Weekly Report of Human Rights Violations

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 22 November 2006

Palestinians inspect a destroyed car after it was hit by an Israeli missile in the northern Gaza Strip, November 23, 2006. (MaanImages/Wesam Saleh)


Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)

November 16-22, 2006

19 Palestinians, including 5 children, 3 women and an old man, were killed by IOF.

4 of the victims, including a civilian bystander, were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

Two of the victims died from previous wounds.

92 Palestinians, including 41 children and one woman, were wounded by IOF.

IOF have continued to launch air strikes on houses and civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip; 12 houses, a mosque, a pharmacy shop, a kindergarten and 3 shops were destroyed, and 19 houses were severely damaged.

IOF conducted 30 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 6 into the Gaza Strip.

IOF arrested 59 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, in the West Bank, and two others in the Gaza Strip.

IOF destroyed 7 houses in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, and razed 3 donums of agricultural land in Khan Yunis.

IOF demolished a house completely in Qaqlilya, and demolished another one partially in Tulkarm.

IOF closed the Orphan Society in Bethlehem and raided a mosque in Deir Estia village near Nablus.

IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children, at checkpoints in the West Bank

Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the OPT; 5 Palestinian civilians were injured in Hebron as a result of attacks launched by Israeli settlers.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reported period (16 - 22 November 2006):

Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 17 Palestinians, including 5 children, two women and an old man. Two other Palestinians died from previous wounds in the Gaza Strip. In addition, IOF wounded 92 Palestinians, including 41 children.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 13 Palestinians, including 7 civilians. The victims include 3 children, two women and an old man. Two Palestinians also died from previous wounds.

On 18 November 2006, IOF moved into the northern Gaza Strip. IOF military vehicles and helicopter gunships opened fire, killing 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounding 5 Palestinians, including two children and two members of the Palestinian resistance. On 21 and 22 November 2006, IOF moved into various areas in the northern Gaza Strip. During this incursion, IOF killed 5 Palestinians, including a woman and a child, and wounded 34 others, including 15 children. On 21 November 2006, IOF killed a member of the Palestinian resistance and a woman during an incursion into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City. Also during the reported period, IOF committed two extra-judicial executions in Gaza City. The targeted persons survived the first attack, but a civilian bystander was killed and 9 others were wounded. In the second attack, two targeted persons were killed and 5 civilian bystanders from one same family, including two children, were wounded. In addition, a woman and a member of the Palestinian resistance died on 18 November 2006 from previous wound. In addition to the aforementioned wounds, a child was wounded in Rafah on 17 November 2006, when IOF bombarded a house, and a fisherman was wounded when IOF gunboats opened fire at a number of Palestinian fishermen also in Rafah.

IOF also launched 9 air strike on a number of houses, a workshop, a site of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and a mosque in the Gaza Strip. As a result, 12 houses were completely destroyed and 19 others were severely damaged. In addition, the third floor of the mosque, workshop, the site of the Executive Force, 3 shops and a kindergarten were destroyed. IOF often warn residents of houses of their intention to attack them a very short time prior to the attack.
In the West Bank, IOF killed 4 Palestinians, including two children, and wounded 36 others.

On 16 November 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. On 17 November 2006, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child and wounded 29 civilians, including 16 children, in Qalqilya, when Palestinian civilian organized a demonstration against IOF that destroyed a house in the town. On 20 November 2006, IOF soldiers shot dead a Palestinian child near a checkpoint in Jericho. On 22 November 2006, an IOF undercover unit extra-judicially executed a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad) and wounded a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) in Jenin refugee camp.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF conducted at least 30 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they raided houses and arrested 59 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children. IOF also raided a mosque in Deir Estia village near Nablus, closed the office of the Orphan Society in Bethlehem, demolished a house completely in Qalqilya, and demolished another one partially in Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF moved into several areas in the northern Gaza Strip. They killed a number of Palestinians and destroyed a number of civilian facilities. IOF also moved into ‘Abasan and al-Fukhari villages near Khan Yunis. They razed 3 donums of Palestinian agricultural land. During the reported period, IOF redeployed from al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, after having destroyed 7 houses and having arrested two Palestinian civilians. IOF also moved into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. They killed two Palestinians, including woman, arrested a third one, and razed 20 donums of agricultural land.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

IOF have imposed a strict siege on the Gaza Strip. They have closed its border crossings as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point since 25 June 2006, even though they do not directly control it. Since 15 June 2006, the crossing point has been opened for 20 separate days. On 15 November 2006, the Palestinian - Israeli agreement on border crossing, which was concluded under US and European supervision, expired. Under this agreement, IOF have maintained indirect control over of the crossing point. The European observation team working at the crossing point extended their mission for additional 6 months. IOF have imposed severe restrictions at commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. During the reported period, IOF continued to close Sofa and Kerem Shalom crossings near Rafah. IOF have also continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, only few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. In addition, IOF have continued to prevent Palestinian fishermen from fishing for 5 months.

West Bank

IOF have tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF have continued to separate between the north and south of the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian civilians.

Illegal Settler Activities: Israeli settlers in breach of international humanitarian law continue to reside in the OPT and have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. During the reported period, Israeli settlers living in settlement posts in the center of Hebron attacked Palestinian civilians and their houses. As a result, 5 civilians were injured and a number of houses were damaged. IOF witnessed these attacks, but did not intervene to stop them.

The outcome of crimes committed by IOF since 25 June 2006:

  • 453 Palestinians, 287 of whom are civilians, including 87 children and 28 women, have been killed by IOF.
  • At least 1548 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 311 children, 10 women, 4 paramedics and 7 journalist, have been wounded by the IOF gunfire.
  • At least 326 air-to-surface missiles and hundreds of artillery shells have been fired at Palestinian civilian and military targets in the Gaza Strip.
  • Buildings of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National economy, the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister and a number of educational institutions have been destroyed.
  • The electricity generation plant, providing 45% of the electricity of the Gaza Strip, was destroyed, and electricity networks and transmitters have been repeatedly attacked.
  • 6 bridges linking Gaza City with the central Gaza Strip and a number of roads have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of donums of agricultural land and dozens of houses have been destroyed.
  • Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including 10 ministers and 31 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Secretary, have been arrested. Minster of Prisoners’ Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Labor and Second Deputy Speaker of the PLC were released.
  • The Palestinian governmental compound in Nablus has been destroyed.
  • Many families in Rafah, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia have been forced to leave their houses.
  • IOF intelligence has warned some Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip by phone to evacuate their houses, which would be attacked.
  • 73 houses belonging to activists of Palestinian factions have been destroyed by IOF warplanes.
  • IOF have imposed a strict siege on the OPT, and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

    Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (16 - 22 November 2006)

    1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

    Thursday, 16 November 2006

  • At approximately 00:30, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 400-square-meter house belonging to ‘Essam Hamdan Madi, in which 37 people (6 families) live, in al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. The house and two neighboring houses, where 29 people live, were destroyed, and 6 others were severely damaged. According to Madi, his brother received a call on his mobile phone at approximately 12:05 from a person who introduced himself as an Israeli intelligence officer informing that the house would be bombarded soon.
  • At approximately 00:45, IOF moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and transformed them into military sites. An IOF shot dead Mohammed Salama Hamdan, 25, when he looked through his window to check what was going on.

    In his testimony to PCHR, the victim’s father stated:

    “At approximately 00:45 on Thursday, 16 November 2006, we woke up hearing sounds of shooting in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus. IOF soldiers were knocking doors of houses. They transformed a number of houses into observation points to pursue Palestinian resistance activists. We were waiting our turn as IOF used to raid our house every other day, claiming that my son, 28-year-old Jad, is wanted. At approximately 01:00, we heard IOF knocking doors of our neighbors. My son, 25-year-old Mohammed, and his mother looked through a window on the third floor of my house to check what was going on. Immediately, and IOF soldier fired one live bullet at them, and we did not know in which house IOF soldiers were positioned. The bullet hit my son Mohammed to the chest and killed him. His mother and eye hugged him crying, but we did not scream. We did not tell anyone that Mohammed was killed until IOF withdrew from the camp at 06:00. We were worried that if his brother Jad learnt the news, he might come to the house and would be then captured by IOF.”

  • At approximately 00:50, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 180-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to ‘Abdullah Mahmoud ‘Abed Rabbu, in which 30 people (4 families) live, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. The house was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged. According to ‘Abed Rabbu, his brother received a call on his mobile phone, at approximately 12:05 from a person who introduced himself as an Israeli intelligence officer informing that the house would be bombarded in 15 minutes.
  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched dozens of houses and arrested Nidal Ahmed Abu ‘Ali, 20.
  • Also at approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided Nassif apartment building in the south of the town. IOF soldiers violently bear ‘Adnan Ahmed Shourbaji, 50, and his son Ahmed, 20, claiming that they were late in opening the door of their flat for them.
  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Maher ‘Abdul Ghani Saba’na, 31;
    2. Yasser Arafat Zakarna, 22;
    3. Nasser Hosni ‘Alawna, 22;
    4. Tamer Saba’na, 45; and
    5. ‘Awad Abu Zalat, 26.

  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They patrolled in the streets and raided and searched a number of houses. No arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 12:00, IOF pulled out of al-Shouka village, east of Rafah, following a 3-day incursion. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that IOF had destroyed 7 houses belonging to the Abu Mo’ammar clan, in which 54 people (7 families) lived. They had also destroyed a number of roads and water supplies. According to residents of the area, IOF released 16 Palestinians civilians whom they had arrested at the beginning of the incursion, but kept two others in custody: ‘Abdul Hamid Fares Mo’ammar, 31; and Yasser ‘Ata Abu Mour, 28.
  • At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They besieged a two-storey house belonging to the heirs of Saleh Zeitawi in the north of the town. They ordered Mohammed Saleh Zeitawi, 24, through megaphones to surrender. They opened fire at the house. They also raided and searched a number of neighboring houses and transformed them into military sites. IOF continued to fire at the house until 18:00, when an IOF bulldozer started to demolish the first floor of the house. At approximately 19:00, Zeitawi surrendered to IOF. Zeitawi is the deputy leader of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (a military wing of Fatah movement) in Tulkarm.
  • At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, southwest of Nablus. They raided the mosque of the village. They checked the prayers claiming that they were searching for young men who threw stones at them. They withdrew from the village later and no arrests were reported.
  • At approximately 23:05, an IOF helicopter gunship fired a missile at a 60-square-meter house belonging to Ibrahim Mohammed Dahman, a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, in Block 7 in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The house was largely destroyed and two neighboring houses belonging to Dahman’s father and the Abu Qamar family were damaged. According to Dahman, he recived a call on his mobile phone 15 minutes prior to the attack from a person who introduced himself as an Israeli intelligence officer informing that the house would be bombarded soon.

    Friday, 17 November 2006

  • At approximately 00:00, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 220-square-meter house belonging to Sami Salim Saleh, in which 9 people (two families) live, in al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah. The house and 3 neighboring houses, in which 28 people live, were destroyed and 6 other ones, in which 68 people live, a pharmacy shop and 3 stores were severely damaged. In addition, 15-year-old Mahmoud ‘Aatef al-Satari was wounded by shrapnel to the head. According to Saleh’s father, his sister received a call on her mobile phone at approximately half an hour prior to this attack from a person who introduced himself as an Israeli intelligence officer informing that the house would be bombarded in 20 minutes. This house was the second to be bombarded by IOF in the same area, which is densely populated, in 24 hours. The two houses belong to members of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior.
  • At approximately 01:00, 4 IOF tanks, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved nearly 500 meters into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of Palestinian land, which they had already razed during the Intifada. IOF withdrew from the area nearly 3 hours later.
  • At approximately 01:40, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb at a 250-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Ziad Mohammed Abu ‘Ajeena, 45, in which 13 people live, in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. The house, a kindergarten belonging to ‘Abu ‘Ajeena and a house belonging to Abu ‘Ajeena’s mother were destroyed. In addition, two neighboring houses were severely damaged.
  • At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child:

    1. Eyad Shukri Khalifa, 19;
    2. Bashir Makhlouf, 18; and
    3. Nour Ahmed al-Shahrouri, 16.

  • Also at approximately 01:45, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 500-square-meter workshop belonging to ‘Abdul Rahman Khalil Mansour in the center of Khan Yunis. The workshop was destroyed.
  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Kufor Dan village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Mustafa Mar’ei, 25.
  • Also at approximately 02:15, IOF moved into al-Kurkoffa neighborhood in Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Firas ‘Abdul Halim Salhab, 23, and arrested him.
  • At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They besieged a 130-square-meter, two-storey house belonging to Riad Ramadan al-Houtari and his brothers. They forced residents of the house out and held them in a neighboring house. In the meantime, dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF soldiers opened fire at them, killing 17-year-old Tariq Ziad Taha with two live bullets to the abdomen. In addition, 29 civilians were wounded. A few hours later, IOF demolished the aforementioned house and a number of greenhouses and uprooted dozens of citrus trees. According to the al-Houtari family, no member of the family was wanted by IOF and that IOF soldiers interrogated them about an alleged wanted person claiming that he was hiding in the house, but this claim was untrue.
  • At approximately 23:20, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 4-storey house belonging to ‘Alaa’ al-Din Mohammed ‘Oqailan, in which 23 people (3 families) live, in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The second floor of the house was destroyed and other floors were severely damaged. According to ‘Oqailan, he received a call on his mobile phone from a person who introduced himself as an Israeli intelligence officer, informing him that the house would be bombarded in 15 minutes.

    Saturday, 18 November 2006
  • At approximately 00:05, an IOF fighter jet dropped a bomb on a 400-square-meter, two-storey post of the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The post was destroyed and a number of neighboring houses were damaged.
  • At approximately 01:05, an IOF helicopter gunship fired a missile at al-Islah Mosque in the densely populated al-Mansoura area in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. The missile hit the second and the third floor of the mosque and severely damaged them.
  • At approximately 02:00, an IOF infantry unit moved at least 1500 meters into Fad’ous area in the north of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. At least 20 IOF soldiers raided a house belonging to Khader Ramadan Salman, 40. They held him, his parents, his wife and his 9 children in one room and transformed the house into a military site. At approximately 08:15, IOF soldiers positioned in the house opened fire at Sa’id Salem Hajjouj, 21, a body guard of Saleh Zaidan, a member of the political bureau of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. He was seriously wounded by several live bullets throughout the body. IOF prevented medical crews from attending him until their access was finally coordinated. Hajjouj was evacuated to the hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed. At approximately 10:00, a number of members of the Palestinian resistance and some civilians gathered near Salman’s house. An exchange of fire erupted between resistance activists and a number of IOF tanks that had moved into the area to support the infantry unit. As a result, two resistance activists were seriously wounded:

    1. ‘Abdullah ‘Ata al-Keilani, 19, from Beit Lahia, hit by several live bullets to the abdomen and the right thigh; and
    2. Mohammed Fahmi al-Masri, 38, from Beit Lahia, hit by a live bullet to the abdomen.

    At approximately 13:00, IOF military vehicles moved forwards until they reached the edges of the Bedouin Village. They opened fire indiscriminately. As a result, Tha’er Hasan al-Masri, 17, was seriously wounded by two live bullets to the neck and the chest, when he was near his house. He was evacuated to the hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed. In addition, 3 other civilians, including two civilians, were wounded:

    1. Mohammed al-Sayed Abu Jalhoum, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded by a live bullet to neck and died from his wound on the following day;
    2. Khaled Hussein Abu Namous, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the chest; and
    3. Maher Abu Sultan, 18, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

    At approximately 15:00, IOF helicopter gunships opened fire at several areas in Beit Lahia. A schoolchild, 6-year-old Ahmed ‘Essam ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Hannoun, was wounded by shrapnel to the forehead, when he was in the classroom. Another child, 12-year-old Rawan Khaled al-Mabhouh, was also wounded by shrapnel to left foot, when he was going to the same school to take her littler brother back home. On Sunday morning, 19 November 2006, IOF pulled out of Beit Lahia.

