A truly horrific account of just one week’s worth of oppressive and deadly activities by Israeli forces inside Palestine.
2005.04.07–2005.04.07.13
Continuing construction to expand “Ma’ale Adomin” Settlement, east of Jerusalem.
-
3 Palestinian children were killed
by IOF. -
16 Palestinian civilians, mostly
children, were wounded by IOF. -
Construction of the “annexation
wall†in the West Bank has continued; large areas of Palestinian land
were confiscated in Hebron, Bethlehem and Ramallah. -
IOF conducted 23 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the West Bank, the widest of which was into Nablus. -
At least 40 Palestinian civilians
were arrested by IOF. -
2 Palestinian houses were
transformed by IOF into military sites. -
Israeli settlers have continued to
attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and more
areas of Palestinian land were confiscated in Hebron and Jenin for the
purpose of settlement expansion. -
IOF have continued to impose a total
siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to close a number of roads since
the beginning of the current Intifada, and IOF positioned at checkpoints
arrested a number of Palestinian civilians.
Introduction
Israeli occupation forces (IOF)
have launched more attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, human rights violations
perpetrated by IOF included shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions
into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. This week, IOF
killed 3 Palestinian children in Rafah and injured a number of other
civilians. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, IOF have
also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank
territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose.
They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.
In the Gaza Strip, on 9
April 2005, IOF willfully killed 3 Palestinian children near the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah.These children did not pose any threat to the lives
of Israeli soldiers. PCHR believes that whatever the reason for the presence
of the victims near the border, it does not justify their killing.On the
same day, IOF opened fire at residential areas in Khan Yunis, injuring five
Palestinian civilians, including three children. On 8 April 2005, a
Palestinian civilian was injured when IOF opened fire at residential areas
in Rafah.
This week, IOF conducted 23
military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, the largest of
which was into Nablus on 11 April 2005. IOF raided and searched a number of
houses and opened fire at Palestinian civilians. As a result, 10 Palestinian
civilians, including eight children, were wounded, and 11 other civilians
were arrested. This week, IOF arrested 44 Palestinian civilians, including
seven children, in the West Bank. IOF also seized two houses in Hebron and
transformed them into military sites. They also raided two schools and a
kindergarten.
IOF have continued to
construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. For this
purpose, they confiscated more areas of Palestinian land. At the beginning
of this week, IOF completed the construction of a section of the wall to the
west of al-Ram village, north of
East Jerusalem. The construction of this
section of the wall has impacted on commercial transactions in the area. It
has also isolated nearly 60,000 Palestinian civilians in al-Ram village and
isolated the village and the neighboring Dahiat al-Barid area from their
surroundings. This week, IOF issued a number of military orders confiscating
2691 donums in the villages of Yatta, al-Zahiriya and al-Biurj, southwest of Hebron; al-Khader
village, southwest of Bethlehem; and Deir Ebzei’ village, southwest of
Ramallah [1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters]. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations
organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the
wall. A number of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity
activists suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli settlers living in
the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a
series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. This week, IOF
issued a number of military orders confiscating 116 donums of Palestinian
land in Hebron for the purposes of settlement expansion. They also
confiscated for more areas of Palestinian land to the east of Hebron to
establish a fence around “Ennab” settlement.
IOF have continued to impose
a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, IOF
have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the
Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of
Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to close a number of roads
and crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada.
IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities near
Israeli settlements, causing more suffering to Palestinian civilians.
In the West
Bank, IOF have
continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have
also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to
prevent them from reaching Jerusalem to protect al-Aqsa Mosque as extremist
Jewish groups declared that they would break into the mosque. IOF also
erected a number of sudden military checkpoints. They stopped and checked
Palestinian civilians and arrested 12 of them, including two children. IOF
arrested Sheikh Hassan Yousef, Spokesman of Hamas, when he was traveling
back to Ramallah from al-Aqsa Mosque.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into
Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 7 March
2005
At approximately 02:00, an
infantry unit of IOF moved into al-Qazzazin market in the old town of
Hebron. IOF raided Salim ‘Eissa al-Batash’s house. They interrogated members
of the family and held them in two rooms. Then, they transformed the house
into a military site.
