Saturday February 16, 2008, 9:54 am
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)



10 Palestinians, including a school teacher and 3 brothers, were killed by IOF and an 11th one died from a previous wound in the Gaza Strip.

40 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 9 women and 8 children, were wounded by the IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip and 2 others in the West Bank.

IOF conducted 31 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 into the Gaza Strip.

IOF arrested 77 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, and 5 others in the Gaza Strip.

IOF waged a harsh campaign against money exchange shops; they confiscated at least 3 million NIS (approximately US$ 830,000) and closed a number of shops.

IOF razed 20 donums[1] of agricultural land in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

IOF continued to shell Palestinian civilian facilities.

IOF destroyed a refrigerator, a factory and 2 workshops.

IOF damaged dozens of houses.

IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property.

IOF demolished a house in Jerusalem.





Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (7 – 13 February 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 10 Palestinians, including 3 brothers and a school teacher, and an 11th one died from a previous wound in the Gaza Strip. IOF also wounded 40 Palestinians, mostly civilians, in the Gaza Strip, and 2 civilians in the West Bank.

On 7 February 2008, IOF killed 6 activists of the Palestinian resistance, including 2 brothers, and wounded 4 others in Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. One of the wounded, who is a third brother to the two brother already killed, died from his wound later. On the same day, IOF killed a school teacher and wounded 3 students in Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. A missile fired hit the school when IOF were pursuing activists of the Palestinian resistance. On 9 February 2008, IOF extra-judicially executed an activist of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip. An IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at him when he was walking in the street. On 10 February 2008, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded another one during an incursion into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. On 7 February 2008, Palestinian medical sources declared that an activist of the Palestinian resistance died from a wound he had sustained on the preceding day, when an IOF aircraft fired a missile at him. Additionally, 33 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children and 9 women, and were wounded by the IOF gunfire in other attacks.

In the same context, IOF continued to bombard civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip. On 10 February 2008, IOF aircrafts fired 4 missiles at a refrigerator and a factory in Rafah. The refrigerator, the factory and a neighboring house were destroyed, and 10 other houses were damaged. On the same day, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on 2 workshops in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The two shops were destroyed and a number of houses were damaged.

In the West Bank, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 31 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 77 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children and a girl. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 384. During the reporting period, IOF waged a harsh campaign against money exchange shops in the West Bank. They arrested a number of money changers and confiscated at least 3 million NIS (approximately US$ 830,000).

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian communities. On 7 February 2008, IOF moved into the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. During this incursion, they killed 7 Palestinians and wounded 2 others (see above). On 10 February 2008, IOF moved into al-Shaojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. On 11 February 2008, IOF moved into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah, and arrested 4 Palestinian farmers. On 12 February 2008, IOF moved into the east of Gaza City. On the same day, IOF moved into Wadi al-Salqa village. They razed at least 20 donums of agricultural land and arrested a Palestinian civilian. On 13 February 2008, IOF moved into Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled debris of building they had already destroyed.

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 continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. 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 nearly 1.5 million 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. The siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fule supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. 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 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. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian fishermen to go fishing up to 20 nautical miles away from the Gaza seashore.



West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank.



Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (7 – 13 February 2008)



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



Thursday, 7 February 2008

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into ‘Azmout village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:



1. Samer Jamal Thawabta, 20;

2. Yasser Rayiq Thawabta, 23; and

3. ‘Aziz Subaih Thawabta, 19.



· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qaddoura refugee camp in the center of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:



1. Ahmed al-Mahsiri, 22; and

2. Dib Zuhdi al-Ghazzawi, 23.



· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Tayseer Mohammed Nazzal, 58, was wounded by shrapnel to the feet, when he was on his way to the mosque for the Dawn Prayer. IOF troops then raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:



1. Mohammed Hussein Zakarna, 22;

2. Mujahed ‘Adnan Kmayel, 25;

3. Hussam Yahia Abu al-Rub, 20;

4. Ma’ath ‘Aamer Abu Zaid, 23;

5. ‘Awni ‘Adnan Kmayel, 22; and

6. Eyad ‘Abdul Latif Abu al-Rub, 19.



· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They besieged an apartment building belonging to ‘Antar Diab in the center of the town. They forced the residents out and searched all flats. Before leaving the area, IOF troops arrested Tariq Mohammed Abu Laymoun, 19.



