The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations

Affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists – Geneva

Member of the International Federation for Human Rights – Paris

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network

Continued Israeli Violations in the OPT and the International Community remains Silent

6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, killed by Israeli forces

A series of Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas and a number of Palestinian civilians killed or wounded

A Palestinian killed in a new assassination in Jenin

A Palestinian civilian used by Israeli forces as a human shield

Continued Israeli retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets

A number of Palestinians arrested

Continued strict siege of the OPT

Introduction

This morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and a combat helicopter, moved approximately 2km into the southwest of Gaza City. They raided a house in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City and arrested 5 Palestinians, 2 of whom were released later while the others remained in custody. As a result of the Israeli shelling, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded.

Israeli occupying forces carried out new invasions of Palestinian areas in the West Bank, the largest of which targeted Tulkarm and Nablus in the north. On Tuesday, 12 November, Israeli occupying forces invaded Tulkarm and its refugee camp. They imposed a curfew and raided and searched houses. On the following day, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and helicopters, invaded Nablus. They opened fire at houses. They imposed a curfew and raided houses, especially in the old town. Israeli forces also seized a secondary school and transformed it into a military location.

Israeli forces have perpetrated more human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful and extra-judicial killings, shelling of, and incursion into Palestinian areas and agricultural land leveling. This week, 7-13 November 2002, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children from Rafah, 2 of whom were infants, were killed by Israeli forces.

On Wednesday, 13 November, a 2-year-old infant was killed when Israeli forces shelled Block J in Rafah refugee camp. On Monday, 11 November, another 2-year-old infant was killed when Israeli forces shelled Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. On the same day, a Palestinian child from Rafah also died of a wound he sustained when Israeli forces shelled Rafah refugee camp on 17 October 2002. On Friday, 8 November, Israeli forces shot dead 2 Palestinian civilians, one in Tulkarm refugee camp, and the other in Til village, south of Nablus.

This week, Israeli combat helicopters twice shelled a Palestinian workshop in the center of Gaza City, on 11 and 13 November. The workshop was destroyed and a number of nearby houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments, this week, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian from Kufor Ra’ei village in Jenin. In the operation, Israeli forces used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield, and he was wounded by a live bullet in the head. The Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz congratulated his troops for “the successful operation.”

In violation of international law and humanitarian law, which prohibit collective punishments, Israeli forces continued their retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out attacks against Israeli targets. Under this context, they demolished 2 houses in Khan Yunis and Tulkarm.

This week, Israeli forces continued their attacks against Palestinian houses and agricultural land. This week, they demolished 9 houses in Rafah. They also razed large areas of agricultural land in Khan Yunis Rafah and Deir al-Balah

Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights. They have also imposed curfews on several areas.

The Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

Thursday, 7th November 2002

At approximately 06:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 700m into al-Birka area in the south of Deir al-Balah. Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with beans and peppers owned by Khaled Salim Mohammed Abu Salim.

2. They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with carrots, olives and eggplants owned by 'Abdul Qader Salah Hamdan Jomei'an.

3. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables owned by Ibrahim Salem al-Ra'ei.

4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables owned by Mustafa Salem Mohammed Abu Salim.

5. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with guavas and palms owned by Suleiman Khalil Bashir.

6. They uprooted 3 olive trees owned by Ibrahim Musallam Abu Qeinas.

7. They destroyed a 100 meter-long water pipeline owned by 'Abed Rabbu Abu Mo'eileq.

At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces lifted the curfew that had been imposed in Jenin and its refugee camp for 13 days until 11:00. School children went to their schools, but Israeli soldiers positioned on roofs of houses and building in the center of the town opened fire at them. Five school children were wounded:

1. Mahmoud 'Essam Fureihat, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

2. Hussein Fahmi Saleh Ballout, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side;

3. Dhiaa' Mahmoud Abu Gharib, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the upper jaw;

4. Ibrahim Hussein Mishqah, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh; and

5. Mohammed Walid Qassem, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafh refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Eyad Tawfiq Ja'ara, 32, was wounded by a bullet in the neck. According to a PCHR field worker, Ja'ara was wounded while he was in the balcony of his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, approximately 1,200m north of the border.

