Les sanctions d'Israël aggravent le chaos à Gaza

PATRICK SAINT-PAUL envoyé spécial à Gaza, Le Figaro, 31.10.07. Pour les Gaziotes, faire les courses est devenu un cauchemar. « À Gaza, presque tout est importé d'Israël : le sucre, les médicaments, les couches-culottes, la farine... Mais depuis dimanche je ne reçois plus rien. J'ai entamé mon stock. Au rythme actuel, je n'aurai plus rien dans une semaine », se lamente Manzer Khela, patron d'une supérette. Les prix du lait, de l'huile et de la farine ont augmenté de 15 %. Le prix de la Vache qui rit a doublé. « Avant, nous avions le droit d'importer une douzaine de catégories de produits à Gaza, explique Manzer Khela. Depuis les dernières sanctions, ça s'est réduit à quatre catégories : lait, huile, farine, sucre. C'est comme en Somalie. » « Soixante-dix mille personnes ont déjà perdu leur emploi à Gaza depuis cet été, s'indigne Amar Yazji. Le chômage culmine à plus de 70 %. » Selon la chambre de commerce, 95 % des quelque 5 000 usines de la bande de Gaza ont cessé leur activité en raison des restrictions. Faute de pouvoir importer des matériaux, le secteur de la construction, premier pourvoyeur d'emplois, est sinistré. Tout comme l'agriculture, seconde source d'emplois, qui s'est effondrée faute de pouvoir exporter. La communauté internationale sera contrainte d'augmenter l'assistance humanitaire pour compenser les effets dévastateurs des sanctions. « Nous ne demandons qu'à travailler, mais on a fait de nous une société d'assistés », déplore Amar Yazji. Il est peu probable que ces nouvelles sanctions affecteront directement le Hamas. Les Gaziotes se disent totalement démunis face aux groupes armés, qui tirent des roquettes sur Israël. La misère provoquée par les restrictions ne fait qu'accroître le ressentiment envers Israël et l'Autorité palestinienne du président modéré Mahmoud Abbas, accusé au mieux d'indifférence, au pire de complicité. « Cette politique d'étranglement n'a qu'un seul résultat, prévient Mohsen el-Khozondar. Elle vide nos entreprises et remplit les usines à terroristes. »

IOF troops detain two Palestinian mothers to pressure their sons

QALQILIA, (PIC), 30.10.07. IOF troops detained two Palestinian mothers at dawn Tuesday in the West Bank city of Qalqilia to pressure their sons and rounded up two other young men in the city. In Arka village IOF soldiers besieged the 4,000 inhabitants' village for several hours and kidnapped ten of its youths, all in their twenties, before retreating, later in the morning. The occupation forces on Monday arrested five other citizens in Seelat Al-Harthia village, also in the Jenin district. In Nablus district, inhabitants of Deir Al-Hatab village were shocked to witness all their olive trees dying after settlers in nearby settlement of Alon Moreh, east of Nablus city, drowned the village's cultivated lands with sewage water.The villagers said they were not allowed by IOF soldiers to cultivate their olive trees for six years and when they were allowed this year they were shocked to find the sewage waters flooding their fields and destroying the olive trees.

The Nafha society defending human and prisoners' rights condemned the IOF arrest of Firdous Al-Samman, the mother of a wanted Palestinian activist, and Kawther Abu Dhiab, the mother of two young men held in Israeli occupation jails for more than six months.

'360 bambini palestinesi prigionieri in Israele'.

Infopal, 30.10.07. "360 bambini palestinesi rimangono illegalmente detenuti nelle prigioni di Israele": è la denuncia lanciata dalla Associazione Wa'ed per i Prigionieri politici e gli ex-prigionieri.

La Società ha accusato l'esercito israeliano di eseguire "pratiche illegali contro il popolo palestinese e i minori" e ha aggiunto che i bambini palestinesi costituiscono un bersaglio continuo delle violenze israeliane.

