Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories | No. 30 /2003 | 07– 13 August2003

Israeli Forces Continue Violations of Human Rights in the OPT

4 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in ‘Askar refugee camp in Nablus
A Palestinian activist was killed in a wide-scale Israeli incursion into Hebron
Indiscriminate Israeli shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued
A house in ‘Askar refugee camp in Nablus was destroyed as Israel continued its campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields in military operations
Israeli forces denied access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands to replant them and razed more areas of agricultural land
Continued suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails
Continued siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and partial ease of the siege in the Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces extended closure of Hebron University and Polytechnic University in Hebron


Introduction

Israeli occupying forces continue to conduct illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including collective punishment measures and shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas. This week, Israeli occupying forces sustained the siege imposed on the OPTs, raided Palestinian houses and arrested more Palestinians. Israeli forces also continued to establish the “security fence” in the West Bank. Thus far, Israeli forces have confiscated large areas of Palestinian agricultural land, and have isolated 14 Palestinian villages in Tulkram and Jenin from their Palestinian surroundings in order to construct the “fence” This week,7 - 13August2003 , 4Palestinians were killed and 10 others, including a number of children, were wounded by Israeli occupying forces.

On Friday morning, 8 August 2003, in the most violent Israeli military operation since the beginning of a cease-fire against Israeli targets declared by Palestinian resistance organizations on 30 June2003 , Israeli occupying forces killed 4 Palestinians (two activists of the Hamas movement and two civilians) in the ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, and destroyed a4 -storey apartment building while one of the activists was still inside. In addition, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4children, were wounded.

In a similar operation, this morning, Thursday, 14 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Sha’aba neighborhood in the northeast of Hebron, and began to shell the area. During this incursion, Israeli occupying forces killed Mohammed Ayoub Seder,25 , an activist of the Islamic Jihad movement. A number of shops and stores were also destroyed. It is worth noting that Seder had survived an assassination attempt two years ago, in which two Palestinian children were killed by Israeli forces. Shortly after the assassination attempt Israeli occupying forces destroyed Seder’s house.

This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas in the Gaza Strip, especially in Khan Yunis. While no casualties were reported, a number of houses were damaged, endangering the lives and causing fear among Palestinian civilians in the area. Israeli occupying forces conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and raided Palestinian houses. While searching the homes Israeli forces used Palestinian civilians as human shields. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have arrested more than 100 Palestinians during house raids since 7 August2003 .

As part of the continued denial of Palestinian children’s right of education, on Sunday, 10 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces issued a decision maintaining closure of Hebron University and Polytechnic Palestine University in Hebron for another month, starting on Monday, 11 August2003 . Israeli occupying forces have closed the two universities since 11 January2003 .

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on most of the OPT, especially in the West Bank. While Israeli forces have partially withdrawn from the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have continued to use checkpoints in order to restrict movement on these roads and at border crossings. They often obstruct movement of people at al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan Yunis. Israeli forces moved the military observation tower at al-Matahen junction approximately20 m to the west, and the observation tower at Abu Houli checkpoint approximately20 m to the northeast. At al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza city, Israeli occupying forces established two iron gates, approximately200 m away from the junction. They moved an Israeli military location in the area to the east of the junction.

Israeli forces have also maintained the strict siege imposed on the al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than8 , 000Palestinians live, as well as the al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. In the al-Sayafa area, Israeli occupying forces have begun to issue magnetic cards for residents of the area, to be used to move into and outside the area.

Israeli occupying forces have restricted the access of Palestinian fishermen to the sea and Palestinian workers continue to face humiliating measures at “Erez” (Beit Hanoun) crossing in the northern Gaza Strip on the way to their work in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict the passage of goods through commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip. Rafah terminal, on the border with Egypt, has recently witnessed a growing humanitarian crisis.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on Palestinian communities, isolating them from one another. They have continued to restrict movement of Palestinians at military checkpoints, despite Israeli claims that a number of military checkpoints were dismantled. Palestinians under 35 are not allowed to cross Israeli military checkpoints without obtaining permits issued by the so-called “Israeli Civil Administration”. For the4 th consecutive day, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a strict curfew on the center and south of Hebron. They have beaten a number of Palestinian civilians, claiming that they violated the curfew.

While the Israeli government, to create an illusion of Israel’s dedication to the current peace process, released a small amount of Palestinian prisoners whose sentences had almost expired, Israeli Prison Authoritys escalated repressive practices and arbitrary measures against the remaining6 , 000or more Palestinian prisoners, including 82 women and 406 children, still detained under inhuman conditions in Israeli jails.

In another arbitrary action, on 12August2003 , Israeli occupying forces expelled a resident of Jaffa in Israel, Ahmed Mahmoud Ta’na,21 , from Tulkarm, to the Gaza Strip. Ta’ana, who is deaf and dumb was arrested in Jaffa, where he works as a street-hawker. He was beaten by Israeli soldiers and was forced to pay a fine. Israeli occupying forces then transferred him to the Gaza Strip and handed him to the Palestinian side on 13 August2003 .

In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians whom Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. In this context, they destroyed a Palestinian house in ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, on 13 August2003 .





Excessive Use of Force against Palestinian Civilians and Attacks on Their Property

This week, Israeli occupying forces fired at Palestinian civilians, shelled Palestinian residential areas and encroached into Palestinian Authority controlled areas. Following are details of these human rights violations:

At approximately17 : 00on Thursday, 7 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis, fired at Ahmed Hammad Mohammed al-Daghma, 20, frpm ‘Abasan village east of Khan Yunis, who suffers from a psychological disorder, while he was near the border. Al-Daghma was not hurt. Immediately, Israeli occupying forces moved into the area and arrested him. The arrest occurred after Palestinian liaison informed Israeli authorities about his psychological condition. It is worth noting that al-Dghama was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis in similar circumstances on 29 February2003 .

At approximately23 : 00on the same day, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and farms in al-Qarara village. No casualties were reported, however, the civilian population in the area continues to fear the danger of further indiscriminate attacks.

On Friday morning, 8 August 2003, in the most violent Israeli military operation since the beginning of a cease-fire against Israeli targets declared by Palestinian resistance organizations on 30 June2003 , Israeli occupying forces killed 4 Palestinians (two activists of Hamas movement and two civilians) in ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, and destroyed a4 -storey apartment building.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately03 : 45on Friday, 8 August2003 , 4 armored personnel carriers, 14 military jeeps, two military bulldozers of Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with two helicopters, moved into ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, from its northeastern entrance. Israeli occupying forces reached al-Safa Street in the camp and surrounded a4 -storey apartment building in an attempt to arrest two Palestinian activists of Ezziddin al-Qassam, the military wing of the Hamas movement. At approximately04 :15, Israeli occupying forces ordered residents of the building through megaphones to leave the building within 15 minutes. Then, an exchange of fire took place between Israeli occupying forces and the two activists. At approximately05 :45, in an excessive use of force and in disregard for the lives of civilians, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at the third floor of the building, where the activists were hiding. The floor was totally destroyed.

At approximately06 :00, after the exchange of fire stopped, Israeli occupying forces used a number of residents of the building as human shields and forced them to enter the building to evacuate the bodies of the two activists. Approximately 10 minutes later, they evacuated one of the bodies. The victim was identified as Khamis Yousef Abu Salem,30 . Israeli occupying forces kept the body. At approximately07 :30, Israeli occupying forces planted explosives in the building and destroyed it. Then, an Israeli military bulldozer moved towards ruins of the building and started to level it, apparently to ensure that the other activist would not survive. When Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the area, Palestinian civilians started searching for the other activist. They found his body at approximately10 :00. He was identified as Fayez FarID Hamed al-Sader,27 . The body was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus. According to medical sources, al-Sader was hit by more than 10 live bullets throughout the body.

At approximately11 :00, while Israeli occupying forces were withdrawing from the ‘Askar refugee camp, they opened fire at Palestinian civilians who came out of their homes to check on what was happening. A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud Tayseer al-Tak,18 , was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in a civilian car, but all attempts made to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead in the evening. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep fired at al-Tak from a distance of50 -60m. At the same time, Israeli occupying forces fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation, including Fawzi Ahmed Fawzi al-‘Alami,41 , who died at a hospital.



In addition, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire during the operation:



1. ‘Othman ‘Abdul Halim Rebhi,13 , wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;

2. Mahmoud Salah Refa’ei,17 , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;

3. Mahmoud Mahmoud Ba’bas,17 , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;

4. Tha’er Musleh Ibrahim Balalu,17 , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;

5. Ahmed Jamil Hussein Mousa,22 , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side; and

6. Hammad Farouq Bahri,23 , wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left forearm.



At approximately16 : 00on the same day, a number of Israeli military vehicles moved into Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and surrounded the eastern part of the city. A number of Palestinian resistance fighters exchanged fire with Israeli occupying forces. Three gunmen were wounded:



1. Mohammed Qandil Abu Salem,25 , seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back;

2. Adeeb Mahmoud al-Qet,27 , wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen; and

3. Mohammed Ahmed Abu Sorour,30 , wounded by shrapnel in the legs.



At approximately18 : 30on the same day, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved approximately120 m into Boba’ area in the southeast of Deir al-Balah, west of “Kfar Darom” settlement. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land they had already razed. They withdrew from the area 6 hours later. On the following day, Saturday, 9 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces moved into the area again and opened fire at Palestinian houses. They withdrew from the area two hours later. They moved into the area again on Sunday evening, 10 August 2003. No casualties were reported, however, due to the threat posed by Israeli forces, Palestinian residents of the area had not been able to get out of their houses for 3 days.

At approximately22 : 00on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood and the cemeteries to the east. A number of houses were damaged.

At approximately20 : 30on Saturday, 9 August2003 , 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A Palestinian civilian, Bilal Mahmoud Shallash Hamamra,23 , was wounded by shrapnel from live bullets in the face and the neck.

At approximately22 : 00on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Morag” settlement, south of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and farms to the northeast. The area also witnessed an intense movement of Israeli tanks, so some Palestinian civilians left their homes fearing of intense shelling.

At approximately02 : 30on Sunday, 10 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A number of houses were damaged and Palestinian civilians were terrified. At the same time, Israeli occupying forces in “al-Nouria” military location, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood.

At approximately08 : 00on the same day, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including two bulldozers, moved approximately300 m into the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They razed a5 -donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Nabil Khalil ‘Aayesh. They also leveled areas of agricultural land they had already razed. The Israeli incursion continued until 19:00, during which Israeli occupying forces were firing sporadically to force Palestinian farmers away from the area.

At approximately09 : 00on the same day, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian civilians were terrified.

At approximately15 : 30on Monday, 11 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces moved approximately150 m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of Salah al-Din Rezeq Hammad al-Farra. Israeli soldiers called through megaphones on the 25 residents of the house to get out of it. Israeli soldiers held those residents for an hour under the sun. They also used the owner as a human shield while searching the house. They ordered him to close all of the windows on the northern part of the house, which overlooks al-Matahen road leading to the “Gush Qatif” settlement block, northwest of Khan Yunis. They threatened to destroy the house in case he opens those windows.

On the same day evening, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately700 m into Palestinian areas west of “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They searched the area. They withdrew from the area on the following day morning. Palestinian civilians could get out of their houses only when Israeli soldiers withdrew from the area.





Israeli Occupying Forces Maintain Closure of Hebron and Palestine Polytechnic Universities

As part of continued denial of the Palestinian right of education, on Sunday, 10 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces issued a decision maintaining the closure of Hebron University and Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron for another month starting on Monday, 11August2003 . Israeli occupying forces first closed the two universities on 11January 2003 for 14 days, renewable for up to 6 months. On Thursday, 10 July 2003, when the 6 months ended, Israeli occupying forces renewed the closure of the two universities for another month. The current period of closure is supposed to end on Wednesday, 10 September2003 . Since January2003 , students at the two universities have been forced to take their classes at schools and social institutions in Hebron.



On Monday morning, 11 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a strict siege on Hebron University, preventing the administration from organizing a celebration for three graduating classes. The university administration has not been able to organize such a graduation since the beginning of the current Intifada.





Restrictions on Freedom of Movement in the OPT

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on most of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially in the West Bank. While Israeli forces redeployed from the main roads in the Gaza Strip, they have restricted movement at border crossings and maintained the siege imposed on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have also continued to close the Rafah-Khan Yunis western road and the part of Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), near “Kfar Darom” settlement in the central Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajin road between Wadi al-Salqa village in Deir al-Balah and al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis. Israeli occupying forces continue to restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian workers have faced extreme difficulties on their way to their work places in Israel.



Continued Marine Siege on Khan Yunis



Israeli occupying forces continue to impose a siege on the Khan Yunis shoreline, denying Palestinian fishermen access to the sea. Since the beginning of2002 , Israeli occupying forces have imposed a marine siege on Khan Yunis, in addition to the siege already imposed on al-Mawasi area. Consequently, living conditions for Palestinian fishermen in Khan Yunis have deteriorated rapidly and the number of fishermen has dropped from 800 before the Intifada to the present number of 470. After they seized control of it on 6 June2002 , Israeli occupying forces have continued to raid the fishing harbor in the area.



According to the chief fisherman in Khan Yunis, Israeli occupying forces have blocked 10 launches, 45 boats, 50 feluccas and other fishing equipment, preventing Palestinian fishermen from using or maintaining them.



The chief added that the Israeli occupying forces had offered to permit the fishermen to use their equipment on the condition that they relocate from the Khan Yunis fishing harbor to the Rafah harbor. The fishermen refused the offer and insisted on continuing to work from the Khan Yunis harbor.

Since the beginning of the Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have repeatedly imposed marine sieges on the Gaza Strip, denying fishermen access to the sea. Following the Israeli-Palestinian security agreements, Israeli occupying forces allowed Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, excluding Khan Yunis, to carry out their work in an area that does not exceeds 6 nautical miles.



Continued Seizure of 4 Houses and 2 Buildings in the Gaza Strip

Israeli occupying forces have continued to seize 4 Palestinian houses and 2 buildings in the Gaza Strip and have transformed 2 of the houses into military outposts.

Israeli occupying forces have seized a3 -storey house owned by Mohammed Bekheet Mansour Abu Khousa. The house is located in Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City, approximately120 m away from “Netzarim” settlement. According to the owner, Israeli occupying forces had seized his house for 7 months beginning from December2000 . During this period, they allowed him and his family to stay in the house. On 12 March2002 , Israeli occupying forces forced him to evacuate his house and transformed it into a fortified military outpost. Since that date, they have not allowed him to enter the house. The owner said that he was able to enter the house upon coordination through the Israeli-Palestinian joint liaison and he could see the large damage incurred to his house. He added that he attempted to go to his house after the Israeli and Palestinian side had concluded a security agreement, but he could not do it.

In Deir al-Balah, Israeli occupying forces have seized a300 -square-meter,3 -storey house owned by Nafez Yousef Abu Nahia, in which 6 people live. The house is located in al-Ja’farawi area, east of Deir al-Balah. Since 6 March2002 , Israeli occupying forces have transformed the house into a military outpost, claiming that this measure was taken to ensure security for “Kfar Darom” settlement, approximately500 m north of the house. Israeli soldiers have restricted the movement of the residents leaving and entering the house. The residents cannot mount the roof without the permission of Israeli soldiers and when someone wishes to leave the house, the Israeli soldiers require at least 2 residents to remain inside. Israeli soldiers have also denied the residents access to their agricultural land adjacent to the house.

In al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, Israeli occupying forces have seized 2 houses owned by Sa’id and Fu’ad Mabrouk al-Qedra. The 2 houses are located near the crossroads of “Kissufim” settler road with Salah al-Din Street. They are approximately50 m away from the bridge, which Israeli occupying forces established over Salah al-Din Street. The first house, a250 -square-meter house, is uninhabited as its residents live abroad, whereas 25 people ( 4families) used to live in the second house, a400 -square-meter, two-storey house. Israeli occupying forces ordered residents of the second house to evacuate it on 16 May2002 . A few days later, they closed the windows of the house and then surrounded the 2 houses with barbwire and seized effective control over them.

Since the beginning of the Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have also seized5 2 -storey apartment buildings in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. The 2 buildings are located approximately70 m south of an Israeli military location at al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din Street. The 2 buildings have been severely damaged by frequent Israeli shelling and Israeli occupying forces have surrounded the 2 buildings with barbwire.



Restrictions at Israeli Military Checkpoints inside the Gaza Strip

Despite Israeli-Palestinian security agreements, on 30 June2003 , Israeli occupying forces redeployed on Salah al-Din Street and have continued to violate the Palestinians right to freedom of movement. They often obstruct the movement of people at al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, north of Khan Yunis. They also force people to wait at al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, south of Gaza City, to allow settler cars to move between “Netzarim” settlement and Karni crossing. They have established an iron gate on Abu al-‘Ajin road between al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis, and Wadi al-Salqa village in the central Gaza Strip.

At approximately16 : 00on Thursday, 7 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints, denying the movement of Palestinians and their vehicles along Salah al-Din Street. They blocked and searched a Palestinian civilian car.

At approximately15 : 20on Monday, 11 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces closed the 2 checkpoints and reopened them half an hour later.

At approximately15 : 30on Tuesday, 12 August2003 , Israeli soldiers in a military location at al-Matahen junction on Salah al-Din Street opened fire at Palestinian vehicles traveling on the road. Live bullets hit the tires of a Palestinian National Security Force jeep, but no one was hurt.



Denial of Movement of Women at Tal al-Sultan Military Checkpoint

On Saturday, 9 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces issued a decision denying movement of Palestinian women through Tal al-Sultan military checkpoint leading to al-Mawasi area, west of Rafah. Israeli soldiers ordered the women to enter the area through al-Tuffah military checkpoint in Khan Yunis, for that day only.



Continued Suffering in al-Sayafa Area in the Northern Gaza Strip

The situation in al-Sayafa area, located between the Israeli settlements of “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” in the northern Gaza Strip, continues to deteriorate. Israeli occupying forces have restricted the movement of residents of the area, only allowing residents to enter or exit the area at specific periods in the morning and the evening. Palestinian civilians in the area face difficulties in movement due to the lack of paved roads and denial of access for vehicles. People living in the area lack basic services, including electricity and running water. Basic foodstuffs, animal food and fuel are only allowed to be brought into the area on Monday and Thursday.

Last week, Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on Palestinian civilians living in the area. They started to prepare lists of names of people living in the area and photographing them in order to issue them with magnetic cards. At approximately 14: 00on Sunday, 10 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces held 48 residents of the area at the gate established at the entrance of the area. Israeli soldiers photographed the civilians for the magnetic cards, which will probably be used for access to and from the area.

Palestinian farmers whose agricultural lands have been razed are not permitted to re-cultivate their lands, totaling an estimated area of3 , 500donums.[1] Israeli occupying forces have also confiscated about1 , 000donums to establish a security fence and a bypass road for Israeli settlements in the northern Gaza Strip.



