4-26-05, 8:55 am
Weekly report on human rights violations Report, PCHR, 21 April 2005
From Electronic Intifada
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have launched more attacks on Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). IOF extra-judicially killed a Palestinian in Balata refugee camp near Nablus.
This week, human rights violations perpetrated by IOF included shooting at Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian areas, house raids and arbitrary arrests. In violation of international law and humanitarian law, IOF have also continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory and confiscated more areas of Palestinian land for this purpose. They have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
On Thursday, 14 April 2005, an undercover unit of IOF extra-judicially killed Ibrahim Hashash, 24, from Balata refugee camp near Nablus. IOF admitted responsibility for this killing, but claimed that Hashas fired at Israeli soldiers. Hashas was allegedly wanted by IOF for his activities in al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. According to PCHR's investigation, Hashash was shot from a very close range. This killing has been the second of its kind since the declaration of a truce.
This week, IOF conducted at least 17 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank. IOF raided and searched a number of houses and opened fire at Palestinian civilians. As a result, eight Palestinian civilians, including four children, were wounded, and 22 other civilians, including five children, were arrested.
IOF also arrested five Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the Gaza Strip, as these civilians apparently attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. On 18 April 2005, a Palestinian civilian was injured by IOF in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, while he was farming his land.
IOF have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. IOF resumed the construction of a section of the wall to the north of East Jerusalem. They also started to establish a road linking 'Neve Yaqoub' settlement with Israeli settlements located to the northeast, east and southeast of Jerusalem. When the construction of this section of the wall is completed, it will totally isolate Dahiat al-Barid area.
On Tuesday, 19 April 2005, the Israeli High Court issued a decision allowing IOF to construct a section of the wall on land belonging to the villages of al-Khas and al-No'man, north of Sahour. Large areas of land will be isolated behind the wall. In addition, IOF used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest to the construction of the wall. They arrested two international solidarity activists and two Palestinian farmers.
Israeli settlers living in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law have launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. This week, IOF issued a number of military orders confiscating 90 donums[1] of Palestinian land in Sa'ir village near Hebron for the purposes of settlement expansion. They also issued 19 military orders to demolish some civilian facilities near Yatta village, south of Hebron.
IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, IOF have continued to completely or partially close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and impose severe restrictions on the internal movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also continued to close a number of roads and crossings in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the current Intifada. IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities near Israeli settlements, causing more suffering to Palestinian civilians.
A Palestinian woman from al-Mawasi area was aborted as IOF prevented her from traveling to a hospital in Khan Yunis. This week, IOF resumed using a special checking machine at Rafah International Crossing Point.
In the West Bank, IOF have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF also erected a number of sudden military checkpoints. They stopped and checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 5 of them, including a patient. On 19 April 2005, IOF fired at Palestinian civilian while crossing a checkpoint near Nablus, wounding him in the leg.
