israeli War Crimes

PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

http://www.pchrgaza.org


Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
No. 29/2005

21– 27 July 2005



Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue to Attack Civilians and Annex Land Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

· 4 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF, including a child who was run down by an Israeli settler vehicle.

· 19 Palestinians were injured among them a mother and child and a further 7 children.

· IOF conducted 34 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one into the Gaza Strip (a total of 35 incursions conducted during the reporting period).

· Houses were raided and 33 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.

· IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF isolated the southern Gaza Strip; IOF have prevented Palestinian civilians aged 16-35 from traveling through Rafah International Crossing Point; IOF have resumed a special checking machine at the crossing point; and IOF arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including 2 women and a child, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

· IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; in Wad Rahhal and Jourat al-Sama'a areas, south of Bethlehem, that 603 donums of agricultural land was seized for the purpose of the construction of the Wall; and IOF starting razing dozens of donums of agricultural land near Tarqumea, west of Hebron city.

· Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip; a Palestinian child was run down by an Israeli settler and a number of houses and civilian facilities were demolished by IOF in the West Bank.



Summary



Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (21 – 27 July 2005):



Killing and Shooting: On 22 July 2004, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian in the old town of Hebron as they opened fire indiscriminately after a Palestinian gunman fired at an Israeli military post in the area. IOF left the victim to bleed to death. On the same day, a Palestinian civilian died from an injury he had sustained last week when IOF extra-judicially killed four members of Hamas in Gaza City. On 27 July 2005, IOF killed another Palestinian civilian in Jenin city who was throwing stones against IOF soldiers who had incurred into the city, surrounded a house and were demolishing the external wall of the house. Also during the reported period, 16 Palestinian civilians, including a mother and her child and six other children, were injured in the West Bank. Three others civilians, including a child, were injured in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip after IOF shelling in the area.



Incursions: IOF conducted 35 military incursions into Palestinian areas (34 in the West Bank and one in the Gaza Strip). During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 33 Palestinian civilians.



Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. IOF have continued to close Erez crossing for the third consecutive week. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinian civilians aged 16-35 from traveling through Rafah International Crossing Point. On 22 July 2005, IOF resumed using a controversial checking machine. In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Tulkarm and closed Za'tra checkpoint, south of Nablus. They also erected a number of checkpoints and arrested at least 12 Palestinian civilians, including two women and a child. In the West Bank PCHR field workers documented five case of inhumane treatment at military checkpoints.



Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory. IOF have continued to construct a section of the Wall to the northeast of East Jerusalem. They have also continued to establish a military post near Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah. The Israeli government decided to intensify the construction of the Wall around occupied Jerusalem. On Friday, 22 July 2005, IOF informed residents of Wad Rahhal and Jourat al-Sama'a areas, south of Bethlehem, that 603 donums of their agricultural land would be seized for the purpose of the construction of the Wall. On Wednesday, 27 July 2005, IOF started razing dozens of donums of agricultural land near Tarqumea, west of Hebron city. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists in protest to the construction of the Wall. Seven Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation.



Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. A Palestinian child was killed after he was run down by an Israeli settler in Hebron. A Palestinian civilian was also injured in another attack by settlers. IOF also razed areas of Palestinian land in Kufor Qaddoum village near Qalqilya. They also demolished seven houses and shop of furniture in other areas of the West Bank.





The full report is available online at:

html format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/28-07-2005.htm

pdf format:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/pdf/weekly%20report%2029.pdf






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 [at] pchrgaza.org) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

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