· At approximately 03:15, IOF troops launched a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were in al-Qerem Street in the east of Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Two activists were killed and 2 others were wounded. At approximately 04:00, IOF aircrafts fired 6 missiles at different areas in Jabalya town. As a result, 4 activists of the Palestinian resistance, including 2 brothers, were killed and 2 others were wounded, one of whom died from his wound on 10 February 2008. The seven victims of those attacks were identified as:



1. Ahmed Zakaria Abu Humaid, 25, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City;

2. Hammouda Mohammed al-Shurafa, 40, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City;

3. Sa’ed ‘Abdullah Nabhan, 20, from Jabalya;

4. Jawdat ‘Abdullah Nabhan, 22, from Jabalya;

5. Saleh ‘Abdullah Nabhan, 22, from Jabalya;

6. Mohammed Yousef al-Mutawaq, 26, from Jabalya; and

7. Ussama Fayez ‘Assaf, 22, from Jabalya.



· At approximately 07:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City, launched a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were near the Agricultural Secondary School in the north of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip. The missile fell onto the school yard, where at least 70 students and 35 staff members were. As a result, Hani Sha’ban Na’im, 41, a teacher, was killed by shrapnel. Three students were also wounded:



1. ‘Emad Maher al-Kafarna, 17, sustained a serious wound;

2. Nidal Midhat al-Kafarna, 17, sustained a serious wound; and

3. Tha’er Rashad al-Kafarna, 17, sustained a light wound.



· In the evening, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Suhail Ra’fat al-Ghusain, 38, died from a wound he had sustained on the preceding day. The victim, who was a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), was seriously wounded when an IOF aircraft fired a missile at him when he was stationed near the border with Israel, east of Gaza City.



Friday, 8 February 2008

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into the eastern part of al-Bireh. They patrolled in the streets, but withdrew later. No arrests were reported.



· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested ‘Aamer Mohammed ‘Aqel, 17.



· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Mazara’a al-Gharbiya village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Anas Hassan Abu Qare’, 18, and arrested him.



· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.



· Also at approximately 19:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians and property and imposed a curfew that continued until the following day morning. During this incursion, IOF raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:



1. Ramzi Zahran Swaidan, 19;

2. Hassan Yousef Swaidan, 20; and

3. Nemer Mohammed Swaidan, 19.



· At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Tubas town. They patrolled in the streets. They withdrew from the town later and no arrests were reported.



Saturday, 9 February 2008

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Salem Mahmoud Samoudi, 19.



· At approximately 07:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were about to launch home-made rockets from the east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip at Israeli towns. An activist, 20-year-old Hamza Hamza al-Masri, was seriously wounded by shrapnel.



· At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit village, south of Nablus, and imposed a curfew.



· At approximately 23:55, an IOF fighter jet dropped 3 bombs at a site of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Bani Suhaila village, east of Khan Yunis. Two rooms in the site were destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were lightly damaged.



Sunday, 10 February 2008

· At approximately 00:20, IOF aircrafts fired 4 missiles at a refrigerator and a canning factory of agricultural products in al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. The refrigerator, the factory and a neighboring houses were destroyed, and 10 others houses were damaged. Ten civilians were also lightly damaged. Dr. ‘Abdul Hadi Qishta, one of the owners of the refrigerator, estimated losses at US$ 700,000, and Younis Mahmoud Shabana, the owner of the canning factory, estimated his loss at US$ 350,000. IOF claimed that they attacked a store of weapons near the refrigerator.



