Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2006/04-05-2006.htm Please copy and distribute to those without Internet access.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
· IOF shot dead a Palestinian woman the West Bank and extra-judicially executed a Palestinian activist in the Gaza Strip.
· Two Palestinians were extra-judicially executed by IOF in Bethlehem.
· 17 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were wounded by IOF gunfire.
· IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the northern Gaza Strip; two members of the Palestinian National Security Forces were killed and a third was wounded, when they attempted to deactivate an unexploded shell fired by IOF.
· IOF conducted 37 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, particularly Nablus.
· 111 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and two women, were arrested by IOF.
· Two houses were transformed by IOF into military sites.
· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to partially close border crossings of the Gaza Strip, the north of the West Bank has been separated from the center and south; IOF abused a number of Palestinian civilians, including journalists, at checkpoints in Hebron; and IOF arrested the wife and mother of an allegedly wanted Palestinian in the West Bank.
· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF razed more areas of land in Yatta village, south of Hebron; IOF started to construct a fence around Sho’fat refugee camp near Jerusalem; and IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Wall, wounding 5 demonstrators with rubber-coated metal bullets.
· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the OPT; Israeli settlers launched daily attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property in Hebron.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (27 April–3 May 2006):
Killing: On Thursday morning, 27 April 2006, IOF extra-judicially executed a member of the Islamic Jihad and wounded another in al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip. On Monday morning, 1 May 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian woman in Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm, and wounded her three daughters. IOF fired at the family’s house from a neighboring house they had seized and transformed into a military site. On Tuesday, 2 May 2006, two members of the Palestinian National Security Forces were killed and a third was seriously wounded, when one of them attempted to deactivate an unexploded artillery shell fired by IOF at the north of Beit Lahia town, in the northern Gaza Strip.
During the reported period, 17 Palestinian civilians (9 in the West Bank and 8 in the Gaza Strip), including 7 children, were wounded by IOF gunfire. During the reported period, IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged.
Incursions: During the reported period, IOF repeatedly moved into Nablus. IOF also conducted 37 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 111 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and two women. In addition, IOF transformed two houses into military sites. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions. In an attempt to exert pressure on allegedly wanted Palestinians to surrender, IOF arrested a number of their wives and mothers.
Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a comprehensive siege on the OPT, in violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians.
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, transforming it into a large prison. IOF have continued to monitor the movement of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. Although IOF have allowed the transportation of food aid from Egypt into the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, southeast of Rafah, the crossing has not yet been officially opened. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip from reaching their work places in Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. They have continued to prevent hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip from traveling to the West Bank. IOF have partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. As a result of the repeated closures of the crossing, the economic conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated.
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege 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 have continued to separate the north and south of the West Bank. IOF claimed that this measure is temporary. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abused a number of Palestinian civilians, including journalists. During the reported period, IOF at a checkpoint near Nablus arrested the wife and mother of an allegedly wanted Palestinian.
Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian land in Kherbat al-Tawani area to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, in order to construct a section of the Wall in the area. IOF engineering units also placed signs for the route of the Wall in al-Baq’a area in the northeast of Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, IOF will construct a section of the Wall in the area on thousands of dunums of Palestinian agricultural land. IOF started to establish a road linking villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem with the road leading to Ramallah, through al-Jeeb village. IOF decided to establish this road after they had closed all outlets of the Wall in the area. They claim that they decided to establish the road “to make it easier for Palestinians to move in the area.” On Sunday, 30 April 2006, the Israeli cabinet voted to reroute an area near the major settlement of “Ariel” deep in the West Bank and approved putting temporary fencing around areas of Jerusalem. These moves came in an effort to overcome temporary injunctions issued by the Israeli High Court stopping the construction of the Wall in some areas. According to the Israeli cabinet’s latest decisions, Beit Eksa village, north of Jerusalem, would be put on the Palestinian side of the enclosure. According to Israeli sources, the rerouting of the Wall around “Ariel” settlements aims to link it with the main route of the Wall to the south instead of the already decided route to the West Bank. On the following day, IOF placed barbed wire around Sho’fat refugee camp and the neighboring Ras Khamis area, north of Jerusalem, to separate them from Jerusalem. The separation of the camp from Jerusalem will impact the access of its population to educational and medical services in the city. Palestinians living outside the camp will also face difficulties in accessing services inside the camp.
Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. During the reported period, Israeli settlers living in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, seized more areas of Palestinian land near the settlement. They also launched a series of attacks on Palestinian houses in Hebron.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (27 April–3 May 2006)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 27 April 2006
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children:
1. ‘Arafat ‘Ali Abu Salah, 27;
2. ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Abu al-Haija, 25;
3. Eyad Tayseer Abu al-Haija, 17;
4. Mohammed Ahmed Abu al-Haija, 14;
5. Ameer Fa’eq Samara, 20;
6. Mustafa ‘Adnan Abu al-Haija, 22;
7. Suleiman Ahmed Abu al-Haija, 17;
8. Kamel ‘Ezzat al-Ja’bari, 50;
9. Ameer Kamel al-Ja’bari, 25;
10. Mahmoud Kamel al-Ja’bari, 17; and
11. Eihab ‘Adnan al-Ja’bari, 17.
· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Akram ‘Ali Sawafta, 27;
2. Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Anbousi, 17; and
3. Ashraf Fadi Abu Dawas, 18.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Northern ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Bassel ‘Abdul Hakim Sawalha, 18;
2. Bassel Mohammed Sawalha, 20;
3. ‘Ammar Hussam Jarar’a, 20; and
4. ‘Adnan Ahmed Jarar’a, 21.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Eiba village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Mahmoud Ahmed Rasheed Dabbous, 22; and
2. Mohammed Nabeel Dabbous, 20.
· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Khellat al-Dar area in the south of Hebron. They searched and destroyed a number of caves, and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Nader Suleiman Abu Hussein, 32; and
2. Suleiman Jamal Abu Hussein, 24.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Um al-Sharayet neighborhood in the south of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Malek, 44, a member of the newly elected Palestinian Legislative Council representing the Reform and Change Bloc of Hamas. He has been recently elected as the representaitive of the refugee committee at the Council.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Suhaib ‘Aziz al-‘Asa, 20, and arrested him.
· At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They patrolled the streets and opened fire. They then raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:
1. ‘Abdul Fattah Mahmoud Barham, 15; and
2. ‘Aadel Hafez Abu al-Lail, 16.
· At approximately 09:30, IOF moved into Salem village, east of Nablus. They took position at the entrance of the secondary school. A number of students gathered in the school yard and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at the students wounding 17-year-old Mahmoud ‘Ezzat ‘Emran with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot.
Friday, 28 April 2006
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They besieged the Shalhoub apartment building in Street 6 in the Northern Mountain neighborhood. They forced residents of the building outside. They then raided the building and searched it. IOF also raided and searched a number of houses in the city and the refugee camp and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including a child and the mother of an allegedly wanted Palestinian:
1. Raqia Mohammed Lebbada, 45;
2. Mohammed Nasser Ya’ish, 17;
3. Sa’id Hani al-Kouni, 18;
4. Mujahed Harbi Fatayer, 27;
5. Ghazi Mohammed al-Bustami, 28;
6. Helmi Sameer al-Danbak, 22; and
7. Sameer Kittana, 22.
Concerning repeated arrests of mothers of allegedly wanted Palestinians by IOF, Raqia Mohammed Mahmoud Lebbada, 45, stated to PCHR:
“At approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 19 April 2006, we heard IOF soldiers knocking on our door in al-Qaisariya quarter in the old town of Nablus. My husband, 54-year-old Mahmoud Ameen Mahmoud Lebbada, opened the door. At least 20 soldiers broke into the house shouting at us to get out, and we did. I forgot my child, 6-year-old Mohammed, sleeping in his room. I asked a soldier to allow me to get into the house to awake him, but another soldier got out of the house carrying the child, who was crying. I took him and hugged him. One of the soldiers asked me about my son Ameen, and he threatened that if I did not tell them where he was, they would destroy the house. He asked my son, 18-year-old Adham, the same question 6 times. When we denied knowledge of his whereabouts, IOF soldiers started to destroy the furniture. They also asked my husband about our son, and took my daughter, 16-year-old Ghoroub, into a room and interrogated her about her brother. At approximately 02:30, they informed me that they would take me with them. I was then wearing my nightwear. I asked them to allow me to change my clothes, but they refused. They forced me out. They ordered me to phone my son. I told them that I do not have his phone number. Immediately, a soldier pointed his gun to my head and took me 100 meters away. They put me into an armored personnel carrier. There, I saw Intissar Qandil, the mother of Sufian Qandil, who is also allegedly wanted by IOF. They transported us to Hawara detention center, south of the city. Approximately 20 minutes later, I saw soldiers bringing 3 other women into the detention center: Fadi Qaffisha’s wife; her mother; and a woman from the ‘Aqqouba family. Qaffisha’s wife and her mother were in nightwear. At approximately 11:00, they started to violently interrogate us. At approximately 13:00, they released us. At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 20 April 2006, IOF raided our house and arrested me. They took me to Hawara detention center. They interrogated me. I was so tired that I fainted. I woke up at 10:00, finding myself at Belenson Hospital in Tel Aviv. At approximately 19:00, 3 soldiers arrived at the hospital and transported me to Hawara checkpoint. At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 26 April 2006, IOF arrested me and my husband. They took us to Hawara detention center handcuffed and blindfolded. A few hours later, a soldier forced us to run and violently beat us. I fainted. I woke up when they poured water onto me. At approximately 13:00, they released us. At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 28 April 2006, IOF raided our house and arrested me again. I fainted while they were interrogating me.”
