Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 1 February 2007

Palestinian argues with Israeli soldier during demolishing houses in Al’ezaryieh village near Jerusalem January 30, 2007. (MaanImages/Fadi Tanas)


Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
  • A Palestinian child was killed by IOF in Tulkarm.
  • 9 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a woman, were wounded by IOF gunfire.
  • A British journalist was injured by a sound bomb detonated by IOF in Bal’ein village near Ramallah.
  • IOF conducted 18 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
  • IOF arrested 84 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 4 women.
  • IOF destroyed a house in Nablus.
  • IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.
  • IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including two children.
  • The Gaza Strip has suffered from shortages in fuels and basic goods.

    Summary

    Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (18 - 24 January 2007):

    Killing: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian child in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm. They fired one bullet at him when he attempted to escape. They left him bleeding to death. The victim was not armed. According to the child’s family, the child attempted to escape as IOF had repeatedly raided his family home searching for him.

    During the reporting period, 9 Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded by IOF.

    On 26 January 2007, two Palestinian civilians and a British journalist were wounded when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in Bal’ein village in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. On 30 January 2007, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF opened fire at a taxi near Jenin. On 31 January 2007, a woman and a child were wounded by IOF in Nablus.

    In the Gaza Strip, two Palestinian civilians were wounded on 28 January 2007, when IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired at them. The two civilians were hunting birds nearly 500 meters away from the border.

    Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 18 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 84 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and 4 women. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 321. IOF also destroyed a house in Nablus, claming that one of its residents is wanted.

    Palestinians attend a photographic exhibition against military barriers at Huwarra checkpoint south of the West Bank city of Nablus, February 3, 2007. (MaanImages/Rami Swidan)


    Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

    Gaza Strip

    IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

    IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point since 25 June 2006, even though they do not directly control it. IOF have partially reopened commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, but many goods and medical supplies have been lacked in markets in the Gaza Strip. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, only few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. In addition, IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian fishermen from fishing for nearly 8 months.

    Palestinians inspect the demolished houses after Israeli soldiers demolished them in Al’ezaryieh village near Jerusalem January 30, 2007. (MaanImages/Fadi Tanas)


    West Bank

    IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. Contrary to Israeli claims, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

    The outcome of crimes committed by IOF since 25 June 2006:

  • 497 Palestinians, 317 of whom are civilians, including 94 children and 30 women, have been killed by IOF. In the Gaza Strip alone, 410 Palestinians, 245 of whom are civilians, including 84 children, 28 women and 4 paramedics, have been killed by IOF.
  • At least 1691 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 363 children, 111 women. In the Gaza Strip alone, 1291 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 351 children, 104 women, 4 paramedics and 7 journalists, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.
  • At least 329 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip.
  • Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.
  • The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked.
  • 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 10 ministers and 31 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, have been arrested. Minster of Prisoners’ Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Labor and Second Deputy Speaker of the PLC were released.
  • The Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus has been destroyed.
  • Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses.
  • IOF intelligence has warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked.
  • 73 houses belonging to activists of Palestinian factions have been destroyed by IOF warplanes.
  • IOF have imposed a strict siege on the OPT, and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

    Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (25 - 31 January 2007)

    1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

    Thursday, 25 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They raided nd searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

    1. ‘Ali Mahmoud ‘Aqel, 43. member of the municipal council;

    2. Maher ‘Abdul Muhsen al-Atrash, 35, a staff member of the municipality; and

    3. Rafe’ Rasmi Madiya, 27.

  • At approximately02:00, IOF moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jihad Muneer Abu Baker, 17, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Bilal al-Masa’id, 27; and
    2. Ramzi Jouda al-Masa’id, 31.

  • At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested the wives of two Palestinians detained in Israeli jails:

    1. Taghreed Ibrahim al-Swaiti, 25, the wife of Mahmoud Isma’il al-Swaiti, a mother of a child; and
    2. Muntaha ‘Eissa al-Swaiti, 27, the wide of Mousa Mohammed al-Swaiti, a mother of two children.

  • At approximately 08:15, IOF, reinforced by 25 military vehicles and a helicopter, moved into al-Ma’ajin neighborhood in the southwest of Nablus. They besieged 3 apartment buildings and a mosque. They ordered residents of the three buildings to get out. An IOF intelligence officer interrogated men. Before their withdrawal, IOF arrested ‘Ammar Ma’rouf Damra, 26.
  • At approximately 10:30, an IOF undercover unit moved into Tulkarm traveling in a civilian van. The van stopped in al-Malsat neighborhood in the north of the town. A number of masked IOF soldiers got out of it and besieged a number of houses. When 17-year-old Fadel Mutlaq Daji Balawna attempted to escape from the area, an IOF soldier fired at him. He was wounded by a gunshot to the back. IOF soldiers left him bleeding to death. According to eyewitnesses, Balawna attempted to escape as IOF had repeatedly raided his family home searching for him. In her testimony to PCHR on this attack, Alaa’ Yousef Houji, 23, Balawna’s neighbor, stated:

    “At approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 25 January 2007, I was together with my two brothers in our house in al-Malsat area in the north of Tulkarm. I was in the kitchen when one of my brothers came and told me that IOF soldiers were at the door of our house. I went to close the door of the kitchen. I saw Fadel Mutlaq Balawna, one of our neighbors jumping from my uncle’s house into our house yard. He was scared. I went to the western side of the house. I looked through the window and I saw Balawna again. I said to him: ‘There are soldiers in the street and around the house, so do not move.’ He replied: ‘I am like a brother for you, so open the door for me.’ I was afraid that they could shoot him while entering the house, so I told him to stray where he was. I gave him a cloak and a scarf to wear them and he did. I saw a soldier looking through a hole in the fence. He ordered Balawna to stop. Balawna took off the cloak and the scarf and attempted to climb the fence. An IOF soldier positioned to the north of the house fired at Balawna. He was wounded by a gunshot to the back, while he was jumping out of the house yard. He fell onto the ground two meters away from the fence. I looked at him through the window of the bedroom in the south of the house and talked to him. I asked him to moved his hand if he was still a live and he did. I bring water and poured it onto his face. I phoned my father to bring an ambulance, but IOF soldiers did not allow the ambulance to attend Balawna. He was left bleeding for nearly 45 minutes. IOF soldiers them moved towards him, and one of them pulled him brutally from his feet. Balwana was not armed and I did not heard any exchange of fire. I heard the sound of one bullet only, which hit Balawna.”

    Friday, 26 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Hamza Khalil Abu Namous, 25, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp; and
    2. Jamal Jalal Tayeh, 27, from Iraq al-Tayeh village east of Nablus.

  • At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including two brothers:

    1. Mahmoud Mohammed al-Hroub, 28;
    2. Khader Khalil al-Hroub, 35;
    3. Faisal Isma’il al-Hroub, 27;
    4. ‘Abdullah Mahmoud al-Hroub, 22;
    5. Mahmoud Ahmed al-Hroub, 24;
    6. Daoud ‘Abdul Wahab al-Hroub, 19;
    7. Mahmoud Isma’il al-Hroub, 22;
    8. ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Hamid al-Hroub, 30;
    9. Mohammed Ahmed al-Hroub, 19;
    10. Tha’er Hasan al-Hroub, 25;
    11. Ahmed Mohammed Salah, 22; and
    12. Dib Mohammed Salah, 26.

    Saturday, 27 January 2007

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu Dis village, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Jaffal and arrested his child, 14-year-old Mahdi.
  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp:

    1. Mohammed As’ad Abu Namous, 16;
    2. Ahmed Yousef Abu al-Reesh, 21;
    3. Shadi Shihada Abu al-Reeesh, 16.

    Sunday, 28 January 2007

  • At approximately 08:00, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, fired at two Palestinian civilians who were hunting birds nearly 500 meters away from the border. The two civilians were wounded:

    1. Adham Tawfiq Tamboura, 21, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a bullet to the feet; and
    2. Mohammed Lutfi al-Kafarna, 21, from Beit Hanoun, wounded by a bullet to the left foot.

    Monday, 29 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire at houses. They then raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinians:

    1. ‘Abdul Karim Khalil ‘Owais, 23, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces;
    2. ‘Alaa’ ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Hamed, 24;
    3. Ma’ath Ibrahim Zahran, 25;
    4. Shadi Isma’il Hardan, 25;
    5. ‘Ali Mohammed Hasanain, 27;
    6. Mazen Mohammed Hasanain, 24;
    7. Mohammed Akram Ja’idi, 21;
    8. Akram Jamal Abu Saleh, 26;
    9. Shihab Jamal Abu Saleh, 23;
    10. Yazan Mohammed Abu Shihab, 22; and
    11. Rzeeq Mohammed Abu Shihab, 25.

