According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)'s Weekly Report, during the week of 19 – 26 Mar. 2008, 2 Palestinian farmers were killed by Israeli forces, and 2 members of the Palestinian resistance died of previous wounds. 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic, were wounded by Israeli forces in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 48 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 82 Palestinian civilians, including 15 children. Israeli forces raided and searched offices of a number of NGOs, charities and radio stations in the West Bank.
In an example of one such invasion, on Thursday March 20th, at approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus, and imposed a curfew. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli forces military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops opened fire at them. Mahdi Ghaleb al-Jaghoub, 25, was wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen. He was evacuated to the hospital in a Palestinian ambulance, but Israeli troops positioned at Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus, abducted him. He was then taken in an Israeli ambulance to an unknown destination.
In another example, on Friday the 21st of March, Israeli forces moved into Ras al-Joura neighborhood in the north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to the al-Junaidi family. They abducted Ayman Shaker al-Junaidi, 37, who suffers from cancer. They also confiscated 2 computer sets and 3 mobile phones.
Israeli forces have also tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli forces also erected more checkpoints on the main roads and intersections in the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abducted 7 Palestinian civilians.
In addition, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a paramedic, in Beita village, south of Nablus; ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya; Hawara village, south of Nablus, and Bil’in village, west of Ramallah.
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. Restrictions of the movement of Palestinian civilians often escalate on Fridays to prevent them from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli forces often violently beat Palestinian civilians who attempt to bypass checkpoints and enter the city.
Israeli Settlement Activity:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attacks Palestinian civilians and property. Israeli forces razed area of Palestinian land in Hebron. Israeli forces demolished 7 houses in Jerusalem and Hebron. 3 Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli settlers in Hebron.
At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 19 March 2008, Israeli forces moved into Hazma village, east of Jerusalem. They demolished 120-square-meter house belonging to Sa’id ‘Arman Sa’ada, and an 80-square-meter one belonging to Ahmed Yousef al-Nounu.
On Thursday morning, 20 March 2008, Israeli forces moved into Sousia area to the south of Yatta village, south of Hebron. They demolished a 120-square-meter house belonging to Yasser Mohammed al-‘Odra near “Mitsadot Yehuda” settlement, apparently to expand the settlement.
Also on Thursday morning, Israeli forces moved into Qwaiwees village, southeast of Hebron. They demolished 2 houses belonging to Ibrahim No’man Abu ‘Arram and ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Na’min. Also on Thursday morning, Israeli forces moved into Mnaizel village, southeast of Hebron. They demolished 2 houses belonging Mohammed Khalil Abu Qbaita and ‘Eid Salama Rasheed, to establish a new settler road.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 21, 22 and 23 March 2008 respectively, dozens of Israeli settlers living in settlement outposts in the center of Hebron launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and property. Israeli troops were present, but did not intervene to stop the attacks. Three Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured.
Israel Annexation Wall:
Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside the West Bank. On 19 March 2008, Israeli forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the villages of al-Burj, Deir al-‘Assal, Sikka and al-Majd, southwest of Hebron, to establish a settler road between the Negev inside Israel and Israeli settlements established on Palestinian land to the northwest of Hebron. During the reporting period, Israeli forces demolished 4 houses in Jerusalem and Jenin near the Annexation Wall.
On Wednesday morning, Israeli forces moved into al-Jeeb village, northwest of Jeruslame. They demolished 3 tin-made houses belonging to Mahmoud Rabee’ Ka’abna, Fawzi Mahmoud Ka’abna and Mohammed Mahmoud Ka’abna, claming that they were built without licenses. According to residents of the area, the houses were located on the route of the Wall near occupied Jerusalem. Israeli troops also attacked Maisa Ka’bna, 56, when she protested the demolition of the houses.
Following the Friday Prayer on 21 March 2008, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the Wall. Israeli troops had placed barbwires in the area to prevent the demonstrators from reaching the Wall. The demonstrators attempted to move forward. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Mohammed Shihada, a paramedic, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the hand, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Israeli Attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip. Two members of the Palestinian resistance died from previous wounds.
In addition, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians in 2 separate attacks in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, on 20 and 24 March 2008. They also wounded a 4-year-old child in Wadi al-Salqa villag in the central Gaza Strip. Also during the reporting period, 2 members of the Palestinian resistance died from previous wounds.
Israeli forces demolished 4 houses, razed 94 donums[1] of agricultural land and destroyed 2 bird farms in al-Qarara village in the Gaza Strip.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian farmers in the Gaza Strip. Two members of the Palestinian resistance died from previous wounds. Additionally, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians in 2 separate attacks in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, on 20 and 24 March 2008. They also wounded a 4-year-old child in Wadi al-Salqa villag in the central Gaza Strip. Also during the reporting period, 2 members of the Palestinian resistance died from previous wounds.
Recommendations to the International Community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made a number of recommendations to the international community.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure Israel's respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel's respect of the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below.
