IMEU: Human rights groups on the attack on Gaza

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Human rights groups on the attack on Gaza

B'Tselem: Israeli soldiers use civilians as human shields in Beit Hanun

B'Tselem's initial investigation indicates that, during an incursion by Israeli forces into Beit Hanun, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 17 July 2006, soldiers seized control of two buildings in the town and used residents as human shield.

After seizing control of the buildings, the soldiers held six residents, two of them minors, on the staircases of the two buildings, at the entrance to rooms in which the soldiers positioned themselves, for some twelve hours. During this time, there were intense exchanges of gunfire between the soldiers and armed Palestinians. The soldiers also demanded that one of the occupants walk in front of them during a search of all the apartments in one of the buildings, after which they released her.

International humanitarian law forbids using civilians as human shields by placing them next to soldiers or next to military facilities, with the intention of gaining immunity from attack, or by forcing the civilians to carry out dangerous military assignments.

B'Tselem has demanded that the Judge Advocate General immediately order a Military Police investigation into the matter and prosecute the soldiers responsible for the action.

Chronology of the Events

In the IDF's Operation Summer Rains in the Gaza Strip following the abduction of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, engineer, artillery, and infantry forces made an incursion into Beit Hanun, a town of some 32,000 people in the northern Gaza Strip, early in the morning on 17 July. According to the IDF Spokesperson, during the incursion, "IDF struck approximately twenty armed terrorists." The announcement added that, "Forces also carried out engineering work to harm terror organizations' infrastructure and hamper their activity, and arrested a number of wanted men… During searches, forces discovered three Kalashnikov rifles, a carbine, a pistol, and ammunition."

Around 6:00 A.M., troops in armored personnel carriers and bulldozers drove up to two adjacent four-story buildings in the middle of the town, near the a-Nasser mosque. The bulldozers destroyed the concrete wall around each building and then destroyed one of the external walls on the ground floor of each of the buildings. The extended Kafarneh family lives on the bottom three floors of one of the buildings. On the fourth floor are the offices of the Ramatan Palestinian News Agency. The 'Ali family lives in the other building.

Part of the force, twelve soldiers in the estimate of one of the witnesses, burst into the Kafarneh building through the area where the wall was destroyed, firing stun grenades as they entered. At the time, there were 25 people in the building, including 11 children. Some of those present were from the 'Ali family who left the adjacent building when the military entered Beit Hanun. The soldiers called all the residents to gather in the living room on the ground floor, and then searched them. Threatening the occupants with his weapon, one of the soldiers ordered 'Aza Kafarneh, a 43-year old woman, to accompany him to search each of the floors in the building and to open the doors of each of the rooms. At the end of the search, the soldiers ordered all the occupants, except for three, to leave the building. As they left, there was a heavy exchange of gunfire between IDF soldiers and Palestinians. In her testimony to B'Tselem, 'Aza Kafarneh related that, in light of the situation, she requested the soldier to let them remain in the building, but the soldiers refused. "We had to lay flat on the ground and crawl to the neighbor's house..."

The three who were kept in the building were two of her sons, Hazem, 14, and Qusay, 16, and her nephew, Khaled, 23. The three were taken to the staircase, at the entrance to the third-floor apartment, where the soldiers were located. The three sat there until around 8:00 P.M, about 45 minutes before the soldiers left the building. During this time, soldiers inside and outside the building were engaged in exchanges of gunfire with armed Palestinians. The staircase was not in the direct line of gunfire. Just before the end of the incident, the soldiers ordered the three to go downstairs, in front of them, to the entrance of the building.

At the same time (around 6:00 AM), other members of the military force had seized control of the building in which the 'Ali family lives. The only people in the building were the mother, 'Ayesha, 60, and her three sons, Hazem, 29, Tareq, 25, and 'Emad, 41. 'Ayesha 'Ali was taken into an interior room on the ground floor, where she stayed with her hands tied until the end of the events.

The soldiers ordered her three sons to undress and then searched them. The soldiers then cuffed their hands behind their back and blindfolded them. According to the testimony of Hazem, the soldiers tightened the cuffs intentionally so as to hurt them. One of the soldiers kicked him in the chest after he complained about the pain. However, when his hands began to swell and bleed from the cuffs, another soldier put a new pair of cuffs on his hands.

'Emad, who serves in the Palestinian police force, handed over his personal weapon at the beginning of the events, in response to the soldiers' demand. Another member of the family who also serves in a Palestinian police unit was not present at the time. Soldiers searched for his weapon, but they did not find it. During the search, the soldiers broke a lot of the family's furniture and caused great destruction in some of the apartments.

Following the search, one of the soldiers took Hazem's cell phone and called four persons whose numbers were in the phone's memory. The soldier told each of them: "If you want Hazem, Tareq, and 'Emad released, bring your weapons." According to Hazem's testimony, the four persons work with him at Ramatan and were selected at random; none of them have any weapons.

Around 8:00 A.M., the three men were taken to the staircase next to the third-floor apartment, where the soldiers were gathered. The three remained on the stairs, their hands cuffed behind their back and their eyes covered, until 8:45 P.M., when the soldiers left the building. At a certain point, one of the brothers, Tareq, moved a bit, and a soldier hit him in the chest and threatened to kill him. While they sat there, an intense exchange of gunfire took place between soldiers in the building and armed Palestinians outside. In contrast to the situation in the other building, many bullets entered the staircase area via the window and struck the wall, above the heads of the three occupants. One of the brothers, 'Emad, was taken by the soldiers at the end of the incident and remains in Israeli detention.

During the events, 'Aza Kafarneh was in contact with B'Tselem and asked the organization to help attain the release of her family members who were being held by the soldiers. A B'Tselem staff member, Najib Abu Rokaya, called the IDF's District Coordination Office in the Gaza Strip and warned them about the incident. The soldier on the other end of the phone referred Abu Rokaya to the DCO's legal advisor, Captain Haim Sharbit. After Abu Rokaya spoke with him, Sharbit said that he could do nothing about the matter because "we are not familiar with the incident."

Legal Background

The testimonies taken by B'Tselem indicate that the Israeli soldiers who took over the buildings used the occupants as human shields. They placed civilians on the staircase, next to the rooms where the soldiers were located, with the intention of deterring the armed Palestinians from attacking the building and/or so that the civilians would be located between the soldiers and the armed Palestinians, should the latter manage to penetrate the building and try to shoot them. The soldiers used one of the occupants to open the doors of the apartments, apparently out of fear that other persons were hiding there and would open fire when the door was opened.

International humanitarian law, which states the rules applying in armed conflicts, requires the sides to distinguish between combatants and civilians, and to protect the lives and dignity of civilians. The Fourth Geneva Convention, in Article 27, states that civilians who find themselves in the hands of one of the parties are "entitled, in all circumstances, to respect… They shall at all times be humanely treated, and shall be protected especially against all acts of violence or threats thereof…"

Article 28 of the Convention expressly prohibits the use of civilians as human shields by placing them alongside soldiers or military facilities, with the hope of attaining immunity from attack. The official commentary of the Convention refers to this practice, which was common in the Second World War as "cruel and barbaric." The Convention, in Articles 31 and 51, also prohibits the use of physical or moral coercion on civilians or forcing them to carry out military tasks.

Despite these prohibitions, for a long period of time following the outbreak of the second intifada, particularly during Operation Defensive Shield, in April 2002, the IDF systematically used Palestinian civilians as human shields, forcing them to carry out military actions which threatened their lives. It was not until a High Court petition was filed by Israeli human rights organizations opposing such action, in May 2002, that the IDF issued a general order prohibiting the use of Palestinians as "a means of 'human shield' against gunfire or attacks by the Palestinian side.'" Following this order, the use of this practice declined sharply. However, according to IDF interpretation, assistance by Palestinians, with their consent, in warning a wanted person hiding in a certain location is not deemed use of a human shield. However, this practice was also outlawed following the ruling of the Israeli High Court of Justice that this practice is inconsistent with the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Clearly, then, the IDF's treatment of the Palestinian occupants in the two Beit Hanun buildings flagrantly breached fundamental rules of international humanitarian law, as well as IDF regulations. B'Tselem wrote to the military's Judge Advocate General and demanded that he immediately order a Military Police investigation regarding this incident, and that he prosecute all those responsible for these illegal acts.

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International Committee of the Red Cross: Call for Israeli army to immediately leave Palestine Red Crescent premises in Nablus

Geneva / Tel Aviv (ICRC) - During a military operation in Nablus that began on the night of 18 July, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) occupied the premises of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), blocking the entrance and hindering the movement of ambulances, patients and staff.

