PCHR Weekly Report

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

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (19 – 25 March2009):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 10 Palestinian civilians, including one child and two journalists, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, on 24 March 2009, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, wounded a Palestinian civilian, claiming that he had attacked soldiers with an iron bar.

During the reporting period, eight Palestinian civilians, including two journalists, were wounded when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall.

In the Gaza Strip, on 22 March 2009, a Palestinian fisherman was wounded when IOF naval troops opened fire at a number of fishermen in near Gaza Harbor.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 36 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one into the Gaza Strip. IOF arrested 26 Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 19 March 2009, IOF arrested four members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) affiliated to Hamas and a number of the movement's political leaders in the West Bank. These arrests are forms of reprisal and collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, which are prohibited under Article 33 of the 1949 Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. PCHR calls upon the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Convention to ensure Israel’s compliance with the Convention. As an occupying power, Israel has a responsibility to uphold the Convention, which prohibits acts of reprisals against protected persons and their property.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion to the east of Khan Yunis, during which they leveled areas of Palestinian land.

During the reporting period, IOF naval troops arrested nine Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip.

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.

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

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

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the face of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits. In the past two months, five patients, including two children, died due to being denied access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip.

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

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

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been deprived for family visitation for more than 17 months.

· At least 10% of the population of the Gaza Strip is living without electricity supplies.

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

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

· There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

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

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

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

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

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

· During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank arrested one Palestinian civilian.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian land in Wadi al-Rasha and Ras Teera villages, south of Qalqilya, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall in the area in the context of the new route of the Wall decided by the Israeli High Court. According to local sources, IOF have uprooted at least 400 olive trees. On 22 March, the Israeli High Court affirmed a decision taken by the Israeli Central Court confiscating 30 donumms of Palestinian land in Sho'fat refugee camp, northeast of Jerusalem, for the purpose of expanding a military checkpoint established near the entrance of the camp and transforming it into a crossing. According to local sources, the expansion of the checkpoint would cut off at least 45,000 Palestinians from Jerusalem, and result in the destruction of at least 30 shops and stores. The expansion of the checkpoint is part of plans of the ongoing construction of the Wall in the area.

On 25 March, IOF informed Palestinian civilians living in the southern part of 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya, that they must obtain permits from the IOF Civil Administration to be able to move normally in the village. IOF had already established a fence annexing the southern part of the village. In addition, they informed local residents that the sole gate that links the villages of Far'oun, al-Ras, Kherbat Jebara and Kufor Sour with their agricultural land, which has been isolated by the Wall to the south of Tulkarm, will be closed from 1 April 2009.

Creating a Demographic Jewish majority in east Jerusalem: IOF have escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. During the reporting period, IOF decided to prevent any Palestinian activities related to the declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Arab culture for 2009. The Israel Internal Security Minister, Avi Dichter, issued an order banning any such activities in the city. To implement this decision, IOF troops were deployed throughout the city. They also stormed some institutions and schools and arrested some Palestinian civilians to suppress any attempt to carry out these cultural activities.

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 20 March, a number of Israeli settlers from "Bakir Darom" settlement, northwest of Salfit, attacked a number of Palestinian farmers from Deir Estia village and prevented them from reaching their agricultural land in the area.

Also during the reporting period, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak approved the establishment of a new settlement named "Sensina" to the south of Hebron. According to Israeli plans, the new settlement will include 440 housing unit, in which at least 2,500 Israeli settlers will live. This decision is legalizing 50 housing units that had been built in the area without licenses, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.

During the reporting period, the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak abstained from ordering the demolition of nine Israeli settlement homes that were built on Palestinian private land and were annexed to "Oufra" settlement, northeast of Ramallah.

The Israeli daily Haaretz reported on 23 March 2009 that 5 Palestinian civilians from 'Ein Yabroud village filed a petition at the Israeli High Court demanding the Israeli Defense Minister to order the demolition of the illegal structures. In addition, on 23 March, IOF handed notices to the Yatta Services Council, south of Hebron, ordering a halt to the maintenance of eight water wells to the southeast of Hebron, apparently to force Bedouins living in the area to leave.

