israeli War Crimes

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org


Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
No. 19/2005

12- 18 May 2005





Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Intensified Attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)



· Four Palestinians, including a woman, were killed by IOF.

· One of the victims was killed by IOF at a military checkpoint in the West Bank.

· A number of Palestinian civilians were injured by IOF.

· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF confiscated 1400[1] donums of Palestinian land near Jerusalem for this purpose.

· IOF conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas.

· Houses were raided and 25 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF in the West Bank.

· IOF used a Palestinian worker as a human shield while searching a flour company located to the north of Khan Yunis.

· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank; Israeli settlers razed 30 donums of Palestinian land in Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya.

· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF positioned at checkpoints arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, IOF arrested a Palestinian civilian at Rafah International Crossing Point. Significantly, after sustained local and international pressure the IOF have stopped using a special checking machine at the Crossing Point.




Introduction

Israeli violations of international law intensified in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (12-18 May 2005). This week, human rights violations perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) included shooting at and killing Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, IOF have also continued to construct the ‘Annexation Wall’ inside the West Bank territory and to expand settlements, especially in Jerusalem and Hebron. They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

Significantly, in the first attack of its kind since the Sharm al-Skeikh Summit, IOF employed aircrafts to attack members of the Palestinian resistance.

This week, five Palestinians, including a woman, were killed by IOF, and a number of civilians were injured.

In the West Bank, IOF killed two Palestinian civilians: a woman and a Palestinian worker:

· On Thursday morning, 12 May 2005, Widad Mohammed Kamal al-Qa'oud al-Tamimi, 57, from Jerusalem, died from an injury she sustained when IOF severely beat her when they raided her brother's house in Hebron.

· On Monday morning, 16 May 2005, IOF positioned at al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, shot dead a Palestinian worker. They claimed that that he arrived at the checkpoint, and when Israeli soldiers ordered him to stop, he held a knife and moved towards them, so they shot him. The IOF further alleged that the soldiers "took necessary warning measures" but PCHR's own investigations refute this allegation.

In the Gaza Strip, three Palestinians were killed:

· On Monday, 16 May 2005, a Palestinian civilian from Rafah died from a wound he had sustained from the IOF two years ago.

· On Wednesday, 18 May 2005, two members of Hamas were killed by IOF in two separate incidents in Rafah and Khan Yunis (southern Gaza Strip) when they attempted to fire at IOF. One of them was killed by an aerial attack as noted above.

This week, IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank:

· During these incursions, IOF injured three Palestinian civilians, including a child, and arrested 25 others, including four children and a girl.

· IOF also attacked a Palestinian civilian in 'Assira village near Nablus, threatened to kill him and attempted to bury him alive.

In the Gaza Strip, the IOF also continued their military incursions during the reporting period:

· IOF moved into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and raided Palestinian Flour Company. They used a worker as a human shield while searching the company.

· On Sunday, 15 May 2005, a Palestinian child was wounded when IOF opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp.

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

· According to Israeli media sources, IOF will soon start the construction of a section of the Wall around "Ma'ale Admomi" east of Jerusalem. The construction of this section of the Wall will place the settlement, where 53,000 Israeli settlers live, in the boundaries of "Jerusalem Municipality."

· IOF confiscated 1400 donums of Palestinian land in the villages of Beit Hanina, al-Jeeb, Beir Nabala and Qalandya, north and northwest of Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of the Wall. This section of the Wall will isolate the four villages. IOF have claimed that they would establish four gates to allow residents of these villages to reach their agricultural land which would be isolated on the Israeli side of the Wall. According to the maps, IOF will establish a number of roads and tunnels to link these villages with one another and then with Ramallah, to prevent Palestinian civilians from using settler roads.

· On Monday, 16 May 2005, the Israeli High Court issued a ruling that violates international law and specifically findings of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the legality of the West Bank Wall (July 2004). The High Court canceled temporary injunctions issued by the Court stopping the construction of a section of the Wall around the settlement of "Ariel" and "Emanuel" in the northern West Bank.

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued with their campaign of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:

· On Thursday, 12 May 2005, four Israeli settlers severely beat an elderly Palestinian man. He sustained a fracture to the hand.

