Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 14 December 2006

Palestinian mother carries her son near Rafah crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, December 14, 2006. (MaanImages/Hatem Omar)


Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
  • Two Palestinian couple were killed by the explosion of a mysterious object from the remainders of IOF.
  • A Palestinian woman died from a heart attack when IOF detonated a sound bomb inside her house.
  • 11 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded by IOF.
  • IOF conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
  • IOF arrested 40 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children.
  • IOF raided offices of two local radio stations in Hebron.
  • An IOF bloodhound bit and injured a Palestinian woman in Nablus.
  • IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
  • IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Ban; IOF have continued to construct a section of the Wall in ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya.

    Summary

    Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reported period (7 - 13 December 2006):

    Killing: During the reported period, a Palestinian couple were killed in Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, and their child was seriously wounded on 9 December 2006, when a mysterious object exploded in junks collected by the husband from an area used by IOF as a training site. On 12 December 2006, a 56-year-old Palestinian woman died from a heart attack when IOF detonated a sound bombs inside her house. On 10 December 2006, a Palestinian child was wounded in al-Fara’a refugee camp, southeast of Jenin, when IOF fired at a number of children who demonstrated against them.

    In the Gaza Strip, in violation of the truce between IOF and the Palestinian side, IOF fired at a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding 10 of them. On 7 December 2006, 4 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers, were wounded in separate incidents of shooting by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip. On 8 December 2006, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when IOF fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who were searching for wires and metals in the northern Gaza Strip. On 10 December 2006, IOF fired at a Palestinian civilian who was farming his land in the northern Gaza Strip, wounding him seriously. On 13 December 2006, an IOF gunboat opened fire at a fishing boat opposite to Rafah seashore, wounding 3 Palestinian fishermen, including two brothers.

    Palestinian doctors trying to save wounded Palestinian fishermen after they were shot by Israeli boats in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, December 13, 2006. (MaanImages/Hatem Omar)


    Incursions: During the reported period, IOF conducted at least 27 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they raided houses and arrested 40 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. They also raided and searched offices of two local radio stations in Hebron, and arrested the director of one of them.

    Restrictions on Movement: 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

    IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

    IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point since 25 June 2006, even though they do not directly control it. During the reported period, the crossing point was reopened on Wednesday, 13 December 2006. IOF have partially reopened commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, but many goods and medical supplies have been lacked in markets in the Gaza Strip. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, only few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. In addition, IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian fishermen from fishing for 5 months.

    West Bank

    IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of 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 between the north and south of the West Bank.

    Palestinians inspect the rubble of their house after the Israeli army demolished it in the West Bank village of Al-Walajah near Bethlehem, December 12, 2006. (MaanImages/Fadi Tanas)


    Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF continued to construct a section of the Wall near ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya. IOF seized more Palestinian land for this purpose. This section of the Wall will isolated the village totally and will seal it off from large areas of agricultural land and some houses and civilian facilities. On 12 December 2006, IOF soldiers prevented Palestinian school children teachers from reaching their school in ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya, which has been isolated by the Wall. On 7 December 2006, IOF used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

    The outcome of crimes committed by IOF since 25 June 2006:

  • 474 Palestinians, 300 of whom are civilians, including 91 children and 30 women, have been killed by IOF. In the Gaza Strip alone, 405 Palestinians, 243 of whom are civilians, including 84 children, 28 women and 4 paramedics, haven been killed by IOF.
  • At least 1616 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 338 children, 109 women. In the Gaza Strip alone, 1275 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 345 children, 104 women, 4 paramedics and 7 journalist, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.
  • At least 328 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip.
  • Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.
  • The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked.
  • 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 10 ministers and 31 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, have been arrested. Minster of Prisoners’ Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Labor and Second Deputy Speaker of the PLC were released.
  • The Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus has been destroyed.
  • Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses.
  • IOF intelligence has warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked.
  • 73 houses belonging to activists of Palestinian factions have been destroyed by IOF warplanes.
  • IOF have imposed a strict siege on the OPT, and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

    Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (7 - 13 December 2006)

    1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

    Thursday, 7 December 2006

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They besieged dozens of houses in Kfar Saba neighborhood in the center of the town. They threw stones at these houses and forced their residents to open doors. A Palestinian civilian, 55-year-old Qassem Ma’moun Jaber, was injured by a stone to the head when he was trying to open the door of his house. He also sustained bruises as he fell on the stairs of his house. IOF raided and searched a number of these houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ma’moun Qassem Jaber, 24;
    2. Rami ‘Othman al-Far, 25; and
    3. Eyad ‘Adnan al-Far, 24.

