PCHR Weekly Report

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

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (24 – 29 July 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 2 Palestinians, including a child, and wounded 17 civilians, including 2 children, in the West Bank.

On Saturday, 26 July 2008, IOF killed a member the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Hebron. IOF shelled the house where the victim was hiding and then demolished it over him. During this operation, IOF troops used the victim’s parents as human shields. IOF troops also wounded a Palestinian child in the same area.

On Tuesday, 29 July 2008, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child in Ne’in village, west of Ramallah, when he and other children got closed to the area where Israeli bulldozers were leveling land in the village for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Annexation Wall. IOF troops fired at the child without warning.

On 24 and 26 July 2008, IOF wounded 5 Palestinian civilians in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

On 17 July 2008, IOF wounded 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, during an incursion into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. On 23 July 2008, IOF wounded a Palestinian civilian in Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, when he was collecting metals nearly 300 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

During the reporting period, 11 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and 2 international journalists, were wounded when IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 33 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 42 Palestinian civilians. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 1,669.

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 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 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. 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 border crossings of the Gaza Strip.

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.

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 often violently beat 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 Thursday, 24 July 2008, the Israeli radio in Arabic reported that the Israeli Parliament Foreign and Defense Committee approved the construction of 20 new housing units in “Maskiot” settlement in the northern Jordan Valley in spite of a promise to the United States in 2007 to stop settlement activities in this settlement. On Sunday morning, 27 July 2008, a number of Israeli settlers set fire to olive fields in Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. Dozens of olive trees standing on at least 50 donums of agricultural land were burnt. On Monday, 28 July 2008, IOF demolished a 4-storey apartment building belonging to Majed Abu ‘Eisha in Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem. The building, which was partially licensed, was a home for at least 70 people.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (24 – 29 July 2008)

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

· At approximately 00:00, IOF troops positioned on an observation tower at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and their houses in the area. IOF troops then moved into the east of the village. They chased and fired at Palestinian civilians claiming that stones were thrown at a military post. As a result, Ibrahim ‘Awadh Mahmoud, 19, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the town later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beitin village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. They withdrew from the village later and neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ta’nak village, southwest of Jenin. Hey raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed ‘Abdul Ghani Abu Qthaila, 20.

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

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into al-Menya, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Nawaf Abu Nour, 42.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at dozens of shops and houses. A number of shops and houses were damaged, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mo’taz Ibrahim al-Salfiti, 21.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Shuhada Triangle village, south of Jenin. They besieged a coffee shop belonging to Zaher Mahmoud ‘As’ous in the center of the village. They ordered through megaphones all those who were in the coffee shop to get out and the latter did. IOF troops verified the identity cards of the customers and arrested Yousef ‘Ali ‘As’ous, 24.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians from the refugee camp:

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

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

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp. North of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 17:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at those civilians wounding 4:

1. Saleh Mustafa Ekhlil, 25, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;

2. Shawkat ‘Abdul Latif ‘Alqam, 20, wounded by a gunshot to the right forehand;

3. Ahmed ‘Ali Ekhlil, 27, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left knee; and

4. Mohammed Mousa ‘Arar, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the forehead.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into the northern and western parts of Hebron under cover of intense gunfire. They took position in Shu’ab al-Maleh area. They closed all entrances to the area and besieged 4 houses, including an under-construction, 2-storey one belonging to Wa’el Mohammed al-Beitar, which was the target of this military operation. Twenty-five people, including 15 children live in the other houses. IOF troops took positions atop of a number of houses and hills in the area and ordered through megaphones residents of the four houses to get out with hands up and the latter did. IOF troops interrogated them about where Shihab al-Din’Abdul ‘Azizi al-Natsha, 25, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), was hiding. At approximately 19:45, IOF resumed firing at the mainly targeted house. They opened fire at it from heavy machine guns and fired 8 shells at it. The house and a neighboring animal farm were damaged and fire broke out. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at those civilians wounding 13-year-old Mo’men ‘Arafat Mujahed with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back. At approximately 20:30, an Israeli bulldozer moved towards the besieged houses and started to pave the dirt road leading to them. It also demolished fences on both sides of the road. It then started to demolish al-Beitar’s house. At approximately 23:30, IOF arrested al-Natsha’s parents from their houses in Wadi al-Tuffah area and forcibly brought them to the site of the military operation. They repeatedly forced the mother to call on her son to surrender. At approximately 03:30 on the following day, IOF resumed shelling the house and then demolished it and a neighboring room. At approximately 04:00, the Israeli bulldozer searched the debris of the house and took out parts of al-Natsha’s body. Later, IOF allowed a Palestinian medical crew to searched form the remaining parts of the body. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, 2 of them were identified as: Wa’el Mohammed al-Beitar, 40; and ‘Abdul Qader Mohammed Abu ‘Eisha, 30.

