[News] Palestine - Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations

[Anti-Imperialist News]

PCHR Weekly Report: 2 Palestinian fighters killed; 7 civilians, 3 
fighters wounded by Israeli forces

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  Friday April 16, 2010 09:36
author
 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News
http://www.imemc.org/article/58456

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights' Weekly Report 
on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian 
Territories, in the week 8-14th April 2010, 7 Palestinian civilians, 
including two children, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West 
Bank. Two Palestinian militants were killed and 3 others were wounded 
by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

Also this week, Israeli forces fired at Palestinian farmers and 
workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip and continued to use force 
against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

Israeli forces carried out 23 incursions into Palestinian communities 
in the West Bank, during which they abducted 35 civilians, including 
two children;12 of them, including, 5 internationals and two 
photojournalists, were abducted as peaceful demonstrations dispersed.

On Monday April 12th at around 08:30 am Israeli forces moved into 
'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya. They surrounded the Yasser Arafat 
Elementary School in the west of the village. When the headmaster 
asked the soldiers the reason for the action, he was told they wanted 
to arrest a number of students for throwing stones at their vehicles. 
The headmaster refused to allow them into the classrooms but they 
stayed in the area. The headmaster was later able to let the students 
exit the school through a side gate without the troops noticing.

Israeli Annexation Wall:

Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall inside 
West Bank territory. During the reporting period, 7 Palestinian 
civilians, including two children, were wounded and 3 journalists 
sustained bruises when Israeli forces used excessive force against 
peaceful demonstration in protest against the theft of more land.

On Thursday April 8th, at approximately 23:15, Israeli forces moved 
into al-Ma'sara village, south of Bethlehem. They raided a two-story 
house belonging to Mohammed and Hassan Ahmed Braijiya, activists in 
Popular Committee against Settlements and the Wall. Soldiers 
interrogated Hassan accusing him of incitement and warned him against 
organizing further protests.

Following Friday Prayers on April 9th, dozens of Palestinian 
civilians and international and Israeli human rights activists took 
part in a peaceful demonstration in protest of the construction of 
the Annexation Wall in Bil'iin village, west of Ramallah. The 
demonstrators moved approached the Wall and tried to reach village 
land cut off by the Wall. Immediately, Israeli troops fired 
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at 
them. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas 
inhalation and some sustained bruises. Israeli forces also abducted 
Haitham Jamal al-Khatib, 34, a photographer of B'Tselem and member of 
the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, but he was 
later released.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 09 April 2010, dozens of 
Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders 
organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne'lin village, west of 
Ramallah, in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall. They 
clashed with Israeli forces troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli 
forces troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear 
gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from 
tear gas inhalation, and other sustained bruises.

Also on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians together with 
international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful 
demonstration in Nabil Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in 
protest to land confiscation in Wad al-Raya area between the villages 
of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to 
reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near "Halmish" 
settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound 
bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 7 Palestinian 
civilians, including two children, were wounded by rubber-coated 
metal bullets. Dozens of demonstrators also suffered from tear gas 
inhalation, and other sustained bruises.

On Saturday morning, 10 April 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians 
and number of international and Israeli human rights defenders and 
peace activists organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Ummar and 
Safa village, north of Hebron, in protest to the construction of the 
Annexation Wall and settlement activities. They moved towards 'Ein 
al-Baida area, 500 meters to the northeast, where Israeli forces plan 
to confiscate areas of Palestinian land. Israeli troops were 
intensively deployed in the area. They surrounded the demonstrators 
and declared Safa village a closed military zone. At approximately 
14:00, Israeli troops fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the 
demonstrators. They also beat a number of demonstrators. According to 
investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces abducted 11 
civilians (6 Palestinian civilians, including a journalist, and 5 
international solidarity activists). The Palestinian civilians who 
were abducted are:

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

In the Gaza Strip, on 13 April 2010, Israeli forces killed two 
members of the Palestinian resistance and wounded 3 others in armed 
clashes near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east 
of al-Boreij refugee camp.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 3 limited incursions into 
Palestinian areas, during which they leveled areas of land, which 
they had previously razed. During these incursions, two Palestinian 
houses were damaged. Israeli forces partially destroyed a house in 
the southern Gaza Strip.

Israel has continued to impose a total siege and has isolated the 
Gaza Strip from the outside world. Israel has continuously closed all 
border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over two and a half years. The 
illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened 
since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and 
economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

In January, Israeli forces decided to close Nahal Ouz crossing 
permanently, and to allow the entry of fuels through Karm Abu Salem 
(Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, claiming security 
reasons. 1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, 
including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living 
conditions, work, health and education.

On Thursday April 8th, at approximately 09:00, Israeli forces moved 
400 meters into the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan 
Yunis in the Gaza Strip. They leveled areas of land, which they had 
previously razed, along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. 
During this incursion, Israeli tanks opened fire indiscriminately. At 
approximately 15:00, a tank shell hit a house belonging to Hisham 
Mohammed Abu Farhana. The house and a neighboring house belonging to 
Abu Farhana's brother were damaged. Israeli forces redeployed outside 
the area at approximately 21:00 of the same day.

On Monday April 12th, at approximately 22:10, Israeli troops 
stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the 
north of the Bedouin Village fired 4 flash bombs that landed on 
Palestinian houses in the village. No casualties or damages were reported.

Israeli settlement activities:

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the West Bank and 
Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and 
property. Israeli forces demolished two houses in the West Bank.

Israeli settlers burnt 3 cars belonging to Palestinian civilians in 
Hawara village, south of Nablus. Thousands of Israeli settlers 
stormed Kufor Hares village and Joseph's Tomb in the northern West 
Bank. An Israeli settler threw a steel object at a car belonging to a 
Palestinian political figure.

On 08 April 2010, Israeli forces moved into Kufol Hares village, 
north of Salfit. Later, at least 5,000 Israeli settlers moved into 
the village and raided several Islamic sites. They also threw rocks 
at houses, damaging them.

On 10 April 2010, an Israeli settler threw a small steel object at 
the car of Khaled Hassan Sobeh, 50, member of the political bureau of 
the Palestinian People's Party, when he was traveling from Nablus to 
Ramallah. The front window of the car was broken, but no injuries 
were reported.

On 12 April 2010, Israeli forces moved into the east of Nablus to 
secure access of Israeli settlers to the area. Soon, buses 
transporting dozens of Israeli settlers arrived. The settlers exited 
the buses and conducted religious ceremonies near Joseph's Tomb.

On 13 April 2010, Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest 
of Salfit. They demolished a 130-square-meter, two-story, house 
currently under construction and belonging to Maher Hassan Sultan, 
claiming that it was being built without a license. They also 
demolished a car wash facility belonging to Ghannam 'Abed Daoud.

On 13 April 2010, at least 15 Israeli settlers from "Karmi Tsur" 
settlement to the south of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, 
threatened Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 42, and his family, when they 
were on their own land 70 meters from the aforementioned settlement. 
The settlers fired into the air, terrifying the family.

On 14 April 2010, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, 
southwest of Bethlehem. They demolished a 160-square-meter house 
belonging to 'Ali Saleem Mousa, in which 8 people live. The house is 
located 150 meters from the Annexation Wall.

Also on 14 April 2010, Israeli settlers burnt 3 cars belonging to 
Palestinian civilians in Hawara village, south of Nablus. The 
settlers also spray-painted a Star of David onto the wall of a mosque 
in the village.

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. 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.

The PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on 
international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a 
peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such 
an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in 
the region. Any peace process or agreement must be based on respect 
for international law, including international human rights and 
humanitarian law.

For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
category
  <http://www.imemc.org/index.php?obj_id=2126&region=palestine>palestine 
| <http://www.imemc.org/index.php?obj_id=2126&topic=humanrights>human 
rights | 
<http://www.imemc.org/index.php?obj_id=2126&type=newsreport>news report
author email
 <mailto:saed%20at%20imemc%20dot%20org>saed at imemc dot org
Related Link(s): 
<http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6429:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-08-14-april-2010&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183>http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_...d=183




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