Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks against Palestinian Civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Launching Intense Air Strikes against Gaza Strip Targets

• 20 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip. In addition, one Palestinian was extra-judicially executed in the West Bank.

• 8 of the victims, including 3 children and an elderly man, were killed during a series of air strikes.

• 5 of the victims were killed by IOF in Khan Yunis.

• 28 Palestinians, mostly civilians, and an international human rights defender, were injured by IOF gunfire.

• IOF escalated air strikes against civilian targets in the Gaza Strip

• 3 workshops and 2 buildings of the Ministry of Interior were destroyed.

• IOF conducted 36 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 into the Gaza Strip.

• IOF arrested 67 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, and three civilians in the Gaza Strip.

• 4 houses were transformed into IOF military sites.

• IOF seized properties of the Islamic Charity and the Islamic Youth Association in Hebron.  

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

• 4 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF at various checkpoints in the West Bank.

• IOF confiscated 900 donums of agricultural land in villages located southwest of Hebron for the purpose of further constructing the Annexation Wall.

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

• IOF demolished a house in East Jerusalem.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (21 – 27 February 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 21 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and wounded 28 others, including 9 children, and an international human rights defender.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 20 Palestinians, including 9 civilians, and wounded 16 others.

On 27 February, IOF killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and wounded 9 others, including 6 children and a woman. One of the victims was a 7-month baby. On 22 February, IOF killed 2 Palestinian resistance activists and wounded a third, in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. An IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at the activists. On 23 February, IOF killed 3 Palestinian civilians who were having a picnic near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF fired a surface-to-surface-missile at the three civilians. On the same day, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of Palestinian resistance activists in the east of Gaza City. An activist and a passing by child were also injured. On 24 February, IOF killed Palestinian resistance activist during an incursion into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. On 25 February, IOF killed 3 Palestinian resistance activists and wounded a fourth in 2 separate attacks in Gaza City and ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. On 26 February, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian during an incursion into al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis. On 27 February, IOF extra-judicially executed 5 members of the ‘Izziddin al -Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) and wounded a sixth in Khan Yunis. An IOF aircraft fired a number of missiles at the vehicle in which the 6 activists were traveling. On the same day, IOF killed a Palestinian child in al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. In addition, on the same day, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by IOF gunfire in al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah.

On 27 February, IOF launched a series of air strikes against civilian targets in the Gaza Strip. The air-strikes destroyed 2 buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and 3 workshops. A number of houses were also damaged.    

In the West Bank, on 27 February, an IOF undercover unit extra-judicially executed a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) and wounded four others and a worker in Nablus. The victim was included in an amnesty list issued by IOF several months ago. 

Six Palestinian civilians and an American human rights defender were injured when IOF troops used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration protesting the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, on 22 February. Three days later, on 25 February, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by an IOF undercover unit that moved into Nablus.     

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 36 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 67 Palestinian civilians. The number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 stands at 499. IOF also transformed 4 houses into military sites. Additionally, IOF seized the properties of the Islamic Charity and Islamic Youth Association in Hebron and ordered the closure of both associations.  

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian communities. On 24 February, IOF moved into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They arrested 3 Palestinian farmers. On 26 February

IOF moved into al-Qarara village, east of Kahn Yunis. During this incursion, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian.

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 more than 18 months continuously. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza, and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. The siege of the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities, such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. During the reporting period, IOF cut off food and fuel supplies.

Concerning the movement of civilians, during the reporting period, IOF permitted a limited number of Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to  travel to the West Bank. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. 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 form reaching it. 

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 by IOF, which 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.

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 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 often violently assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians.

 Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 21 February, Israeli police arrested Ghada Mohammed al-Ja’bari, 17, from her house, which is located opposite to “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron. The police claimed that she attacked Israeli settlers when she was passing in the street adjacent to a building seized by settlers. On 22 February, IOF troops positioned near al-Rujbi building, which has been seized by Israeli settlers for nearly one year, in al-Ras neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron, broke windows of a number of Palestinian civilian vehicles parking in the area, claiming that they endanger the movement of Israeli settlers in the area. In the context of the policy of land confiscation for the purpose of the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank, 21 and 22 February, IOF handed a military order to a number of Palestinian farmer confiscating 900 donums of agricultural land in al-Zahiriya, Dura and Arab al-Ramadin villages, southwest of Hebron.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (21 – 27 February 2008)

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

Thursday, 21 February 2008

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Arafa, 22.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Hakeem Mahmoud Shalalda, 42; and

2.      Taha Mohammed Shalalda, 22.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beita village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 18 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Lu’ai Ibrahim al-Shannar, 21;

2.      Ma’ath ‘Awadh Hamdan, 23;

3.      Zaidan ‘Abdul Ghani Abu Zaytoun, 24;

4.      Mohammed ‘Othman Dwaikat, 28;

5.      Daoud Ibrahim Daoud, 30;

6.      Eyad Hilal Bani Shamsa, 40;

7.      Mousa Suleiman Barham, 30;

8.      Lu’ai Tayseer Barham, 25;

9.      Hammad ‘Abdul Rahman Mustafa, 23;

10.  Fayez Kamel Jarawan, 21;

11.  ‘Aamer Kamel Jarawan, 22;

12.  Eihab Mahmoud Daoud, 25;

13.  Taleb Hmaidan Hamayel, 35;

14.  ‘Allam Khaled Dwaikat, 26;

15.  Ussama ‘Abdul Latif Abu Zaytoun, 28;

16.  Muneer Diab Abu al-Sheikh, 25;

17.  Ayman Ihsan ‘Adeeli, 22; and

18.  Malek Faisal Jaghoub, 23.

·      At approximately 13:30, IOF moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ibrahim Mohammed Shakarna and Sa’ed Hamed Shakarna and transformed them into military sites.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and property. They withdrew from the town in the early morning of the following day, and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

Friday, 22 February 2008

·      At approximately 01:15, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Two activists were killed:

1.      Ayman Suleiman Sa’id, 33, from al-Maghazi refugee camp; and

2.      Bassam Hatem al-Hazeen, 24, from al-Zawaida village.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Sourif village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Mos’ab Mustafa al-Hour, 23; and

2.      Said al-Din Ahmed al-Hour, 22.

Saturday, 23 February 2008

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, fired a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance near the border. An activist was seriously wounded. Additionally, 16-year-old Mohammed Ayman Hajjaj, was seriously wounded when he was on his way back home in the area.

·      Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Salem al-Nattah, 31, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Housan village, northwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Adham Mohammed al-‘Aa’raj, 28, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Laith Mohammed Eqtaish, 19;

2.      Ma’moun Hussein Badawi, 23;

3.      Suleiman Mohammed Badawi, 21; and

4.      Bilal Jalal Saleem, 20.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They besieged a house belonging to the family of Majdi Tayseer Mabrouka, 28. They opened fire at the house and threatened to blow it up if he did not surrender to them. All residents of the house got out and IOF arrested Mabrouka, a member of the Abu ‘Ali Mustafa Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) who had been wanted by IOF for 3 years.

·      At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked a number of Palestinian civilians, but no arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 15:40, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a surface-to-surface missile at 3 Palestinian civilian who were having a picnic in al-Nazzar areas in the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, nearly 1,200 meters away from the border. The three civilians were killed:

1.      Mohammed Talal al-Za’anin, 20, from Beit Hanoun;

2.      Ibrahim Ahmed Abu Jarad, 20, from Beit Hanoun; and

3.      Mohammed Hassan Hassanain, 22, from Jabalya.

An IOF spokesman claimed that IOF targeted Palestinian gunmen accused of launching home-made rockets at Israeli towns. Investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim and prove that the three victims were unarmed civilians who were in a picnic.

