PCHR Weekly Report: 1 Palestinian killed, 4 wounded by Israeli forces

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights has issued its weekly report for the week of October 23 - 29, 2008, documenting a number of human rights violations by Israeli troops operating in the Palestinian Territories (the West Bank and Gaza Strip). In the last week, Israeli forces killed one elderly Palestinian and wounded 4 civilians, including 2 children.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

During the last week, Israeli forces killed an elderly Palestinian in al-Yamoun village near Jenin in the northern West Bank. Israeli troops targeted the man when he came out of his house carrying a hunting rifle, to check on a corral of sheep near his house, as he thought there may be thieves in the area. According to the PCHR, Israeli forces could have used less force to subdue the man.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 35 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 26 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a girl. The number of Palestinian civilians abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the beginning of the year stands at 2,098.

On 25 October, two Palestinian civilians were injured in al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas, when Israeli troops fired at Palestinians who threw stones at military vehicles that had moved into the camp.

During the reporting period, a Palestinian child was injured when Israeli forces used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in protest at the continuing construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah.

 

Israeli forces razed areas of land in al-‘Amra natural reserve near Jenin, isolating a Palestinian residential compound. In addition, Israeli forces have continued to prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their land to harvest olives.

Israeli Annexation Wall:

Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometers around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kilometers of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces started to raze areas of land in al-‘Amra natural reserve, which has been isolated by the Wall, southwest of Jenin. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces razed areas of land in the vicinity of a residential compound where 27 Palestinians from five families live, in order to establishing a fence that would surround, and isolate, the compound. Israeli forces informed the families that they would have a fence built around their homes. Al-‘Amra is the largest natural reserve in the West Bank, and has already been isolated by the Wall. Control over the area was supposed to have been handed over to the Palestinian National Authority: however, the Israeli forces have retained control over the area. In addition, Israeli forces have continued to prevent Palestinian farmers whose land is on the other side of the Wall from reaching their olive groves in order to harvest their olives, although the farmers have valid permits to access their own land.

Israeli settlement activities:

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

During the reporting period, Israeli forces stopped work at a land inning project that was being carried out by the Union of Agricultural Work Committees in al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron. Israeli forces also confiscated machines from the workers. This project is one of several projects being funded by the European Commission in Hebron and Bethlehem.

On 26 October, a number of Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement, southeast of Hebron, stormed al-Ras Islamic cemetery opposite to the settlement. They destroyed the headstones of local Palestinian graves. They then attacked Palestinian cars that were parked in front of local houses, breaking windows and slashing the tires of at least 25 cars.

Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The Israeli forces siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

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

On Monday, the 27th of October, at approximately 08:30, Israeli troops in a military jeep positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east of Khan Yunis opened fire at Palestinian agricultural and residential areas in Khuza’a village near the border. A gunshot penetrated the window of a classroom on the second floor of Khuza’a School for Girls, nearly 500 meters away from the border. Fifteen year old ‘Aziza Suleiman Qudaih, was struck in the face by broken glass, and the other school children were terrified.

Recommendations to the international community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made a number of recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In addition, the 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 the text of the full report, click on the link below: