In its Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 27 Oct. – 02 Nov. 2011, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that12 Palestinian resistance fighters were killed and 5 others were wounded by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces escalated attacks on the Gaza Strip. Israeli warplanes launched 17 air strikes against various targets. As a result of these attacks, 12 Palestinian resistance fighters were killed 5 others were wounded. Additionally, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded.
On 27 October 2011, a Palestinian shepherd was wounded by Israeli gunfire in the southeast of Rafah.
On 29 October 2011, a Palestinian resistance fighter and a child were wounded when an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a number of fighters of the al-Quds Brigades in the central Gaza Strip.
Also on 29 October 2011, Israeli warplanes bombarded a training site of the al-Quds Brigades (the armed wing of Islamic Jihad) in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. As a result, 5 resistance fighters were killed.
On the same day, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two fighters of the al-Quds Brigades also in Rafah. The two fighters were killed.
On the same day, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two fighters of the al-Quds Brigades in the west of Gaza City. The two fighters were killed.
On 30 October 2011, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at two fighters of the National Resistance Brigades (the armed wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine) in Rafah. A fighter was killed and the other one was seriously wounded.
On the same day, Israeli warplanes fired 3 missiles at 3 fighters of al-Ansar Brigades (the armed wing of al-Ahrar Movement) in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis. Two fighters were killed.
At approximately 11:15 on Tuesday, 01 November 2011, Israeli soldiers stationed on observation towers at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians and international solidarity fighters who demonstrated near the crossing. According to Saber al-Za’anin, Coordinator of the Local Initiative in Beit Hanoun, stated that once the demonstrators got as close as to 70 meters from the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel and placed the Palestinian flag on a hill, Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. No casualties were reported.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank , during which they abducted 8 Palestinians.
In addition, Israeli soldiers abducted 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at various checkpoints in the West Bank. In one instance, Israeli forces used a dog to attack a Palestinian civilian.
Israel has continued measures aimed at creating a Jewish majority in East Jerusalem. The Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem exerts pressure to accelerate the establishment of a biblical park in Silwan village.
Israeli forces demolished 3 houses in al-Khan al-Ahmar area.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers while harvesting olives in the West Bank.
On 31 October 2011, a number of Israeli settlers from “Maghroun” settlement, which stands on the lands of Mikhmas village, southeast of Ramallah, threw stones at ‘Aa’esha Mohammed Abu ‘Ali, 78. As a result, she was injured in the head and the right hand.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities in the West Bank, and in protest to the establishment of a buffer zone in the Gaza Strip. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded and dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders suffered from tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They raised the Palestinian flag and portraits of Marwan al-Barghouthi and Ahmed Sa’adat, Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council who have been detained by Israeli forces. They then moved towards areas of Palestinian land, which the Israeli High Court ordered to be returned to their Palestinian owners. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, a civilian was hit by a tear gas canister to the right hand, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the annexation wall. They chanted slogans calling for Palestinian reconciliation, adherence to the Palestinian inalienable rights and resistance of the occupation. Additionally, they chanted ‘194 is the State of Palestine’ and other slogans against the American President and his speech at the United Nations that was defended the Israeli occupation. They clashed with Israeli troops positioned near the annexation wall. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations and settlement activities. They raised the Palestinian flag, chanted slogans callling for ending the occupation. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near ‘Halmish’ settlement, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 28 October 2011, dozens of Palestinian civilians a peaceful demonstration in Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilya, in protest to continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village by Israeli forces. Israeli forces intercepted the demonstration and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.
The PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with their legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
