Israeli Troops Continue Attacks in the OPT

• 12 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli troops
• 5 of the victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops in Nablus and Qalqilya
• Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
• 30 houses were destroyed and at least 60 donums[1] of agricultural land were razed in Rafah
• 147 donums of agricultural land were razed in Deir al-Balah and Beit Lahia
• Houses were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested
• 3 houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists
• Continued shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities; a 7-year-old Palestinian child was killed and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured
• Construction of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued
• Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs; Rafah Terminal was closed and a curfew was imposed on a number of towns and villages in the West Bank

Introduction

Israeli occupying troops have launched more attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). This week, 12 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli troops. In addition, a number of Palestinian civilians were injured by the Israeli gunfire. Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying troops included willful and extra-judicial killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling, land leveling and total closure imposed on Palestinian communities.

In the Gaza Strip, on 28 October 2004, a 7-year-old Palestinian schoolchild was killed when Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis. On 3 November 2004, a Palestinian civilian was killed during an Israeli military incursion into Rafah.

This week, Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. On 3 November 2004, Israeli troops demolished 20 houses completely and 3 others partially. They also demolished 15 shops and 4 sewing factories, and severely damaged a mosque. During 3 other incursions into Rafah on 28, 29 and 30 October 2004, Israeli troops destroyed 6 houses and razed 60 donums of agricultural land. Rafah town and refugee camp have been subject to wide scale destruction by Israeli troops in the current Intifada; 2527 houses have been destroyed, including 1450 ones that have been completely demolished. This has left 15000 people homeless. In the central Gaza Strip, Israeli troops razed 129 donums of agricultural land and destroyed a number animal and bird farms and uninhabited house. On 3 November 2004, Israeli troops razed 18 donums of agricultural land in Beit Lahia.

In the West Bank, 10 Palestinians, including 3 children, were killed by Israeli troops. Four of the victims, including 2 children, were killed in Jenin refugee camp during an Israeli military operation in Jenin town and refugee camp. Another child was killed by Israeli troops in 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus on 1 November 2004. The other 5 victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops; one was killed in Qalqilya and the other 4 were killed in Nablus. This week, Israeli troops moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians, and arrested dozens of others. They also destroyed 3 houses in Nablus in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. In addition, Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians.

Israeli occupying troops have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory. This week, Israeli troops continued to raze areas of agricultural land in Deir al-'Asal village, southwest of Hebron. On 28 October 2004, the Israeli High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping uprooting trees in Burdos village, west of Ramallah, by Israeli troops. Israeli troops also prevented Palestinian farmers in some areas from reaching their agricultural land to cultivate olives.

Israeli occupying troops have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPT and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli troops positioned at military checkpoints imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops have also continued to close most border crossings of the Gaza Strip. These measures have negative impacts on the Palestinian economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights. On 31 October 2004, Israeli troops closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. Following the bombing that occurred in Tel Aviv on Monday, 1 November 2004, Israeli troops closed all entrances of the city. They have also continued to impose a tightened siege on Hebron for the 9th consecutive week. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and arrested some of them while crossing military checkpoints. Israeli troops imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.

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