In its weekly summary of Israeli attacks for the week of 21 - 27 August 2008, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) reports that 9 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, and an Israeli human rights defender, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank. The 9 civilians were all wounded when Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the Annexation Wall in Ne'lin village, west of Ramallah. In addition, Israeli forces used a foul smelling liquid against the demonstrators.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

This week, Israeli forces conducted 53 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 48 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. Israeli troops positioned at various checkpoints in the West Bank abducted at least one Palestinian civilian.

Since the beginning of the year, 1,837 Palestinian civilians have been abducted by Israeli forces in the West Bank.

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

Israeli forces have established checkpoints in and around Jerusalem, severely restricting Palestinian access to the city. Civilians are frequently prevented from praying at the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

There are approximately permanent 600 roadblocks, manned and unmanned checkpoints across the West Bank. In addition, there are some 60-80 'flying' or temporary checkpoints erected across the West Bank by Israeli forces every week.

There are around 500 kms of restricted roads across the West Bank. In addition, approximately one third of the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, is inaccessible to Palestinians without a permit issued by the Israeli forces. These permits are extremely difficult to obtain.

In addition, there are at least 900 Palestinian prisoners incarcerated in jails in Israel who have been denied all visitation rights since 6 June 2007.

Israeli Annexation Wall:

Israeli forces have continued to construct the Annexation Wall, in violation of international law. When complete, the illegal Annexation Wall will stretch for 724 kilometres around the West Bank, further isolating the entire population. 350 kms of the Wall has already been constructed. Approximately 99% of the Wall has been constructed inside the West Bank itself, further confiscating Palestinian land.

Israeli forces continue to harass, and assault, demonstrators who hold peaceful protests against the construction of the Annexation Wall. During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 9 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, and an Israeli human rights defender in Ne'lin village near Ramallah the West Bank. Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized in protest to the construction of the Annexation Wall. Israeli forces also used a liquid with a disgusting smell against the demonstrators.

Israeli settlement activities:

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the OPT in violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On Thursday morning, 21 August, Israeli forces issued a military order seizing areas of land to the northwest of Hebron to establish a settler road and a military post. Israeli forces allowed only one week for the owner of the land to appeal against the order. The road to be established is 147 meters long and 6 meters wide, and a military post will be established at its end.

Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip:

Israeli troops have continued to isolate the Gaza Strip from the outside world. Israeli forces have continued to close all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for more than two years. The Israeli siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education. The Egypt brokered 'Tahdiya' or truce between Palestinian resistance groups and Israel began on 19 June; however, there have been no major changes regarding the movement of civilians and goods through the six Gaza Strip border crossings.

Rafah International Crossing Point, the only border crossing from the Gaza Strip to the outside world via a country other than Israel, remains closed. Health services continue to be severely affected by the siege, with healthcare facilities also registering a 25% drop in clients due to continuing chronic fuel shortages. Critically ill patients are still being denied permits to access vital health services in the West Bank, Israel and abroad.

Water facilities, including access to clean drinking water, and the treatment of raw sewage continue to be severely disrupted by fuel shortages. 50-60 million litres of untreated and partially treated sewage are being dumped into the Gaza Strip Mediterranean Sea daily, posing a public health risk.

Approximately 400 Gazan students are currently unable to resume their university studies abroad as they cannot exit the Gaza Strip. In addition, up to 1,200 high school graduates are in the process of applying to study at foreign universities, and are dependent on being issued exit permits by the Israeli forces.

Continuing chronic shortages of construction materials, including cement, aggregate and iron, have led to the collapse of the Gaza construction industry. Thousands of construction workers have been laid off, and vital infrastructure projects have been forcibly suspended.

Recommendations to the International Community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations in the Palestinian Territories this week, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights made a number of recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community pressure Israel to lift the severe restrictions imposed by the Israeli government and its occupation forces on access for international organizations to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

For the text of the full report, click here.