The Muslim News

Gaza, (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights):

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory No. 21/2007 - 24 - 30 May 2007

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

19 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

2 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by IOF in the West Bank.

12 of the victims were killed by IOF air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

67 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were wounded by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

54 of these Palestinians were wounded by IOF gunfire in the Gaza Strip.

IOF have shelled various areas in the Gaza Strip.

IOF launched 46 missiles at civilian and paramilitary targets.

5 civilian facilities, one house and a number of paramilitary sites were destroyed.

Dozens of houses and civilian facilities were damaged.

IOF conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and one into Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip.

IOF arrested 79 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, including 2 ministers, 4 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 9 mayors and 4 members of municipal councils.

IOF arrested 2 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

IOF stormed offices of 6 charities and cultural centers in the West Bank.

IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT.

IOF have cut off the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

IOF positioned at various checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child and physically disabled one.

IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank.

IOF demolished 6 houses in Jerusalem and Hebron allegedly for havening been constructed without licenses.

Summary

IOF escalated violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (24 – 30 May 2007):

Killing: During the reporting period, IOF killed 17 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Two other Palestinians, including a woman, died from previous wounded. In addition, IOF wounded 54 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children and 8 women and 2 paramedics, in the Gaza Strip, and 13 civilians, including 2 children and an a journalist, in the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed 12 Palestinians, including 2 civilians, whereas 2 others, including a woman, died from previous wounds. In addition, 54 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children, 8 women and 2 paramedics, were wounded. IOF continued air strikes on civilian facilities, sites of resistance groups and civilian vehicles believed to be transporting members of the Palestinian resistance. During to the reporting period, IOF launched 46 missiles at several targets in the Gaza Strip. In addition to deaths and casualties incurred by these attacks, 5 civilian facilities, a house and a number of paramilitary sites mostly belonging to Hamas and the Executive Force of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior were destroyed. Dozens of houses and civilian facilities, including PCHR’s branch office in Jabalya refugee camp, were also damaged. IOF demonstrated a flagrant disregard to the lives of the Palestinian civilian population as they attacked densely populated area while pursing members of the Palestinian resistance. Since the beginning of this latest offensive against the Gaza Strip, IOF have killed 52 Palestinians, including 7 children and a woman, and have wounded 174 others, mostly civilians, including 24 children, 18 women, 2 paramedics and 2 journalists.

In the West Bank, IOF killed 5 Palestinians and wounded 13 civilians, including 2 children, a woman and a journalist. On 26 May 2007, IOF killed 2 Palestinian militants and a civilian bystander in Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood in the southeast of Jerusalem. The two militants exchanged fired with IOF soldiers. On 29 May 2007, IOF undercover units committed 2 extra-judicial executions in Ramallah and Jenin, which killed a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (an armed wing of Fatah movement) and another of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of the Islamic Jihad), and wounded 5 civilian bystanders.

On 25 May 2007, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, were wounded when IOF used force against a peaceful demonstration organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bal’ein village, west of Ramallah. On 28 May 2007, 2 Palestinian children were wounded by the IOF gunfire in Jericho. On 29 May 2007, a Palestinian was wounded by the IOF gunfire in Tulkarm refugee camp.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During those incursions, IOF waged arrest campaigns that targeted public figures affiliated to Hamas and Fatah movements. IOF arrested 79 Palestinian civilians, including 2 ministers, 4 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, 9 mayors and 4 members of municipal councils. Most of the arrests took place on Thursday, 24 May 2007. Thus, the number of Palestinians arrested by IOF in the West Bank since the beginning of this year has mounted to 1,300. Additionally, IOF stormed offices of 6 charities and cultural centers.

In the Gaza Strip, on 29 May 2007, IOF moved into al-Fukhari area in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They killed 2 Palestinian militants, wounded a woman and arrested 2 brothers.

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. On Tuesday, 22 May 2007, IOF imposed a total closure on the OPT for the Jewish Shavuot.

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. During the reporting period, the crossing point was reopened on 3 sporadic days. IOF have partially reopened commercial crossings, especially al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, but many goods and medical supplies have been lacked in markets in the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have 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 impose severe restriction on fishing in the Gaza Strip.

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. Contrary to Israeli claims, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, IOF soldiers positioned at various checkpoints and border crossings in the West Bank arrested at least 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a physically disabled one.

Settlement Activities: IOF have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, IOF demolished 4 houses in Jerusalem and 2 others in Hebron, claiming that they were built without licenses.

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