· This week, Israeli settlers living in settlement posts in Hebron launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. Israeli settlers also attacked Palestinian civilians in Yatta village, south of Hebron, injuring four of them, including three children.

· On Monday, 16 May 2005, Israeli settlers razed 30 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. On Sunday, 15 May 2005, IOF lifted a comprehensive closure that had been imposed on the OPT since Tuesday evening, 10 May 2005. Despite this, the IOF maintained a total siege imposed on the northern West Bank. This week, IOF positioned at checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 18 Palestinian civilians, including four children. On Tuesday evening, 17 May 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint fired at a Palestinian civilian, wounding him in the left foot.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. On Wednesday, 18 May 2005, IOF closed al-Sayafa areas in the northern Gaza Strip and prohibited movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the area, excluding schoolchildren. This week, IOF arrested a Palestinian civilian at Rafah International Crossing Points and prevented two other civilians from traveling.















Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property



Thursday, 12 May 2005

· In the early morning, Widad Mohammed Kamal al-Qa'oud al-Tamimi, 57, from Jerusalem, died from an injury she sustained when IOF severely beat her when they raided her brother's house in Hebron.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 21:40 on Wednesday, 11 May 2005, IOF surrounded Hayan Mohammed Kamal al-Qa'oud al-Tamimi's house in al-Karantina neighborhood in the south of Hebron. They knocked the door and threw stones at the windows, shouting on residents of the house to open the door. The owner's sister, Widad, who was visiting the house, went to open the door. As soon she started to open the door, IOF strongly pushed the door hitting her in the face and causing a severe injury to here head. IOF continued to push the door and hit her again to the head. Then, six Israeli soldiers broke into the house and ordered male residents to get out. Residents of the house and the victim's son were not able to offer help to the woman. It was only after the IOF noticed that the woman was in a serious condition and that she was from Jerusalem did they call a military physician. According to the victims's son, while the Israeli physician was attempting to provide medical aid for the woman, an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society arrived at the area, but an Israeli officer refused to allow the ambulance officers to help and forced them to leave the area.

The Israeli officer claimed that the IOF called an Israeli ambulance, because the victim had "an Israeli identity card." The son further said that he was able to accompany his mother during his evacuation to the hospital in an Israeli ambulance, and that he heard an Israeli physician saying in Hebrew that her heart stopped beating. The Israeli officer made a phone call to bring the Palestinian ambulance back to the area to receive her body. At approximately 00:10, Palestinian medical sources declared that the woman died from injuries to the face and the right ear which caused an acute hemorrhage. The victim was suffering from diabetes.

· In the early morning, IOF raided and searched at least ten Palestinian houses near the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, claiming that they were searching for "prohibited objects." They forced residents of these houses out. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into 'Ein al-Baida village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a housing compound of a number of Palestinian farmers from the neighboring Tubas village. They arrested three Palestinian farmers:

1. 'Abdullah Rafe' Daraghma, 29;

2. Waleed Rafe' Daraghma, 25; and

3. Bassem Yassin Daraghma, 28.

· At approximately 08:00, IOF raided Palestinian Flour Company in al-Qarara village near a settler road to the northwest of Khan Yunis. They held and checked the 40 staff members of the company and used one of them as a human shield when searching the company’s premises. Then, IOF transformed the fifth floor of the company into a military site and prohibited access of Palestinian staff members to it.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They erected a number of checkpoints and checked passing Palestinian civilians. They also raided two houses and transformed them into military sites.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Raboud village, southwest of Hebron. They raided three houses and transformed them into military sites. IOF withdrew from these houses in the following morning.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into Hawara village, south of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. No arrests were reported.



Friday, 13 May 2005

· At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and erected a checkpoint in the northwest of the village. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. No arrests were reported.



Saturday, 14 May 2005

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Emrish village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ahmed Shahin, 30, and arrested him.

· Also at approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Nablus. They patrolled in the western part of the city. They withdrew from the city at approximately 06:00, and no arrests were reported.

