10 - 16 March 2005

On the second anniversary of the death of Rachel Corrie PCHR wishes to take this opportunity to extend our thoughts to the family of Rachel who continue to suffer in the face of the impunity granted to the soldiers responsible for her death. So, it is against this background that Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) 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, conducting 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 owners. Contrary to Israeli official claims, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

This week, 2 Palestinians were killed by the IOF in the West Bank. On 10 March 2005, the IOF killed Mohammed Abu Khalil, 27, in al-Nazla village, north of Tulkarm, as he exchanged fire with them when they surrounded a house where he hid. They also demolished parts of the house while he was inside. On 14 March 2005, Adham al-Sha’lan, 22, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus, died as a result of a previous injury he had sustained from the IOF. The IOF also conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, especially in Tulkarm, during which they raided and searched houses and arrested 23 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. In addition, three Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire. The IOF have also continued to impose a curfew on the old town of Hebron for the 2nd consecutive week.

On 13 March 2005, the IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalya fired at three Palestinian children who apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. One of the children was seriously wounded, another one was injured and arrested and the third one escaped. On 12 and 14 March 2005, the IOF arrested six Palestinian civilians in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

The IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, especially around East Jerusalem. On Sunday, 13 March 2005, the IOF announced that the Israeli government authorized the construction of a temporary wall between East Jerusalem and the West Bank in the areas where the construction of the annexation wall is not possible due to legal limitations. Also on Sunday, the Israeli government approved the new route of the wall around Jerusalem, under which neighborhoods and villages located to the north of the city will be isolated and Shu’fat refugee camp would be surrounded by fences. The new route would also annex “Maale Adomomi” settlement, east of the city, and Bilal Ben Rabah mosque, north of Bethlehem, to the boundaries of Jerusalem. On Monday morning, 14 March 2005, IOF demolished a house in Samiramees area, south of Ramallah, 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.

The IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, the 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. They have also continued to close a number of roads and crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada. The IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities near Israeli settlements, causing more suffering to Palestinian civilians. Furthermore, the IOF continue to occupy two Palestinian houses to the north of Khan Yunis since the beginning of the current Intifada.

In the West Bank, the 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 military checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 13 civilians. The IOF also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities, the curfew especially strict the old town of Hebron.

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