On Wednesday morning, 25 March, dozens of Israeli settlers, escorted by IOF, broke into Joseph Tomb, east of Nablus, and conducted religious ceremonies.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19 – 25 March 2009)

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 Hebron. They raided and searched houses belonging to Nizar 'Abdul 'Aziz Ramadan, 42, and Dr. 'Azzam No'man Salhab, 53, who are members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas. IOF arrested the two men.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ayman Hussein Darghma, 45, a PLC Member representing the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and arrested him. In addition, IOF arrested Mazen al-Reemawi, 40, director of the office of deputies of the Change and Reform Bloc in Ramallah and al-Bireh.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Za'tara village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khaled Tafesh Thwaib, 45, a PLC Member representing the Change and Reform Bloc affiliated to Hamas, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:

1. Dr. Nasser al-Din al-Sha'er, 48, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Education;

2. Professor 'Essam Rashed al-Ashqar, 55, a professor at an-Najah National University;

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Ta'nak village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Sa'ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

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

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hani Mohammed 'Awad, 35.

· Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into the old town of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Taleb Fu'ad al-Ashqar, 25, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and shops, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and a factory, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Far'oun village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned three Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ektaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jamal Hannoun and a nearby store of oil, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Taybeh village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and a factory, but no arrests were reported.

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

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Rami 'Abdul Hafiz Qaffisha, 26.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hussam Hassan Abu 'Allan, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 18:30, IOF troops positioned in the vicinity of Wad al-Hussain neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron stopped a Palestinian civilian and attempted to force him to take his parked car away from the area, but he refused. Immediately, at least 15 IOF soldiers attacked him and other civilians who attempted to protect him. They also stormed a grocery shop and attacked the owner and customers for no apparent reason. As a result of these attacks, 6 Palestinian civilians were injured:

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved nearly 150 meters into al-Farrahin area in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land, and then pulled back towards the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:

· At approximately 06:30, IOF gunboats fired a shell at and open area in the southwest of Khan Yunis. Neither casualties nor damage were reported.

· At approximately 10:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 14:30, IOF naval troops opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were on board of a fishing boat sailing approximately two miles away from Gaza Harbor. One of the children, 16-year-old Mahmoud Mahmoud Hijazi, 16, was wounded by a gunshot to the foot, and one of his fingers was amputated.

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Sanour village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Beer al-Basha village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

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

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Mahmoud Qubaita, 18, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They searched agricultural land in Wad 'Aziz area for no apparent reason. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Alla village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At night, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, fired at and arrested Mahmoud Ibrahim 'Ali, 27, from Jama'in village south of Nablus. According to 'Ali's brother, he left his house at 21:00 to work in a workshop in Nablus. Israeli military sources claimed that he attacked soldiers with an iron bar.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled the streets for some time. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF gunboats intercepted a fishing boat opposite to Rafah beach. They arrested 4 Palestinians, including two children, who were on board the boat:

· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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 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.

Date	Details
18 March 2009	110 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 March 2009	119 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 March 2009	85 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 March 2009	Closed.
22 March 2009	124 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 March 2009	113 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
24 March 2009	116 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Date	Details
18 March 2009	219 patients and their companions were allowed to travel to Egypt. 434 Palestinians, including a number of patients, and the body of a dead person were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
19 March 2009	32 patients and their companions were allowed to travel to Egypt. 314 Palestinians, including a number of patients, and the body of a dead person were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
20 March 2009	One Palestinian was allowed to travel to Egypt. 93 others, including patients, the body of a dead woman, 4 trucks of humanitarian assistance, 7 ambulances and two mobile homes were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
21 March 2009	80 internationals were allowed to travel to Egypt. 21 patients were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 March 2009	A UNDP staff member was allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 March 2009	Two Libyan citizens were allowed to travel to Egypt. 10 Palestinians, including 6 patients, were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
24 March 2009	5 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt. 21 other, including a number of patients, were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF allowed approximately 1,000 tons of cooking gas and more than 1.5 million liters of energy fuel into the Gaza Strip.

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF allowed 87 trucks of seeds and fodder into the Gaza Strip.

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

· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 21 March, IOF reinforced their presence in East Jerusalem to prevent the organization of any activities related to the deceleration of Jerusalem as a capital of Arab culture for 2009.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 21 March, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Beita village, south of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 23 March, IOF reestablished an iron gate established between Qoussin village, west of Nablus, and the city, to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians in the area.