Dal settembre 2000, l'esercito israeliano ha sequestrato oltre 7000 cittadini, tra cui bambini che ancora si trovano in prigione, in condizioni disumane, aggrediti, assaltati ripetutamente.

Ai minori sono impedite le visite dei legali, non viene fornito loro cibo sufficiente e decente, e sono imprigionati in celle con adulti israeliani detenuti per crimini. I ragazzini sono vittime di violenze di ogni genere, anche sessuali.

La Società ha lanciato un appello alle organizzazioni umanitarie e per i diritti umani affinché intervengano per porre fine alle pratiche illegali, disumane e contrarie al diritto internazionale attuate contro i prigionieri palestinesi, in particolare, i bambini.

(Info: www.dci-pal.org/english/camp/freedom/display.cfm?docid=243&categoryid=14)

Jamaeen Non-Violent Demonstration to Protest Settler Arson

30.10.07. Last week, settlers from Kfah Tappuah settlement near the West Bank village of Jamaeen trespassed on the Palestinian villagers’ land 2km from Jamaeen village, burning approximately 30 dunums of vital agricultural land hosting olive trees. The village of Jamaeen lies just south of Nablus and, like the many other villages in the Nablus and Salfit region, depends on olive production. Thus, the loss of trees was a substantial blow to the local villagers.

En séjour illégal, même chez eux

Gideon Levy, Haaretz, 26.10.07. L’électricité et l’eau, ils se les font venir par des lignes improvisées qui passent par l’ouverture de drainage aménagée sous le Mur de séparation construit ici il y a un an et demi environ et qui porte le nom impeccablement lessivé d’ « enveloppe de Jérusalem ». Mais ce Mur n’enveloppe personne ici, il étrangle seulement. Lorsque quelqu'un veut se laver ou préparer une tasse de thé, il téléphone à des proches qui vivent à Bir-Naballa, de l’autre côté du Mur, et leur demande de leur ouvrir le robinet. Quand le Mur a été achevé, un étroit passage leur y a été laissé, afin qu’ils puissent continuer à subsister d’une manière ou d’une autre. Le garde-frontière de faction à cette entrée permettait à leurs enfants d’aller à l’école à Bir-Naballa, et eux-mêmes transportaient à dos d’âne les produits de première nécessité. Une fois, un des membres de la famille, Houssam, a été frappé alors qu’il essayait de faire passer par cette porte un sac d’aliment pour les bêtes. Il y a un mois et demi, même ce riche filon s’est arrêté. Le 12 septembre, sans la moindre notification préalable, l’Administration civile a envoyé une bétonnière qui est arrivée et a déversé son contenu dans l’étroit passage. La dernière porte leur a été fermée et scellée. Les voilà devenus des résidents en séjour illégal, dans leurs maisons.

Shlomo Laker, l’avocat, explique qu’il y a encore des milliers d’habitants qui vivent en bordure de la capitale unifiée et qui se trouvent dans des situations semblables. Lui-même en représente un millier d’entre eux dont la vie a été détruite à cause du Mur. Les fêtes terminées, on pensait que le problème serait résolu. Israël n’arrête pas de déclarer que le « cadre de vie » des Palestiniens ne sera pas affecté par le Mur de séparation. Les paroles d’un côté, les actes de l’autre. Les fêtes se sont achevées mais pas les tourments. Le 18 septembre, les enfants sont restés coincés de l’autre côté du Mur, sans aucune possibilité de rentrer à la maison. Le lendemain, Mahmoud a emmené le groupe des élèves à l’école en passant par le barrage de Kalandiya. Entrer dans les Territoires, cela ils peuvent le faire, mais revenir : seulement avec un permis d’entrer en Israël, permis qu’ils n’ont pas. Chaque jour, Mahmoud et les enfants contactent « B’Tselem » ainsi que le « Centre humanitaire » de l’Administration civile, afin d’obtenir une autorisation de revenir des Territoires en Israël [sic], chez eux. Cela prend du temps. Un jour, l’autorisation n’est arrivée que le soir déjà tombé, et avec lui l’heure du repas de rupture du jeûne ; alors ils ont décidé de rester sur le lopin devant une des maisons. Sous la voûte du ciel, ils ont planté une tente où ils ont passé l’après-midi et la nuit, avec leurs parents de l’autre côté. La vue qui s’est révélée aux yeux de l’enquêteur de « B’Tselem », Karim Joubran, en arrivant là, l’a ébahi. Chaque enfant s’était pelotonné dans un coin et préparait ses devoirs, par terre. « Chez moi, si ma femme ne pousse pas les enfants à faire leurs devoirs, il n’y a aucune chance qu’ils soient faits. Ici, sans parents, chacun dans son coin, plongé dans ses leçons », a-t-il dit. Ils ont passé la nuit là. La procédure se répète. Les enfants partent à six heures du matin pour arriver à temps à l’école. Sur le chemin du retour, ils téléphonent à « B’Tselem » et après une heure ou deux d’attente, ils traversent le barrage. Personne n’est prêt à leur donner un permis de passage permanent, l’affaire est en instance, ce qui constitue aussi pour le porte-parole de l’Administration civile, le capitaine Tzadki Maman, un excellent prétexte pour répondre à Antigone Ashker, de « B’Tselem », qui s’était adressée à lui dans une lettre urgente : « L’affaire se retrouve au tribunal, à la faveur d’une requête qui a été introduite à ce propos. Il ne nous est dès lors pas possible de répondre, en ce moment », a écrit le porte-parole. D’ici que « ce moment » soit passé, l’hiver viendra, les journées se feront plus courtes et la pluie tombera. Qu’en sera-t-il des enfants ?

(Traduction de l'hébreu : Michel Ghys)

Source traduction : Palestine Solidarité
http://www.palestine-solidarite.org/analyses.Gideon_Levy.261007.htm

Aid Request Emphasizes U.S. Support of Palestinian Authority

Glen Kessler, Washington Post, 31.10.07. President Bush has proposed a sixfold increase in aid to the Palestinians, including $150 million in direct cash transfers to the Palestinian Authority, in an effort to bolster the government in advance of a Middle East peace conference planned for later this month in Annapolis. The $435 million in additional aid, on top of $77 million requested earlier this year, has attracted little notice in the president's $45.9 billion supplemental request last week to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But, if approved, it would constitute the administration's largest amount of direct aid to the Palestinian Authority. Previously, the administration had limited cash transfers to $50 million at a time.

Sourani Meets H.E. Benita Ferrero-Waldner the European Commissioner for External Relations

It is noted that this is the first time in 7 years that Israeli forces allow Sourani to leave Gaza through Erez. The permission came after European intervention. Nonetheless, Sourani was forced to wait for several hours at the crossing before passing through. He was allowed to pass under the precondition that he travel in an official European vehicle in company of Roy Dickinson, and to return in the same manner. Due to the delay at the crossing Sourani missed the initial appointment with Ferrero-Waldner. However, she delayed her departure in order to meet him; and he thanked her for that.

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Israeli Bombardment of Police Station in Khan Yunis Kills Four Policemen on Guard Duty

Palestinian Center For Human Rights. In the evening of 30 October 2007, Israeli war planes fired rockets at a police station in the southern Gaza Strip and killed 4 Policemen in the police force of the dismissed government in Gaza. Israeli military sources commented on this crime saying that “the air strike that is relatively rare recently is an indication that Israel will not continue to exhibit restraint towards the firing of mortars at Israeli population centers.” PCHR expresses concern over the Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip, and calls upon the international community to intervene to stop these crimes. This week only, the Centre has documented the death of 15 Palestinians in the Strip as a result of Israel aerial and land bombardment that disregards the civilian nature of targeted areas.