Sunday, 24 February 2008  

·      At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into several areas in Hebron. They raided and searched some houses and damaged a number of them. They also arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 brothers:

1.      Muhannad Mahmoud al-Joulani, 20;

2.      ‘Ezzat ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Natsha, 31;

3.      Shu’aib ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Natsha, 31; and

4.      Daoud ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Natsha, 22.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata and ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, east and west of the city respectively. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrested were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the village a few hours later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 03:00, IOF moved nearly 2,000 meters into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They raided and searched a number of houses. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF. An activist, 21-year-old Midhat ‘Aayesh ‘Awad, 21, was wounded by 2 gunshots to the head and the chest. He bled to death. IOF also arrested at least 50 Palestinian civilians and took them to an unknown destination. IOF released them at approximately 23:30, excluding 3 civilians who remained in custody: Talab ‘Eid Jaradat, 55; ‘Ataiya Hammad Jaradat, 31; and Mustafa ‘Aayed Jaradat, 30. The released detainees stated that they were subjected to cruel treatment, including beating and denial of access to food and bathrooms.

Monday, 25 February 2008

·      At approximately 00:50, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. An activist, 21-year-old Hussam Jaber Abu Hain, was killed, and another one was wounded.

·      Also at approximately 00:50, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. Two activists were killed: Tha’er Ibrahim Msabbeh, 22; and Hani ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Abu Salah, 19. A third one was seriously wounded.

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jabal Hindaza area in the center of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nader Mohammed Jubran, 26, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Ahmed Hassan al-Qaissi Salah, 27; and

2.      Mohammed Khaled al-‘Ammouri Ghunaim, 24.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Doha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Salhab, 20, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata village. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1.      Yasser ‘Abdul Majeed Nassar, 22;

2.      Fadi Hamad Suleiman, 23; and

3.      Hamdi Nadi Dwaikat, 25.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They opened fire and raided and searched a number of houses. They withdrew from the village a few hours later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1.      Saddam Mahmoud Jaradat, 16; and

2.      Fidaa’ Sabbah Qan’eir, 22.

·      At approximately 16:05, an IOF undercover unit moved into Nablus traveling in a civilian truck that stopped in Khillat al-‘Aamoud area in the east of the city. A number of IOF troops got out of the truck opening fire. They stormed a shop belonging to the al-Kharraz family. They fired at 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded them:

1.      Ussama Makkawi al-Kharraz, 49, wounded by a gunshot to the right foot; and

2.      Mohammed Saleh Makkawi al-Kharraz, 55, wounded by 3 gunshots to both feet.

IOF troops then kidnapped the two wounded civilians and 4 others, including a child:

1.      Mo’ayad Ussama al-Kharraz, 19;

2.      Ayman Mohammed al-Kharraz, 21;

3.      Suhaib Hussam al-Kharraz, 16; and

4.      Mohammed Rateq ‘Olaiwi, 35.

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided a number of buildings and schools belonging to the Islamic Charity and the Islamic Youth Association in various areas in the town. They interrogated the guards and searched the buildings and schools. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, during this military operation, which continued until 10:30, IOF raided and searched the main offices of the two associations, orphan homes, schools, warehouses and a kindergarten belonging to them. IOF confiscated many of the belongings of those buildings, including 2 minibuses, a car, a number of computer sets, electrical appliances, furniture and documents. They also ordered the closure of the two societies and other buildings belonging to them and warned anyone of the consequences of entering those buildings.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Yasser Bader Subaih, 37.

·      At approximately 08:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ahmed Younis Abu ‘Ayash and ‘Omar Khalil Sabarna at the eastern entrance of the village and transformed them into military sites. According to eyewitnesses, IOF troops held at least 20 international and Israeli peace activities who attempted to break the siege imposed on Abu ‘Ayash’s house. They confiscated the mobile phones of those activists and violently beat one of them.

·      At approximately 15:30, IOF moved nearly 150 meters into al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis. They opened fire indiscriminately. A Palestinian civilian, 31-year-old Hassan Suleiman ‘Ali Abu Sabet, was seriously wounded by 3 gunshots to the abdomen and the legs. He was evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:30.