  • Also at approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Hassan village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. ‘Alaa’ Mahmoud ‘Aassi, 20; and
    2. ‘Aamer Taqfiq Mar’ei, 19.

  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Mohammed Sa’id Hamed, 25.
  • Also at approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Deir Estia village, southwest of Nablus. They besieged a house belonging to Jamal Fares al-Fares, the mayor of the village. They ordered him through megaphones to get out. They ordered him to inform residents of the village that IOF would demolish houses, uproot olive trees and kill their children, if residents of the village continued to throw stones at IOF military vehicles. IOF also conveyed the same threat to Khaled Abu Nasser, the director of the secondary school in the village.
  • At approximately 22:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Najwa ‘Awad Ekhayef, 25, died from a wound she had sustained on Monday, 6 November 2006. According tp PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 06:45 on Monday, 6 November 2006, IOF positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Lahia town, fired a surface-to-surface missile at Jabalya Youth Club near Jabalya - Beit Lahia intersection. The missile fell nearly 15 meters away from a kindergarten bus that was at the intersection. A kindergarten supervisor, 20-year-old Najwa ‘Awad Ekhlaif, was seriously wounded. A schoolchild, 16-year-old Ramzi Mowaffaq al-Shrafi, who was on his way to school, was killed by shrapnel. In addition, 16 schoolchildren were wounded, the wound of one of them was described as serious.
  • In the evening, Palestinian medical sources declared that Shadi Jameel al-Shareef, 25, died from a wound he had wounded during the Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun earlier in November. According to PCHR’s documentation, at approximately 21:25 on Thursday, 2 November 2006, an IOF drone fired a missile at a group of resistance activists in the center of Beit Hanoun, killing one of them, Hasan Saleh Ahmad Salah, 22, and wounding al-Shareef, who was transferred to an Egyptian hospital because he was in a serious condition.

    Sunday, 19 November 2006

  • At approximately 09:30, an IOF undercover unit infiltrated into Yatta village, south of Hebron, traveling in two civilian vehicles with Palestinian registration plates. IOF soldiers immediately raided a shop of electrical appliances belonging to Ahmed Mousa al-Najjar, 22, in the center of the village. Soon, 6 IOF military vehicles moved into the village to support the undercover unit. IOF soldiers searched the shop and violently beat and arrested al-Najjar, claiming that he is a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement).

    Monday, 20 November 2006

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ahmed ‘Ali al-Zohour, 24; and
    2. Ahmed ‘Aaref al-‘Asafra, 24.

  • At approximately 01:15, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Salah Ahmed al-Saqqa, 18;
    2. ‘Omar ‘Abdul Wahab Miskawi, 37;
    3. Jasser Hussein Abu Hamada, 40;
    4. Fu’ad Ahmed Abu Rajab, 32;
    5. Ramez ‘Abdul Halim al-Shaf’ei, 30;
    6. Kamel Ahmed Abu Hamada, 40;
    7. Bilal Abu Zaytoun, 39, released later;
    8. Sa’id Hussein al-Bourini, 43, released later;
    9. Salah Abu Warda, 35, released later; and
    10. Amjad Nemer ‘Awad, 34, released later.

  • At approximately 13:20, an IOF undercover unit moved into Bethlehem, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The vehicle stopped in Wad Shaheen neighborhood. IOF soldiers besieged a 3-storey house belonging to Mahmoud ‘Abdullah Nawawra. Soon, IOF military vehicles moved into the town. They further besieged the house and transformed a number of neighboring houses into military sites. Soon after, IOF opened fire at the house and ordered its residents through megaphones to get out in 5 minutes and they did. As IOF soldiers continued to fire at the house while the residents were getting out of it, Mohammed Mahmoud Nawawra, 30, was wounded by shrapnel to the limbs. IOF soldiers held and interrogated residents of the house and neighboring house in an old house in the area. In the meantime, IOF soldiers continued to fire at the house. They called through megaphones on Ashraf Mahmoud Nawawra, 34, an activist of the Islamic Jihad, to surrender. At approximately 16:30, IOF fired dozens of gas canisters and sound bombs at the house and threatened to destroy it. They then arrested Ashraf Nawawra.
  • At approximately 16:00, IOF moved nearly 500 meters into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled area of land they had already razed, and destroyed 3 greenhouses belonging to Nabeel Mousa Abu ‘Ouda.

    Tuesday, 21 November 2006

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. They besieged a house belonging Ayman Daifallah Hasanain, 22, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), and demanded him to surrender. A number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF. In the meantime, IOF shelled the house and demanded Hasanain to surrender, but he refused. He attempted to escape, but IOF soldiers shot him dead with a live bullet to the head. IOF soldiers then raided the house and arrested the victim’s brother, 18-year-old Ibrahim. At approximately 07:00, IOF started to redeploy from the area, but continued to fire indiscriminately. After IOF had completed their redeployment from the area, residents of the area found Sa’diya Hasan Herez, 70, in her house. According to medical sources, she was hit by two live bullets to the neck apparently at the beginning of the incursion. During their incursion into the area, IOF damaged at least 20 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus.
  • At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched the office of the Orphan Care Society in the center of the town. They then ordered the closure of the office.
  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-‘Obaidiya village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Majdi Ahmed Hasasna, 20;
    2. Mohammed Ahmed Hasasna, 23;
    3. Malek Mohammed Hasasna, 20;
    4. Khaled Yousef Hasasna, 22, and
    5. Mohammed ‘Adnan Hasasna, 25.

