PCHR Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights violations

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
July 18, 2008

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks againstPalestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied PalestinianTerritory (OPT)

3 Palestinians were killed by IOF in the West Bank and the GazaStrip.

13 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded by theIOF gunfire in the West Bank.

7 of these civilians were wounded during a peaceful demonstrationorganized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall inNelin village west of Ramallah.

IOF conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in theWest Bank.

IOF have continued to raid civil society institutions in Nablus forthe 2nd consecutive week.

IOF raided the Municipality of Nablus, 2 medical centers, atelevision station, 2 NGOs and 5 mosques.

IOF confiscated 7 school buses.

IOF arrested 66 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and 2women, in the West Bank.

IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and haveisolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

IOF troops at a military checkpoint near Jenin attempted to force 3Palestinian women to take off their clothes.

IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank andIsraeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civiliansand property.

The construction of 920 housing units on Abu Ghumaim Mount (HarHoma), south of East Jerusalem, was approved

IOF demolished a house in al-Eissawiya village near Jerusalem.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian lawcontinued in the OPT during the reporting period (9  16 July2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 3 Palestinians inthe West Bank and the Gaza Strip and injured 13 others, including 2children, in the West Bank.

In the West Bank, on 9 July, an IOF undercover unit shot and killedone Palestinian and arrested another in Kufor Dan village, west ofJenin. The victim had been wanted by IOF for 2 years. On the sameday, three Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, wereinjured when IOF moved into al-Fara refugee camp, south of Jenin.

On 11 July, IOF killed a Palestinian near Yakir settlement,northwest of Salfit. IOF claimed an exchange of fire had takenplace in the area, during which the Palestinian was killed.

On 16 July, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded when IOF movedinto al-Fara refugee camp, south of Jenin.

During the reporting period, seven Palestinian civilians werewounded when IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrationsorganized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall inBilin and Nelin villages, west of Ramallah, and Deir al-Ghossounvillage, north of Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, on 10 July, IOF troops positioned at the borderbetween the Gaza Strip and Israel killed a Palestinian civilian inthe central Gaza Strip. This attack was the fifth of its kind sincethe Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups andIsrael entered into force on June 19. In addition, fourPalestinians have been injured since the truce started.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.During these incursions, IOF arrested 66 Palestinian civilians,including seven children and a number of public figures. Since thebeginning of this year, 1,548 Palestinian civilians have beenarrested by IOF in the West Bank. In addition, for the secondconsecutive week, IOF have continued a systematic campaign againstPalestinian civil institutions. During the reporting period, IOFraided and searched several civil institutions in Nablus. Theyconfiscated property of these institutions and ordered the closureof a number of them. IOF also raided five mosques in Nablus.

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

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Stripfor more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has tightenedsince June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitariansituation in the Gaza Strip, and has violated the human, economicand social rights of the approximately 1.5 million Palestiniancivilian population, particularly their rights to appropriateliving conditions, health and education. The siege has alsoparalyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege has severelyimpacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessitiessuch as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for variouseconomic sectors. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of rawmaterials into the Gaza Strip, and many factories have been forcedto close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement ofthe entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilianmovements, IOF permit very few Palestinian civilians to passthrough Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to travel to the WestBank or Israel. Rafah International Crossing Point in the southernGaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outsideworld via a country other than Israel. IOF have closed RafahInternational Crossing Point, even though they do not directlycontrol it, and have also obstructed European observers working atthe Crossing Point from reaching it. Although the Egypt-brokeredtruce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel entered intoforce on June 19, no major changes have been observed regarding themovement of persons and goods through the six Gaza Strip bordercrossings. The closure of these border crossings deprives thePalestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right tofreedom of movement, education and health.

West Bank

Contrary to Israeli claims of easing restrictions on the movementof Palestinian civilians, IOF have continued to impose severerestrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughoutthe West Bank. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the WestBank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOFhave established many checkpoints around and inside the city.Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians oftenescalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-AqsaMosque. IOF often violently assault Palestinian civilians whoattempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have alsotightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the WestBank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank havecontinued to impose severe restrictions on the movement ofPalestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on themain roads and intersections in the West Bank.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities andIsraeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation ofinternational humanitarian law, have continued to attackPalestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period,the Israeli district committee approved the construction of 920housing units in Abu Ghniam Mount (Har Homa) in south eastJerusalem. The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem claimed that thisproject does not have political motivations or implications. IOFalso demolished a Palestinian house in al-Eissawiya village, eastof Jerusalem, claiming that it had been built without a license.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (9  16July 2008)

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

Wednesday, 9 July

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Aqraba village, southeastof Nablus. They raided a clinic belonging to the Alms Committee inthe east of the village. They forced the staff members of theclinic to leave the clinic. They then broke the door of theadministration room and a filing cabinet. IOF also confiscated somedocuments, a computer and money totaling US $ 2,500.

" Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qabalan village,southeast of Nablus. They raided the Koran Association in thecenter of the village. The building consists of 4 floors: the firstfloor serves as a sewing workshop; the second is a mosque forwomen, the third a mosque for men and the top floor is anadministration and education center. IOF troops confiscated theentire contents of the building, including computers and alldocuments, and ordered the closure of the association for twoyears.

" At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Fara refugee camp,south of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and opened fire beforeraiding and searching a number of houses. At approximately 06:00, anumber of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threwstones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired atthem wounding three of them, including two children:

1. Mohammed Bassam al-Shawish, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the abdomen;

2. Eyad Samir Abu Melhem, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the shoulder;

3. Salam Fayez Nassar, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bulletto the hand.

Before their withdrawal from the camp at 07:00, IOF troops arrestedMohammed Abdul Qader Hussein, 23, and his brother Ahmed, 21.

" At approximately 06:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into KuforDan village, west of Jenin, traveling in a civilian vehicle with aPalestinian registration plate. The vehicle intercepted aPalestinian civilian car that was leaving the village via a routeheading east. IOF troops opened fire at a Palestinian who attemptedto flee from the intercepted vehicle. He was hit by severalgunshots to the chest and the legs. IOF troops then abducted himand the driver of the vehicle. Soon afterwards, IOF militaryvehicles moved into the village to secure the withdrawal of theundercover unit from the village. The injured Palestinian who hadsubsequently been abducted was identified as Talal Said TalalAabed, 33, who had been wanted by IOF for 2 years for being amember of Abu Ammar Brigades affiliated to Fatah movement. Thedriver was identified as Mohammed Burhan Aabed, 22. An hour later,IOF informed Palestinian officials that Talal Aabed had died ofhis injuries. His body was delivered to a Palestinian ambulance atapproximately 04:00 the following morning.

" At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided andsearched a number of houses in several parts of the town andarrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 brothers:

1. Hassan Ahmed Amru, 35;

2. Said Ahmed Amru, 30;

3. Abdul Hadi Abu Khalaf, 35;

4. Jafar Mustafa Abu Eisha, 25;

5. Shareef Abdul Samee al-Zatari, 30;

6. Eid Khalaf Abu Eisha, 22.

Thursday, 10 July

" At approximately 00:05, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled thestreets and opened fire. They then raided offices of a number ofPalestinian institutions and ordered one of them to close, claimingit funded terrorist organizations. According to PCHRinvestigations, IOF troops raided the offices of Afaq Television inthe Aaloul and Abu Salha Building in Palestinian Street in the citycentre. They confiscated all equipment and ordered the closure ofthe television station for 2 years, claiming it was fundingterrorist organizations. At the same time, IOF troops also raidedthe offices of the Palestinian Women Committees Association in theal-Debei Building in west Nablus city. They confiscated 5computers and some documents. IOF also raided al-Rahma Clinic inFaisal Street in the east of the city, and confiscated 4 computers,a PC hard drive and some documents. Additionally, IOF confiscatedtwo buses belonging to Dawhat al-Iman Kindergarten in al-Maajinneighborhood in the northwest of the city.

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Wadi Abu Ktailaneighborhood in the northwest of Hebron. They besieged a number ofhouses belonging to the Karama clan. They ordered residents ofthose houses to leave the houses, which they did. IOF troops thenopened fire at the houses. At approximately 02:00, IOF demolishedtwo of the houses, which belong to Mohammed and Jamal OthmanKarama, rendering 18 individuals homeless. IOF also demolished partof their mothers house. IOF claimed the two houses were harboringwanted persons. During this operation, IOF attacked residents ofthe houses. IOF also demolished fences and uprooted dozens oftrees. Before their withdrawal from the area at approximately07:00, IOF troops arrested Jamal Othman Karama, 39.

