LAW

LAW fears an increase of punitive home demolitions, intended to punish the families of ‘wanted’ political activists, of suicide bombers and other armed combatants. Since the beginning of the Intifada, at least 1,133 homes have been demolished. In the past two weeks, 17 homes have been demolished as collective punishment. LAW fears an increase in home and land destruction on security pretexts, particularly around the Egypt-Palestine border in Gaza, and around the northern West Bank sections close to Israel’s apartheid wall. In the past two weeks, 15 homes were demolished on security pretexts.

The women’s representative in the al-Ramle prison for women, Amina Mona, in an affidavit given to LAW lawyer Fahmi Shkeirat on Tuesday has accused the prison administration of extremely critical medical negligence, threatening a woman with deportation, and serious abuse.

LAW today received a decision on an appeal filed on September 12 on behalf of four residents of Kufr Aqab in East Jerusalem to temporarily halt construction of a 3.8 km section of Israel’s “security wall,” running between Kufr Aqab and the Ofer military detention center, separating Kufr Aqab from Jerusalem. The wall shall be built near homes and built-up residential areas.

On Friday, November 22, Israeli forces attacked Jenin refugee camp, killed a Palestinian child and British engineer Ian Hook (50). An eyewitness stated that Hook exited the office, which overlooked snipers, raising the flag of the UN. He stood in front of the entrance of the office and asked the Israeli forces, including the sniper upon the roof of an eyewitness, to stop shooting. They did not heed his request, and opened fire upon him from a distance of around 20 meters.

Israeli forces assassinated Issam Sawafteh (19 from Tubas near Jenin. At least 173 Palestinians have so far been killed in extra-judicial executions committed by Israel, including 63 Palestinian bystanders. This is the third extra-judicial killing to take place over forty-eight hours.

The Israeli army today issued a directive forbidding Palestinians from picking olives in the West Bank. It’s olive picking season, but Palestinians are not allowed access to their crops.