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Rabee’ Mohammed Abu al-Wafa, 18, and arrested him.

    Tuesday, 30 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bitounia town, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khaled Mohammed Abu Bahaa’, former director of Prisoners’ Support Association which had been dissolved by IOF, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 02:10, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Kufor Qallil village. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 22 Palestinian civilians from Kufor Qallil village:

    1. ‘Ammar Ghazi ‘Aamer, 32;
    2. ‘Adeek Ghazi ‘Aamer, 28;
    3. Marwan Naji Mansour, 22;
    4. Ahmed Naji Mansour, 24;
    5. Sa’ad Ibrahim ‘Aamer, 34;
    6. Adham ‘Ata ‘Aamer, 22;
    7. Bilal Fathi Rasheed, 20;
    8. Jalal, Fathi Rasheed, 22;
    9. Shawkat Fathi Rasheed, 24;
    10. Eyad Fathi Rasheed, 25;
    11. ‘Ammar Zaidan Rasheed, 20;
    12. Bahjat Zaidan Rasheed, 26;
    13. Tha’er Bassem Mansour, 28;
    14. Bassem Bassem Mansour, 23;
    15. Tamer Bassem Mansour, 26;
    16. Saher Bassem Mansour, 24;
    17. Yasser ‘Antar, 28;
    18. ‘Alaa’ ‘Antar, 25;
    19. Firas ‘Omar Mansour, 21;
    20. Shadi ‘Abdul Basset Mansour, 23;
    21. Fadi ‘Abdul Basset Mansour, 21; and
    22. Nasser Jamal Abu al-S’oud, 38.

  • At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They set up an ambush in al-Sa’dada area along Jenin - Haifa road in the west of the town. Soon after, IOF soldiers opened fire at a taxi, which was transporting a man, his wife and his brother. The man, who is allegedly wanted by IOF, his brother and the driver were wounded:

    1. Nour al-Din ‘Adnan al-Ja’bari, 27, wounded by a bullet to the foot;
    2. Silah ‘Adnan al-Ja’bari, 13, wounded by a bullet to the buttock; and
    3. ‘Abdullah Ahmed Nawahda, 40, the driver, wounded by a bullet to the chest.

    IOF arrested the four persons and took him to a hospital inside Israel.

    Wednesday, 31 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bourqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians. They released 9 of them on the following day, but kept the 10th one, 30-year-old Ahmed Dib ‘Obaidi, in custody.
  • At approximately 16:10, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They besieged an 80-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to the family of ‘Alaa’ Ra’ed al-Ratrout, 22, who is allegedly wanted. They ordered residents of the house through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF interrogated members of the family. IOF soldiers then broke into the house and searched it. They planted explosive devices on the second floor of the house and destroyed it. During this incursion, IOF raided and searched a number of other houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

    1. Khaled Ziad al-Masri, 25;
    2. Khaled Jamal al-Beshtawi, 24;
    3. Ibrahim Mahmoud al-Siksik, 22;
    4. Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-Sheikh Khalil, 24;
    5. Eihab Khaled al-Swaifi, 17; and
    6. Mo’ayad Khaled al-Swaifi, 21.

  • At approximately 17:40, an IOF undercover unit moved into Nablus, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate. The car stopped neat the Women Union Hospital in the Northern Mount neighborhood. IOF soldiers besieged a 13-storey apartment building to Sibaweih al-‘Anabtawi. They were able to reach the 9th floor. Soon after, at least 20 IOF military vehicle arrived at the area to support the unit. IOF soldiers blew up the door of a flat belonging to Nasser Jawabra, 38. They broke into the flat opening fire. Jawbra’s wife, 18-year-old Myasar al-Tabbouq, was seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head and the upper part of the body. IOF soldiers then arrested Jawabra and his wife. During this incursion, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at the children, wounding 14-year-old Yousef Jamal Rajab with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

    2. Continued Siege on the OPT

    IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

    Gaza Strip

    IOF have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, these crossings were partially reopened to allow the entry of basic foodstuffs, medical supplies and other necessities into the Gaza Strip. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population.

  • Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. The crossing point has been closed since 25 June 2006.
  • Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have prevented Palestinian female patients aged under 40 from passing through the crossing, even though most of these patients are in serious conditions and suffer from serious diseases. Since the beginning of this year, IOF have allowed only 45 patients to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank through the crossing. IOF have also continued to prevent members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing Hamas from traveling to the West Bank and Jerusalem.
  • Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have closed the crossing, which is the main commercial crossing for the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets.
  • Nahal Ouz Crossing: This crossing is designed for the entry of fuel. IOF allow the entry of limited amounts of domestic gas into the Gaza Strip, which do not meet the needs of its population. They also denied the entry of benzene and gasoline for 3 days.
  • Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, allowing the entry of aggregate and some food aid. However, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah.

    The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

    IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.

    The West Bank

    IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

  • Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and outside Hebron. On Friday and Saturday, 26 and 27 January 2007, IOF closed all roads linking the town with the villages of al-Sammou’, Yatta, al-Rihiya, al-Hadab, Bani Na’im and Zeef to the southeast. They also erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of those villages. IOF also closed Hasaka road, north of Hebron. At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 28 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Ras al-Joura intersection in the north of Hebron; another one at Sabta intersection in the northwest of the town; and a third one at al-Tahreer intersection in the southwest of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 29 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on Beit Ummar intersection and another one at ‘Ein Sara intersection, north of Hebron. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also interrogated a number of civilians.
  • Bethlehem: On Monday noon, 29 January 2007, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a number of checkpoints at the entrances of the villages of al-Khader, Artas, Jourat al-Sham’a and Um Salamouna, west and south of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

    At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 26 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Ras al-Wad checkpoint, southeast of Bethlehem, arrested Shiekh Suleiman Thwaib, 48, the Imam of a mosque in Za’tara village east of the town.

  • Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to close the 17 checkpoint at the northern entrance of Nablus, causing extreme suffering for Palestinians living in 19 villages to the north of Nablus. Those Palestinians are forced to travel to Nablus through either al-Bathan checkpoint at the northeastern entrance of the city or Beit Eiba checkpoint west of the city. During the reporting period, IOF closed al-Bathan checkpoint for two days. They also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus. On Saturday noon, 27 January 2007, IOF closed Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and forced Palestinian civilians to wait for long times to pass through it. On Sunday, 28 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 30 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking on those civilians.

    On Monday noon, 29 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested two Palestinian children.

  • Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 25 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the village. On Friday, 26 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at the western entrance of Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also prevented civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint. On Saturday, 27 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilian vehicles and prevented civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint. On Sunday, 28 January 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians through it. On Monday, 29 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles. On the same day, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of the town, from 06:00 to 07:30.

    On Saturday morning, 27 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, arrested Fadi Mohammed Shamasna, 21, from Jayous village north of Qalqilya.

  • Jenin: On Monday morning, 29 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Tayaseer checkpoint, southeast of Jenin, prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from entering the northern Jordan Valley, even though they have permits issued by the IOF “Civil Administration.” IOF soldiers also prevented staff members of the agricultural department in Tubas from entering the area. On Tuesday morning, 30 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Tayaseer checkpoint prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from entering the northern Jordan Valle. On Tuesday afternoon, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Kfair village, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

    At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 25 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint at al-Kfair intersection, southeast of Jenin, arrested Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader Qassem, 20, from al-Far’a refugee camp southeast of the town.

  • Jerusalem: On Friday evening, 26 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at al-Ram intersection, north of Jerusalem, arrested Ibrahim Na’im al-Halaiqa, 18, from Sa’ir village north of Hebron.
  • Jericho: On Tuesday morning, 30 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at al-Dyouk checkpoint at the northern entrance of Jericho arrested Samer ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Bsharat, 23, from Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin.

    3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

    IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilian in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

  • At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 26 January 2007, about 250 Palestinian civilians and 50 international and Israeli solidarity activists demonstrated in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. IOF soldiers positioned near the Wall fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombes and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. A British journalist and two demonstrators, including a child, were wounded:

    1. Jason, 30, a British journalist, hit by a sound bomb to the head;
    2. Muheeb al-Barghouthi, 42, hit by a sound bomb to the head; and
    3. Majdi ‘Abdul Mo’men Abu Rahma, 16, hit by a tear gas canister to the back.

    Recommendations to the International Community
    1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.

    2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

    3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

    4. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

    5. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

    6. PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law.

    7. PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.

    8. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented last year, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

    9. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

    10. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

    11. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal with Israeli citizens in a similar manner.

    12. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.

    Related Links

  • Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)