·      At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ziad Mash’al, 51, member of the local council of the village, and arrested him for the 6^th time.

Wednesday, 27 February 2008

·      At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nidal Nemer Jawabra, 20.

·      Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Zaid. They destroyed a television set and mobile phones and cut photos belonging to the family. No arrests were reported.

·      At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad Mohammed al-Nattah, 27, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wissam Mohammed Hamad, 22, and arrested him.

·      Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Shyoukh al-Arab village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Khalil ‘Ayad, 22, and arrested him.

·      At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

1.      Shadi Ahmed Qoussini, 25;

2.      Rashed Mohammed Abu Sirriya, 17;

3.      Fat’hi Mohammed Haweel, 55;

4.      Ahmed Fat’hi Haweel, 25;

5.      Mohammed Fat’hi Haweel, 21;

6.      Khaled Salah Abu Shihada, 50; and

7.      Ahmed Salah ‘Anteer, 17.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of the Charitable Association. They damaged the offices and confiscated a number of files.

·      Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of the Charitable Association and the subordinate school and orphanage. They confiscated the furniture and documents and destroyed windows and doors. They further ordered the closure of the association for 3 years.

·      At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of the Charitable Association. They confiscated contents of the offices and ordered the closure of the association for 3 years.

·      Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched offices of the Charitable Association. They confiscated contents of the offices and ordered the closure of the association for 3 years. 

·      At approximately 08:00, a number of Palestinian school children moved towards the area of the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, when they heard that an activist of the Palestinian resistance was killed there. Immediately, IOF troops positioned at the border opened fire at the children. Mousa Mohammed al-‘Aaidi, 16, was seriously wounded by a gunshot to the pelvis.

·      At approximately 16:10, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, launched a surface-to-surface missile at al-Rayes farm in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, nearly 3,000 meters away from the border. Two Palestinian civilians were killed:

1.      Hammad Mershed Masalha, 60, a shepherd; and

2.      Monawar Mohammed Abu Mandeel, 34, the guard of the farm.

The shepherd’s wife, 32-year-old Subhiya Mohsen Masalha, was also wounded by shrapnel to the hands.

·      At approximately 18:35, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of Palestinian children who were standing near a launcher of home-made rockets in ‘Aamer housing project, west of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Two children were killed:

1.      Bilal Kamel Hijazi, 13; and

2.      Suleiman Khalil Hamada, 12.

Another 5 children were wounded:

1.      Ahmed Jameel Hijazi, 11, wounded by shrapnel to the neck;

2.      Jamal Jameel Hamada, 10, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

3.      Maher Mohammed Hamada, 13, wounded by shrapnel to the eye and the left hand, and lost his eye;

4.      Jameel Khalil Hamada, 8, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

5.      Anas al-Mana’ma, 14, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

·      At approximately 19:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka village southeast of Rafah. Mohammed Hamdan al-Farra, 20, was wounded by a gunshot to the right thigh.

·      At approximately 22:45, IOF aircrafts fired 3 missiles at a building of the Ministry of Interior in the center of Gaza City, which is a densely populated area. Two floors of the 5-storey building were destroyed and a number of neighboring houses and buildings were heavily damaged. Shrapnel from the missiles killed 7-month-old Mohammed Nasser al-Bora’ei when he was sleeping at his family’s home. He was hit by shrapnel to the head and the chest. The baby is the sole one for his family and he was born following 5 years of infertility. Additionally, another 3 civilians, including a toddler and a woman, were wounded:

1.      Sabreen Amjad Murtaja, 20, wounded by shrapnel to the head;

2.      Ramzi Kuhail, 80, wounded by shrapnel to the hands and the feet; and

3.      ‘Abdul Hadi al-Jarousha, 1, wounded by shrapnel to the right hand.

·      At approximately 23:00, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a 400-square-meter smithery workshop belonging to Mohammed al-Sayed Felfel in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The workshop largely destroyed and a number of neighboring houses and buildings were heavily damaged.

