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 Blockade on the Gaza Strip

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPT continued during the reporting period (22 – 28 October 2009):

Shooting: During the reporting period, 41 Palestinian civilians, including 5 journalists, 8 women and one child were injured in peaceful demonstrations protesting a raid of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the construction of the Annexation Wall and attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian farmers while cultivating olives.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF warplanes bombarded tunnels in the southern Gaza Strip and a workshop in Gaza City. No Casualties were reported.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 25 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 47 Palestinian civilians, including 17 children.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF moved into the east of Gaza City and leveled areas of land, which they had already razed.

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 illegal IOF blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

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

· The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· 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.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· Poverty and unemployment rates stand at approximately 80% and 60% respectively in the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· IOF have imposed additional access restrictions on international diplomats, journalists and humanitarian workers seeking to enter 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 are among the highest in the world.

· At least 900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have been denied family visitation rights for more than three years.

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

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, and 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 stormed into the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and used excessive force against Palestinian civilians who attempted to stop the raid. The raid and related incidents followed a call by extremist Jewish groups, particularly the "Organization for Human Rights on the Temple Mount," urging extremist Jews to break into the al-Aqsa Mosque and its yards to conduct Talmudic rituals to mark Rambam’s ascension. Since Saturday night, 24 October 2009, IOF had been intensively deployed throughout the Old City of Jerusalem. The al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers had previously been subjected to a similar assault on 27 September 2009, when a number of Israeli settlers attempted to break into the yards of the Mosque.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 27 October 2009, scores of Israeli settlers from "Shavot Rachel" settlement, which stands on lands belonging to Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus, launched a series of attacks against Palestinian farmers who were cultivating olives, nearly 500 meters away from the settlement. The settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked farmers with stones and violently beat a number of them. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinian farmers sustained bruises, and IOF arrested Kamal 'Abdul Jawad Kassab, 29, claiming that refused to obey orders to leave the area.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (22 – 28 October 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 Nablus and the neighboring 'Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qasra village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

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

· Also at approximately 01:45, IOF moved into al-'Araqa village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Leqia village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into 'Aqqaba village, northwest of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:50, IOF warplanes dropped two bombs on Block J area near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, targeting tunnels. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were extremely terrified due to the heavy explosions.

· At approximately 03:15, an IOF warplane bombarded a workshop belonging to Shareef Mohammed Loulu in Jaffa Street in the center of Gaza City. The workshop was destroyed.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ramin village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned a number of Palestinian civilians for interrogation.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and summoned Bassam 'Abdul Fattah Abu 'Obaid, 22, for interrogation. They violently beat his father claiming that he was late in opening the door for them.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into 'Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Sa'ed Sakher 'Owaidat, 25.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers.

· At noon, Fahmi Hamdi Shaheen, 39, PCHR’s field worker in Hebron and Bethlehem. Mr. Shaheen was beaten an detained by IOF, when he was participating in a peaceful sit-in organized by a number of Palestinian civilians, human rights defenders and international and Israeli solidarity activists near "Kiryat Arba" settlement, which stands on Palestinian land in Hebron. IOF used excessive force against participants at the sit-in.

According to Shaheen and eyewitnesses, at noon, when Shaheen was participating in a peaceful sit-in organized by scores of Palestinian civilians from Tallat al-Ja'abra area, local activists from "Youths against Settlement" and French and Israeli solidarity activists, IOF and the so called Border Guard Police besieged the participants, who raised and cheered slogans against occupation and settlement. IOF used force to disperse the sit-in. They also arrested and violently beat Shaheen. IOF declared the area a closed military zone and tore down a tent set up on lands threatened to be confiscated by IOF for the purpose of settlement expansion.

At approximately 13:10, IOF took Shaheen to a detention and interrogation center in a police station near "Kiryat Arba" settlement. They also detained 3 Israeli solidarity activists. Shaheen was informed that he was under detention, and in the evening he was interrogated for charges of "incitement, obstruction of the work of security forces and presence in a closed military zone."

Earlier, when IOF started to disperse the sit-in and chase the participants, they arrested 'Abdul Karim Ibrahim al-Ja'bari, a land owner, and Badee' Dib Dwaik, a local activist, and 9 international and Israeli solidarity activists. IOF released them all after one or two hours in detention.