Friday, 8th November 2002

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They raided and fired at houses. When 21 year-old Rami Isma'il 'Awadh Balawna mounted the roof of his family's house to see what was going on, Israeli soldiers in the street shot him dead. According to Palestinian medical sources, Balawna was shot by an explosive live bullet, whose shrapnel were found in the pelvis and the abdomen.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into Til village, south of Nablus. They opened fire at houses, killing 34 year-old Ahmed 'Abdul Fattah Ramadan, with a heavy caliber bullet in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, Ramadan was on his way to the mosque to pray. Ramadan was a policeman, but he was in civilian clothes when he was shot.

At approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers on armored military vehicles opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Ghanem neighborhood in Tulkarm. A Palestinian civilian, Hazem Khader D'iab, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. According to eyewitnesses, he was wounded while he was near his house, approximately 100m away from Israeli forces.

Saturday, 9th November 2002

At approximately 01:30, infantry troops and a number of military jeeps of Israeli forces moved approximately 200m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of Jarir Sweilem Abu Haddaf. They detained the 7 residents of the house in one room and searched it using dogs. They then arrested the owner's son Islam, 19, and took him to an Israeli military locations east of the village, where he was interrogated. At approximately 09:30, he was released.

At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces in a military location known as "al-Nouria," west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Live bullets hit a 170 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 families counting 37 persons live, owned by 'Abdul Karim Abu Mustafa. A pregnant woman, Khitam 'Abdullah Abu Mustafa, 22, was wounded by shrapnel in the right side, and 18 month-old Riham Akram Abu Mustafa was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the left foot.

At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. An Israeli military bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. It razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and potatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network and an agricultural pool owned by Rezeq Salama Salman al-Sha'er.

2. It razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network and agricultural equipment owned by 'Abdul Latif Marzouq Salama.

3. It razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and demolished a 70 square-meter house owned by 'Omar Mohammed Salama al-Sha'er.

4. It razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Khaled Mohammed Salama al-Sha'er.

At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Nablus. They opened fire at markets and passing Palestinian civilians, seriously wounding 48 year-old 'Abdul Raziq Mohammed Bureik, 48, with 3 live bullets in the right leg. He was wounded while he was traveling his car in al-'Adel Street in the center of the city.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell hit the southern wall of al-Shaf'ei Mosque, approximately 300m east of the source of fire. Worshippers were forced to lie on the ground, but live bullets also hit the mosque. The Palestinian worshippers inside the mosque as well as 2 passing civilians were wounded:

1. Hassan Mohammed Ahmed al-'Aamoudi, 21, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the chest;

2. Nidal Mohammed 'Abdul Hadi, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the head;

3. Ahmed Ramadan Hamed, 30, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot;

4. Mahmoud 'Ali al-Aa'raj, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the jaw; and

5. Bilal Hussein Abu Ghali, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg.

Sunday, 10th November 2002

At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman al-Ja'fari, 31, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis while he was inside his house.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 300m into Abu Qaraqoush area in the south of Khan Yunis. Soon an Israeli military bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. It razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by the heirs of Khalil Isma'il Khalil al-Masri.

2. It razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and destroyed an irrigation network and an animal farm owned by 'Ateya Ahmed Abu Sunaima.

At approximately 15:30, Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 150m into Block O in Rafah refugee camp. An Israeli armored military bulldozer demolished 8 Palestinian houses:

1. A 105 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 persons lived, owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Ghuneim.

2. An 80 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 persons lived, owned by Ashraf Mahmoud Ghuneim.

3. A 110 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 persons lived, owned by Fathi Mohammed Dhib Jouda.

4. A 120 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 persons lived, owned by Mohammed 'Abdul Rahim Abu Lebda.

5. A 100 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 persons lived, owned by Talal 'Abdul Jawad Jouda.

6. A 130 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 persons lived, owned by Fu'ad Yousef Abu Jazar.

7. A 90 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 persons lived, owned by Yahia Hassan Shaqfa.

8. An 80 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 persons lived, owned by 'Abdul Rahim Mahmoud Ghuneim.

Two other houses were also damaged by the Israeli shelling:

1. A 100 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 persons live, owned by Mustafa Ibrahim Ghuneim; and

2. A 100 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 persons lived, owned by 'Omar Saleh Jaber al-Moghayar.

In addition, two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Jihad Hussein Sadiqa, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand; and

2. Jihad Ahmed Hassanein, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. At the same time, Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” and “Netser Hazani” settlements, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in al-Rabwat area and al-Qarara village, north of the town. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. ‘Aadel Mos’ad Abu ‘Oweili, 8, from al-Qarara village, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the arms; and

2. Ussama ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Mon’em, 30, from Khan Yunis refugee camp, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot.