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Qaizoun neighborhood in the northeast of Heron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Eissa ‘Abdul Rahim al-Hashlamoun, 35, after blowing up it door, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved in Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Wadi Abu Ktaila neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Zain al-Din Mousa Misk, 29, and arrested him.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into the west of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ma’ath Sameer Haroun, 18.

· At approximately 02:00, IOG moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Rezeq ‘Ayaida, 30.

· Also at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 members of the Palestinian General Intelligence:

· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Khellat Hadour and al-Mohawel neighborhoods in Hebron. They erected a checkpoint in the area. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested Bassam Yassar Msawda, 30.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ma’moun al-Safadi, 28.

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

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

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 aids allowed into the Gaza Strip.

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

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing for several hours on Sunday, 27 July 2008, and allowed the entry of large amounts of aggregate. On Monday, 28 July 2008, IOF allowed the entry of amounts of seeds and feeds. On Tuesday, 29 July 2008, IOF allowed the entry of large amounts of aggregate.

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

Date	Details
23 July 2008	75 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
24 July 2008	96 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
25 July 2008	52 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
26 July 2008	Closed
27 July 2008	81 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
28 July 2008	85 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip
29 July 2008	80 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 at the crossing point during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

Date	Details
24 July 2008	Miriam Farahat, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council,accompanied by 2 members of her family traveled to Egypt to receive medical treatment as she was suffering from an acute heart attack.
26 July 2008	5 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.
29 July 2008	Jamal Abu Hashem, a senior leader of Hamas, and 3 leaders of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (Ramzi Rabah; Saleh Zaidan; and 'Abdul, Karim Abu Jayab), accompanied by 4 bodyguards, traveled to Egypt.

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom” crossing for more than 3 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. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. 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.

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.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 24 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 26 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 27 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 28 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 21:30 on Friday, 25 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children:

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 24 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 25 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the western entrance of Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and prevented civilians aged below 35 from passing through. On Saturday, 26 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday, 27 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint near the entrance to ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 28 July 2008, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, from 06:00 to 09:00. On Tuesday, 29 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the twon. erected a checkpoint to the east of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. In the meantime, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and Ennab checkpoint, east of the town, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. On Saturday, 19 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and another one at Beit Leed intersection, east of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 20 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 21 July 2008, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 22 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at Deir al-Ghossoun intersection, north of Tulkarm, and banned Palestinian civilians from passing through for several hours. On Wednesday, 23 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around Hebron. On Sunday morning, 27 July 2007, IOF closed the entrances of Hebron and denied movement to and from the town. For this purpose, they erected additional checkpoints inside and around the town and on the main roads linking villages and refugee camps near the town.

On Monday morning, 28 July 2008, a Palestinian was forced to give birth at an IOF military checkpoint at the northwestern entrance to Hebron. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Majeda ‘Abdul Latif Ja’afra, 22, from Tarqoumia village northwest of Hebron, was in labor. Her husband, ‘Abdul Latif Mohammed Ja’afra, transported her in his private car towards a hospital in Hebron. They arrived the northwestern entrance of the town at approximately 07:45 and found that the entrance was closed with sand barriers and rocks. An IOF checkpoint forward was also closed. The husband attempted to find a way to pass through, and the pains of his wife’s labor increased. He knocked the door of a nearby house asking for help. Residents of the house called an ambulance, but the wife was forced to give birth to her baby before the arrival of the ambulance. At approximately 08:40, an ambulance arrived at the area and the woman, her husband and their baby to a hospital in Hebron.

