Updates

Economic & Social Rights

Israeli Human Rights Organizations: End the Siege on Gaza

Although the toppling of the fence at the Egyptian border temporarily eased the stranglehold, the million and a half residents of Gaza still depend almost entirely on importation of goods, fuel, and electricity through crossings controlled by Israel. The Siege on Gaza is illegal, improper, and immoral.

24 January 2008

Detainees & Prisoners

Illegal to prohibit prisoners from receiving visitors

A bill passed preliminary reading in the Knesset, empowering the Minister of Public Security to prohibit relatives and humanitarian workers from visiting security prisoners if they belong to organizations that hold an Israeli citizen captive without permitting visits by state representatives, humanitarian workers or relatives.

23 January 2008

Economic & Social Rights

High Court Petition to resume fuel supply to Gaza

The Palestinian Electric Company has had to shut down Gaza's power station after it ran out of industrial diesel. Last week, Israel's stopped all fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.

21 January 2008

Beating and Abuse

Soldiers assault and arrest B'Tselem worker in Hebron

Soldiers assaulted and arrested Issa 'Amro, a B'Tselem fieldworker, in Hebron on Saturday, 19 Jan. 2008. 'Amro was arrested while filming a disturbance by settlers in the Wadi Hsein neighborhood in East Hebron.

20 January 2008

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Ecuadorian citizen killed by Palestinian gunfire in the south of Israel

Attacks aimed at civilians undermine all rules of morality and law. Specifically, the intentional killing of civilians is considered a "grave breach" of international humanitarian law and a war crime. Whatever the circumstances, such acts are unjustifiable.

16 January 2008

Medical treatment

Two women give birth in cars after soldiers refuse to open Barrier gate

Both women are from 'Azzun 'Atmah, a village cut off from the West Bank by the Separation Barrier. In 2007, a critically wounded man from the village died in similar circumstances. The gate remains closed at night, despite the army's promise to keep it open.

3 January 2008

House demolition

2007: 131 Palestinians who did not participate in hostilities killed by Israel

B'Tselem today releases its year-end report. According to B'Tselem data, the number of Israelis and Palestinians killed in clashes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip dropped. However, there has been deterioration in many other measures of the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories.

31 December 2007

The Gaza Strip

Testimony: ISA prevents entry into Israel of Gaza heart patient

Sha'ban Abu 'Obeid needs a pacemaker. In 2006, on his way back to Gaza after tests at an Israeli hospital, the ISA stopped him at Erez Crossing and demanded that he collaborate. When he refused, the ISA official responded: "May God help you enter Israel after this meeting."

6 December 2007

The Supreme Court of the Occupation

Israel's High Court allows fuel cut to the Gaza Strip

The Court postponed by two weeks its decision regarding power cuts to the Gaza Strip. However, the court did not intervene regarding the reduction of fuel supplied, although this decision constitutes a collective punishment of the civilian population.

2 December 2007

Theft and Property Damage

Testimony: Soldiers ordered to return money they stole from Palestinians

While searching a house in the village of Silat a-Thahr in Jenin District, soldiers stole a purse full of money, according to a testimony. When the owner reported this to the commanding officer, he ordered the soldiers to return the purse, with the money intact. Money stolen from another room in the house was not returned, according to the testimony.

27 November 2007

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Israeli civilian killed by Palestinians in the West Bank

Attacks aimed at civilians undermine all rules of morality and law. Specifically, the intentional killing of civilians is considered a "grave breach" of international humanitarian law and a war crime. Whatever the circumstances, such acts are unjustifiable.

20 November 2007