Weekly report on human rights violations

Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).  Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and house demolitions.  Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs.  This week, 6 Palestinian civilians were killed and at least 20 others were injured by Israeli forces.

In the Gaza Strip, 5 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli troops.  Three of the victims were killed in another extra-judicial assassination perpetrated by Israeli troops in Gaza City on 30 May 2004.  A fourth victim was killed when Israeli troops opened fire at agricultural areas in Deir al-Balah.  The fifth victim died from a previous injury he had sustained during the Israeli offensive on Rafah.

This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted 12 military incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they destroyed 55 houses, including 39 in Rafah, rendering 560 Palestinian civilians (98 families) homeless.  They also razed 24 donums of Palestinian agricultural land.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians, killing one of them in Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin.  Israeli troops also demolished 4 houses in the context of collective punishment measures against families of Palestinian activists.  Israeli troops also arrested dozens of Palestinians throughout the West Bank.  In addition, Israeli settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties.

Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank, especially around Jerusalem.  They razed more areas of Palestinian land and started to construct some sections of the wall around Jerusalem.  Israeli occupying authorities also issued a military order seizing 5500 square meters of Palestinian land in Masha village, west of Salfit, for the purpose of wall construction.

Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.  In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have continued to close most border crossings.  These crossings were partially reopened at the end of this week under severe restrictions.  In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  Israeli forces have also continued to prohibit Palestinians who are under 45 from praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and have isolated the city form the rest of the West Bank.  They also closed the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron.

To download the full report click here.

Related Links

  • BY TOPIC: Human Rights