PCHR Weekly Report

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

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (18 – 24 September 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian child, and wounded 15 civilians, including three children and a woman, in the West Bank. They also wounded a British journalist.

On 20 September, IOF killed a Palestinian child from ‘Assira village, south of Nablus. They claimed that they shot a Palestinian who was about to set fire to a Molotov cocktail and throw it at IOF troops positioned near “Yitzhar” settlement. On the same day, IOF troop violently pushed a Palestinian woman in Abu Dis town near Jerusalem while raiding her house. The woman was killed.

On 22 September, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, opened fire indiscriminately when an unidentified girl sprayed a liquid at an IOF soldier at the checkpoint. As a result, three Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded by shrapnel from IOF gunfire.

On 24 September, IOF wounded and arrested a Palestinian child in al-Duheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem.

During the reporting period, 11 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and a British journalist were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in N’elin and Bal’ein villages, west of Ramallah. IOF also used a liquid with a disgusting smell against the demonstrators.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 26 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a girl. The number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of the year stands at 1,974.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

· There are approximately 10,000 Palestinian prisoners in jails in Israel, including at least 900 prisoners from Gaza who have been denied all visitation rights since 6 June 2007.

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

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

· The Gaza Strip continues to suffer chronic shortages of fuel supplies, especially cooking gas, and electricity is cut off for lengthy periods of time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

· During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints arrested four Palestinian civilians, including a child and a girl.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 18 September, IOF issued 2 military orders confiscating 140 donumms of land in Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley, and 22 donumms in Mnaizel area south of Hebron. During the reporting period, Israeli settlers launched five attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron, Ramallah and Nablus.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (18 – 24 September 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 al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed ‘Ali ‘Obaid, 18.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Jihad Salah Badawi, 34.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Kamel al-‘Allami. According to eyewitnesses, IOF troops damaged the furniture and humiliated the family. They also cut a copy of the Holy Quran and threw it into the bathroom. They then arrested the owner’s son, 19-year-old Ahmed, and confiscated a personal computer.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Eizariya village, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ra’ed Saleh Emtair, 27, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kharas village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader al-Hroub, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. They took position in a place that used to be a military site, but was evacuated almost a year ago. They withdrew from the area in the afternoon and no arrests were reported.

· During the day, IOF arrested Bassel Ussama al-‘Eissa, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp south of Bethlehem. According to the child’s family, IOF handed a notice to the family summoning the child for interrogation, and when he presented himself they arrested him.

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Abu Njaim village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· In the early morning, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child from Southern ‘Assira village, south of Nablus. They claimed that they shot a Palestinian who was about to set fire to a Molotov cocktail and throw it at IOF troops positioned near “Yitzhar” settlement.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:30, six gunshots were heard in the east of Southern ‘Assira village, south of Nablus. At approximately 08:30, Israeli media sources reported that a Palestinian had been killed near “Yitzhar” settlement. The body was moved to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, where the victim was identified as Suhaib Yasser Ahmed Saleh, 14. According to medical sources, he was killed by a gunshot that entered the left shoulder and penetrated the chest, and another one to the right leg. The child was killed nearly 700 meters way from the settlement.

· At approximately 20:50, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem. They besieged a 2-storey house belonging to ‘Abdul Karim Mohammed ‘Ayad. IOF troops broke into the building to search for allegedly wanted Palestinians. Miriam Ahmed ‘Ali ‘Ayad, 56, came out of her flat on the first floor to check what was going on. IOF troops ordered her to turn the lights on. IOF troops searched the flat. When they headed up to the second floor, ‘Ayad asked them to wait because her daughter-in-law and her 3 children were sleeping. When she took one of the children out of the apartment, IOF troops fired 2 gunshots at the stairs. She asked them to wait and not to shoot inside the house. An IOF soldier violently pushed her down the stairs. She fell, and hit her head violently. She lay bleeding and motionless. According to the woman’s daughter, IOF troops prevented her family from giving her medical aid. An IOF doctor later checked her. When he confirmed she was dead, IOF allowed her body to be evacuated to the hospital.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Halhlul town, north of Hebron. They confiscated 2 cars belonging to ‘Azmi al-‘Ajjouri and Ibrahim Hmaidan.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ne’lin village, west of Ramalllah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the village later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Beit Jala town. They raided and searched a number of houses and damaged their content, but no arrests were reported.

· IOF moved into Fa’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They summoned Mahmoud Zindqi, 22, and Waleed ‘Aaref Zindiq, 23, for interrogation and then arrested them.

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Dar Salah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ra’ed Ahmed Salah and summoned him for interrogation.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. They withdrew layer and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· In the afternoon, IOF moved into the northern and western parts of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayatullah ‘Azmi al-‘Assoud, 27, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Salem Mousa Salah, 23.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Be’r al-Mahjar area in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Yusri al-‘Owaiwi, 23.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil Mohammed al-Ja’fari, 48. They detained the family, including seven children. One of al-Ja’afari’s children, 17-year-old Ahmed, attempted to move towards the balcony. Immediately, an IOF soldier fired at him from a range of four meters. He was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh. IOF troops did not allow the family to offer help to the child. They fired sound bombs at the family and Khalil Mohammed al-Ja’fari was injured by shrapnel throughout the body. According to Khalil Mohammed al-Ja’fari, IOF troops interrogated his child and then arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Firas Rebhi al-Hourani, 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader Abu ‘Awad, 40, and arrested him.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Bal’a village, northeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched 2 mosques in the village and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 15:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into ‘Izbat al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilya, traveling in a civilian vehicle with an Israeli registration plate. The car stopped near Ra’ed Darwish, 19, who was near the entrance of the village. Two persons stepped down from the car and pushed Darwish into the car. They then drove the car away from the area.

As previously noted, IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

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

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. In addition, the health sector is struggling with continuing chronic fuel shortages which are also affecting ambulance services. Healthcare facilities have registered a drop in clients due to the transport crisis. In addition, essential services, such as the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection have all been forced to downscale.

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

During the reporting period, IOF closed Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah. Concerning the movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, northeast of Rafah, during the reporting period, it was as shown below:

Date	Details
17 September 2008	closed containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
18 September 2008	68.5 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
19 September 2008	30 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
20 September 2008	Closed
21 September 2008	75 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
22 September 2008	72 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
23 September 2008	78.5 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

On Sunday, 14 September, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing and allowed the entry of 7,500 tons of aggregate.

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

Date	Details
17 September 2008	15 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed into the Gaza Strip
19 August 2008	15 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed into the Gaza Strip
20 August 2008	1,840 people, including pilgrims and patients, traveled to Egypt and 427 others traveled back to the Gaza Strip
21 August 2008	770 people, including students and patients, traveled to Egypt and 130 others traveled back to the Gaza Strip

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, the crossing witnessed active movement during the week.

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

Date	Patients	Companions	Businessmen	Journalists	International workers	Travelers abroad
17 September	6	5	25	2	21	5
18 September	13	12	24	2	47	5
19 September	3	3	7	3	15	2
20 September	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
21 September	23	20	16	2	21	1
22 September	13	13	13	1	27	Nil
23 September	19	18	25	Nil	43	Nil

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

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:. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside, to and from the city. IOF reinforced their presence at military checkpoints inside and around the city. They erected checkpoints at the entrances of the al-Aqsa Mosque. They stopped and verified the identities of Palestinian civilians. Palestinian civilians living in the Gaza Strip have not been allowed to pray at the al-Aqsa Mosque for 8 years.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday evening, 18 September, IOF partially closed the 17 checkpoint at the northern entrance of Nablus. On Saturday evening, 19 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday morning, 21 September, IOF erected a checkpoint on Nablus-Ramallah road opposite to Beita village, south of Nablus. They stoped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 22 September, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus. They fired into the air and attacked Palestinian civilians with the butts of their guns.

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 22 September, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, opened fire indiscriminately when an unidentified girl sprayed a liquid at an IOF soldier at the checkpoint. As a result, three Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were wounded by shrapnel from gunfire:

1. Khaled ‘Omar Jahjouh, 33, from Ramallah, wounded by shrapnel to the left foot;

2. Mohammed Fat’hi Darawsha, 18, from ‘Awarta village near Nablus, wounded by shrapnel to the back;

On Wednesday evening, 24 September, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Ahmed Khader, 15, from Beita village south of Nablus.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 18 September, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, until 10:00. On Friday, 19 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 20 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village at Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 21 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm, and banned movement to and from the village. On Monday, 22 September, IOF erected a checkpoint at ‘Allar intersection, north of Tulkarm. They obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 23 September, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On 18, 19 and 20 September, IOF reinforced their presence in Hebron and imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. They prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilians from passing through checkpoints to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque.

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 39/2008 18 - 24 Sep. 2008

Palestinian civilians sitting on their suitcases waiting to travel through Rafah International Crossing Point, which has been closed for a long time