In its weekly summary of Israeli attacks for the week of 12 – 18 June 2008, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reports that Israeli forces killed 15 Palestinians, including 6 who were killed in extrajudical assassinations in direct violation of international law and signed agreements. In addition, 18 Palestinians and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded by Israeli forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 29 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week. During those incursions, Israeli forces abducted 28 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. 2 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a woman, were abducted by Israeli forces at military checkpoints in the West Bank. 1,334 Palestinian civilians have been abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank since the beginning of 2008.
In an example of the Israeli incursions into the West bank this week, on 13 June, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Far’a refugee camp, south of Tubas, and opened fire indiscriminately. On the same day, a Palestinian civilian and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded when Israeli forces used force to disperse a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall.
On 14 June, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Deheishe refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, and fired at dozens of children and young men who threw stones at military vehicles. On 16 June, a Palestinian child was wounded when Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarem, and fired at dozens of children who threw stones at military vehicles.
On 15 June, Israeli forces handed notices to a number of Palestinian civilians in Kherbat Samra village, east of Tubas, informing them that 356 donums of their land would be seized for the purpose of establishing a military training site.
Contrary to Israeli claims of easing restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians, Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been denied access to Jerusalem. Israeli forces have established many checkpoints around and inside the city.
Israeli Settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. During the reporting period, the Israeli District Construction and Planning Committee in Jerusalem approved the construction of 1,300 housing unit in “Ramat Shlomo” settlement near Beit Hanina neighborhood in the north of East Jerusalem. According to the Israeli daily newspaper, Ha’aretz, the number of housing units in East Jerusalem whose construction has been completed or approved since the Annapolis peace conference, has mounted to 7,974.
On 12 June, two Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli settlers in Hawara village, south of Nablus. At approximately 02:10 in the morning, Palestinian civilians living in Hawara village, south of Nablus, were surprised by a civilian car holding an Israeli registration plate stopping near a house belonging to Khalaf Mohammed ‘Abdul Hamid, 61, in the west of the village. Two persons wearing civilian clothes got out of the car and opened a car and a shop belonging to ‘Abdul Hamid and his brother. 'Abdul Hamid and his family thought that the two persons were thieves, so they tried to confront them. They then discovered that the two persons were Israeli settlers and they were carrying knives and iron bars, with which they attacked the Palestinian civilians, injuring two. Approximately an hour and a half later, Palestinian civilians were able to capture the two settlers, and handed them over to Israeli forces, who let them go.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, the Israeli army used force against a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, and al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem.
Following the Friday Prayer on 13 June 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, to protest the construction of the Wall. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a Palestinian civilian and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 13 June 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem. The demonstrators moved towards Palestinian land which was confiscated by Israeli forces. Five Palestinian civilians were injured.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 15 Palestinians and wounded 11 others in the Gaza Strip.
On 12 June, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian resistance activists and wounded 2 others in 3 separate incidents of air strikes and shooting in Beit Lahia and Jabalia towns in the northern Gaza Strip and Khuza’a village in the southern Gaza Strip.
In one of the incidents, Israeli forces positioned along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia town, fired artillery shells at 2 fighters of the Palestinian resistance, who were in al-Sayafa area, northwest of Beit Lahia, approximately 700 meters away from the border. The two activists were killed. Palestinian medical crews were able to remove the dismembered body of one of them, who was identified as Mohammed Jamal Doula, 20. However, they were not able to reach the body of the other activist until 19:00. They found the body buried under sand. The second fighter was identified as Khaled Ahmed Zuhod, 24.
On 15 June, Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian resistance activists and wounded 4 others in Khuza’a village in the southern Gaza Strip, and in Gaza City.
On 16 June, Israeli forces moved into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, after they had killed 3 activists of the Palestinian resistance. Israeli forces leveled land and opened fire indiscriminately.
At approximately 12:10 on Tuesday, 17 June, an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at a civilian car that was traveling in al-Brouk Street in the west of Deir al-Balah town in the central Gaza Strip. A number of members of the Army of Islam were traveling in the car. The missile fell near the car, and the occupants were able to get out of it. Three civilian bystanders were wounded, and the six fighters in the car were killed.
Recommendations to the International Community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights this week, the PCHR made a number of recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Another recommendation was that the European Union 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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