Genocide Continues in Occupied Palestine ~Weekly Report

[Karen]

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
by Palestinian Centre for Human Rights Saturday, Apr. 15, 2006 at 12:39 PM

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) 06 - 12 April 2006

19 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed by IOF.

10 of the victims, including a man, his child and two brothers, were extra-judicially executed by IOF.

94 Palestinians, including 32 children, were wounded by IOF gunfire.

IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, particularly the northern area.

IOF conducted 27 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, concentrated mainly in Nablus.

70 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a girl, were arrested by IOF.

7 houses were transformed by IOF into military sites.

IOF broke into al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron and arrested two injured Palestinians.

IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF have closed border crossings in the Gaza Strip; a new permanent checkpoint was established at Jeet intersection, southwest of Nablus; and IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children, at checkpoints in the West Bank.

IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF continued the construction of the Wall in the Dahiat al-Barid area to the north of Jerusalem and near “Shavi Shomron” settlement; IOF are transforming the Container checkpoint, south of Jerusalem, into a border crossing, similar to Qalandya crossing.

Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property in the OPT; settlers seized a house in the old town of Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (6–12 April 2006):

Killing: During the reported period, IOF killed 19 Palestinians, including three children.

In the Gaza Strip, two Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF artillery shelling that targeted the northern Gaza Strip on 9 and 10 April. Eleven Palestinians, including a man, his child and two brothers, were extra-judicially executed by IOF on 7 and 8 April 2006 in Rafah and Khan Yunis respectively. Two members of the Palestinian resistance were killed in Gaza City on 8 April 2006, when an IOF aircraft launched a missile at their car.

In the West Bank, two Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF in Nablus on 7 and 8 April 2006. A Palestinian child was seriously wounded by IOF in Seilat al-Harthiya village near Jenin on 8 April 2006 and was later pronounced dead on 11 April 2006. A fourth Palestinian was killed when he exchanged fire with IOF when they came to arrest him in Beit Ta’mar village, east of Bethlehem, on 9 April 2006.

During the reported period, IOF continued to shell Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. They fired artillery shells at houses. IOF also employed war planes to shell civilian targets. A number of houses and civilian facilities were damaged and 54 civilians, including 32 children, were injured.

During the reported period, 40 Palestinian civilians, including 36 in Nablus, were wounded by IOF gunfire.

Incursions: During the reported period, IOF carried out numerous incursions into Nablus. They killed two Palestinian civilians, including a child, and wounded 36 others. They also arrested 24 Palestinian civilians, including a girl, and transformed 5 houses into military sites. During the reported period, IOF conducted 27 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, IOF raided houses and arrested 46 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. In addition, IOF transformed 7 houses into military sites. IOF used undercover units and trained dogs during these incursions.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a comprehensive siege on the OPT, in violation of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, transforming it into a large prison. IOF have continued to monitor the movement of Palestinian civilians through Rafah International Crossing Point on the Egyptian border. Although IOF have allowed the transportation of food aid from Egypt into the Gaza Strip through Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, southeast of Rafah, the crossing has not been officially opened. IOF have also continued to prevent Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip from reaching their work places in Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. They have continued to prevent hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip from traveling to the West Bank. IOF have closed al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing, east of Gaza City. During the reported period, the crossing was reopened for a few hours only. As a result, the economic conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated.

IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank are imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. IOF positioned at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, have prevented residents of Jenin from passing through the checkpoint. During the reported period, IOF positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children.

Annexation Wall: IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. During the reported period, IOF continued to construct a section of the Wall in the Dahiat al-Barid area, north of Jerusalem. They also continued to construct the separating fence around “Shavi Shomron” settlement, northwest of Nablus. Following a petition submitted by residents of the al-Mawahel quarter of Beit Hanina village, north of Jerusalem, against the construction of the Wall in the area, IOF closed the entrance of the quarter, which leads to Bir Nabala village, and replaced a checkpoint erected on the main road leading to the quarter with barbed wire. IOF also continued preparations to transform the Container checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jerusalem into a border crossing between the West Bank and Jerusalem. During the reported period, IOF used force against demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli peace activists in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bal’ein and Beit Siera villages, west of Ramallah. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

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 seized a house in the old town of Hebron.

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (6–12 April 2006)

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

Repeated Incursions into Nablus and Nearby Refugee Camps

During the reported period, IOF carried out numerous incursions into Nablus and nearby refugee camps. During these incursions, IOF killed two Palestinian civilians, including a child, and wounded 29 civilians, including 10 children; a teacher; two university students; and a foreign journalist. IOF also arrested 29 Palestinian civilians, including a girl, and transformed 5 houses into military sites.

Thursday, 6 April 2006

· At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus and nearby refugee camps. They raided a number of houses and apartment buildings and transformed them into military sites. They then raided and searched the Abu Shaqdam apartment building in the Rafidya neighborhood and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians:

1. Sa’ad al-Din al-Nabulsi, 27;
2. Karam Affisha, 26; and
3. Fadi ‘Abdu, 28.

In the Junaid area in the west of the city, IOF raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Tahreer ‘Abdul Fattah Yassin, 23, and arrested her.

· At approximately 02:30, more reinforcements were brought into Nablus. At approximately 04:00, IOF besieged a 250-square-meter apartment building belonging to Bashar and Ra’ed Haroun Jaber in the east of the city. The siege continued until 10:30, during which time IOF arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Zakaria Yousef al-Dawaya, 20;
2. Mohammed al-‘Aqqad, 29;
3. Ra’ed Haroun Jaber, 36;
4. Dr. Bashar Haroun Jaber, 32; and
5. ‘Aaref Tabnja, 24.

In her testimony to PCHR, Randa Mohammed ‘Abdul Haq, 27, the wife of Ra’ed Haroun Jaber, 36, stated:

“At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 6 April 2006, IOF besieged our two-storey house in the al-Rashid neighborhood in the east of Nablus. An IOF jeep ran down the door of a neighboring house belonging to Majed al-Qutob and IOF transformed the house into a military site. They then started to fire live bullets and sound bombs at our house. Soon, they ordered us through megaphones to get out of the house. My husband and I, along with our three children, my husband’s brother and his family got out of the building. In addition, 6 university students who have been renting a flat in the house for 3 months also got out. We all sat in the street. An Israeli soldier ordered my husband to enter the building, to turn on all lights and open all doors. My husband entered the building and brought 6 other students out with him. IOF threatened my husband that they would kill whoever was left in the house and would demolish it. They broke into the house opening fire. They continued to besiege the house until 10:30, during which time they destroyed the furniture. They arrested my husband, his brother and 3 young men.”

IOF also besieged a 7-storey apartment building in the Northern Mount neighborhood for several hours, but no arrests were reported.

· In the morning, dozens of Palestinian children who were on their way to school threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF opened fire at the children. Five children, 3 passing civilians and an American journalist were wounded:

1. Sameh Nizar ‘Aadel al-Shaf’ei, 17, who was pronounced dead at approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 9 April 2006;

2. Qusai Salah al-Din Ma’lawani, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right thigh;

3. ‘Ali Mohammed Fayez, 16, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the feet;

4. Khaled Jamal Qaddoumi, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

5. ‘Ammar Mohammed Jamous, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

6. Saher Mohammed Aslan, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

7. ‘Emad Ghaleb ‘Atma, 25, wounded by a live bullet to the right side;

8. ‘Aaida Fathi Sara, 45, wounded by shrapnel to the right leg; and

9. David, 29, an American journalist, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the abdomen.

Friday, 7 April 2006

· At approximately 02:30, IOF fired at ‘Adnan Mohammed Yassin, 28, a police officer, wounding him with shrapnel to the left hand and the legs. Yassin told PCHR that he was on duty when he received word that a number of thieves were attempting to break into a flat on the 6th floor of an apartment building in al-Sikka Street, in the northwest of Nablus. He and 4 other police officers went to the area. He climbed the stairs to the 6th floor, while pointing his gun and identifying himself. Immediately, he was fired at. He was wounded by shrapnel to the left hand and the legs. He left the building and called for police reinforcements. Seven Palestinian police jeeps arrived at the area. Soon, at least 20 IOF vehicles arrived at the area and ordered the Palestinian police to leave the area, before they broke into the building. Later, it was discovered that the persons who were in the building were members of an IOF undercover unit.

