Palestinian Center for Human Rights 10 March 2005
3 - 9 March 2005
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They have continued to expand existing settlements at the expense of Palestinian land. Contrary to Israeli official claims, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, during which they raided and searched houses and arrested 24 Palestinian civilian civilians, including 5 children. In addition, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire.
In the first incursion since the Sharm al-Sheikh Summit, on 4 March 2005, IOF moved into al-Mughraqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided a house, forced their residents out and used one of them as a human shield while searching it. On the same day, 4 Palestinian children, including 2 brothers, were injured in Rafah when a shell that had been previously fired by IOF exploded. On 8 March 2005, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded in Rafah, when IOF positioned in military posts at the Egyptian border, south of the town, opened fire at residential areas.
IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank. They have confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They resumed land leveling in Beit Sourik village, northwest of Jerusalem, and Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. This week, IOF issued military orders, confiscating large areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the wall. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in communities located near the wall.
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities.
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to impose severe restriction on the travel of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point. They have also continued to close a number of roads and crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada. IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities near Israeli settlements, causing more suffering to Palestinian civilians. Furthermore, IOF have seize 2 Palestinian houses to the north of Khan Yunis since the beginning of the current Intifada.
In the West Bank, contrary to Israeli official claims, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. This week, they erected a number of temporary military checkpoints. They stooped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 14 of them. IOF also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities, especially the old town and the southern part of Hebron, which have been under a curfew since Monday morning, 6 March 2005.
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