PCHR Weekly Report: 11 Palestinians killed, 25 wounded

In its weekly summary of Israeli attacks for the week of 5 - 11 June 2008, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reports 11 Palestinians, including 2 children and an elderly man, killed by Israeli forces, and 25 Palestinians, including 9 children and 5 women, wounded by Israeli forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

Women in Khuzaa village whose homes were destroyed in Israeli invasion

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 9 others, including 4 children and 2 women.

On 5 June, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian, when they opened fire at members of two clans who were exchanging fire in the context of a dispute between the two clans in Hebron. On the same day, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 women, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

On 7 June, 2 Palestinian children were wounded when Israeli forces fired at a number of children who demonstrated when Israeli forces moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas.

On 9 June, a Palestinian child was wounded by Israeli forces in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

On 10 June, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces fired at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated in Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah.

Israeli forces conducted 32 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 39 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. Since the beginning of the year, 1,306 Palestinian civilians have been abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Israeli forces also closed two offices belonging to the ‘Islamic Charity’ in Hebron, and transformed 3 houses into military sites.

Israeli forces also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abducted 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a woman.

Israeli Annexation Wall:

Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, Israeli forces 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 Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.

Following the Friday Prayer on 6 June, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 13 demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, including Louisa Morgantini, Deputy Speaker of the European Parliament; Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, an Irish Nobel Laureate and activist; and Julio Tuscano, an Italian judge.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 6 June, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters and violently beat a number of demonstrators.

Israeli settlement activities:

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities and Israeli settlers living in the West Bank have, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian houses in East Jerusalem, claiming that they were built without licenses. Israeli forces also started to establish a settlement outpost on the land of Arab al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron. Israeli forces named the new settlement outpost “Sinsana B”, and it would be constructed only a few meters away from “Sinsana A” settlement outpost.

In addition, Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, 4 Palestinian civilians, including an old man and his wife, were injured when Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians and property in Hebron district.

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 10 Palestinians, including two 8-year-old children, and wounded 16 others, including 5 children and 3 women.

On 5 June, Israeli forces killed an 8-year-old child in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, when they fired a missile that fell near her family’s house. The child’s mother was also wounded. Additionally, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by Israeli forces during an incursion into ‘Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis.

On 6 June, 5 Palestinians (3 children and 2 police officers) were wounded when Israeli aircrafts bombarded a police station of the dismissed Palestinian government in the northern Gaza Strip.

On 7 June, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City, when he attempted to offer help to a number of activists of the Palestinian resistance who had been wounded by Israeli forces. On the same day, Israeli forces killed an activist of the Palestinian resistance, when they fired a tanks shell at a number of activists in al-Shoja’eya neighborhood. In addition, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by Israeli forces in Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis.

On 8 June, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces near Khan Yunis town in the southern Gaza Strip and near al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

On 10 June 2008, Israeli forces killed 3 fighters of the Palestinian resistance in al-Tuffah neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

On 11 June, Israeli forces killed an 8-year-old girl and 2 fighters of the Palestinian resistance during an incursion into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. The girl’s aunt and another girl were also wounded. On the same day, Israeli forces killed an elderly Palestinian man and wounded his grandchild, when an Israeli forces helicopter gunship fired a missile at a tent that serves as a site for the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

Recommendations to the International Community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights this week, the PCHR made a number of recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community 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.

In addition, the PCHR recommended that any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law. The Center stated 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.

For the full report, click on the link below: