AUGUST 2006

  NEWS FROM PALESTINE

22nd August UPDATE:Palestinians Say Soldiers More Violent due to War

Monday, August 21, 2006

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3293876,00.html

More and more Palestinian civilians turning to human rights organizations with complaints of growing violence of IDF soldiers at checkpoints in territories after war in Lebanon. 'I felt that all pressure from war is released in meeting with them,' told taxi driver who claimed he needed to be hospitalized after he was hit by soldiers
Ali Waked

In the past few days, more and more Palestinian testimonies have amassed that claim that IDF soldiers humiliated them at checkpoints in Judea and Samaria. The same Palestinians say that the soldiers are taking the frustration created by the war in Lebanon out on them.

Human rights organizations in the territories have noticed a prevailing sense that violence on the part of soldiers toward Palestinian civilians at checkpoints has grown since the war in started in Lebanon. Human rights activists and Palestinian residents said that the soldiers were especially violent during this time period and exploited the fact that the spotlight was turned toward events in Lebanon.

Kalandia Checkpoint (Photo: AFP)

A resident of the village of Shouffa, next to Tul Karm, Mouawiyya Moussa, is one of dozens of Palestinians who filed a complaint with the organization B'Tselem and other human rights organizations. According to him, he was struck last month by IDF soldiers when he drove by one of the Samaria villages. "I saw the jeep chasing me. He almost split my taxi in two. I pulled over. One of the soldiers who got out of the jeep shouted at me, 'I caught you, you jerk!'"

Next, Moussa said, the soldiers started using physical violence. "The soldiers got the passengers out of the taxi, stood them on the side, and then approached me. They pulled me behind the jeep so that the jeep and the taxi stood between me and the passengers. The soldiers asked the passengers to hold their identity cards and to put their hands over their heads. Next, they started hitting me, first with the butt of their rifle, and after I fell, they continued hitting me in the feet with a rifle for another quarter of an hour. They hit me even when blood dripped from my whole body," he testified.

Moussa said that the soldier driving the jeep got out of the vehicle and started shouting at the passengers who had ridden in the taxi, "You're going to kill him, you're going to kill him." According to Moussa, the soldier asked him if he could talk: "When I answered him that I couldn't, he went back to the jeep and his friends continued beating me. They said to me, 'You're pretending to suffer.' When they sensed I was about to lose consciousness, they stopped and asked if one of the passengers could help me. Luckily for me, one of the passengers was a doctor." Afterward, Moussa said that the soldiers asked him and the rest of the passengers to leave.

According to Moussa, he was hospitalized for two days in the hospital in Tul Karm because of the beating he received from the soldiers. But even after he was released from the hospital, Moussa claims that he still can't shake off the enraged looks of the soldiers. "I felt as though all the pressure from the war in Lebanon was taken out during this meeting between me and the soldiers. In every look from the soldiers, I felt that they are giving back to me everything they experienced there. These are soldiers that I know well, because I always pass on that street. They beat me silly. I am not responsible for their feelings about what happened in a different place."

'They shot a stun grenade at my stomach'

Mattar Hamasiyya, a vegetable grocer from Jenin, also complained about being caught by soldiers in Samaria. According to him, he arrived at the vegetable market in his hometown next to Nablus in order to make money. "The soldiers in the jeep jumped on me as they cursed at me. They shouted at me, 'Get out of the car.' After I presented them my identity card, which they threw away without looking at it, and after they flipped my car over, one of the soldiers grabbed me and sat me down on the ground. The soldier started shooting live fire above my head. He emptied the magazine. The bullets passed no more than a meter above my head."

According to Hamasiyya, his nightmare hadn't ended. "More soldiers arrived on the site and started beating me. I laid at home for a week because of the lashings," he said. The vegetable grocer said that it is hard for him to forget what happened. "It was a crazy sight. They beat me cruelly. The peak was when one of the soldiers hit me in the stomach with his rifle. I heard gunshots and was in pain. I didn't know those were shock grenades they pumped into my stomach. I was sure it was live fire. I started to yell and the soldiers dragged me to my car and asked me to leave, but not before they warned me not to tell anyone what they did to me."

Among other complaints received by the human rights organizations, there was also one from Abdullah Hamis from the Nablus area who claimed he was beaten by soldiers. According to him, he was waiting with his wife and two children in line at the Hawara Checkpoint when he was dealt aggressive blows by the soldiers for no reason. Another complaint was filed by Naim Shtiya, an employee of the Palestinian Authority in the town of Toubas, next to Jenin. According to him, a soldier broke his hand.

Following these complaints, the organization B'Tselem turned to the chief military prosecutor and the Department for Investigation of Police in the Justice Ministry demanding to immediately open an investigation of six incidents for which the organization has collected testimonies. The organization has called the chief of staff and the defense minister to transmit to the soldiers and their commanders a decisive and unequivocal message – it is forbidden to beat or abuse Palestinian civilians, and to make it clear that whoever does so will be severely punished.

The IDF spokesperson didn't respond to the publication of this information.

19th August:
Israeli Army sprays protestors in Bil'in with unknown blue chemical

Saed Bannoura - Friday, 18 August 2006, 20:28   


Friday's protest in Bil'in village, which began after noon prayers, was conducted in the midst of a village sports tournament this week, that has been going on for the past several days.

The focus of the sports festival was, "No To the Wall", and was meant to use sports and football as a form of non-violent resistance to the Wall construction and settlement expansion onto village land.

The rally began with a speech read by Omar Assaf, a member of the Committee of National and Islamic Factions in the West Bank.  The march to the Wall construction site began with villagers carrying Lebanese and Palestinian flags.  

But the army was already present within the village, having occupied several rooftops with snipers, and with armored vehicles stationed at the entrance of the village in order to stop the procession there.  There were also water cannon trucks that fired blue dye at the protestors, which, according to local organizer Abdullah Abu Rahma, appeared to contain toxic components.

Seven residents who were hit with the full blast of the dye began screaming and shaking when the dye hit them.  The soldiers then fired rubber-coated bullets, and an Associated Press photographer named Rami Abdu was injured when one of the rubber-coated bullets hit him in the back.

According to a press release from the International Solidarity Movement, who had members present at the protest, "Bright blue water was fired from the canon at the demonstrators, totally unprovoked, as soon as they were within range of the massive white tank. Many demonstrators were soaked by the blue liquid, dying their hair, clothes and skin, and most of them reported subsequent burning and irritation of the skin. Tear gas was also used against the demonstrators as soon as the water canon was engaged, so it is unclear whether the burning was from gas being absorbed into the wet skin and clothing, or whether the water itself contained a chemical. Regardless, the message from the Israeli army was clear: non-violent protest will not be tolerated and will be met by increasing displays of force."

Soldiers then fired concussion grenades toward farmers' orchards next to the village, and several olive trees belonging to Khalil Abu Rahma were burned.  Dozens of olive trees were turned blue by the toxic dye, leading to fears among the farmers that the dye would damage or kill their trees.  Samples of the dye were were taken by some local residents to Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Ramallah for examination as to the components.

The Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements has organized weekly demonstrations since January 2005 against the wall and against the illegal confiscation of 60% of their farmland, and have stated that they will steadfastly continue with their weekly demonstrations despite the army’s apparent intent to brutally repress them.

At last week's Friday protest in Bil'in, two of the people present were critically injured.  One, an Israeli lawyer, who was shot in the neck and head by rubber-coated metal bullet at close range last Friday, underwent immediate surgery to remove the bullet and shards of his skull, which was successful. He was put back in intensive care today, however, due to a severe infection in his brain and is undergoing surgery today.

Rina, from Denmark who suffered from a severe concussion, after a soldier beat her with the butt of his gun last Friday, is still hospitalized and awaiting the results from her MRI. However, she is beginning to feel better and is finally able to walk on her own today, according to the International Solidarity Movement's statement.

www.imemc.org for the daily records of Israel arrests, murders and thuggery.
..........................
from Rafah just in:

The attack on Gaza is still ongoing. Rafah border opened for just three hours allowing Palestinians to leave, then it closed again because of Israeli threats.

Last night was an awful nigh in Gaza city. There have been multiple attacks and incursions in the Gaza Strip. 3 Palestinian were killed, one of them a 5 years old child [a girl]. A Palestinian car which was bombed by Israeli F16s belonged to the Popular Resistance Committee—civilians were injured and killed in the attack.

Blood, legs, arms and fingers are all scattered across Palestinian streets after an Israeli helicopter strike. This is not new for Gaza. Israeli public opinion against Olmert is rising, and the media is ignoring Gaza. The US administration is very strongly supporting the war as an option in the Middle East while the international community is watching what's going on in Gaza and staying silent.

The Egyptian-Gaza border was closed today because of what Israel always calls an 'Israeli alert'. This means more death for people on the border, more suffering and starvation in the worst cases where there is no food, no place to sleep and no medicine for the children and the elderly who need medicine.

Gaza is still the same. It is lit up on fire by the taxes paid for by the civilized world. Where will this end up, and when? I can no longer answer, but the international community should better have an answer. www.rafah.virtualactivism.net

RAMALLAH, August 11, 2006 (WAFA)- The Israeli army and Border Police brutally prevented Friday Bil'in's weekly non-violent demonstration from happening by firing rubber bullets and sound grenades on protestors as they marched through the village on their way to the Apartheid Wall.

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) said in a press release: Many people from Bil'in, Israelis and internationals have been injured, including an Israeli in very critical condition who was shot just above his right ear with a rubber bullet from close range.

The demonstrators marched through the village carrying coffins representing the children who have been killed by the Israeli army in order to protest their "New Style of Killing" where even the children are targeted in Israel's aggression.

The Israeli border police and army were stationed along the route of the march that leads to the Apartheid Wall, where the demonstrations usually take place. The military began firing when the protestors were less than 50 meters away, causing many injuries immediately.

At least two Israelis pacifists were shot with rubber bullets, one in the head and one in the leg, a Chinese photographer and a supporter from the US were also shot with rubber bullets.

ISM revealed the violence began so early that the ambulance had not arrived yet, and at first the Israeli army would not let the protestors evacuate the Israeli shot in the head, who was losing lots of blood. Eventually the soldiers took him in an army ambulance to Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.

"The soldiers then chased after the protestors and beat them as they were retreating causing more injuries," ISM said. "The army claimed that it was an "illegal demonstration" despite the fact that the Israeli High Court ruled that Bil'in has a right to hold demonstrations."


11th Aug.:

Palestinian teenager stabs Israeli prison guard as guards begin attacking political prisoners

PNN, (Bethlehem) Najib Farag Friday, 11 August 2006

At noon Friday 100 Israeli soldiers stormed the Palestinian prisoner cells of Hadarim Prison, as reported by human rights sources.

The soldiers fired tear gas throughout the Palestinian sections, with special attention paid Section 8. Several prisoners fainted due to gas inhalation, while all scheduled visits were cancelled. The day was described as “lonely” because Friday is a major day for families.

Israeli prison administrators forced all waiting visitors to leave. At the same time inside the prison Israeli guards took some 10 political prisoners to solitary confinement and confiscated all televisions, radios, and the personal affects of others.

Trained military dogs also searched the cells while the Palestinians were forced to wait outside in the heat of midday. The situation was described as, “difficult and tense.”

According to an Israeli Prisons Department spokesperson, “These actions have been taken in the aftermath by a young man, aged 17 years from the governorate of Jenin, who is sentenced to several years in prison on charges of throwing Molotov cocktails at Israeli cars stabbed an officer in the Prison Service with a sharp 15 centimeter knife in the back when he entered Section 8 of the prison.”

A number of prisoners told PNN that the Israeli attack began when Israeli forces entered the Palestinian areas and began provocative searches and vandalizing people’s property. The stabbing occurred when the young man had had enough of the general attacks and mistreatment.

More than 20 soldiers beat the teenager in front of him until he fainted and was taken to an unknown location.

www.aljazeerah.info

10thAug.:Report: Israel Imprisons 600 Palestinians Since Shalit Capture
In the Occupied Territories, a new report from the Palestinian Authority says Israel has taken 600 Palestinians prisoner since the capture of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The prisoners include at least sixty-two Palestinian children. Two of the children are only twelve years old. Israel has launched a relentless attack on Gaza in an avowed effort to secure Shalit’s release. According to the report, there are more than 10,000 Palestinian detainees are currently held in 30 Israeli prisons, detention facilities and interrogation centers. Nearly three dozen elected legislators and cabinet members are among those detained. Democracy Now

More children killed in Rafah
Report, PCHR, 5 August 2006

The victims of war crimes perpetrated by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) for the third consecutive day in Rafah has increased to 16 killed, including 10 civilians (four of them children). One of the victims was a three-day-old infant girl who fell her mother's arm as the latter was fleeing from IOF. Two other children victims were brothers. They were killed and their mother and brother were seriously injured when they were trying to flee their house. The number of injured is up to 39, including 13 children and one woman. All were injured by shrapnel and burns, many of them were injured seriously.

In the pre-dawn hours of Friday, 4 August 2006, IOF planes bombed two civilian houses in Gaza, destroying them completely. In both incidents, the house owners received calls to their mobile telephones from Israeli intelligence telling them to evacuate the house, which will be bombarded. The warning preceded the bombardment by no more than 45 minutes.

In addition, IOF artillery stationed along the Gaza Strip eastern border continued their indiscriminate shelling towards housing areas and agricultural land in different parts of the Gaza Strip, but especially in the northern Gaza Strip.

PCHR is very concerned that the deployment of large IOF contingents east of Rafah and the bombardment throughout the Gaza Strip will result on additional civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian property; especially since IOF resorts to excessive use of force and bombardment from planes and tanks without differentiating between civilians and resistance activists.

The most notable field developments since PCHR's last press release (#82, issued on 3 August 2006) have been:

27 July 06 http://rafah.virtualactivism.net

In an air raid launched by the Israeli occupation F16s and artilleries fire at several parts of Gaza Strip today nine Palestinians were killed including and an enfant, less than two months, a girl and three family members as well as 45 wounded. This after the most offensive attack in the eastern part of Gaza city leaving 26 people killed and over 75 injured. the attack is still going on and the number of injured and killed people is rabidly increasing in Gaza.

Israeli occupation soldiers invaded today dawn east Gaza city and north the Strip, heading off from the military bases nearby the eastern fence off wall separating east Gaza city and Israel, meanwhile, F-16s continued to fire missiles on the residents' houses on the claim of housing weapon stockpiles.

In Al Aha'af area, east of Al Shejayah neighborhood, the Israeli artilleries fired a cluster of missiles, killing seven residents and many were injured .

seven Palestinians were killed among were two children and three from one family in Al Shejayia neighborhood, east Gaza city, eight others were wounded, three critically.' Said Dr. Mawia Hassanen, the head of emergency and ambulance at Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City.

In an incursion after midnight by the Israeli troop escorted by aerial cover, into Salah Al din Main road where IOF jetfighter fired a missile at a gather of fighters belongs to Saraya Al Quds , Islamic Jihad military wing, killing the fighter Yasser Banat and wounding five others.

Medics reported that three members of Salam Suadi family were killed. Later one medical sources asserted that three other were also killed among were Salah Hussnein, 18, and two others unidentified by the Israeli rockets against a gathering of people in Al Shejayia.

The IOF missiles killed today morning three-year old Sauda Nasser Habeib and her mother and Mohammed AL Buheiti ,22. the attack is still going on and the number of injured people is increasing.

