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PCHR Condemns Israeli Aerial Attack on a Press Office in Gaza

29 June 2004


PCHR strongly condemns an Israeli aerial attack on a press office in the center of Gaza City on Tuesday morning. This latest attack comes in the context of a series of systematic attacks launched by Israeli occupying forces against journalists and media institutions in an attempt to silence the press and prevent it from reporting on violations of human rights perpetrated by these forces against Palestinian civilians and their properties in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) 

Report of the June 26 Al-Ram demo against the Wall

Adam Keller 27 June 2004


It had been planned meticulously. The initiative came from the Al-Ram municipality — a huge demonstration including as many Israelis as could be convinced to come on the weekend before the Supreme Court’s decision over the fate of Al-Ram. But, from how it went it seems that somebody up there decided that it was not in their interest to have today an orderly demonstration of Palestinians together with Israelis. That, so short before the Supreme Court was to give its decision, it was much better to transform it into something in which “anything could happen.” 

Weekly report on human rights violations

24 June 2004


17-23 June 2004. This week 4 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli troops, one of the victims was killed in an extra-judicial assassination. Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At least 400 donums[1] of agricultural land were razed and 3 houses were destroyed in the Gaza Strip. Two houses were destroyed in Khan Yunis by Israeli troops in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. Israeli troops used a child as a human shield during a military operation in the OPTs. Israeli forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas injuring a number of Palestinian civilians. Construction of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued and more areas of Palestinian land were seized. Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs. 

PCHR Calls Upon International Governments and Organizations to Provide Aid for Homeless Civilians in Rafah

21 June 2004


PCHR remains gravely concerned about the living conditions of Palestinian civilians, who have been made homeless, following the destruction of their homes by Israeli occupying forces.  These civilians have resorted to temporary refugee centers, living under extremely difficult conditions.  Rafah is suffering from a humanitarian crisis following the destruction of hundreds of houses and the civilian infrastructure of the town by Israeli occupying forces.  PCHR calls upon the international community to provide immediate assistance to ensure that homeless civilians find shelter and live in stability and security.  

PCHR Receives UN Special Rapporteur for the OPTs

22 June 2004


On Monday, 22 June 2004, PCHR received Professor John Dugard, UN Special Rapporteur for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). In his visit to PCHR, Mr. Dugard was accompanied by his aide Ms Darka Tubali, and Dr. Othman Hassan, Director of the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights to the Palestinain Authority. Raji Sourani, Director of PCHR, and other members of the Board of Administration met with the visitors. This visit comes in the context of a mission by Mr. Dugard to investigate Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law in the OPTs, especially following the latest Israeli offensive on Rafah. 

PCHR calls for Amendments to the Electoral Law of Local Councils

26 June 2004


PCHR has submitted a letter to the Speaker and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), calling for amendments to the Electoral Law of Local Councils (5) of 1996.  In this letter, PCHR expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the PLC in the past years to promote local government, including the approval of the Electoral Law of Local Councils (5) of 1996 and the Law of Local Councils (1) of 1996, and the efforts made to hold local elections.  However, PCHR pointed out that these efforts have not been completed, as councils appointed by the executive have continued to manage local councils in the Palestinian communities since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority 10 years ago.  

6 Palestinians Extrajudicially Executed in Nablus

27 June 2004


PCHR is gravely concerned at the deaths of a number of Palestinians in Nablus. According to preliminary investigations carried out by PCHR an IOF incursion began on Thursday the 24th of June. A military siege was imposed on the city. All access to the old city was cut off through the use of temporary roadblocks built with sand, concrete rubble and barbed wire. Israeli troops threw handheld explosive devices in the direction of a small room inside a house. The explosion killed six people who were in a tunnel under the room. They six were identified as being members of the Fatah movement, Islamic Jihad and Hamas. 

3 Palestinians Killed and a Number of Houses and Civilian Facilities Destroyed

28 June 2004


Israeli occupying forces escalated attacks on the Gaza Strip in the last 12 hours., This follows from an attack carried out by Palestinian militants on an Israeli military post north of Khan Yunis.  IOF killed 3 Palestinians, including an 11-year-old child, and wounded 7 others, including another child, in Khan Yunis.  Israeli helicopter gunships also attacked and destroyed 2 civilian facilities in Gaza City.  In the meantime, Israeli troops are destroying houses and razing areas of agricultural land near the Israeli military post that had been attacked.  PCHR is deeply concerned at this continued policy of collective punishment by Israeli troops against Palestinian civilians and their properties. 

Why Israel is still afraid of Mordechai Vanunu

Jonathan Cook 28 June 2004


He was the last breakfast companion I was expecting. Separated from me by a rack of toast and a handful of marmalade sachets was Mordechai Vanunu, the man who 18 years ago revealed that Israel had amassed a secret stockpile of nuclear weapons. Breakfast at the St George’s pilgrim guest house in East Jerusalem is usually a sedate affair, but on this occasion both he and I were skating unintentionally but dangerously close to arrest by Israel’s security services. Occasional EI contributor Jonathan Cook explains why Israel — and the US and UK — remains afraid of Vanunu. 

Deep-rooted corruption in Palestine

Hasan Abu Nimah and Ali Abunimah 23 June 2004


In February, press reports that cement imported from Egypt through Palestinian companies and ready-made concrete manufactured in the Palestinian village of Abu Dis were being used to build Israeli settlements and the apartheid wall provoked outrage among Palestinians. A commission of inquiry has now reported finding “compelling evidence and documents adequate for indicting those involved.” But Hasan Abu Nimah and Ali Abunimah say that corruption within the Palestinian Authority has deep roots.