World Organisation Against Torture and International Federation for Human Rights12 May 2003
The FIDH and the OMCT, in the framework of their joint programme the Observatory for the protection of Human Rights Defenders, express their deepest concern after Israel�s crackdown on human rights defenders in the occupied Palestinian territory as Israeli forces arrested several defenders, raided the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the West Bank and imposed new restrictions to foreigners for entry into the Gaza Strip. Read more about Recent crackdown on international human rights defenders
In the implementation of an Israeli military order issued on 10 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces transferred Mahmoud Suleiman Sa’id al-Sa’di al-Saffouri, 31, from his home in Jenin to the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning, 18 May 2003. According to the military order, al-Sa’di will spend two years in Gaza. Read more about Israel deports Palestinian from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip
The following are testimonies that residents of Nablus gave to B’Tselem’s researchers. The testimonies indicate that, during the IDF’s invasion of the city, which began on 19 February 2003. The soldiers used civilians as human shields, in violation of the state’s commitment to the High Court of Justice, and blew up the interior of houses. Read more about The use of human shields and the destruction of homes during the Israeli invasion of Nablus
Israeli authorities are continuing to impose severe measures on internationals moving in and out of the Gaza Strip. As of today, 18 May 2003, with the exception of some United Nations staff and a small number of humanitarian workers, internationals are being prevented from entering or leaving the Gaza Strip. Read more about PCHR deplores Israel's unprecedented actions against internationals
The soccer field at Haifa Sports Club was once full of the sounds of children playing. Now, this playground has been remade into a tent city for Palestinian families made homeless by war and prejudice. On the field stand 63 new, white tents set up by the Iraqi Red Crescent Society in order to lodge some 240 families left homeless since the collapse of the former government. Read more about Haifa Sports Club in Iraq: The Latest Palestinian Refugee Camp
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)17 May 2003
The Special Rapporteur on adequate housing of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Mr. Miloon Kothari, has expressed concern over the sharp rise in the destruction of property and land in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) since the build-up to the war in Iraq. Read more about UN Human rights expert slams Israel on violations of the right to housing
Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling. Israeli forces raided Khan Yunis refugee camp, demolishing homes and wounding twenty Palestinian civilians. In Rafah and Deir al-Balah, Israeli forces demolished 18 homes. In Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis large areas of Palestinian agricultural land were razed. Israeli forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas indiscriminately. Israel continued its arbitrary arrest campaign. Three internationals were arrested at the ISM offices in Beit Sahour, including a researcher of Human Rights Watch. Israel continued its tight siege on Palestinian towns, villages and refugee camps. Read more about Weekly report on human rights violations