The Center’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 21:40 on 30 October 2007, Israeli war planes fired 2 rockets at a police station in the town of New Abasan to the east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. The rockets hit the entrance of the station, where the 4 policemen were on guard duty. They were killed instantly, and their bodies were dismembered. The victims are:

- Maher Shehda Abu Teir (25).

- Bilal Ibrahim Awwad (22).

- Ismail Suliman Qudeih (23).

- Mahmoud Jamal Radwan (21).

PCHR expresses great concern over the continued escalation of the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), and:

1. Renews condemnation of these actions that are part of a continuous series of Israeli war crimes in the OPT. These war crimes clearly show Israel’s total disregard for the lives of the civilian population. These actions are forms of reprisal and collective punishment that violate Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949).
2. Calls upon the international community to act immediately to stop these war crimes; and calls upon the High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their responsibility to ensure that the Convention is respected by all parties, their responsibility to pursue suspected perpetrators of serious violations of the Convention under article 146, noting that these serious violations are considered war crimes under Article 147 of the Convention and in the First Optional Protocol Additional to the Convention.

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org

Israeli military detain sick Palestinian woman at checkpoint in Hebron

Christian Peacemaker Teams. For two hours on Tuesday 30 October, the Israeli military prevented a sick Palestinian woman from reaching her home in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron. She was returning from a hospital in Jerusalem in a Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance, escorted by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Tel Rumeida is located in the Israeli controlled H2 area of Hebron1, and is the site of one of the four illegal Israeli settlement enclaves in the city. Palestinian vehicles need special permission to enter H2. ICRC often co-ordinates with the Israeli authorities for travel for ambulances into the area.

The Israeli military stopped the ambulance at the Beit Romano checkpoint at 1:00 pm. For an hour the ambulance crew unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate passage through the checkpoint. After this time they had to take their patient, who was recovering from multiple operations, to a nearby hospital, as she was in need of urgent medical care because of the delay.

Negotiations continued with the Israeli military and the ambulance returned to the checkpoint at 2:45 pm. After waiting for a further 20 minutes the ambulance and the ICRC vehicle were allowed through. The Israeli Border Police then escorted the medical vehicles to the woman's home.

1In 1997 the city of Hebron was divided into two areas: H1 which is under Palestinian control and H2 which is under Israeli military control.

For photos go to: http://www.cpt.org/gallery/Israeli-military-detain-sick-Palestinian-woman-at-checkpoint-in-Hebron

Christian Peacemaker Teams is an ecumenical initiative to support violence reduction efforts around the world. To learn more about CPT's peacemaking work, visit our website www.cpt.org Photos of our projects are at www.cpt.org/gallery. A map of the center of Hebron is at http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/fullMaps_Sa.nsf/0/5618737E38C0B3DE8525708C004BA584/$File/ocha_OTS_hebron_oPt010805.pdf?OpenElement The same map is the last page of this report on closures in Hebron: www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/docs/UN/OCHA/ochaHU0705_En.pdf

La resistenza di un popolo: nonviolenza prima e dopo Bil’in

Nandino Capovilla, referente nazionale per Pax Christi della Campagna Ponti e non muri, 30.10.07. Non c’e’ tempo di fermarci nella casa di Padre Aziz a Ein-Arik perche’ subito ci accompagna alla grande cittadella universitaria, e lungo la strada ci racconta dei suoi due fratelli, detenuti piu’ volte nelle carceri israeliane. Al nostro stupore egli replica che in ogni famiglia palestinese c’e’ qualcuno che e’ stato in prigione, buona parte dei quali arrestati senza prove ne’ processo (nelle carceri israeliane sono a tutt’oggi detenuti 11000 prigionieri palestinesi). Arriviamo al padiglione della facolta’ di Scienze della Comunicazione, e qui ci mostrano le attrezzature tecnologicamente avanzate per le trasmissioni radio. L’universita’ di Bir Zeit conta piu’ di ottomila iscritti e la cosa ci appare subito evidente dall’alto numero di studenti che affollano le stradine che collegano le diverse facolta’. E’ stupefacente constatare un cosi’ alto livello di scolarizzazione, dal momento che le tasse universitarie sono paragonabili alle nostre, e interamente a carico della famiglia: un popolo giovane che con questa forma di resistenza punta caparbiamente ad un alto livello di preparazione culturale e tecnica per riscattarsi da un’oppressione decennale.

