Al-Haq Press Release No. 164

A Palestinian Human Rights Organization

31 July 1997

Al-Haq is extremely alarmed over the recent decision by the Israeli government to collectively punish over two million Palestinians by tightening the military closure and surrounding the seven Palestinian autonomous areas in the West Bank with roadblocks, thus forbidding any one from leaving or entering. The Israeli authorities justify this extraordinary move as necessary for security needs following the 30 June 1997 suicidal bombing at Mahaneh Yehuda market in West Jerusalem. Al-Haq would like to stress the principle of international law which condemns targeting civilians in all circumstances by all parties.

Al-Haq feels that the Israeli government has responded to the bombing in a manner of reprisal.

Yesterday, the Israeli army sealed off the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and gave Palestinian workers until 11 at night to return to their homes. The Israeli army then imposed a military siege closing off the Palestinian cities and towns within the Palestinian autonomous areas, forbidding anyone to enter or leave. The Israeli government has also reportedly declared that if the Palestinian Authority does not meet Israel's demand security measures, Israel will take the initiative through its undercover units in the Occupied Territories. According to al-Haq's estimates 194 Palestinians were executed by undercover units during the Intifada, thus al-Haq fears that the use of undercover units might lead to extra judicial punishments, such as summary execution.

The imposition of these Israeli military measures has resulted in the disruption of community life, fracturing the occupied Palestinian territories into isolated enclaves. The economic and social lives of over two million Palestinians are adversely affected. In addition, Palestinians are denied the ability to practice basic rights and obtain access to vital services. These military measures affect, inter alia:

• Trade by halting the movement of goods:
• The right to medical care, by preventing access to doctors and major health facilities providing vital medical services which are located in sieged cities:
• Freedom of movement within the occupied Palestinian territories:
• The right to travel, by severely restricting the ability of Palestinians to apply for visas at consulates located in occupied East Jerusalem, by preventing Palestinian from reaching the airport in Israel, and by closing the entrance to and from Gaza:
• The right to work, by preventing Palestinians from reaching their places of work:
• The right to study, by preventing hundreds of university students from reaching their universities:

Al-Haq feels that these Israeli military measures have been taken in reprisal, rather than for legitimate security needs. The entire Palestinian community is being punished in response to the actions of individuals who are believed to be Palestinian. These measures are disproportionate to any legitimate security concern on the part of the Israeli occupation authorities. Such reprisals and forms of collective punishment are absolutely prohibited by international law.

The Israeli illegal policies and practices, especially settlement activities, have created an atmosphere of hostility. Israel must not continue to act against Palestinian in a belligerent manner, but must work towards establishing a just permanent peace agreement based on principles of international law and UN resolutions which call for the end to belligerent occupation and stress the right of Palestinians to self-determination and right to return.

Al-Haq calls upon the international community of states and international NGOs, intervene with the Israeli authorities to secure Israel's adherence to principles of international law, and to ensure that the military closure and the sealing off of the Palestinian cities and towns be lifted immediately. The international community must stop Israeli from continuing its illegal polices and reprisals.

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