· At approximately 12:20, IOF positioned in al-Sahla Street in the south of Hebron arrested 21-year-old Nivin Mohammed al-Atrash claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers pointed their guns at the girl and ordered her to surrender. A number of Palestinian civilians tried to prevent Israeli soldiers from arresting the girl, but an Israeli soldier fired in the air to disperse them and IOF arrested the girl.

· In the afternoon, IOF and an Israeli settler attacked a Palestinian farmer, 34-year-old Khaled Mohammed Abu Khalaf, from 'Assira village near Nablus, and threatened to kill him, when he was working near his village. In his testimony to PCHR, Khalaf said:

"At approximately 15:30 on Saturday, 14 May 2005, I was working on a tractor on a tract of land belonging to Qassem Ahmed at the edges of 'Assira village, south of Nablus. The owner of the land, the owner of the tractor and an old man, Ahmed Sharif Saleh, were with me. I was veiled with a piece of cloth to avoid dust. I saw a white jeep coming from the neighboring 'Yitshar' settlement. The jeep stopped 20 metres away from us. An Israeli settler carrying an M16 riffle got out of it. He looked at us through a viewer. Soon, an Israeli military jeep arrived and stopped five metres away from us. Two soldiers got out of the jeep. One of the soldiers pointed to me to turn off the tractor and to go to him. We all went to him but he ordered the tractor's owner and the old man to go back. The soldier checked the identity cards of me and the land's owner. He ordered me to raise my upper clothes and turn around and I did. Then, he ordered me to take off my trousers and I did under his threat. Then, he ordered me to take off my underwear but I strongly refused. He ordered me to raise my hands and pushed me with his gun which caused me to fall onto the ground. I got up with my hand up. Soon after he allowed me to put my hands down and raise my trousers back up which I did. He ordered me to sit on the ground where I sat with my face to the ground. Then, the two soldiers moved back and the settler jeep started to move around me. The settler stopped the jeep and got out of it. At approximately 18:00, the soldier ordered me in Hebrew to go to the jeep. He gave me my identity card and ordered me to go back home. When I walked only two metres, the soldiers ordered me to go back to him. The settler brought plastic chains from his jeep and handcuffed me. They put me into the settler jeep. One of the soldiers sat behind me and pointed his gun at my neck. They took me towards the aforementioned settlement. They stopped near a hole one and a half metres deep. The settler pushed me towards the hole and ordered me to lie inside. I was afraid so I got up. The settler strongly pushed me into the hole and started to move a sack of sand near the hole, saying: 'You will die.' I was afraid and I cried. I got out of the hole but the settler pushed me back to it. I fell onto my face. I was injured. I got out of the hole again but the settler pushed me back and put his foot on my head. The soldiers were laughing. At approximately 20:00, one of the soldiers took me out of the hole and asked me about the cloth I put on my face. He ordered me to take off my shirt and I did. He put the shirt into the jeep. At approximately 20:00, he gave me my identity card, saying that he will take me to Kfar Saba prison. Then, he ordered me not to work in the area, because it is a closed military zone. Soon after, he ordered me to leave the area. The settler pushed me and pointed his gun at me. I was too afraid of being shot, so I fell onto the ground three times."



· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village and al-Quds Street, south of Nablus. They opened fire at houses. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed 'Omar Rahhal, 24, from 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp near Nablus, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.



Sunday, 15 May 2005

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into 'Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

Wafi 'Aakef al-Sader, 22; and
Mohammed Waleed al-Naqib, 24.
· At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Abdullah Abu Rahma, 40, coordinator of the Higher Committee Against the Annexation Wall in Ramallah and western villages, and arrested him.

· At approximately 09:00, guards of an Israeli insurance establishment in east Jerusalem severely beat 'Aadel Muhaisen, 44, when he protested procedures at the establishment. He was injured in the face and the left hand.

· At approximately 19:10, Israeli soldiers positioned on a tank that was patrolling near Israeli military posts to the west of Khan Yunis opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who gathered on the remnants of houses destroyed by IOF in Khan Yunis refugee camp. One of the children, 12-year-old 'Aatef Mohammed Abu Namous, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.



Monday, 16 May 2005

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested four Palestinian civilians, including three children:

Hussam saleh al-Badawi, 14;
Wajdi Saleh al-Badawi, 15;
Nour al-Din Majed al-Ra'ei, 14; and
'Omar Younis Muhaisen, 32.
· In the morning, IOF positioned at al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, shot dead a Palestinian worker. They claimed that that he arrived at the checkpoint and when Israeli soldiers ordered him to stop he held a knife and moved towards them, so they shot him. They further alleged that the soldiers "took necessary warning measures," but PCHR's investigations refute this claim.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 06:30, 'Omar Motei' 'Asrawi, 25, left his house in 'Allar village to go to his work in Israel. At approximately 07:00, he arrived at al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, and stood in a long queue to cross the checkpoint. At approximately 08:10, he apparently got bored of waiting so he put his bag on the ground and moved towards three Israeli soldiers who were positioned behind cement blocks checking passing civilians. He shouted at him because of the prolonged and slow checking. Israeli soldiers ordered him to raise his hands and stop. He raised his hands but continued to walk. When he was one metre away from the soldiers, two soldiers fired at least 40 live bullets at him. He fell onto the ground. Immediately, IOF closed the checkpoint. Nearly 15 minutes later, a Palestinian ambulance arrived at the areas, but IOF did not allow it to attend the victim until 11:00, when the victim was dead. His body was evacuated to a hospital in Tulkarm. According to eyewitnesses, the victim did not hold anything in his hands. The victim was married and was a father of three children. He was not known of affiliation to any Palestinian armed organization.



· At approximately 16:00, medical sources at an Israeli hospital declared that Mohammed Hamdan Abu Sha'ar, 20, died from an injury he sustained two years ago.

According to PCHR's documentation, Abu Sha'ar was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, when IOF moved into al-Sha'er neighborhood near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, and opened fire at Palestinian houses. He had received medical treatment in Egypt. He was transferred to an Israeli hospital one week ago, where he died.

· At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into 'Aaboud village, west of Ramallah. They opened fire at a number of Palestinian children and young men, wounding two of them:

1. Khair Mahmoud Thabet al-'Abed, 18, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen; and

2. 'Ameed Mahmoud Sa'id al-'Abed, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the leg.

IOF claimed that the two threw Molotov cocktails at them. The two were evacuated to an Israeli hospital.



Tuesday, 17 May 2005

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Mughayer village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested nine Palestinians:

Samer Abu 'Ulaya, 19;
Tamer Abu 'Ulaya, 21;
Basel Abu 'Ulaya, 21;
'Omar Hussein Abu 'Ulaya, 20;
'Aamer Hussein Abu 'Ulaya, 23;
Fathi 'Ouda Abu 'Ulaya, 22;
Bayan Talal Na'san, 20;
Fu'ad Mahmoud Abu 'Ulaya, 21; and
Omar Mustafa Abu 'Ulaya, 23.
· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Sawahra village, east of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Zhudi Shahin, 22, and arrested him.

· At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinians, including a child:

Yassin 'Omar Banat, 15; and
Ameer Salim Ghoush, 19.
· At approximately 07:30, an undercover unit of IOF, whose members were wearing civilian clothes, moved into al-Maslakh neighborhood in Bethlehem using a civilian car, and arrested Mahmoud Mohammed Abu 'Arram, 36.



Wednesday, 18 May 2005

· At approximately 01:00, IOF positioned in military posts on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at the neighboring Yibna refugee camp. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance were in the area firing at these posts. As a result of the Israeli gunfire, one member of the Palestinian resistance, 27-year-old Ahmed Rubin Barhoum, was killed by several live bullets and shrapnel throughout the body.

· In a similar attack, at approximately 14:50, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at three members of Hamas who were in the cemeteries are near "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, to fire mortars at the settlement. The missile hit one of them directly, 24-year-old Ahmed Mustafa Shahwan. He was seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body. He was evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City but medical efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead later during the evening.



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 Jerusalem.



The West Bank

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

Hebron

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 12 May 2005, they tightened the siege on the old town the southern and southeastern parts and the centre of the town, claiming that they wanted to secure celebration of Israeli settlers on the "independence day of Israel." They closed a number of roads, markets and all checkpoints and iron gates in the old town and the eastern neighborhoods. IOF also reinforced their presence in the town. A number of Israeli soldiers were deployed on top of houses that overlook Israeli settlement posts in the centre of the town. IOF closed at least 20 Palestinian shops in al-Sahla Street in the old town. On Friday, 13 May 2005, hundreds of Palestinian civilians were not able to pray in the Ibrahimi Mosque due to the measures taken by IOF.

Nablus

At approximately 08:00 on Thursday, 12 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at 'Azmout – Salem crossroads, east of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles but no arrests were reported. At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF erected three checkpoints on al-Bathan road, northeast of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles but no arrests were reported. On Saturday, 14 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at "Yitshar" crossroads, south of Nablus; another one on al-Bathan road; and a third one at the entrance of Ejnesenia village, northwest of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles. On Monday, 16 May 2005, IOF erected two checkpoints at "Yishar" crossroads and near Jeet village, southwest of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday, 17 May 2005, IOF closed 'Awarta checkpoint, southeast of Nablus and prohibited movement of Palestinian trucks to and from the city.

Jenin

At approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 12 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at 'Ein al-Hilwa crossroads, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles but no arrests were reported. At approximately 08:00 on the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint at the crossroads of "Mavi Dotan" settlement, south of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles but no arrests were reported. On Friday morning, 13 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint between the villages of Tubas and 'Aqqaba, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles but no arrests were reported. On Monday evening, 16 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on the road between the villages of Wadi al-Fara'a and al-Nassariya, southeast of Jenin. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday morning, 17 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Fara'a village on the road that links Tubas village with the central Jordan Valley. They stopped dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles and checked and interrogated a number of civilians, but no arrests were reported.

Tulkarm

At approximately 05:00 on Thursday, 12 May 2005, IOF closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. This closure continued until 12:00. On Friday, 13 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far'oun checkpoint, south of the town. They held dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles for some time. On Saturday, 14 May 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints between the towns of Tulkarm and Jenin. They stopped Palestinian civilian vehicles and held young men for several hours. On Sunday, 15 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at 'Ennab crossroads, east of the town. They held young men for several hours. On Monday, 16 May 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at 'Ennab crossroads, east of the town, held Murad Mohammed 'Attar, 37, for several hours. On Tuesday morning, 17 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at 'Ennab crossroads. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles

Qalqilya

On Saturday morning, 14 May 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of 'Azzoun village on Qalqilya – Nablus road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also erected a checkpoint near al-Zawia bridge, southeast of the town, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians to neighboring villages.



Arrests of Palestinian Civilians While Crossing Military Checkpoints in the West Bank

Thursday, 12 May 2005

· At approximately 08:00, IOF erected a sudden checkpoint at al-Karmel – Yatta crossroads, south of Hebron. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested four Palestinians:

Shaher 'Ali Dababsa, 28;
'Emad Mohammed Dababsa, 22;
Ishaq Salem Dababsa, 30; and
Fadel Salem Dababsa, 35, all from Yatta village.
· At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested 15-year-old Mousa Suleiman Barham, from Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They claimed that he was carrying a weapon.



Sunday, 15 May 2005

· In the morning, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at Jeet crossroads, southwest of Nablus, arrested Ayman 'Abdul Karim Eshtaiwi, 30, from Kufor Qaddoum village northeast of Qalqilya. Eshtaiwi was released from Israeli jails three months ago.

· At approximately 13:00, IOF erected a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested three Palestinians, including two children:

Khairi Burhan Daraghma, 17;
'Abdullah Lutfi Daraghma, 18; and
'Udai Rashid Daraghma, 17.
· In the afternoon, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at the northeastern entrance of al-Ram village, southeast of Ramallah, arrested Waleed Daoud al-Bustanji, 33, from Bethlehem.



Monday, 16 May 2005

· At approximately 16:00, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested two Palestinians, one of them was identified as Mahmoud Sharai'a, 18.