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bourqin village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Ahmed Mohammed Subeh, 25;
2. Hilal Khaled ‘Ateeq, 24;
3. ‘Omar Majed ‘Ateeq, 23; and
4. Ahmed Khaled Mansour, 22.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jalboun village, northeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Radi Abu al-Rub, looking for his son Muarad, a police officer. IOF left the house at 06:30 after demanding the family to hand him over and threatened to kill him if the family did not do so.
· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. ‘Alaa’ Nasri Abu ‘Aziz, 22;
2. ‘Abdullah Ahmed Abu ‘Aziz, 20;
3. Daoud Ahmed Abu ‘Obaid, 17;
4. ‘Abdullah Nazmi ‘Aarda, 20; and
5. Ahmed Mohammed ‘Aarda, 20.
· At approximately 18:30, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided a shop on the main street and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Hilal Yousef Khuraisha, 21; and
2. Khalil Ibrahim Khuraisha, 21.
Saturday, 29 April 2006
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two brothers:
1. Tawfiq Rasem Khuzamiya, 26; and
2. Ahmed Rasem Khuzamiya, 24.
IOF abused Palestinian civilians when raiding their houses. In his testimony to PCHR, Rateb ‘Omar Khuzamiya, 57, said:
“At approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 29 April 2006, IOF soldiers knocked on our door and opened fire at the house. I opened the door. An IOF soldier ordered me to bring all those who were inside the house out and I did. He asked men to uncover their chests and legs and we all did. He asked me about my son, 37-year-old Yasser, and I denied any knowledge about him. They took me and my son, 29-year-old Ayasr, into a jeep and then transported us to an intelligence officer who was in the area. He said that his name is Talal. He interrogated Ayasar and me about Yasser. He then interrogated Yasser’s wife and she denied any knowledge about her husband. The officer insulted us and threatened to kill Yasser. Later, IOF soldiers broke into the house and searched it. They withdrew from the area at approximately 04:00.”
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Wadi Foukin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Yousef Mohammed al-Horoub, 25, and arrested him.
· In the morning, IOF shelled areas in the northern Gaza Strip. The shelling continued sporadically until the evening and wounded 6 Palestinian civilians:
At approximately 14:30, ‘Abdul Qader Mohammed al-Kilani, 52, was wounded by shrapnel to the right hand, while he was farming his agricultural land in the north of Beit Lahia. An artillery shell fired by IOF fell approximately 200 meters away from him.
At approximately 16:00, an artillery shell fired by IOF hit a 240-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Mohammed Isma’il Abu ‘Ouda, in which 35 individuals (4 families) live, in the al-Amal neighborhood in Beit Hanoun. The owner’s child, 13-year-old ‘Abduyl Rahman, was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and his grandchild, 5-year-old Mohammed, was wounded by shrapnel to the neck. The shell hit the house while residents of the house were having lunch on the first floor. In addition, Ahmed Ibrahim Na’im, 17, who was walking near the house, was seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head.
At approximately 16:15, an artillery shell fired by IOF hit agricultural areas in the southeast of Beit Hanoun. A Palestinian farmer and his child were wounded while they were farming their land:
1. ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed al-Za’anin, 50, wounded by shrapnel to the abdomen and the limbs; and
2. Mohammed ‘Abdul Qader al-Za’anin, 15, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot.
· At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Hussam Mithqal Shamasna, 21;
2. Muhab Mohammed Qe’dan, 19; and
3. Hassan Tawfiq Esleem, 26.
Sunday, 30 April 2006
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Hindaza Mount neighborhood in the east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Ali Mohammed Nawawra, 23; and
2. ‘Abdullah Yousef Falah, 25.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved towards Magharat al-Haleeb neighborhood to the southwest of the Church of the Nativity. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Hassan Sha’lan, looking for his son, 19-year-old Mohammed. As they did not find him, they moved towards al-Feneeq wedding hall in the south of the town, where he works, and arrested him.
Monday, 1 May 2006
· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:
1. Munther Mahmoud Abu Shadouf, 27;
2. ‘Alaa’ Nemer Wardani, 20;
3. Yasser Mohammed Subaih, 31;
4. Qais Waleed Ghanem, 38;
5. Nidal Jameel Salama, 21;
6. Saleh Sadiq Subeh, 28;
7. Ahmed Sa’id Salama, 26;
8. Mohammed As’ad Khalaf, 23;
9. ‘Arafat ‘Abdul Ra’ouf ‘Aamoudi, 24; and
10. Nidal ‘Ali Shalamis, 30.
· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Ta’mor village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:
1. Khaled Mohammed al-Wahesh, 21;
2. Ahmed Mohammed al-Wahseh, 23;
3. Mousa Mohammed al-Wahesh, 25;
4. Ahmed ‘Alaa’ al-Wahesh, 21; and
5. Mohammed Suleiman al-Wahesh, 22.
· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and opened fire indiscriminately. They withdrew from the village later and no casualties or arrests were reported.
· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 13 Palestinian civilians:
1. Maher Hassan Ed’ais, 22;
2. ‘Emad Shihda Manasra, 23;
3. Yahia Taher Humaidat, 23;
4. Mohammed ‘Ezzat Ed’ais, 26;
5. Yasser ‘Ali Ed’ais, 24;
6. Amjad Mousa Harahsha, 23;
7. Suleiman Mousa Harahsha, 25;
8. ‘Abdul Rahman Mousa Ed’ais, 26;
9. Ahmed Mhamoud Taraira, 27;
10. Daoud Mousa Judai’, 35;
11. Taher Suleiman Danas, 26;
12. Ra’ed Suleiman Danas, 29; and
13. ‘Ali Mohammed Barakat, 41.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Mahmoud Jebril Makhamra, 27; and
2. Mohammed Jebril Makhamra, 32.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and apartment buildings in various areas in the city and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and a child:
1. Ghada Haitham Estaitiya, 31;
2. Haitham Mohammed Estaitiya, 33;
3. Jamal Muneer Abu Salha, 16;
4. Ayman Jalal Abu Salha, 25; and
5. Tamer Nemer al-Meenawi, 16.
· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:
1. Tal’at ‘Aziz Rushdi, 26;
2. Yousef Ahmed al-Teeti, 25;
3. ‘Alaa’ Jaber al-Teeti, 23; and
4. ‘Emad Adeeb al-Sakafi, 27.
· In the early morning, IOF shot dead a Palestinian woman in Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm, and wounded her three daughters. IOF fired at the family’s house from a neighboring house they had seized and transformed into a military site.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Thinnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. The besieged a number of houses in the south of the suburb and opened fire indiscriminately. They then raided a 3-storey house belonging to ‘Othman al-Fahmawi, and transformed its roof into a military site. IOF ordered residents of a house through megaphones to get out without specifying the targeted house. At approximately 05:15, IOF opened fire at a house belonging to Yousef Mahmoud Zayet, 48. As a result, his wife, 44-year-old ‘Etaf Ahmed Mahmoud Qassem, 44, was killed by a live bullet to the head. His three daughters were also wounded:
1. Ahlam, 21, seriously wounded by 3 live bullets to the left forearm and leg;
2. Ansam, 19, wounded by a live bullet to the side; and
3. Angham, 14, wounded by shrapnel to the neck.
IOF also arrested Eyad Mohammed Mo’een, 29, who was allegedly wanted for being a member of the Islamic Jihad. They forced him to get out of the building almost naked. IOF then destroyed parts of the fence and the first floor of the house.
In his testimony to PCHR about his wife’s death, Yousef Mahmoud Zayet, 48, said:
“At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 1 May 2006, we woke up hearing a person calling through a megaphone in Arabic, with a foreign accent: ‘It is better for you to get out of the house. Get out or we will demolish the house over you and then, do not blame anyone, but yourself.’ We did not know which house he meant, as we live on the second floor of an apartment building, which is surrounded by many houses. My wife attempted to look through the window, but IOF fired a sound bomb in the area, so she moved back and we sat in the living room. Soon after, our neighbor, ‘Abdul Rahman al-Masri, 65, and his wife came to our house. At approximately 05:15, I head sounds of gunshots coming from the east. Soon, I heard my daughter, 21-year-old Ahlam screaming: ‘My hand… my hand.’ I ran towards her and found that she was bleeding as she was hit by a live bullet to the left forearm. Soon, my other daughter, 19-year-old Ansam, screamed: ‘My mother… my mother.’ I looked at my wife. I saw blood covering her face. I moved closer to her. I saw parts of her brain out of the head. My wife was sitting on the ground, when she was shot, and we were not moving inside the house. I got out and screamed on IOF soldiers. They ordered me to take my upper clothes off and I did. I told them that my wife was dead and my daughter was wounded, and I asked them to allow medical crews to enter the house, but they refused for 15 minutes. I went back to the house and sat my daughter Ahlam on a plastic chair. She screamed: ‘My leg.’ I discovered that she was wounded by another live bullet to the leg. I carried her with my neighbor’s assistance and took her out of the house. There, my other daughter, 19-year-old Ansam, fell onto the ground. We discovered that she was wounded by a live bullet to the side. My third daughter, 14-year-old Angham, was wounded by shrapnel to the neck. We evacuated them to the hospital. Later, I learnt that IOF had seized an apartment building belonging to ‘Othman al-Fahmawi to the east of my house and IOF fired at my house from there.”
· At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Jericho. They raided and searched a bakery in the al-Arab neighborhood in the north of the town, and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. ‘Emad ‘Aqel, 34;
2. Yasser Hamadna, 23; and
3. Tariq Dawas, 24.
· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at houses and shops, damaging a number of them.
· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved again into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Essam Ibrahim ‘Owaida, 19, and arrested him.
Tuesday, 2 May 2006
· At approximately 02:10, IOF moved into Balata and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child:
1. Hamza No’man Mashayekh, 24;
2. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Asmar, 23;
3. Ahmed Mahmoud al-Asmar, 20, who is blind; and
4. Diaa’ Aysar Hinnawi, 16.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Shehada Mohammed Shehada, 18, arrested to pressure his father who is allegedly wanted by IOF to surrender;
2. Riad Isma’il Zawahra, 30; and
3. Ahmed Yasser Maslma, 20.
· At approximately 04:45, IOF moved into Ektaba village, northeast of Tulkarm. They besieged a house belonging to Shadi Mahmoud Fawaz’a, 32. They called through megaphones on residents of the house to get out with their hands up. Fawaz’a got out of the house and told them that he was the only man in the house, but they ordered him to bring his wife and children out. When the wife and the children came out, IOF held them near the house. They then stormed and searched the house. Before their withdrawal, they arrested Fawaz’a, who is a police officer.
· In the afternoon, two members of the Palestinian National Security Forces were killed and a third was seriously wounded, when one of them attempted to deactivate an unexploded artillery shell fired by IOF at the north of Beit Lahia town, in the northern Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 12:45, a heavy explosion was heard inside a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces in the east of Jabalya refugee camps. The explosion killed two security men and seriously wounded a third one. According to eyewitnesses, 3 unexploded artillery shells fired by IOF on the northern Gaza Strip had been brought into the site. They were put in the office of Officer Khaled Sa’id Fannouna, 33, from Nusairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. When the officer, in cooperation with one of his colleagues, Tamer Hamdan al-Masharawi, 28, from Gaza City, were attempting to deactivate one of the shells, its exploded and killed them. A third officer who was near the room, Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-Shareef, 40, from Gaza City, was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body. He was evacuated to an Israeli hospital.
Wednesday, 3 May 2006
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Attil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wajdi Saleh Abu Khalil, 25, and arrested him.
· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ziad Yousef Sumairat, 23, and arrested him. .
· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:
1. Fadi Marwan Mershed, 16; and
2. Ayman Tariq Melhem, 16.
· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Firas ‘Ali Hasasna, 19, and arrested him.
· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Hawara village, south of Ramallah. They raided al-Hawari building on the main road in the village and transformed it into a military site. They then imposed a curfew on the village.
2. Extra-Judicial Execution
On Thursday morning, 27 April 2006, IOF extra-judicially executed a member of the Islamic Jihad and wounded another one in al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip. This attack came less than an hour following a failed attack by IOF that targeted a civilian car, in which 5 members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, were travelling. This latest attack was the second by IOF in 5 days.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 08:15 on Thursday, 27 April 2006, an IOF aircraft launched a missile at a civilian car (a grey Mercedes) that was traveling on the coastal road opposite to al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip. Five members of the al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad, were traveling in the car. The missile fell on the road behind the car and damaged it. The passengers were able to get out of the car and escape. In the meantime, Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Nejem, 29, another member of the al-Quds brigades, was driving another car in the same area. He stopped it and escaped when he noticed IOF aircrafts. At approximately 09:15, Abu Nejem, accompanied by another member of the Islamic Jihad, 27-year-old Wa’el Ibrahim Mutair (Nassar) al-Qara’an, came back to the area to take his car. When they got close to the car, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at them. The two were seriously wounded by shrapnel. They were evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, but al-Qara’an died from his wounds at noon. Ten minutes following the attack, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at the car, destroying it.
3. 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 Occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Although IOF have been redeployed around the Gaza Strip, they have maintained the occupation of the Gaza Strip through controlling all outlets and crossings.
· Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. Daily work hours at the crossing point have been increased to 10 hours. It is noted that, Kerem Shalom commercial crossing to the southeast of Rafah, which is designated for imports under joint Israeli-Palestinian control has not operated. The crossing was opened a few weeks ago to allow the transportation of food aid from Egypt into the Gaza Strip due to the economic crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by repeated closures of al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing. During the reported period, IOF opened the crossing for 3 days only and allowed 21 trucks loaded with sugar and flour to enter the Gaza Strip.
· Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: The crossing is the only commercial one serving the Gaza Strip. IOF frequently close the crossing as a means of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, the crossing was partially operated allowing the importation of limited amounts of foodstuffs and medicines. Many kinds of medicines have disappeared from the markets. According to a Palestinian official source, IOF prevent the exportation of industrial products from the Gaza Strip. They allow the exportation of most goods, but in small amounts that do not meet the needs of local markets. These measures have affected the health, education and construction sectors in the Gaza Strip.
· Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. During the reported period, IOF decreased the number of patients permitted to travel to Israeli hospitals from 50 to 20. IOF have allowed international workers and Palestinian National Authority officials who have VIP cards to pass through the crossing, but without their private cars.
· Sofa crossing: IOF also control Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, which is designated for the transportation of construction raw materials. IOF repeatedly close the crossing for no apparent reason. The crossing is not operated on Fridays and Saturdays. On Wednesday, 3 May 2006, IOF closed the crossing for no apparent reason.
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. 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. On a number of occasions the Israeli military has opened fire against the civilian fishermen in order to enforce the 9 nautical mile limit imposed on them. The Oslo Accords make provision for Gaza’s sea to be fished to 20 nautical miles.
The West Bank
IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.
· Jerusalem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in occupied Jerusalem. During the reported period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through various checkpoints around the city. IOF also reinforced their presence at these checkpoints. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Jerusalemites since the operation of Qalandya crossing on 4 April 2004. These restrictions coincided with Easter celebrations. During the reported period, and in the context of measures taken to separate the north of the West Bank from the center and south, IOF erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of Qalandya refugee camp, which are devoted, in addition to Qalandya crossing, to the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at these checkpoints prevented Palestinian civilians coming from the north of the West Bank from entering Ramallah. These latest measures prove that IOF’s claims concerning easing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians were void.
· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reported period, IOF continued to separate the north of the West Bank from the center and south. For this purpose, they erected more checkpoints on the main road linking the north with the south of the West Bank. Palestinian civilians wishing to travel from the north to Ramallah are forced to leave homes in the early morning. On Saturday morning, 29 April 2006, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented residents of Tulkarm and Jenin from entering the city. On Sunday noon, 30 April 2006, IOF destroyed the agricultural road linking between al-Naqoura and Deir Sharaf villages, northwest of Nablus. As a result, telephone communications were cut off from al-Naqoura village. Palestinian civilians had started to use this road as an alternative to the al-Bathan road, northeast of Nablus, which had been closed by IOF. Following the destruction of this road, Palestinian civilians were forced to move between al-Naqoura and Deir Sharaf villages on foot. On Tuesday morning, 2 May 2006, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, for more than one hour, claiming that they had found a suspicious object. According to eyewitnesses, IOF brought personnel to the area to destroy a bag found at a bus station used by Israeli settlers near the checkpoint. The bag belonged to a settler who had boarded a bus and left his bag in the area.
At approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 28 April 2006, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Fidaa’ Durid Qattawi, 18, and her mother-in-law, Fathiya Qattawi, to exert pressure on her husband, who is allegedly wanted by IOF, to surrender.
· Ramallah: IOF have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They re-established their presence at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah. IOF also erected a checkpoint near “Tshe’ar Benjamin’ settlement. According to eyewitnesses, IOF positioned at the two checkpoints prevented Palestinians coming from the northern West Bank from entering the town. Palestinian civilians were forced to resort to alternative longer roads. On Saturday morning, 29 April 2006, IOF prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians from one village to another to the west of Ramallah. On Monday morning, 1 May 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Shaqba village, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.
· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 27 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Jaroushiya intersection, north of Tulkarm and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Tulkarm. At the same time, IOF erected another checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and prevented Palestinian civilians from traveling to al-Kafriyat checkpoint, claiming that it was closed. In the meantime, IOF continued to close all other checkpoints around the town. On Friday, 28 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Qiffin intersection, north of Tulkarm. They obstructed the passage of Palestinian civilian vehicles towards Jenin. At the same time, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, and obstructed the travel of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. On Saturday, 29 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. In the meantime, IOF positioned at various checkpoints around the town prevented residents of the town from traveling out and prevented residents of other areas from entering the town. On Sunday, 30 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Qiffin intersection, north of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Qiffin village. At the same time, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Tulkarm – Nour Shams road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 1 May 2006, IOF erected a number of checkpoints around the town, including one to the north of Shwaika suburb. IOF checked Palestinian civilians using dogs. On Tuesday, 2 May 2006, IOF closed all checkpoints around the town, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. They also chased dozens of young men who attempted to travel on alternative dirt road and forced them to travel back.
· Jenin: IOF have continued to close the northern Jordan Valley. They have closed al-Hamara and Tayseer checkpoints. On Thursday morning, 27 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road linking between Qabatya and Sanour villages, southeast of Jenin, which Palestinians use to travel between Nablus and Jenin due to the closure of the Nablus – Jenin road for maintenance. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday morning, 2 May 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at “Mikhola” settlement intersection, southeast of Jenin. They searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and verified the identity cards of Palestinian civilians. Also on Tuesday morning, IOF closed al-Hamra and Tayseer checkpoints, declaring the northern Jordan Valley a closed military zone. They prevented Palestinian civilians from entering the area.
· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside the town. On Saturday and Sunday, 29 and 30 April 2006, hundreds of Palestinian school children were not able to reach their schools due to restrictions imposed on their movement by IOF soldiers positioned in the center and south of the town. On Saturday morning, 29 April 2006, IOF closed Nabi Younis – Halhoul checkpoint, which leads to villages located to the north of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 30 April 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Quds – Ras al-Joura, north of Hebron. They stopped Palestinian civilians and checked their identity cards.
On Sunday morning, 30 April 2006, IOF positioned near “Beit Rumano” settlement outpost in the center of Hebron abused two Palestinian journalists: ‘Abdul Hafiz al-Hashlamoun, 39, a cameraman of the German Press Agency (DPA); and Hazem Jameel Bader, 40, a cameramen of French Press Agency (AFP). The two were photographing IOF soldiers who beat and arrested 14-year-old Salah Mohamemd al-Ja’bari, claiming that he was carrying a knife.
In his testimony to PCHR, Hazem Bader said:
“At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 30 April 2006, my colleague ‘Abdul Hafiz al-Hashlamoun and me arrived at the old town square to photograph IOF soldiers who were positioned a checkpoint near ‘Beit Rumano’ settlement outpost in the north of the old town, while they were beating and arresting 14-year-old Salah al-Ja’bari. IOF soldiers stopped us when we were 20 meters away from the checkpoint. They pointed their guns at us and ordered us to stop photographing. We stopped photographing and left the area. Other IOF soldiers threw stones at us. A few minutes later, IOF soldiers moved towards us pointing their guns at us. They asked us for our press cards. When they took the cards, they threw them in the street. They also attempted to destroy our cameras and violently beat us. They forced us to leave the area.”
On Monday noon, 1 May 2006, IOF positioned at a checkpoint in al-Sahla Street in the old town of Hebron stopped Ne’ma Mohammed al-Atrash,65, and prevented her from passing through. They also violently beat her. She fainted. IOF soldiers did not offer her any medical aid. Later, IOF held and beat her son, 34-year-old ‘Abdul Muhtadi Mohammed al-Atrash. Three journalists arrived at the area to report on the attack: Yusri Mahmoud al-Jamal, 31, a cameraman from Associated Press; Ma’moun Isma’il Wazwaz, 30, a photographer from the local Ma’an (Together) News Agency; and ‘Emad Mohammed al-Sa’id, 34, from Reuters News Agency. IOF attacked the three journalists and held them for one hour. They confiscated video tapes from the cameras. IOF released them when their agencies intervened with IOF.
4. Construction of the Annexation Wall
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory.
· On Thursday morning, 27 April 2006, IOF engineering units placed signs for the route of the Wall in al-Baq’a are in the northeast of Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, IOF will construct a section of the Wall in the area on thousands of dunums of Palestinian agricultural land.
· At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 28 April 2006, about 250 Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal’ein, west of Ramallah. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. Six demonstrators were wounded:
1. Mo’men Noufal, 22, hit by a tear gas canister to the foot;
2. Majdi ‘Aayed Abu Rahma, 14, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh;
3. Adham Ibrahim Abu Rahma, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the foot;
4. Yassin Mohammed Yassin, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the arm;
5. Hammouda ‘Emad Hammouda, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the thigh; and
6. Mohammed al-Khatib, 33, sustained a fracture to the hand.
· On Sunday morning, 30 April 2006, IOF started to establish a road linking villages located to the northwest of Jerusalem with the road leading to Ramallah, through al-Jeeb village. IOF decided to establish this road after they had closed all outlets of the Wall in the area. They claim that they decided to establish the road “to make it easier for Palestinians to move in the area.” The planned road is two kilometers long and 30 meters wide.
· During the reported period, IOF continued to raze areas of Palestinian land in Kherbat al-Tawani area to the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. According to local sources, IOF have so far razed a strip of land, which is one kilometer long and 12 meters wide near “Karme’el” settlement. IOF may also raze areas of Palestinian located near a settler road leading to “Sousia” settlement. It is worth noting that IOF decided to a construct a 25-kilometer section of the Wall near the settler road (60) between “Karme’el” and “Teena” settlements to the east of Yatta village.
· On Sunday, 30 April 2006, the Israeli cabinet voted to reroute an area near the major settlement of “Ariel” deep in the West Bank and approved putting temporary fencing around areas of Jerusalem. These moves are an attempt to overcome temporary injunctions issued by the Israeli High Court stopping the construction of the Wall in some areas. According to the Israeli cabinet’s latest decisions, Beit Eksa village, north of Jerusalem, will be put on the Palestinian side of the enclosure. According to Israeli sources, the rerouting of the Wall around “Ariel” settlements aims to link it with the main route of the Wall to the south instead of the already decided route to the West Bank.
· On Monday morning, 1 May 2006, IOF placed barbed wire around Sho’fat refugee camp and the neighboring Ras Khamis area, north of Jerusalem, to separate them from Jerusalem. According to a report issued by UNRWA in 2004, the population of Sho’fat refugee camp, which was established in 1965-1966 included 10,290 refugees with Israeli identity cards. The separation of the camp from Jerusalem will impact the access of its population to educational and medical services in the city. Palestinians living outside the camp will also face difficulties in accessing services inside the camp.
5. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israeli settlers (living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law) have continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:
· On Friday morning, 28 April 2006, a number of Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, seized 7 dunums of Palestinian agricultural land belonging to the al-Ja’bari family, located near the settlement. On Sunday evening, 30 April 2006, they fenced the seized land.
· On Saturday evening and Sunday morning, 29 and 30 April 2006, dozens of Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, launched a series of attacks on Palestinian houses in Wadi al-Nasara, al-Masharqa and Jaber neighborhoods near the settlement. According to eyewitnesses, the settlers gathered on a tract of land belonging to Mahmoud al-Bouti Jaber, which they had seized 3 years ago, and launched their attacks. They threw stones, empty bottles and iron bars at houses and insulted their residents. A number of houses were damaged. IOF were present in the area and did not intervene to stop the attacks.
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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 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 recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people 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 OPT.
6. PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law.
7. PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.
8. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
9. In recognition of the ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
10. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
11. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal with Israeli citizens in a similar manner.
12. 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.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website (
http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (
pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).