  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Jihad Zakrana, 24.
  • At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Jala town. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ameen Saleh Jawarish, 50, and arrested him and his son, 21-year-old ‘Azzam.
  • Also at 02:30, IOF moved into Abu Dis town, east of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian children:

    Islam Ahmed ‘Ali, 14; Hani Taleb Jaffal, 16; Mohammed ‘Ali Mohsen, 16; and Mo’tassem Jamal Dandan, 14.

  • At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into several areas into several areas in the northern Gaza Strip. They closed the southern entrance of Beit Hanoun. At least 20 IOF military vehicles moved towards ‘Izbat ‘Abed Rabbu area and took position on al-Kashef Hill to the east of Jabalya refugee camp. In addition, at least 15 IOF military vehicles continued their incursion into the north of Beit Lahia town and the Bedouin Village. IOF helicopters and drones provided aerial cover for IOF military vehicles that moved into these areas. During these incursions, IOF military vehicles opened fire indiscriminately. Later, IOF military vehicles that controlled the southern entrance of Beit Hanoun moved west towards Qulaibu Hill to the east of Sheikh Zayed housing project in Beit Lahia. They opened fire indiscriminately. In the area surrounding al-Kashef Hill, a number of members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with IOF. As a result of the exchange of fire, a member of the resistance, 21-year-old Ahmed Hassan al-Mawasa, from Jabalya refugee camp, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head. He was evacuated to the hospital, but medical efforts to save his life failed. At approximately 09:00, IOF positioned in al-Kashef Hill fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Sikka Street in the east of Jabalya town, nearly 500 meters away. As a result, 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded:

    1. ‘Abdullah ‘Elwan, 16, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel to the mouth;
    2. Ramadan Wa’el al-Bahtini, 15, wounded by shrapnel to the right thigh;
    3. Ahmed Nafez Abu Zaher, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the neck and the right thigh; and
    4. Sharaf Salama Wadi, 20, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the head.

    An hour later, IOF opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians in She’sha’a area in the east of Jabalya refugee camp. Suhaib Sami ‘Asaliya, 19, was wounded by a live bullet to the left foot, when he was near his house.

    At approximately 12:45, ‘Abdul Nasser ‘Emad al-Din Ba’lousha, 14, was wounded by a live bullet to the right shoulder, when IOF fired at al-Sikka Street in the east of Jabalya refugee camp.

    IOF positioned in various areas in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at Palestinian civilians from 14:00 to 16:00, wounding 11 civilians, including 5 children:

    1. Ra’ed Mousa ‘Eid, 24, from Jabalya town, wounded by shrapnel to the ear;
    2. ‘Alaa’ Majed ‘Atallah, 22, from Jabalya town, wounded by shrapnel to the right shoulder;
    3. Nader Kamal Ahmed, 18, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the head;
    4. Shadi Khalil Shaqqura, 12, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the ear;
    5. Shareef Jalal al-Bakri, 18, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the right leg and the left foot;
    6. Ibrahim Khalil al-Shawa, 17, from Sheikh Zayed, wounded by a live bullet to the left arm;
    7. Adham Mohammed Abu Jasser, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet to the left arm;
    8. Yasmine Ahmed Abu Rawaa;, 11, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded by shrapnel when she was at school;
    9. Hassan Mohammed Zaqqout, 28, from Jabalya town, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head;
    10. Hassan Mohammed Hussein, 16, from Jabalya town, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand; and
    11. Hussam ‘Abdul Qader Tbail, 19, from Jabalya town, wounded by shrapnel to the back and the left thigh.

  • At approximately 14:30, IOF moved into Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Shadi Jouda, 32, and arrested him.

    Wednesday, 22 November 2006

  • At approximately 01:00, IOF gunboats positioned opposite to Rafah seashore in the southern Gaza Strip fired at a number of Palestinian fishermen. One of the fishermen, 36-year-old Nabeel Khalil Baroud, was wounded by a live bullet to the right thigh.
  • At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata village and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children:

    1. Bilal Fahmi Dwaikat, 16;
    2. ‘Emad Nasrallah al-Noubai, 17;
    3. Ramzi Rayiq al-Dawaya, 20;
    4. ‘Essam ‘Abdul Raziq al-Lafdawi, 20; and
    5. Nader Nasser, 24.

  • At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian students:

    1. Bassel Khalil al-Far, 20;
    2. Mahdi Najeh al-Sharqawi, 20;
    3. Muneer Yousef al-Sharqai, 20; and
    4. Diaa’ Nafe’ al-Sharqawi, 18.

  • At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin town and refugee camp. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Murad Ameen ‘Ammouri, 22;
    2. Firas Tayseer Mer’eb, 18; and
    3. Ashraf ‘Abdul Karim Abu ‘Obaid, 20.