At approximately 12:00, a
number of Palestinian children gathered near a bypass road to the southeast
of Salem village, east of Nablus. They threw stones at Israeli military
vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at them. An infantry unit also surprised
the children and arrested five of them:
1.
Luqman ‘Abdul Hakim Hamdan, 16;
2.
Adham ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Eissa, 17;
3.
Mohammed Qaher ‘Eissa, 16;
4.
Fadi
Ghassan Ghassab, 17; and
5.
Na’el ‘Eissa, 16.
Friday, 8 April
2005
At approximately 04:00, IOF
moved into ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They surrounded Bassem Fayad ‘Akawi’s
house and threw stones at its windows. Soon after, they raided the house and
forced its eight residents out. They searched the house and then arrested
the owner’s son, 21-year-old Rassem.
At approximately 14:00, IOF
seized and transformed into a military site Jihad Ahmed Siaj’s house in Tal
Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron, near “Ramat Yishai” settlement
post. The house is uninhabited as its residents moved to live in East
Jerusalem 17 years ago. Israeli settlers had seized a neighboring house
owned by Zakria and Jouda Salim al-Bakri on 2 April 2005. Palestinian
civilians living in the area are concerned that IOF and settlers may seize
more structures in the area to annex them to the aforementioned settlement
post, especially as an Israeli military court rejected an appeal against the
establishment of a settler road in the area.
At approximately 19:00, IOF
moved into Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. They fired tear gas canisters.
Then, they surrounded a mosque. They checked dozens of people praying and
arrested 30-year-old Farah Kamal.
Saturday, 9 April
2005
At approximately 10:30, IOF
positioned in the vicinity of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron,
moved into Khellat Hadour neighborhood. They raided a kindergarten of
Palestine Red Crescent Society. They held teachers and 80 children in one
room and searched the kindergarten. This raid continued until 12:00.
At approximately 16:00, IOF
moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched an internet café. They
interrogated all the clients and arrested 16-year-old Nidal ‘Abdul Majid
Bustanji.
In another attack that
reflects the continuing disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians,
especially children, IOF willfully killed 3 Palestinian children near the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah.These children did not pose any threat to
the lives of Israeli soldiers.These killings were the first of their kind
for one month, even though IOF have continued to perpetrate other violations
of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), while
Palestinian resistance groups have committed to a truce that was agreed upon
in the context of Israeli – Palestinian understandings in Shram al-Sheikh,
and the Cairo understandings among resistance groups.
According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:00, IOF positioned at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah,without warning opened fire at 5 Palestinian
children who were playing on ruins of houses that had been already
demolished by IOF in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. Two of the children
were instantly killed, while a third one died shortly after being evacuated
to the hospital. The other two children survived the attack and were able
to escape. According to medical sources, each of the victims was hit by one
live bullet to the upper part of the body, which strongly indicates that IOF
intended to kill them.The victims were identified as:
1.
Khaled Fu’ad Ghannam, 17, hit by a live bullet to the neck;
2.
Ashraf Sameer Mousa, 15, hit by a live bullet to the chest; and
3.
Hassan Ahmed Abu Zaid, 17, hit by a live bullet to the head.
At approximately 17:00, IOF
positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gani Tal”
settlements, west and northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Amal neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp, while Israeli
military aircraft flew over the area. Five Palestinian civilians, including
3 children, were injured:
1.
‘Abdul Rahman Jameel Kallousa, 7, injured by shrapnel in the left thigh;
2.
Yousef Mohammed Barakat, 16, injured by shrapnel in the left hand;
3.
Ahmed ‘Abdul Salam Abu al-Jahjouh, 12, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen;
4.
Mohammed Khalil al-‘Aamoudi, 22, injured by shrapnel in the left arm; and
5.