· At approximately 00:30, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on 2 adjacent workshops belonging to Yassin Nemer al-Madhoun and Jamal Mohammed al-Kurd in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The two workshops were destroyed and a number of neighboring houses and a car were damaged. Additionally, 13 Palestinian civilians, including 7 women and 3 children, were lighly injured.



· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire indiscriminately. They then raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.



· At approximately 18:00, IOF troops moved nearly 800 meters into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. They exchanged fire with a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance. An activists, 21-year-old Rami ‘Abdul Rahman Kareem, was killed. At approximately 21:00, an IOF aircraft supporting the incursion fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance. An activist, 28-year-old Jihad Zakaria Abu Ne’ma, was seriously wounded.



Monday, 11 February 2008

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tubas town. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Bassam Najeeb Maslamani, 31.



· At approximately 10:00, IOF troops moved hundreds of meters into al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They arrested 4 Palestinian farmers:



1. ‘Abdul Karim Salem Jaradat, 40;

2. ‘Ali Talab Jaradat, 22;

3. Younis ‘Abdul Mo’ti Jaradat, 22; and

4. Mustafa ‘Atiya Jaradat, 20.



· At approximately 12:00, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Deir al-Balah town, fired at Mohammed Jom’a Abu Malhous, 23, when he was near the border. He was wounded by a gunshot to the left knee. According to his family, he suffers from psychological disturbances.



· At approximately 18:30, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a civilian vehicle belonging to activists of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) that stopped in al-Woroud neighborhood in west of Rafah. The vehicle was destroyed and at least 10 nearby houses were damaged.



Tuesday, 12 February 2008

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into various areas in Hebron. They raided and searched houses belonging to 3 Palestinian money changers: Fadel Taher ‘Aabdin; Shareef Mohammed Wazwaz; and Na’im ‘Ezra’il al-Natsha. IOF troops interrogated them and their sons. IOF troops confiscated computer sets, documents and amounts of money. IOF troops then forced these civilians to go to their money exchange shops and open them. IOF troops then searched those shops and confiscated a number of computer sets and large amounts of money. According to Fadel Taher ‘Abdin, IOF troops confiscated a number of computer sets, documents and at least US$ 5,000 from his house and his father’s house, and at least US$ 200,000 from their shops. IOF also ordered the closure of those shops for 6 months.



· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 money changers:



1. Baker Hassan Abu Hamada, 20;

2. Mohammed Ameen Abu Hamada, 21;

3. ‘Othman Khader Abu al-S’oud, 40;

4. ‘Ammar Kalbouna, 35;

5. ‘Awni Kalbouna, 44; and

6. Hussam ‘Ameera, 40.



· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Hawara village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:



1. Khaled Mohammed al-Hawari, 44; and

2. Tayel Mohammed al-Hawari, 47.



· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved nearly 1,000 meters into the area located between al-Shojaeya and al-Zaytoun neighborhoods in the east of Gaza City. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF. Two activists were wounded. IOF troops opened fire indiscriminately. Two Palestinian girls were wounded:



1. Ra’eda Ghassan Shalthan, 19, wounded by shrapnel to the pelvis and the right thigh; and

2. Rania Ghassan Shalthan, 21, wounded by shrapnel to the right shoulder.



IOF troops withdrew from the area at approximately 06:00.



· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’id ‘Abdul Rahim ‘Awad, 48, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces, and arrested him.



· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the center of Tulkarm. They raided a shop of money exchange belonging to Mohammed Ameen ‘Awadh and confiscated a computer set and some documents. ‘Awadh has been detained by IOF for several months.



· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Tha’er Sa’id Abu al-Rub, 23.



· At approximately 02:30, an IOF infantry unit moved nearly 800 meters into Abu Sha’ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip. They raided and searched a number of houses and forced Palestinian civilians out. Approximately an hour later, IOF military vehicles moved into the area to support the infantry unit. They opened fire indiscriminately. A number of activists of the Palestinian resistance exchanged fire with IOF troops. During the exchange of fire, 2 activists were wounded. During this incursion, IOF razed at least 20 donums of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and damaged 5 empty bird farms. Before their withdrawal from the area, IOF arrested and interrogated 14 Palestinian civilians. Those civilians were released later, excluding Hamed Mossa’ed Abu Mossa’ed, 38.



