PCHR Weekly Report: 4 civilians wounded, 25 abducted by Israeli forces this week
According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, during the week of 30 July- 05 August 2009, 3 international human rights defenders and a Palestinian journalist were injured when Israeli Forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in the West Bank. Israeli Forces conducted 31 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
Israeli settlers move in to Palestinian homes after eviction of Palestinian families (PCHR photo)
During these incursions, Israeli Forces abducted 25 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and an American human rights defender in the West Bank. Israeli troops positioned at military checkpoints in the West Bank abducted 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child.
Israeli Forces seized houses belonging to Palestinian civilians living in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and handed them over to Israeli settlers; 52 Palestinian civilians, including 25 children, have become homeless. Israeli Forces ordered the demolition of 5 houses in al-Bustan neighborhood.
Israeli attacks in East Jerusalem:
During the reporting period, Israel escalated arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians in East Jerusalem to force them to leave the city. On 02 August 2009, the Israeli police besieged the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and closed all roads leading to it. They stormed houses belonging to the al-Ghawi and Hannoun clans and violently beat their residents. They forced 52 civilians and at least 20 international human rights defenders out of the houses. Four civilians were injured. Following the evacuation of the families, Israeli forces allowed a number of Israeli settlers into the houses.
Also on 02 August 2009, a bulldozer of the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem razed an area of land, on which Fawzia al-Kurd had set up a tent; Israeli forces seized al-Kurd's house on 09 November 2008.
On the same day, Israeli forces used force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists in the area. They abducted 15 protestors. On the following day, Israeli forces dispersed a solidarity sit-in in the area and abducted at least 10 Palestinian civilians.
On Tuesday, 04 August 2009, Israeli forces abducted 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, who used to live in the confiscated houses. On 05 August 2009, Israeli forces moved into the al-Bsutan neighborhood in the south of the old town of Jerusalem. They stormed 5 houses belonging to the 'Ouda and 'Abbassi families, and issued demolition orders. Israeli forces plan to demolish the whole neighborhood, which includes 88 houses, to establish a park. During this raid, Israeli forces attacked residents of the area. As a result, 8 civilians sustained bruises.
Israeli forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the last week, Israeli forces conducted 31 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
In one example of the week's invasions, on Monday, 03 August 2009, at approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and abducted 7 Palestinian civilians and an American human rights defender.
In another example, on Wednesday, 05 August 2009, at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Seilat al-Zaher village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported. Also at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into 'Attara village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.
There are approximately permanent 630 roadblocks, and 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.
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).
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. In an example of the restrictions at one of the 630 checkpoints, Israeli troops positioned at an iron gate established on the Nablus-Tulkarm road have continued to conduct prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians, especially in the morning. Israeli troops positioned at Shavi Shomron checkpoint on the Nablus-Jenin road, and at Za'tara checkpoint, south of the city, have also continued to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday morning, 02 August 2009, Israeli troops positioned at the two checkpoints stopped Palestinian civilian vehicles on both sides and checked all passengers.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
Israeli forces have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The Israeli-imposed illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, 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. The main concern of 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
On Wednesday August 5th, in the evening, Israeli gunboats stationed opposite to Beit Lahia beach in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Palestinian fishers were forced to sail back to the beach. No casualties were reported.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israel has continued settlement activities in violation of international humanitarian law and Israeli settlers living in the West Bank have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 31 July 2009, a number of Israeli settlers gathered and camped on a tract of land in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, which overlooks Nablus-Qalqilya. On the same day, at least 30 Israeli settlers broke into areas of Palestinian land in al-Baq'a area. They set up a tent, fenced it and planted some trees. Palestinian civilians living in the area foiled this attempt to seize the land. On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land to the north of Hebron. They uprooted many trees and destroyed the fence of the land, which belongs to 26 Palestinian farmers, who have been denied access to their land.
On 01 August 2009, at least 10 Israeli settlers living in Beit Hadasa settlement in the center of Hebron attacked a Palestinian civilian using sticks and sharp tools. As a result, he sustained cuts and bruises all over his body. At approximately the same time, a number of Israeli settlers from "Abraham Avino" settlement in the center of the old town of Hebron mounted up to the roof of a nearby house belonging to Nidal Salem al-'Owaiwi. They damaged water tanks on the roof. On 02 August 2009, a number of Israeli settlers set fire to at least 10 donums of Palestinian agricultural land planted with grapes and olives, located to the east of the aforementioned settlement. At least 80 trees were burnt and equipment was damaged.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. 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 used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall.
Following the Friday Prayer on 31 July 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the center of Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. They moved towards the Wall and, following altercations, threw stones at Israeli troops positioned in the area. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also used an unkown substance with a disgusting smell against the demonstrators.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 31 July 2009, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a mass wedding party and a peaceful demonstration in al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned at the entrance of the village. Israeli troops fired sound bombs and violently beat the demonstrators. As a result, 3 international human rights defenders and a Palestinian journalist, Mohammed Abu Haniya, sustained bruises.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention 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.
The 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
