No. 07/2009

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and Continue to Impose a Total Siege on the Gaza Strip

- Three Palestinians, including two children, were killed by IOF in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

- Fifteen Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children and one woman, were injured by IOF gunfire in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

- IOF warplanes bombarded targets in the Gaza Strip.

- A workshop was destroyed in the northern Gaza Strip.

- A police station in Khan Yunis was repeatedly bombarded.

- Intensive air strikes continued on the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, resulting in local civilians being forced to evacuate the area.

- IOF conducted 43 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

- IOF arrested 82 Palestinian civilians, including seventeen children and one woman.

- IOF raided and damaged the contents of a radio station in Hebron.

- IOF closed a charity in Tulkarm.

- IOF have continued to impose a total siege on the OPT and have isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

- IOF confiscated 1,700 donumms[1] of Palestinian land in Bethlehem in order to construct 2,500 new housing units for Israeli settlers.

- IOF uprooted at least 20 olive trees in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah.

- IOF and Israeli settlers began construction of a new road for Israeli settlers south of Hebron.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (12 - 18 February 2009):

Shooting: During the reporting period, IOF killed three Palestinians, including two children, and wounded 15 others, including six children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 13 February, IOF extra-judicially executed a Palestinian and wounded another one in 'Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis, when an IOF drone fired a missile at them while they were riding a motorcycle.

On 14 February, IOF shot dead a Palestinian child while he was herding animals in the east of Jabalia town in the northern Gaza Strip.

On 12 February, 11 Palestinian civilians, including six children and one woman, were injured when IOF warplanes bombarded a store of woods in Jabalia refugee camp.

During the reporting period, IOF warplanes launched a series of air strikes on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, allegedly to destroy tunnels.

On 18 February, a Palestinian farmer was injured in Khan Yunis, when IOF troops fired at farmers and members of the International Solidarity Movement.

In the West Bank, on 13 February, a Palestinian child was killed when IOF fired at a peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in Hebron.

During the reporting period, two Palestinian civilians were injured when IOF used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall.

Incursions: During the reporting period, IOF conducted at least 43 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. IOF arrested 82 Palestinian civilians, including 17 children and one woman. IOF also stormed offices of the al-Yamama Radio in Hebron and damaged some of the contents. In addition, IOF ordered closure of Bayariq Charity in Tulkarm on the West Bank, which provides support to at least 1,450 orphans.

Restrictions on Movement: IOF have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.