On Friday afternoon, 20 March, IOF troops positioned at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Samah Ahmed Souqiya, 30, from Jenin.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday evening, 20 March 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Ta'nak village, and another one at the entrance of Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the Wall.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 20 March, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the demonstrators. As a result, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Ibrahim Khalil Sorour, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

3. Mohammed Ahmed 'Amira, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

4. Mohammed Rateb 'Amira, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

5. Ra'ed Khalil 'Amira, 32, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 March, scores of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They moved towards the gate of the Wall in the south of the village in an attempt to cross it towards their lands that have been isolated by the Wall. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the demonstrators. As a result, two journalists were wounded:

1. Khalil Mohammed Riash, 31, a photographer from Ma'an News Agency, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left thigh;

2. Bashar Mahmoud Nazzal, 30, a cameraman from Reuters, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 March, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 5 demonstrators, including 3 children, were wounded:

2. 'Abdul Basset Mohammed Abu Rahma, 19, hit by a tear gas canister to the hand;

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 March, scores of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired gunshots, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 March, scores of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration against the construction of the Wall in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF troops intercepted them at the entrance of the village. IOF troops fired tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF troops also beat a woman and child: Fatima 'Abdullah Braijiya, 33; and Sa'ed Suleiman Zawahra, 12. They sustained bruises and were evacuated to hospital.

· During the reporting period, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian land in Wadi al-Rasha and Ras Teera villages, south of Qalqilya, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall in the area in the context of the new route of the Wall decided by the Israeli High Court. According to local sources, IOF have uprooted at least 400 olive trees.

· On Sunday, 22 March, the Israeli High Court affirmed a decision taken by the Israeli Central Court confiscating 30 donumms of Palestinian land in Sho'fat refugee camp, northeast of Jerusalem, for the purpose of expanding a military checkpoint established near the entrance of the camp and transforming it into a crossing.

· At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 25 March, IOF informed Palestinian civilians living in the southern part of 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya, that they must obtain permits from the IOF Civil Administration to be able to move normally in the village. IOF had already established a fence cutting of the southern part of the village.

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

· At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 21 March, at least 30 IOF soldiers raided and searched offices of the Stork Association in the old town. They handed to the administration of the association an order signed by the Israeli Internal Security Minister banning any activities related to the declaration of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture for 2009. They also summoned staff members of the administration for interrogation and imposed a bail on one of them. IOF troops also stormed a number of schools and warned their administrations of carrying out any activities related to the declaration of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture for 2009. They stormed the Ibrahimiya School in al-Sawana neighborhood and arrested the director, 'Abdul Salam Abu Rumaila.

· On the same morning, IOF raided Father Abraham Nunnery in Ras al-'Aamoud neighborhood, where the ceremony of the declaration of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture for 2009 was supposed to be held. They forced the attendants out.

· At approximately 13:00 on the same day, IOF attacked a crowd of Palestinian civilians, including children, who were preparing to release balloons into the air as a symbol for the beginning of celebrations of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture in 2009, after IOF had prevented any official attempt to declare such beginning. IOF chased school children and arrested a number of civilians, including: Hatem 'Abdul Qader, the advisor of Palestinian Prime Minister for Jerusalem's affairs; Is'haq al-Qawasmi; Nasser Qous; Huda al-Imam, Director of Arab Studies Center; and Areej Dua'ibes, the translator of Palestinian President. IOF released the detainees later.

· At approximately 15:00 on the same day, IOF attacked a folklore show organized by Spafford Children's Center in the context of the declaration of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture for 2009. They arrested three participants in the show and forced them to sign pledges not to carry out similar activities. They also arrested two human rights defenders and confiscated their cameras.

· At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 23 March, IOF besieged a tent, which had been erected in solidarity with residents of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem, where a press conference for religious figures was supposed to be held to declare the beginning of the activities related to declaration of Jerusalem as a capital of the Arab culture for 2009. As soon as people in the tent finished their prayers, IOF attacked them and violently beat a number of them. As a result, 'Abeer Abu Khudair, 48, sustained serious facial injuries. IOF troops arrested her and other people, including: Sheikh Ra'ed Salah; Attorney Khaled Zabarka; Ziad Hammouri; Sheikh Jameel Hamama; Salah Diab; and three international human rights defenders. IOF also attacked journalist Mahfouz Abu Truk, and forced people to evacuate the tent.

1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.

5. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

6. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

7. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented in September 2005, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

8. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

9. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.

11. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

[1] 1 donumm is equal to 1,000 square meters.

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights LTD (non-profit) http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 12/2009 19- 25 March 2009

Palestinians demonstrating in front of Rafah International Crossing Point at the Egyptian border demanding reopening the crossing point – 19 March 2009