PCHR Weekly Report: 7 Palestinians killed, 21 injured by Israeli forces

In its weekly summary of Israeli human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights has reported that 7 Palestinian resistance fighters have been killed, 21 civilians have been wounded and 2 have been abducted by Israeli forces occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinian students being detained by Israeli soldiers

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

 

In the West Bank, 13 Palestinian civilians and an international human rights defender were wounded by Israeli gunfire this week.

 

On 31 October 2008, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron, and fired at civilians who threw stones at military vehicles.

 

On 3 November 2008, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, when Israeli forces moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas, and fired at youth who threw stones at military vehicles.

 

During the reporting period, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and an international human rights defender were wounded when Israeli soldiers used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall west of Ramallah.

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 33 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 21 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children. Thus, the number of Palestinian civilians abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 2,111.

Israeli forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians were also prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem this week.

 

There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 ‘flying’ or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by Israeli forces every week.

 

 

Israeli Annexation Wall:

 

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 (5 families) live, for the purpose of establishing a fence surrounding and isolating the compound. Israeli forces informed the families that they would establish a fence around their houses.

 

Al-‘Amra is the largest natural reserve in the West Bank and has been isolated by the Wall. Control over it was supposed to be transferred to the Palestinian National Authority, but Israel maintained its control over it. In addition, Israeli forces continued to prevent Palestinian farmers from reaching their lands that have been isolated by the Wall to cultivate olives although they have permits issued by Israeli forces to reach their lands.

 

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.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on Friday, 24 October 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. Immediately, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, Kamel Kamal al-Khatib, 15, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the leg.

 

Also following the Friday Prayer on Friday, 24 October 2008, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where Israeli forces were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Mohammed ‘Emad Hamshu, 20, was hit by a tear gas canister to the left hand that caused a fracture.  

 

On Sunday noon, 2 November 2008, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered in the center of Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the area where Israeli forces were razing land to construct a section of the Wall in the village. Immediately, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians and an international human rights defender were wounded.

 

Israeli settlement activities:

 

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

 

On Wednesday, 5 November 2008, Israeli forces demolished 3 houses and a wedding hall in East Jerusalem. On Friday evening, 31 October 2008, Israeli settlers from “Kiryat Arab” and “Kharsina” settlements, southeast of Hebron, attacked Palestinian houses located near “Kharsina” settlement with stones and empty bottles. They then attacked journalists who were covering the attack. Three journalists were injured. A house was also damaged.

 

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinians and wounded 8 others in the Gaza Strip.

 

On Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, 4 and 5 November 2008, Israeli forces killed 6 members of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), and wounded 5 others in the southern and central Gaza Strip. All victims were hit by missiles fired by Israeli forces aircrafts during Israeli incursions into some areas in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also abducted a wounded woman. On Wednesday evening, Israeli forces killed a member of al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) and wounded 2 civilian bystanders with a missile attack.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 2 incursions into Palestinian communities on 4 November 2008. In the morning, Israeli forces moved into al-Hamra area in Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, and leveled areas of land they had already razed. In the evening, Israeli forces moved into the east of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. They killed a member of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others and a woman. They also destroyed a house, razed areas of agricultural land and abducted 4 women, including one who was wounded.

 

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.

 

Recommendations to the international community:

 

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.

 

The PCHR reiterated 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 full text of the report, click on the link below: