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Weekly report on human rights violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 11 June 2003

This week Israeli forces killed 20 Palestinians, including four women and a child. The majority of the casualties, 15 of the 20, were killed during four assassinations in Gaza, including two brothers and two sisters. Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas and demolished more than 40 homes and razed large areas of agricultural land in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also demolished public and private facilities at the Rafah Terminal. Israeli forces continued indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas and continued illegal actions against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets, resulting the destruction of 2 homes. Israel continued its tight siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. All border crossings have been closed. Beit Hanoun has been under Israeli military siege for the fourth consecutive week. 

Palestinian Filmmaker this year's winner of the Nestor Almendros Prize for courage and commitment in human rights filmmaking

Human Rights Watch 12 June 2003


Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad is winner of this year’s Nestor Almendros Prize for courage and commitment in human rights filmmaking. He will be presented the prize at the 14th Annual Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, which takes place in New York from 13 to 26 June. 

Israeli closures spur phenomenon of Palestinian "one-shekel-kids"

Defence for Children International-Palestine Section 12 June 2003

A one shekel kid is an under-age worker selling nic-nacs, sweets, cakes or cheap plastic items for a shekel a piece. DCI took a small sample of these children this week for International Child Labour Day on June 12. DCI Palestine notes that the deteriorating economic situation in the Palestinian territories due to Israeli closures and curfews is having a significant impact on children, both in terms of a falling standard of living and loss of opportunities and the rising incidence of child labour to supplement meager family income. 

Head of World Food Programme to visit occupied Palestinian territories

World Food Programme 11 June 2003

With increasing numbers of Palestinians becoming dependent on international food aid, the Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, James T. Morris, on Wednesday began in Jerusalem a three-day visit to review first hand WFP�s efforts to provide food aid to Palestinians impoverished by deteriorating security and economic conditions over the past two years. 

Owners of demolished homes shut down Rafah Governorate

International Solidarity Movement 10 June 2003

This is the third day that protestors have effectively shut down the Rafah Governorate in the Gaza Strip. Over one hundred men, women, and children have come together to demand compensation for their homes, which have been demolished by Israeli forces armed with American Caterpillar D9 and D10 Bulldozers since the beginning of the Intifada. 

Exploring the truth: Pictland, Pictishism and Peace

11 June 2003


Inspired by the Zionists who established a Jewish state in Palestine, the Pictish people who lived here for hundreds of years are reclaiming Scotland. Persecuted throughout the world the time has come for a Pictish state, the only place where the Picts can possibly be safe. Asked whether peace is possible the Picts say: “We�re prepared to make painful concessions. For example a couple of years ago we offered to let the Scots set up a Scottish state in Sutherland, a miserable, wet expanse of freezing-cold peat bog”. Scottish correspondent Hajjis al-Bint reports. 

As the Road Map unravels...

Hasan Abu Nimah 11 June 2003


Israel is doing everything possible to derail the road map, and the Palestinians’ Mahmoud Abbas is powerless to stop them. Regular EI contributor Hasan Abu Nimah argues that more concessions from a leader who already made too many will neither halt the bloodshed nore bring peace with justice. 

British MPs in Gaza condemn Israeli missile strikes

Christian Aid 9 June 2003

MPs Ms Oona King and Dr Jenny Tonge are today in Gaza City with Christian Aid and local organisations to look at the humanitarian crisis and agricultural restrictions in the area. Following the Israeli attacks on Abdel Aziz Rantissi, Dr Tonge said: “I am gravely concerned that the Israeli government has launched an attack in such close proximity to Gaza’s main hospital.”