At approximately 23:45, upon the intervention of Lea Tsemel, an Israeli lawyer, Shaheen was released on bail. He was warned not enter the Israeli-controlled areas known as H2 area in the south and southeast of Hebron.

Shaheen, who is an activist against the illegal settlements in Hebron, reported that the Israeli police violently beat him when they arrested him, although they knew that he works in the field of human rights. He sustained bruises to the chest and the right shoulder.

· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Saffa village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Somoud Yasser Karaja, 21, who arrested by IOF at Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, claiming that they stabbed a soldier. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khaled Nadi Taqatqa, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Arab neighborhood in the center of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Salem al-Shawa, 15, and arrested him.

· At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into Palestinian areas near al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, east of Gaza City. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land, which had been already razed.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian children:

· Also at approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Um Salamouna village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jihad Ja'far Taqatqa, 20, and summoned him for interrogation.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Diqqu village, northwest of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mustafa 'Omar Bdair, 25, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Adnan 'Aayesh Balawna, 35, and arrested him.

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

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

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

· The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.

· 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.

· The Rafah International Crossing Point has been opened for a few days for a number of patients who received medical treatment abroad and needed to return home to the Gaza Strip.

· IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the West Bank and Israeli for medical treatment, trade or social visits.

· IOF have continued to prevent the entry of spare parts form water networks and sewage systems. Losses incurred to this sector are estimated at US$ 6 million.

· 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 two years.

· IOF have continued to attack Palestinian fishermen along the Gaza Strip coast.

Date	Details
21 October 2009	238 Palestinians, including a number of patients, were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 October 2009	11 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 262 others, including a number of patients were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 October 2009	Closed.
24 October 2009	3 Palestinians were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
25 October 2009	11 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and two others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 October 2009	3 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 15 others were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 October 2009	5 Palestinians were allowed to travel to Egypt and 8 others and the body of a dead Palestinian were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Date	Details
21 October 2009	105 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
22 October 2009	122 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
23 October 2009	Closed.
24 October 2009	Closed.
25 October 2009	101 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
26 October 2009	113 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.
27 October 2009	103 containers of food aid for international humanitarian organizations and goods for local traders were allowed into the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF opened the crossing on Wednesday, 21 October 2009, and allowed the entry of 172 tons of cooking gas, 681,000 liters of energy fuel for Gaza Power Plant, and 36,000 liters of benzene for UNRWA .

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have allowed only diplomats, a number of international journalists, workers at international agencies and a few patients who suffer from serious diseases to pass through the crossing. They have continued to prevent Palestinian civilians from visiting their relatives who are detained in Israeli jails. As mentioned above, IOF have allowed a few number of patients to pass through the crossing, but under severe restrictions that include prolonged checking.

Date	Patients	Companions	Arabs from Israel	International Journalists	Ambassadors	International Workers	Travelers abroad	Traders
21 October 2009	20	25	1	6	8	28	9	3
22 October 2009	21	22	15	4	Nil	54	1	2
23 October 2009	10	12	15	2	Nil	9	Nil	Nil
24 October 2009	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
25 October 2009	39	34	14	2	Nil	8	2	4
26 October 2009	32	28	1	5	Nil	15	Nil	2
27 October 2009	36	34	4	2	11	16	2	5

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing: IOF partially opened the crossing on Wednesday, 21 October 2009, and allowed the entry of 1,280 tons of wheat and 1,280 tons of fodders. They opened it against on Monday, 26 October 2009, and allowed the entry of 1,240 tons of wheat and 2,520 tons of fodders. They also opened it on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, and allowed the entry of 1,600 tons of wheat and 2,240 tons of fodders.

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. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. 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 beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Saturday evening, 24 October 2009, IOF closed Jaba' checkpoint, northeast of Jerusalem. On Sunday morning, 25 October 2009, IOF reinforced their presence in the old town and in the vicinity of the al-Aqsa Mosque. They erected more checkpoints and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 15:10 on Sunday, 25 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, arrested Somoud Yasser Karaja, 21, from Saffa village west of Ramallah, claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier.

On Tuesday evening, 27 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at al-Sawahra checkpoint near Jerusalem violently beat Ayoub Ya'qoub al-Dwaik, 29, from Hebron. He sustained bruises throughout the body.

· Nablus: On Wednesday morning, 28 October 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Nablus-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested 'Omar Sa'ad al-Din Houtari, 19.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. On Thursday morning, 22 October 2009, IOF prevented a number of Palestinian farmers and international and Israeli peace activists from reaching agricultural lands in Wadi Abu al-Reesh area to the north of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, to cultivate olives. IOF troops attacked a Spanish peace activist and an Israeli one and forced the farmers to leave the area.

At approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 22 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at the entrances of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the old town of Hebron arrested Rasheed Mohammed Ekhli, 17.

At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at the northern entrance of Hebron arrested Salah Fakher Najajra, 26, from Nahalin village west of Bethlehem.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 22 October 2009, IOF erected a checkpoint at Kufor Dan intersection, west of Jenin, another one on the al-Jaraba road, southeast of the town, and a third at al-'Aasa'sa intersection, south of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Jericho: At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 22 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint erected at the western entrance of Jericho arrested Sanad Mahmoud Mutlaq, 22, from Jenin refugee camp.

· Ramallah: On Thursday evening, 22 October 2009, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint near 'Ein Yabroud intersection, northeast of Ramallah, arrested Wa'el Mousa Hamed, 30.

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 to protest the construction of the Wall.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 23 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and following altercations threw stones at IOF troops positioned in the area. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalations.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 23 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with IOF troops positioned near the Wall. IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, 7 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded:

1. Mo'taz Taleb Khalil, 19, hit by shrapnel from a tear gas canister to the abdomen;

2. Mohammed Nawar Mnawar, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the face;

3. Sabti Mohammed Khawaja, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 16 October 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration to protest the construction of the Annexation Wall in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. Israeli troops closed the entrance of the village and attacked the demonstrators. They fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators and violently beat a number of them. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians sustained bruises: Ya'qoub Suleiman 'Alaa' al-Din, 24; 'Omar 'Alaa' al-Din, 24; and 'Ali Mousa Zawahra, 24.

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.

· On Sunday morning, 25 October 2009, IOF stormed into the al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, and used excessive force against Palestinian civilians who attempted to stop the raid. The raid and related incidents followed a call by extremist Jewish groups, particularly the "Organization for Human Rights on the Temple Mount," urging extremist Jews to break into the al-Aqsa Mosque and its yards to conduct Talmudic rituals to mark Rambam’s ascension. Since Saturday night, 24 October 2009, IOF had been intensively deployed throughout the Old City of Jerusalem. The al-Aqsa Mosque and worshippers had previously been subjected to a similar assault on 27 September 2009, when a number of Israeli settlers attempted to break into the yards of the Mosque.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 25 October 2009, the Israeli police and "Border Guards" broke into the yards of the al-Aqsa Mosque in the old town of occupied East Jerusalem. Some police units closed all gates of the Mosque.

According to eyewitnesses, heavily armed Israeli forces broke into the yards of the al-Aqsa Mosque through the al-Maghariba Gate in the west side of the Mosque. IOF employed sound bombs and tear gas and chased and violently beat worshippers and other individuals in the yard, including women, children and elderly people. IOF also closed all the Mosque’s gates and arrested the guards. At least 200 worshippers were trapped inside the Mosque, as IOF closed the doors with iron chains and locks. IOF did not allow the entry of food and water to those who were held inside the Mosque. A number of worshippers suffered from tear gas inhalation. In the meantime, an Israeli police aircraft had been hovering over the area since the morning.

At approximately 10:00, IOF broke into the room designated for the Azan (the call for prayers) and damaged equipment; the Azan was not transmitted.

At approximately 11:00, the Israeli police dispersed a peaceful demonstration organized by women who were on their way from Bab Hatta area towards the al-Aqsa Mosque to express solidarity with those who were inside the Mosque.

At approximately 11:30, IOF allowed men aged over 50 to enter the al-Aqsa Mosque. However, less than half an hour later, IOF broke into the yards again and violently beat all those who were in the area, including two journalists and three paramedics. They also arrested a number of Palestinian civilians, including Hatem Abdul Qader, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, but released them later. IOF also besieged a number of worshippers in the Dome of the Rock Mosque and the Southern Mosque after locking the doors. IOF further prevented journalists and medical crews from entering the al-Aqsa Mosque.

