Palestinian Center for Human Rights 8 April 2005
The unstable, violent political situation and Israeli occupation undercut children’s development. (Maureen Clare Murphy)
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have launched more attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included shooting at and causing injury to Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law including international 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 illegally expand existing settlements at the expense of Palestinian land. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
This week, IOF conducted 24 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank, during which a Palestinian civilian was wounded. A number of others sustained injuries from being beaten by the IOF. IOF also arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including a number of Palestinian Policemen. In the Gaza Strip, on 1 April 2005, IOF opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were playing near their houses in Khan Yunis. Two of the children were wounded. On the same day, IOF arrested 4 Palestinian children who attempted to infiltrate into Israel.
IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory, especially in Ramallah and Hebron. For the purpose of the construction of the Wall, they demolished five houses in Wadi Rahhal village, southwest of Bethlehem, and issued military orders to demolish another house and an agricultural store in Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They also confiscated nine donums[1] of land in al-Walaja village and Beit Jala town, northwest of Bethlehem. This week, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the Wall. Five Palestinian civilians and an Israeli solidarity activist were wounded.
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, especially in Hebron which has been the scene of many such past attacks on Palestinian men, women and children.
Contrary to Israeli claims, 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. 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. This week, IOF continued to impose severe restrictions on travel through Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border.
In the West Bank, 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 sudden military checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested six civilians, including two children. IOF claimed that the one of the children attempted to stab an Israeli soldier at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus.
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