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Salah Ibrahim Shatawi, 32, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sha’ban Mohammed Abu al-Teen, 54, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 07:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia, fired at Ahmed Mohammed Banat, 26, wounding him with a live bullet to the left thigh, when he was farming his land nearly 500 meters away from the border.
  • At approximately 09:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun fired at Ra’ed ‘Abdul Hakim al-Madoukh, 33, wounding him with a live bullet to the left thigh, when he was collecting wires and metals in the area.
  • At approximately 10:35, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia, fired at ‘Abdullah Mohammed Banat, 18, wounding him with a live bullet to the left foot, when he was farming his land nearly 500 meters away from the border. His brother was also wounded by IOF in the same area nearly 3 hours earlier.
  • At approximately 11:50, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at Nasser Ibrahim ‘Olayan, 19, seriously wounding him with a live bullet to the abdomen, when he was collecting wires and metals nearly 600 meters away from the border.
  • At noon, IOF arrested Fares Fawzi al-Tubasi, 26, from al-Reihiya village south of Hebron, after summoning him. His brother, 23-year-old Isma’il, was arrested by IOF two days earlier when IOF raided the family’s house.
  • At approximately 21:00, IOF moved into the Traffic Street in the north of Hebron. They raided offices of al-Siraj and al-Horriya radios. They confiscated a number of broadcasting and computer sets belonging to al-Siraj Radio and arrested its director, ‘Abdul Jabbar Tawfiq Abu Snaina, 35.

    Friday, 8 December 2006

  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 11:10, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were searching for wires and metals in the area, wounding two of them:

    1. Mohammed Jamal Barakat, 20, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the chest; and
    2. ‘Aadel Jamal al-‘Attar, 17, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

  • At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Roujib village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

    1. ‘Aahed Ghassan al-Ka’bi, 17; and
    2. Ahmed Bilal Shnaiweer, 16.

    Saturday, 9 December 2006

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Zbaidat village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud al-Jermi, 45, and arrested him together with his child, 16-year-old ‘Abdul Karim.
  • At approximately 08:00, IOF permanently positioned in the center and south of Hebron moved into al-Takrousi neighborhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yusri al-Jamal, 38, a cameraman of Reuters. No arrests were reported.

    Sunday, 10 December 2006

  • At approximately 05:30, IOF moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets, provoked school children and fired at houses. No casualties or arrests were reported.
  • Also at approximately 07:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They patrolled in the streets, provoked school children and opened fire at houses. No casualties or arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 09:20, IOf positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Lahia fired at Khaled Farouq Tamboura, 29, seriously wounding him with a live bullet to the chest, when he was farming his land nearly 700 meters away from the border.
  • At approximately 16:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into al-Quds Street in the north of Bethlehem, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. Members of the unit arrested Mohammed Khaled Salahat, 37, an intelligence officer and a university student, when he was near the campus of al-Quds Open University.

    Monday, 11 December 2006

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Um al-Dalia and Wadi al-Tuffah neighborhoods in the west and southwest of Hebron respectively. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ra’ed Shaher al-Atrash, 23; and
    2. Wissam Din al-Qudsi, 19.

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They besieged a house and a barbershop belonging to Jebril Mohammed Abu Samra. They ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out. They interrogated men and violently beat 3 of them. The three men sustained bruises throughout the body. IOF soldiers then raided and searched the house and the barbershop, claiming that they were looking for wanted Palestinians.
  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raded and searched a number of houses and arrested Ibrahim Mahmoud ‘Aabed, 20.
  • At noon, IOF arrested ‘Abdullah Khalil Jobran, 25, from Bethlehem, after they had summoned him for interrogation in “Kfar Etzion” settlement.

    Tuesday, 12 December 2006

  • At approximately 00:40, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Askar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. IOF soldiers harassed a number of Palestinian civilians and arrested 5 of them:

    1. Nahel ‘Arafat, 28;
    2. ‘Ammar ‘Arafat, 26;
    3. Hamza ‘Ammar Kharma, 21;
    4. Khaled ‘Ammar Kharma, 23; and
    5. Ra’ed Mohammed Jadallah, 25.