Five Palestinian journalists and an international one, who has not been identifies, were attacked by IOF while attempting to cover the incidents or move into the yards of the Mosque:

Journalist Diala Jwaihan told PCHR that the Israeli police violently beat her when she photographed a police officer attacking an old Palestinian civilians. They also cut her clothes. She sustained acute bruises to the neck and the back and a muscular strain.

Journalist Mahfouz Abu Turk told PCHR that he was violently beaten by members of "Border Guards" when he was near Bab Hotta area in the old town. He suffered severe pains in the left foot and right knee and sustained bruises to the back.

Journalist Mais Abu Ghazala told PCHR that when she attempted to enter the al-Aqsa Maosque through Bab Hutta, an Israeli soldier blocked an iron barrier on her right foot. She emphasized that she saw an international journalist being beaten and her teeth being broken. She learnt later that the journalist was French.

IOF arrested dozens of Palestinian civilians, including Hatem Abdul Qader, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. On Monday, 26 October 2009, an Israeli court ordered the expulsion of Abdul Qader from the al-Aqsa Mosque and the old town for 21 days.

Clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli police continued until the afternoon. According to medical sources, 25 civilians, including 7 women, were injured. Most injuries resulted from violent beating, tear gas and shrapnel from sound bombs.

· At approximately 05:30 on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, IOF, Israeli police and officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem moved into Sour Baher village, south of Jerusalem. They closed Emilson quarter and besieged a 650-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Nemer 'Ali Nemer. The forced the residents out without allowing them to vacate their belongings. Between 07:30 and 11:00, the Israeli bulldozers demolished the house. It is worth noting that the house is comprised of 4 flats, in which 25 individuals used to live. The family started to build the house in 1992 and completed it in 1996. In April 2009, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem ordered the demolition of the house, and the family appealed against the order at Israeli courts, which in turn approved the order claiming that the house was built in a green area. The family paid fines that amounted to more than 350,000 NIS (approximately US$ 97,000).

· Also on Tuesday morning, IOF moved into al-Sal'a quarter in Jabal al-Mukabber village, south of Jerusalem. They besieged a 150-square-meter house belonging to 'Aatef Mohammed Abu Dwaih, 32, in which 12 individuals live. They forced the family out and demolished the house, claiming that it was built without a license. The family had lived in the house since 2008. In the same area, IOF demolished a remaining part of a 100-square-meter house belonging to Husni Ahmed Abu Sarhan, which had been partially demolished last month, under the pretext of the lack of a building license.

· On Tuesday noon, IOF, Israeli police and officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem moved into al-Salam area in Shu'fat village, north of Jerusalem. They besieged a 60-square-meter house belonging to Khamis Shihada al-Tahhan, in which 9 individuals live. They forced the family out and demolished the house. IOF demolished houses belonging to the family in 2004 and 2004.

· At the same time, Israeli police and officials of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem moved into al-Farouq quarter in Jabal al-Mukabber village, south of Jerusalem. They besieged a 50-square-mter house belonging to 'Abdullah Salam Shqairat. They forced the family out and demolished 30-square-meters of the house, and ordered Shqairat to demolished the remaining part of the house in two days. They claimed that the house was built without a license.

5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

· At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 27 October 2009, scores of Israeli settlers from "Shavot Rachel" settlement, which stands of lands belonging to Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus, launched a series of attacks against Palestinian farmers who were cultivating olives, nearly 500 meters away from the settlement. The settlers, escorted by IOF, attacked farmers with stones and violently beat a number of them. As a result of these attacks, 5 Palestinian farmers sustained bruises, and IOF arrested Kamal 'Abdul Jawad Kassab, 29, claiming that refused to obey orders to leave the area. The farmers who sustained bruises are: Israa' Rawhi Badawi, 24; Jawad Hamdi Badawi, 30; Hani 'Abdul Jawad Kassab, 47; Mo'taz 'Abdul Jawad Kassab, 31; and 'Abdullah 'Abdul Ghani Badawi, 42.

· On Wednesday morning, 28 October 2009, IOF prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, from farming 25 donums of Palestinian agricultural land located nearly 450 meters away from "Karmi Tsur" settlement to the south of the village.

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).

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. 42/2009 22 - 28 Oct. 2009
Abdullah Shqairat, a blind civilian, sitting on rubbles of his house that was demolished by Israeli Occupation Forces in Jerusalem on 27 October 2009