Updates

Intra-Palestinian Violations

Extra-judicial execution is a war crime

On 30 May, Palestinian militants executed two Palestinians in the Balata refugee camp, Nablus District. B'Tselem severely condemns the execution, which is defined as a war crime. The taking of life on grounds of a suspicion against the person is a violation of basic principles of law and morality."

1 June 2006

East Jerusalem

Illegal to revoke residency of members of Hamas from Jerusalem

The Interior Minister, Roni Bar-On, sent letters to a minister in the Palestinian Authority and to three legislators in the Palestinian Legislative Council, all members of Hamas, informing them that if they do not resign their positions within thirty days, he will revoke their permanent-resident status.

30 May 2006

Economic & Social Rights

Crisis in medical services in the territories

The cessation of the transfer of tax moneys and financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority by Israel and the donor states has created a severe shortage of medicines and medical equipment and goods in hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

14 May 2006

Restrictions on Movement

The government approved re-routing of the Separation Barrier

Even in its new, amended, route, the barrier in the Ariel-Kdumim area will severely infringe upon the human rights of thousands of Palestinians who live nearby, only to allow for the annexation of 15 Jewish settlements as well as huge swaths of land for their future expansion.

30 April 2006

Restrictions on Movement

Reinstating cancelled barrier "through the back door"

A 41km-long concrete barricade Israel is building in the suthern Hebron hills, will further isolate over 3,000 Palestinians living in 18 cave-villages southeast of Route 317, who are dependent for basic supplies and services on the town of Yatta .

30 April 2006

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Firing Qassam rockets on civilians

Thirteen civilians, five of them minors, were killed by Qassam rockets that Palestinians fired into Israel and at Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority has the duty to prevent attacks against Israeli civilians.

24 April 2006

Beating and Abuse

Police officers assault boys in Jerusalem

On March 12, 2006, plain-clothed police officers assaulted two children, ages 15 and 11, who were on their way home in the neighborhood of Abu Tor in East Jerusalem . The officers beat the two boys and took the older one to a police station where they abused him severely. The family has filed a complaint.

4 April 2006

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Israeli civilians killed by Palestinians near Kedumim

B'Tselem strongly condemns the suicide bombing near the gas station at the entrance to the settlement of Kedumim in the northern West Bank, in which 4 Israeli civilians were killed. 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.

31 March 2006

Economic & Social Rights

Soldiers disrupt work in factory near Jenin

Israeli soldiers repeatedly go onto the land of a charcoal plant in Y'abed, Jenin District. The soldiers enter the plant and order the owner and his workers to leave and go home. The army's actions have led to severe losses for the owners from the loss of wood that burned completely while they kept away from the plant.

19 March 2006

Detainees & Prisoners

Parading of naked prisoners in Jericho violated International Law

B'Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, wrote today to the IDF Judge Advocate General (JAG), to demand that the military police investigate the violation of the dignity of the detainees in the IDF's operation in Jericho.

16 March 2006

The Gaza Strip

Targeted Killing in Gaza: Grave Suspicion of a War Crime

Three bystanders were killed in an israeli air force attack in Gaza, all of them minors. B'Tselem requested the Judge Advocate General to order a Military Police investigation into the attack, which may be a war crime.

7 March 2006