PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that the past day has witnessed an IOF escalation unprecedented since the implementation of the disengagement plan nearly ten months ago. A total of twenty-six Palestinians were killed over a period of twenty-six hours: twenty-four in the Gaza Strip and two in the West Bank. This brings the number of Palestinians killed to thirty-six, since the capturing of the Israeli soldier on 25 June 2006. In addition, one hundred and fifteen Palestinians have been injured, most of them civilians. Read more about Bloody Day of Violence: 24 Palestinians killed by Israeli Occupation Forces in the Gaza Strip and 2 killed in the West Bank, 115 others injured
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), and Isolate the Gaza Strip from the Outside World - 9 Palestinians killed by the IOF, 6 by the IOF shelling in the Gaza Strip; two were extra-judicially executed by the IOF in the West Bank. 91 Palestinians, including 18 children, were wounded by the IOF gunfire. IOF warplanes launched a series of air strikes and mock air raids on the Gaza Strip; offices of the Palestinian Prime Minister and the Minister of Interior and a number of civilian facilities were destroyed or damaged. IOF conducted 81 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and reoccupied areas in the Gaza Strip. Read more about Weekly Report on Human Rights Violations
The international community is required to fulfill its legal and moral obligations to immediately stop Israeli war crimes against Palestinian civilian property, and to enforce article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR strongly condemns the targeting of the Palestinian Interior Ministry building by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) for the second time this week. In addition, the Centre condemns the military escalation against civilian property and installations, including educational and governmental institutions. Read more about Israeli Occupation Forces Destroy the Ministry of Interior Building and a School in Further Aerial Attacks on the Gaza Strip
PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 16:40 on Monday, 3 July 2006, the body of Amani Yousef Mohammad El-Riqib (17) arrived at Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis. After examination, it was determined that the girl had been hit by a bullet to the head that had killed her instantly. The bullet hit the victim accidentally, while a gunman was firing shots in the air during her brother’s wedding. The victim was from the town of Bani Suheila, east of Khan Yunis. This is the second incident of its kind in less than ten days. On 25 June 2006, Anas Mohammad Khayri Abdel Jabbar Yassin (13) was hit by a bullet to the chest during a wedding in the village of Barqa. Read more about Security Chaos and Proliferation of Small Arms
PCHR condemns IOF military operations in the Gaza Strip and the targeting of infrastructure and civilian organizations, most notably educational institutions. The Centre calls upon the international community to work towards the immediate cessation of IOF war crimes against educational institutions in the Gaza Strip. The rocket targeted a student council office, destroying it completely. In addition, Atfaluna institution for children with hearing disabilities suffered damage as result of sonic booms. Read more about Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Bombard the Islamic University of Gaza for the Second Time in One Week
PCHR calls upon the international community, represented by governments and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, to immediately intervene and force Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. The Centre requests that these parties pressure IOF to put an end to the plight of more than 3,000 Palestinians who are currently stranded on the Egyptian side of Rafah International Crossing. Read more about Dozens of Medical Patients and Hundreds of Gaza Strip Residents Suffering Harsh Humanitarian Conditions due to the Closure of Rafah International Crossing Point
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 30 June 2006, the Criminal Investigations Department of the Rafah Police learned of the burial of Maha Akram El-Hamayda (18), after she had been killed in an “honor killing” crime. The police were able to determine the burial place in the eastern cemetery in Rafah. The father was summoned by the police and the body was removed and submitted to the pathology department of Naser Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to information from the police, the pathologist report indicates that the girl had suffered a beating with a sharp object to the head, causing extensive bleeding. Read more about Young Woman Killed in Rafah in an "Honor Killing"
Four Palestinians were killed and another six injured, including one child, during armed clan and personal disputes, which took place over the past 24 hours in Salfit, Beit Lahya and Rafah. The latest incident occurred at approximately 12:30 on Sunday, 2 July 2006, and resulted in the death of Zahir Salman Maharieqa (27) from the town of Deir Esteya near Salfit. He was in a barber shop in the El-Zaytoona building in the center of Salfit when Tha’er Suliman Madi, a 26-year-old resident of Salfit, fired at him. Read more about Four Palestinians Killed and Six Injured, including One Child, in Armed Clan and Personal Disputes
PCHR calls upon all governments and countries in the international community, especially the High Contracting Parties of the Geneva Conventions, United Nations bodies, and all international humanitarian organizations to intervene and take immediate steps to force IOF to allow the flow of basic goods, fuel, food, and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip. The Centre warns the international community of the consequences of the collective punishment imposed by IOF on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. A food and health crisis now threatens more than 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Read more about PCHR Warns of a Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip
For the 4th consecutive day, IOF continue to conduct extensive air raids on different parts of the Gaza Strip. These raids targeted civilian and government property and installations, in an apparent attempt to eliminate the leadership of the Palestinian government. In addition, eight Cabinet Ministers, more than 20 Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) members, and a number of Hamas leaders in the West Bank are still detained, after they were kidnapped from their places of residence last Thursday. Read more about Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Intensify the Aggression of the Gaza Strip and Continue Reprisals against Palestinian Civilians