Questi stessi giovani, che per arrivare qui ogni mattina sono costretti ad affrontare le umiliazioni delle lunghe attese e delle modalita’ di controllo del tutto arbitrarie ai check point , gestiscono e animano i centri giovanili all’interno dei campi profughi e si impegnano nelle varie associazioni di volontariato che troviamo in tante citta e villaggi.

Davvero forte e’ l’impegno per l’educazione alla pace nella societa’ palestinese. Nassar, che incontriamo al centro di Ta’awon a Ramallah, ci illustra programmi e progetti volti a diffondere la cultura della nonviolenza. Anche noi, come tanti altri, palestinesi, israeliani e internazionali, sentiamo profondamente nostra la scelta nonviolenta; ecco perche’ eravamo tutti a Bil’in.

Siamo convinti che nonostante tutto, questa sia l’unica strada percorribile contro una logica di arroganza e violenza che quel venerdi 26 ottobre ci ha colpiti direttamente nella sua forma piu brutale.

Il piccolo Ramzi, che tirava pietre contro i carri armati durante la prima Intifada, lo incontriamo oggi al centro Al Kamandjati di Ramallah, scuola di musica che ha fondato per i bambini e i giovani dei campi profughi.

La resistenza di un popolo oppresso può esprimersi anche attraverso la musica, che diventa anch’essa una scelta di nonviolenza.

Ma questa resistenza nonviolenta e’ vissuta soprattutto nella vita quotidiana di tutti...

Ad Hebron, dove vivono 200.000 palestinesi, oppressi da 400 coloni che hanno occupato le loro case proprio nel cuore della citta’ con circa 2.000 soldati a loro protezione, anche solo tenere aperta la saracinesca di un bar e’ una forma di resistenza e di lotta nonviolenta.

E noi che qui abbiamo avuto l’opportunita’ di vederla vi invitiamo a condividere con noi questa riflessione:

- cosa faremmo noi se ogni mattina per poter raggiungere il posto di lavoro o accompagnare i nostri figli a scuola fossimo costretti a rimanere per lungo tempo in fila senza sapere quando potremo passare?

- come ci sentiremmo se avendo un appuntamento importante, il soldato che ci ha chiesto i documenti li trattenesse arbitrariamente mentre con tutta tranquillita’ parla al telefono o beve il caffe’ o fa qualunque altra cosa, facendoci sentire che cio’ che per noi e’ importante non conta piu nulla?

- cosa faremmo se ad un check point vedessimo un anziano costretto a rimanere in piedi per ore sotto il sole senza che nessuno si preoccupi di lui; o un’ambulanza che trasporta feriti o malati bloccata e sottoposta ai controlli che prevedono anche che gli stessi siano fatti uscire dal mezzo, facendo perdere tempo prezioso e mettendo a rischio la loro vita?

- cosa faremmo se il check point fosse solo uno dei tanti soprusi che siamo costretti a subire quotidianamente, rendendo la nostra vita impossibile?...