· At approximately 11:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Kufor Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilya, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped near a shop of construction materials. IOF troops got out of the vehicle and arrested Ussama Faisal ‘Obaid, 20, from the shop.



Wednesday, 13 February 2008

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.



· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:



1. Anas Bassam Qa’qour, 22; and

2. Ibrahim Rashed Abu al-Haija, 35.



· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mo’ayad Hussein Hashash, 18.



· Also at approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Nassar Mansour, 20.



· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:



1. Mahmoud Sa’oud Subaih, 23;

2. Mahmoud Mohammed Saleh, 22;

3. Ahmed Ya’qoub Subaih, 21;

4. Mahmoud Yousef Mousa, 22; and

5. Ahmed ‘Ali Mousa, 23.



· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:



1. ‘Alaa’ Sameer Radwan, 19; and

2. ‘Odai Saqer Saleem, 20.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF moved nearly 1,000 meters into Erez industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled debris of buildings they had already demolished. They also prevented ambulances transporting patients transferred to Israeli hospitals from reaching Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. This incursion is still ongoing.

· At approximately 10:30, IOF troops positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip, fired at ‘Omar Hussein Abu Ballima, 12, when he was on his way to school. He was wounded by a gunshot to the head.



2. Extra-Judicial Executions

During the reporting period, IOF committed an extra-judicial execution in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, which killed an activist of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas).

· According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 9 February 2008, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at Mohammed Bassam Abu Mtair, 22, an activist of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, when was walking in the street in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah. He was seriously wounded by shrapnel. He was evacuated to the hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead nearly half an hour later.





3. 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 for more than one year and a half. 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 nearly 1.5 million 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. The siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. IOF have further tightened the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip since Hamas’ takeover of the Gaza Strip, and the living and economic conditions of Palestinian civilians have further deteriorated. In September 2007, the Israeli government declared the Gaza Strip as “a hostile entity,” which implies imposing more restrictions and measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population. Since then, IOF have sharply decreased food and fule supplies allowed into the Gaza Strip. IOF have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and subsequently many factories have stopped their industrial activities. Concerning the movement of persons, IOF allow a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing to travel to the West Bank. 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.

IOF has also maintained the effective closure of the commercial crossings of al-Mentar (Karni), Sofa, and Nahal Ouz. IOF have sporadically opened these crossings in order to facilitate the passage of some humanitarian aids into Gaza.

During the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of little amounts of fuels into the Gaza Strip. On 8 February 2008, IOF denied the entry of fuels into the Gaza Strip, excluding domestic gas.

IOF have further banned exportation from the Gaza Strip. IOF only allowed the exportation of limited amounts of roses and strawberries. Following the breach of the Palestinian-Egyptian border, IOF completely banned exportation, thus causing large losses to Palestinian traders and farmers.

As a reaction of the policy of economic and humanitarian stranglehold practiced by IOF against the Gaza Strip, on 23 January 2008, hundreds of thousands of Gazans crossed the border into Egypt when Palestinian resistance activists blew up entire sections of the border fence in Rafah. In addition to residents of Gaza crossing into Egypt en masse, hundreds of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who had been stranded in Egypt, due to the enforced closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, also returned home to Gaza. The Egyptian authorities responded positively and with restraint, allowing Palestinian civilians to purchase foods, medicines, and other supplies which are not available in Gaza due to the escalating IOF siege and closure of the Gaza Strip. However, opening the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip did not meet all the basic needs of the civilian population of Gaza. Civilians across the Gaza Strip still suffer from severe shortages, or total unavailability, of many essential items, including domestic fuel and industrial fuel for Gaza's single power plant. In addition, hundreds of students, patients and Gazans living abroad remain in effective limbo; many have been waiting for permission to leave the Gaza Strip legally since June 2007. PCHR has learned that approximately 1,500 Gazans have gathered in the Egyptian town of al-Arish, and have asked the Egyptian authorities to allow them to travel via Cairo to third countries, where they can pursue their work, study or medical treatment. They are currently awaiting an official decision from the Egyptian authorities. PCHR reiterates its position that the chaos on the Rafah border during the past week is an inevitable consequence arising from the IOF siege and closure of the entire Gaza Strip. The IOF have deliberately deprived the entire civilian population of the Gaza Strip of their human right to safe movement and unrestricted travel. In addition, the closure has prevented essential goods and medicines reaching the civilian population. PCHR notes that IOF have tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip since June 2007. Since then, all border crossings into and out of Gaza have been effectively sealed, including the Rafah Crossing.