" At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Aqraba village, southeastof Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested2 Palestinian civilians

1. Waleed Yousef Deiriya, 35;

2. Mahmoud Wajeeh Bani Jaber, 28.

" At approximately 05:30, IOF troops positioned at the borderbetween the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah, shot deadSaleem Joma Ouda al-Humaidi, 22, from al-Zawaida village, with 3gunshots to the chest and the left thigh. At approximately 10:00,his body was delivered to a Palestinian ambulance. According to thevictims father, he was in the house of his uncle nearly 100 metersaway from the border, and was returning home when IOF troops shothim dead.

" At approximately 14:15, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southof Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of shops. Noarrests were reported.

" At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into the north of Tulkarm. Theychecked a number of Palestinian civilians and searched a number ofvehicles. No arrests were reported.

" At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into the north of Tulkarm. Theyimposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestiniancivilians in the area for about 45 minutes.

Friday, 11 July

" At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They besieged thebuilding of the Municipality of Nablus. They blew up the door ofAccounting Department and then searched the department. Theyconfiscated 4 computers, some maps and a camera. During thisincursion, IOF also raided and searched four mosques in the city,and also confiscated 4 school buses.

" At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Eizariya village, eastof Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to thefamily of Mohammed Ahmed al-Aramin, 22, and arrested him.

" At approximately 02:35, IOF moved into Arraba village, southwestof Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrestswere reported.

" Also at approximately 02:35, IOF moved into al-Araqa village,south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. Noarrests were reported.

" At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp.They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 12Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Majed Abdul Fattah Qattawi, 18;

2. Abdullah Abdul Fattah Qattawi, 21;

3. Ibrahim Abdul Fattah Qattawi, 25;

4. Maher Abdul Fattah Qattawi, 30;

5. Ahmed Abdul Fattah Qattawi, 35;

6. Khaled Tamliya, 32;

7. Rami Mahmoud Shareef, 21;

8. Ibrahim Mahmoud Shareef, 15;

9. Ahmed Mahmoud Shareef, 18;

10. Mohammed Tayseer al-Zubaidi, 20;

11. Ibrahim Tayseer al-Zubaidi, 18;

12. Hassan Ali al-Haridi, 18.

" At approximately 05:40, the body of Mahmoud Othman MohammedAassi, 50, from Qarawat Bani Hassan village northwest of Salfit,was brought into Salfit Hospital. He had been hit by four gunshots.Israeli security sources claimed that an exchange of fire had takenplace near Yakir settlement, northwest of Slafit, during which aPalestinian was killed and an Israeli officer was injured.According to investigations conducted by PCHR, an exchange of firetook place between Assi and IOF troops near Yakir settlementduring which Aassi was killed by gunshots to the head, the neck,the chest and the leg. In a statement issued following theincident, Hamas mourned Aassi, who was deported to Lebanon in1992, and who was imprisoned for long periods in Israeli jails.Assi was a prominent leader of Hamas in Salfit.

Saturday, 12 July

" At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugeecamp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests werereported.

" At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west ofJenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests werereported.

" Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Khader village,south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging tothe family of Nadeem Mahmoud Eissa, 22.

Sunday, 13 July

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboringBalata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses.No arrests were reported.

" Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Northern Assiravillage, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number ofhouses. No arrests were reported.



" At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugeecamp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests werereported.

" Also at approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Qabatya village,southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. Noarrests were reported.

Monday, 14 July

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboringAskar refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of housesand arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mousa Ahmed al-Tanbour, 24;

2. Yousef Abdul Qader Habboush, 23;

3. Ahmed Abdul Ghandour, 19;

4. Abdullah Ahmed al-Demiati, 20;

5. Fadi Munther Abu al-Huda, 20.

" At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, west ofJenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests werereported.

Tuesday, 15 July

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided andsearched a house belonging to the family of Abed Aziz al-Hraimi,20, and arrested him.

" Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Tamar village,east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging tothe family of Hmaid Mohammed Souman, 22, and arrested him.

