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. 26/2008 19 - 25 June 2008

Gazans Waiting to Refill Cooking Gas Canisters: Gaza Fuel Crisis Continues to Paralyze Civilian Life

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 (19 – 25 June 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and wounded 18 others, including 5 children and 2 old men.

In the West Bank, IOF killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 13 others, including 5 children.

On 24 June 2008, IOF extra-judicially executed 2 Palestinians in Nablus; a prominent activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and a university student. This attack came after the Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel entered into force on 19 June 2008, which indicates that IOF may escalate attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank.

On the same day, 12 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. A Palestinian child was also wounded in similar circumstance in Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, on 19 June, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others in Gaza Valley village, nearly 500 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. An IOF aircraft fired a missile at those activists just one hour before the truce entered into force.

On 23 June, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian children who attempted to get close to the border. A number of Palestinian farmers were working on their lands nearly 400 meters away from the border.

On 24 June, an elderly Palestinian civilian was wounded by the IOF gunfire in similar circumstance in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 36 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, the widest of which was into Qalqilya. During these incursions, IOF arrested 48 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children. To date, 1,382 Palestinian civilians have been arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008. IOF also demolished 2 uninhabited houses and partially demolished 3 houses, in Qalqilya.

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 tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and has violated the human, economic and social rights of the approximately 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. The siege has also paralyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege 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 continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and many factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilian movements, IOF permit very few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to travel to the West Bank or Israel. Rafah International Crossing Point in the southern Gaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point from reaching it.

Even though the Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel entered into force, no major change has been noticed with regard to the movement of persons and goods through the Gaza Strip border crossings, excluding an approximate 20% increase in the amounts of foods and humanitarian aids allowed into the Gaza Strip during the reporting period.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring and harassment by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats severely restrict their access to coastal waters.

Contrary to Israeli claims of easing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF sometimes 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 and have continued to erect checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in 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. On 19 June, Israeli settlers burnt large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Bourin village, south of Nablus. On the same day, an Israeli settler ran down an elderly Palestinian civilian near Qalqilya. He was seriously injured. On 20 June, Israeli settlers attacked a number of Palestinian farmers and shepherds in Yatta village, south of Hebron. Two shepherds were injured. On 24 June, Israeli settlers attacked 3 Palestinian shepherds in Yatta village south of Hebron and injured them.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (19 – 25 June 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-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Isma'il Khalil al-Shathli, 17, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-'Azza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rebhi Abu Sha'ira, 23, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:35, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tariq Mohammed al-Khatib, 19, and arrested him. They also raided and searched a house established by the Public Committee against the Wall behind the Annexation Wall. IOF troops violently beat 'Abdullah Abu Rahma, Ibrahim Abu Rahma, and Farahat Bernat, and dumped them at a gate on the Wall.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They besieged a 3-storey apartment building belonging to 'Aqel Hassanain Hajjoul in the south of the town. They ordered the 23 residents of the building through megaphones to get out and they obeyed the order. IOF fired a number of missiles at the building. As a result, the façade was heavily damaged. IOF troops them broke into the building and heavily damaged it from the inside before arresting the owner's four sons: Sa'ed; Ziad; Ibrahim; and Saleh. They also demolished 2 uninhabited houses near Hajjoul's building. In Daoud neighborhood, IOF besieged a house belonging to Ibrahim Mahmoud Melhem. They used megaphones to order residents of the house to get out. IOF troops them broke into the house and heavily damaged it from the inside. IOF also heavily damaged a house belonging to the family of 'Ali Hassan Hajjoul, who had been already killed by IOF.

· At approximately 05:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance, who were nearly 500 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Gaza Valley village. An activist, 23-year-old Rami Nizar Abu Swaireh, was killed, and another activist was lightly wounded.

· At approximately 16:30, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the al-Qudsi family in al-Salam Street in the west of the town. They held more than thirty residents for two hours and then photographed them for no apparent reason. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. Nno arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Sanad Ragheb Salah, 23.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched the ambulance center of Palestine Red Crescent Society in the village. They damaged the doors and furniture of the center. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian children:

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Hawouz area in Hebron. They raided and searched a house and a number of shops belonging to 'Abdul Raziq Abu Rajab, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Awarta village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mousa Jameel Zaidat, 23.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Deir Abu Mash'al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Raba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northwest of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian children who attempted to get close to the border. A number of Palestinian farmers were working on their lands nearly 400 meters away from the border. One of the farmers, Jameel 'Abdul Rahman al-Ghoul, 68, was wounded by a gunshot to the neck. This incident was the first of it kind following the truce agreed upon between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, northeast of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched many houses and buildings in the village and damaged a number of them intentionally. During this military operation, IOF troops violently beat 'Eissa 'Ata Taraira, 18. He sustained bruises. IOF troops also arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, 2 of whom were identified as:

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

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hamza Msallam Shuraitah, 22, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Ebayat village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mustafa 'Abed Jubran, 22, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into 'Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Kamal 'Omar Sarhan, 38, and arrested him.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into m’Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Kamal Mahmoud Khalil and arrested his two sons: Qais, 20; and Qaisar, 19.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Abu Snaina neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ghaleb Rajeh Abu Sanaina, 19, and arrested him. They also violently beat his sister Jawaher, 30, who fainted and sustained heavy bruises throughout her body.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Khellat al-Dar neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yousef ‘Omran Abu Hussein, 22, and arrested him.