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. 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 continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to the city. IOF have established many checkpoints around and inside the city. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on Fridays to restrict their access to the al-Aqsa Mosque. On Sunday morning, 10 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Qalandya crossing at the northern entrance of East Jerusalem held for at least 6 hours buses that were transporting dozens of Palestinian civilians who were on their way to visit their relatives in Israeli jails. Family visitation to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails is organized by the ICRC.



· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and around the town. At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 4 February 2008, IOF closed the northern and northwestern entrance of Hebron and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. At approximately 12:00 on Tuesday, 6 February 2008, IOF closed the northwestern entrance of Hebron with cement blocks.



At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 5 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint at the northern entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested ‘Abdul Ghani Bader, 17.



· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 7 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 9 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a checkpoint at Bazaria intersection, northwest of Nablus. On Sunday morning, 10 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On the same day, IOF troops positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, prevented Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint.



· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 8 February 2008, IOF started to close a number of main and alternative roads used by Palestinian civilians in their transportation. For this purpose, they erected a number of sudden checkpoints on those roads. On Sunday, 10 February 2008, IOF completed the closure of Jenin – Tubas road.



· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have continued to close all roads leading to and from the town for the 4th consecutive week. They have also continued to prevent Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through checkpoints. On Thursday, 7 February 2008, IOF closed the road linking between Rameen and Bazaria villages with sand barriers and rocks. IOF also erected a checkpoint at Bal’a intersection, east of Tulkarm, and another one at the entrance of Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of the town. At the same time, IOF closed Eannab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town. On Friday, 8 February 2008, IOF closed the road linking between Deir al-Ghossoun and Bal’a villages with sand barriers and rocks. They also closed a dirt road linking between ‘Anabta and Bal’a villages. IOF further maintained their presence at a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm. On Saturday, 9 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, prevented Palestinian civilians aged under 35 from passing through the checkpoint. On Sunday, 10 February 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Jaroushiya intersection, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 11 February 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at ‘Attil intersection, north of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians in the area from 06:00 to 09:00. On Tuesday, 12 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Tulkarm imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking on those civilians. On Wednesday, 13 February 2008, IOF troops positioned at Bal’a checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, continued to prevent Palestinian civilian vehicles to and from Bal’a village. Palestinian civilians were forced to move to and from the village on foot.





4. Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 8 February 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. IOF troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators, and violently beat them. As a result, a demonstrator, 25-year-old Sari Khalil, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas inhalation.



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

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

· At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 11 February 2008, the Israeli “Border Guards” and police moved into Wad al-Jouz neighborhood near the old town in East Jerusalem. They demolished a 40-square-meter house belonging to Sa’di al-‘Arameen, without allowing its 7 residents to vacate any of their belongings.



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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 calls for the immediately implementation of the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considers the construction of the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank illegal.



5. 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.



6. 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.



7. 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.



8. 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.



9. 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.



10. PCHR calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the OPT.



11. 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.





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Public Document

For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email (pchr@pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

Sunday February 17, 2008, 6:31 pm
Noted/Forwarding Mada thanx - When will it end!!!