Live from the Field:

Tight Siege on Palestinian Communities Near the Settlements

-         IOF maintain control of settlements and military posts as they demolish evacuated buildings and dismantle military posts

-         IOF impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank

Disengagement (D-Day) Field Report: No. 12

Date: 29^th of August 2005

Time: 1300 GMT

Location:

·      Northern Gaza Strip: Beit Hanoun.

·      Northern West Bank: Nablus.

Chronology of Events

IOF are presently transferring some synagogues and graves from the evacuated "Gush Qatif" settlement bloc in the southern Gaza Strip to Israel.  Since the morning, IOF have been demolishing settler homes in "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip and dismantling a military post at al-Shuhada crossroads on Salah al-Din Street, south of Gaza City.  Yesterday, they dismantled the largest military post in "Gush Qatif" settlement bloc near al-Satar al-Gharbi area in Khan Yunis.  In the meantime, IOF have continued to impose severe restriction on the freedom of movement of Palestinian civilians.   

Land Levelling

Northern Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to level areas of Palestinian land along the northern border of the Gaza Strip.  They have opened fire at Palestinian residential areas and agricultural land.  Sa'id Fahmi Salah told a PCHR field worker that since last week, IOF had levelled area of land and put base course to establish a road, nearly 20 meters to the west of the border with Israel, east of Beit Hanoun.  They have so far paved 20 kilometres.  At least 500 donums of land already razed by IOF have been affected by the establishment of the road.  It is expected also to affect thousands of donums. 

Closures and Curfews  

Northern West Bank

Since the morning, IOF have closes all permanent military checkpoints around Nablus.  They have also erected a number of sudden checkpoints on the branch and dirt roads leading to the city.  IOF have declared that they would prohibit the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city until the evening. 

Erez Crossing

IOF have continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip and Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the south and north of the Gaza Strip).  The two checkpoints are opened for a few hours at night.  IOF have also continued to close a number of the main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada.  In addition, IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities located near the evacuated settlements. 

International Law

Settlements and settlers are illegal under international law.  The Fourth Geneva Convention, the primary document governing the OPT, stipulates in Article 49 that the transfer of the population of the occupying power into the occupied territory is in breach of international law.   The International Court of Justice confirmed in its 2004 judgment that settlements and settlement activity is illegal.

Freedom of movement is a right afforded to Palestinian civilians under the Fourth Geneva Convention as well as under established international treaties on human rights.  Preventing free movement of people and goods interferes with the right to work, the right to health, the right to education, the right not to be held as a prisoner without a free and fair trial.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org