Gerusalemme, 30 ottobre 2007

25-10-07, nonviolent protestors are blocking highway 443‏

Le procureur de l'Etat gèle la décision de couper l'approvisionnement de Gaza

Jerusalem Post. 29.10.07. Menahem Mazuz, procureur général de l'Etat, a décidé que le plan actuel quiconsiste à couper l'approvisionnement en eau et en autres services vitaux à la bande de Gaza ne devait pas être appliqué tant qu'un mécanisme qui empêche une « punition collective » des Palestiniens ne serait pas trouvé. La bande de Gaza dépend d'Israël pour la totalité de son fioul et pour la moitié de son électricité [About 120 megawatts out of the 200 megawatts of electricity used annually in Gaza are bought from and supplied by Israel directly. A further 17 megawatts are supplied by Egypt, while 65 megawatts is produced by a power station in Gaza.BBC].
Cette décision a été prise ce lundi lors d'une réunion avec des représentants du ministère de la défense.

Cette réunion a eu lieu en réaction à une action en justice auprès de la Haute cour de justice, à l'initiative de plusieurs organisations pour les droits de l¹homme. Cette action a été rejetée, mais la Cour a donné 5 jours à l'Etat pour réagir (Ha'aretz, même date).

D'après une information diffusée par la chaîne de télévision 10, Mazuz a insisté pour que l'armée conçoive d'abord un système qui garantisse qu'aucune crise humanitaire ne se produise. L'une des suggestions envisagées consisterait à avertir les hôpitaux de Gaza d'une action à venir, afin de leur donner le temps de mettre en marche leurs générateurs.

Dimanche, Israël avait commencé à baisser ses livraisons de fioul à la bande de Gaza, dans le cadre des sanctions approuvées la semaine dernière par le ministre de la défense Ehoud Barak, suite à l'escalade récente de tirs de roquettes.

Traduction: Gérard pour La Paix Maintenant
(http://www.lapaixmaintenant.org/communique1702)

Update on Continued Closure of Gaza Crossings

UN Humanitarian Monitor Occupied Palestinian Territory- September 2007
Access and Crossings
Rafah and Karni crossings remain closed after more than threemonths. The movement of goods via Gaza border crossings significantly declined in September compared to previous months. The average of 106 truckloads per day that was recorded between 19 June and 13 September has dropped to approximately 50 truckloads per day since mid-September. Sufa crossing (usually opened 5 days a week) was closed for 16 days in September, including 8 days for Israeli holidays, while Kerem Shalom was open only 14 days throughout the month. The Israeli Civil Liaison Administration reported that the reduction of working hours was due to the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Jewish holidays and more importantly attacks on the crossings by Palestinian militants from inside Gaza.
Impact of Closure
As a result of the increased restrictions on Gaza border crossings, an increasing number of food items – including fruits, fresh meat and fish, frozen meat, frozen vegetables, chicken, powdered milk, dairy products, beverages and cooking oil – are experiencing shortages on the local market. The World Food Programme (WFP) has also reported significant increases in the costs of these items, due to increases in prices on the global market as well as due to restrictions on goods going into Gaza. In September, the price of one kg of fresh meat increased by 25%, while the price of chicken experienced a 50% increase.

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IOF Kills Three Palestinian and Start Fuel Cuts in Gaza

The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched its eighth incursion into the Gaza Strip in eight days today, Monday 29 October 2007. IOF penetrated the towns of Beit Hanoun and Rafah and killed three Palestinians; of whom one is disabled. Nine others were injured and one school bombarded. This military escalation coincides with IOF's commencement of reducing fuel supplies to the Strip.

According to field investigations by Al Mezan, at approximately 5.30am on 29 October 2007, eight Israeli armored vehicles penetrated Ashobaki area north Beit Hanoun town and took positions under helicopters cover. They opened arbitrary fire as a special force sneaked into the Agricultural College of Al Azhar University in the north of the town. The force took positions inside the College and opened fire killing a 44-year-old disabled man; Farid Ibrhim Abu Udeh. The victim was killed from a live bullet to the head while he was inside his home, which is located near the nearby Agricultural Secondary School. A 15-yar-old schoolboy, Ahmed Atta Az-Za'anin, was also shot in the chest near his school north of the town. Medical sources reported his injuries as critical.

