Live from the Field:

Palestinian Civilian Suffering in Spite of the Completion of Evacuation of Settlers

IOF have completed the evacuation of 4 illegal settlements in the northern West Bank, but these settlements will be used as military posts – Palestinian civilians living near illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip are being affected by closures

- A report live from the field by PCHR’s fieldworkers in the Gaza Strip and West Bank

Disengagement (D-Day) Field Report: No. 9

Date: 24 August 2005

Time: 1100 GMT

Location

·      Southern Gaza Strip: Al-Qarara village north of Khan Yunis near "Kissufim" settler road.

·      Northern Gaza Strip: Al-Sayafa enclave between "Dogit" and "Elli Sinani" settlements.

Chronology of Events

On Tuesday evening, 23 August 2005, IOF completed the evacuation of settlers in "Homesh" and "Sanour" settlements, south of Jenin.  The two settlements were the last to be evacuated among 25 illegal Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank included in the Israeli "Disengagement Plan."  In the meantime, IOF have continued to demolish homes inside settlements in the Gaza Strip, while have maintained a tightened siege on Palestinian civilian communities located near settlements.  IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the freedom of movement inside Palestinian areas and at border crossings. 

Closures and Curfews

Al-Qarara

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on two Palestinian houses in al-Qarara village near "Kissufim" settler road, north of Khan Yunis, since they began to implement the "Disengagement Plan.  IOF have prevented residents of the two houses from leaving them.  Isma'il Jama'an al-Sumairi told a PCHR field worker that he and his 8-member family face extreme difficulties in their new jail as they have not been allowed to leave their house.  The same applies to 3 families living in Salem Salim Abu Farraj's house.  Most of those who live in the two houses are children and foodstuffs have started to run out.  At another level, IOF have continued to close al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north of south of the Gaza Strip).  In the past two days, IOF delayed the opening of the two checkpoints for several hours, contrary to what they have agreed with the Palestinian side. 

Al-Sayafa

Al-Sayafa enclave has been under a tightened siege since 15 August 2005.  Only 4 Palestinian civilians are allowed to go out of the area once a day and for only one hour to bring children milk.  According to Mousa al-Ghoul, who lives in the area, vegetables, meat and dairy products have run out since 23 August 2005. 

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip; al-Tuffah and Tal al-Sultan checkpoints at the entrances to al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip; al-Ma'ni enclave near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip; and a number of the main and branch roads inside the Gaza Strip. 

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