

2.      Ziad Zuhdi Mahfouz, 17.

3.      Mohammed Is’haq Jawabra, 17.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ibrahim ‘Abdul Hamid Abu Maria, 28.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 15:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians, who were in Wadi al-Salqa village, almost 1,000 meters from the border. Subhi Saleem Abu Buhairi, 44, was wounded by 3 gunshots to the neck, left thigh and right foot.

·      At approximately 15:30, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Ziad Khader Abu Taqiya, 25, from Jabaliya refugee camp, died from a wound he had sustained 2 earlier. According to PCHR documentation, on Tuesday evening, 15 January 2008, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in Beit Hanoun town who were preparing to launch home-made rockets at Israel. Four members of the resistance were wounded, including Abu Taqiya who was seriously wounded. He received medical treatment at Shifa Hospital before he died.  

·      At approximately 18:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tulkarm. IOF troops raided a coffee shop in the center of the town. Soon afterwards, IOF military vehicles moved into the town to support the undercover unit. IOF troops arrested 25 Palestinian civilians, but released them a few hours later.

·      At approximately 22:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), who were in the east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Two of them were killed and a third died from his injuries on Friday, 18 January.

1.      Ashraf ‘Abdul Karim al-‘Ashi, 22.  

2.      Mahmoud Ahmed ‘Orabi al-Banna, 20.  

3.      Shadi Fayez Eqtaifan, 21.

Additionally, another 3 members were wounded:

1.      Hammad Jaber Habeeb, 22, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

2.      Jawdat al-Shaghnoubi, 30, sustained shrapnel injuries.

3.      Mahmoud al-Qerem, 25, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

Friday, 18 January

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They erected a number of checkpoints and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. They withdrew from the town later. No arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They erected a checkpoint near the Palestinian security compound (Muqata’a). They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They withdrew from the town later. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Aqqaba village, northeast of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets, but withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tubas. They patrolled in the streets, but withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1.      Mohammed Jamal Rabah, 15.

2.      Samer ‘Abdul Salam Zeitawi, 14.

3.      Mohammed Rawhi Braih, 18.

·      Also at approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Ahmed Taha, 28, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Silwad village, east of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ma’ath Ziad Mash’al, 25, and arrested him.

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

1.      Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Saleh, 27.

2.      Muneer ‘Abdul Jaleel Abu Fara, 25.

·      At approximately 04:45, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They besieged a house belonging to ‘Ali Mohammed al-Qar’ani. They opened fire at the house and used a megaphone to order the residents outside. When the residents left, IOF troops interrogated them. A child, 3-year-old Mohammed ‘Ali al-Qar’ani, was wounded by shrapnel from gunfire. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF. During the exchange of fire, one activist, Ahmed Mohammed Snaqa, 21, was killed by 7 gunshots to the head, the chest and the left leg. Another, Mahmoud Mohammed Shattawi, 20, was wounded by a gunshot to the leg. Before their withdrawal from the camp, IOF troops arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      ‘Ali Mohammed Qar’ani, 42.  

2.      Thabet ‘Ali Qar’ani, 19.

3.      Mohammed Jameel al-Hwaiti, 21.

4.      Yousef ‘Atiya Hannoun, 22.

·      At approximately 14:00, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of land and detonated a bomb they discovered in the area. They also opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, 9-year-old Ibrahim Rajaa’ al-Najjar, was wounded by a gunshot to the right shoulder.

·      At approximately 15:40, an IOF fighter jet fired a bomb at a 5-story building near the Palestinian Governmental Complex in the densely populated Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. The bomb hit and completely destroyed the building. Flying debris and shrapnel from the bombing killed 52-year-old Haniya Hussein ‘Abdul Jawwad, who was on her way to her nephew’s wedding celebration, some 120 meters from the targeted building. In addition, 46 civilians, including 19 children and 3 women, were injured by the blast. A large number of houses and vehicles in the area also sustained damage. The targeted building was empty, and is no longer used by the Government in Gaza as it had previously been bombed twice.  

·      Also at 15:40, an IOF fighter jet fired a bomb at a Palestinian police station to the west of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. The station was destroyed and a police vehicle was damaged, but no casualties were reported.

Saturday, 19 January,  

·      At approximately 00:30, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 2,000 meters into ‘Izbat ‘Abed Rabbu area in the east of Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip. They raided 2 houses belonging to ‘Abdul Latif Mohammed al-Na’ouq and Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Abdullah. Less than an hour later, IOF military vehicles moved into the area supported by an aircraft. At approximately 01:15, the IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance. 27-year-old Eihab ‘Ali al-Banna, was killed. Two civilian bystanders, including a child, sustained shrapnel injuries.

1.      Yousef Suleiman al-Sama’na, 12,

2.      Mahmoud ‘Abdullah al-Sama’na, 48.  

Two hours later, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at another group of activists of the Palestinian resistance. 28 year old ‘Ali Jom’a ‘Elwan was killed. During this incursion, IOF arrested 8 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mohammed ‘Abdul Latif al-Na’ouq, 24.  

2.      Muhannad ‘Abdul Latif al-Na’ouq, 20.

3.      Muntasser ‘Abdul Latif al-Na’ouq, 18.

4.      Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Abdullah, 36.

5.      Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Abdullah, 32.

6.      Bassel Mohammed Abu Zaina, 24.

7.      Mohammed Mousa Sa’ad, 31.

8.      Ma’ath Jamal al-Mutawaq, 19.

In addition, IOF demolished al-Na’ouq’s house, damaged 3 other houses and razed 3.5 donums of agricultural land planed with wheat and olive trees. They also destroyed the fence of a local factory.  

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

1.      Rabah ‘Abdul Fattah Rabah, 20.

2.      ‘Eid Mahmoud Bawaqna, 20.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Abu al-Sibaa’ al-Darawish, 30, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging ‘Omar Ibrahim Bani Fadel, but no arrests were reported.

Sunday, 20 January

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the city later. No casualties or arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Bab al-Zawia area in the center of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      ‘Abdul Mahdi Rashad al-Zaru, 13.

2.      Mohammed Ibrahim al-Sa’id, 18.

·      At approximately 19:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, southeast of Gaza City, fired 3 missiles at a donkey cart driven by Mahmoud Yousef al-Ghandour, 19, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. He was seriously injured. He died from his injury on Tuesday, 22 January.  

Monday, 21 January

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested at least 100 Palestinian civilians, including children and old men. They transferred them to a military site near Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. There, IOF troops interrogated the detainees. The incursion continued until 06:00. At approximately 18:00, IOF released all but eight of the detainees:

1.      Mohammed Muneer al-Soufi, 20.

2.      Fawzi Mousa al-Soufi, 25.

3.      Mahmoud Mousa al-Soufi, 25.  

4.      Thabet Jom’a al-Soufi, 21.

5.      Ya’qoub ‘Eid Abu Snaima, 20.

6.      Hani Salem Abu Hammad, 24.

7.      Zuhair Nayef Abu Snaima, 21.

8.      Nidal Kamel Abu Snaima, 21.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Taha Abu ‘Olaya, 40, Secretary of Fatah movement in the camp, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Shadi Abu Samra, 20, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They besieged a house belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed al-Basha and forced the residents out. They then opened fire at the house. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance, who were besieged inside the house, clashed with IOF. An activist, Murad Ibrahim Ahmed al-Nasha, 22, was killed. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF demolished the houses and arrested 7 Palestinians:

1.      Fadi Ma’moun Samara, 29.

2.      ‘Ammar Jamal ‘Anbas, 21.

3.      Mas’oud Younis Hattab, 19.

4.      Mujahed ‘Abdul Fattah Qassem, 21.

5.      Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Assaf, 19.

6.      Mahmoud Mustafa al-Basha, 22.

7.      Lu’ai Mohammed Abu Haniya, 20. 

·      At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house and a farm belonging to Mazen Mohammed Eghnaimat. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 08:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported that Imam Hasan Ahmed, 24, from Jabaliya, died from an injury he had sustained a few days earlier. According to PCHR documentation, on Tuesday evening, 15 January, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were preparing to launch home-made rockets at Israeli towns. Four activists, including Ahmed, were wounded.

·      At approximately 17:30, dozens of Palestinian civilian organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Shyoukh village, northeast of Hebron, in protest at the Israeli siege and aggression against the Gaza Strip. IOF troops fired at the demonstrators. Lu’ai Mohammed Warasna, 19, was wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen. IOF troops arrested him and then evacuated him to an Israeli hospital.

Tuesday, 22 January

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 14 Palestinians:

1.      Mohammed ‘Askari, 25, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence,

2.      Mahmoud Salah Refa’ei, 20.

3.      Mohammed Khaled Bashkar, 22, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence;

4.      Eyad ‘Abdul Karim Taqatiq, 29.

5.      Mahmoud Farouq ‘Ajjouri, 32.

6.      Nihad Farouq ‘Ajjouri, 28.

7.      Mohammed Njoud al-Sallaj, 22.

8.      Ahmed Njoud al-Sallaj, 19.

9.      Lu’ai Jamal ‘Araisha, 24.

10.  Ahmed Mohammed Derbas, 28.

11.  Hussein Yousef Abu Zaid, 26.

12.  Mohammed Hussein Marshoud, 24.

13.  Mo’taz Hussein Marshoud, 19.

14.  Hassan ‘Abbas Dwaikat, 22.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Aassem Taleb Hamadna, 24, a policeman.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF. During the exchange of fire, IOF killed an activist, 25-year-old Yahia Suleiman al-Bayouk, with a gunshot to the head.

Wednesday, 23 January

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved nearly 2,000 meters into al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They opened fire indiscriminately and raided and searched a number of houses. Ahmed ‘Abdullah al-Sbaihi, 27, was wounded by a gunshot to the right hand and shrapnel to the face. Before their withdrawal from the village at approximately 05:00, IOF arrested 16 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

·      In the morning, medical sources at an Israeli hospital declared that Ahmed Abu Hantash, 33, from Nablus, died from an injury he had sustained a few weeks earlier. According to PCHR documentation, on Thursday morning, 3 January, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring refugee camps. This offensive lasted for 3 days, during which 38 Palestinian civilians, including Abu Hantash, were wounded. Abu Hantsah was seriously wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets to the head, on Friday morning, 4 January, when he was on his way to the mosque for the Dawn Prayer. He was transferred to an Israeli hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed.

·      Also in the morning, IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Majdi Mohammed Abu Fara, who is in Israeli detention. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 10:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia town, opened fire at a Palestinian farmer, 50-year-old Isma’il Ahmed al-‘Attar, when he was on his land in al-Sayafa area in the northwest of Beit Lahia, nearly 800 meters away from the border. He was killed by a gunshot to the pelvis. According to eyewitnesses, the area was extremely quiet when IOF troops shot the farmer.

·      At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into the center of Hebron. They besieged al-Ihsan Clinic in al-Madbasa area. They interrogated the medical staff and patients, and then searched the clinic. IOF troops arrested 2 staff members of the clinic:

1.      Mousa ‘Eissa ‘Aabda, 44.

2.      Sameh Mahmoud Rezeq, 35.

2.      Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF committed 4 extra-judicial executions in the Gaza Strip, which killed 7 Palestinians, including 3 civilian bystanders, and injured 3 others, including 2 civilian bystanders.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

·      At approximately 13.20 on Thursday, 17 January, an IOF plane fired two missiles at a civilian vehicle near Sheikh Zayed intersection in Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip. The vehicle was directly hit, and its two occupants killed immediately. They were identified as 30-year-old Ra’ad Shihda Abu Fuol, a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad), and his 35-year-old female civilian neighbor, Fatheya Yusef al-Hassoumi.

