PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights http://www.pchrgaza.org

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Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Annexation Wall in al-Ram area, Jerusalem.

13– 19 October 2005

NO 41/2005

Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the No. 41/2005 Occupied Palestinian Territory 13 – 19 October 2005

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

• One Palestinians was extra-judicially killed by IOF.

• 3 children were wounded by IOF.

• IOF conducted 20 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

• Houses were raided and 40 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF.

• Two houses were seized and transformed into military sites by IOF.

• Undercover units and dogs were employed in these incursions.

• IOF have continued to construct a border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun.

• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have continued to close Rafah International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing; a woman was run down by an Israeli military jeep; and IOF arrested 11Palestinian civilians, including a girl, a lawyer and a lecturer.

• IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; the Israeli High Court approved the construction of the Wall around al-Ram village and Dahiat al-Barid area in Jerusalem; IOF razed areas of land in al-Sawahra al-Sahrqiya village; IOF razed 24 dunums1 of agricultural land and uprooted at least 150 olive trees in 'Azzoun 'Atma village; and 3 Palestinian civilians were injured and 4 solidarity activists were arrested by IOF during a peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Wall.

1 1 dunum is equal to 1000 square meters.

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• Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the OPT; Israeli settlers attacked two houses in Beit Fourik village; and IOF razed areas of Palestinian land and confiscated 700 dunums of land in the northern Jordan Valley for the purpose of settlement expansion.

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Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) during the reporting period (13-19 October 2005):

Extra-Judicial Killing: On Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF extra-judicially killed Nihad Khaled Abu Ghanem, 33, from Bourqin village west of Jenin. This attack came one week following a the publication of information that that IOF would decrease attempts to arrest most wanted Palestinians in the West Bank to avoid their resistance to arrest, which indicates that IOF may escalate the policy of extra-judicial killing officially adopted by the Israeli political and security establishments against Palestinian activists.

Incursions: IOF conducted at least 20 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 40 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. They also seized two houses and transformed them into military sites. IOF employed undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions. In addition, a Palestinian woman was seriously injured when she was run down by an Israeli military jeep, and 3 children were wounded by the Israeli gunfire in Tarqoumia and Beit 'Awa villages near Hebron. Recently, IOF have conducted wide scale arrest campaigns in the West Bank, mainly targeting members of Hamas. Since the end of last September, IOF have arrested at least 500 Palestinians. PCHR is concerned that these arrests may constitute an indirect intervention into the Palestinian parliamentary elections that will be held in January 2006, as the Israeli Prime Minister and Defense Minster expressed their opposition to Hamas' participation in these elections.

Restrictions on Movement: Even though IOF have been redeployed around the Gaza Strip, they have continued to impose a tightened siege, transforming the Gaza Strip into a large prison. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world, has remained closed for the fifth consecutive week, as no deal has been reached concerning transportation across it. IOF insist on maintaining control over the movement of persons and goods through the crossing point, and have actually moved equipment from the crossing point to the "Kerem Shalom" area on the Egyptian – Israeli border. In the meantime, IOF have continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for Palestinian workers and patients for several weeks. With the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, the Gaza Strip has been transformed into a big prison, as IOF maintain control over the airspace and other border crossing of the Gaza Strip. IOF have also imposed severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, since Monday morning, 17 October 2005, IOF have imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. These restrictions included the prohibition of movement of private cars on roads, and limiting transportation to taxis only. IOF have also erected dozens of military checkpoints on the main roads. According to Israeli sources, theses measures were decided by the Israeli Defense Minster, Shaul Mofaz, on Sunday evening, 16 October 2005, following two attacks against Israeli targets near "Gush Etzion" settlement, south of Bethlehem, and "Elli" settlement, south of Nablus. Mofaz ordered his troops to surround Palestinian towns in an attempt to create buffer zones. IOF declared that they would prevent Palestinian private vehicles from traveling on the main roads in the West Bank, including road (60) and road (90) which link various areas in the West Bank. IOF started to implement these measures on Monday morning, 17 October 2005. According to eyewitnesses, IOF re-erected checkpoints that had been

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dismantled and erected dozens of new ones. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints arrested 11 Palestinian civilians, including a girl, a lawyer and a lecturer.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF razed areas of Palestinian land in al-Sawahra al-Sharqiya village near Jerusalem. They also razed 24 dunums of agricultural land and uprooted at least 150 olive trees in 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of Qalqilya. In another decision that violates the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considered the construction of the Wall in the West Bank illegal, the Israeli High Court decided to allow IOF to construct a section of the Wall near Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. The construction of this section of the Wall will isolate the two areas. IOF attacked demonstrators who were protesting the construction of the Wall in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. Three demonstrators sustained injuries and bruises, and IOF arrested 4 international solidarity activists.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to construct a cement wall on the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the north of Beit Hanoun. IOF started to construct this wall on 12 October 2005, 15 meters inside the Gaza Strip territory and with a height of 6 meters. The construction of this wall is part of a more comprehensive plan to create a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. IOF started preparations for the construction of a wall along the border even before the evacuation of Israeli settlements and the IOF redeployment in the Gaza Strip.

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 attacked two houses in Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. IOF razed areas of Palestinian land and confiscated at least 700 dunums of land in the northern Jordan Valley for the purpose of settlement expansion.

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Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (13-19 October 2005)

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

Thursday, 13 October 2005

• At approximately 01:00, IOF broke into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses claiming that they were searching for wanted Palestinians. IOF held the families for more than two hours outside their homes. Before their withdrawal from the village, IOF summoned 3 Palestinian civilians to the Israeli intelligence bureau: Ahmed Abu 'Arram; Mufeed Abu 'Arram; 'Ali Abu Samra.

• At approximately 15:00, an undercover unit of IOF moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron, traveling in a civilian car with a Palestinian registration plate. Israeli soldiers were disguised as vegetable traders. They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim 'Abdullah Ghunaimat, 45. Soon, 5 IOF jeeps arrived at the area. IOF raided the houses and arrested Ghunaimat. They claim that he had been wanted for years.

Friday, 14 October 2005

• At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Salfit village, southwest of Nablus. They surrounded a number of houses and threw stones at windows. They then ordered residents of these houses to open doors. IOF raided the houses and forced the residents outside. They arrested Jameel 'Ali Dahdoul, 32, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kufor Ra'ei village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Ali Mohyi 'Ali Murshedand, 19, and arrested him.

• At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Ersal area in the north of Ramallah. They fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at houses. No casualties were reported.

Saturday, 15 October 2005

• At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah, opening fire indiscriminately. They raided and searched a number of houses. These house raids continued until 09:00, during which time IOF arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Zahi Mahmoud al-Reemawi, 19; 2. Hammam Mahmoud al-Reemawi, 18; 3. Mohammed Nabet al-Reemawi, 16; and 4. Mohammed Tahseen al-Reemawi, 20.

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Sunday, 16 October 2005

• At approximately 01:00, an undercover unit of IOF, accompanied by 5 military jeeps, moved into al-Zahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mamdouh Hashem al-Qaisiya, 27; 2. Mohammed 'Abdullah Qateesh, 24; 3. Mahmoud Hassan Shanyour, 30; 4. Ameer Yousef Khudairat, 30; and 5. Isma'il Yousef Khudairat, 28.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bani Na'im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of 'Omar Mohammed al-Khodour, 34.

• At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Kufor Qallil village, south of Nablus. They surrounded a house belonging to Majdi 'Abdul Jabbar 'Aamer at the northeastern entrance of the village. They called on residents of the house through megaphones to surrender. 'Assem Waleed 'Aamer, 22, got out of the house and told IOF that only women were inside the house. They forced the women out and broke into the house. IOF also raided a neighboring house belonging to Na'im 'Abdul Salam 'Aamer and arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. Majdi 'Abdul Jabbar 'Aamer, 29; and 2. Eyad 'Abdul Salam 'Aamer, 30.

Monday, 17 October 2005

• At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Palestinian civilians:

1. Mohammed Ahmed Turkman, 24; 2. 'Aqab 'Abdul Jabbar 'Obaid, 46; 3. Zaid 'Aqab 'Obaid, 18; 4. 'Abdul Jabbar 'Aqab 'Obaid, 16; 5. Yousef 'Aqab 'Obaid, 14; 6. Ya'qoub 'Abdul Jabbar 'Obaid, 41; and 7. Nidal Ya'oqoub 'Obaid, 16.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qiffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinian civilians:

1. Ameen Ahmed Ta'ma, 18; 2. Mohammed Mustafa 'Amarna, 22; 3. Ahmed Fadel Kittana, 21; and 4. Nasri Sadiq Abu Baker, 24.

• At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Qussai Ibrahim Sawafta, 22.