· At approximately 18:00, IOF positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, suddenly closed the checkpoint. They forced Yousef 'Azmi, 22, from 'Assira village south of Nablus to take off his clothes before the eyes of Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint. They thoroughly checked him. Then, they arrested him claiming that he was carrying explosives in his bag.

· Also at approximately 18:00, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at the entrance to 'Attara village, north of Ramallah, arrested Mohammed Nazmi al-'Aarouri, 22, from 'Aaroura village north of Ramallah.



Tuesday, 17 May 2005

· In the morning, IOF chased a number of Palestinian workers in Kherbat Jebara area in the south of Tulkarm and fired sound of bombs at them. They arrested one of these workers, Haitham Jamal Jaradat, 23, from Seilat al-Harthiya village near Jenin.



Wednesday, 18 May 2005

· In the afternoon, IOF erected a checkpoint on the main road that links al-'Obaidiya village with Beit Sahour town, east of Bethlehem. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and arrested two civilians:

Khaled 'Atallah, 29; and
Tamer Saleh, 24.


Gaza Strip

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. They have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. Furthermore, the prolonged suffering of Palestinian civilians living in areas near Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip has continued.

With regard to internal movement, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) despite increased hours of operation at the two checkpoints. They often close the two checkpoints and hold and check Palestinian civilians in between.

IOF have also continued to close a number of roads inside the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada, such as the western Rafah – Khan Yunis road in the southern Gaza Strip, Abu al-'Ajeen road between the villages of al-Qarara and Wadi al-Salqa in the central Gaza Strip and Salah al-Din Street at "Netzarim" and "Kfar Darom" junctions in the central Gaza Strip. Furthermore, IOF have continued to prohibit Palestinian civilians from using "Kissufim", "Morag" and al-Mentar roads in the southern and central Gaza Strip which have been devoted for the movement of IOF and settlers.

IOF have also continued to impose a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. Male Palestinians aged 16-35 have been prohibited from crossing al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area. IOF allow the entry of foodstuffs into the area on Saturdays and Sundays and allow the entry of other goods on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. On other days, they allow the transportation of agricultural products out of the area. IOF and settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. With regard to education, 1430 schoolchildren study at one school in the area, which lacks electricity and water. The school also lacks teachers of a number of subjects, such as mathematics, physics and chemistry. Only one teacher from outside the area is allowed to teach at this school and he is prevented sometimes from entering the area. As a result of such conditions, the school was forces to cancel the scientific section and students who wish to study science have to go to Khan Yunis. IOF troops frequently close al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area.

IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities located near Israeli military posts and settlements, particularly al-Sayafa area between "Dogit" and "Elli Sinai" settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. At least 180 Palestinian civilians live in al-Sayafa area and another 200 persons live around it. On Wednesday, 18 May 2005, IOF closed the area and prohibited movement of Palestinian civilians from and to the area. However, following prolonged discussions between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, schoolchildren were allowed to exit the area to attend their final exams. The daily suffering of Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area is demonstrated in the following:

1. Palestinian civilians under the age of 30 are prohibited from moving out and into the area without prior coordination.

2. A very limited number of farmers are allowed to enter the area but only following prior coordination.

3. University students have been forced to live outside the area due to the prohibition imposed on the movement of those who are under 30.

4. The area lack paved roads which make transportation extremely difficult and residents have to move on foot.

5. IOF open the iron gate at the entrance of the area between 07:00 to 09:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 only.

6. The area lacks basic services, such as electricity, as IOF have prevented establishing an electricity network in the area.

7. Patients have to walk or be transported on animal cart as ambulances are not allowed to enter the area without lengthy prior coordination.

8. Farmers face extreme difficulties in marketing their products or bringing agricultural equipment into the area.

In the same context, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on al-Ma'ni area near "Kfar Darom" settlement in the central Gaza Strip. The area has lacked water and telephone networks for three years after IOF destroyed this infrastructure. According to residents of the area, they obtain water from a well in the area or bring it from Deir al-Balah. IOF do not allow any Palestinian living outside the area from entering the area.

IOF reopened Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, 15 May 2005, following a three-week closure. Nevertheless, they imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian workers and patients. Before this latest closure, IOF had allowed only approximately 5000 Palestinian workers out of 25000 workers, who had held valid work permits before the current Intifada.