This action shows grave disregard by the IDF for its obligation to respect and protect medical units. Since 19 July, the ICRC has repeatedly raised this issue with the Israeli authorities and called on the IDF to immediately leave the premises of the PRCS.

The PRCS runs emergency medical services and a rehabilitation centre for disabled children on its premises in Nablus, which are used for strictly humanitarian and medical purposes and which must therefore be kept safe from any form of military action or presence.

The PRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Its medical units, which are clearly identified by the red crescent emblem, are entitled to full protection under international humanitarian law.

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Palestine Red Crescent Society: Attacks on health organizations and PRCS staff

Al-Bireh, July 19th 2006 - PRCS condemns the Israeli targeting of the health organizations and medical staff as well as the series of Israelis attacks at medical staff and particularly at PRCS staff.

PRCS confirmed that Israeli Army attacked the medical center in Al-Maghazi camp in Gaza and wounded a PRCS Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Mr. Anwar Juma Abu Huli. In addition, a PRCS ambulance was shot in Bet Lehya receiving two bullets causing damage to the vehicle.

PRCS EMT Anwar Juma Abu Huli, 40 years old, was wounded today by the Israeli Army while he was on duty. Anwar Juma Abu Huli was transported to PRCS Al-Quds hospital in Gaza for medical treatment. Mr. Abu Huli lost his right leg as well as his right hand fingers. His left leg was also burned. It is worth noting that since the beginning of the Intifada, on September 29th 2000, 12 of the PRCS staff were killed and 206 were wounded by the Israeli Army.

The Israeli Army surrounded the PRCS Branch in Nablus and kidnapped three bodies from PRCS ambulances. PRCS confirms that 9 Palestinians were killed today by the Israeli Army, 6 of them are in Al-Maghazi camp (Gaza) and 3 in the city of Nablus (West Bank).

The President of PRCS, Mr. Younis Al-Khatib, confirmed that at 6:00 AM, on July 19th 2006, the Israeli forces occupied PRCS Branch premises in Nablus. The Israeli Army is delaying and restricting the movement of PRCS ambulances and staff. Three military jeeps and one mechanical shove are on the premises and the zone is being used as a shooting base.

Mr. Al-Khatib stated that the invasion of the Ministry of Health Hospital in Nablus and the use of the facilities as a military site and detention place is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law and of the Geneva Conventions which prohibits the invasion of hospitals.

Mr. Al-Khatib said that the Israeli forces are still violating the International Humanitarian Law and Geneva Conventions by targeting medical centers. Under International Humanitarian law and the Additional protocols, the medical centers are protected from any military aggression and activities.

Al-Khatib added that the Geneva Conventions are not taken seriously by the Israeli Army. He is asking the International Community for immediate condemnation of the Israel violations of International Humanitarian Law and Geneva Conventions.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: IOF attack El-Maghazi Refugee Camp in Gaza and Nablus in the West Bank: 9 killed, including 2 children, and 81 injured; government compound in Nablus besieged; IOF take over many governmental buildings in Nablus; tens are stripped and detained

From the predawn hours till the publication of this press release, IOF have killed 9 Palestinians and injured 81 others, including 14 children and a paramedic. Six of the dead, including 2 children, fell in El-Maghazi refugee camp; and the others fell in Nablus. IOF had attacked Nablus and besieged governmental buildings claiming that there are wanted people inside them. IOF continue to detain the bodies of the fallen in Nablus after abducting them from an ambulance. PCHR is concerned over the continued Israeli aggression in El-Maghazi and Nablus, which could lead to additional casualties among Palestinians and to additional destruction of their property.

PCHR's preliminary investigation on the attack on El-Maghazi refugee camp indicates that at approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 19 July 2006, an undercover IOF unit infiltrated to the east of the refugee camp. Resistance activists discovered them; and clashed with them. A resistance activist was killed during the exchange by several bullets throughout the body. The fallen activist is Sa'ed Sami Qandil (21).

Half an hour later, IOF reinforcements arrived. These consisted of heavy armored vehicles and bulldozers supported by helicopters and unmanned drones.

At approximately 06:00, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of Palestinians that included resistance activists in an agricultural field. Two resistance activists were killed: Mohammad Fuad Abu Osheiba (20) and Mohammad Omar El-Bashiti (25). The paramedic Anwar Abdel Rahman Abu Holi (43) was injured by shrapnel and his right leg was cut off as he was tending one of the wounded.

IOF took up positions in the Abu Sa'id area, east of El-Maghazi, nearly 1.5 kilometers inside the Gaza Strip. They took over houses and stationed troops on rooftops. Snipers on rooftops fired at civilians and resistance activists. As a result, the resistance activist Omar Farhan Abu Moheisin (32) was killed by a bullet to the abdomen. He is the fourth member of his family killed by IOF during the current Intifada.

At approximately 08:20, an IOF tank fired a shell at a group of civilians, mostly children, gathered to witness the actions of IOF. Two children were killed and 15 were injured, 2 of them seriously injured. The dead children are Ali Kamel El-Najjar (16) and Ahmad Ali El-Na'ami (16).

The indiscriminate shelling since the start of the attack on El-Maghazi caused the injury of another 49 Palestinians, raising the number of injured to 65, including 12 children. Four of the injured sustained serious injuries. PCHR's fieldworker reported that IOF continue to indiscriminate shelling and bulldozing operations.

PCHR's preliminary investigation into the attack on Nablus indicates that at approximately 03:00, nearly 40 armored vehicles and 5 bulldozers moved into Nablus. IOF moved into the city from 3 directions: El-Tuor area (southeast), Al-Quds Street (east), and Maslakh Street (northeast). IOF surrounded the Nablus Governorate building, the Government Compound (mostly destroyed during the 2002 attack), Special Police Forces headquarters, Preventive Security Apparatus headquarters, and the Central Prison. IOF raided a number of buildings surrounding these besieged institutions, and transformed them into military outposts. IOF called upon Palestinians in the besieged buildings to surrender to their troops. Then, IOF took over the Ministry of Health Compound in the vicinity and transformed it into an interrogation center to question the Palestinians surrendering to IOF.

IOF bulldozers started to close the streets around the Governmental Complex with earth barriers. At approximately 04:30, Palestinian medical crews indicated that there was an injured person inside the Palestinian Special Police Force headquarters. IOF did not allow medical teams and ambulances to enter the headquarters to evacuate the wounded. At approximately 07:00, IOF threatened to demolish the besieged structures with the besieged people inside if the armed people inside did not surrender. IOF bulldozers started to demolish the wall between the Preventive Security headquarters and the Passport department in the Government Complex. In addition, parts of the Preventive Security headquarters were destroyed. A medical team from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that 3 bodies of dead Palestinians were found on Mount Jarzim, behind the southern end of the Government Complex. A Red Crescent Society ambulance took the bodies and tried to evacuate them out of the area. However, IOF troops stopped the ambulance and took the bodies to the occupied Ministry of Health Compound.

PCHR's fieldworker reported that 10 Palestinians were injured and taken to hospitals. Among the injured are one child and a journalist (Wa'el Tannous, 27, a cameraman for Al-Jazeera Satellite Station, who was injured by a rubber-coated bullet in the foot). He added that IOF are currently detaining the security personnel from the besieged buildings after stripping them of their outer clothing. The operation was still ongoing at the time of publication.

PCHR reiterates its concern over the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). The Centre warns against the ongoing Israeli aggression, which are a violation of International Law and International Humanitarian Law. This aggression will result in additional casualties among Palestinian civilians. In addition, the Centre condemns the acts of willful killing and destruction perpetrated by IOF. These crimes as a form of reprisal and collective punishment against Palestinians, which is a violation of article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR points to the fact that IOF do not respect the principles of necessity and proportionality when using its war machine against Palestinian resistance activists when they are in non-combat situations in civilian areas, which leads to casualties from among the civilian population and to damage of civilian property.

In the Center's view, the complacency of the international community and the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention and their failure tot take effective steps to stop Israeli war crimes has been a supporting and encouraging element for Israel to continue perpetrating additional war crimes against Palestinian civilians. The legal cover provided to Israel by the US, which purposely hinders International Humanitarian Law, and the conspiracy of silence by Europe encourage Israeli to continue to perpetrate war crimes unchecked, placing it above international law.

The Centre reminds the High Contracting Parties of:

- Their obligations under article 1 of the convention to ensure respect of the convention under all circumstances;

- Their obligations in article 146 of the convention to pursue suspects of committing serious violations of the convention, noting that these violations are war crimes according to article 147, as specified in the first protocol additional to the convention

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Reporters Without Borders: Israeli army fires on Al-Jazeera crew in West Bank

Reporters Without Borders voiced strong condemnation of an Israeli army attack today on Al-Jazeera TV reporter Jevara Al-Budeiri and her crew in the West Bank town of Nablus, in which one of the crew's technicians, Wael Tantous, was hit in the foot by rubber bullets. The crew was broadcasting live at the time.

"We are very concerned about repeated, deliberate acts of violence against the staff of the satellite TV news station Al-Jazeera," the organisation said. "We call on the Israeli authorities to give clears orders to stop these acts of intimidation and harassment. The army has no right to prevent this station's journalists from covering the current clashes."

Al-Jazeera said in a statement: "Since the start of the current war on Lebanon, Al-Jazeera crews have consistently been targeted by the Israeli authorities, resulting in a constant hindrance and obstruction of their work. Today they tried to attack our reporter, Jevara Al-Budeiri, and fired at technician Wael Tantous."

Al-Budeiri said: "Our colleague was hit by Israeli shots, on screen live. You can clearly see that the shots came from Israeli jeeps and tanks."

The Al-Jazeera management told Reporters Without Borders that Tantous was out of danger and had left the hospital to which he was taken after the shooting. Al-Jazeera was covering the current fighting in an objective manner, the station stressed.

The Al-Jazeera crew had been giving live coverage of an Israeli army incursion into Nablus when an Israeli jeep suddenly approached Al-Budeiri at speed. Then shots were fired and Tantous was hit.

Al-Jazeera's bureau chief in Israel, Walid Al-Omari, was arrested twice in the past two days while covering the clashes on the border with Lebanon. The members of another TV crew were briefly detained by the Israeli police in Haifa on 17 July.

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UN Human Rights Council: UN health rights expert calls for independent enquiry into alleged war crime in Gaza

The United Nations Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur on the right to the highest attainable standard of health issued the following statement today:

As the world's attention is drawn to the widening conflict in Lebanon, it is extremely important that the deepening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is closely monitored and urgently addressed.

The depth of this crisis cannot be understood without grasping the acute dependency and vulnerability of the population of Gaza. Amongst the most densely populated place in the world, Gaza has been occupied by Israel for almost 40 years. Its population of 1.4 million, most of whom are refugees, remains very heavily dependent on Israel, as well as the donor community.

For a variety of reasons, the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated significantly between March and June 2006. In mid-June, WHO called the health situation in Gaza "very dangerous".

Following the events of 25 June, including the capture of Corporal Gilad Shalit, Israel has carried out numerous military interventions in the Gaza Strip. According to UN sources, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed, including 18 children. Almost 400 Palestinians have been injured, including 108 children. With limited exceptions, Israel has sealed Gaza's borders. Some patients returning home to Gaza after medical treatment abroad, and some patients seeking treatment abroad, have been unable to pass through the Rafah crossing: while waiting, nine Palestinians have died. On the night of 27-28 June, Gaza's only electricity power station was attacked and incapacitated.

In short, since WHO's assessment in mid-June, the precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza has dramatically worsened. Poverty rates, for example, have now risen to 75%.

Here, I confine myself to some brief, preliminary remarks about the impact of the destruction of Gaza's electricity power station, as well as the relevant international law.

Following the attack, the lack of power for pumps is causing a serious water shortage, and affecting sewage disposal, for tens of thousands of households throughout the Gaza Strip. There are reports of sewage leakage, as well as a reduction in municipal waste collection and disposal. Reported cases of diarrhoea have increased by 163% compared to the same period last year. It is possible that communicable diseases, like cholera and poliomyelitis, will re-emerge. Reduced hospital services are dependent upon generators that are unsuitable for constant, long-term use.

The right to the highest attainable standard of health includes access to medical services and also access to adequate sanitation and safe drinking water. The destruction of Gaza's electricity power station is profoundly inconsistent with the health and safety of all civilians living in Gaza, especially the young, sick, infirm and elderly, as well as their right to the highest attainable standard of health, enshrined in the International Bill of Rights and other international human rights instruments.

Moreover, the destruction of Gaza's electricity power station may be a violation of international humanitarian law (sometimes known as the 'laws of war').

The basic rule of international humanitarian law is that parties to a conflict must always distinguish between combatants and civilians. Attacks can only be directed against combatants and military objectives.

Under international humanitarian law, a target may be attacked if it is both making an effective contribution to the enemy's military action and its destruction provides a definite military advantage to the attacker. Whether or not both conditions applied in the case of Gaza's electricity power station is an issue that demands careful, independent investigation.

In addition, an attack must be proportionate. A target may not be attacked if the attack is likely to cause a disproportionate amount of collateral civilian damage. Whether or not the Israeli attack on Gaza's electricity power station was proportionate is another issue that demands careful, independent investigation.

When undertaking this enquiry, it is imperative that, in addition to military matters, other relevant issues are also taken into account, including the acute dependency and vulnerability of the people of Gaza. When the power station was attacked, what was the foreseeable incidental impact on the civilian population of Gaza?

If the attack on the electricity power station was not in conformity with international humanitarian law it amounts to a war crime. For example, if the attack were disproportionate, it was a war crime.

In these circumstances, I strongly recommend that, as a matter of urgency, an independent enquiry be made to determine whether or not the recent attack on Gaza's electricity power station was a war crime.

Under the mandate given to me by the Human Rights Council, I am required to report "on the status, throughout the world, of the realization of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health". I am also required to report on the domestic and international "obstacles" impeding the implementation of this human right. If a war crime bearing upon the health of the population of Gaza has been committed, it constitutes a very significant "obstacle" to the implementation of the right to the highest attainable standard of health. It is for this reason that I urge the swift establishment of a careful, independent enquiry into the attack on Gaza's electricity power station, in the light of international humanitarian law. The assessment should also take account of all relevant international human rights law.

Finally, I urge the captors of Corporal Gilad Shalit to release him unharmed immediately. Pending his release, he must receive appropriate medical assistance and care, and he must be treated humanely. Also, I remind all parties that the prohibition against targeting a civilian population applies to civilians within both Israel and the Gaza Strip. All such targeting should cease immediately.

In May, I wrote to the Government of Israel seeking an invitation to visit the OPT. I look forward to receiving a positive reply as a matter of urgency, enabling me to assess the health situation, through the lens of the right to the highest attainable standard of health, at first hand.

The Special Rapporteur is an independent expert appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council to help States and others promote and protect the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.

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UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for protection of civilians and accountability in latest Mideast crisis

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour today expressed grave concern over the continued killing and maiming of civilians in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory and called for accountability for any breaches of international law.

The High Commissioner recalled that parties to a conflict have the obligation to exercise precaution and respect the principle of proportionality in all military operations so as to prevent unnecessary suffering among the civilian population. "Indiscriminate shelling of cities constitutes a foreseeable and unacceptable targeting of civilians", she said. "Similarly, the bombardment of sites with alleged military significance, but resulting invariably in the killing of innocent civilians, is unjustifiable".

"International humanitarian law is clear on the supreme obligation to protect civilians during hostilities", the High Commissioner said. "This obligation is also expressed in international criminal law, which defines war crimes and crimes against humanity".

"International law demands accountability. The scale of the killings in the region, and their predictability, could engage the personal criminal responsibility of those involved, particularly those in a position of command and control".

The High Commissioner also warned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, in particular in southern Lebanon, where the population is reported to be increasingly deprived of access to basic services due to the violence.

"The situation in the south of Lebanon is alarming", she said. "A large and steadily increasing number of persons have been forcibly displaced. The most basic human rights of the population are at risk or are being violated, including their rights to life, health and food". The unrestricted and secure passage of all humanitarian assistance, including rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian workers should be ensured as a matter of priority, she said.

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Al Mezan Center for Human Rights: Al Mezan condemns excessive destruction by IOF in Beit Hanoun

The IOF have withdrawn from Beit Hanoun, leaving tens of houses, civilian property, and infrastructure destroyed, and a high number of civilians killed and injured.

According to Al Mezan's preliminary field investigations, on July 18 at approximately 1:00am, the IOF withdrew from Beit Hanoun town leaving 60 houses, 4 healthcare establishments, including an UNRWA clinic, 17 institutions including 4 UNRWA schools and a governmental school partially destroyed. In addition, a mosque and Beit Hanoun cemetery were destroyed.

In addition, the IOF destroyed big parts of the town's main streets, particularly Damra and Abu Ouda streets as well as the road leading to Beit Hanoun cemetery. Further, they destroyed all electricity, phone, and sewage water networks and 8 vehicles. They also leveled 50 dunums of agricultural land including 10 greenhouses. Furthermore, the IOF killed 7 Palestinian civilians in Beit Hanoun:

1. Mo'az Hamza Odwan,
2. Abd Al Karim Yousif Hamad,
3. Shehada Zoheir Al Kafarna,
4. Abd Al Latif Othman Obeid,
5. Ali Maher Atallah,
6. Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kafarna,
7. Mohanna Sa'ed Mesleh.

130 injured were reported, including 5 children. According to medical reports, 5 of the injured sustained critical injuries.

Moreover, the IOF arrested 4 Palestinians in Beit Hanoun; Imad Qasem Al Kafarna, Ahmed Rateb Shabat, Saddam Jaber Ashour, and Mansour Ahmed Al Kafarna.

The IOF continue to prevent Palestinians from their right to movement as they maintain closed Rafah crossing, the only outlet for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip through which to access the outside world. However, the crossing is open today for only incoming passengers who have been stranded at the Egyptian side of the terminal since June 25.

Al Mezan gravely condemns the outrageous Israeli Offensive against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and emphasizes that the scale of violations perpetrated by the IOF in Beit Hanoun reveals Israel's deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians and their property. Al Mezan confirms that the targeting of civilians and property, and the destruction of infrastructure and public institutions, namely educational and health facilities, constitute war crimes and grave breaches of international humanitarian law particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Al Mezan strongly condemns the silence of the international community in light of the drastic impacts of the IOF violations on the humanitarian situation in the OPT, particularly with relation to the continued closure of the Gaza Strip, and the financial boycott of the PNA. Employment rates have now reached 75% as a result of the deteriorating economic situation in the OPT. 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.

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Amnesty International: GAERC: Commit to review EU agreement with Israel in light of human rights

(Brussels, 17 July 2006) To further pressure Israel to stop attacks on civilians, the EU's foreign ministers meeting today in Brussels should also agree to review relations with Israel in light of the current Association Agreement.

Amnesty International asks for an urgent review that takes into account the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza.

"This review is necessary not just because Israel is systematically and deliberately breaching international law by targeting civilians. It should also address the impact of Israel's overall policies towards the Palestinian territories, which have left the population in an increasingly precarious situation," said Dick Oosting, Director of Amnesty International's EU Office.

In a review of the Association Agreement, Amnesty International urges the EU to address all the actions that are being taken by Israel, including those that do not involve military means but carry grave humanitarian consequences.

Amnesty International at the same time reiterates its call on the Lebanese government and Hizbullah to take immediate steps to end attacks against civilians and civilian targets.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: IOF occupy & isolate Beit Hanoun, and destroy the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 3 killed and 11 injured, incl. 2 journalists & 2 paramedics; forced exodus of families in Rafah & Beit Hanoun; and the Gaza Strip is isolated from the outside world

Dr. Fawwaz Abu Sitta, Economics Professor at Al-Azhar University, who lives near the Palestinian Ministry for Foreign Affairs: "The recurrence of this terrible deed without any effort from anyone to stop it makes one feel bitter and hopeless. In addition, one feels the inability to act and avoid the bombardment, despite fully expecting it before hand. Repeating the bombardment of a target that has no military or material value makes this bombardment a form of sadistic collective punishment; because bombing a second time is only for spreading fear among civilians in the homes around the building; and their homes were damaged by the bombardment. This act has transgressed the boundary of standard collective punishment and has become sadistic collective punishment as it entails punishing civilians in their homes. This is what one feels directly after the bombardment when hearing the screams of children and women, and the state of shock and anxiety. It is very scary, and cannot be compared to a state of shock in any other calamity. It is a state of shock unique for this kind of calamity."

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued the aggression on the Gaza Strip for the 4th consecutive week, inflicting additional casualties among Palestinian civilians and destruction of civilian property. IOF continue to systematically target infrastructure and governmental institutions, to undermine the Palestinian political system. Further, IOF continue to hold nearly 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip hostages after closing all its borders, and prevent food and supplies from entering the Strip freely. The situation is the worst in years, and could escalate into a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe. As this press release is published, IOF continue to advance into the town of Beit Hanoun, and to isolate it from its surroundings. Most of the town is under direct IOF occupation. Many families were forced to flee their houses due to indiscriminate IOF shelling. IOF troops have taken over residential structures and converted them into military outposts, while detaining hundreds of civilians, including journalists, inside. IOF use these detained civilians as human shields during bulldozing and detention operations. IOF have prevented the Red Cross and some relief organizations from accessing the area. PCHR calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention and international governmental and nongovernmental organizations, to work towards preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in Beit Hanoun and its surroundings. The Centre calls upon these parties to work towards ensuring that international humanitarian organizations and medical teams are allowed to fulfill their missions and provide food and medication to the civilian population.

The most notable IOF crimes during the past 24 hours are:

- At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 16 July 2006, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a Palestinian car in El-Na'ayma Street in Beit Hanoun. The rocket hit the car after its occupants fled; and it was completely burned.

- At approximately 16:00 on the same day, 5 civilians were injured by indiscriminate shelling on Beit Hanoun. Among the victims are 2 journalists, Kyoto Saki from Japan and Majdi Abdel Dayem Abdeen from Palestine, and 2 paramedics, Zeyad Abdel Dayem and Yosri El-Masri. The paramedics were injured when their ambulance was hit. And shortly afterwards, another 5 civilians were injured by shelling.

- At approximately 17:20, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in Dumra Street in Beit Hanoun. Two of them were killed: Abdel Latif Othman Obeid (20) and Ali maher Atallah (20). Both are from Jabalia refugee camp.

- At approximately 00:20 on Monday, 17 July 2006, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in Beit Hanoun. Two were injured.

- At approximately 00:50 on Monday, IOF helicopters fired 3 rockets at the Interior Ministry Executive Force compound in El-Ajarma Street in Jabalia. One rocket hit the compound, causing damages. The second rocket hit the roof of the house belonging to Husseini Abu Salem, near Abu Rashid pond. It did not explode. The third rocket fell in an empty area.

- At approximately 01:15, an IOF plane dropped a bomb at the building of the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Government Buildings Complex in the Southern Rimal Quarter in Gaza City. The building was completely destroyed; and extensive damage was inflicted on a large number of nearby houses and civilian vehicles. Twelve civilians were injured by glass shrapnel, including 6 children and 2 women. It is noted that this is the second bombing raid against the building this week. And it has become clear that the aim of the bombardment is to terrorize the civilian population living in the area.

- At approximately 06:30, IOF troops deployed on the roofs of Palestinian houses in Beit Hanoun fired indiscriminately, killing Mohammad Mahmoud El-Kafarna (21) with a bullet to the chest. He was standing in front of his house at the time. In addition, IOF continued to move into the town, clamping its control over the center of the town, where the lone hospital, police station, and schools are located. IOF occupied more houses and transformed them into military outposts. As a result, the 30,000 residents of Beit Hanoun are under direct IOF occupation. IOF continue to bulldoze houses, and residents are forcibly fleeing their houses due to indiscriminate shelling. It is noted that all border areas in the Gaza Strip are under unprecedented, indiscriminate shelling. Families from El-Shoka community, east of Rafah, are forcibly fleeing their houses, and seeking refuge in temporary shelters provided by UNRWA.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of IOF willful killing of Palestinian civilians. The Centre considers these crimes as a form of reprisal and collective punishment against Palestinians, which is a violation of article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR points to the fact that IOF do not respect the principles of necessity and proportionality when using its war machine against Palestinian resistance activists when they are in non-combat situations in civilian areas, which leads to casualties from among the civilian population and to damage of civilian property.

In the Center's view, the complacency of the international community and the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention and their failure tot take effective steps to stop Israeli war crimes has been a supporting and encouraging element for Israel to continue perpetrating additional war crimes against Palestinian civilians. The legal cover provided to Israel by the US, which purposely hinders International Humanitarian Law, and the conspiracy of silence by Europe encourage Israeli to continue to perpetrate war crimes unchecked, placing it above international law.

The Centre reminds the High Contracting Parties of:

- Their obligations under article 1 of the convention to ensure respect of the convention under all circumstances;

- Their obligations in article 146 of the convention to pursue suspects of committing serious violations of the convention, noting that these violations are war crimes according to article 147, as specified in the first protocol additional to the convention

The Centre calls upon the Swiss Government to:

- to take a leading role in highlighting and acting to stop the grave breaches of international law that are currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, as is its obligation as the depository of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

- to make efforts to mobilise the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to intervene in this situation and meet their obligations to protect the rights of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip under International Humanitarian Law.