    At approximately 06:00, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF military vehicles that were patrolling in the streets. Immediately, IOF soldiers fired at the children, wounding two of them:

    1. Bahaa’ al-Din ‘Ammouri, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right foot; and
    2. Ayman al-Halouh, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen.

  • At approximately 02:15, IOF moved into al-Bireh town. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

    1. ‘Abdullah al-Bakri, 34; and
    2. Ayman Qar’an, 28.

  • At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Sa’ed ‘Ali Abu Zughaib, 19, and arrested him.
  • IOF continued their incursion into several areas in the northern Gaza Strip. They moved towards Beit Hanoun town and ‘Izbat ‘Abed Rabbu area in the east of Jabalya town. They raided a house belonging to Jameela al-Shanti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. They held the family in one room and surrounded the house with sand barrier. They then a number of houses in the north and east of Beit Hanoun and transformed them into military sites.

    At approximately 06:50, an IOF drone fired a missile at a member of the Palestinian resistance, 25-year-old Mos’ad Ahmed Abu Mo’aiteq, to the east of Sheikh Zayed housing project. He was instantly killed, and a child, 16-year-old Waleed Mahmoud Abu al-Qumsan, was wounded by shrapnel to the head.

    At approximately 09:50, IOF positioned near the Agricultural School in Beit Hanoun opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were walking neat the school and near an UNRWA clinic. In the meantime, school children were being evacuated from schools to avoid any threat to their lives. As a result of the IOF gunfire, 3 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded:

    1. Mohsen Jamal al-Masri, 18, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen;
    2. Islam ‘Aamer al-Kafarna, 16, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand; and
    3. Inas Mousa Abu ‘Ouda, 16, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand.

    At approximately 13:00, IOF opened fire at houses in al-Sikka Street in the northwest of Beit Hanoun. A Palestinian woman, 24-year-old Layali Sabri Hamad, was wounded by a live bullet to the right shoulder, when she was inside her house.

    At approximately 13:30, IOF positioned at Qulaibu Hill opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding two of them:

    1. Saleh Mohammed al-Sawalha, 24, from Tal al-Za’tar area, wounded by two live bullets to the left hand and the right foot; and
    2. Tamer Mohammed al-Sayed, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the abdomen.

    At approximately 14:00, IOF opened fire at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance and civilians in al-Sikka Street to the east of Jabalya refugee camp. A member of the resistance, 22-year-old Sami Anwar al-Zebda, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by a live bullet to the head. In addition, a child, 13-year-old Naji ‘Azzam Abu Jalhoum, from Jabalya refugee camp, was wounded by a live bullet to the right hand.

    At approximately 15:30, IOF positioned at the southern entrance of Beit Hanoun opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and members of the Palestinian resistance. A member of the resistance, 24-year-old Marwan Mohammed al-Basiouni, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the back.

    At approximately 16:05, IOF positioned on Qulaibu Hill opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians to the northeast of Sheikh Zayed housing project to the east of Beit Lahia. Two civilians were wounded:

    1. Nour al-Din Hasan Abu Habel, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded by a live bullet to the back; and
    2. Mekhled Hijazi Abu Jarad, 19, from Beit Lahia, wounded by a live bullet to the right foot.

    At approximately 17:00, IOF positioned on al-Kashef Hill, east of Jabalya, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding Tahseen Mohammed al-‘Otal, 22, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously with a live bullet to the back.

    Also at approximately 17:00, IOF positioned on Qulaibu Hill, east of Beit Lahia, fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian civilians to the northeast of Sheikh Zayed housing project. Four civilians, including two children, were wounded:

    1. Mohammed ‘Abed Rabbu al-Yazji, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the face and the right eye;
    2. Mahmoud Na’im Lubbad, 15, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the face and the body;
    3. Mohammed Nafez al-Hindi, 23, from Beit Lahia, wounded by shrapnel to the right foot; and
    4. Ramez ‘Ata Hamdouna, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel to the back and the upper limbs.

    At approximately 17:10, IOF positioned on al-Kashef Hill opened fire at a civilian vehicle that was traveling on the main road to the south of Sheikh Zayed housing project. A child who was traveling in the car, 17-year-old Adham Khaled al-Sahabani, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head. He was evacuated to the hospital, but he died from his wound.

    At approximately 18:00, IOF fired a surface-to-surface missile at the northern Gaza Strip. The missile fell near an apartment building northeast of Sheikh Zayed housing project in Beit Lahia. Ibtissam Hassan Abu Marasa, 53, was seriously wounded by shrapnel to the head, when she was inside her flat. She was evacuated to the hospital, but she died from her wound half an hour later.