Mohye al-Din Younis Abu ‘Amara, 49, injured by shrapnel in the left leg.
At approximately 19:00, IOF
moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They opened fire at
houses. Then, they raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10
Palestinians.
Sunday, 10 April
2005
At approximately 01:00, IOF
moved into Kufor Ne’ma village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of ‘Aatef Mohammed Abu ‘Aadi, 23, and
arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF
moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Anwar Mahmoud Mutair, 36, and arrested him.
At approximately 08:30, IOF
moved into al-‘Asa’sa village, south of Jenin. They surrounded an elementary
school and beat a number of schoolchildren. Then, they imposed a curfew on
the village.
At approximately 16:00, a
number of Palestinian civilians gathered at the entrance to Jama’in village,
southwest of Nablus. They threw stones at Israeli military vehicles that
were patrolling on Tran-Samaria road. IOF chased these civilians and
arrested three of them:
1.
Firas Na’el al-Haj ‘Ali, 18;
2.
Fadi
As’ad Zeitawi, 18; and
3.
Saleh Saleh ‘Assaf, 17.
At approximately 18:00, IOF
moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They chased some
Palestinian children who organized a peaceful demonstration near Bilal Ben
Rabah Mosque in protest to an attempt by an extremist Jewish group to break
into al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 11 April
2005
At approximately 00:30, IOF
moved into al-‘Asakra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched
two houses belonging to Anwar and Mohammed ‘Asakra. No arrests were
reported.
At approximately 02:00, IOF
moved into al-Yamoun village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of Yousef ‘Omar ‘Abahra, 22, and arrested
him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF
moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested three Palestinians:
1.
‘Othman Mahmoud al-Qadi, 22;
2.
Mousa Jamil Ghunaimat, 19; and
3.
Islam Mustafa al-Hadmi, 19.
At approximately 04:00, IOF
moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the
streets and erected a checkpoint at the northwestern entrance of the
village. They stopped and searched a number of Palestinian civilian
vehicles. IOF withdrew from the village at 18:30 and no arrests were
reported.
In the widest military
operation in Nablus since the beginning of this year, IOF moved into the
city. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and raided a number of
houses.
According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:00, IOF, reinforced by a helicopter,
moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Ra’ed ‘Abdul Karim al-Khalili, who was killed on 7 April 2005, when a
live bullet was unintentionally fired from his pistol. Al-Khalili had been
wanted by IOF. Then, IOF raided and searched a number of houses and
arrested 11 Palestinians, including one who was blind. During this
incursion, which continued until 12:00, dozens of Palestinian children threw
stones at IOF, which fired at the children, wounding eight of them and two
passing civilians:
1.
Tha’er Saher ‘Aashour, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
left hand;
2.
Rami
Ussama Demiati, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right
thigh;
3.
Ahmed ‘Omar Mansi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
foot;
4.
Ibrahim Isma’il Abu Lail, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
left thigh;
5.
‘Ameed
Ghazi Abu Keshek, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
foot;
6.
Radi
Nemer Hashash, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
7.
‘Ameed
Waddah ‘Alawi, 17, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right
hand and foot;
8.
‘Ali
Hussein Mansour, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
9.
Ayman Ra’ed ‘Abdullah, 31, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
right foot; and
10.
Sameer Mohammed al-Qadi, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
forehead.
Tuesday, 12 April
2005
At approximately 01:00, IOF
moved into ‘Arraba village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested three Palestinians:
1.
Ja’far Fawzi Abu Salah, 36;
2.
Hassan Ramzi Abu Salah, 28; and
3.
Fadi
Tayseer Abu Salah, 26.
At approximately 02:00, IOF
moved into Salem village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched
three houses and arrested three Palestinians:
1.
‘Aadel
Bassem ‘Awad, 18;
2.
Huthaifa ‘Abdul Raziq Shihada, 18; and
3.
Ahmed ‘Abdul Raziq Jabbour, 18.
At approximately 04:00, IOF
moved into Hawara village, south of Nablus. They imposed a curfew on the
village.