At approximately 8.45am the IOF opened machinegun FIRE at a nearby residential area injuring 44-year-old Adnan Mahmoud Yousif, who was near his house in An-Nada neighborhood, northwest Beit Hanoun. At approximately 9.20am an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile that landed in the western entrance of Beit Hanoun Girls Preparatory School, which is located in Al Qaraman Street. 28-year-old Muhammad Yousif Hamad was killed and five others injured, of whom three critically, in this raid. Israeli tanks fired two artillery shells that landed in an open area near the Agricultural College; however no injuries were reported. Additionally, IOF wounded a child and a woman just before they withdrew at approximately 11am. Dozens of civilian houses, the Agricultural College, the Agricultural Secondary School, and Beit Hanoun Girls Preparatory School sustained damages in this incursion. It was reported that UNRWA's five schools and clinic in the town evacuated during the incursion.

In the same context, at approximately 1.30am on 29 October 2007, eight Israeli armored vehicles entered as deep as 1.5 kilometers into the Karem Abu Mu'aammar area east of the southern Gaza town of Rafah. The IOF opened heavy fire killing 22-year-old Ahmad Ibrahim Abu Tahoun. According to medical sources, IOF restricted the ambulances' access to the area. An ambulance managed to access to Abu Tahoun's body and collect it at approximately 6.30am, only after the IOF withdrew from the area.

According to Al Mezan's fieldworker, at approximately 1am on Sunday 28 October 2007, ten Israeli armored vehicles entered 500 meters deep west the borderline in Wadi As-Salqa village in the east of middle-Gaza town of Deir Al Balah. IOF broke into a three-story house owned by 53-year-old Hussein Ibrahim Abu Mghissib and used it as a military post. At approximately 8.30am the IOF opened fire injuring 22-year-old Ahmad Awad Al Amour with shrapnel to his chest, and 45-year-old Thurayya Muhammad Abu Mghissib with live bullets to her leg and her left arm. IOF withdrew from this area at approximately 5pm on the same day.

In addition, IOF commenced the implementation of the decision reducing fuel supplies to Gaza Strip. Al Mezan's fieldworkers reported the quantities of fuel allowed to flow into Gaza on 28 October 2007 as follows:

- 258,000 liters of fuel used for the operation of the power plant;

- 213,000 liters of diesel;

- 90,000 liters of benzene (for two days);

- 240,000 tons of cooking gas.

This represents a 50% cut in cooking gas and about 30%, cut in fuel compared with the quantities allowed into Gaza before. The same applies to the fuel used for the operation of the power plant. Al Mezan fieldworker reported that gas supply was allowed to flow in today. It is expected that Gaza will experience longer electricity cuts and more shortage in the diesel, which is necessary to operate small electric generators to compensate electricity shortage.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights reiterates its condemnation of the Israeli military escalation against civilians in Gaza. It also asserts that the reduction of fuel supplies represents a flagrant violation of the rules of the International Humanitarian Law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, that will infringe upon the population's life quickly. Therefore, Al Mezan calls on that the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities and intervene to immediately stop the Israeli grave breaches of the Convention and provide protection for civilians. Under rapidly increasing punitive measures Gaza faces the threat of imminent worsening of the humanitarian crisis it lives. Therefore, these measures must not be allowed to materialize.

Human Rights Organizations Petition the Supreme Court Demanding an Injunction against Disrupting the Supply of Electricity and Fuel to the Gaza Strip

Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel * Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement * HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual * Physicians for Human Rights-Israel * The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights * The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel * Gaza Community Mental Health Programme * B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories * Al –Haq * Mezan Center for Human Rights

The Government Openly Decides, Apparently for the First Time, to Impose Collective Punishment on 1.5 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip; Petitioners: The Decision is Illegal and will Damage the Health, Safety and Welfare of the Population of Gaza.

Gisha