PCHR Weekly Report: 4 Palestinians killed, 6 injured by Israeli forces

In its weekly summary of Israeli human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of November 13 - 19, 2008, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights has reported that 4 Palestinians have been killed, and 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces occupying the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Empty gas canisters in Gaza

In addition, Israeli forces launched mock air raids against the Gaza Strip, and conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and one into the Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

 

In the West Bank, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire. On 6 November 2008, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces fired at dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders, who demonstrated in protest of attempts by Israeli settlers to rebuild the evacuated "Homseh" settlement between Nablus and Jenin.

 

During the reporting period, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall west of Ramallah.

 

In addition, Israeli forces conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 44 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 2,184.. 

 

On Sunday morning, 16 November 2008, Israeli forces positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Monday morning, 17 November 2008, Israeli forces positioned at Za’tara and Hawara checkpoints, south of Nablus, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city, conducted prolonged checks on Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 18 November 2008, Israeli forces closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces abducted a Palestinian child.    

 

Restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians have continued this week.  At least 65% of the main roads that leads to 18 Palestinian communities in the West Bank are closed or fully controlled by Israeli forces (47 out of 72 roads).  There are around 500 kilometers of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the Israeli forces. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

 

Israeli Annexation Wall:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces issued a military order confiscating 22 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables belonging to Mohammed Khalil Abu Qbaita in the south of Yatta village, south of Hebron, for the purpose of the construction of a section of the Wall. The confiscated land includes a well and tents, where the owner and his family live.

 

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.

 

Israeli forces continue to harass, and assault demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall.

 

Israeli takeover of Jerusalem:

 

Israeli forces have recently escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. For the purpose of reporting about violations of human rights perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem, PCHR has decided to add a new section to the Weekly Report.

 

On 5 November 2008, Israeli forces moved into Silwan neighborhood in East Jerusalem to demolish a house belonging to Manal Maher Zytoun, claiming that it was built without a license. Palestinian civilians in the area attempted to stop the demolition. Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at those civilians, and then demolished the 80-square-meter house, where the woman and her five children were living.

 

At approximately 03:30 on Sunday, 9 November 208, Israeli forces raided and seized a 75-square-meter house belonging to Fawzia Mohammed al-Kurd in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. Israeli forces had already seized parts of the house in 2001. Although the Israeli High Court ruling on 14 August 2007 ordered the demolition of the house, but allowed the family to appeal against it before 14 November 2008, Israeli forces seized the house before this date. Fourteen Palestinians, including 7 children, were living in the house. Israeli forces did not allow members of the family to vacate any of their belongings and used force to expel them.

 

On Sunday noon, 16 November 2008, Israeli forces stormed the solidarity tent set up by the al-Kurd family near the house and imposed a fine of 430 NIS (approximately US$ 110) on Fawzia al-Kurd. Israeli forces troop stormed the tent on the following two days and imposed more fines on the family. At approximately 10:30 on Wednesday, 19 November 2008, Israeli forces tore down the tent. It is worth noting that Israeli forces handed written notices on 6 November 2008 to 8 Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood informing them that their houses would be demolished.

 

On Monday noon, 10 November 2008, Israeli forces moved into Wad al-Dam area in Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem. They confiscated a mobile home belonging to the family of 'Izziddin Abu Najma, 58. It is worth noting that Israeli forces demolished 2 house belonging to the family in 1996 and 201, claiming that they were built without licenses.

 

On Thursday afternoon, 13 November 2008, Israeli forces stormed a  celebration organized by the Jerusalemite Association for Community Development in Wad al-Jouz neighborhood, and forced the participants, including the Egyptian ambassador and the Spanish cooperation representative, to leave the area.

 

On Monday morning, 18 November 208, Israeli forces moved into al-'Eissawia village, northeast of Jerusalem. They demolished a 180-square-meter house belonging to Jamal Daoud Abu Snaina. During the demolition, Israeli forces used force to vacate the family. As a result, 4 women sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted Muhannad Jamal Abu Snaina and Ahmed Mousa Abu Snaina.

 

Israeli settlement activities:

 

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

During the reporting period, dozens of Israeli settlers who had already seized al-Rajabi building in Hebron attacked Palestinian house located near the building and near "Kiryat Arba" settlement. The settlers have occupied al-Rajabi building since 11 April 2008. On 18 November 2008, dozens of Israeli settlers from "Yits'har" settlement, south of Nablus, closed the bypass road located to the south of the city and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles. On 19 November 2008, dozens of Israeli settlers closed the main road near Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles.

 

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 16 November 2008, 4 members of the Palestinian resistance were killed when an Israeli forces aircraft fired a missile at them in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City.

 

On Sunday November 16th, at approximately 08:30, an Israeli forces aircraft fired a missile at 4 members of the Salah al-Din Brigades (the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees) in al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in Gaza City. The four members were instantly killed: Talal Hussein al-'Aaidi, 25, from the Beach camp in Gaza City, Mohammed Hamdallah Hassouna, 22, from the Beach camp in Gaza City, Bassem Baker al-Ghuf, 21, from Gaza City, and Ahmed Raid al-Hilu, 22, from Gaza City.

 

On 17 November 2008, 2 members of the Palestinian resistance were wounded when Israeli forces aircraft fired a missile at them in the west of Beit Lahia town in the northern Gaza Strip.

 

In addition, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion into the east of Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces also launched a series of mock air raids against the Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The Israeli 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 this week, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights 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.

 

In addition, 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: