Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories continued during the reporting period (30 June – 13 July 2016).
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and child, in the West Bank while another one succumbed to his wounds. Moreover, Israeli forces wounded 31 other civilians, including 3 children, and a Scottish activist in the West Bank as well. Twenty-one of them were wounded in Qalendia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, a bird hunter was wounded when Israeli forces opened fire at the border areas in the northern Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, another civilian was opened when Israeli forces opened fire at dozens of Palestinian youngsters and children who headed tp the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip, to throw stones at the soldiers. Moreover, the Israeli warplanes conducted 6 airstrikes against 4 military training sites belonging to armed Palestinian groups and a commercial company.
In the West Bank, on 30 June 2016, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Naser Tarayrah (17) from Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron after opening fire at him when he sneaked into a house in “Givat Kharsina” settlement and stabbed a girl child to death.
On Friday, 01 July 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers killed Sarah Dawoud ‘Atah Tarayra (27), who is from Bani Na’eem village and married to Ismail Youssef Alhajouj. According to PCHR’s investigations, the abovementioned young woman arrived and entered to al- Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City. At approximately 09:00, she left the Mosque. Meanwhile, two male and female Israeli Border Guard officers summoned her and took her to a search room near the entrance to the Mosque. The female Guard Officer entered the room and was heard shouting at al-Tarayra was heard. The officer then rushed out of the room, carrying a pepper gas spray. As a result, the other Border officer immediately fired 3 live bullets at al-Tarayrah and killed her.
In occupied Jerusalem on 01 July 2016, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs and metal bullets against thousands of Palestinian civilians coming from different cities to gather at Qalendia military checkpoint, north of East occupied Jerusalem, attempting to cross the checkpoint to perform the last Friday prayer in Ramadan in al-Aqsa Mosque. As a result, Taysir Habash (63) from al-Masaken al-Sha’abiyah, northeast of Nablus, was killed due to severe gas inhalation. Other 42 civilians were also wounded; 15 of whom suffered gas inhalation, 12 were wounded due to stampede, 15 sustained various wounds due to being beaten by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 05:00 on Wednesday, 13 July 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at a vehicle in al-Ram village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, travelled by 3 Palestinian young men, who were on their way to work. As a result, the driver was killed, one passenger was wounded with a bullet to the head and another was arrested and taken for interrogation.
In the same context, during the reporting period, 30 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and a Scottish activist were wounded. Seven of them, including a child in Dura, southwest of Hebron, were wounded during incursions while another girl child was shot and wounded at the entrance to Kafl Haris village, north of Salfit, claiming she attempted to carry out a stab attack. During the weekly Kufor Qaddoum protest, north east of Qalqilya, two Palestinian civilians, including a child, and a Scottish activist, were wounded. Moreover, while exploding two houses on grounds of collective punishment in Qalednia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, 20 civilians, who were demonstrating against Israeli forces, were wounded; 18 of whom sustained minor wounds and the other two sustained moderate ones.
In the Gaza Strip, on 07 July 2016, medical resources in al-Wafa Hospital in al-Zahrah neighbourhood in the central Gaza Strip, declared that Nael Suliman Salh Salah (18), from al-‘Atatrah neighbourhood in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, succumbed to his wounds. Nael was wounded on 08 May 2015 after Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire at him. As a result, he was wounded with a bullet to the head and taken to hospitals in the Gaza Strip and Jerusalem to receive medical treatment.
On 01 July 2016, a Palestinian civilian was wounded with a bullet to right hand when Israeli forces opened fire at dozens of youngsters and children, who came to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers.
In the context of opening fire at the border areas, on 12 July 2016, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun village, opened fire at farmers and bird hunters in the area. As a result, a bird hunter was wounded with a bullet to his right hand palm when he was around 250 meters away to the west of the border fence.
In the context of airstrikes, on 02 July 2016, Israeli warplanes conducted 6 airstrikes and launched 8 missiles targeting 4 training sites belonging to Palestinian armed groups. During one of the airstrikes, Israeli warplanes targeted al-Haj Hasan Hasanein and his Sons Company for construction works located behind Abu Jubbah Gas Station, east of al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, a digger was completely destroyed and two others sustained partial damages. Moreover, other company equipment and the nearby building where Hasanein and his family live sustained partial damages. However, no casualties were reported.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 173 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 15 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 146 Palestinian civilians, including 23 children and 3 women. Fifty-four of them, including 17 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, on 12 July 2016, Israeli forces moved into east of ‘Abasan al-Kabireh village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They dug and levelled for hours the lands along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They later withdrew to station along the border fence.
Collective Punishment Measures against Palestinian civilians
Following the killing of an Israeli girl by a Palestinian child, who sneaked into “Givat Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron and was killed by Israeli forces, Israeli forces imposed further collective punishment measures against Palestinian civilians in Hebron. Israel’s Security Cabinet decided to impose a security cordon on the city and withdrew the work permits from the residents of Bani Na’im village; around 2800 permits. The Cabinet also decided to establish a cemetery in order to bury Palestinian corpses rather than handing them to their families and reduce the tax revenues that are paid to the Palestinian Authority.
In Tulkarm and after Wael Abu Saleh (40) was shot dead by a municipal inspector in Natania in Israel, claiming that he stabbed 2 Israelis, Israeli forces imposed a similar cordon on the city.
On 04 July 2016, large force of Israeli soldiers, moved into Qalendia refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, and surrounded two houses belonging to ‘Anan Abu Habsah and ‘Issa ‘Assaf. They asked the resident to get out of the house immediately to destroy it. The explosive engineering teams planted explosives in ‘Anan Abu Habsah’s bedroom and was detonated by remote. These forces then moved to Issa ‘Assaf’s house and destroyed the outside house walls. It should be mentioned that ‘Anan and Issa were killed on 23 December 2015 by Israeli forces after stabbing two Israeli settlers to death and wounded another in Hebron Gate area in Old Jerusalem.
Creating Jewish Majorities in Jerusalem:
On 30 June 2016, joint teams from the Israeli munciplaity and forces moved into al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of East Jeruslaem’s Old City. The municipality teams hanged an “eviction notice” on a house belonging to late Dr. ‘Adel Bashin, under the pretext of building without a permit for the interest of “National Parks”.
On 13 July 2016, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished three under-construction residential houses and a barrack for sheep and houses in in the village of Al-Mukabber Mount under the pretext of building without a permit. The houses belong to ‘Amer ‘Aweisat, Mohammed ‘Aqil and Durgham ‘Issa Abu Sakran while the barrack belong to his brother, ‘Ali Abu Sakran.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (KeremShaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
- Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities
West Bank:
- At approximately 13:50, on Friday, 01 July 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a 15-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen, while another 18-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.
- Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, and al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up. It should be noted that similar demonstrations were organized in the abovementioned areas on 08 July 2016, and no casualties were reported.
- At approximately 13:30, on Friday, 08 July 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a Scottish solidarity activist, Tom Anderson (24), was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg.
- Gaza Strip:
- At approximately 15:00, on 01 July 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Burij refugee camp, in the centre of the Gaza Strip. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. Israeli soldiers fired tear-gas canisters and live bullets in response. As a result, Mohamed Nabil Ahmed Safi (24) was hit with a live bullet to the right hand and taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, where his wounds were classified as moderate.
Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations.
Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethal if they hit the head of victim from a close range.
Continued Closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
- Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
- West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
- Hebron:
Israeli forces established (73) checkpoints all over the city.
On Friday, 01 July 2016, Israeli forces established 7 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Ethna, al-Kume, Deir Samet and Tarusah villages.
On Saturday, 02 July 2016, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Ethna, Sa’ir, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages.
On Monday, 04 July 2016, Israeli forces established 7 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Ethna, Sa’ir, al-Thaheriyah and Tarama villages. On Tuesday, 05 July 2016, Israeli forces established 7 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages.
On Wednesday, 06 July 2016, Israeli forces established 7 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages.
On Thursday, 05 July 2016, Israeli forces established 7 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages.
On Friday, 08 July 2016, Israeli forces established 6 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Mothallath al-Samou’, Tarama and Sa’ir villages. On Saturday, 09 July 2016, they established 5 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron, Halhoul, Ethnah, Mothallath al-Samou’ linked with the bypass road (60), the entrance to Tarama village linked with the bypass road (60). On Sunday, 10 July 2016, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron, Halhoul, Ethna, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama village.
On Thursday, 12 July 2016, Israeli forces established 6 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Beit Ommar, Halhoul, Ethna, Sa’ir, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages. On Wednesday, 12 July 2016, they established 5 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Hebron, Halhoul, Ethna, Mothallath al-Samou’ and Tarama villages.
- Ramallah and al-Bireh:
Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 30 June 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Ein Senia village and the entrance to Sanjal village, north of Ramallah.
On Friday, 01 July 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city and under the bridge of Kharbatha al-Mesbah village, southwest of the city.
- Qalqiliyah:
Israeli forces established (10) checkpoints all over the city.
On Friday, 01 July 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Hejah village; east of Qalqiliyah, and between Jayous and Azzoun villages, east of the city. At approximately 08:10 on Thursday, 07 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliya, and established the same checkpoint again at approximately 22:30. At approximately 09:55 on the same Thursday, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the crossroad of Jeet village, northeast of city.
At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 08 July 20166, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliya. At approximately 01:35, they established the same checkpoint again.
On Saturday, 09 July 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliya, and under the bridge of Azzoun village, that links Qalqiliya and Tulkarm. At approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 10 July 2016, they established a similar checkpoint between Azzoun and al-Nabi Elias villages, east of the city.
- Salfit:
Israeli forces established (10) checkpoints all over the city.
At approximately 23:30 on Friday, 01 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit.
At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, 02 July 2016, they established a similar checkpoint under the bridge of Eskakah village, east of the city. At approximately 22:15 on the same Saturday, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Zawiyah village, west of Salfit. At approximately 10:30, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance to Kafer al-Deek village, west of the city.
At approximately 15:40 on Saturday, 09 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Zawiyah village, west of Salfit. On Sunday, 10 July 2016, they established 3 checkpoints under Eskaka village, east of Salfit, the entrance to Kafer al-Deek village, west of the city and the entrance to Kafel Hares village, north of the city.
At approximately 13:40 on Monday, 11 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Eskaka village, east of Salfit. At approximately 20:30, they established a similar checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit.
- Jenin:
Israeli forces established (7) checkpoints all over the city.
At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 02 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the main road linking Jenin and Nablus near the crossroad of Arabah village, south of Jenin. At approximately 21:30 on Sunday, 03 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Silat al-Harithiya village, north of Jenin.
At approximately, 10:00 on Tuesday, 05 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the crossroad of Zabuba village, northwest of Jenin, and established the same checkpoint at the abovementioned crossroad at approximately 18:30. At approximately 13:30 on Wednesday, 06 July 2016, and 17:30 on Sunday, 10 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Deer Abu Da’if village, southeast of Jenin.
- Tulkarm:
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 03 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the main road linking Tulkarm and the villages in the north of Tulkarm known as (al-Sha’rawiyah) near al-Jaroushiyah village, north of Tulkarm. At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 07 July 2016, and 23:00, they re-established the same checkpoint.
At approximately 23:30 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces stationed at Enab checkpoint established on the main road linking between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened its arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement. At approximately 22:30 on Wednesday, 06 July 2016, 15:00 on Friday, 08 July 2016, 08:45 on Saturday, 09 July 2016 and 12:30 on Monday, 11 July 2016, the tightening has been re-imposed.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, 04 July 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the same place where the abovementioned checkpoint was established on the main road linking between Tulkarm and Qalqiliya near Jabarah village, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 12:30 on Thursday, 07 July 2016 and at approximately 22:30 on Monday, 11 July 2016, they established the checkpoint in the abovementioned area.
House demolitions and demolition notices:
- At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 30 June 2016, Israeli municipality crews and the Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem.
They hanged a vacate decision in preparation for demolition on a house belonging to the widow of Dr. Adel Basheer under the pretext of building without a permit to establish the “National Parks”.
Fakhri Abu Diayb, member of the Committee for the Defense of Land and Real Estate in Silwan, said that Israeli municipality hanged the decision on Basheer’s house in Silwan and gave the family 10 days to implement the demolition (after Eid al-Fetir). He also said that the municipality demolished Basheer’s house in 2005 and the house was rebuilt after few years. He added that the house is one of al-Bustan houses that are threatened to be demolished in favour of the “Biblical Parks” which are known as “David Park”.
- On Wednesday, 13 July 2016, the Israeli bulldozers demolished 3 under-construction houses and a barrack for sheep and horses in al-Mokaber Mount, southeast of East Jerusalem, under the pretext of building without a permit. Amer Ouaisat said that the Israeli bulldozers demolished his house which is under construction. Amer intended to live in the house in the coming days with his 5-member family (father, mother and 3 children). He also said that his house is built of bricks with an area of 100 square meters. He added that the Israeli bulldozers and the municipality crews raided the house at approximately 04:30 after they surrounded it, but no one was in the house at that time.
Mohammed Aqail said that the Israeli bulldozers demolished his father’s house that is under construction. The family consisting of 4 individuals began building the house before three months. As for Ali Essa Abu Sakran, he said that the bulldozers demolished his house which is 50 square meters and built of bricks and tin plates and a livestock barrack for raising sheep and horses with an area of 30-square-meters. He added that the family began building the house for his imprisoned brother Dargham Abu Sakran who will be released in the coming days.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;
2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;
11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians.
Fully detailed document available at PCHR official.