Monday, 11th November 2002

At approximately 01:35, Israeli combat helicopters launched 5 missiles at a turnery workshop in the center of Gaza City. The workshop was destroyed and a nearby house was severely damaged. A PCHR field worker reported that the 60 square-meter workshop is specialized in making and maintaining parts of small levers. It is owned by Munther Zakaria ‘Abdul Qader al-Fassih. It is a part of an apartment building owned by Ghazi ‘Abdullah Helles and brothers, where 7 persons live. The workshop and neighboring buildings sustained the following damage:

1. The eastern façade, electricity network and doors of the workshop were destroyed.

2. Walls of the workshop were cracked.

3. Much of the equipment of the workshop was destroyed.

4. Windows of the apartment building situated above the workshop were destroyed and walls were cracked.

5. The roof and walls of a house located 10m away from the workshop, owned by ‘Eissa Hussein Karsou’, were damaged.

No casualties were reported.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 700m into Salah al-Din Street in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided the house of Salem Eslim Abu Farraj and detained its 17 residents on the ground floor. They searched the house and then took position on its roof. Other Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses. an Israeli military bulldozer then razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. It razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by 'Abdul Latif 'Abed Rabbu al-Sumeiri.

2. It razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by 'Abdul Majid 'Abed Rabbu al-Sumeiri.

3. It razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Salem 'Abed Rabbu al-Sumeiri and farmed by Salem 'Abed Rabbu Abu Haddaf.

At approximately 13:00, medical sources at Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah declared that 9-year-old Mohammed Ref’at Abu al-Naja, from Rafah, succumbed to a wound he sustained last month. According to PCHR’s investigation, Abu al-Naja was seriously wounded when Israeli forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, shelled Palestinian houses in Block O in Rafah refugee camp on 17 October 2002. Six Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 2 women, were killed, and more than 40 others, including Abu al-Naja, were wounded. Abu al-Naja was evacuated to Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, and since he was in critical condition, he was transferred to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza and then to an Israeli hospital, but he later died of the wound

At approximately 14:00, a number of Palestinian children fathered at Shweika square in the north of Tulkarm and threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles positioned in the area. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on tanks fired at the stone throwers, seriously wounding 16 year-old Ahmed Bassem ‘Abdullah ‘Ouda with a live bullet in the neck. According to Palestinian medical sources, the bullet cut arteries and nerves.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire for no apparent reason on Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. Palestinian children were playing near their house celebrating the month of Ramadan. Nafez Khaled Masha’al, aged 2, was in the bosom of his mother at the time. He was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made by doctors to save his life failed and he died of his wound 2 hours later. In addition, 2 other children were wounded:

1. ‘Abdul Karim ‘Abdul Rahim al-Soufi, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the left knee; and

2. Hamdan ‘Abed al-Soufi, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand and by shrapnel in the face.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They opened fire on Palestinian houses. A Palestinian child, 'Alaa' Ahmed 'Ali Kuleibi, 9, was critically wounded by shrapnel from a heavy caliber bullet in the head.

Tuesday, 12th November 2002

At approximately 16:45, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Mosabbeh area in the northwest of Rafah. Soon, an Israeli armored military bulldozer demolished a 400 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 persons lived, and razed a 2 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus owned by Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu Jazar. It also razed a 1 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool owned by Qassem Mahmoud Abu Jazar.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Ahmed Khalil Abu Samra, approximately 50m east of "Kfar Darom" settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. They held the 10 residents of the house in one room and searched the house. Upon their withdrawal, Israeli forces arrested the owner's son Khalil, 28.

Wednesday, 13th November 2002

For the second time this week, at approximately 01:25, an Israeli combat helicopter launched 4 missiles at a turnery workshop in the center of Gaza City owned by Munther Zakaria ‘Abdul Qader al-Fassih. Three missiles hit the workshop while the fourth one hit a cemetery, approximately 700m east of the workshop, damaging a number of tombs and a neighboring mosque. The same workshop was also attacked by Israeli combat helicopters on Monday, 11 November (see the report above). It was destroyed and 7 neighboring shops were damaged.

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, shelled Palestinian houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Asa'ad Hassan al-Masri, with his family, decided to leave his house, which is located 100m north of the border, to find a more secure place as the Israeli shelling intensified. When the family exited the house, a live bullet hit their child Hamed, 2 and a half, in his chest, killing him. The mother, Asmaa' Mohammed al-Masri, 31, was critically wounded by live bullets and shrapnel in the abdomen, the pelvis and the limbs.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. A Palestinian civilian, Dhiaa' Mahmoud Mousa, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot, while he was near his house.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments this week, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian from Kufor Ra’ei village in Jenin. In the operation, Israeli forces used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield, and he was wounded by a live bullet to the head.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 03:45 on Saturday, 9 November 2002, special units of Israeli forces surrounded an old house in the old town of Jenin. They forced a Palestinian civilian to exit his house and took him towards the door of the besieged house. They forced him to call through loudspeakers to Eyad Ahmed Yousef Sawalha, 27, from Kufor Ra’ei village, to get out of the house, where he lives with his wife. The wife exited the house with her hands up. Immediately, Israeli forces opened fire at windows and doors of the besieged house. The gunfire continued for approximately half an hour. Then, Israeli forces threw bombs towards the house. Sawalha was instantly killed. His body was evacuated to hospital. According to medical sources, Sawalha was shot by 15 live bullets throughout the body, and his right hand was cut. The Palestinian civilian who was used as a human shield, Mohammed Kumayel, 29, from Qabatya village, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the head.

Israeli forces had already arrested Sawlha’s mother, Najia Sadiq Sawalha, 55, and his sister, Arasalin Ahmed Sawalha, 26, at their house in Ra’ei village, south of Jenin, on Friday, 8 November 2002. The two were detained in an Israeli detention center until 19:00 to force them to reveal information about the place where the victim was hiding. The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot said on its Arabic web page that Sawlha was a prominent leader of the Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, and claimed that he was responsible for a number of attacks that left dozens of Israelis either killed or injured. The Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz congratulated his troops for “the successful operation.”

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

In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.

On Friday midnight, 8 November 2002, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and combat helicopter and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 200 into al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. They raided a 5-story apartment building and transformed its roof into a military base from where they fired in all directions. Israeli soldiers then moved towards the house of Martyr Isma’il ‘Aashour Bureis who carried out an attack inside “Rafih Yam” settlement on 6 November 2002, which left 2 Israeli settlers dead and 2 others injured. Israeli soldiers called on residents of the house, 7 families that count 47 persons, to get out of the house. Residents of the house had already evacuated their house fearing of such a situation. Soon, Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house. Then, they destroyed it. Three neighboring houses and a mosque were severely damaged. As a result of the Israeli intense shelling a Palestinian civilian, Sabri ‘Abed Hammad al-Qedra, 44, was wounded by a bullet to the abdomen as he was standing at the door of his house.

At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 12 November 2002, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Shweika neighborhood in the north of Tulkarm. They surrounded a 160 square-meter, 2-story house, in which 4 persons lived, owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Nemer Naifa, 28. They forced residents of the house and neighboring houses out and destroyed the house. Israeli forces claim that Naifa is a prominent activist of Fatah Movement in this area. The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot said that the Israeli military considered Naifa responsible for sending the man who carried out the "Metzer" attack on 10 November 2002, which left 5 Israelis dead.

Continued Total Siege

Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, and have imposed curfews on some areas, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights. The Gaza Strip is still partitioned into three isolated zones.

This week Israeli forces have regularly closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, disregarding the sacredness of the month of Ramadan. On Thursday, 7 November, Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints, and stopped a number of cars between them. Israeli soldiers searched cars and checked the identity cards of passengers.

On Sunday and Monday, 10 and 11 November, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints just before the eating period of Rmadan. They blocked cars between the two checkpoints. Israeli soldiers soon searched cars and checked identity cards of passengers. According to those who were held between the two checkpoints, Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians, including Marwan Ibrahim Mohammed al-Hindi, a taxi driver from Khan Yunis.

On Wednesday, 13 November, Israeli occupying forces at al-Matahen military checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis, fired at Palestinian civilian cars that were waiting at the checkpoint. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Mustafa Abu Hashem, 64, was wounded by shrapnel to the face.

On Saturday, 9 November, Israeli forces reopened al-Tuffah military checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, allowing only Palestinian civilians over 40 to leave or enter the area. Many young people, including students, as a result have been deprived of attending school.

*****

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 in order to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under Article 1, to ensure the respect of the Convention.

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

4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field observations 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.