At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 28 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at a military checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fahes area in the south of Hebron arrested Wa’el Mohammed Zaidat, 21, from Bani Na’im village.

· Al-Karama International Crossing Point: On Tuesday noon, 29 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Haitham Salah ‘Owais, 22, from Jenin refugee camp, when he was on his way to Jordan.

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

· Following the Friday Prayer on 25 July 2008, 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. As a result, dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation. An Israeli journalist, David Rib, was also hit by a tear gas caniter.

· On Friday noon, 25 July 2008, 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. As a result, 4 demonstrators and French journalist were wounded:

1. Mohammed Younis ‘Amira, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand;

2. Mohammed Hassan Nafe’, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

3. ‘Abdul Qader Mustafa al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

4. Khalil Khamis Nafe’, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

5. Najeeb Salsali, a French journalist of an Algerian origin, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the jaw.

· At approximately 15:30 on Sunday morning, 27 July 2008, 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. As a result, 7 demonstrators were wounded:

1. ‘Alaa’ Mohsen al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

2. Malek Hatem Nafe’, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

3. Mohammed ‘Ali al-Khawaja, 22, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the neck and back;

4. Mustafa ‘Awadh ‘Amira, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

5. Zaidoun Sa’id Sorour, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand;

6. Hilal ‘Abdul Qader al-Khawaja, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

7. Mohammed ‘Aayed Sorour, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

· On Tuesday morning, 29 July 2008, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. Some demonstrators threw stones at IOF soldiers who responded by gunfire. At approximately 18:00, a number of Palestinian children got closed the area where Israeli bulldozers were working. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children without warning. As a result, 11-year-old Ahmed Hussam Yousef Mousa was killed by a gunshot to the head. It is worth noting that the Israeli daily Ma’ariv reported in March 2008 that the Israeli authorities instructed IOF troops positioned along the Wall to fire directly at anyone who may demonstrate against its construction provided that no international or Israeli human rights defenders are present.

4. 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.

· On Thursday, 24 July 2008, the Israeli radio in Arabic reported that the Israeli Parliament Foreign and Defense Committee approved the construction of 20 new housing units in “Maskiot” settlement in the northern Jordan Valley in spite of a promise to the United States in 2007 to stop settlement activities in this settlement. The Israeli daily Ha’aretz reported that Israeli government had already suspended plans to construct 180 in the aforementioned settlement in the context of freezing settlement activities in the West Bank, but the Israeli Knesset approved the construction of new housing units in the settlement, and the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak pledged to approve the construction in the near future. Haa’retz reported that 20 Israeli settlers from “Shirat Hayam” settlement in the Gaza Strip, which was evacuated in 2005, moved to live in “Maskiot” settlement last year. “Maskiot” settlement was established in 1982. In 2006, the Israeli government decided to construct housing units in the settlements for Israeli settlers from the “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc in the Gaza Strip, which had been evacuated.

· On Sunday morning, 27 July 2008, a number of Israeli settlers set fire to olive fields in Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilya. Dozens of olive trees standing on at least 50 donums of agricultural land were burnt.

· At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 28 July 2008, the Israeli police besieged a 4-storey apartment building belonging to Majed Abu ‘Eisha in Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem. Police officers then broke into the buildings and attacked all people who were inside the building forcing them out. A few hours later, an Israeli bulldozer started to demolish the building. In the evening, IOF planted explosives inside the building and blew it up. The building, which was partially licensed, was a home for at least 70 people.

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 consi

PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org
Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory	No. 31/2008 24 - 29 July 2008

Hundreds of Palestinian civilian waiting to pass through an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron