Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 20/2008 (08 - 14 May 2008) :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dal medio oriente :: information from middle east

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT, especially in the Gaza Strip, during the reporting period (8 – 14 May 2008):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian children died of previous injuries in the Gaza Strip, and a Palestinian civilian was shot dead by the guards of a settlement in the West Bank. In addition, IOF wounded 27 Palestinians, including 4 children, an elderly woman, 2 journalists, and an Israeli human rights defender.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians and wounded 16 others. Two children also died from previous injuries.

On 8 May, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded another seriously in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. An IOF aircraft fired a missile at the two activists. On the same day, a Palestinian child died of previous injuries sustained during an IOF incursion into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, on 7 May. On 9 May, IOF killed 5 members of security services of the dismissed Palestinian government in two air strikes against security sites in Rafah and Khan Yunis. On 11 May, a Palestinian child died of injuries previously sustained during an IOF incursion into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, on 7 May. On 13 May, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded another one in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. An IOF drone fired 2 missiles at the two activists. On 14 May, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others during an incursion into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. On the same day, IOF killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance and 2 civilian bystanders and wounded 3 civilians, including an elderly woman and her granddaughter, during an incursion into Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. Also on the same day, IOF killed 2 activists of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others in an air strike in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

In the West Bank, on 9 May, a Palestinian civilian was shot dead and another was arrested by the guards of "Ofra" settlement, northeast of Ramallah. IOF claimed that the victim attempted to get close to the settlement in order to fire at it from a hunting rifle. On 10 May, 10 Palestinians civilians, including 2 children and 2 journalists, and an Israeli human rights defender, were wounded by IOF in Jaba’ village, south of Jenin, and Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm. On 11 May, a Palestinian child was wounded when IOF troops moved into Taffouh village, west of Hebron, and fired at children who demonstrated against the IOF incursion. On 14 May, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when IOF troops positioned near bypass road #60 fired at him.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 30 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a journalist. To date, the number of Palestinian civilians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 stands at 1,155. IOF also raided a sewing workshop belonging to the Islamic Charity in Hebron and ordered its closure for 3 years.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 4 incursions into Palestinian communities. During these incursions, IOF razed at least 388 donums of agricultural land and destroyed 61 greenhouses, 150 beehives, 9 agricultural pools, 4 bird farms and 4 houses. They also arrested 4 Palestinians.

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.

IOF have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than one year and a half. The IOF imposed siege has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and has violated the human, economic and social rights of the approximately 1.5 million Palestinian civilian population, particularly their rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. The siege has also paralyzed the Gazan economy. In addition, the siege 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 many factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population. Regarding civilian movements, IOF permit a few Palestinian civilians to pass through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in order to travel to the West Bank or Israel. Rafah International Crossing Point in the southern Gaza Strip is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it.

The following are the most significant current impacts of the IOF siege of the Gaza Strip, including the current impacts of fuel deprivation.

· Streets across the Gaza Strip are empty, and daily life has almost been paralyzed.

· Two weeks ago UNRWA was forced to suspend food aid to at least 650,000 Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip because of fuel shortages.

· Livings conditions of the civilian populations have continued to deteriorate.

· Hundreds of patients have been denied access to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip.

· Many university and school students have not been able to reach their educational institutions due to overwhelming demand for public transport.

· The operation of 15 wells have been stopped and at least 100,000 people across the Gaza Strip now face severe difficulties in accessing safe drinking water.

· Twelve sewage treatment plants lack the necessary fuel supplies to operate at full capacity, and subsequently at least 40,000 liters of untreated sewage have been pumped into the sea daily.

· Piles of garbage are seen in the streets, which may cause environmental and widespread sanitary problems.

· At least 85% of vehicles of the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility have not been able to operate in order to supply safe drinking water, treat sewage and maintain the current sewage networks.

The continuing closure of border all crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

Contrary to Israeli claims to have eased restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, 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, including occupied East Jerusalem. IOF have established numerous checkpoints around and inside East Jerusalem. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays in order to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. IOF often harass and assault Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city. IOF positioned at checkpoints across the West Bank have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On 8 May, IOF closed Nablus-Ramallah, Nablus-Jenin, Nablus-Qalqilya and Nablus-Tulkarm roads. In addition, they closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, and Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and re-established their presence at Yits’har checkpoints. These measures were taken to secure Independence Day the celebration of at least 500 Israeli settlers in "Shavi Shomron" settlement, northwest of Nablus. The closure of these roads continued until the evening. During the reporting period, IOF have imposed a comprehensive closure on the OPT from Tuesday, 6 May 2008, until Monday morning, 19 May 2008. During the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 2 Palestinian civilians.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the OPT have, in violation of international humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On 13 May, IOF razed an area of land in the south of Hebron to establish a military post. On

8 May, hundreds of Israeli settlers arrived at the area where the evacuated "Homesh" settlement used to stand, northwest of Nablus. They erected tents. In the meantime, IOF extensively deployed and closed some roads allegedly to ensure security for settlers. They did not allow Palestinian farmers to reach their lands in the area.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (8 – 14 May 2008)

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

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian children:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.

· At approximately 02:10, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Sikka Street in the east of Jabalya refugee camp. Two activists were seriously wounded. One of them, 27-year-old Hamdi Mousa Shubair, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, died of his wounds later at the hospital.

· At approximately 21:30, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Sami Jameel 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu 'Anza, 17, died of wounds he had sustained during an IOF incursion into 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, on the previous day. Abu 'Anza was hit by 2 gunshots to the right side and thigh, when IOF troops who took position inside a house fired at him from a distance of nearly 200 meters.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tal’at Zaidan Jaradat, 18, and arrested him.

· At approximately 22:55, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at the headquarters of the Security and Protection Service of the Ministry of Interior in the dismissed government in the Gaza Strip in the center of Rafah town. The missile exploded at the gate of the headquarters and killed 2 security men:

· At approximately 23:55, IOF aircrafts fired 3 missiles at 3 members of the Naval Police of the dismissed government when they were in a police station at Khan Yunis seaside. The three members were instantly killed:

· At approximately 02:00, IOF moved nearly 800 meters into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They started to raze areas of agricultural land. At approximately 04:00, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who attempted to resist the invading IOF troops. An activist was wounded. IOF withdrew from the area at approximately 07:30 after they had razed 62 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and vegetables, and destroyed 20 greenhouses, 9 agricultural pools and a number of rooms.

· At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, southeast of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and opened fire provocatively. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and three stones at IOF military vehicles. Immediately, IOF troop opened fire. As a result 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded:

4. Shawqi Suleiman Fashafsha, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

6. Bashar Ahmed Fashafsha, 30, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left thigh.

· At approximately 11:00, IOF troops attacked participants in a peaceful demonstration organized by Fighters for Peace near the western entrance of Shoufa village, south of Tulkarm, which has been closed with sand barriers for years. Hundreds of Palestinian, international and Israeli peace activists participated in the demonstration. IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. Four participants, including 2 journalists, were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets:

1. Ja’far Eshtayeh, 33, a cameraman of France Press, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand;

2. Hazem 'Omar Blaidi, 30, a cameraman of Palmedia, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand, and his camera was crashed;

3. Murad Mahmoud Droubi, 35, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the face; and

4. Eitamar Shabira, 50, an Israeli peace activist, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Taha 'Essam al-Fasfous, 26, and arrested him.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They imposed a curfew on the village until the following day morning.

· At approximately 20:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They chased a number of children and young men. They also raided and searched a number of houses. Before withdrawing from the village, IOF troops arrested 3 Palestinian children:

· At approximately 20:30, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Muntasser Mohammed Jom’a Abu 'Anza, 15, had died of a wound he had sustained during an IOF incursion into the village on Wednesday, 7 May 2008. IOF troops that moved into the village fired at Abu 'Anza when he was near al-Qassam Mosque. He was seriously hit by a gunshot to the head.

· At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Kharas village, northwest of Hebron. Theyt raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed 'Abdul Qader al-Hroub, 67, in the center of the town. They were looking for his eldest son, Isma’il, who is allegedly wanted. Before leaving the house, IOF troops arrested the owner’s other two sons: Ayman, 27; and 'Abdul Qader, 22.

· At approximately 01:30, 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 Bourqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Hilal Lutfi Khalaf, 26.

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

· At approximately 15:00, an IOF undercover unit moved into Beit Eiba village, west of Nablus, traveling in 2 civilian vehicles with Palestinian registration plates. The two vehicles stopped in the center of the village and IOF troops immediately besieged a house belonging to the family of Ayman 'Abdul Salam Sama’na, 30. Soon after, 10 IOF military vehicles moved into the village to support the undercover unit. IOF troops called through megaphones on residents of the house to get out and they did. IOF interrogated them. At approximately 16:30, IOF troops arrested Sama’na, in addition to Mohammed Wahbi Abu al-Haija, 22. Sama’na is an activist of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) who was included on the lists of amnesties issued by IOF, whereas as Abu al-Haija was not wanted and he was maintaining a refrigerator in Sama’na’s house.

· At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into al-'Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They chased a number of Palestinian boys claiming that they threw stones at military vehicles. They arrested Hassan Maher al-Shareef, 19.

· At approximately 23:00, IOF moved nearly 1,200 meters into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land. By the following day morning, they had razed 225 donums of agricultural land and destroyed 41 greenhouses, a number of agricultural pools and at least 150 beehives.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Rateb al-'Owaiwi, 30, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

· At approximately 13:00, an IOF aircraft fired 2 missiles at a number of activists of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. An activist, 21-year-old Tahreer Ziad 'Abdul Hamid 'Abdul Ghafour, was killed, and another one was wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and his right foot was amputated. A third activist was shocked.

· At approximately 01:00, IOF moved nearly 1,200 meters into Abu Tain area in the east of 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. At approximately 04:15, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance, but they survived the attack. At approximately 06:25, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad). Two activists were seriously wounded. At approximately 07:10, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the 'Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas). An activist, 23-year-old Mohammed Muneer Abu Habeeb, 23, was killed, and another one was seriously wounded. During this incursion, which continued until 23:30, IOF demolished a house completely and 3 others partially, razed 110 donums of agricultural land and destroyed 4 bird farms. IOF also arrested 4 Palestinians:

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Koum village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Hassan 'Awadh al-Rajoub, 24, a journalist, and arrested him.

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinian civilians:

· At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, southeast of Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinian civilians, who were released from Israeli jails a few months ago:

· At approximately 08:30, IOF moved nearly 1,500 meters into Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip. At approximately 09:10, IOF troops fired at Hamdi 'Abdul Majeed Shihada Khader, 18, from Beit Lahia, while he was riding his bicycle on the main road to the east of Jabalya. He was instantly killed by a gunshot to the chest. At approximately 09:45, IOF launched a surface-to-surface missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who were on al-Kashef Hill in the east of Jabalya. An activist and a civilian bystander were killed:

At the same time, IOF fired 3 tank shells at 3 houses belonging to Mohammed Sa’id al-Jamal, Anwar Abu Habel and Rasheed 'Oukal in the east of Jabalya refugee camp. The three houses were damaged and 3 Palestinian civilians were lightly wounded:

2. Nuha Baker al-Jamal, 15, her granddaughter, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand; and

· At approximately 23:45, an IOF aircraft fired a missile at a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance in al-Tawaheen Street in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. Two activists were killed:

IOF have continued to impose a tightening 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.

As previously noted, the IOF have imposed to impose a siege on the 1.5 million civilians of the Gaza Strip. The continued Israeli ban on fuel supplies required for civilian life in the Gaza Strip has led to 50% of the educational sector being paralysed, as half of students at all educational levels have been unable to reach their schools and universities. In addition, educational sector employees have been unable to reach their work. 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. 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.

On 9 April, IOF stopped the flow of the heavily reduced fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip. As a result, the humanitarian situation hit hard by continuous collective punishment since 15 June 2006, deteriorated even further.

Monitoring by PCHR indicates that the Gaza Strip has become a ghost town, especially in the morning and in the afternoon. Approximately 145 fuel stations and all suppliers of fuel and gas shut down due to the total lack of supplies. Local sources indicate that the transportation sector is operating at 15% capacity, including public and private transportation. The civilian population finds it extremely difficult to reach places of work, study, and even healthcare facilities.

The Ministry of Health announced that most ambulances have stopped due to lack of fuel. In addition, the Ministry announced that it has started using its limited fuel reserve to operate health centers and important equipment. The Ministry warned that the expiry of this small reserve would paralyze the health sector and the remaining operational ambulances; thus depriving civilians of minimum healthcare services. In addition, hospitals and medical centers in the Gaza Strip are suffering from the absence of staff due to their inability to reach their workplaces. As a result, the operation of these institutions is threatened at a time of escalating Israeli military activity inside the Gaza Strip.

Concerning the movement at Nahal Ouz crossing, east of Gaza City, which designed for the entry of fuels, from Thursday to Sunday, 8-11 May 2008, IOF did not allow the entry of benzene and diesel into the Gaza Strip. They only allowed the entry of very limited amounts of domestic cooking gas that do not meet the actual need of the population. On Monday, 5 May 2008, IOF allowed the entry of 184,000 liters of diesel and 28,500 liters of benzene for UNRWA. During the reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of the following amounts of fuels:

Date	Benzene	Diesel	Cooking Gas	Energy Fuel
8 May	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
9 May	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
10 May	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
11 May	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
12 May	Nil	81,000 liters	284.5 tons	922,000 liters
13 May	Nil	Nil	170 tons	563,000 liters

During the reporting period, IOF partially closed al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing and did not allow the entry of 6,370 any goods.

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

Date	Details
7 May 2008	Closed
8 May 2008	Closed
9 May 2008	Closed
10 May 2008	Closed
11 May 2008	68.5 containers of goods were entered into the Gaza Strip
12 May 2008	61 containers of goods were entered into the Gaza Strip
13 May 2008	60 containers of goods and humanitarian aids were entered 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 the crossing during the reporting period was as shown in the following table:

Date	Details
8 May 2008	6 Palestinian patients who had received medical treatment in Egypt were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip and 10 people who have Egyptian citizenships were allowed to travel to Egypt.
10 May 2008	140 patients were allowed to travel to Egypt for medical treatment.
11 May 2008	750 people who have permanent residence in Egypt or have Egyptian citizenships were allowed to travel to Egypt.
12 May	457 Palestinian patients who had received medical treatment in Egypt were allowed to travel back to the Gaza Strip, and 70 people who have permanent residence in Egypt or have Egyptian citizenships were allowed to travel to Egypt.

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

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.

IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinians aged below 35 from passing through some checkpoints, especially in the northern 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. During the reporting period, IOF maintained the closure imposed on the city since Tuesday, 6 May 2008.

· Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 12 May 2008, IOF closed the road leading to al-Fahes, and Wadi al-Qadhi area, the industrial zone and Yatta village, following partial closure of pedestrians as Israeli settlers in Hebron protested the opening of the road. At night, IOF moved into Hebron. They erected a checkpoint on the main road in Namera area in the east of the town. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians.

On Friday morning, 9 May 2008, IOF troops positioned in Jabal Jouhar area in the east of Hebron arrested Jihad 'Abdul Mohsen Da’na, 15.

On Sunday morning, 11 May 2008, IOF troops positioned at 'Etzion checkpoint on Hebron-Bethlehem road arrested Murshed Mohammed 'Awadh, 33, from Beit Ummar village north of Hebron.

At approximately 17:20 on Wednesday, 14 May 2008, IOF troops in a military vehicle traveling on bypass road #60 fired a number of Palestinian civilians who were in a picnic in the southwest of al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron, which is located near the road. One of those civilians, 18-year-old 'Azzam Hussein al-'Arramin, 18, was wounded by a gunshot to the left thigh.

· Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 8 May 2008, IOF closed Nablus-Ramallah, Nablus-Jenin, Nablus-Qalqilya and Nablus-Tulkarm roads. Accordingly, they closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, and Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and re-established their presence at Yits’har checkpoints. These measures were taken to secure the celebration of at least 500 Israeli settlers in "Shavi Shomron" settlement, northwest of Nablus, of the "Independence Day." The closure of these roads continued until the evening. In the same context, during the reporting period, IOF troops positioned at various checkpoints around Nablus imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected a checkpoint near Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They also closed Hawara checkpoint, south of the city, and 17 checkpoint, north of the city, for several hours. Additionally, IOF re-established their presence at Jeet checkpoint, southwest of the city, Yits'har checkpoint, south of the city, and al-Bathan road, northeast of the city. They further erected a checkpoint to the east of the city and obstructed the movement of Palestinian civilians. Concerning Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, IOF imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through the checkpoint.

· Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 8 May 2008, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and Beit Leed and Jeet roads, allegedly to allow Israeli settlers from "Shavi Shomron" settlement to make celebrations. On Monday, 12 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of 'Allar village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. On Tuesday, 13 May 2008, IOF erected a checkpoint at the entrance of Baqa village, north of Tulkarm. They stopped and checked dozens of young men.

· Qalqilya: At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 11 May 2008, IOF troops positioned at an iron gate on the Annexation Wall violently beat Khaled 'Abdul Rahim Ahmed, 31, from 'Azzoun 'Atma village east of Qalqilya, for no apparent reason. He sustained bruises throughout the body.

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

· Following the Friday Prayer on 9 May 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.

· Also following the Friday Prayer on 9 May 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards Palestinian land which were confiscated by IOF. IOF troops placed barbwire near the land to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They also violently beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians sustained bruises and others 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.

· On Thursday morning, 8 May 2008, hundreds of Israeli settlers arrived at the area where the evacuated "Homesh" settlement used to stand, northwest of Nablus. They set up tents. In the meantime, IOF extensively deployed and closed some roads allegedly to ensure security for settlers. They did not allow Palestinian farmers to reach their lands in the area.

· On Friday evening, 9 May 2008, a Palestinian civilian was shot dead and another one was arrested by the guards of "Ofra" settlement, northeast of Ramallah. IOF claimed that the victim attempted to get close to the settlement to fire at it from a hunting rifle. Palestinian paramedics indicated that IOF did not allow them to attend the victim for nearly an hour, which raises concerns that he might have bled to death.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:30, Rashad 'Ali Khater, 20, from 'Ein Sinya village north of Ramallah, and Khaled Fat’hi al-'Anati, 21, were in a mountainous area near 'Ein Yabroud village, north of the town, for no apparent reason. Soon, the guards of "Ofra" settlement opened fire at them. Khater was wounded by 2 gunshots to the chest. IOF immediately arrived at the scene and prevented anyone, even medical crews, from reaching Khater. They also arrested al-'Anati. Later, the al-Aqsa Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) claimed responsibility for an attack against Israeli settlers near 'Ein Yabroud village, that its members who launched the attack withdrew from the area safely and the one who was killed was a civilian bystander.

· At approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 13 May 2008, an IOF bulldozer razed a 2-donum area of land belonging to Helmi Hassan al-Jamal in al-Fahes area near bypass road #60, south of Hebron, to establish a military post in the area in order to control the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles on the road. The land is located nearly 180 meters away from the road.

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 approximately 3 years ago, 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.

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).

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 20/2008 (08 - 14 May 2008)

PCHR - Palestinian Centre for Human Rights