PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
http://www.pchrgaza.org

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 34/2008

14 - 20 August 2008

An Israeli soldier abusing a Palestinian civilian

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

31 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children, and three international human rights defenders, were injured by IOF gunfire in the West Bank.

27 of these civilians were injured when IOF used force against 3 peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.

IOF conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

IOF arrested 37 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children.

IOF raided and confiscated the equipments of three radio stations in Hebron.

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 one Palestinian civilian.

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

IOF confiscated 6 donums[1] of land in Jenin and 1,500 square meters of land in the center of Hebron.

Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (14 – 20 August 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF wounded 31 Palestinian civilians, including 10 children, and three international human rights defenders in the West Bank. Most of these civilians were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall.

On 14 August, two Palestinian children were injured by IOF gunfire in al-Duheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. IOF troops moved into the camp and fired at a number of children who threw stones at IOF military vehicles.

On 20 August, two Palestinian children were injured when IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas, and opened fire indiscriminately.

During the reporting period, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah. As a result, seventeen Palestinian civilians were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets, whilst dozens of others suffered tear gas inhalation. IOF also sprayed a foul-smelling liquid at the demonstrators.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF arrested 37 Palestinian civilians, including ten children. Since the beginning of 2008, IOF have arrested 1,789 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. On 20 August, IOF raided the headquarters of three Palestinian radio stations in Hebron. They confiscated equipment and arrested two members of staff.

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 to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The IOF siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

· 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.

· The Egypt brokered ‘Tahdiya’ or truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel began on 19 June; however, there have been no major changes regarding the movements of civilians and goods through the six Gaza Strip border crossings.

· Rafah International Crossing Point, the only border crossing from the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel, remains closed.

· Health services continue to be severely affected by the siege, with healthcare facilities also registering a 25% drop in clients due to continuing chronic fuel shortages. Critically ill patients are still being denied permits to access vital health services in the West Bank, Israel and abroad. .

· Water facilities, including access to clean drinking water, and the treatment of raw sewage, continue to be severely disrupted by fuel shortages. 50-60 million litres of untreated and partially treated sewage are being dumped into the Gaza Strip Mediterranean Sea daily, posing a public health risk.

· Approximately 400 Gazan students are currently unable to resume their university studies abroad as they cannot exit the Gaza Strip. In addition, up to 1,200 school leavers are in the process of applying to study at foreign universities, and are dependent on being issued exit permits by the IOF.

· There are at least 900 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in jails in Israel who have been denied all visitation rights since 6 June 2007.

· Continuing chronic shortages of construction materials, including cement, aggregate and iron, have led to the collapse of the Gaza construction industry. Thousands of construction workers have been laid off, and vital infrastructure projects have been forcibly suspended.

West Bank

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

· IOF have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

· There are approximately permanent 600 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by IOF every week.

· When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometres around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kms of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

· There are around 500 kms of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the IOF. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

· IOF continue to harass, and assault, demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

· Palestinian civilians continue to be harassed by IOF in Jerusalem, and across the West Bank, including being regularly stopped and searched in the streets by IOF.

· During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at a checkpoint near Nablus arrested a Palestinian civilian.

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.

On 14 August, IOF issued a military orders to seize a 1,500-suare-meter area of land in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron in order to “to establish a road for military purposes.” On the same day, IOF razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land between Salem military post and Rummana village, west of Jenin. Also during the reporting period, Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank. As a result of such attacks, one Palestinian civilian was injured.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (14 – 20 August 2008)

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

Thursday, 14 August

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into al-Zawia village, south of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khader Salem Qadous, 34, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire indiscriminately. No casualties were reported.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Yasouf village, northeast of Salfit. They raided a number of houses at the entrance of the village. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Abu Snaina neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Anwar Najeh al-Jamal, 28, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Rami Younis Ghazal, 26

2. Muhannad Sabri Ghanem, 27.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

1. ‘Emad Majdi ‘Ouda, 15;

2. Wa’el Khalil ‘Atallah, 25;

3. Ra’fat Na’im Abu ‘Akar, 43;

4. Mohammed Yahia al-Qassas, 30;

5. ‘Adnan Na’im al-Kabu, 38;

6. Mohammed Hassan al-Najjar.

A few hours later, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOF troops wounded and arrested two children:

1. Mohammed al-Salhi, 15;

2. Hamdi Ma’rouf al-Atrash, 17.

· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-‘Asakra village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hassan Mohammed ‘Aayesh, 26.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets and closed Queen Zain Street in the center of the town. They also fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. A number of civilian suffered tear gas inhalation.

· At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Deir al-‘Assal village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Nader Kamel Shawamra, 20, and arrested him.

Saturday, 16 August

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Bassa neighborhood in the southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Aadel Fawzi Nawawra, 27, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Qoussin village, southwest of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Fayez ‘Abdul Nabi, 23, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Rihiya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 17 August

· At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Wadi al-Tuffah neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Ezzat ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Natsha, 20, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Abu ‘Ayash neighborhood in the southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Anan Mousa Bassal, and arrested him. According to the family, IOF troops stole 4,500 NIS (approximately US$ 1,260) and some jewelry from the house.

· At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Zabbouba village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Ta’nak village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 18 August

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Tubas town. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 19 August

· At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and shops. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ahmed Suleiman ‘Abdul Qiq, 57;

2. Yasser ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Amru, 47.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinian civilians:

1. Marwan Mohammed Abu ‘Assal, 21;

2. Jihad Mohammed Abu ‘Assal, 31;

3. Adam ‘Abdul Ghani Barakat, 22;

4. ‘Emad ‘Abdul Raziq Najjar, 22;

5. Marwan Nazeeh Melhem, 23;

6. ‘Abdul Karim Sa’id Barakat, 21.

· At approximately 03:10, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Taysser Waleed Mash’al, 18;

2. Bahaa’ al-Din ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Antar, 18.

· At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Tubas. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troops fired at the children wounding two of them:

1. Baraa’ Khader Bani ‘Ouda, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg; and

2. Sameh Mohammed Bani ‘Ouda, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg.

Wednesday, 20 August

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into the municipality housing project in the south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Shihda Abu Snaina and arrested 2 of his sons: Ra’ed, 21; and ‘Izziddin, 18.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ahmed Hassan Zayed, 23.

· Also at approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Anata village, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Khalil Abu Snaina, 21, and arrested him.

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-Caritas neighborhood in the north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Muzaffar ‘Adnan Jawarish. No arrests were reported.

· Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khaled Shanaita. No arrests were reported.

· In the morning, IOF, accompanied by the police and officials of the Israeli Ministry of Interior and Municipality of Jerusalem, moved into al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. They forced Palestinian workers to stop paving a road inside the village, claiming that the area is under the authority of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem. PCHR notes that that a work team authorized by the Agricultural Association and the local council of al-Walaja village was paving a road from the center of the village to a tree that is apparently the oldest tree in the world. IOF stopped the work on the road and threatened to arrest anyone who attempted to work in the area.

· At approximately 11:25, IOF moved into the Traffic Department area in the north of Hebron. They raided and the headquarters of three radio stations: One FM Radio, Al-Horiya Tribune Radio, and Majd Radio and Television. They also raided the house of the director of One FM Radio. According to eyewitnesses, IOF raided these buildings aggressively and damaged equipment. IOF also arrested two staff members of the radio stations: Mohammed Nafez Qaffisha, 26, Director of One FM Radio; and Mahmoud; Othman Qannibi, 40, Director of Programs at Al-Horriya Tribune Radio. IOF also confiscated some equipment from the radio stations, which are all licensed.

1. A broadcasting machine, a broadcasting filter and communication devices from One FM Radio;

2. A broadcasting machine and 5 computer sets from Al-Horriya Tribune Radio;

3. A broadcasting machine from Majd Radio and Television.

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, and the poverty rate stands at above 80%.

The continued Israeli ban on sufficient 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 some ambulances due to lack of fuel. The transportation sector continues to be affected throughout the Gaza Strip, resulting in massively reduced essential services, including the delivery of drinking water delivery, sewage water disposal, and garbage collection.

Regarding Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, the amounts of fuel have recently decreased, which may cause a new fuel crisis. During the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuel:

Date
Benzene
Diesel
Cooking Gas
Energy Fuel

14 August 2008
20,000 liters
377,800 liters
282,150 tons
1,033,200 liters

17 August 2008
45,100 liters
260,480 liters
172,390 tons
560,800 liters

18 August 2008
Nil
260,400 liters
282,760 tons
780,800 liters

19 August 2008
Nil
246,450 liters
325,200 tons
843,830 liters

20 August 2008
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

IOF allow a very limited number of seriously ill patients and staff of international organizations to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. During the reporting period, movement at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing was as shown in the following table:

Date
Patients
Companions
Traders
Businessmen
Journalists
International workers
Travelers abroad

13 August
34
31
Nil
13
3
20
18

14 August
30
29
Nil
22
5
60
12

15 August
6
8
Nil
4
4
13
1

16 August
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil

17 August
29
28
Nil
16
2
6
4

On Monday, 19 August, IOF partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing and allowed the entry of 6,000 tons of aggregate.

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

Date
Details

13 August 2008
84 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

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

15 August 2008
37 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

16 August 2008
Closed

17 August 2008
75 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

18 August 2008
84 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

19 August 2008
53 containers of goods were allowed into the Gaza Strip

With regard to Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the Egyptian authorities started to open it on a limited basis for some patients. During the reporting period, the crossing point was not open.

On Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 August, IOF partially reopened Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, and allowed the entry of 75 containers of goods into the Gaza Strip.

The closure of these border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health. IOF have also continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 3,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen are subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor and harass them. The Oslo Interim Agreement permits Palestinian fishermen to fish up to 20 nautical miles from the Gazan coastline.

At approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 16 August, IOF gunboats opened fire at a Palestinian fishing boat at Beit Lahia seashore in the northern Gaza Strip, on which Ayman Mustafa al-‘Aassi, 29, and ‘Abdul Karim al-Nahhal, 40, were sailing. A gunboat then moved close to the fishing boat and ordered the two fishermen to jump into water and swim towards the fishing boat. IOF troops arrested the two fishermen and took them to Ashdod Harbor. IOF interrogated the two fishermen and released them at approximately 15:30 on the same day. The two fishermen were released wearing only their underwear. The fishing boat belonging to the al-‘Aassi family is still missing.

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.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 14 August, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the city. On Saturday morning, 16 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’atara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 10 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 18 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 19 August, IOF troops positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking of Palestinian civilians.

At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 15 August, IOF troops positioned at Beit Fourik checkpoint, east of Nablus, arrested Tha’er ‘Abdul Hadi Hanani, 17, from Beit Fourik village.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 14 August, 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, and Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, and held and beat those who attempted to bypass the two checkpoints through alternative dirt roads. On Saturday, 16 August, 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, 17 July 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Monday, 18 August, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. On Tuesday, 19 August, IOF erected a checkpoint at Deir al-Ghossoun intersection, north of Tulkarm, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from Deir al-Ghossoun village until midday. On Wednesday, 20 July, IOF troops positioned at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, imposed additional restrictions and conducted humiliating checking on Palestinian civilians.

· Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday evening, 15 August, IOF troops positioned at al-Jalama checkpoint, north of Jenin, held up a bus, in which a number of residents of al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin, were traveling, until the following morning. On Saturday morning, 16 August, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jenin, and another one between Masliya and Qabatya villages, southeast of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Sunday evening, 17 August, IOF erected a checkpoint on Masliya-Qabatya road, southeast of Jenin, and another on at al-Mansoura intersection, south of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

· Jericho: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians traveling to and from the OPT through al-Karama International Crossing Point. They have continued to follow complicated prolonged searches of Palestinian civilians and their belongings. On Sunday and Monday, 17 and 18 August, IOF held up hundreds of travelers at the crossing point claiming that they had found “a suspicious object.”

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 a peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein and Ne’lin villages, west of Ramallah. As a result, 17 demonstrators were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of others suffered from tear gas inhalation.

· On Thursday noon, 14 August, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 16 demonstrators, including 3 children, were wounded:

1. Mohammed ‘Aayed Sorour, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen;

2. ‘Aqel Sadiq Sorour, 32, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to the back and the abdomen;

3. Daoud Mustafa al-Khawaja, 28, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

4. Ra’ed Sobhi Sorour, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

5. Mohammed Daoud al-Khawaja, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

6. Ibrahim Fakhri Sorour, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

7. Ahmed ‘Ali Nafe’, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the eye;

8. Waheed Tayseer Hussein, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

9. ‘Alaa’ Mohsen al-Rafati, 22, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets to his back and left leg;

10. Basheer Nazir al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

11. Zuhdi Sa’id ‘Amira, 32, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

12. Khalil Khamis Nafe’, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

13. Salah Tayeh Khawaja, 37, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen;

14. ‘Abdul Halim Lu’ai al-Khawaja, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

15. ‘Abdul Rahman Nemer Safi, 20, wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets to the left hand, thigh and leg;

16. Majdi Hisham Sarhan, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.

· Following the Friday Prayer on Friday noon, 15 August, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where IOF were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, IOF troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 9 demonstrators, including 2 children, were wounded:

1. Mohammed ‘Ali al-Khawaja, 24, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

2. Ahmed Daoud al-Khawaja, 22, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

3. Basheer Nazir al-Khawaja, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;

4. Huthaifa Salah al-Khawaja, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

5. Mohammed Daoud al-Khawaja, 26, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

6. Sa’id Ibrahim ‘Amira, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

7. Mohammed Hussein al-Ballouli, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

8. Hassan Nemer ‘Andalib, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand; and

9. Sa’adat Ibrahim ‘Amira, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left shoulder.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 15 August, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest at 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 the gates. Immediately, IOF troops fired tear gas canisters and sprayed waste water treated with chemicals at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators vomited. According to ‘Abdullah Abu Rahma, Coordinator of the Public Committee against the Annexation Wall and Settlement in Bal’ein village, the demonstrators were sprinkled with a green liquid that has a noxious smell, which stuck to their clothes for several hours. Three international human rights defenders and a Palestinian child were hit by tear gas canisters:

1. Biko Smith, 25, a German citizen;

2. Zaki Foster, 28, an American citizen;

3. Nabeel Abiad, 20, an American citizen;

4. Amjad ‘Aayed Abu Rahma, 15, a Palestinian civilian.

· At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 16 August, IOF troops attacked dozens of Palestinian civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration in protest at the construction of the Annexation Wall in Deir al-Ghossoun village, north of Tulkarm. IOF used fired tear gas canisters and violently beat a number of demonstrators.

· On Sunday evening, 17 August, IOF moved into Beit Marsam village near the Annexation Wall, west of Hebron. They raided and searched at least 16 houses and forced their residents out. IOF claimed that they found “a suspicious object” near the Wall.

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.

· On Thursday, 14 August, IOF issued a military orders seizing a 1500-square-meter area of land in Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Heron “to establish a road for military purposes.” This area of land is a part of a wider area and the military order does not specify whether only the 1500-square-meter area or the wider are would be seized for this purpose. There are concerns that this order can be a prelude for the expansion for the nearby “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost.

· Also on Thursday, IOF razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives belonging to Mahmoud and ‘Aziz Taher Bushnaq between Salem military post and Rummana village, west of Jenin. According to the Mahmoud Bushnaq, IOF issued a military order confiscating the land, but did not allow enough time for him and his brother to appeal against the order.

· On Saturday evening, 16 August, Israeli settlers living in “Kiryat Arba” settlement and those who had seized al-Rajabi building in the southeast of Hebron resumed their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the area. A Palestinian civilian, 19-year-old Anwar ‘Abdul Mon’em al-Rajabi, sustained bruises to the back and the right foot. The settlers launched these attacks while a French solidarity delegation was visiting the area to express solidarity with Palestinian civilians.

· On Sunday afternoon, 17 August, 7 masked Israeli settlers living in “Eitza’il” settlement, south of Hebron, attacked a number of Palestinian shepherds and their sheep using stones in Khillat al-Neis area near the aforementioned settlement.

…………………………………………………………

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.

[1] 1 donum is equal to 1,000 square meters.

Public Document

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