Live from the Field:

Pupils Starting New School Year Prevented from Attending School

IOF stationed in the evacuated settlements fired at Palestinian civilians in the areas close to the settlements

Disengagement (D-Day) Field Report: No. 16

Date: 4^th of September 2005

Time: 11:00 GMT

Location:

Southern Gaza Strip: The Gaza border near Al-Qarara; Western Satar area near Khan Younis, and Al-Mawasi isolated area.

Central Gaza Strip: El-Ma’ni isolated enclave near Deir El-Balah

Northern Gaza Strip: El-Se’yafa isolated enclave between the evacuated settlements of Eli Sinai and Dugiet

Northern West Bank: Jenin

Chronology of Events

IOF continued to impose its control over the areas of the evacuated settlements in the Gaza Strip and West Bank; and they continued to demolish houses and other installations in these settlements, and transport equipment out of them.  Palestinians living in areas close to the evacuated settlements are paying the price of the IOF presence, resulting from the strict closure of these areas, and the occupation of some of their houses.

In addition, IOF continued to close Erez checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip in the face of Palestinian Laborers and patients and the main and branch roads shut down since the beginning of the Intifada.

During the day, IOF continued to close Abu Holi and Al-Matahen checkpoints connecting the south of the Gaza Strip with the center and north. This morning, IOF informed the Palestinian liaison office that the two checkpoints will be opened one hour in the morning and another in the afternoon along side the existing routine of opening them from 22:00 – 5:00 each night. The new procedure corresponded with the start of the new academic year for universities. However, opening the checkpoints for two hours during the day will not be enough for hundreds of students, teachers, and employees who commute across the checkpoints daily.

IOF soldiers stationed in tanks on the perimeter of evacuated settlements fired, without provocation, at Palestinian civilians.

Closure and restriction of movement

Southern Gaza Strip:

-         For the third consecutive week, IOF continued to impose a tight closure on the residents of the area around the Kissufim settler road east of Al-Qarara village (north of Khan Younis). Area residents have been prevented from leaving it. The closure affected 40 school students who were prevented from going to school since Saturday  3  Sep 2005. They were prevented the joy of starting the school year; and are set to suffer in their education as a result of the forced absence from school.

-         In Al-Mawasi area to the west of Khan Younis, IOF continued to impose a strict closure since the start of the “Disengagement.” IOF prevented new teachers from entering Al-Mawasi with the start of the new scholastic year, and prevented science-section Tawjihi (final year of school) students from leaving the area. It is noted that there is only one school in the area, working two shifts, for 1500 students of all grades except the science-section for Tawjihi. Area residents stopped sending their grown daughters to school as they are against mixed education. Furthermore, the school lacks a number of teachers and equipment.

Central Gaza Strip:

IOF continued to impose a strict closure on El-Ma’ni area. On 3 Sep 2005, IOF prevented pupils in the area from reaching their schools outside. The ban affected 54 students from all grades, and continues to prevent them their right to education.

Northern Gaza Strip:

In the morning of Saturday 3 Sep 2005, IOF soldiers controlling exit and entry to Al-Se’yafa area allowed 17 school pupils to go to their schools outside the isolated enclave, under the condition that they return at 13:00. But in the return journey, IOF banned 6 school students over 17 years old to go back home. This created difficulties for them as they searched for a place to stay away from home.

West Bank:

Although the settlements of Homesh and Sanur on the Jenin-Nablus road were evacuated 12 days ago, IOF continued to close the road in the section from Shavi Shamron settlement northwest of Nablish and Arraba junction south of Jenin. Palestinian vehicles are barred from traveling on this section of the road.

PCHR’s fieldworker stated that the residents of 9 Palestinian villages (Bazaria, Burqa, Beit Imrien, Yaseed, Nisf Jubeil, Ejnesneya, El-Naqoura, Sebsete’ya, Aseera El-Shamale’ya) to the north and northwest of Nablus are prevented from using the Nablus-Jenin road. They cannot access the road due to the closure of the IOF checkpoint at the Shavi Shamron junction, which leads to the Beit Ieba checkpoint west of Nablus. The residents of these villages are forced to use Bathan road that is longer in distance; thus doubling travel costs.

And in conjunction with the start of the new scholastic year and the academic year for universities, IOF set up mobile roadblocks on the afore-mentioned roads and on the Aseera El-Shamale’ya – Tallouza road and Tallouza – Bathan road north of Nablus. As a result, hundreds of civilian Palestinian cars were forced to stop and suffer humiliating searches. Students and teachers were prevented from reaching their destinations.

Attacks Against Civilians

Southern Gaza Strip:

At 00:15 on Friday 2 Sep 2005, soldiers stationed in an IOF tank on the perimeter of the evacuated settlement of Qatif northwest of Khan Younis fired their machine guns without provocation at the streets and homes in the western Satar area north of Khan Younis. Two civilians on their way home near the settlement were injured. Palestinian medical sources described the injuries as moderate. Shadi Shu’eib Abd-Rabbo El-Odeiny (30) was injured with a bullet in the foot. And Ammar Shu’eib Abd-Rabbo El-Odeiny (23) sustained a similar injury.

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. 

 ***************

For more information please call: +972 (0)- 8 - 2824776 – 2825893.* 

*Office Hours are between 0800 – 1600 hours (0500 GMT – 1300 GMT) Sun – Thurs.           

……………………………………………………………

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