    2. Extra-Judicial Executions

    During the reported period, IOF committed two extra-judicial executions in Gaza City and one in the West Bank. The targeted persons survived the first attack, but a civilian bystander was killed and 9 others were wounded. In the second attack, two targeted persons were killed and 5 civilian bystanders from one same family, including two children, were wounded. The third attack was launched by an IOF undercover unit, which killed one Palestinian and wounded another one.
    According to investigations conducted by PCHR:

  • At approximately 14:30 on Sunday, 19 November 2006, an IOF drone fired a missile at a civilian car (a white Toyota), which stopped near Salah al-Din Mosque in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. A number of members of the ‘Izzidding al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas), who were in the car, were able to get out of it just before the missile hit the car. However, a civilian bytansder, 75-year-old Rabah ‘Othman Hajji, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, and 9 others, including 3 children, were wounded.
  • At approximately 21:00 on Monday, 20 November 2006, an IOF drone fired a missile at a civilian car (a white Mitsubishi) that stopped in front of a house belonging to the family of Bassel Sha’ban ‘Obaid, 22, a member of the ‘Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades, in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of Gaza City. ‘Obaid and one of his colleagues, 26-year-old ‘Abdul Qader Ahmed Habeeb, were inside the car. The missile hit the car and killed the two activists. In addition, 5 members of the Amen family, including two children, were wounded:

    1. Hanan Molhammed Amen, 3 month, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
    2. Mohammed Farouq Amen, 28, wounded by shrapnel to the head;
    3. Samaher Mohammed Amen, 25, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
    4. Mo’men Hamdi Amen, 2, wounded by shrapnel to the head; and
    5. Ahmed Farouq Amen, 26, wounded by shrapnel to the neck and the back.

  • At approximately 18:10 on Wednesday, 22 November 2006, an IOF undercover unit moved into Jenin refugee camp, traveling in a civilian vehicle with a Palestinian registration plate. The car stopped in al-Dumaj quarter in the southeast of the camp, and IOF soldiers opened fire at Fadi Mahmouid Sa’id ‘Amour, 21, and Ashraf Mohammed Nafe’ al-Sa’di, 27, who were walking in the street. ‘Amour was instantly killed and al-Sa’di was seriously wounded by several live bullets. Soon, IOF military vehicles moved into the camp to secure the withdrawal of the undercover unit. ‘Amour is a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement), and al-Sa’di is a member of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad.

    3. Continued Siege on the OPT

    IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Occupied East Jerusalem.

    Gaza Strip

    Following an attack launched by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 near the Israeli-Egyptian border, southeast of Rafah, which left two IOF soldiers and two of the attackers dead and a third IOF soldier missing, IOF have closed all border crossings of the Gaza Strip:

  • Rafah International Crossing Point: Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. IOF have closed Rafah International Crossing Point, even though they do not directly control it. They have prevented European observers working at the crossing point form reaching it. The crossing point, which has been closed since 25 June 2006, has been opened for only 18 separate days. During the reported period, the crossing point remained closed.

    On 15 November 2006, the Palestinian - Israeli agreement on border crossing, which was concluded under US and European supervision, expired. Under this agreement, IOF have maintained indirect control over of the crossing point. The European observation team working at the crossing point extended their task for additional 6 months. On 15 November 2005, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel reached an agreement over the border crossings of the Gaza Strip. Under the agreement, on 25 November 2005, the Rafah International Crossing Point, on the Egyptian border in the south of the Gaza Strip, was opened for civilian travel to Egypt and the rest of the world. The Palestinians and European Union (EU) observers would run the Palestinian side of the crossing point. In addition, the EU observers would transmit live images to a joint control room several kilometers away. The EU observers repeated withdrew from the crossing following receiving warnings from IOF that there were threats to them. However, all warnings proved to be void, and the observers resumed their work.

  • Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing: IOF have completely closed Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, which links the Gaza Strip with Israel and the West Bank. Before this latest closure, IOF had prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip had been prevented from traveling through this crossing. IOF have allowed international workers to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. Palestinian female patients aged under 40 from passing through the crossing, even though most of these patients are in serious conditions and suffer from serious diseases.
  • Al-Mentar (Karni) Commercial Crossing: IOF have closed the crossing, which is the main commercial crossing for the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, the economic situation inside the Gaza Strip has further deteriorated and many goods have been lacked in markets. During the reported period, IOF partially reopened the crossing. They allowed the importation of foodstuffs and medicines into the Gaza Strip, and the exportation of some goods from the Gaza Strip to Israel and the West Bank. The number of trucks allowed into the Gaza Strip daily is 170, whereas only 30 trucks loaded with exported goods from the Gaza Strip are allowed to pass through the crossing. On 20 November 2006, IOF closed the crossing under security pretexts. IOF have also continued to close Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah.

    The closure of border crossings deprives the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip of their right to freedom of movement, education and health.

    IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Following the attack on IOF on 25 June 2006, IOF prevented fishing. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2,500 fishermen, 2,500 support staff and their families. Fishermen have been subjected to intensive monitoring by IOF, which use helicopter gunships and gunboats to monitor the fishermen.

    The West Bank

    IOF have imposed a tightened siege on the West Bank. They have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

  • Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 16 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They conducted prolonged checking on Palestinian civilians. On Saturday morning, 18 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They held dozens of young men for long hours. On Sunday morning, 19 November 2006, IOF closed Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, for at least 3 hours.
  • Tulkarm: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to prevent Palestinians aged under 35 from crossing checkpoints around the town. On Thursday, 16 November 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Deir al-Ghosoun intersection on Tulkarm - al-Sha’rawiya road and closed the road. As a result, Palestinian civilians living in villages located to the north of Tulkarm were not able to travel to the town and other areas in the West Bank. IOF soldiers also pursued and fired at dozens of Palestinian civilians who resorted to alternative dirt roads. As a result, one civilian was wounded. Also on Thursday, IOF soldiers positioned at Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, and at Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of the town, prevented Palestinian civilians living in villages located near the town from passing through the two checkpoints. On Saturday morning, 18 November 2006, IOF closed Wad al-Teen checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They also pursued dozens of young men who resorted to alternative dirt roads and held them for several hours. On Monday, 20 November 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Sawana intersection in the south of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians vehicles and held a number of young men. IOF also erected a checkpoint at the western entrance of Shwaika suburb, north of Tulkarm. They imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 21 November 2006, IOF closed Ennab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm until 12:00. When the checkpoint was reopened, IOF imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

