Palestinian Center for Human Rights 21 July 2004
Palestinian men drinking coffee downtown Ramallah (Arjan El Fassed)
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more violations of human rights 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. This week, 6 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, one of whom is a child, were killed and a number of other civilians were injured by Israeli troops.
In the Gaza Strip, on 18 July 2004, a 4-year-old child from Rafah died form an injury she had sustained by Israeli troops last week. This week, 10 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, were injured when Israeli troops shelled Palestinian residential area. Israeli troops conducted 4 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, the widest of which was into Rafah, during which Israeli troops demolished 22 houses, rendering 292 people (50 families) homeless. Israeli troops have continued their wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun for the 4th consecutive week. This week, they razed more areas of agricultural land and destroyed some civilian facilities in the town. On 19 and 20 July 2004, Israeli troops launched 2 aerial attacks against a house in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, in an attempt to assassinate an allegedly wanted Palestinian, but he survived these attacks.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by Israeli troops in Balata refugee camp on 17 and 19 July 2004. Three other Palestinians were killed by Israeli troops that attempted to arrest or kill them in Hebron town and Saida village in Tulkarm on 15 and 19 July 2004 respectively. A number of Palestinian civilians were also wounded by the Israeli gunfire. Israeli troops also arrested dozens of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, especially in Bethlehem and Jenin districts, despite a resolution approved by the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, 21 July 2004, calling for the adoption of an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 9 July 2004 demanding that Israel halt construction of the annexation wall since it is illegal.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. Israeli troops positioned at military checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians, injuring 6 of them. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops have continued to close most border crossing. On Sunday morning, 18 July 2004, Israeli troops closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. They have also continued to close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip for the 2nd consecutive week. 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.
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