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• At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bitounia village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Hussein 'Ali 'Abdul Halim, 21; 2. 'Abdul Shafi Hassan al-Dahla, 23; and 3. Mus'ab Fathi al-Barari, 20.

• At approximately 03:15, IOF raided and searched a number of houses in Hebron. They arrested two Palestinian civilians:

1. 'Abdul Jabbar Mansour Abu Sunaina, 32; and 2. Ibrahim Badawi Huraibat, 38.

• Also at approximately 03:15, IOF moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Majdi Mohammed Khudairat, 20, and arrested him.

• At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Qarawat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Khaled Taleb 'Arar, 33; 2. Mahmoud Taleb 'Arar, 30; 3. 'Omar Jaber Yousef, 33; 4. Ussama Fayez Daoud, 27; and 5. Mohammed Jihad Zaqaf, 23.

Tuesday, 18 October 2005

• At approximately 09:00, Halima Mohammed Murshed Taqatqa, 55, from Beit Fajjar village south of Bethlehem, was seriously injured when she was run down by an Israeli military jeep. According to eyewitnesses, Taqatqa was riding an animal coming back from her land. An Israeli military jeep ran her down. She was seriously injured. Israeli soldiers in the jeep did not offer her any help and escaped towards "Kfar Etzion" military post, nearly two kilometers away. The victim was evacuated in a civilian car to Beit Jala Hospital. According to medical sources, she sustained injuries and bruises in the limbs, and suffered from an internal hemorrhage in the head and the mouth. His condition was described as serious.

• At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to Salah 'Amru and transformed it into a military site. Later, IOF seized a house belonging to Hassan 'Alqam al-Shahatit at Kharsa crossroads to the southwest of Dura village and transformed it into a military site.

• At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Beit 'Awa village, southwest of Hebron. They opened fire at houses. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF. Immediately, IOF fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the children wounding two:

1. Hammam 'Abdullah Abu Tharee', 12, wounded in the right hand; and

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2. Mohammed Yasser Masalma, 13, wounded in the chest.

Wednesday, 19 October 2005

• At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Duhaisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Wissam Mohammed 'Ouda, 24.

• At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Jenin. They opened fire and patrolled in the streets. They withdrew a few hours later and no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Kharsa village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jawad Hussein Hantash, 25.

2. Extra-Judicial Killing

On Sunday evening, 16 October 2005, IOF extra-judicially killed Nihad Khaled Abu Ghanem, 33, from Bourqin village west of Jenin. IOF chased the victim and shot him dead from a very close range.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, Nihad Khaled Abu Ghanem, 33, was traveling in his car, a black Citroen, from Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin, towards Bouqin village, west of the town. When he got closed to al- Shuhada junction, he noticed a number of IOF jeeps positioned at the junction, so he turned his car towards the neighboring al-Shuhada village nearly 200 meters away. IOF noticed that, so they chased him. He traveled fast and his car collided with a wall. As the car stopped, Israeli soldiers got out of their vehicles and opened fire at him, while he was still in his car, from a very close range. He was instantly killed. His body was evacuated to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin. According to medical sources, Abu Ghanem was hit by 6 live bullets to the head, the mouth, the chest and the abdomen. According to eyewitnesses, IOF could have arrested Abu Ghanem instead of killing him as he did not resist nor did he pose any threat to IOF.

This attack came one week following a report published in the Israeli daily Haaretz on 9 October 2005, which stated that IOF would decrease attempts to arrest most wanted Palestinians in the West Bank to avoid their resistance to arrest. Abu Ghannam had been wanted by IOF for 9 months for being a member of the Islamic Jihad. He had previously spent 4 and a half years in Israeli jails.

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 Jerusalem.