- to call on the Security Council to send an international protection force for the Palestinian civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

The Centre calls upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to:

- to issue a statement strongly condemning Israel's grave breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

- to make a visit to the OPT in order to see for yourself the long term damage that has already been and is currently being inflicted on the civilian population - a population who should be enjoying protection under International Humanitarian Law.

- to call a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to ensure that these states fulfil their obligation under international law to protect the civilian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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Al Mezan Center for Human Rights: Al Mezan condemns the escalating IOF offensive against Palestinian civilians and their property: 98 Palestinians killed, 300 injured since the June 2006 IOF incursion of the Gaza Strip

The IOF have continued their aggressive offensive on the Gaza Strip, targeting Palestinian civilians, houses, civil establishments, public facilities, and governmental institutions. The IOF have destroyed the buildings of the Palestinian Ministries of National Economy, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Planning, and the Office of the Prime Minister.

The total number of deaths since this latest IOF incursion has reached 98, and the number of injured 300. In addition, tens of houses have been destroyed and dunums of agricultural lands have been razed.

According to the Center's field investigations, on July 15th at approximately 11:30pm, more IOF troops were deployed in Beit Hanoun town, and penetrated eastern areas of the town. At approximately 12:00pm, 20 military vehicles penetrated 500 meters into the Farata area in eastern Beit Hanoun. 18 military vehicles moved forward the Shorrab agricultural land and stationed there.

On July 16th, at approximately 1:00am the IOF vehicles stationed in the Shorrab's land, moved forward to the area north of the Faculty of Agriculture in northern Beit Hanoun. They deployed in Al Masriyeen, and Al Boura Streets, Beit Hanoun clinic, and the areas surrounding the Faculty of Agriculture and the Hayel Abd Al Hamid Secondary School.

Further, they occupied both the Faculty of Agriculture and the Ghassan Kanafani Institution for Development, as well as the homes of Salah Shabat, Hani Al Kafarna, Rafiq Al Kafarna, and Mansour Al Kafarna, using them as military surveillance points. They then began firing randomly at civilians in the area.

At the same day, at approximately 4:00am, an Israeli jet fired a rocket close to the Faculty of Agriculture, injuring 4 Palestinians including one child. The same jet fired another rocket on the area as ambulances rushed to the scene to help the wounded, creating trenches in the area which prevented medical personnel from reaching the wounded.

At approximately 4:20am, an Israeli jet fired a rocket which landed on an open area and destroyed the main cables of the electricity network which has caused total suspension of electricity throughout most of the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 5:30am an Israeli jet fired a rocket at a group of people gathering in the centre of Beit Hanoun, killing Mo'az Hamza Odwan, 23, Abd Al Karim Yousif Hamad, 25, and Shehada Zohein Al Kafarna, 24, and injuring 4 others. Further, the IOF continued firing randomly from machine guns towards civilian houses, injuring 8 Palestinians.

On the same day at approximately 8:30am, the IOF fired a tank missile which landed close to the house of Eid Fadel Jadallah, located northeast of Gaza International Airport in Rafah. Fatma Fadel Jadallah, 59, was killed as a result.

Earlier on July 15th, at approximately 10:05am, an Israeli jet fired a rocket at a two- story home located in Bour Said Street, destroying it totally and killing Omar Mahmoud Younis, 30, and injuring 8 others, one of whom was 7-month old Talal Morad, who sustained serious injuries.

Moreover, the IOF continued firing tank missiles along the borderline in the north and east of the Gaza Strip, targeting Palestinian civilians and property.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns these ongoing IOF violations against civilians in the OPT, and the Gaza Strip in particular; it confirms that crimes such as targeting of civilians and properties constitute serious violations of international law, most notably the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the Hague Regulations.

Further, Al Mezan considers the IOF crimes against civilians and properties a clear disregard of obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law. Al Mezan affirms that the silence of the international community encourages Israel to commit further crimes by the IOF.

Thus, Al Mezan Center calls upon the international community, most notably the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to immediately intervene to halt IOF war crimes against Palestinians in the OPT, and bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: Israeli war crimes continue in the Gaza Strip: 4 Palestinians killed, including a woman, and 10 injured in Beit Hanoun and Rafah

Today, 16, July 2006, IOF carried out a pre-dawn raid on the town of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip. The raid comes after IOF had conducted an incursion into the northern Gaza Strip, and then redeployed its forces outside the targeted areas. During last week's incursion, IOF committed war crimes in contravention of International Law and customs. Today's raid has thus far resulted in the death of 3 Palestinian resistance activists by aerial bombardment. In addition, 10 civilians were injured. The raid on Beit Hanoun is part of a campaign against Palestinians that was announced by IOF two weeks ago.

In addition, IOF killed a Palestinian woman in El-Shoka community, east of Rafah, as a result of shelling residential structures in the area. PCHR's field worker reported that IOF intensified shelling in the north and south of the Gaza Strip in a way that increased threat to the lives of civilians and to their properties.

It is noted that IOF have killed 89 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 25 June 2006. There are 44 civilians among the dead, including 19 children, 3 women, and 3 handicapped. In addition, nearly 300 Palestinians have been injured, more than half of them unarmed civilians.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 00:00 on Sunday, 16 July 2006, IOF moved 2 kilometers into the town of Beit Hanoun from the eastern and northern areas of the town. The raiding troops fired heavily, and started to occupy residential houses in Al-Amal Quarter in the town, near UNRWA schools. The occupied houses were transformed into military outposts after their residents were detained inside the houses. And at approximately 05:30, an IOF plane fired a rocket at a group of resistance activists in Abu Odeh Street, to the north of Al-Amal Quarter. Three were killed instantly, and 10 civilians from the area were injured, including a pregnant woman. The dead are: Mo'ath Hamza Odwan (23), Abdel Karim Yousef Hamed (25), and Shehada Zuheir El-Kafarna (24). Furthermore, PCHR's fieldworker reported that 8 families were evacuated from the UNRWA schools in the area. These families were forced out of their homes due to IOF shelling near their houses, and took refuge in the schools.

At approximately 07:30, IOF troops deployed on the outskirts of El-Shoka community, east of Rafah, fired several artillery shells at houses. The shelling killed Fatima Fadel Jadallah (59), who was at the door of her house. IOF had moved into El-Shoka and occupied Gaza International Airport 10 days ago. IOF redeployed out of the area after displacing its residents, leaving behind extensive damages in civilian property and infrastructure.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of IOF willful killing of Palestinian civilians. The Centre considers these crimes as a form of reprisal and collective punishment against Palestinians, which is a violation of article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR points to the fact that IOF do not respect the principles of necessity and proportionality when using its war machine against Palestinian resistance activists when they are in non-combat situations in civilian areas, which leads to casualties from among the civilian population and to damage of civilian property.

PCHR believes that the failure of the international community and the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention to take effective steps to stop Israeli war crimes has served to encourage Israel to commit more war crimes against Palestinian civilians. Not only do the legal cover provided to Israel by the US, which purposely hinders international humanitarian law, and the conspiracy of silence by Europe place Israel above the international law, but also encourage IOF to commit more war crimes.

PCHR reminds the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of:

1) Their obligations under article 1 of the Convention to respect and ensure respect for the convention under all circumstances.

2) Their obligations under article 146 of the Convention to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, grave breaches, and bring such persons before their own courts, noting that such grave breaches constitute war crimes under article 147, as specified in the First Protocol Additional to the Convention

PCHR calls upon the Swiss Government:

1) To take a leading role in highlighting and acting to stop the grave breaches of international law that are currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, as is its obligation as the depository of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

2) To make efforts to mobilise the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to intervene in this situation and meet their obligations to protect the rights of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip under International Humanitarian Law.

3) To call on the Security Council to send an international protection force for the Palestinian civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

PCHR calls upon the High Commissioner for Human Rights:

1) To issue a statement strongly condemning Israel's grave breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

2) To make a visit to the OPT in order to see for yourself the long term damage that has already been and is currently being inflicted on the civilian population - a population who should be enjoying protection under International Humanitarian Law.

3) To call a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to ensure that these states fulfil their obligation under international law to protect the civilian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: IOF offensive continues in the Gaza Strip: 3 Palestinians killed and 10 others wounded in 3 separate attacks and governmental buildings and civilian infrastructure attacked

PCHR strongly condemns the continued killing of Palestinian civilians and destruction of civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), which have been exercising disproportionate and lethal force. In the past 48 hours, 3 Palestinians have been killed and 10 others, including a woman and a baby, have been wounded in 3 separate attacks by IOF in Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip. IOF have also launched 3 air strikes on a building of the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy in Gaza City and on two bridges in the central Gaza Strip. Additionally, IOF artilleries have continued to shell neighbourhoods and agricultural land in the north, centre and south of the Gaza Strip, in which IOF have been redeployed.

The latest of such attacks took place at approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 15 July 2006, when IOF warplanes fired two missiles at a 3-storey building belonging to Sa'ad al-Yazji, a professor at the Islamic University, in al-Daraj neighbourhood in the centre of Gaza City. The first floor of the building is occupied by a sewing workshop, while the other two floors are empty. The building was totally destroyed, and 'Omar Mahmoud Younis, 30, a worker who was in the building, was instantly killed. In addition, 9 civilians living in neighbouring houses, including a woman and two children, were wounded. One of these children is only 7 months old, and he was moderately wounded. The other child, 11-year-old Ahmed al-Jadba, was seriously wounded. IOF claimed that the building was used by Palestinian militants as a workshop to manufacture weapons.

Chronology of Developments in the Gaza Strip in the past 48 hours:

· At approximately 00:00 on Friday, 14 July 2006, IOF positioned at Kissufim intersection on Salah al-Din Street, southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, fired a shell at a civilian car, in which two persons were travelling, on Salah al-Din Street. As a result, one of the passengers, Ra'ed Hussein Nasser, 25, from Gaza City, was killed. He apparently bled to death. His brother-in-law, 'Aadel Hussein al-Bayouk, 20, who was travelling with him, was moderately wounded as he was able to jump out of the car before it totally burnt.

· At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 14 July 2006, IOF fighter jets fired a missile at a bridge that links Nusseirat refugee camp with al-Mughraqa and al-Zahraa' areas in the central Gaza Strip. The bridge was completely destroyed.

· At approximately 01:30 on Saturday, 15 July 2006, IOF warplanes fired a missile at the building of the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy in Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in Gaza City. The building, including the Minister's office, was severely damaged. This attack has been the fourth of its kind against Palestinian governmental buildings since the beginning of the current IOF offensive on the Gaza Strip on 25 June 2006.

· At the same time, IOF fighter jets fired a missile at a bridge that links al-Boreij refugee camp with Juhor al-Dik area in the central Gaza Strip. The bridge was completely destroyed. Thus, the number of bridges recently destroyed by IOF has increased to 6.

· At approximately 05:00 on Saturday, 15 July 2006, IOF helicopter gunships opened fire at Khalil Ibrahim Abu Mughassib, 18, from Wadi al-Salqa village, when he was near "Kissufim" crossing, southeast of Deir al-Balah. He was instantly killed. The victim was not armed, and he was apparently monitoring IOF military posts.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the IOF crimes against Palestinian civilians. PCHR stresses that an arbitrary attack that endangers the lives of civilians and their property, especially if prior knowledge indicates that civilians could be killed or wounded, or property be damaged, is a war crime as prescribed by the First Protocol Additional to the Fourth Geneva Convention.

PCHR believes that the failure of the international community and the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention to take effective steps to stop Israeli war crimes has served to encourage Israel to commit more war crimes against Palestinian civilians. Not only do the legal cover provided to Israel by the US, which purposely hinders international humanitarian law, and the conspiracy of silence by Europe place Israel above the international law, but also encourage IOF to commit more war crimes.

PCHR reminds the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of:

1) Their obligations under article 1 of the Convention to respect and ensure respect for the convention under all circumstances.

2) Their obligations under article 146 of the Convention to search for persons alleged to have committed, or to have ordered to be committed, grave breaches, and bring such persons before their own courts, noting that such grave breaches constitute war crimes under article 147, as specified in the First Protocol Additional to the Convention

PCHR calls upon the Swiss Government:

1) To take a leading role in highlighting and acting to stop the grave breaches of international law that are currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, as is its obligation as the depository of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

2) To make efforts to mobilise the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to intervene in this situation and meet their obligations to protect the rights of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip under International Humanitarian Law.

3) To call on the Security Council to send an international protection force for the Palestinian civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

PCHR calls upon the High Commissioner for Human Rights:

1) To issue a statement strongly condemning Israel's grave breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

2) To make a visit to the OPT in order to see for yourself the long term damage that has already been and is currently being inflicted on the civilian population - a population who should be enjoying protection under International Humanitarian Law.

3) To call a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to ensure that these states fulfil their obligation under international law to protect the civilian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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Amnesty International: Civilian population at risk in Gaza

Amnesty International today urged the Israeli government to immediately cease attacks against Palestinian civilians and civilian property and infrastructure, and to take action to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The organization condemned attacks such as those carried out by Israeli forces on the night of 11-12 July 2006, when an entire family -- Nabil and Salwa Abu Salmiya and their seven children aged between seven and 17 -- were killed when the Israeli Air Force targeted their home in a densely populated residential district in Jabaliya, north of Gaza City. More than 30 other residents were injured in the attack.

Israeli officials stated that the air strike had targeted Muhammad Deif, a leader of Hamas's armed wing, who was reported to have been in the building at the time and to have been injured in the attack. However, the Israeli government and military officials who ordered and carried out the air attack on the house at about 02:30 am must have known that Nabil Abu Salmiya, a university lecturer and a Hamas member, and his wife and children, would be present at their home and that they and residents of neighbouring houses would be killed and injured.

Such attacks against civilians are prohibited by international law and Amnesty International called for them to cease immediately.

In recent weeks dozens of Palestinians women, children and other bystanders have been killed and hundreds have been injured by Israeli forces in air strikes and artillery shelling -- including in their homes.

In addition to the nine members of the Abu Salmiya family, some 15 other Palestinians were killed in the past two days, bringing the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces this year to some 240. The figure includes scores of members of Palestinian armed groups killed in armed clashes with Israeli troops as well as many uninvolved bystanders, including dozens of children. In the same period, some 20 Israelis, most of them civilians, have been killed by Palestinian armed groups.

Amidst the growing tension following the abduction of an Israeli soldier by armed Palestinians two weeks ago, a deepening humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the Gaza Strip, with increasingly serious consequences for the 1.5 million Palestinians who live there.

The continued closure of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt prevents any travel for the entire population of Gaza. Hundreds of Palestinians who were abroad when the border was closed have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the border for days, unable to return home to Gaza.

Medicine, food and fuel shortages are worsening as a result of repeated and prolonged closures by Israel of the Karni checkpoint, through which goods must pass to enter the Gaza Strip. Since the destruction of Gaza's power station and water mains by Israeli forces two weeks ago, most Palestinian inhabitants remain without electricity and water most of the time and the situation is made worse by the shortage of fuel needed to power back-up generators and water pumps.

The consequences are particularly serious for the health and sanitation sectors -- especially at this hottest time of the year, when electricity and water supplies are crucial for refrigerating and preserving food and medicines.

Amnesty International said that Israel should promptly lift the closures and the arbitrary restrictions imposed on both the Rafah and Karni crossings, and allow the passage of persons and goods in and out of the Gaza Strip. It should also repair the electricity power station, water mains, bridges and other infrastructure destroyed by its forces.

Palestinian armed groups for their part must put an end to the launching "qassam" rockets or other projectiles into Israel.

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International Committee of the Red Cross: Gravely concerned about humanitarian situation in Gaza

Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is alarmed about the deteriorating situation in the Gaza Strip.

The continuing escalation of violence, with military operations taking place in highly populated areas, has serious consequences for the civilian population.

Over the past two weeks, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip have led to the deaths of dozens of people and the wounding of many more, among them a large number of civilians. In one single incident on 12 July, nine family members - including children - were killed in their home by an air strike in Gaza City. In some cases, people living near operations have been unable to leave their homes for several days.

The ICRC has urged and continues to urge Israel to respect the rules of international humanitarian law. In particular, in the conduct of hostilities, Israel must take all precautions to spare civilian life and property. It must also ensure that the wounded have access to medical facilities.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is continuing to deteriorate. The strike on Gaza's only power plant on 28 June reduced the power supply in the Strip by half, with direct and indirect effects on the population. Hospitals and a large part of the water and wastewater systems now depend on generators that consume considerable amounts of fuel, which is also in short supply owing to recurrent closures of the Strip. Furthermore, the strict controls imposed on the passage of basic items into the Strip have exacerbated the difficulties faced by residents, who were already living in precarious conditions. Under international humanitarian law, Israel is responsible for meeting the basic needs of the population, which include food, medical supplies and means of shelter.

As a further consequence of the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip, hundreds of Palestinians have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the Rafah terminal, two of whom have reportedly died. The material and psychological conditions in which these people live are deteriorating day by day and no solution to their plight has been found by the parties concerned. The ICRC has already offered its services to facilitate their passage into the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, together with the Egyptian Red Crescent, it is providing the affected people with assistance.