At approximately 07:00, IOF
moved into al-Khader village. They raided and searched Ahmed ‘Eissa’s house,
but no arrests were reported.
Continued Siege on the OPT
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
Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza
Strip. They have continued to completely or partially close all border
crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal
movement of Palestinian civilians.Furthermore, the suffering of Palestinian
civilians living in areas near Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip has
continued.
With regard to internal
movement, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement
of Palestinian civilians through al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on
Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza
Strip), even though they have increased the hours of opening the two
checkpoints. They often close the two checkpoints and hold and check
Palestinian civilians in between.
IOF have also continued to
impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. Male
Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prohibited from crossing al-Tuffah
checkpoint at the entrance to the area. Only 150 civilians are allowed to
exit the area daily, but under severe restrictions. IOF allow the entry of
foodstuffs into the area on Saturdays and Sundays, and allow the entry of
other goods on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On other days, they allow the
transportation of agricultural products out of the area. IOF and settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. With regard to
education, 1430 schoolchildren study at one school in the area, which lacks
electricity and water. The school also lacks teachers of a number of
subjects, such as mathematics, physics and chemistry. Only one teacher from
outside the area is allowed to teach at this school, and he is prevented
sometimes from entering the area. As a result of such conditions, the
school was forces to cancel the scientific section, so students who wish to
study science have to go to Khan Yunis.Israeli troops frequently close al-Tuffah
checkpoint at the entrance to the area.
IOF have also continued to
close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the
current Intifada, such as the western Rafah – Khan Yunis road in the
southern Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajeen road between the villages of al-Qarara
and Wadi al-Salqa in the central Gaza Strip and Salah al-Din Street at “Netzarim”
and “Kfar Darom” junctions in the central Gaza Strip. Furthermore, IOF have
continued to prohibit Palestinian civilians from using “Kissufim”, “Morag”
and al-Mentar roads in the southern and central Gaza Strip, which have been
devoted for the movement of IOF and settlers. IOF have continued to close
Gaza International Airport for the fourth consecutive year.
IOF have continued to impose
a strict siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli military
posts and settlements, particularly al-Sayafa area between “Dogit” and “Elli
Sinai” settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. At least 200 Palestinian
civilians live in the area, including 47 students, one physician, 5 public
employees, 50 children and 7 patients. On Thursday, 7 April 2005, a number
of Israeli settler living in “Dogit” settlement moved into the area and
stole a large amount of iron and aluminum of the remainders of Palestinian
greenhouses destroyed by IOF.
The daily suffering of
Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area is demonstrated in the
following:
1.
Palestinian civilians aged under 30 are prohibited from moving out and into
the area without prior coordination.
2.
A
very limited number of farmers are allowed to enter the area, but only
following coordination.
3.
University students have been forced to live outside the area due to the
prohibition imposed on the movement of those who are under 30.
4.
The
area lack paved roads, which makes transportation extremely difficult, so
residents of the area have to move on foot.
5.
IOF
open the iron gate at the entrance of the area from
07:00 to 09:00 and from
14:00 to 17:00.
6.
The
area lacks basic services, such as electricity, as IOF have prevented
establishing an electricity network in the area.
7.
Patients have to walk or transport on animal cart as ambulances are not
allowed to enter the area without coordination, which often takes a long
time.
8.
Farmers face extreme difficulties in marketing their products or bringing
agricultural equipment into the area.
In the same context, IOF
have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar Darom”
settlement in the central Gaza Strip. The area has lacked water and
telephone networks for three years after IOF had destroyed them. According
to residents of the area, they obtain water from a well in the area or bring
it from Deir al-Balah. IOF do not allow any Palestinian living outside the
area to entering it.
IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, including
workers and patients, through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip. Workers who can work in Israel must be over 35,
married and approved by Israeli security services.
The daily suffering of
Palestinian workers at Erez crossing is demonstrated in the following:
1.
Workers are subject to strict and prolonged checking and humiliation on
their way to their work places.
