Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 18 January 2007

An old Palestinian man attends a demonstration against separation wall in the village of Bilin, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, January 12, 2007. (MaanImages/Moti Milrod)


Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)
  • Two members of the Palestinian resistance were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip.
  • A Palestinian detainee died in an Israeli prison.
  • OF conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and two into the Gaza Strip.
  • IOF arrested 54 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman and her daughter.
  • IOF transformed two houses into military sites.
  • IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world and IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a girl.
  • IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank; IOF razed areas of land in Um Salamouna village southwest of Bethlehem to construct a section of the Wall and 15 demonstrators were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Wall.
  • IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank; Israeli settlers razed areas of land in Yatta village, south of Hebron, to establish a settler road, and an invitation for bids to construct 44 new housing unit in “Ma’ale Adomim” settlement near Jerusalem was published in Israeli newspapers.

    Summary

    Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (11 - 17 January 2007):

    Killing: On 14 January 2007, IOF killed two members of the Palestinian resistance in the northern Gaza Strip. IOF fired at them when they were 20 meters away from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. In the West Bank, on 16 January 2007, a Palestinian detainee died in the Negev Prison inside Israel due to medical negligence.

    Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 54 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman and her daughter. IOF also transformed two houses into military sites. In the Gaza Strip, on 14 January 2007, IOF moved nearly 200 meters into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis, and leveled areas of land. On 15 January 2007, IOF moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, and leveled areas of land.

    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. The crossing point was not opened. 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 7 months.

    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. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Contrary to Israeli claims, IOF 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 3 Palestinian civilians, including a girl.

    Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. On Monday morning, 15 January 2007, IOF razed large areas of land in Um Salamouna village, southwest of Bethlehem, to construct a section of the Wall. IOF also used force to disperse peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, and Um Salamouna village, southwest of Bethlehem. As a result, 14 demonstrators and a journalist were injured.

    Settlement Activities: On Thursday morning, 11 January 2007, Israeli settlers escorted by IOF started to raze large areas of agricultural land in Yatta village, south of Hebron, to establish a settler road near “Sousi” settlement. On 15 January 2007, the Israeli Ministry of Housing published an invitation for bids to construct 44 new housing units in “Ma’ale Adomim” settlement, east of occupied Jerusalem. This bid aims at expanding the settlements around Jerusalem and accelerate the Judaization of the city.

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

  • 491 Palestinians, 312 of whom are civilians, including 92 children and 30 women, have been killed by IOF. In the Gaza Strip alone, 408 Palestinians, 244 of whom are civilians, including 84 children, 28 women and 4 paramedics, have been killed by IOF.
  • At least 1663 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 351 children, 110 women. In the Gaza Strip alone, 1285 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 349 children, 104 women, 4 paramedics and 7 journalist, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.
  • At least 328 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 (11 - 17 January 2007)

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

    Thursday, 11 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. ‘Aadel Shaker Shanyour, 35; and
    2. Mohammed Radwan al-Takhman, 32.

  • Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah al-Kharouf, 42, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hani ‘Ali Bani ‘Ouda, 33.
  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They intercepted a car that was traveling in Kfar Saba neighborhood and arrested 3 members of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service who were traveling in it:

    1. Jihad ‘Abdul Hadi Eshtaiwi, 22;
    2. Wassim Khalil Abu ‘Ali, 22; and
    3. Islam Saleh Shalwit, 23.

  • At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Fathi ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Amru, 53; and
    2. Jadallah ‘Abdullah al-Rajoub, 48.

  • Also at approximately 02:40, IOF moved into the Municipality suburb, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Fahed ‘Aatef Abi Snaina, 20, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Mahmoud Riad Abu Srour, 21; and
    2. ‘Arafa ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Srour, 19.

  • At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Naqqar neighborhood in the center of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

    1. ‘Abdullah Rassem Shana’a, 22;
    2. Mohammed ‘Ali Abu Qamar, 21;
    3. Mahmoud Mohammed al-Khatib, 21;
    4. Ahmed Ibrahim Qattawi, 20; and
    5. Ahmed Mohammed al-Khatib, 23.

  • At approximately 13:00, an IOF undercover unit sneaked into Jenin, traveling in two civilian vehicles. The two cars stopped near housing project in the north of the town. IOF soldiers raided two apartment buildings and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Khaled Mohammed al-Haj, 45, a senior political leader of Hamas; and
    2. Ghassan ‘Abdul Wahab al-Zughbi, 34.

  • At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses near the settler bypass road (60) claiming that stones were thrown at Israeli vehicles traveling on the road. They arrested 4 Palestinian children:

    1. Ayman Hussein Matar, 13;
    2. Zafer Hisham al-Froukh, 13;
    3. Bilal Hashem Mtawar, 15; and
    4. Firas Hamdi al-Froukh, 15.

    Friday, 12 January 2007

  • At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed ‘Adnan Hasasna, 19.
  • At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khalil Kamel ‘Atawna, 21, and arrested him.

    Saturday, 13 January 2007

  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets. They later withdrew from the village and no house raids were reported.

    Sunday, 14 January 2007

  • At approximately 00:20, IOF moved into Artas village, south of Bethlehem. They opened fire at streets lights and at doors of houses. They then raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Essam Hasan Isma’il. They withdrew from the village at approximately 01:00 and no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Artas village, south of Bethlehem. They besieged an apartment building belonging to the Hassouna family. They forced the residents of a flat belonging to Fahmi Fawzi Khashan out. They then raided and searched the flat. They were searching the owner’s son Firas, who was not at home. IOF withdrew from the village later and no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 17:00, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved nearly 200 meters into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis, near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They leveled areas of land. They moved back to the border two hours later.
  • At approximately 22:30, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Hanoun town fired an artillery shell and several live bullets at two numbers of members of the Palestinian resistance, who were nearly 20 meters away from the border. The two were instantly killed. Their bodies remained in the area until 03:00 on Monday, 15 January 2007, when Palestinian medical crews found them. The bodies were taken to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia town. The two victims were identified as:

    1. Mousa Mohammed Qarmout, 22, from Beit Lahia, hit by shrapnel from the shell to the chest and the abdomen; and
    2. Kamal Mo’in Khader, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by a live bullet to the head.

    Monday, 15 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Sa’id al-Sa’di, 37, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 01:50, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ayman Lu’ai al-Khalili, 22;
    2. ‘Omar Mohammed ‘Arafat, 21;
    3. Mohammed Sabe’ Kalbouna, 22;
    4. ‘Emad Hamed Jouda, 20;
    5. Radwan Isma\il Swaidan, 19;
    6. Sami ‘Aj’aj, 23; and
    7. ‘Omar ‘Aj’aj, 26.

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ussama Hermas, 20, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ibrahim Qassem al-Sheikh, 32; and
    2. Bilal Taha al-Sheikh, 22.

  • At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra’ei village, southwest of Jenin. They erected a checkpoint near Abu Thar al-Ghefari Mosque. They stopped and checked Palestinian worshippers, including old people. They withdrew from the village a few hours later and no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 08:00, IOF, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved nearly 300 meters into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They moved back to the border 3 hours later.
  • At approximately 12:15, IOF moved into Hawara village, south of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. They forced Palestinian civilians to close their shops and stay at homes.
  • At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Riad Abu Srour and arrested his wife, 45-year-old Nawal Hussam Abu Srour, and his daughter, 19-year-old Ashjan.
  • At approximately 23:45, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family Ayman Sameeh Abu Baker, 22, and arrested him.

    Tuesday, 16 January 2007

  • At approximately 00:50, 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, including a child:

    1. Ibrahim Fawzi Abu al-Reesh, 17; and
    2. Jalal Bassam Ghanama, 21.

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nouba and Beit Oula villages, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ashraf Isma’il al-‘Adam, 30; and
    2. Mahmoud Mohammed al-Shrouf, 39.

  • Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into the al-Rujbi neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ayoub al-Rujbi, 28, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ashraf Mohammed Abu Khairan. They held the family on the first floor and transformed the second floor into a military site.

    Wednesday, 17 January 2007

  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Obaid, 53, and his three sons: Mohammed, 22; Shadi, 25; and ‘Alaa’, 19. They arrested ‘Obaid and his sons to pressure his fourth son, 30-year-old Mahmoud, to surrender.
  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Mohammed Jebril Makhamra, 33;
    2. Fahed Mohammed ‘Awadh, 35;
    3. Ahmed Mousa Makhamra, 37;
    4. Mousa Khalil al-Najjar, 40; and
    5. Mohammed Khalil al-Harini, 38.

  • At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Islam Riad Budair, 21, and arrested him.

    A Palestinian Prisoner Dies in an Israeli Prison

    On Tuesday, 16 January 2007, Jamal Hasan ‘Abdullah al-Sarahin, 37, from Beit Oula village north of Hebron, a father of a child, died in the Negev Prison (Ansar 3) inside Israel. PCHR is concerned that he might have died as a result medical negligence and delay in offering him medical treatment.

    Al-Sarahin was suffering from a blood disease. His health condition deteriorated approximately a week ago, but the administration of the prison procrastinated his transfer to the hospital. On Tuesday morning, his health condition further deteriorated. At approximately 10:00, the administration of the prison took him out of his cell to transfer him to the hospital. At approximately 15:00, the administration of the prison informed the representative of prisoners that he died 4 hours after he had been admitted into Soroka Hospital.

    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. The crossing point During the reporting period, the crossing point was not opened.
  • 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. The number of containers that enter the Gaza Strip daily is estimated at 500, where only 50 containers of exported goods are allowed through the crossing.
  • Nahal Ouz Crossing: This crossing is designed for the entry of fuel. On Friday and Tuesday, 6 and 9 January 2007, IOF denied the entry of gasoline into the Gaza Strip for no apparent reason. IOF allow the entry of limited amounts of domestic gas into the Gaza Strip, which do not meet the needs of its population.
  • Sofa Crossing: During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafaha, allowing the entry of aggregate and some food aid. However, IOF partially reopened Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing for two days to allow the entry of food aids provided by Egypt.

    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. During the reporting period, IOF arrested 14 Palestinian fishermen opposite to Rafah seashore. They released 8 fishermen later, but have kept the others in custody. 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.

  • Jerusalem: IOF have imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and have further isolated it from the rest of the West Bank. On Thursday morning, 11 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Beit Eksa checkpoint, northwest of Jerusalem, held dozens of Palestinian civilians and prevented them from traveling to their universities and work places. On Monday morning, 15 January 2007, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on the main and branch roads in Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem, in an attempt to arrest Palestinian workers from the West Bank who were able to enter the city through branch roads. IOF also erected a number of checkpoints in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and prevented a number of Palestinian civilians from reaching a hospital in the neighborhood, claiming that those civilians do not have permits to enter the city.
  • Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and outside Hebron. During the reporting period, IOF erected a number of checkpoints in addition those permanent ones inside the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated Palestinian civilians. On Friday and Saturday, 12 and 13 January 2007, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were not able to reach the Ibrahimi Mosque and other areas in the old town due to restrictions imposed by IOF on their movement. On Sunday morning, 14 January 2007, IOF soldiers chased Palestinian workers to the south of al-Zahiriya village, southwest of Hebron, to prevent them from traveling to their work places inside Israel. They also erected a number of checkpoints in the area. At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 16 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Martyr Hamdi Sultan intersection in the southwest of Hebron. They stopped, checked and interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians.
  • Ramallah: On Friday evening, 12 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at ‘Attara checkpoint, north of Ramallah, arrested Ayman Jarrar, 21, from al-Faundoqawmiya village southeast of Jenin. Jarrar is a member of the student council of Bit Zeit University.
  • Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 11 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They also razed 8 donums of land near the checkpoint, apparently to expand it. IOF also erected a number of checkpoints on the roads leading to al-Bathan area. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Saturday morning, 13 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel to the city. On Tuesday morning, 16 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint on New Nablus road, southwest of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday morning, 17 January 2007, IOF soldiers re-established their presence at a checkpoint in Nablus-Ramallah roads. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

    On Sunday evening, 14 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Ruba Mahmoud Tlaib, 19, from Qeera village southwest of Nablus.

  • Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 11 January 2007, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, from 06:00 to 11:00. On Saturday, 12 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Bala’a intersection, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also chased a number of Palestinian civilians who attempted to bypass the checkpoint through dirt roads and forced them to travel back homes. On Sunday, 14 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They prevented civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint. On Monday, 15 January 2007, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 16 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles.

    On Tuesday morning, 16 January 2007, IOF positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Nidal Ahmed ‘Oufi, 20, from Tulkarm refugee camp, when he was on his way to Jordan.

  • Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, IOF erected a number of checkpoints near Rubas village, southeast of Jenin. On Saturday morning, 13 January 2007, IOF soldiers positioned at Tayaseer checkpoint, to east of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, prevented dozens of Palestinian civilians from reaching the northern Jordan Valley, claiming that they do not have valid permits to enter the area. On Sunday morning, 14 January 2007, IOF erected additional checkpoints on the roads leading to Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday morning, 15 January 2007, IOF erected two checkpoints near Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

    3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

    IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory.

  • At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 12 January 2007, about 250 Palestinian civilians and 60 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. Nine demonstrators, including an American solidarity activist and an Israeli one, and a journalist were wounded.
  • At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 15 January 2007, IOF started to raze large areas of agricultural land in Um Salamouna village to construct a section of the Wall to the southwest of Bethlehem. At approximately 10:00, dozens of Palestinian farmers demonstrated in the area in protest to land leveling. IOF soldiers fired tear gas canisters at the farmers and beat a number of them. Two farmers sustained bruises and fractures and 3 others suffered from tear gas inhalation.

    4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

  • On Thursday morning, 11 January 2007, dozens of Israeli settlers accompanied by a bulldozer and escorted by IOF started to raze large areas of agricultural land in Yatta village, south of Hebron, to establish a settler road near “Sousi” settlement. By Sunday noon, 14 January 2007, they had razed at least 50 donums of agricultural land. Palestinian farmers will be denied access to at least 150 donums of agricultural land.
  • On 15 January 2007, the Israeli Ministry of Housing published an invitation for bids to construct 44 new housing units in “Ma’ale Adomim” settlement, east of occupied Jerusalem. This bid aims at expanding the settlements around Jerusalem and accelerate the Judaization of the city.

    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)