· At approximately 07:10, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands in the village. As a result, Salem Ahmed Abu Raida, 82, was wounded by a gunshot to the left hand, while he was on his agricultural land nearly 50 meters away from the border.

On Tuesday morning, 24 June, IOF carried an extra-judicial execution in Nablus, which left dead 2 Palestinians, including a university student.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:50 an IOF infantry unit moved into Nablus. IOF troops broke into al-Sal'ous apartment building in al-Makhfiya neighborhood in the south of the city, whose door was open at the time. They then planted explosives at the door of a flat on the first floor and blew it up. The door of a neighboring flat was also destroyed. IOF troops opened fire inside the two flats for 4-5 minutes. As a result, Tariq Jom'a Abu Ghali, 26, from Jenin, was killed by several gunshots throughout the body. Abu Ghali is one of the most prominent activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). He had been wanted by IOF for 4 years and he had survived 3 extra-judicial execution attempts by IOF. A university student in the other flat, Eyad Radwan ‘Abdul Rahman Khanfar, 25, from al-Rama village south of Jenin, was also killed. A few minutes later, IOF military vehicles moved into Nablus to secure the withdrawal of the infantry unit. Before leaving the building, IOF troops blew up the flat where Abu Ghali was and confiscated at least 30 boxes of documents from the building.

In his testimony to PCHR, Ayham Bassam Haidarya, 22, Khanfar’s colleague, stated:

“At approximately 03:50 on Tuesday, 24 June 2008, my friends, Eyad Radwan Khanfar, 25, and Mohammed Waleed Jom’a, 21, and I woke up hearing an explosion that destroyed the door of our flat. Glass of the window near me was also broken. We were extremely terrified and we got up. The first one of us who got up was Khanfar, who was fired at while he was still inside the room. He was hit by several gunshots. Mohammed and I moved back to our beds. Gunshots were fired around us for 4-5- minutes. When the shooting stopped, at least 20 Israeli soldiers came to our room. They searched it and other parts of the flat. They then handcuffed us and forced us to sit on the ground. Approximately 20 minutes later, an Israeli soldier ordered us to stand up and walk in front. They forced us to enter a neighboring flat, whose door had been blown up. IOF troops held and handcuffed 4 university students who were in the flat. IOF troops then interrogated us. Mohammed Jom’a was not having his identity card, so they ordered him to go to our flat and bring it, but he never came back and we still do not know his destiny. Half an hour later, IOF troops took us down to the streets and held us until 04:30.”

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 on the verge of collapse due to the stoppage of many ambulances from operating for lack of fuel. Healthcare facilities have registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places. Furthermore, the transportation sector has almost ceased functioning throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

During the reporting period, the Egypt-brokered truces between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel entered into force, under which the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip would be eased gradually. However, no tangible change has been noticed with regard to the movement of persons and goods, excluding the increase in the number of containers of foods and humanitarian aid allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Over the past 5 months, IOF are allowing a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint. IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007. The Gaza Strip remains isolated from the West Bank and the outside world.

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

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, which designed for the entry of fuels, during the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuels:

Date	Benzene	Diesel	Cooking Gas	Energy Fuel
18 June 2008	Nil	68,430 liters	26.880 tons	83,000 liters
19 June 2008	Nil	254,000 liters	308.690 tons	1,085,600 liters
20 June 2008	68,000	325,420 liters	200.130 tons	518,400 liters
21 June 2008	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
22 June 2008	Nil	381,000 liters	176 tons	740,000 liters
23 June 2008	102,000 liters	720,000 liters	223 tons	Nil
24 June 2008	Nil	Nil	91 tons	822,000
25 June 2008	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing for several hours on 19, 22 and 23 June 2008, an allowed the entry of 11,540 tons of seeds and feeds.

Concerning the movement at Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, during the reporting period, it was as shown in the following table:

Date	Details
18 June 2008	72.5 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip
19 June 2008	51 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip
20 June 2008	Closed
21 June 2008	closed
22 June 2008	69.5 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip
23 June 2008	79.5 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip
24 June 2008	72.5 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open it limitedly for some patients. The movement the crossing during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom” crossing for more than 2 months.

The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. 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 have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, who use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

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

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected additional checkpoints on the main roads. On Thursday, 19 June, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday noon, 21 June, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, for some time. On Sunday morning, 22 June, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara and Hawara checkpoints, south of the city, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday noon, 23 June, IOF closed the 17 checkpoint at the northern entrance of Nablus. They also closed Hawara checkpoint, south of the city, at noon. Additionally, IOF re-established their presence at al-Bathan checkpoint at the northeastern entrance of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 19 June, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, until 10:00. On Friday, 20 June, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday, 21 June, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of al-Rass village at Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 22 June, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for several hours. On Monday, 23 June, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance of Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday, 24 June, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles.

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 and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah; al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem; and Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 20 June, 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. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. The demonstrators then set fire to tires in protest to the closure of gates. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. They also used a weapon called “Scream”, which makes a very loud voice that impacts the equilibrium of people. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF troops fired many tear gas canisters at demonstrators, which made fire break out in olive fields in the area.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 20 June, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards Palestinian land which has been confiscated by IOF. IOF troops placed barbwire near the land to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They also fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters and violently beat a number of demonstrators. Two Palestinian civilians were injured:

· On Tuesday morning, 24 June, 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 rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators and at houses in the village. As a result, 12 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded:

1. Yazan Hussam Mousa, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the shoulder;

2. Ahmed Daoud al-Khawaja, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

3. ‘Aaqel Sadiq Sorour, 32, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand;