Palestinian Center for Human Rights 25 May 2005
At Kalandia checkpoint near Ramallah, Israel is constructing a permanent border crossing on occupied territory. (M. El Fassed-Vermeer)
This week Israeli forces wounded a number of Palestinian civilians, including three children. Israeli forces conducted 16 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Houses were raided and 14 Palestinian civilians were arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Israeli forces used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield while searching his house in al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to close a number of roads and border crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada and IOF arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including three children, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Incursions
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) conducted at least 16 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank territory. During these incursions, IOF injured a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested 14 others. IOF also raided two registration centers of the Palestinian Central Election Commission (CEC). On Saturday, 20 May 2005, IOF moved into al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided and searched a house. They used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield while searching the house. On Wednesday, 25 May 2005, a Palestinian child was injured when IOF opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis.
Restrictions on Movement
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Occupied East Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close some roads and border crossings of the Gaza Strip and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 20 May 2005, IOF closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). They also closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for three days. In the West Bank, IOF positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 14 Palestinian civilians, including three children. On Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF fired at a Palestinian civilian vehicle near Beit Fourik checkpoint, east of Nablus. The driver was wounded by seven live bullets to the thigh. On Monday, 21 May 2005, IOF fired at a Palestinian worker near Tulkarm, wounding him with four live bullets.
Annexation Wall
IOF have continued to construct the “Annexation Wall” inside the West Bank territory and seize more land for this purpose. On Tuesday, 24 May 2005, IOF demolished a house and three civilian facilities in Ethna village, west of Hebron. IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall. A number of demonstrators were injured or arrested.
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. On Friday, 19 May 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from “Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem, razed an area of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Khader village. This week, Israeli settlers from “Qidoumim” settlement, east of Qalqilya, razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Kufor Qaddoum village. On Sunday, 22 May 2005, IOF demolished a number of small houses in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron.
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