8 Palestinians Killed, 31 Injured, 61 Kidnapped by Israeli Occupation Forces, According to an August 9-15, 2007 PCHR weekly report

PCHR weekly report: “Eight killed, 31 injured, 61 kidnapped by Israeli troops”

Friday August 17, 2007 00:17 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC saed at imemc dot org

The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR), based in Gaza, published its weekly report on the Israeli violations in the occupied territories in the period between August 9 and 15 – 2007. During the reported period eight Palestinians were killed, 31 injured and 61 were taken prisoner.

Palestinia Center For Human Rights

The center stated that three of the eight killed residents are ordinary civilians, and that one of them was killed by a guard of a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem. Among the killed was also a woman with mental problems.

During the reported period, Israeli troops carried 32 invasions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the PCHR reported.

West Bank attacks:

Israeli soldiers continued their illegal activities in the occupied West Bank and abducted 61 residents in several areas.

The PCHR reported that one Palestinian was killed by an armed guard of a Jewish religious school in Jerusalem. The incident took place on August 10, the Palestinian man managed to grab the gun of the guard and fired several rounds before fleeing the scene, another guard chased him and he surrendered to him by raising his hands but the guard shot him dead.

A total of 62 Palestinians were taken prisoner by the army in the West Bank as troops carried 32 military invasions into Palestinian communities.

Two of the abducted residents are children, and two were kidnapped on Israeli military roadblocks.

In Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank, soldiers closed eight Palestinian shops and continued to impose strict measures which obstruct the movement of the residents.

Siege imposed over the West Bank was tightened, and the army totally isolated Jerusalem from the rest of the West Bank.

Soldiers stationed at West Bank roadblocks continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians which comes in contradiction with the statements of Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, as he vowed to ease restrictions.

Attacks against nonviolent protests:

The army continued its illegal attacks against nonviolent protests against the Annexation Wall and injured eight protesters including a French cameraman, and four Palestinian children during the nonviolent protest against the Wall in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah in the West Bank.

Soldiers used excessive force against the Palestinian protests and international supporters and fired rubber collated bullets at them, in addition to attacking several protesters.

Five protesters, including a French cameraman were detained during the protest.

Settlers and Settlements:

Israeli settlers illegally living in the occupied West Bank continued their attacks against the Palestinian residents and their property.

The military commander of the Israeli army in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, ordered the sealing of eight Palestinian shops near Beit Romano settlement in the Old city of Hebron.

Also, soldiers installed a roadblock near Beqe’ot settlement east of Tubas, stopped some agricultural tractors and barred them from delivering water to sheep herders in the area.

Gaza Strip attacks:

Troops invaded New Abasan area, east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, shot and killed seven residents and injured at least twenty-four. Four of the killed residents were resistance fighters; dozens of residents were injured during the attack.

The attack took place on August 14, two of the killed residents were civilians, including a 70-year old woman who stepped out of the house to see her injured son.

24 Palestinians, mostly resistance fighters, were injured in the invasion, and the army razed 60 Dunams of agricultural land. One resident was kidnapped by the invading forces.

Border terminals and crossings remained closed as a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.

The army continued to close the Rafah International terminal although Israel does not directly control it, and prevented European observers from reaching it.

The terminal was totally sealed in June 25, 2006 after resistance fighters attacked a military post in Kerem Shalom area, and since then the terminal was sealed and only partially opened for shot period to allow a few number of Palestinians to travel, but it was totally sealed off again after Hamas took over the Gaza Strip.

At least 6,000 Palestinians stuck in Egypt were allowed in the Gaza Strip through El-Ojah – Erez route. According to PCHR’s documentation, 19 Palestinians of those who are stuck in Egypt have died due to the deterioration in their health conditions, the PCHR reported.

The Al Mintar (Karni) crossing was partially opened, and Kerem Shalom Crossing, southeast of Farah, and Sofa Crossing north of the city, were opened.

It is worth mentioning that since 1 June 2007 until this report was published, 74 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip; among them were 47 civilians, including 9 children and a woman.

Click for Full PCHR Report

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