Gaza Strip

Even though IOF were redeployed around the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government maintains the occupation of the Gaza Strip through controlling all outlets and crossings. Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border, the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world, has remained closed for the fifth consecutive week, as no deal has been reached concerning transportation across it. IOF insist on maintaining control over the movement of persons and goods through the crossing point, and have actually moved equipment from the crossing point to

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the "Kerem Shalom" area on the Egyptian – Israeli border. In the past few weeks, IOF allowed Palestinians to operate the crossing point for several hours to solve the problem of those who had been stranded on the wrong side of the crossing point. The crossing point is the sole outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world and these limited hours of opening do not meet the actual needs of the Palestinian

IOF have continued close Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the third consecutive week. They have only allowed officials of the Palestinian Authority, internationals and those in need of urgent medical attention to travel through the crossing and only following prior coordination. With the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, the Gaza Strip has been transformed into a big prison, as IOF maintain control over the airspace and other border crossings of the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday morning, 9 October 2005, IOF reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. Since the evacuation of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, IOF have repeatedly closed the crossing. According to Nabil Faraj, director of the crossing, before this latest closure, 40-50 trucks transported exported goods from the Gaza Strip and 250 trucks transported goods imported from Israel and the West Bank. The capacity of the crossing before the current Intifada was 800 trucks daily, including 150 that transported exported goods from the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the Intifada, IOF have repeatedly closed the crossing, putting pressure over Palestinian civilians.

IOF also control Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, which is designated for the transportation of construction raw materials.

IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on fishing in the Gaza Strip. Approximately 35,000 people in and around Gaza’s coastal communities rely on the fishing industry, including 2500 fishermen, 2500 support staff and their families. Over the past number of weeks the fishing industry has been paralysed by intermittent closures, which have occurred during the generally busy Sardine season.

When the Fishermen are allowed back into the sea, they are subjected to intensive monitoring by the Israeli military. The military uses helicopter gunships, and gunboats to monitor the fishermen. On a number of occasions the Israeli military has opened fire against the civilian fishermen in order to enforce the 9 nautical mile limit imposed on them. The Oslo Accords make provision for Gaza’s sea to be fished to 20 nautical miles.

The West Bank

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

• Jerusalem: On Thursday morning, 13 October 2005, IOF imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They reinforced their presence on main and secondary roads and stopped and checked Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 14 October 2005, hundreds of Israeli soldiers were deployed in the vicinity of the old town and at the entrances of the holy city. Israeli soldiers confiscated the identity cards of hundreds of young men until the end of the Friday Prayer. IOF also erected a number of checkpoints on the main road that links Dahiat al-

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Barid checkpoint with the center of the city. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. They held dozens of Palestinian civilians and forced them to sign pledges not to enter the city.

• Ramallah: On Saturday morning, 15 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint between the villages of Rantis and Shaqba, west of Ramallah. They prevented dozens of Palestinian civilian vehicles from crossing the checkpoint. At the same time, IOF closed the iron gate erected at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Sunday evening, 16 October 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints on the Nablus–Ramallah road. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. IOF positioned at Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, held dozens of Palestinian civilians at the northern side of the checkpoint. They thoroughly checked these civilians. On Monday morning, 17 October 2005, IOF closed the iron gate which is erected at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At the same time, IOF were redeployed to 'Atara Bridge at the entrance of Bir Zeit village, and prevented hundreds of Palestinian civilians from traveling to Ramallah. On Tuesday morning, 18 October 2005, IOF closed the entrance of Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah, and prohibited the movement to and from the village.

• Bethlehem: IOF imposed a strict siege on Bethlehem. They closed the main entrances of the town, the western entrance of al-Khader village and the main entrance of Beit Fajjar village. They prevented Palestinian civilians from traveling from neighboring villages and suburbs to the center of the town. IOF also closed a bypass road (60) which links the Tunnel area with "Kfar Etzion" settlement, south of Bethlehem.

• Hebron: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in Hebron. On Friday and Saturday, 14 and 15 October 2005, thousands of Palestinian civilians were not been able to pray at the Ibrahimi Mosque and other mosques in the old town due to the restrictions imposed by IOF on the movement of civilians. At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 15 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Quds Square in the north of Hebron, and another one at Sha'aba crossroads in the northeast of the town. They stopped, checked and interrogated many Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF erected a number of checkpoints at the northern and eastern entrances of Hebron and on the main road that links Hebron with Bethlehem. They stopped vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint at al-Tahreer crossroads in the southwest of Hebron. They stopped, checked and interrogated a number of Palestinian civilians. Following the attack launched by Palestinian gunmen against Israeli soldiers at "Kfar Etzion" junction on the main road between Hebron and Bethlehem, IOF closed entrances of a number of communities and the roads leading to them. IOF prohibited the movement of Palestinian civilians in these areas.

On Thursday morning, 13 October 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, arrested Reiham Mohammed Abu 'Ayash, 17. They claimed that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier, but eyewitnesses refuted this claim.

On Thursday evening, IOF positioned in the old town arrested Mohammed Ziad Abu Mayala, 22.

At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 17 October 2005, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep fired at a number of Palestinian children who were at the eastern entrance of Tarqoumia village, west of

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Hebron. One of the children, 15-year-old Husni 'Omar al-Muraqtan, was wounded by a rubber- coated metal bullet to the right hand.

At approximately 14:00 on the same day, IOF positioned at a military checkpoint at the entrance of Halhoul town fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. A baby, 4-month-old 'Eid Bassem al-Swaiti, from Beit 'Awa village, suffered from tear gas inhalation.

• Nablus: IOF have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 15 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint near al-Lubban al-Sharqi village, south of Nablus, and held Palestinian civilians vehicles from crossing it for two hours. They also checked Palestinian civilians. No arrests were reported. On Monday morning, 17 October 2005, IOF closed the entrances of al-Sawia village, south of Nablus, with sand barriers and cement blocks. On the following day, IOF closed a branch road in the east of the village, which leads to the villages of Qabalan, Salfit and Qariout. As a result, patients were not able to reach a clinic in Qabalan village.

At approximately 15:30 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF positioned at Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of Nablus, arrested Khader 'Abdul Fattah Sandouq, 50, a lecturer at an-Najah National University in Nablus, from Jeet village near Qalqilya.

At approximately 15:30 on Tuesday, 17 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on al-Bathan road, northeast of Nablus. They stopped civilian vehicles and checked the identity cards of Palestinian civilians. Then, they arrested two civilians, who have not been identified.

• Tulkarm: At approximately 06:00 on Thursday, 13 October 2005, IOF positioned at a checkpoint to the east of 'Anabta village prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing the checkpoint for no apparent reason. At approximately 16:00 on the same day, IOF erected a checkpoint near Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles. At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 14 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at Far'oun crossroads, south of Tulkarm. They prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing the checkpoint and held a number of young men, forcing them to stand under the hot sun. On Saturday morning, 16 October 2005, IOF closed al-Kafriyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm. They reopened it for only 3 hours. At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint at the southern entrance of 'Atill village. They prevented Palestinian civilians from crossing the checkpoint and chased those who resorted to dirt roads. They held a number of young men for 4 hours, forcing them to stand under the sun.

• Jenin: At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 13 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint in al- 'Aqaba area near Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They erected another checkpoint at the entrance of Tammoun village. They stopped civilian vehicles and checked Palestinian civilians. No arrests were reported. On Friday evening, 14 October 2005, IOF closed the main entrance of 'Ein al-Baida village, northeast of Jenin. They erected a checkpoint at the entrance of the village and stopped and searched Palestinian civilian vehicles.

At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 13 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint on the Sanour–Qabatya road, southeast of Jenin. They stopped a civilian vehicle and arrested two Palestinian civilians: 'Ali 'Abdul Latif al-Sayes, 30; and Ahmed 'Eissa Qanouh, 28, both from Jenin refugee camp.

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At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF violently beat Mohammed Fayad Dabak, 16, from Tayaseer village southeast of Jenin, while he was grazing animals. They handcuffed and violently beat him for at least 10 minutes. They released him at 17:00.

On Monday afternoon, 17 October 2005, IOF positioned at al-Karama International Crossing Point on the Jordanian border arrested Fadel Murshed Bushnaq, a lawyer from Jenin, when he was on his way back to the West Bank from Jordan.

• Qalqilya: At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 14 October 2005, IOF erected a checkpoint between the villages of Kufor Thuluth and Saneeria, southeast of Qalqilya. They stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians: Jihad Isma'il Shawahna, 22; Ghazi Muhsen Mara'ba, 24; and Ahmed Mohammed Shawahna, 27.