·      At approximately 19:25 on the same day, IOF fired a missile at the Sheikh Zayed intersection in Beit Lahia town. A vehicle was traveling in the targeted area, as well as a donkey cart with several passengers. The missile exploded 3 meters away from the cart, killing 52-year-old Miriam Mohammad Ahmad al-Rahel, and her 22-year-old son, Mohammad Saleh al-Rahel. Her 17-year-old son, Mansour, was seriously injured. Another five civilian bystanders were also wounded, including two children:

1.      Duha Hasan al-Dahnoun, 2, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

2.      Aaya Hasan al-Dahnoun, 3, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

3.      Hasan Ibrahim al-Dahnoun, 33, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

4.      Hatem Nafez Wirsh Agha, 24, sustained shrapnel injuries.

5.      Saqer ‘Aadel Subeh, 20, sustained shrapnel injuries.  

The Israeli media reported that IOF sources claimed the bombing had targeted a group of resistance activists traveling in a vehicle in the targeted area.

·      At approximately 7:30 on Friday, 18 January, an IOF plane fired a missile at a group of resistance activists, east of Jabaliya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Two of the activists, 18-year-old Mahmoud Ramadan al-Borsh, and 21-year-old Isma’il Mohammad Radwan were killed. Three civilian bystanders were also wounded.

·      At approximately 23:30 on Sunday, 20 November 2008, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at 2 members of the al-Mujahedeen Brigade (an armed wing of Fatah movement) who were walking near the bridge in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the north of Gaza City. An activist, Ibrahim Salah al-Ghouti, 25, from Rafah, was killed immediately. The other activist and 2 civilian bystanders were injured.

1.      As’ad ‘Atiya Abu Shari’a, 37, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, seriously injured;

2.      ‘Alaa’ Ahmed Abu Naji, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the feet.

3.      ‘Aamer Mazen Abu Naji, 20, wounded by shrapnel to the feet and the hands.

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

As previously noted, IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for almost eighteen months continuously, with dire consequences for the civilian population of Gaza.  

Rafah International Crossing Point Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the only crossing from the Gaza Strip to a country other than Israel. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control the Crossing Point. The IOF have also prevented European Union observers working at the crossing from reaching it. Rafah International Crossing Point has subsequently been closed since 25 June 2006.

·      Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: : IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank.  Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.  Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling outside the Gaza Strip via this crossing. The number of Palestinian patients who died due to the obstruction of their access to medical care outside the Gaza Strip stood at 24 by the end of December 2007.

IOF have also continued to close other border crossings of the Gaza Strip.

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 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gun-ships and gunboats to harass and intimidate them. Under the Oslo Accords, Palestinian fishermen are permitted to fish up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza coastline.  

At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 20 January, the Gaza Strip power plant ran out of fuel and shut down, plunging the Gaza Strip into darkness. The closure of the Gaza power plant, in addition to Israel's continuing tightened siege of the Gaza Strip, will have a catastrophic effect on the 1.5 million residents of Gaza, who are already suffering chronic shortages of fuel, medicine and some basic food stuffs. The Director of Gaza's main Shiffa hospital describes the current situation as "potentially disastrous."

According to the Director of Shiffa Hospital, Dr Hassan Khalaf, patient's lives continued to be at stake, including the lives of 30 premature babies in Shiffa Hospital, who would die immediately if there was a power cut at the hospital.

The Gaza Strip requires 230-250 megawatts of electricity a day to operate at full capacity. This closure of Gaza's only power plant drastically reduced electricity output across the Gaza Strip by 65 megawatts. Civilians across Gaza city and the central Gaza Strip are totally dependent on the power plant.

The West Bank

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

·      Jerusalem: In addition to the restriction previously noted, on Saturday, 19 January, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking of civilians.

·      Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. On Wednesday, 23 January, IOF erected 2 checkpoints at al-Fahes and Jabal Jouhar intersections in the south of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and assaulted a number of them. On the same day evening, IOF erected 2 checkpoints at al-Salam intersection in the north of Hebron and al-Haras intersection in the west of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.  

·      Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 17 January, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 19 January 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a checkpoint on the road that links Tulkarm – Nablus road with Bazaria village. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 20 January, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 21 January, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

·      Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 17 January, IOF erected a checkpoint to the east of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, a