The daily suffering of Palestinian workers at Erez crossing is demonstrated by the following description:

1. Workers were subject to strict and prolonged checking and humiliation on their way to their work places.

2. Some of them were subject to interrogation by Israeli Security Services.

3. Many workers were arbitrarily prevented from entering Israel for ‘security’ purposes.

4. Work permits of workers who did not go to their work for a period that exceeded one week were cancelled.

With regard to patients, IOF allow less than ten patients daily to enter Israel to receive medical treatment. Palestinian patients aged 25-40 are prohibited outright from entering Israel; 46 women have been prevented by IOF from entering Israel this month alone. Patients have to walk a very long distance between the checking points which cause stresses on their already ill health. Further, Palestinian ambulances are prevented from entering Israel, so patients travel to Israeli hospitals in private cars. Many patients have been prevented from entering Israel for security claims. For instance, a 6-year-old child have been prevented from entering Israel to receive medical treatment for security reasons.

IOF have continued to impose severe restriction on commercial transactions at al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. This is despite a declaration that the IOF would ease the restrictions. They only allowed 30-35 trucks to enter Israel through the crossing and 270 trucks to enter the Gaza Strip from Israel. The operation of this crossing in this limited manner has caused many perishable goods to be destroyed and large losses to Palestinian traders.

IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian workers from entering Israel through Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, for more than one year. Only construction raw materials are allowed to be entered into the Gaza Strip through the crossing.

Even though Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is open, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel. The crossing point is opened from 09:00 to 17:00 only. Even though, IOF have allowed Palestinians aged 16-35 to travel through the crossing since 20 February 2005, they have continued to summon and interrogate a number of young Palestinians. On 18 May 2005, IOF stopped using a special checking machine, which causes health problems. On 14 May 2005, IOF prevented Khamis Mohammed Abu 'Asser, 25, from Gaza, from traveling although he was in a bad health condition. On 16 May 2005, IOF prevented Akram Khader al-Kafarna, 44, from Beit Hanoun, from traveling for no apparent reason. On 12 May 2005, IOF arrested Fakhri Shehada 'Obaid, 24, from Nusirat refugee camp, when he was traveling to Egypt. Rafah International Crossing Point has been the only outlet for Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip to the outside world since the beginning of the current Intifada (IOF continued to close Gaza International Airport for the fourth consecutive year).



Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall

According to Israeli media sources, IOF will soon start the construction of a section of the Wall around "Ma'ale Admomi" east of Jerusalem. The construction of this section of the Wall will place the settlement, where 53,000 Israeli settlers illegally live, in the boundaries of "Jerusalem Municipality." It will create new facts on the ground with regard the future of the occupied city. It will create a settlement compound that links Jerusalem with several settlements. It will also separate Palestinian neighborhoods located on both sides of Jerusalem – Jericho road and will prevent geographical contiguity between the north and south of the West Bank. Israeli media sources reported that Palestinians would be able to move from the north to the use of the West Bank through the Ring Road and this section of the Wall would not be totally close, as their would be a gap subject to monitoring by IOF. This plan is a part of a wider plan that aims at linking Jerusalem with "Gush Etzion" settlement bloc, southwest of Bethlehem. In the meantime, IOF have continued to construct other sections of the Wall near Jerusalem.

In the same context, IOF confiscated 1400 donums of Palestinian land in the villages of Beit Hanina, al-Jeeb, Beir Nabala and Qalandya, north and northwest of Jerusalem, for the purpose of the construction of the Wall. This section of the Wall will isolate the four villages. IOF claimed in a letter sent to the attorney of residents of these villages, Mohammed Dahla that they would establish four gates to allow residents of these villages to reach their agricultural land isolated by the Wall. According to the maps delivered by IOF to attorney Dahla, the four villages will be isolated from four sides and IOF will establish a number of roads and tunnels to link these villages with each other and then with Ramallah to prevent Palestinian civilians from using settler roads.