4. Construction of the Annexation Wall

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank territory.

• On Friday afternoon, 14 October 2005, Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli solidarity activists organized a peaceful demonstration in Bal'ein village, west of Ramallah. IOF fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. They also beat a number of demonstrators. As a result, 3 demonstrators sustained bruises. IOF also arrested 4 international solidarity activists. According to local sources, undercover units of IOF, whose members disguise as Palestinian civilians, were present among demonstrators, pushing them to clash with IOF in order to justify using force against the demonstrators. IOF claimed that they used these units "to identify suspects responsible for riots."

• On Saturday, 15 October 2005, IOF prevented Palestinian farmers from Tulkarm and Qalqilya from going to their agricultural land located behind the Wall. According to farmers from the villages of al-Ras and Kufor Sour, south of Tulkarm, IOF positioned at an iron gate on the Wall in Kherbat Jebara village prevented them from going to their agricultural land on tractors and ordered them to go on foot. The farmers stated that they need the tractors to transport olives to their homes. IOF prevented farmers from going to their land on the following day also and ordered them to obtain permits from the Israeli military liaison. Furthermore, IOF positioned at two iron gates in the Wall in Jayous village, north of Qalqilya, and in 'Azzoun 'Atma village, south of the town, prevented Palestinian farmers from going to their agricultural land located behind the Wall.

• At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 16 October 2005, IOF started to raze areas of Palestinian land in al-Sawahra al-Sharqiya village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, near "Kidar" and "Ma'aleh Adomim" settlements. According to local sources, the coordinator of the Israeli military unit working in the area informed the head of the local council of the village verbally about a decision to raze areas of land for the purpose of the construction of the Wall.

• In another decision that violates the Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considered the construction of the Wall in the West Bank illegal, the Israeli High Court decided to allow IOF to construct a section of the Wall near Dahiat al-Barid area and al- Ram village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. The court claimed in a session held on Sunday, 16 October 2005, that "there is a persistent military necessity to construct the Wall in the area to prevent 'terrorists' from entering Israel." The court further claimed that "there is a need to

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complete the construction of the Wall in the area as large sections have been built around Jerusalem and this remaining section can constitute a dangerous gab into the route of the Wall around Jerusalem."

According to local sources, this section of the Wall will cross through houses inside the Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village. It will separate most of the Dahiat al-Baraid area from Jerusalem. Following the construction of this section of the Wall, Palestinian civilians living in the Dahiat al-Barid area and al-Ram village will be forced to travel to Jerusalem through the new Qalandya crossing, which will be operating soon. At least 60,000 Palestinians live in the two areas and nearly half of these have Jerusalemite identity cards. Since IOF started to construct this section of the Wall, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have moved back to Jerusalem to preserve their rights.

• On Tuesday, 18 October 2005, at midday, IOF razed 24 dunums of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mohammed Ahmed Salama in 'Azzoun 'Atma village, which has been isolated by the Wall. According to eyewitnesses, IOF uprooted at least 150 olives trees and transported them to Israel.

5. 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:

• At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 15 October 2005, a number of Israeli settlers from "Eitamar" settlement, southeast of Nablus, attacked two houses belonging to Nizam Fawaz Hanani and Basheer Yousef Mulaitat in Beit Fourik village. According to eyewitnesses, the settlers threw stones at the two houses and opened fire in the air to terrify residents of the two houses.

• During the reported period, IOF started to raze areas of land near "Hamdat" settlement in the northern Jordan Valley. These areas of land have been closed by military orders issued by IOF several years ago. Palestinians living in the area used this land to graze animals.

• This month, IOF and settlers from "Nahal Rotam" and "Nahal Maskot" settlements in the northern Jordan valley seized 700 dunums of Palestinian land near the two settlements and planted them. IOF apparently plan to establish a new settlement in the area.

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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 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 advises international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of exposing those Israelis 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, which is keeping with international law, at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights. 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 proposed Gaza disengagement plan 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 fashion. 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

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893 www.pchrgaza.org 14 Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the No. 41/2005 Occupied Palestinian Territory 13 – 19 October 2005

agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law. …………………………………………………………

Public Document For further information please visit our website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 – 2825893).

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893 www.pchrgaza.org 15