    During house raids, IOF soldiers harassed the family of Marwan Rasheed ‘Abda, 43, in al-Makhfiya neighborhood in the south of Nablus. An IOF bloodhound attacked ‘Abda’s wife, 33-year-old Nidaa’ Yousef Shahrouri. In her testimony to PCHR, Shahrouri said:

    “At approximately 04:50 on Tuesday, 12 December 2006, we woke up hearing sounds of megaphones behind our house in al-Makhfiya neighborhood, calling on residents of the area to get out of houses. Sound bombs were also detonated behind our house. We got out of the house. An IOF soldier ordered my husband to raise his hands, and he, I and our children did. IOF soldiers checked my husband and verified his identity card. They ordered me and my children to sit near a wall. They then ordered my husband to go towards a military vehicle that stopped near our house and he did. Nearly 20 minutes later, I saw my husband coming back. When he was close to another military vehicle, I heard IOF soldiers ordering him through a megaphones to enter the house and open doors, and he did. Soon, an IOF military vehicle stopped near the door. A number of IOF soldiers, accompanied by a muzzled bloodhound, broke into the house. An IOF soldier removed the muzzle from the bloodhound’s mouth. Soon, the bloodhound got out of the house and ran towards me. It bit me to the side and the hand. I screamed and ran towards an IOF military vehicle. I asked IOF soldiers to intervene, but they did not respond immediately. A few minutes later, an IOF solider moved towards the bloodhound and ordered it to move away. The soldier ordered me to sit. I was bleeding, and I asked him to call for an ambulance. He told me that he would bring a doctor. A few minutes later, 3 IOF soldiers came to me and ordered me to go with them. They took me nearly 20 meters away from the house. One of the soldiers told me that he is a doctor and asked me where the bloodhound bit me. He provided me with first medical aid. Five minutes later, a Palestinian ambulance arrived at the area. I walked towards it, and it evacuated me to Rafidya Hospital where I received medical treatment.”

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qaqlilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

    1. Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Omran, 22;
    2. Mohammed Rasheed Radwan, 18; and
    3. Murad Saqer Saleem, 17.

  • Also at approximately 01:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tulkarm, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle intercepted a Palestinian vehicle. Four IOF soldiers got out of their vehicle. They pointed their guns at 3 Palestinians, who were in the second vehicle, and arrested them.
  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Hasan Zraiqat, 26, and arrested him.
  • Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Haitham ‘Abdul Hafez ‘Awad, 26, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They besieged dozens of houses in al-Naqqar neighborhood in the west of the town. They opened fire at housed and detonated sound bombs inside them. A sound bomb exploded nearly 10 meters away from Latifa Saleh ‘Othman ‘Aashour, 56, when she was inside her house. She instantly died from a heart attack. According to her family, she did not suffer from any disease. The family held IOF responsible for her death.
  • At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sa’id al-Ruskh and arrested his 4 sons: Mahmoud, 28; Hatem, 25; Sameer, 23; and Rifqi, 20.

    Wednesday, 13 December 2006

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Kufor Sour village, south of Tulkarm. They besieged and opened fire at a house belonging to Mohammed Hasan Eshtaiwi to arrest his brother ‘Ammar, who was able to flee. IOF soldiers then raided and searched the house, and remained inside it until 06:00.
  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-‘Asakra village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wa’el Nabeeh ‘Asakra, 22, and arrested him.
  • Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jourat al-Sham’a village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Ata Hussein, 22, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jabal al-Mawaleh neighborhood in the south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yassin ‘Ouda Rizeq, 51, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, east of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian children:

    1. Hasan Sabri Bader, 16; and
    2. Atheer Mahmoud ‘Olayan, 14.

  • At approximately 19:45, IOF gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat opposite to Rafah seashore in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, 3 fishermen, including two brothers, who were on the boat, were wounded:

    1. Hamdan Mohammed Brahoum, 24, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
    2. Sa’id Khalil al-Bardawil, 34, seriously wounded by shrapnel to the face; and
    3. ‘Adnan Khalil al-Bardawil, 46, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body.

    Two Palestinians Civilians Killed by the Explosion of a Suspicious Object of the IOF’s Remainders

    On Saturday morning, 9 December 2006, a Palestinian civilian and his wife were killed and their son was wounded when a mysterious object from the remainders of IOF exploded in Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.

    According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:00 on the aforementioned day, Kamel Fayez Te’ma al-Mutawar, 45, his wife Hikmant Mohammed Te’ma al-Mutawar, 40, and their son Sanad, 17, were near their house in Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, checking junk from the remainders of IOF, which they had brought from the east of the village. A heavy explosion occurred in the junk, killing the man and his wife and seriously wounding their son. According to medical sources, the man was hit to the head whereas his wife was hit to the head and the back. According to eyewitnesses, the victims used to collect junks from areas located to the east of Bani Na’im and Sa’ir villages to retreat and sell them. According to Palestinian security sources, the explosion resulted from an artillery shell from the remainders of IOF.

    2. 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

    IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip. During the reported period, these crossings were partially reopened to allow the entry of basic foodstuffs, medical supplies and other necessities into the Gaza Strip. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population.

  • Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006. During the reported period, the crossing point was reopened on Wednesday, 13 December 2006.

    On 15 November 2006, the Palestinian - Israeli agreement on border crossing, which was concluded under US and European supervision, expired. Under this agreement, IOF have maintained indirect control over of the crossing point. The European observation team working at the crossing point extended their task for additional 6 months. On 15 November 2005, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel reached an agreement over the border crossings of the Gaza Strip. Under the agreement, on 25 November 2005, the Rafah International Crossing Point, on the Egyptian border in the south of the Gaza Strip, was opened for civilian travel to Egypt and the rest of the world. The Palestinians and European Union (EU) observers would run the Palestinian side of the crossing point. In addition, the EU observers would transmit live images to a joint control room several kilometers away. The EU observers repeated withdrew from the crossing following receiving warnings from IOF that there were threats to them. However, all warnings proved to be void, and the observers resumed their work.

  • Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. Palestinian female patients aged under 40 from passing through the crossing, even though most of these patients are in serious conditions and suffer from serious diseases.
  • Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have closed the crossing, which is the main commercial crossing for the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. During the reported period, IOF partially reopened the crossing. They allowed the importation of foodstuffs and medicines into the Gaza Strip, and the exportation of some goods from the Gaza Strip to Israel and the West Bank. The number of trucks allowed into the Gaza Strip daily is 400, whereas only 50 trucks loaded with exported goods from the Gaza Strip are allowed to pass through the crossing. Prices of goods have increased due to the increase in transportation costs at the crossing; the transportation cost of a container has increased from 2,000 NIS to 9,000 NIS.
  • Sofa Crossing: During the reported period, IOF partially reopened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafaha, for 4 days only, allowing the entry of aggregate and some food aids for some humanitarian organizations. However, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing.

    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. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. 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. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

    The West Bank

    IOF have imposed a tightened siege on 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.

  • Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 10 December 2006, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. According to eyewitnesses, IOF soldiers positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of the city, prevented Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint. IOF also erected a checkpoint at Jeet intersection, southwest of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday evening, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of al-Bathan village, east of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 11 December 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at Za’tara checkpoint continued to prevent Palestinians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint.
  • Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to prevent Palestinians aged under 35 from crossing checkpoints around the town. On Thursday morning, 7 December 2006, IOF closed wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They opened fire into the air to drive Palestinian civilians away from the checkpoint. They also pursued dozens of young men who resorted to alternative dirt roads to bypass the checkpoint and held them for several hours. On Saturday, 9 December 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles using trained dogs. On Sunday, 10 December 2006, IOF kept that checkpoint erected at Bala’a intersection. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.
  • Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jenin. On Friday afternoon, 8 December 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at ‘Ejja intersection, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 11 December 2006, IOF closed the northern Jordan Valley and prevented Palestinian civilians from moving to and from the area.
  • Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints around the town, especially ‘Attara checkpoint, north of the town, and Jaba’ checkpoint, south of the town. On Monday morning, 11 December 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at ‘Attara checkpoint prevented Palestinian civilians coming from the northern West Bank from passing through the checkpoint. Those civilians were forced to travel to Ramallah through Qalandya checkpoint at the southern entrance of Ramallah, which is nearly 38 kilometers away from ‘Attara checkpoint.
  • Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and outside Hebron. During the reported period, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in addition those permanent ones inside the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 11 December 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Qaizoun intersection in the southeast of Hebron, another one on al-Harayiq road in the southwest of the town, and a third one at Ibn Rushod Square in the center of the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians.

    3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

    IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory.

  • At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 8 December 2006, about 300 Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists demonstrated in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. IOF soldiers positioned near rhe Wall fired fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombes and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. No casualties were reported, but IOF soldiers arrested Ahmed Mohammed Hamad, 35.
  • During the reported period, IOF continued to construct a section of the Wall near ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya. IOF seized more Palestinian land for this purpose. This section of the Wall will isolated the village totally and will seal it off from large areas of agricultural land and some houses and civilian facilities. This 3-kilometer-long section will extend from “Unranit” settlement in the west to “Sha’ari Tikva” settlement in the east. IOF have established a gate at the entrance of the village to control the movement of Palestinian civilians. They open the gate from 06:00 to 22:00, and only Palestinian civilians who have special permits are allowed to enter the village.
  • On Tuesday, 12 December 2006, IOF soldiers prevented at least 600 Palestinian school children and 50 teachers from reaching their school in ‘Azzoun ‘Atma village, south of Qalqilya, which has been isolated by the Wall. IOF soldiers positioned at the gate established at the entrance of the village wanted to check them, but they refused as they had been excluded from checking.

    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, which was implemented last year, 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 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.

    The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, the Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. PCHR is a recipient of the 1996 French Republic Award for Human Rights.

    Related Links

  • Palestinian Centre for Human Rights