    At approximately 17:00 on Friday, 17 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint erected on the road linking between Bala’a village, east of Tulkram, and Seilat al-Zaher village, southeast of Jenin, fired at a number of Palestinian civilians to drive them away from the road. As a result, Eyad Mahmoud Abu Diab, 30, from Tulkarm refugee camp, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet to the chest.

  • Jenin: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Jenin. On Saturday morning, 18 November 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint to the north of Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, and another one at the entrance of the neighboring ‘Aqqaba village. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles.
  • Ramallah: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians at various checkpoints around the town, especially Attara checkpoint, north of the town. During the reported period, IOF positioned at ‘Attara checkpoint conducted prolonged checking for Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday morning, 21 November 2006, IOF erected a checkpoint at Deir Ebzee’ intersection, west of Ramallah. They stopped and searched dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles.
  • Hebron: IOF have continued to imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians inside and outside Hebron. During the reported period, IOF erected a number of checkpoints inside the town and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians, allegedly to secure the movement of Israeli settlers. On Thursday noon, 16 November 2006, IOF closed the Ibrahimi Mosque for 24 hours, allegedly to allow Israeli settlers to celebrate Lady Sarah Feast. They also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and closed a number of roads. They also erected additional checkpoints on the roads leading to the town and inside the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles and held many civilians.

    On Saturday morning, 18 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at a checkpoint erected at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron, arrested Said al-Din al-Hroush, 22, from Yatta village south of the town.

    On Monday morning, 20 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at the entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, held a bus that was transporting at least 50 schoolchildren towards their school in the neighboring Beit Ummar village. They took the children and the bus driver to Kfar Etzion military post, south of Bethlehem, and interrogated them for an hours. IOF arrested one of the children, 16-year-old Diaa’ Akram al-‘Ouda, and released the other children and the bus driver.

    On Monday noon, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at al-Hawouz intersection in the west of Hebron arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

    1. Ziad Yousef al-Rajabi, 46;
    2. Haroun Ziad al-Rajabi, 16; and
    3. Samer Mohammed al-Rajabi, 29.

  • Jericho: At approximately 19:30 on Monday, 20 November 2006, IOF soldiers positioned at al-Dyouk checkpoint, northwest of Jericho, shot dead Rakan Kayed ‘Abed Nusairat, 16, from Jericho. The child was on his way back home, when IOF soldiers fired at him from a distance of approximately 50 meters. IOF claimed that the child got close to the checkpoint holding a pistol. Later, it was clarified that the child was holding a toy. IOF held the child’s body for an hour. His body them was evacuated to Jericho Hospital.

    4. Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians and Property

    Israeli settlers (living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law) have continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and property:

  • On Saturday morning, 18 November 2006, hundreds of Israeli settlers coming from settlements located in the south of center of the West Bank went to the center of the Hebron to celebrate Lady Sarah Feast. They organized parades in various area of the town under full protection of IOF. A number of settlers attacked Palestinian houses and school children in Tal Rumaida neighborhood and al-Shuhada Street, using stones and empty bottles. As a result, 3 children and two women were injured:

    1. Younis Hashem al-‘Azza, 3, injured in the forehead;
    2. Sundos Hisham al-‘Azza, 12, injured in the body;
    3. Jannat Hisham al-‘Azza, 14, sustained bruises throughout the body;
    4. Nisreen Hashem al-‘Azza, 33, injured in the face; and
    5. Fatema Mohammed al-‘Azza, 28, sustained bruises to the head and the back.

  • At approximately 06:30 on Wednesday, 12 November 2006, IOF, accompanied by two bulldozers, moved into al-Fundoq village, east of Qalqilya. They demolished a 90-square-meter, under-construction building belonging to Hamdan Mohammed Rabe’. They then demolished a 180-square-meter, two-storey building belonging to ‘Abdul Majeed Mhaisen Mhaisen. Soon after, IOF demolished a 250-square-meter barracks belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed Mhaisen, and a 1000-square-meter barracks and it’s 600-meter-long fence belonging to ‘Azmi ‘Abdul Qader Hamad. A number of Palestinian civilians protested these demolitions. IOF soldiers fired at these civilians, wounding Mohammed Nour Masalha, 23, with a sound bomb.

    Recommendations to the International Community
    1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to 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.

    2. 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 OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.

    3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.

    4. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.

    5. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPT.

    6. PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law.

    7. PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.

    8. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the Gaza disengagement plan, which was implemented last year, for what it is - not an end to occupation but a compounding of the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

    9. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

    10. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.

    11. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal with Israeli citizens in a similar manner.

    12. 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.

    The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent legal body based in Gaza City dedicated to protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law and upholding democratic principles in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations and is an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, the Federation Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH), and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network. PCHR is a recipient of the 1996 French Republic Award for Human Rights.

    Related Links

  • Palestinian Center for Human Rights