" At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided andsearched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians,including 2 women:

1. Kholoud Rashad al-Masri, 35, Assistant of the Mayor of Nablus;

2. Ammar Ameen al-Masri, 42, her husband, Head of the SolidaritySports Club;

3. Haneen Mohammed Darwaza, 42, board member of the Women UnionAssociation;

4. Mohye al-Din Mohammed al-Salous, 27, her son-in-law,Administrative Director of Women Union Hospital in Nbalus;

5. Abdul Rahim Mohammed al-Hanbali, 68, Director of al-SafaFactory for Dairy Products;

6. Hussam al-Din Lutfi al-Katalouni, 46, member of the municipalcouncil of Nablus;

7. Mosab, 24, his son, a journalist.

" At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Deir Sharaf village, westof Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested5 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children:

1. Waheed Hamed Antari, 16;

2. Abdullah Ibrahim Fuqaha, 16;

3. Ahmed Khaled Abdul Khaliq, 18;

4. Kmayel Jawad Abbadi, 17;

5. Ibrahim Mohammed Noufal, 15.

" At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Beit Fajjar village, southof Bethlehem, and imposed a curfew. They closed the entrances tothe village with sand barriers. They raided and searched a numberof houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

1. Thaer Abdullah Taqatqa, 23;

2. Alaa Faisal Taqatqa, 24;

3. Hussein Mahmoud Taqatqa, 46;

4. Shihab Mohammed Thawabta, 20;

5. Alaa Mohammed Taqatqa, 24;

6. Khamis Mohammed Thawabta, 32.

" At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Ektaba suburb, east ofTulkarm. They erected a checkpoint at the entrance of the suburband prevented movement to and from it. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 16 July

" At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided andsearched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Motassem Abdul Rahman Mwafi, 21;

2. Ahmed Nour al-Din Barham, 19;

3. Mahdi Ihsan Khudroj, 18.

" At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboringEin Beit al-Maa refugee camp. They raided offices ofInternational Solidarity Association for Human Rights on the 3rdfloor of al-Israa Building and confiscated 15 computers and somedocuments and files. IOF troops also raided and searched a numberof houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including
2 children:

1. Hamza Ghassan al-Jouhari, 17;

2. Bashar Bassem Kalbouna, 17;

3. Qadri Hafez Shaheen, 21;

4. Momen Ali al-Qaissi, 23;

5. Karem Mohammed Abu Eissa, 25.

" Also at approximately 01:0, IOF moved into Zawata village, westof Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrestedMosab Atallah Miari, 24.

" Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Fara refugeecamp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses.Several hours later, a number of Palestinian children and young mengathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately,IOF troops fired at them wounding three:

1. Mahmoud Hassan Abdul Jawad, 19, wounded by a gunshot to theleft thigh;

2. Sharaf Rashad Jaaisa, 21, wounded by a gunshot to the leftfoot; and

3. Mohammed Abdullah Subeh, 18, wounded by a gunshot to the rightarm.

IOF also arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Saed Mohammed al-Ghoul, 23;

2. Maath Mohammed al-Ghoul, 22;

3. Ali Hassan Tayeh, 25;

4. Munther Adnan al-Sheikh Dib, 22;

5. Yousef Fayez Ghazalawi, 18.

" At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Jalqamous village, east ofJenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrestedAbdul Rahim Sami al-Haj Mohammed, 30.

" Also at approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Bourqin village, westof Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrestswere reported.

" At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeastof Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrestswere reported.

" At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Abu Shukhaidem village,north of Ramallah. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire.Neither arrests nor casualties were reported.

2. Continued Siege on the OPT

As previously noted, IOF have continued to impose a tightened siegeon the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement ofPalestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civiliansof the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have beenclosed for more than two years as part of IOFs collectivepunishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement ofcivilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secureits basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing thepoverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilianlife in the Gaza Strip has led to the near paralysis of theeducational sector. In addition, the health sector is on the vergeof collapse due to the stoppage of many ambulances from operatingfor lack of fuel. Healthcare facilities have registered a 25% dropin clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcareprofessionals have been unable to reach their work places.Furthermore, the transportation sector has almost ceasedfunctioning throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massivelyreduced essential services, including the delivery of drinkingwater delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

During the reporting period, the Egypt-brokered truces betweenPalestinian resistance groups and Israel continued, under which thesiege imposed on the Gaza Strip would apparently be graduallyeased. However, no tangible change has been noticed with regard tothe movement of persons and goods, excluding the increase in thenumber of containers of foods and humanitarian aid allowed into theGaza Strip.

Over the past 5 months, IOF have permitted a very limited number ofseriously ill patients and staff of international organizations topass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint. IOF have howeverprevented the families of approximately 1,000 Palestinians detainedin Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Stripeconomic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operatedue to the siege and restriction on movement of goods andindividuals.

Regarding movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, whichwas designed for the entry of fuel; during the reporting period,IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuel:

Date
Benzene
Diesel
Cooking Gas
Energy Fuel

10 July 2008
Nil
Nil
282.270 tons
Nil

13 July 2008
Nil
354,000 liters
151.170 tons
562,000 liters

14 July 2008
Nil
262,420 liters
176,870 tons
769,200 liters

15 July 2008
76,000 liters
80,000 liters
68 tons
910,000 liters


During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar(Karni) commercial crossing for several hours on Thursday andTuesday, 10 and 15 July 2008, and allowed the entry of 5,700 tonsof seeds and feeds. On Sunday and Monday, 13 and 14 July 2008, IOFallowed the entry of 4,500 tons of aggregate.

Regarding movement at Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, during thereporting period, it was as shown in the following table:

Date
Details

9 July 2008
101 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into theGaza Strip

10 July 2008
73.5 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed intothe Gaza Strip

11 July 2008
45 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

12 July 2008
Closed

13 July 2008
81 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into theGaza Strip

14 July 2008
89 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into theGaza Strip

15 July 2008
56 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into theGaza Strip


Regarding Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptianborder, the Egyptian authorities started to open it on a limitedbasis for some patients. Movement at the crossing during thereporting period was as follows:

Date
Details

11 July 2008
Jamal Abu Hashem, a senior leader of Hamas, and his bodyguardtraveled back to the Gaza Strip.

12 July 2008
Mahmoud al-Zahhar, former Foreign Minister, and his bodyguardtraveled back to the Gaza Strip.

14 July 2008
17 members of the mission of the Palestinian national football teamtravelled abroad.

15 July 2008
11 patients were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (KeremShalom) crossing for more than 3 months.

The closure of these border crossings deprives the Palestiniancivilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom ofmovement, education and health. IOF have also continued to imposesevere restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately35,000 people in and around Gazas coastal communities rely on thefishing industry, including 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staffand their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensivemonitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats tomonitor and harass the fishermen. The Oslo Accords stipulate thatPalestinian fishermen are permitted to fish up to 20 nautical milesaway from the Gaza seashore.

The West Bank

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. During thereporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians.

" Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday morning, 9 July,IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Lubban village, south of Nablus,on Nablus-Ramallah road. They stopped and searched Palestiniancivilian vehicles. On Thursday morning, 10 July, IOF troopspositioned at Zatara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus,conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturdaymorning, 12 July, IOF troops positioned at Zaatara checkpoint,south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city,conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Sundaymorning, 13 July, IOF troops positioned at Zaatara checkpoint,south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestiniancivilians. On Monday morning, 7 July, IOF troops positioned atvarious checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictionson the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 15July, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the cityimposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestiniancivilians. They also erected a checkpoint at Sabastia intersection,northwest of Nablus, and another one at Jeet intersection,southwest of Nablus.

" Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 10 July, IOF closedWad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, until 10:00. On Friday,11 July, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Attilvillage, north of Tulkarm, and imposed severe restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians to and from the village. OnSaturday, 12 July, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance toal-Ras village on Tulkarm-Qalqilya road. They stopped and searcheddozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 13 July, IOFclosed Eannab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, for several hours. OnMonday, 13 July, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Qiffinvillage, north of Tulkarm. They imposed severe restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians to and from the village.

" Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on themovement of Palestinian civilians. During the reporting period, IOFclosed all entrances to the town and closed almost all roadslinking the town with neighboring villages and refugee camps. IOFtroops positioned at various checkpoints around the town imposedsevere restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. OnMonday, 14 July, IOF erected 2 checkpoints in the south of Hebron.They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. at the same time,IOF imposed a curfew in the vicinity of the Ibrahimi Mosque, whichcontinued until the following day. On the same day, IOF closed anumber of branch roads in al-Ras neighborhood in the southeast ofHebron with cement blocks, allegedly to ensure security for Israelisettlers living in a building they have seized since 19 March 2008.

" Bethlehem: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions onthe movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday morning, 9July, IOF started to expand the al-Sawahra checkpoint, northeast ofBethlehem, into a permanent crossing point. On Sunday morning andMonday, 13 and 14 July, IOF closed Wadi al-Nar road for long hours.On Wednesday, 16 July, IOF troops positioned at the Containercheckpoint on Wadi al-Nar road, which links between the north andsouth of the West Bank, imposed severe restrictions on the movementof Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 6 July,IOF troops positioned at the checkpoint on the southern entrance ofJericho arrested Ahmed Mohammed Awadallah, 20, from Bethlehem,when he was on his way to his work in Jericho.

" Jenin: On Sunday morning, 13 July, IOF troops abused 3Palestinian women in Jenin when they were on their way to visittheir relatives who are imprisoned in Israeli jails. When the womenrefused obey orders to take off their clothes, IOF troops held themfor some time and prevented them from visiting the detainees.

In her testimony to PCHR, Raeda Ahmed al-Shalabi, 31, stated:

At approximately 06:30 on Sunday, 13 July, I left my home inSeilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin, to go to visit myhusband who is detained in Asqalan Prison.

I headed towards al-Jalama checkpoint, where I had to pass through16 gates before reaching Israeli buses that would transport us toprisons. When I was in the last stage of checking, where identitycards and belongings are checked, IOF troops kept my identity card,and those of the sister of Saed Mohammed Salah, and the wife ofYousef Ahmed Ata, both from Jenin. IOF troops called Salahssister and took her into a room. They ordered her to take off herclothes, but she refused. The same happened with Atas wife. Whenit was my turn, they took me into the room, they ordered me to takeoff the scarf, but I refused. They took me out. They then took thethree of us back into the room and closed it. We were held therefor nearly 45 minutes, during which time the two other women almostbroke down. We were crying and asking for help. IOF troops refusedto open the door and brought our children to us. A staff member ofthe ICRC came and talked to us from behind the door. He told usthat if we wanted to get out we should obey orders of IOF troops,but we refused. We refused to allow our children into the room. So,they took us all into another small room. IOF troops threatened uswith interrogation. We stayed there for almost an hour, duringwhich time they did not allow our children to go to the bathroom.We were released at 11:30, and were forced to travel back to Jeninwithout visiting our loved ones.

3. Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside WestBank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force againstpeaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians andinternational and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to theconstruction of the Wall in Bilin and Nelin villages, west ofRamallah; and Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. Thesedemonstrations coincided with the 4th anniversary of the AdvisoryOpinion issued by the International Court of Justice, whichconsiders the construction of the Wall illegal.

" At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 9 July, dozens ofPalestinian civilians gathered in the west of Deir al-Ghossounvillage, north of Tulkarm. They moved towards the Wall.Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and teargas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a number ofdemonstrators, including two journalists, suffered from tear gasinhalation.

" On Friday afternoon, 11 July, dozens of Palestinian civilians andinternational and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in thecenter of Nelin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards thearea where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wallin the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metalbullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 5demonstrators, were wounded:

1. Salah Tayeh al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the back;

2. Rafat Sadaqa, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet tothe hand;

3. Mohammed Jamal Amira, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the hand;

4. Mohammed Sabti al-Khawaja, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the foot;

5. Ahmed Waed al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the hand.

IOF also arrested 4 demonstrators:

1. Samer Mustafa al-Khawaja;

2. Ahmed Mustafa al-Kahawaja,

3. Hassan Ahmed Mousa,

4. Abdul Aziz Said al-Khawaja.

" Following the Friday Prayer on 11 July, scores of Palestiniancivilians and international and Israeli human rights defendersdemonstrated in Bilin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to theconstruction of the Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall,but IOF closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. Thedemonstrators then set fire to tires in protest at the closure ofgates. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bulletsand tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens ofdemonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.



" On Tuesday morning, 15 July, dozens of Palestinian civilians andinternational and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in thecenter of Nelin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards thearea where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wallin the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metalbullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 2demonstrators, were wounded:

1. Mohammed Amira, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet tothe left hand; and

2. Mohammed Subhi Sorour, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metalbullet to the foot.

4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers againstPalestinian Civilians and Property

IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation ofinternational humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continuedto attack Palestinian civilians and property.

" At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 15 July, IOF moved intoal-Eissawiya village, east of Jerusalem. They demolished a150-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to Ishaq MohammedMustafa, without allowing its 12 residents to take any of theirbelongings. IOF claimed that the house was built without a license.

" During the reporting period, the Israeli district committeeapproved the construction of 920 housing units in Abu Ghniam Mount(Har Homa) in the southeast of Jerusalem. The Israeli Municipalityof Jerusalem claimed that this project does not have politicalmotivations or implications. PCHR notes that the Israeli PrimeMinister, Ehud Olmert, repeatedly asserted that settlementactivities in Jerusalem and settlement blocs would not cease.