2.
Some
of them are subject to interrogation by Israeli security services.
3.
Many
workers are prevented from entering
Israel for security claims.
4.
Work
permits of workers who do not go to their work for a period that exceeds one
week are cancelled.
5.
On
13 March 2005,
IOF established a new route equipped with cameras, where workers are checked
before reaching the two passage routes at the crossing.
On Monday, 28 March 2005,
while IOF were checking workers, an Israeli soldier suddenly closed one of
the iron gates at the crossing. As a result, one of the workers,
44-year-old Mazen Hassan Lubbad, sustained bruises and fractures throughout
the body.
Only 25 patients who suffer
from serious diseases are allowed to enter Israel daily, but following prior
coordination and under inhuman conditions. Patients have to wait for
long hours before they are
forced to wall or move on wheel chairs to be checked. Only patients who
suffer from serious diseases are allowed to travel in ambulances, while
other patients have to travel in taxis after passing through checking.
IOF have continued to impose
severe restriction on commercial transactions at al-Mentar (Karni)
commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. Even though, IOF declared last week
that they would ease these restrictions, they have allowed only 30-35 trucks
to enter Israel through the crossing and 270 to enter the Gaza Strip from
Israel. The crossing has been operated in a very limited capacity, which
have damaged goods and caused large losses to Palestinian traders. In the
same context, IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian workers from
entering Israel through Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah. They only allow
the entry of construction raw materials into the Gaza Strip through the
crossing.
Even though Rafah
International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is open, IOF have
continued to impose severe restrictions on travel. The crossing point is
opened from 09:00 to 17:00 everyday. Even though, IOF have allowed
Palestinians aged 16-35 to travel through the crossing since 20 February
2005, they have continued to summon and interrogate a number of these
Palestinians. This week, many Palestinian travelers had to wait for several
days at the Palestinian side of the crossing point, as IOF allowed a small
number of travelers to travel on each day. This week, IOF stopped using a
special checking machine, which causes health problems, following protests
by human rights organizations and the Palestinian National Authority.
The West Bank
IOF have continued to impose
a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on
a number of Palestinian communities.
Jerusalem
Sinc Friday morning, 8 April
2005, IOF have imposed severe restriction on the movement of Palestinian
civilians to prevent thousands of Palestinian civilians from entering the
city to stop an attempt by extremist Jewish groups to break into al-Aqsa
Mosque on Sunday, 10 April 2005. According to eyewitnesses, IOF prevented
Palestinian civilians aged under 40 from attending the Friday Prayer at al-Aqsa
Mosque. On Sunday morning, 10 April 2005, around 4000 Israeli police members
surrounded the old town and prevented thousands of Palestinian from entering
it. According to eyewitnesses, IOF arrested and interrogated 11 Palestinian
civilians.
Ramallah
IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday
morning, 9 April 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on ‘Atara Bridge, north of
Ramallah. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian
vehicles. According to eyewitnesses, IOF held a number of students of Bir
Zeit University for several hours. In the meantime, IOF erected a
checkpoint at the entrance to Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah, and
prevented Palestinian civilians from traveling to Ramallah. On Monday
morning, 11 April 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Kufor
Ne’ma village. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
IOF positioned at various
checkpoints around Nablus have continued to impose restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to stop and search
Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 10 April 2005, IOF erected three
checkpoints at the entrances of the villages of Hares, Deir Estia and
Jama’in, southwest of Nablus. They imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians into and from these villages.
Hebron
IOF have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At
approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 7 April 2005, IOF forced owners of shops in
the old town to close their shops and leave the area, while Israeli settlers
threw stones and eggs at Palestinian civilians before the eyes of IOF. In
addition, IOF closed one of the gates leading to the Ibrahimi Mosque. At
approximately 11:40, IOF severely beat Shawqi Fakhri Musawdi, 28. On Friday,
8 April 2005, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were not able to reach the
Ibrahimi Mosque and the old town due to the severe restrictions imposed by
IOF on movement. Since the middle of March, IOF have imposed severe
restrictions on access of Palestinian civilians to the Ibrahimi Mosque,
conducting prolonged checking and preventing some civilians from entering
the mosque.
Tulkarm
On Friday morning, 8 April
2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Qiffin crossroads, north of Tulkarm. They
prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from traveling to Jenin. On
Saturday, 9 April 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun crossroads,
south of Tulkarm. On Sunday morning, 10 April 2005, IOF closed al-Kafriyat
checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They also erected a checkpoint to the west of
Tulkram and checked Palestinian workers traveling to Israel. They prevented
some of these workers from proceeding towards Israel.
Qalqilya
IOF imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday evening,
11 April 2005, IOF closed the entrances to the town. They also erected a
checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the town. In the meantime, IOF moved
into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya and closed its entrances. IOF also
erected a number of checkpoints around Qalqilya.
Arrests at Military Checkpoints
On Thursday noon, 7 April
2005, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Zahi
Mousa Srouji, 22, a university student from Tulkarm.
At approximately 19:00 on
the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint on Jericho – Nablus road. They
stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and checked Palestinian
civilians. They arrested Na’el Jihad Abu al-‘Asal, 28, from ‘Aqabat Jaber
refugee camp.
On Sunday morning, 10 April
2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Shaqba village, west of
Ramallah. They checked dozens of Palestinian civilians and arrested one of
them, 26-year-old Ziad Subhi Qadah.
At approximately 14:00 on
Sunday, IOF arrested Hassan Yousef, Spokesman of Hamas, his son and his
bodyguard, when they were traveling back to Ramallah from Jerusalem. IOF
took the three to an interrogation center in Jerusalem. At approximately
19:00, IOF moved the three to “Oufar” detention center in Ramallah. The
three were interrogated. They were released late at night.
On Monday morning, 11 April
2005, IOF positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the
Jordanian border arrested Bashar Abu Sara, 28, from ‘Arraba village, south
of Jenin.
On Monday afternoon, IOF
arrested Ahmed Mustafa Thura, 17, a schoolchild from Qalqilya. According to
his mother, at approximately 13:30, she was called by a person who
identified himself as a member of the Israeli “Border Guard.” He told her
that her son had been arrested.
At approximately 22:00 on
Monday, IOF positioned at a checkpoint near ‘Azzoun village, east of
Qalqilya, arrested two Palestinians:
1.
Rani
Nassim ‘Owais, 22; and
2.
Mohammed ‘Abdullah ‘Owais, 24, both from Qalqilya.
At night, IOF positioned at
the northern entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron, arrested
19-year-old Hussam Mohammed al-‘Anati, a university student.
At approximately 17:30 on
Tuesday, 12 April 2005, IOF suddenly closed Hawara checkpoint, south of
Nablus, and arrested Hassan ‘Ali Hashash, 15, from Balata refugee camp. IOF
claimed that the child was carrying Molotov Cocktails under his suit.
On Tuesday morning, IOF
positioned at a checkpoint near Deir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus,
stopped a number of Palestinian civilian cars and checked Palestinian
civilians. They severely beat Tahseen Ahmed Bisharat, 26, from Tammoun
village near Jenin.
Continued Construction of the Annexation
Wall
At the beginning of this
week, IOF completed the construction of a section of the wall to the west of
al-Ram village, north of East Jerusalem. This section was constructed in the
middle of the main road that links Ramallah with Jerusalem. IOF finished
placing huge concrete blocks near Qalandya Airport and a military checkpoint
in the area. They also started to establish an iron gate near the
aforementioned checkpoint. The construction of this section of the wall has
impacted on commercial transactions in the area. It has also isolated
nearly 60,000 Palestinian civilians in al-Ram village and isolated the
village and the neighboring Dahiat al-Barid area from their surroundings.
On Thursday morning, 7 April
2005, IOF handed three military orders issued by the IOF commander in the
West Bank on the preceding day to a number of Palestinian civilians.