The ICRC is seriously concerned about the consequences of the repeated launching of rockets from the Gaza Strip against the civilian population in Israel. These attacks, which have wounded several people, are indiscriminate and thus prohibited by international humanitarian law.

Finally, the ICRC urges those detaining IDF corporal Gilad Shalit to treat him humanely and allow him to contact his family. It has informed all the parties that it stands ready to provide its services.

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Al Mezan Center for Human Rights: A new massacre is committed as Halutz conducts "Al Darraj" - style attacks, resulting in 9 Palestinians Killed, 37 Injured and 11 houses destroyed.

The IOF committed a flagrant massacre this morning, targeting a two story home in a highly densely populated area. 9 Palestinian civilians were killed and 37 injured, 3 of whom sustained critical injuries; 10 houses were partially destroyed.

According to preliminary investigations by Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, on July 12 2006 at approximately 2:45am, Israeli fighter jets fired two rockets at the house of Dr. Nabil Abd Al Latif Abu Sleima, totally destroying the house and killing Dr. Abu Sleima and 8 members of his family. 37 other civilians were reported injured.

The Center's fieldworkers reported that the identification of victims was difficult as their bodies were blown into pieces and body parts were strewn around the scene of the attack. One survivor, Awad Nabil Abd Al Latif Abu Sleima, 19, reported that the persons inside the house at the time of the attack included:

1. Nabil Abd Al Latif Abu Sleima, 46
2. Salwa Abu Sleima, 42
3. Basma Nabil Abu Sleima, 16
4. Somaia Nabil Abu Sleima, 14
5. Huda Nabil Abu Sleima, 12,
6. Iman Nabil Abu Sleima Abu Sleima, 11
7. Yehia Nabil Abu Sleima, 9
8. Aya NAbil Abu Sleima, 7
9. Nasrallah Nabil Abu Sleima, 4

Most of the injured were buried under the rubble and others were wounded with bone shrapnel flying from the bodies of the victims of the attack. 3-year-old Isra'a Mohammed Abd Al Ghaffar Abbas was injured by bone shrapnel in the head. Further, Husam Mohammed Hammad, 7, survived but barely escaped death when he was removed from the debris.

The IOF claim that the attack was targeting Hamas members. Al Mezan emphasizes that no one was killed in the targeted house except members of the Abu Sleima family. The Center denounces the justifications made by the IOF, for the shelling of a civilian house in a densely populated area, of killing wanted Hamas members. Al Mezan asserts that this attack constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law. It also emphasizes that extrajudicial assassinations, and the targeting of Palestinian civilians and civilian establishments are war crimes.

The Center points out that Palestinian civilians have become a target for the IOF. On June 9, the IOF fired missiles at the Ghalia family who were at the beach, and killed 7 family members. Further, on June 21, they shelled the house of the Ahmed family, killing 3, and on July 8 they shelled the house of the Hajjaj family, killing a mother and her two children.

This massacre is reminiscent of the 2002 Al Darraj massacre perpetrated by the war criminal Dan Halutz, when he was the commander of the Israeli air forces. On 22 July 2002, he gave orders to shell a residential area in the densely populated Al Darraj neighbourhood with a 1- ton missile. Tens of people were killed and tens of houses were destroyed. Halutz is now IOF Chief of Staff, and has repeated once again the same crime.

Al Mezan gravely condemns the outrageous escalation of the IOF offensive which is targeting Palestinian civilians. The Center emphasizes that Israel's policy of extrajudicial assassinations is a war crime according to international humanitarian law, particularly the 4th Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and the Hague regulations.

Al Mezan reaffirms that the silence of the international community encourages Israel to commit further crimes, making Israel a state above the law. Thus, Al Mezan calls upon the international community particularly the high contracting parties of the 4th Geneva Conventions to urgently intervene and provide international protection to the Palestinian civilians in the OPT, halt the Israeli violations against Palestinians and bring the perpetrator of these crime before justice.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: In the latest example of state terrorism: IOF bomb a house in the Sheikh Radwan Quarter, killing a Palestinian, his wife, and 7 children; 34 civilians were injured

"My name is Jihad Mohammad El-Saloul. I'm 49 years old, and work as a teachers. I'm a neighbor of Dr. Nabil Abu Salmeya.

Tonight at approximately 2:45 in the morning, I heard a small explosion. My wife, our children, and I woke up. I thought it was a sound bomb. My children were standing near the window. After about 10 minutes I heard a second explosion. The glass fell over our heads. I got out of the house to see what happened. One of our neighbors is Ahmad Bahar "Abu Akram," a political leader in Hamas. I thought the explosion was in his home. As I walked, I was surprised that the explosion was in Dr. Nabil Abu Salmeya's house. I went towards the bombed house. Smoke and thick dust was issuing from the house. I saw an injured, bearded man among the rubble (El-Ja'bari). We put him in a blue Fiat with 3 young men from among the neighbors. After that, I went to help save others.

We found Abu Salmeya's son Ahmad, who studies engineering at university. He was injured in the face. He was in pain, and was standing on the balcony of the bombed house. He was calling us. We took him to an ambulance.

After that I saw a girl, Abu Salmeya's daughter, who was about 17. She was handicapped. Her body was thrown on the ground, between the trees in the garden.

Then we found the body of his son, Yehya, who is in fourth grade. It was a headless body. We found the head in the hallway of a neighbor's house, from Abass family. I knew Yehya and the girl well.

Then I found another son. He was dead and on the ground.

Then we found the body of the mother. He leg was torn off.

Then we found two arms of a man among the trees.

As to the house next to Abu Salmeya's house, it belongs to my neighbor Rajih Abbas. Most of the household was injured by glass and brick shrapnel. We took out an elderly woman (65) who is Rajih's mother. She injured in the leg, which was broken. We took out a child from the same room, from under the rubble and dust. The child was still breathing. I couldn't believe that the child was still alive.

The Civil Defense Corps started to search the rubble immediately after the bombardment. At approximately 7:00 in the morning, they found Awad Nabil Abu Salmeya (19), who studies engineering. He was suffering from moderate injuries. He survived by a miracle.

Dr. Abu Salmeya's family consisted of 11 members: himself, his wife, 5 girls, and 4 boys.

We only saw his sons Mohammad and Awad. Till now, we don't know anything about 3 of his girls, who are still under the debris.

This is a residential area. Even if there were one or two wanted (activists), how can a whole neighborhood be targeted and bombed by planes, causing all this death and destruction to us, them and neighbors who are civilians. They do not want to kill the wanted, but to destroy civilians, kill them, and terrorize them.

The house is built on an area of 200 square meters. It is two parts. The southern part is old, and consists of a ground floor and a second floor. The second part is an open area with two rooms and a salon for the children.

The southern part was targeted. The deaths were there.

This are is called "Shanti neighborhood, Amer Project, Sheikh Radwan Quarter.

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have committed a new war crime against Palestinian civilians, flagrantly breaching the Fourth Geneva Convention. IOF fighter jets dropped 2 bombs at a 2-story house in a crowded neighborhood in the town of Jabalia. The house belonged to a Hamas leader. The house owner was killed, and so were his wife and 7 of their children. The house was completely destroyed. In addition, 34 civilians were injured, including 5 children and 6 women. Extensive damage was inflicted on 15 houses surrounding the targeted house.

After committing the crime, IOF declared that the bombardment targeted Mohammad El-Deif, the commander of the Hamas military wing, and others with him, claiming that they were in the house. For their part, Hamas confirmed that El-Deif is safe.

This crime is a reminder of the war crime perpetrated on 23 July 2003 to assassinate Salah Shehada, a Hamas leader. In that incident, IOF targeted a residential building in the densely-populated El-Daraj neighborhood. More than 20 people were killed, including women and children, and dozens were injured.

The latest war crime comes within Israel's policy of extra-judicial assassinations against Palestinian activists. This policy is criticized by the international community as it leads to casualties among innocent civilians.

With this crime, the number of Palestinians killed since the start of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip rises to 68, including 33 innocent civilians. Two women and 14 children are among the dead.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 2:45 on Wednesday, 12 July 2006, an IOF fighter jet dropped 2 bombs at the house belonging to Nabil Abdel Latif Abu Salmeya (46), a leader in Hamas who works as a lecturer in the Islamic University. The 2 bombs hit the 2-story house built on 200 square meters in the Shanti lands are in the town of Jabalia. The house was destroyed on top of the occupants. The owner was killed, and so were his wife Salwa Ismail Abu Salmeya (42) and 7 of their children: Basma (16), Somaya (17, handicapped), Aya (9), Yehya (10), Nasr (7), Huda (13), and Eman (12). The son Awad (19) was rescued, and is suffering from serious injuries. Eyewitnesses indicate that the bodies of the dead were torn and scattered. Work continues to clear the rubble and search for bodies and survivors.

