The Palestinian Center For Human Rights, in Gaza, published its weekly report on the Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories during the period between March 8th to 14th. During the reported period, one Palestinian youth was killed in the Gaza Strip, 15 injured, including three children, and a Palestinian civilian was beaten to death by the Israeli police in occupied East Jerusalem.The center reported that Israeli soldiers continued their violations against the Palestinian people, shot and killed one Palestinian youth who was attempting to enter Israel to search for a job.
The killed youth was shot on March 9, he and another two youths attempted to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs. Many feel that this is their only option, due to the bad economic conditions in the Gaza Strip resulting from the Israeli siege and the international embargo. One youth was taken prisoner during in the attack.
In the West Bank, a Palestinian civilian died as he was violently beaten by the Israeli police in occupied East Jerusalem, the PCHR reported.
An Israeli police spokesman claimed that “a young man from al-Tour neighborhood was driving a car, in which a woman from Jordan ,whose entry into Israel is prohibited, was traveling. Policemen requested him to go the police station. As he was mounting stairs, he felt acute pains in the chest. An ambulance was brought, but he died”, the PCHR report added.
The victims family confirmed that he was in a good health and had never complained or suffered from any disease.
One Palestinian civilian died at Rafah International Crossing Point due to stampedes and congestion, as the crossing was closed by Israel for several months and had started operating for limited hours recently, the PCHR said.
The Gaza Strip continued suffering from shortages in basic goods, medical supplies and fuels. Although Israel does not directly control the Rafah Border Crossing, it has been shut down by the army most of the time since June 25.
During the reported period, the crossing was opened on 8th, 9th and 12th of March 2007. Hundreds of Palestinians were able to travel through it. The Crossing was also supposed to be reopened on 3rd March 2007, but the army prevented EU observers from reaching it.
The Karni (Al Mintar) Commercial Crossing in the Gaza Strip was partially opened but many goods and medical supplies have been lacking in markets in the Gaza Strip.
The Eetz Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel remained closed. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been prevented from traveling through it; only international workers were allowed to pass.
The PCHR report added that with this closure, only a few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank.
The PCHR stated that on Friday, 16th February 2007, the army opened the Crossing Point under new procedures; Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank have to obtain permits from the Army's so-called Civil Administration Office, as was the case before.
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem had to hand their identity cars to the Israeli Ministry of Interior before being handed travel documents to Gaza. In the past, Jerusalem residents had to hand their identity cards to the army at the crossing, and get them back when they leave the Gaza Strip.
Three Palestinian fishermen were injured after Israeli gunboats fired at their boats on the Rafah shoreline, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.
Also, during the reported period, Israeli soldiers shot and injured fifteen civilians, including three children, and an Israeli peace activist.
Twelve of the injured civilians, and the Israeli activist were injured during the weekly non-violent protest against the Israeli Annexation Wall in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah in the northern part of the West Bank.
Troops carried out 40 invasions of Palestinian cities, villages and refugee camps in the West Bank, and took prisoner 63 civilians, including seven children.
Among the abducted residents, twelve civilians, including three children and one girl, who were taken prisoner at Israeli military roadblocks. One civilian was taken prisoner in the Gaza Strip.
The number of Palestinians who were abducted by the army since the beginning of this year reached 745.
Israeli soldiers also broke into the offices of Afaq local TV station in Nablus, in the northern part of the West Bank, and used staff members as human shields while searching the offices.
Moreover, soldiers stormed an elementary school in Ethna village, west of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and beat a number of school children.
The Israeli police and army demolished two Palestinian houses in Sour Baher village, southwest of Jerusalem.
Also in Jerusalem, one Palestinian civilian was seriously injured in Abu Dis village, southeast of Jerusalem, after Israeli soldiers fired at him.
The occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, remained under strict siege, and the residents faced further restrictions on movement.
Israel continued its settlement activities in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the army annexed 17 dunams of Palestinian farmlands in Qalqilia, in the northern part of the West Bank.
Israeli settlers living in illegal settlement outposts in Hebron carried out a series of attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property. Several settlers of the illegal Abraham Abino” outpost attacked several residents working with the Construction Committee of the Old City, and hurled stones at them.
Also, a number of Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” illegal settlement in Tal Romeida outpost in, the center of Hebron, attacked a number of houses in Jabal al-Rahma and Tal Romeida with iron bars and empty bottles, claiming that a number of headstones in the “Jewish graveyard” in Jabal al-Rahma neighborhood were destroyed.
Moreover, soldiers handed Palestinian civilians in Qalqilia town, and the nearby village of Azzoun, military orders confiscating 17400 square meters of agricultural lands planted with citrus fruits.
For the full PCHR report, click here PCHR REPORT