· In a case of apparent willful killing, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his uncle and three cousins. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:30, Nazra Zuhdi Ya’ish heard suspicious sounds near her house in the ‘Ein al-Subian area, in the west of Nablus. She phoned her brother Fathallah, 60, asking for help, as she thought that there were thieves in the area. He drove his car to his sister’s house, accompanied by his nephew Wafa Maysara ‘Abdul Latif Ya’ish, 22, and his three sons: Ramadan, 26; Tariq, 23; and ‘Eid, 22. When the car stopped near the house, they were all fired at. Fathallah was wounded by shrapnel to the right hand; Tariq was wounded by a live bullet to the left leg; ‘Eid was wounded by a live bullet to the left leg and shrapnel to the head; and Ramdan was wounded by shrapnel to the left ear. Wafa Ya’ish managed to enter a neighboring house. In the meantime, a number of IOF vehicles arrived at the area and a number of Israeli soldiers positioned themselves 50 meters away from the area. Wafa left the neighboring house and his father brought his car to evacuate the wounded. Immediately, IOF opened fire at them. Wafa was instantly killed by a live bullet to the heart.

· At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-Quds Street and Balata refugee camp. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at these civilians, wounding two of them, including a child:

1. ‘Adli Fayez Dwaikat, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head; and

2. Ismail Mahmoud Hashash, 21, wounded by a live bullet to the left hand.

Saturday, 8 April 2006

· At approximately 06:30, IOF moved into the center of Nablus. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. Immediately, IOF fired at these civilians, wounding 12 of them, including 5 children:

1. Ahmed ‘Aqqab Abu Ruz, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back;

2. Wajdi Hani al-Shalabi, 15, wounded by a live bullet to the left thigh;

3. Mahmoud Mohammed Qassef, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right hand;

4. Mustafa al-Saqqa, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand;

5. Mohammed ‘Othman Juraiban, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the chest;

6. Ussama ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Abu Rwais, 34, wounded by a live bullet to the right leg;

7. ‘Ameed Wddah ‘Olaiwi, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg;

8. Farouq Khamis Nouh, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left foot;

9. Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahim Hawash, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head;

10. Bahaa’ Mohammed Abu ‘Abdullah, 18, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets to the legs;

11. Fadi Taj al-Sairawan, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg; and

12. ‘Aamer Farouq ‘Aamer, 22, wounded by shrapnel to the left hand.

Sunday, 9 April 2006

· At approximately 03:00, IOF positioned in the old town of Nablus fired at a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of the Fatah movement. He was wounded, but managed to escape. At approximately 03:50, at least 30 IOF vehicles moved into the old town in order to search for him but they were unable to arrest him.

· At approximately 06:35, IOF positioned on the roof of the al-Sharif apartment building at ‘Assira intersection in the north of Nablus fired at Subhi Tayseer Mabrouka, 19. He was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the chest.

· At approximately 15:30, IOF moved into various areas of Nablus. They opened fire indiscriminately. Two Palestinian women were wounded:

1. Ruba Mahmoud ‘Awayes, 21, from Nisf Juabil village, northwest of Nablus, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right eye; and

2. Shirine Ziad Hassouna, 20, from Beit Emrin village, northwest of Nablus, wounded by a live bullet to the right hand.

Monday, 10 April 2006

· At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinian civilians:

1. Sarhan ‘Allam al-‘Einabousi, 29;
2. Ahmed Ibrahim ‘Arbas, 25;
3. Mohammed ‘Aamer Abu al-S’oud, 19;
4. Mohammed ‘Abdul Qader al-Masri, 20; and
5. Qassem Mohammed Kalbouna, 29.

Read more of the summary here:
https://sf.indymedia.org/news/2006/04/1726894.php