Continued Siege on the West Bank

Contrary to Israeli claims regarding the dismantling of a number of military checkpoints in the West Bank and the easing of restrictions on internal movement, Israeli occupying forces have continued to restrict movement of Palestinians in the West Bank. They have established gates and sand barricades on main roads, such as the gate established on the Tulkarm-Nablus road.

According to information available to PCHR, Israeli occupying forces have sustained the siege imposed on the northern West Bank, especially Nablus. They have restricted movement Palestinians at 4 Israeli military checkpoints erected at the entrances of the city. According to eyewitnesses, people have had to wait for hours at those checkpoints before they are allowed to cross them. On Monday, 11 August2003 , Israeli soldiers at Deir Sharaf military checkpoint, northwest of Nablus, took dozens of Palestinian civilian cars to a military location in the nearby Qussin village, where they were blocked. According to information available to PCHR’s, undercover units of Israeli occupying forces have used Palestinian civilian cars in many attacks against allegedly wanted Palestinians in the OPT.

Also on Monday, 11 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces positioned on Wadi al-Nar road, linking Bethlehem and Jerusalem, stopped hundreds of Palestinian civilians cars for several hours for no apparent reason. Wadi al-Nar is the only road on which Palestinians are permitted to travel between the north and south of the West Bank, as Israeli occupying forces have isolated Jerusalem. Since the first Palestinian Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have denied Palestinian cars access to Jerusalem without prior permission. Since the beginning of this Intifada, Israeli occupying forces have absolutely denied access of Palestinian civilian cars to Jerusalem.

At approximately09 : 45on Tuesday, 12 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces declared Nablus a closed military zone after an armed attack against “Ariel” settlement, to the south of the city. They closed all the city’s entrances and prevented Palestinians from leaving or entering the city.

While Israeli occupying forces dismantled a military checkpoint on the Ramallah-Bir Zeit road, they have kept Qalandya checkpoint on the Ramallah-Jerusalem road and Beit ‘Eil checkpoint on the road linking between Ramallah with its eastern villages.

Israeli occupying forces dismantled a number of isolated checkpoints around Jenin, which did not effectively eased movement of Palestinian civilians. They had only permitted the movement of Palestinian vehicles on Nablus-Jenin road under military escort for a limited number of days and then cancelled this measure.

Israeli military restrictions on the freedom of movement in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have added more financial burdens on Palestinian civilians and the cost of transportation has increased dramatically by up to1000 %.



A Curfew on Hebron and a New Settler Road

For the fourth consecutive day, Israeli occupying forces have imposed a curfew on the center and south of Hebron. They have detained dozens of Palestinian civilians, including children, for several hours in al-Sahla Street in the old town and at Tariq Ben Ziad school in the south of the town, claiming that these civilians violated the curfew imposed on the town. The civilians were attempting to buy foodstuffs and bring drinking water to their houses, as water supplies have been cut from some areas in the town for several weeks.

According to information available to PCHR, Israeli occupying forces have closed a number of branch roads and entrances to neighborhoods in the center and south of Hebron. They have closed the entrances of al-Qadhi and al-Salaima neighborhoods, the road to the pottery factories in the south of the town, the entrances of al-Shalloudi and al-Zahed neighborhoods in the center of the town and the junction leading to Wad al-Gharous and al-Masharqa neighborhoods in the east.

On Sunday, 10 August2003 , Israeli occupying forces started to pave a road that crosses Jabal Junaid neighborhood, overlooking the center of Hebron. The new road is6 -8m wide and 700m long. Israeli occupying forces established this road apparently to allow access of their military vehicles to a military observation point they had already established in the house of Yousef Mohammed ‘Aabdin in the west of the neighborhood.



Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets

In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.

On Wednesday morning, 13 August 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a Palestinian house in ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately02 :30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, moved into the north of ‘Askar refugee camp. They surrounded a150 -square-meter house owned by Ghazi Khamis al-Jarwan, in which 13 people lived. Israeli soldiers forced the residents of the house and 2 other neighboring houses to leave and took them to another neighboring house. The men were held in the kitchen, while the women and children were grouped in one room. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in al-Jarwan’s house and destroyed it and damaging 2 neighboring houses. Al-Jarwan is the father of Khamis al-Jarwan who carried out a bombing in the Israeli town of Rosh Ha’ain on 12August2003 , which killed an Israeli and injured 9 others.


Escalation of Israeli Repressive Practices against Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails

While Israeli authorities attempted to mislead the world by releasing a limited number of Palestinian prisoners whose sentences were shortly due to expire, the Israeli Prison Authority escalated repressive practices and arbitrary measures against the more than6 , 000Palestinian prisoners, including 82 women and 406 children, still being detained under inhumane conditions in Israeli jails.

Violations of human rights perpetrated by the Israeli Prison Authority against Palestinian prisoners in Nafha desert jail, approximately100 km away from Beer Saba,200 km away from Jerusalem and15 km away from the Egyptian border, can be taken as a pattern of the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in all Israeli jails.

According to information gathered by PCHR from recently released prisoners, Nafha desert prison is one of the largest and most inhumane Israeli central prisons. Approximately 820 Palestinian prisoners are currently being held in this prison under appalling conditions. This prison consists of 9 divisions, 2 of which were established recently. Each division consists of10 - 13rooms. The area of each room is approximately 28 square meters and has a toilet, a washer and 1 window. The area of each room in the new divisions is 15 square meters. 10 Palestinian prisoners are detained in each room.

Palestinian prisoners are permitted to leave their rooms twice a day, once in the morning and another in the evening, totaling 4 hours. They are allowed to move in a196 -square-meter area of land, surrounded by thick cement walls (6m high) and covered by an iron net.

Although prisoners are in need of daily activity, many of them do not leave their rooms because the assigned area outside is too small to carry out sports or other activities.

The suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, particularly in the Nafha desert prison, can be summed up as follows:

§ Israeli Prison Authority has cancelled around 40 concessions that Palestinian prisoners obtained through past hunger strikes and other protest activities. Under the pretext of the economic crisis in Israel, Israeli Prison Authorities decreased services provided for prisoners, such as washing materials and food.

§ Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails lack appropriate medical care. Medical treatment is limited to providing water and medicines for headaches. Many prisoners need specialized medical care, but such care, if it is given at all, is usually only provided months after a request has been made.

§ Palestinian prisoners are prohibited from visiting their colleagues in other divisions of the same prison.

§ The prisons are infested with insects, but the Israeli Prison Authority does not provide insecticides.

§ The temperature in prisons is high, however, the Israeli Prison Authority does not allow prisoners to buy fans or maintain existing ones.

§ Families visit prisoners under strict conditions. They can only see prisoners through a thick iron net, during which time several Israeli soldiers maintain a presence very close to the prisoner. The Israeli Prison Authority is about to establish special glass rooms, that a prisoner is put into in order to speak to his/her family through a megaphone, a measure that was first applied in Asqalan prison and was strongly rejected by Palestinian prisoners.

§ Visits of families are very short, and Israeli occupying forces often prevent the father, mother or wife from visiting a prisoner under security claims. Hundreds of prisoners have not been visited by their families either for security claims or because they do not have close relatives.

§ The Israeli Prison Authority often punishes prisoners without sufficient pretext. Israeli soldiers search them when they go to prayers or leave their rooms. They also raid rooms and impose fines on prisoners for trivial reasons. A number of prisoners are also taken to incommunicado detention.

§ The Israeli Prison Authority often jam mobile phones used by Palestinian prisoners.

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PCHR calls:

1. Upon the international community to provide immediate and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article146 , to ensure respect for the Convention.

3. Upon the international community to investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

5. Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.

6. Upon the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.

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