On Monday, 16 May 2005, the Israeli High Court issued a ruling that violates international law and specifically findings of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the legality of the West Bank Wall (July 2004). The High Court canceled temporary injunctions issued by the Court stopping the construction of a section of the Wall around the settlement of "Ariel" and "Emanuel" in the northern West Bank. The Court allowed IOF to resume the construction of this section of the Wall until next June when appeals submitted against this construction will be considered. The construction of this section of the Wwall will seize large areas of Palestinian land - "Ariel" settlement is located 22 kilometers deep in the West Bank territory.

At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 13 May 2005, IOF set fire to dozens of olive trees in Beit Liqia village, west of Ramallah, near the Wall. At least 70 olive trees belonging to Mahmoud Nemer 'Aassi were burnt.

On Monday, 16 May 2005, IOF started to survey Palestinian land in al-Ras village, south of Tulkarm. They also seized a tract of land in Kherbat Jebara area and set up tents on it. IOF had not informed the owners the land that is being surveyed about their plans in the area.

This week, IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians on both sides of the Wall. They have continued to close two iron gates on the Wall in Jayous village, north of Qalqilya, for the second consecutive week, preventing Palestinian farmers from reaching their agricultural land behind the wall. At least 9,000 donums of agricultural land in Jayous village have been isolated behind the wall.



Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilian and Property

Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. IOF have continued to confiscate areas of Palestinian land for settlement activities.

On Thursday morning, 12 May 2005, four Israeli settlers severely beat Sameeh Mustafa Hamdan, 60, from Salem village east of Nablus. He sustained a fracture in the left hand. In his testimony to PCHR, Hamdan said:

"At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 12 May 2005, I was walking back home from my land in al-Lahaf area in the southeast of Salem village, east of Nablus. When I came nearly 500 meters away from my land, and 50 meters to the south of a bypass road leading to 'Allon Moreh' settlement, I was surprised by two masked Israeli settlers, who were wearing civilian clothes, coming from the neighboring 'Gideon' settlement. When I was face to face with them, they started to throw stones at me. One stone hit my back. I tried to escape but I fell onto the ground. Immediately, they moved towards me and started to beat me. Two other settlers joined in and they all beat me for 10-15 minutes at which time I fainted. They then left the area. When they went, I got up and walked towards my village. When I arrived at the edge of the village, a farmer brought a civilian car and evacuated me to the hospital. I sustained bruises throughout the body and a fracture to my left hand."

On Thursday afternoon, Israeli settlers living in "Ramat Yishai" settlement post in Tal Rumaida neighborhood, and "Beit Hadasa" settlement post in al-Dabbouya neighborhood in Hebron launched a series of attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the center of Hebron. They threw stones and empty bottles at houses and shops. IOF did not intervene to stop these attacks even though they were present in the area.

In the evening, a number of Israeli settlers living in "Avraham Avino" settlement post in Hebron attempted to break into a house belonging to the family of Yousef No'man al-Sharbati. They have made several attempts to annex the house to the aforementioned settlement post.

On Sunday afternoon, 15 May 2005, a number of Israeli settlers moved from "Ma'oun" settlement, south of Hebron, and attacked a number of Palestinian farmers and tried to expel them from their land. Four Palestinian civilians, including three children, sustained bruises:

1. 'Eissa Mohammed al-Shawahin, 30;

2. Hussein Mahmoud al-Shawahin, 13;

3. Ahmed Khalil al-Shawahin, 16; and

4. Adham Ahmed al-Shawahin, 15.

On Monday, 16 May 2005, Israeli settlers living in "Qidoumim" settlement, northeast of Qalqilya, razed 30 donums of agricultural land planted with olives owned by 'Abdul Latif Mohammed Abu Daya in the neighboring Kufor Qaddoum village, to expand 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 Territories. PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as a state above law and 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 OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

4. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and solidarity groups to participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge their governments to bring these war criminals to justice.

5. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.

6. PCHR calls upon European governments to change their positions towards the Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights.

7. PCHR welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give its Advisory Opinion. There is no doubt that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.

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 OPTs, including for facilitating 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 solidarity groups, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel's respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

10. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access of non-Governmental organization to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with Israeli citizens.

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.



“END”








Public Document

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[1] 1 donum is equal to 1000 square meters.