·      At approximately 23:10, IOF aircrafts fired 2 missiles at a turnery workshop belonging to ‘Aamer Mohammed ‘Ali, which is located under a house belonging toe the al-Astal family in the center of Khan Yunis. The workshop was largely destroyed and neighboring workshop belonging to ‘Atiya Ahmed al-Seelawi was heavily damaged. The house was also damaged, but no casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 23:30, an IOF aircraft fired 3 missiles at a building of the Ministry of Interior in al-Nafaq Street in the east of Gaza City. Three floors of the 5-storey building were destroyed and a number of neighboring buildings were heavily damaged. No casualties were reported.

·      At approximately 23:55, IOF aircrafts fired 2 missiles at a 500-square-meter smithery workshop belonging to Ibrahim Suleiman Baraka in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. The workshop was totally destroyed.

2.      Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF carried out 2 extra-judicial executions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which killed 6 Palestinians and wounded 6 others.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

·      At approximately 08:50 on Wednesday, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a white civilian microbus that was traveling on the coastal road near al-Aqsa University in the west of Khan Yunis. Six members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were traveling in the microbus. Five of them were killed:

1.      ‘Omar ‘Atiya Salama Abu ‘Akar, 26, from Khan Yunis;

2.      ‘Abdullah Mohammed Yahia ‘Edwan, 22, from Beit Hanoun;

3.      Mohammed Majdi Abu al-Hussain, 22, from Jabalya;

4.      Hassan Nour al-Din al-Mutawaq, 19, from Jabalya; and

5.      ‘Aziz Jawdat Mas’oud, 21, from Beit Lahia.

The sixth occupant was seriously wounded.

Approximately 20 minutes later, IOF aircrafts flying over Khan Yunis fired 2 missiles at another vehicle, in which a number of members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades were traveling, nearly 1,500 meters away from the place of the first attack. The occupants were able to flee shortly before the vehicle was hit by the two missiles, which completely destroyed it.

·      At approximately 10:10 on Wednesday, 27 February 2008, an IOF undercover unit moved into Til Street in the south of Nablus, traveling in 2 civilian vehicles with Palestinian registration plate. An IOF soldier opened the door of one of the vehicles and opened fire at 5 young men who were exiting the headquarters of the Palestinian Military Intelligence in the area. The five young men were wounded. Immediately, IOF troops got out of the two vehicles and one of them fired at one of the wounded when he was on the ground and killed him. A few minutes later, 2 IOF military jeeps arrived at the area to support the undercover unit. Two IOF soldiers got out of the jeeps and photographed the scene. IOF troops took the body of the victim, who was identified as 30-year-old Ibrahim Zaki al-Massimi, and arrested the other 4 young men, who were identified as:

1.      Wa’e; Zaki al-Massimi, 28;

2.      Yasser Isma’il Sallam, 24;

3.      ‘Ali Mossa’ed, 25; and

4.      Ibrahim al-Jabreeni, 30, all from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus.

A construction worker, 25-year-old Samer Hussein Deeb, who was working in the area, was wounded by a gunshot to the pelvis. It is worth noting that Ibrahim al-Massimi, his brother Wa’el, and Yasser Sallam had been detained by the Palestinian Military Intelligence for 3 months. They are members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) and they were included in the list of amnesty issued by IOF. The other two Palestinians were in a visit to them.

These latest attacks came in the context of escalation of attacks by IOF, including extra-judicial executions of Palestinian civilians. According to PCHR’s documentation, since the beginning of 2008, IOF have extra-judicially executed 28 Palestinians. Thus, the number of Palestinians extra-judicially executed by IOF since the beginning of the current Palestinian Intifada in September 2000 has mounted to 713, including 227 civilian bystanders. These figures include 78 children.

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

IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the nearly 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly the 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 imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fule supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip.  IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. 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 form reaching it. 

IOF has also maintained the effective closure of the commercial crossings of al-Mentar (Karni), Sofa, and Nahal Ouz. IOF have sporadically opened these crossings in order to facilitate the passage of some humanitarian aids into Gaza.

<