Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 32/2008 (30 July - 06 August 2008)
PCHR - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Israeli soldiers arresting a number of Palestinian children in the West Bank

August 7, 2008

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.

2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the IOF gunfire.

IOF conducted 38 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

IOF arrested 49 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children.

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

IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested at least 4 Palestinian civilians.

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

Israeli settlers launched 10 attacks against Palestinian civilians and property.

13 Palestinian civilians, including 3 old men, 4 women and 4 children, were injured.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law escalated in the OPT during the reporting period (30 July – 6 August 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 2 others in the West Bank.

On 30 July 2008, following the funeral procession of a Palestinian child who had been killed by IOF on the preceding day, dozens of Palestinian civilian demonstrated and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOF fired at those civilians. As a result, Yousef Ahmed 'Amira, 18, was seriously wounded by 2 gunshots to the head. He died of his wound on 4 August 2008. Another civilian was also wounded.

On 31 July 2008, a Palestinian civilian was wounded in 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm, when IOF troops fired at a number of Palestinian boys who threw stones at military vehicles.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 38 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 49 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 1,718.

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 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. Even though the Egypt-brokered truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel entered into force, no major change has been noticed with regard to the movement of persons and goods through border crossings of the Gaza Strip.

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 throughout the West Bank. 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. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 4 Palestinian civilians.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF launched 10 attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank. As a result of those attacked, 13 Palestinian civilians, including 4 women, 4 children and 3 old men, were injured.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (30 July – 6 August 2008)

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

Wednesday, 30 July 2008

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Sa’ada al-Mahseeri. They held the family in one room and turned the house into a military site.

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Khaled Mohammed Abu Zaid, 25.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Muzaffar Saber Thouqan, 33.

· At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Sa’id Sha’ban, 21.

· At approximately 06:15, IOF moved into Zawata village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:

1. Taymour Sa’id al-Khandaqji, 19; and

2. 'Abdul Majed Sa’id al-Khandaqji, 25, a police officer.

· At approximately 21:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bourqin village, west of Jenin, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped in front of a grocery shop belonging to Ayman Jalal Qash. The driver asked Tamer Jalal Qash, 25, who was sitting in front of his brother’s shop to light a cigarette for him. Qash went to the vehicle to light the cigarette. Immediately, the persons who were in the vehicle took him into the car and moved fast. Qash is an activist of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad).

Thursday, 31 July 2008

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into 'Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They took position in the center of the village and opened fire. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at them. As a result, Mahmoud Rasheed Fuqahaa’, 21, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.

· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kufor Hares village, north of Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses, including one belonging to Jameel Shareef Abu Ya’qoub, from which they stole 3,000 NIS (approximately US$ 850). IOF also arrested 2 Palestinian children:

1. Hamza Jameel Abu Ya’qoub, 17; and

2. Mo’ayad R’ed al-Qaq, 15.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into 'Abda village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ghassan Musleh al-Badawi, 22;

2. Bassam Musleh al-Badawi, 24;

3. Jameel Nassar, 21; and

4. Ahmed Mahmoud al-Bustanji, 23.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ziad Mohammed al-Fakhouri, 50;

2. Ahmed Burhan al-Din al-Ja’bari, 22;

3. Shareef Khader Misk, 35; and

4. Lu’ai Mohammed Ghaith, 34.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Tubas town. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 'Abada Fadel al-Zaghal.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. Mahmoud Musleh 'Awadh, 20; and

2. Khalil Musleh 'Awadh, 14.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Muntasser 'Emad Abu Sharar, 18; and

2. Mohammed Is’haq al-Jaberi, 41.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Rami Isma’il Dawahda, 23.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ahmed Mustafa Bisharat, 20; and

2. 'Arafat Mustafa Bisharat, 24.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kashda village, southwest of Tubas, They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into al-Sammou’ village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tamer Hussein al-Mahareeq, 22, and arrested him.

Friday, 1 August 2008

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Northern 'Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:45, IOF moved into 'Awarta village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Saturday, 2 August 2008

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Raba village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Sunday, 3 August 2008

· At approximately 23:30, IOF moved into Za’tara, al-Fraidees and Beit Ta’mar villages, east of Bethlehem. The closed the entrance of these villages with sand barriers and imposed a curfew. They then raided and searched a number of houses, but no arrests were reported.

Monday, 4 August 2008

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Muhannad Waleed Ekhlil, 19, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Abdul Fattah Sa’id al-Sakhel, 31;

2. 'Allam Sa’id al-Sakhel, 29;

3. 'Ameed 'Abdul Hameed 'Aashour, 24;

4. 'Ammar 'Abdul Hameed 'Aashour, 24;

5. Fares Sa’id al-Tanbour, 30;

6. 'Abdullah 'Abdul Hadi 'Eissa, 27;

7. Ameen Sa’id 'Eissa, 33;

8. Hussam 'Ali Mahran, 29;

9. 'Alaa’ Hawash, 25; and

10. Ghassan Hawash, 27.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Fujjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Ibrahim Thawabta, 24.

· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Khalil Mousa al-Reb’ei, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, and Ibrahim Mohammed Hussein and summoned them for interrogation.

· At approximately 21:30, an IOF infantry unit moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas. IOF troops besieged a house belonging to the family of Yousef Mohammed Sarhan, 27. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the camp to support the infantry unit. IOF called through megaphones on Sarhan and his family to get out and they did. IOF troops arrested Sarhan. IOF troops moved into the house and searched it. They confiscated 2 computer sets. Before besieging the house, IOF troops arrested 4 Palestinian civilians who were near the house, but released them later.

Tuesday, 5 August 2008

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. They besieged a house belonging to attorney 'Abdul Salam 'Ali Jendeb, 45. They called on the family through megaphones to get out and they did. IOF troops broke into the house and searched it. They then arrested Jendeb.

· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Nour Shams refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Mohammed Suleiman, 18, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Ammar 'Abdul Rahim al-Nouri, 18;

2. Shadi Nasser Sobeh, 22; and

3. Hamza 'Essam Jaber, 20.

· At approximately 14:40, an IOF undercover unit moved into Nablus traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped near a house belonging to the family of Firas Zaki al-Tashtoush, 23, in Faisal Street. Four persons got out of the vehicle and broke into the house. Soon after, IOF military vehicles moved into the city to support the undercover unit. IOF troops arrested al-Tashtoush.

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 impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The border crossings of the Strip have been closed for more than two years as part of IOF’s collective punishment policy, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and goods. As a result, the territory is unable to secure its basic needs of food, medicine, and other supplies, pushing the poverty rate above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to the paralysis of the educational sector. In addition, the health sector is on the verge of collapse due to the stoppage of many ambulances from operating for lack of fuel. Healthcare facilities have registered a 25% drop in clients due to the transport crisis, and hundreds of healthcare professionals have been unable to reach their work places. Furthermore, the transportation sector has almost ceased functioning throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

The tightened siege has led to the collapse of the Gaza Strip economic sectors. Most production facilities have ceased to operate due to the siege and restriction on movement of goods and individuals.

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, which designed for the entry of fuels, during the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuels:

Date
Benzene
Diesel
Cooking Gas
Energy Fuel

29 July 2008
38,010 liters
364,520 liters
180.870 tons
783,200 liters

30 July 2008
Nil
149,020 liters
161.950 tons
305,900 liters

31 July 2008
Nil
Nil
49.870 tons
Nil

1 August 2008
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

2 August 2008
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

3 August 2008
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

4 August 2008
38,000 liters
327,010 liters
110,250 liters
679,800 liters

5 August 2008
38,020
266,000
105.010
782,200 liters

IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint. IOF have also prevented families of at least 900 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails from visiting them since 6 June 2007.

During the reporting period, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing for several hours on Monday, 4 August 2008, and allowed the entry of 7,500 tons of aggregate. On Tuesday, 5 August 2008, IOF allowed the entry of amounts of 2,650 tons of seeds and feeds.

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

Date
Details

30 July 2008
84 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

31 July 2008
79 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

1 August 2008
Closed for maintenance

2 August 2008
Closed

3 August 2008
88 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

4 August 2008
83 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

5 August 2008
86 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were allowed into the Gaza Strip

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open it limitedly for some patients. The movement at the crossing point during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

Date
Details

31 July 2008
Jamal Abu Hashem, a senior leader of Hamas, and his bodyguard traveled back to the Gaza Strip.

4 August 2008
28 patients who had received medical treatment abroad were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip.

In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom" crossing for nearly 4 months.

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. During the reporting period, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

· 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.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday, 30 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Thursday, 31 July 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and conducted prolonged checking on them. On Saturday morning, 2 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 3 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 4 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around the city imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 20:00 on Tuesday, 5 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at the 17 checkpoint, north of Nablus, arrested Mohammed 'Omar Warrad, 34, from 'Askar refugee camp northeast of Nablus.

Also on Tuesday evening, IOF troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested 2 Palestinian civilians" Shadi Wassel Qanadilu, 25; and 'Ali Abu Zahra, 30.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 31 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint to the east of Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. In the meantime, IOF troops positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, prevented Palestinians aged below 35 from crossing the checkpoint. On Saturday, 2 August 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far’oun intersection, south of Tulkarm, and another one at Beit Leed intersection, east of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday, 3 August 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Ras intersection, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 4 August 2008, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They also closed Ennab checkpoint, east of the town, for movement from the town. On Tuesday, 5 August 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Wednesday, 6 August 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Zeita village, north of Tularm, and prevented Palestinian civilians from moving to and from the village for several hours.

· Hebron: At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 5 August 2008, IOF troops positioned at the entrance of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the south of Hebron arrested Mohammed al-Lassous, 19, from Dura village southwest of Hebron.

3. 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 peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah.

· On Wednesday noon, 30 July 2008, Palestinian civilians in Ne’lin village started the funeral procession of 11-year-old Ahmed Hussam Mousa, who had been killed by IOF on the preceding day near the area where IOF troops are constructing a section of the Wall. They moved towards the area where Mousa was killed before heading to the cemetery of the village. IOF troops attacked those civilians and fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes between Palestinian civilians and IOF troops continued until the evening, during which time Yousef Ahmed Younis 'Amira, 18, was seriously wounded by 2 gunshots to the head. he was evacuated to Ramallah Hospital, where he was pronounced clinically dead on the following day. On Monday, 4 August 2008, 'Amira was pronounced physically dead. According to eyewitness, an IOF soldiers fired at 'Amira from a distance of less than 10 meters. Also during those clashes, Barakat Ibrahim al-Khawaja, 25, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

· Following the Friday Prayer on 1 August 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. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but IOF closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. The demonstrators then set fire to tires in protest to the closure of gates. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

4. 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 18:00 on Thursday, 31 July 2008, a number of Israeli settlers who live on a tract of land they had already seized in Wadi al-Nassara neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron, accompanied by a number of settlers from the nearby "Kiryat Arba" settlement, launched a series of attacks using stones, iron bars and empty bottles against Palestinian houses in al-Ras, Wadi al-Hussaim and al-Nassara neighborhoods. Israeli settlers also set up 2 tents on the seized land. The attacks continued until 20:30, during which time the settlers attacked a wedding party in a house belonging to 'Abdul Karim al-Ja’bari in al-Ras neighborhood. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, sustained bruises: Ramzi Fahed al-Ja’bari, 22; Fadi Majdi al-Ja’bari, 20; and Monawar Mohammed al-Ja’bari, 72. Israeli settlers resumed attacks against Palestinian houses in these area on the following day noon. A number of houses were damaged.

· On Friday noon, 1 August 2008, dozens of Israeli settlers, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Khellat al-Fahem area in the south of al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem to raze and seize areas of Palestinian land. Dozens of Palestinian civilians stopped the settlers and later, IOF troops intervened to provide protection of the settlers who left the area.

· On Friday evening, a Palestinian woman and her child were seriously injured when Israeli settlers threw stones at the car in which they were traveling near "Yits’har" settlement south of Nablus. According to information available to PCHR, Israeli settlers threw a large rock at a car belonging to Hazem Ma’alla, from Bitounia town southwest of Ramallah, when he and his family were traveling from the north of the West Bank towards Ramallah. The rock hit Ma’alla’s wife, 31-year-old Falasteen Sa’ad Ma’alla, and their child, 7-year-old Hadeel. The wife was seriously injured and she was evacuated to an Israeli hospital.

· At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 2 August 2008, IOF troops, accompanied by a number of Israeli settlers, who had already seized a house in the southeast of Hebron, stormed a house belonging to Majdi Kayed al-Ja’bari to arrested his son, 20-year-old Fadi, who had been injured by settlers’ attacks. The settlers claimed that he attacked them.

· At approximately 16:20 also on Saturday, Israeli settlers launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the southeast of Hebron. During such attacks, Israeli settlers who had seized a house in the area chased 15-year-old Hamza Sofian Abu Hatta. They pushed him down from the roof of his house. He sustained fractures to the right leg and bruises throughout the body. Yasser Daoud al-Salaima, 34, also sustained bruises as he was violently beaten by Israeli settlers.

· At the same time, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on bypass road #60 using stones and empty bottles. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 09:0 on Monday, 4 August 2008, Ibrahim Khalil Yassin, 72, from Yassouf village east of Salfit, was injured in the face and the hands. According to one of his relatives, 4 Israeli settlers from "Taffouh" settlement attacked him while he was grazing animals, and stole 23 sheep. Two Israeli settlers riding tractors moved into the village and opened fire into the area to cover the withdrawal of their colleagues. Later, the Israeli police moved into the village and raided a number of houses under the pretext of searching for sheep stolen from an Israeli settler.

· At approximately 17:20 also on Monday, a number of Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, attacked Na’im 'Abdul Salam Da’na, 73, and his wife 'Izziya, 67, when she were on their way back home to their house in Wadi al-Nassara neighborhood. They sustained bruises and cuts to the face and the body.

· On Tuesday morning, 5 August 2008, Israeli settlers from "Kiryat Arba" settlement, southeast of Hebron, launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in Wad al-Hussain and al-Ras neighborhoods. They violently attacked 'Aayesh Rabee’ al-Ja’bari, 80, with batons and stones. He sustained bruises and cuts to the head and the back and a fracture to the right hand.

· At approximately 16:30 also on Tuesday, a number of Israeli settlers who had already seized a tract of land belonging to Mahmoud 'Abdul Halim Jaber in the southeast of Hebron attacjed a house belonging to Rania Da’na, 26, a mother of 5 children. They violently beat her and his husband’s nephew, 15-year-old Yazid Kayed Da’na. It is worth noting that the child lost his right eye during a similar attack by Israeli settlers 2 years ago.

…………………………………………………………

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.

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).

:: Article nr. 46271 sent on 08-aug-2008 10:10 ECT

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Link: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2008/07-08-2008.htm

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