PCHR is greatly concerned over the IOF crimes against Palestinian civilians that have become a trend. The Centre stresses that an arbitrary attack that endangers the lives of civilians and their properties, especially if prior knowledge indicates that civilians could be killed, injured, or have property damaged, is a war crime in the first protocol additional to the Fourth Geneva Convention.

In the Center's view, the complacency of the international community and the High Contracting Parties of the 4th Geneva Convention and their failure tot take effective steps to stop Israeli war crimes has been a supporting and encouraging element for Israel to continue perpetrating additional war crimes against Palestinian civilians. The legal cover provided to Israel by the US, which purposely hinders International Humanitarian Law, and the conspiracy of silence by Europe encourage Israeli to continue to perpetrate war crimes unchecked, placing it above international law.

The Centre reminds the High Contracting Parties of:

- Their obligations under article 1 of the convention to ensure respect of the convention under all circumstances;

- Their obligations in article 146 of the convention to pursue suspects of committing serious violations of the convention, noting that these violations are war crimes according to article 147, as specified in the first protocol additional to the convention

The Centre calls upon the Swiss Government to:

- to take a leading role in highlighting and acting to stop the grave breaches of international law that are currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, as is its obligation as the depository of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

- to make efforts to mobilise the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to intervene in this situation and meet their obligations to protect the rights of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip under International Humanitarian Law.

- to call on the Security Council to send an international protection force for the Palestinian civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

The Centre calls upon the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to:

- to issue a statement strongly condemning Israel's grave breaches of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

- to make a visit to the OPT in order to see for yourself the long term damage that has already been and is currently being inflicted on the civilian population - a population who should be enjoying protection under International Humanitarian Law.

- to call a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in order to ensure that these states fulfil their obligation under international law to protect the civilian population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions: Call for accountability for killings in Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel

The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the United Nations Human Rights Council issued the following statement today:

Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, today emphasized the "importance of ensuring accountability in relation to the killings that have taken place in recent weeks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and in Israel". "Even in the midst of crisis, indeed especially in times of crisis, it is essential to ensure that the applicable rules of international human rights and humanitarian law are respected", Mr. Alston said.

Regarding the implications of the latest developments in relation to Lebanon, the Special Rapporteur said the need for accountability has become "ever more pressing in light of these alarming developments".

An important component of such accountability is cooperation with the relevant international procedures set up by the Human Rights Council, he added. The Special Rapporteur recalled that he had sought an invitation to visit both Israel and the OPT from the respective authorities in the middle of June. The Palestinian Authority had responded favourably, he said, and he was awaiting an official reply from the Government of Israel.

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Six Israeli human rights groups: To the Israeli High Court: Stop the harm to the civilian population in Gaza

Today, July 11, 2006, six human rights groups petitioned the Israeli High Court demanding that the crossings in Gaza be opened to allow for the steady and regular supply of fuel, food, medicine, and equipment, including spare parts needed to operate generators.

The groups - the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Hamoked: Center for Defence of the Individual, B'tselem, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel and Gisha - Center for the Legal Protection of Freedom of Movement also asked for an urgent hearing in order to prevent serious harm to the health of the civilian population, especially patients in hospital, and to prevent the breakdown of the water and sewage system in Gaza.

During the current military operation in the Gaza Strip the Israeli military has interrupted the supply of fuel to Gaza and kept Gaza's crossings mostly closed to supply of food and other humanitarian goods. The uninterrupted supply of fuel and equipment is necessary for the functioning of Gaza's health and sanitation systems, and Gaza requires a steady supply of food and medicine.

Since Gaza's power station was destroyed on June 28, there is an increased need for fuel to power the generators in Gaza and for spare parts to keep the generators running at such a high capacity. The closure of Karni Crossing has led to shortages in food at a time when, given the difficulty of obtaining electricity to prepare and refrigerate foodstuffs, Gaza requires increased shipments of dairy products, meat, flour, and other goods.

Without a steady supply of fuel and parts, hospitals cannot perform life-saving surgery and treatment plants cannot pump and treat sewage in Gaza. Gaza hospitals have reduced their activities to life-saving procedures. Since the bombing of the power plant, Gaza's water utility has been dumping 60,000 cubic meters of raw sewage into the sea each day, for lack of power and equipment to run the treatment plants, and there is concern that untreated sewage will pollute the aquifer or spill into the streets.

Because of the electricity shortages, stores in Gaza have stopped selling meat and dairy products. Trucks laden with food and medicine have been stuck at Karni Crossing, which has been closed since July 6, including 230 containers from international aid organizations.

Withholding fuel, food, and equipment from Gaza residents constitutes collective punishment, in violation of international law. The petition argues that Israel is not fulfilling its legal obligations to provide for the needs of the civilian population and to distinguish between military and civilian targets.

According to Faysal Shawa, a businessman and Gaza resident: "We have been thrown back to the way people lived 100 years ago ... We don't have water, we don't have milk for our kids."

According to Maher Najer, Deputy Director of Gaza's Water Company: "We face severe shortages in the electricity, fuel, and spare parts needed to operate Gaza's water and sewage systems. These shortages threaten to create a public health catastrophe."

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: IOF continue to target civilians in the Gaza Strip: 3 children killed and another seriously injured in an air raid on Beit Hanoun

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killed 3 Palestinian children and seriously injured a fourth one yesterday evening (10 July 2006) in Beit Hanoun, when an IOF plane fired a rocket at them. This crime comes within the context of the open war against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip since the capture of the Israeli soldier on 25 June 2006. It is part of the chain of collective punishment, targeting civilians, and destroying civilian property and infrastructure. With the death of these children, the number of Palestinian casualties in the Gaza Strip since the start of the Israeli military operation rises to 51 dead, including 26 civilians, and 140 injured. There are 7 children and a woman among the dead; and the majority of the injured are civilians.

PCHR's preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 19:15 on Monday, 10 July 2006, and IOF plane fired a rocket at 4 children who were near Hayel Abdel Hamid Secondary School in northern part of Beit Hanoun. They were in an area previously used as soccer field near their homes. The rocket fell amidst the children. Three were killed instantly; and their bodies were torn by the blast. The fourth child suffered serious injures. The dead children are: Mahfouth Farid Nuseir (16), Ahmad Ghalib Abu Amsha (16), and Ahmad Fathi Shabat (16). The injured child is Raji Omar Deifallah (16).

PCHR condemns the killing of Palestinian civilians by IOF, endangering their lives, and destroying their property through disproportionate use of lethal force. These actions are considered reprisals and forms of collective punishment under article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The Centre calls upon the High Contracting Parties of the convention to act immediately to ensure protection for the lives of civilians, and to ensure IOF respect for the convention. The Centre calls upon the High Contracting Parties to enforce article 1 on the convention regarding the respect of the convention under all circumstances, and to take the necessary punitive steps against the perpetrators of serious violations.

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Reporters Without Borders: Call for probes into shootings of two Palestinian photographers by Israeli troops

Reporters Without Borders today condemned the action of the Israeli troops who shot and wounded Palestinian news photographers Hamid Al Khur and Mohammad Al Zaanoun on 7 and 8 July while they were covering clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

"Khur and Zaanoun were both wearing yellow vests that clearly identified them as journalists, so there was no way they could have been mistaken for combatants," Reporters Without Borders said, calling on the Israeli authorities to carry out investigations to establish how they came to be shot.

Khur, a photographer with the Turkish news agency Ihlas, was shot twice by Israeli soldiers on 7 July while covering clashes between Palestinian militants and the Israeli army in Beit Lahiya, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Khur, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest at the time, was hit first in the chest and then in the right arm. He was initially taken to Kamal Adwan hospital, and from there to a hospital in Jerusalem the next day.

Zaanoun, a photographer with the Palestinian online news agency Ma'an, was working in the district of al-Zaitoun, south of Gaza City, when Israeli tanks arrived on the morning of 8 July. He was wounded while photographing the bodies of two Palestinian militants who had been killed in the course of the Israeli incursion. He continued to take photographs until shot in the leg and stomach by an Israeli sniper. He was taken to an Israeli hospital where he was said to be in a critical condition.

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Al Mezan Center for Human Rights: Israeli High Court gives IOF 48 hours to implement a 'humanitarian' solution for Palestinians trapped at Egypt border

On Monday 10 July 2006, the Israeli High Court held a hearing for a petition by four human rights organisations concerning the IOF closure of the Rafa