In Jabalyia camp, north the Strip the situations are no better but a member of ministry' of interior paramilitary identified as Mohammed Adass, 22 years old was killed in the attacks.

To this point, IOF jetfighters fired a missile at the house of Yousef Al Nijma, member of Hamas in Jablyia refugee camp. Palestinian sources said that the owner of the houses had been notified by the Israeli occupation forces that his house will be knocked down by the Israeli jetfighters on the pretenses of having inside a weapon stockpile. The house was totally devastated. One of the neighbors said, " they called him and they asked him to evacuate home immediately, the damage ended up by full destruction targeting the whole camp and many casualties were reported in the air raid"

once again , and this time in the southern part of Gaza as the Israeli helicopters bombardment on the residents' houses in Al Barzil neighborhood of Rafah city and targeted for the third time a house belongs to Qefsha family.
.

Also, Palestine TV cameraman, Yousef Al Otla was critically wounded while covering the Israeli occupation attack at Al Tuffah area. The medical sources said that he critical injured and he is in a very bad situations in the hospital. He left bleeding for many house after the camera fell down and from his head while he was wearing his proof bullet jacket and helmet, but that didn’t protect him, since the Israeli bullet invaded his body leaving him seriously injured.

Al Otla was filming the Israeli attack on the neighborhood when a missile targeted him wounding him critically and wounding moderately his assistant Muhesen Badra.

Targeting journalists and photographers seems to be the first on the Israeli Army's agenda and if this continue then I would assume you that freedom of speech was murdered by the most democratic state and the most moral soldiers in the world.

 
reports and photos http://rafah.virtualactivism.net

In case we’ve forgotten – continued Israeli incursions, violence and killing in Gazaand the West Bank. From R

2 Citizens Die of Wounds in Gaza, Nablus

GAZA, July 30, 2006 (WAFA)-

Two citizens died Sunday of wounds they sustained during the Israeli offensive on the east of Gaza City and against the West Bank (WB) city of Nablus.

The sources reported that Mohammed Abu Auda 23, died of critical wounds he sustained two days ago during Israeli offensive on east Gaza.

Rafedia hospital sources reported that Hani Eweijan died of serious wounds when Israeli special unit shot him in the head in Nablus. He died today at Rafedia hospital.

The sources said that the offensive on east Gaza last Wednesday left thirty three citizens killed and scores others wounded.

In the meantime, number of citizens were wounded at pre-dawn when Israeli artillery bombarded citizens' houses in the Gaza Strip (GS) town of Beit Hanoun, security sources said.

They told WAFA that the Israeli tanks stationed at the east and the north of GS opened random fire towards citizens in al-Sikka St., wounding number of them, including a 19-year-old girl.

Earlier, Israeli warplanes fired number of missiles at two houses in Saftawi erea and in Beit Hanoun. They were completely destroyed, while two citizens were wounded.

Citizen Wounded, 11 others Arrested in WB

JENIN, July 30, 2006 (WAFA)-

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) wounded a citizen Sunday morning and arrested 11 others, including four policemen in the West Bank (WB) cities of Jenin, Hebron and Qalqilya.

Security sources told WAFA that Nasser al-Ghoul 45, was wounded with a live bullet when Israeli soldiers stormed at pre-dawn Jenin Refugee Camp.

Israeli soldiers conducted a search campaign, at the south of Hebron and arrested four policemen, leading them into an unknown location, witnesses said.

Six citizens were also arrested by IOF in Qalqilya and led into an unknown spot.

WAFA reported said that the IOF stormed Tulkarem and launched a search campaign into citizens' houses , arresting the youth Omar Masoud and leading him into an unknown fate.

Meanwhile, Salem Israeli Military Court sentenced Sunday a number of detainees to severe imprisonment terms as well as inflated fines.

Palestinian Prisoners' Society (PPS) said that the Court sentenced four citizens to imprisonments terms ranging from 11 to 27 months and fines ranging from NIS1000 to 4000 (Israeli currency).

M.H. (13:43 P) (10:43 GMT)

Israeli soldiers arrest five Palestinians and loot shops in Qalqilia

PNN, (Qalqilia) Mustafa Sabre Sunday, 30 July 2006

In a large-scale campaign against the northwestern West Bank city of Qalqilia Sunday, Israeli soldiers terrorized residents on myriad levels.

Beginning by invading the city at 2:00 am, Israeli forces opened fire and arrested five people, including those who work for the Palestinian Security bodies. During the arrest campaign, Israeli soldiers stormed several shops, and after forcing owners out proceeded to raid the shelves, including stuffing themselves with ice cream near the Zoo and Municipal Stadium.

A relative of shop owner Zakaria Salah said that Israeli forces essentially used a “vacuum in the shop,” taking all of the ice cream and cola and leaving after two hours.

Most of those arrested in the northwestern West Bank Qalqilia District are from Kfar Village east of the city. Among them are Ashtioi Mahmoud Abdullah, Ahmed Issa Abdul, and Ghassan Kaddoumi. The Israelis took all to unknown locations under the pretext that they were “wanted.”

Israeli settlers and soldiers beat several Palestinians and make arrests in Hebron

PNN, (Hebron) Sa’ed Al Shouhki Sunday, 30 July 2006

Israeli soldiers beat three Dura Village residents, southwest of Hebron Sunday. Medical sources at the southern West Bank’s city hospital reported that the victims are covered in contusions and bruises after being attacked last night.

Throughout the city Israeli forces took five Palestinians to unknown locations early Sunday morning, including a man who Israeli settlers had just severely beaten.

Local citizens from the Armeda Hill area overlooking the city center confirmed that 20 year old Fawaz Rageb Abu Isheh, an officer in the Hebron Municipality, suffered a severe beating at the hands of Israeli settlers from Ramat Settlement. Israeli soldiers then arrested the man, taking him to a police station in the Kiryat Arba Settlement, east of the city.

The Palestinian Security Chamber of Joint Operations in Hebron reported that among the arrested are 21 year old Iyad Abu Isheh, 24 year old Jawad Ras, 21 year old member of the Palestinian National Security Forces Nasim Zidane, and Ala Baradhih from west of Hebron.

http://www.mezan.org/site_en/press_room/press_detail.php?id=501  

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights

Press Releases

Date: 26 Jul 2006

12 Palestinians killed and 58 injured in escalating IOF offensive in GazaStrip.

The IOF aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property has once again increased, resulting in 12 civilians killed, 55 injured, scores of houses destroyed and agricultural lands levelledafter IOF forces penetrated eastern areas of Al Shaja'ia eastern neighborhood of Gaza City and the borders of Jabalia town. In addition, the IOF have continued shelling houses and residential buildings, in particular Al Awda and Al Nada towers in western Beit Hanoun, and houses in eastern Khan Younis, which has resulted in the killing of a child and the injury of 3 other civilians.

According to Al Mezan field investigations, on 26 July at approximately 1:00am, tens of IOF tanks entered the northern Gaza Strip under helicopter cover, and stationed themselves near a petrol situation, subsequently moving to the southern districts and reaching Sha'af Street, where they began shell houses with tank missiles. 11 Palestinians were killed during this offensive.

Three others killed in the attack and 55 Palestinians were wounded, including Ibrahim Al Atla, a photojournalist for Palestine Satellite TV.

Further, IOF helicopters fired several missiles at bases used by the executive forces of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior in Al Tuffah and Al Shaja'ia neighborhoods, and at members of Palestinian factions at the end of the Al Sha'af street in Al Shaja'ia. Furthermore, IOF bulldozers razed large areas of agricultural lands in Al Shaja'ia. As yet, no precise information about the number of houses destroyed or lands bulldozed is available. The IOF then penetrated into Al Faraheen area in eastern Abassan Al Kabira, in eastern Khan Younis. However, no casualties were reported.

Moreover, on 25 July at approximately 9:30pm, the IOF opened fire on houses in Hamouda area in east Al Qarara town of eastern Khan Younis, killing 12- year- old Ashraf Abdullah Abu Zaher and injuring his father Abdullah Abu Zaher, and his sister Nesma Abdullah Abu Zaher, 8. In an unprecedented action by the IOF which evidences prior knowledge of the imminent crime against civilians persons and buildings, the IOF telephoned residents of the Gaza Strip and ordered them to evacuate their houses, which would be destroyed. Today, at approximately 3:20am, IOF helicopters shelled and severely damaged the 2- storey house of Ibrahim Al Nijma, located in front of Abi Bin Ka'ab mosque in Al Twam area of Jabalia town.

Further, at approximately 6:30am the IOF fired a missile that landed in an apartment in tower no. 15 in Al Nada neighborhood, injuring Mohammed Hasan Abu Zaida who suffering shrapnel injuries to the head.

UNRWA has used 3 of its schools as shelters to accommodate the evacuated persons. Al Nada tower comprises 26 buildings, each one consisting of 18 apartments. The number of Palestinians living in these buildings is 468 families, a total of 2,300 individuals.

Al Mezan gravely condemns the ongoing IOF violations against Palestinian civilians and their property and emphasizes that the silence of the international community in light of the drastic impacts of the IOF violations on the humanitarian situation in the OPT encourages Israel to increase the scale of its violations. Al Mezan renews its demands to the international community, most notably the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under the Convention, halt Israeli war crimes and provide international protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT.

End

http://www.mezan.org/site_en/press_room/press_detail.php?id=494

Reference: 80/2006

Date: 23 Jul 2006

IOF attacks in Al Maghazi result in 16 Palestinians killed, 125 injured, 22 houses destroyed and the leveling of 230 dunums of agricultural land.

The ongoing IOF offensive being conducted in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp has escalated to new levels, resulting in the killing of 16 Palestinians and the injuring of 125, including 30 children. 31 of the injured sustained critical injuries. Further, 22 houses have been destroyed, 4 of them entirely, as well as 150 beehives. In addition, a sewing factory belonging to Ahmed Hasan Abd Al Jawwad and generating income for 70 families was destroyed. In terms of private property, a vehicle owned by Selmi Salem Said was completely damaged and 230 dunums of agricultural land, cultivating olive groves, citrus orchard and other fruit trees was entirely leveled by IOF bulldozers.

According to Al Mezan investigations, on July 19 at approximately 1:30am, IOF Special Forces penetrated eastern Al Maghazi Refugee Camp under the cover of helicopter and killed civilians, destroyed property and razed agricultural lands. Furthermore, they occupied 9 houses, using them as military surveillance points, and fired randomly at persons approaching the area. According to affidavits of residents of the area, adjacent to Al Maghazi Refugee Camp the IOF broke into civilian houses and took 14 Palestinians to Kasafim military area for 'investigations'.

Furthermore, the IOF have continued targeting medical personnel who are carrying out their medical duties, opening fire on Mohammed Khamis Al Salhi, Mohammed Mohammed Al Azaiza, Mohammed Khamis Abu Amra, and Anwar Abd Ar Rahman Abu Houli, who consequently needed his leg amputated. Al Mezan condemns the deadly IOF incursion and disproportionate use of force, which has resulted in the killing of a high number of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure by targeting all phone and electricity networks and transformers, as well as the water networks. Further, the incessant shelling prevented Palestinians from burying the dead bodies, that subsequently remained in the morgue until the IOF withdrawal from the area on July 21 2006.

Al Mezan denounces the IOF war crimes in Al Maghazi Refugee Camp that contribute to the IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been escalating since June 25 2006. Al Mezan believes that the field facts show Israel's deliberate targeting of civilians, which constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law, particularly the 4th Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Al Mezan calls upon the international community, notably the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under the Convention and provide protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT.

End

http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/07/26/ramallah-invasion-2/

Israeli Incursions to Ramallah Continue

July 26th, 2006 | Posted in Reports, Ramallah Region, Photos

by Rann

Around 10:15pm on Tuesday, July 25th 2006, ISM activists were alerted to a large army operation taking place in the Ein Omesharayet neighborhood of Ramallah. Four activists arrived at the scene around 15 minutes later to act as eyewitnesses to the assault.

Israeli special forces had taken position near a six-storey building. Several jeeps, humvees and an army prison truck were also at the scene (20 vehicles according to press reports). Local youth were throwing stones at jeeps, who were intimidating them by driving up and down surrounding streets. The soldiers did not seem particularly interested in the international activists.

To the best of the activists’ knowledge, the army had told families living in the building to leave and later put them in a ’safe space’ nearby. The target of the operation, a Gazan owner of an apartment on the fourth floor of the building, had not left.

Israeli special forces fired at the building using live ammunition. When this did not seem to affect the situation, they used larger projectile explosives. From the outside, we could see two windows of the apartment on the fourth floor blown out. Following a few of these high-explosive projectiles exploding against or in the building, and a little further small-arms fire, the area became quieter, save for the revving jeeps still running youths up and down the streets. At one point, soldiers entered the building.

Shortly afterwards, the army evacuated the area and activists went into the building to take pictures and talk to Palestinians in the area. There were bullet holes all over the apartment’s kitchen, furniture scattered and blown around, remnants of food covered in dust from the walls and so on, the aftermath of a huge attack on a single person. On the way back downstairs, activists noted streaks of blood on the wall and the floor. Presumably the army captured the man they were looking for, though in what condition is hard to tell.

Additionally, there are reports of at least two injured youth, aged 14 and 15 who were taken to hospital with light to medium injuries.

grapevines destroyed, photo ISM

Settlers raze Palestinian olive trees ISM photo
NABLUS:
The real tragedy of 300,000 residents of Nablus city is the loss of their civil papers archive including Birth certificates, identification papers and passports mixed with the soil after the interior and civil affair ministry leveled to ground.

July 22,2006 (IPC+ Agencies) - -It looks like an earth quake wrecked Nablus city of the West Bank as the devastation and heaps of ruins covered up vast area on which governmental and security facilities were. Along three days the Israeli occupation tanks played havoc in Nablus' compound housing five premises of the Palestinian security services in addition to neighboring four security and
governmental facilities.

It looks like an earth quake wrecked Nablus city of the West Bank as the devastation and heaps of ruins covered up vast area on which governmental and security facilities were. Along three days the Israeli occupation tanks played havoc in Nablus' compound housing five premises of the Palestinian security services in addition to neighboring four security and governmental facilities. Six residents were killed during the offensive started late Wednesday dawn in the center of Al Muqtaa of Nablus city under the pretext of seeking out "wanted " by the occupation and more than 200 security and policemen were arrested after they had been forced to discard their clothes and tens were wounded.


In a residential building apartments overlooking the tattered compound, resident Rafa'a Rawajba , an officer of the Preventive security service and some security men eyeing the Israeli tanks ramming through buildings where earlier the day their offices were.

"They destroyed all symbols of PNA sovereignty in Nablus in a live scene," Rawajba sighed.

Once the offensive end, Rawajba will find himself like more than 1200 security men working in the city with no office or any official paper.

The real tragedy of 300,000 residents of Nablus city is the loss of their civil papers archive including Birth certificates, identification papers and passports mixed with the soil after the interior and civil affair ministry leveled to ground.

Rawajba said" they devastated the national memory of the city, computers save all information has been now under the ruins of cements."

Locals whose day melted into their nights as the Erath- bounding bombs as Merkava artilleries bounded Al Muqataa along three days, watched via footage aired by the local TV station the Israeli bulldozers shoveled a Palestinian police car then squeezed it metals before throwing it a side and started with the next vehicle.