According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)'s Weekly Report, during the week of 29 May – 04 June 2008, 2 Palestinians, including an elderly woman and a civilian who died of earlier injuries, were killed by Israeli forces. In addition, 12 Palestinians, including 8 civilians, were wounded by Israeli forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 34 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Israeli forces abducted 43 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children. Since the beginning of this year, 1,267 Palestinian civilians have been abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
On 31 May, a Palestinian child was injured when Israeli forces fired live ammunition at a number of children who threw stones at Israeli military vehicles in Sarra village, southwest of Nablus.
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 forces positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abducted 2 Palestinian civilians.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside West Bank territory. During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at 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 30 May, scores of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders demonstrated in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the Wall. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall, but Israeli forces closed all gates designed for crossing the Wall. The demonstrators then set fire to tires in protest of the closure of gates. Immediately, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:
Also following the Friday Prayer on 30 May, 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. Israeli forces placed barbwire near the land to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. They also fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters and violently beat a number of demonstrators.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli settlers living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
During the reporting period, the Israeli Minister of Housing declared that his ministry would invite bids to construct 120 housing unit on Abu Ghunaim Mount, south of East Jerusalem, and 700 others in “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement neighborhood in Jerusalem. In a statement to Israel Radio, Boim said the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave a green light to start the construction of 884 housing units in Occupied East Jerusalem.
On 1 June, Israeli forces prevented vehicles belonging to the local council of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, from leveling land in the east of the village in preparation for supplying the village with electricity.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed an elderly Palestinian woman, and another civilian died of a previous injury in the Gaza Strip.
In the Gaza Strip, on 29 May, Israeli forces killed an elderly Palestinian woman during an incursion into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. On the same day, Palestinian medical sources declared that a Palestinian civilian died of injuries sustained by Israeli forces on the previous day.
On 30 May, 4 Palestinian civilians were injured when Israeli forces used force against a demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians near Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, in protest at the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
On 1 June, Israeli forces wounded 3 activists of the Palestinian resistance during an incursion into Bani Suhiala village, east of Khan Yunis.
On 3 June, a Palestinian civilian was injured by Israeli forces gunfire during an incursion into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 4 incursions into Palestinian communities. During these incursions, Israeli forces razed at least 195 donums of agricultural land, completely demolished one house, and partially demolished five others, and also detained 11 Palestinian civilians.
Israeli forces have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for almost two years. The siege has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors.
Israeli forces have continued to prevent the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip, and many factories have been forced to close. Severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the entire Palestinian civilian population.
Recommendations to the International Community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli violations of international law 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.
For the full report, click on the link below:
