3 February - 9 February 2005

Despite ongoing understandings between the Israeli and Palestinian sides on a ceasefire, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed by IOF. Human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities. IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.

In the Gaza Strip, 3 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF, and a child died from a previous injury. On 3 February 2005, a Palestinian child from an injury he had sustained last month when IOF fired an artillery shell at fields in Beit Lahia. This attack left 7 children dead, including 3 of the victim’s brothers. On 4 February 2005, IOF Killed 2 Palestinian civilians near the border with Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, when they were apparently attempting to infiltrate into Israeli to search for jobs. On 9 February 2005, one day following the Sharm al-Sheikh Summit, in which the Palestinian and Israeli sides signed a ceasefire agreement, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, when they opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. IOF also continued to open fire at Palestinian residential areas. This week, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a 3-year-old child, were injured in Rafah.

This week, IOF moved twice into al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, which has been under a strict siege since the beginning of the current Intifada. They raided and searched houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians.

In the West Bank, IOF conducted 11 incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they arrested 11 Palestinians. They also arrested 5 other Palestinians at military checkpoints. Moreover, two Palestinian children were injured when Israeli military jeeps ran them down in al-Fara’a refugee camp near Jenin and Dura village near Hebron. IOF also moved into a secondary school in al-Khader village near Bethlehem and terrified students. 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. This week, an Israeli settler ran down a Palestinian civilian

IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank Territory. On Tuesday, 8 February 2005, the Israeli High Court issued two decisions regarding the construction of the wall. According to the first decision, the construction of the wall to the northwest of Jerusalem will be resumed. In the second decision, the court obligated Palestinian civilians from Kherbat al-No’man village, northeast of Bethlehem, to negotiate the route of the wall to the east of the village with IOF. This week, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the wall.

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

In the Gaza Strip, contrary to Israeli official claims regarding easing measures of closure imposed on 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 inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada.

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 military checkpoints and arrested a number of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, IOF closed all military checkpoints at the entrances to Nablus and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians for no apparent reason.

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