Weekly Report: On "Israeli" Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

source: Electronic Intifada, 21-7-2005.
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) http://www.pchrgaza.org‏
Week 14 - 20 July 2005:‏
• "Israeli" Occupation Forces divide the Gaza Strip into three sections during comprehensive colures. 16/07/05‏
• "Israeli" Occupation Forces (IOF) Escalate Attacks on Palestinian Civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)‏
• 14 Palestinians, including two children, were killed by IOF.‏
• 8 of the victims, who were members of Hamas, were extra-judicially killed by IOF.‏
• IOF conducted 45 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 into the Gaza Strip.‏
• Houses were raided and 78 Palestinian civilians were arrested by IOF in the West Bank and 1 in the Gaza Strip.‏
• Two Palestinian civilians were used by IOF as a human shields to raid houses.‏
• 21 houses were transformed by IOF into military sites.‏
• IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT; IOF divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones; IOF shot dead a Palestinian child near a checkpoint in the Gaza Strip; IOF have prevented Palestinian civilians aged 16-35 from traveling through Rafah International Crossing Point; IOF arrested 6 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank and injured a seventh one.‏
• IOF have continued to construct the Annexation Wall in the West Bank; IOF attacked Palestinian civilians and international and "Israeli" solidarity activists who demonstrated against the construction of the Wall; 7 Palestinian civilians and an "Israeli" solidarity activist were wounded and 3 "Israeli" solidarity activists were arrested.‏
• 3 Palestinian civilians were injured and IOF razed more areas of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement expansion.‏
• 4 summary executions, with 4 Palestinians executed in one of the executions.‏
Recommendations to the International Community‏
1. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to ensure "Israel`s" respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. PCHR believes the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged "Israel" to act as if it is above the law and encourages "Israel" continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law.‏
2. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure "Israel`s" respect of the Convention in the OPT and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian civilians.‏
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to comply with its legal obligations detailed in Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war crimes.‏
4. PCHR recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights organizations, bar associations and NGOs to participate in the process of searching for "Israeli" those accused of grave breaches of international law and to urge their governments to bring these people to justice.‏
5. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-"Israel" Association Agreement, which provides that "Israel" must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and "Israel". PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal "Israeli" settlements in the OPT.‏
6. PCHR calls upon the member States of the EU, and all other states, to adopt a voting pattern at the UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human Rights which is keeping with international law.‏
7. PCHR demands that the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion be immediately implemented by the international community.‏
8. PCHR calls on the international community to recognize the proposed Gaza disengagement plan for what it is - not an end to occupation but compounding the occupation and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.‏
9. In recognition of ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in "Israeli" jails.‏
10. PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure "Israel`s" respect for human rights in the OPT and to end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.‏
11. In light of the severe restrictions imposed by the "Israeli" government and its occupying forces on access for international organizations to the OPT, PCHR calls upon European countries to deal the same way with "Israeli" occupation settlers.‏
12. PCHR reiterates that any political settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question. Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.‏
Public Document‏
For further information please visit website (http://www.pchrgaza.org) or contact PCHR's office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email ([email protected]) or telephone (+972 (0)8 2824776 - 2825893).‏
For the full report press on this link: http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2005/21-07-2005.htm#_ftn1‏