The Israeli High Court of Justice today, 25 July 2005, dismissed a petition submitted by PCHR on behalf of Mohammad Said Shaqqura, 32, from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The petition sought to ensure that Shaqqura was given access to a lawyer during his interrogation in an Israeli prison. Mohammad Shaqqura is married with four children and has been held by the Israeli Security Services since 10 July 2005. Shaqqura was arrested at Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border and subsequently transferred to Ashkelon Prison. Since this time he has been held by the Interrogation Section of the Israeli Security Services and a PCHR lawyer has been continually denied access to visit Shaqqura. Read more about Israeli High Court denies Palestinian detainee access to lawyer 

Unidentified men today kidnapped a US citizen from an apartment inside a residential block in the centre of Rafah. Under threat of arms the suspect kidnapped Harry Borrey, 75 years old. He was ordered to get into a civilian car stopped near the building. Three other masked and armed individuals were inside the car. He was then taken to an unknown location. The reason for the kidnapping has not been made clear by the perpetrators. The unidentified kidnappers released their hostage after a short period. He was left in a school in Rafah, unharmed. The kidnappers have escaped. This is the second kidnapping in a couple of weeks. PCHR demands that the Palestinian Authority take effective measures, within the limits of the law, to immediately end this practice and to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice. Read more about Kidnapped US citizen released in Rafah 

This week Israeli forces killed 14 Palestinians, including two children. Eight Palestinians were killed in extra-judicial executions. Israeli forces invaded various Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli forces raided homes and arrested 78 Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces used two Palestinian civilians as human shields during these raids. Israeli forces turned 21 homes into military sites. Israel continues to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli forces divided the Gaza Strip in three separate zones. Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian child near a checkpoint in the Gaza Strip. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations 

Unknown armed individuals fired at houses and offices of prominent Fatah Leaders and members of the Security Forces. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, members of the Preventive Security opened fire on a vehicle driven by a member of the Eiz al Din al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. The driver remains unidentified at this stage. Later, unknown militants opened fire on several homes and offices belonging to PA officials, Fatah leaders and commanders of the security forces. Militants carried out their attacks using civilian cars and fired from rooftops of nearby homes. Security forces returned fire and clashes were witnessed in various areas of Gaza City. Read more about Gaza clashes continue 

A number of people were injured, three institutions were burned in both Gaza City and Jabalya in the aftermath of the tension between Hamas and the Palestinian Security Forces. Dozens of militants marched through Jabalya refugee camp, through Tel al Zatar and in the area near the hospital. Hamas militants shot at vehicles belonging to the Preventive Security Force and clashes erupted between both sides. These clashes constitute a continuation of recent clashes which left three children dead and at least 50 people injured. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns these clashes and calls for a complete cessation of violence between both sides. Read more about Gaza clashes renew 

The Israeli occupying forces increased their offensive as ten air strikes left four Palestinians dead and five others injured. Israeli forces also severely impeded Gazans’ movement by effectively dividing the Gaza Strip into three parts. On July 16, Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles at metal workshops, a medical center and an Islamic association in Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Al-Shati’, Deir al-Balah. Al Mezan emphasizes that the excessive use of force, killing of Palestinian civilians, extra judicial assassinations of Palestinians, tightening of control and infringements on peoples’ freedom of movement constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention. Read more about Israel launches air strikes in Gaza City 

Israeli military extra-judicially executes a member of Hamas while standing near his home, this is the fifth death resulting from Israel’s policy of extra-judicial executions in the recent days. At 9.00 on Sunday, an Israeli sniper, positioned inside the military site located on the eastern edge of the settlement of Gani Tal, north-west of Khan Yunis, fired one bullet at Sa’id Aissa Siam, a Hamas member, 32 years old from al Amal neighbourhood in Khan Yunis. At the time of the shooting he was standing close to the door of his house, 150 metres away from the Israeli watchtower. The bullet hit him in the neck and exited from the other side, hitting the wall and shrapnel wounded his 60 year old father. Read more about Israel threatens to invade Gaza, assassinates Hamas activist 

Since Wednesday, Palestinians have witnessed a severe escalation in violations committed by Israeli occupying forces. Israeli forces have resumed their use of helicopter gunships to attack civilian and residential areas and continued with their state-sanctioned policy of committing extra-judicial executions. To date this escalation in attacks has resulted in the killing of four Palestinians, in the West Bank, while the fate of a 5th is still unknown. Further to this, across the Gaza Strip, attacks by the IOF have resulted in extensive damage to civilian property. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls on the international community to immediately intervene to “ensure respect” for international humanitarian law. Read more about Israel escalates attack on Palestinian towns