According to these order, 700 donums of land in al-Zahirya village, 350
donums in al-Sammou’ village and 453 donums in al-Burj village near Hebvron.
At least 14,000 donums of land have been confiscated in Hebron district
since the middle of last year for the purpose of the construction of the
wall.
Also on Thursday, IOF handed
a military order to the local council of Deir Ebzei’ village, southwest of
Ramallah, confiscating 1200 donums of Palestinian agricultural land for the
purpose of the construction of the wall and the establishment of a road that
will serve it.
On Friday morning, 8 April
2005, IOF handed a military order to Palestinian civilians, confiscating 7.5
donums of agricultural land in al-Khader village near Bethlehem for the
purpose of the construction of a section of the wall, 500 meters long and 15
meters wide parallel to bypass road (60) between Jerusalem and Hebron.
On Thursday morning, 7 April
2005, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in
Saffa village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the wall.
IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the
demonstrators. Eight demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On Friday afternoon, 8 April
2005, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in
Deir Ballout village, southwest of Nablus. IOF fired tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas
inhalation.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian
Civilian and Property
Israeli settlers living in
the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a
series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have
continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement
activities.
On Thursday morning, 7 April
2005, IOF issued a military order confiscating around 70 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land owned by Yousef and ‘Ali Mahmoud Nasser in
Fuqaiqees village, southwest of Hebron, to expand the neighboring “Negahot”
settlement.
On Thursday afternoon, IOF
issued a military order closing large areas of Palestinian agricultural land
in the villages of Kufor al-Labad, Shoufa and Ramin, east of Tulkarm, and
prohibiting access of Palestinian farmers to the land. According to the
order, IOF will establish a fence around the neighboring “Ennab” settlement,
3000 meters long and 26 meters wide.
On Friday, 8 April 2005, IOF
started to build a separating cement wall inside a house belonging to the
heirs of Yousef No’man al-Sharbati to the east of “Avraham Avino” settlement
post in the old town of Hebron. IOF claimed that the building of this wall
aims at providing protection to Israeli settlers. Members of the al-Sharbati
family have been waiting for the implementation of a decision issued by the
Israeli High Court on 13 December 2004, allowing their return to their house
after they had been expelled by IOF from the house since 27 July 2002.
On Saturday morning, 9 April
2005, IOF issued a military order confiscating 46 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land in the villages of Halhoul and Beit Ummar, north of
Hebron, near “Kermi Tsur” settlement. The confiscation of the land aims at
establishing a fence near the aforementioned settlement.
On Saturday afternoon, a
number of Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement in Tal Rumaida
neighborhood in Hebron attacked four neighboring Palestinian houses using
stones and empty bottles. The houses were damaged.
In the meantime, a group of
female Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron,
threw stones at Sa’di Hassan Jaber’s house. A number of the windows were
broken.
At approximately 17:30, a
number of Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement post in Tal
Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron, who were celebrating the
coming of new Jewish families to live in the settlement post, intercepted
and severely beat 15-year-old Mohammed Tayseer Abu ‘Eisha. When his siter,
17-year-old Rajaa’, intervened to save her brother, the settler beat her.
The two children sustained bruises throughout the body.
According to information
available to PCHR, this week, at least eight new extremist Jewish families
came to live in new housing units built inside the aforementioned settlement
post.
***
Recommendations to the International
Community
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
Territories. PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the
international community has encouraged Israel to act as a state above law
and 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 OPTs 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
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the
process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments
to bring these war criminals to justice.
5.
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 OPTs.
6.
PCHR
calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the
Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security
Council and Commission on Human Rights.
7.
PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the
Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give
its Advisoryt Opinion. There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which
obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level
of the expected decision by the court.
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 OPTs,
including for facilitating 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 solidarity groups, and
urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure
Israel’s
respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian
civilians.
10.
In
light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its
occupying forces on access of international solidarity groups to the OPTs,
PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli
citizens.
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.
Author: PCHR
News Service: Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
URL: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/14-04-2005.htm
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