September 10^th, 2007

(33)      Palestinians killed by Israeli Security Forces

(9)        Palestinian children killed by Israeli Security Forces

(4)        Palestinian Assassinations

(0)        Israelis killed by Palestinians

Summary Report for August 2007

·                     On Tuesday, August 28^th, 2007, Prime Minister in Ramallah, Dr. Salam Fayyad, declared that his government would be closing down 103 non-governmental organizations in the OPT, primarily in Gaza, due to legal and financial violations.  This decision to target organizations registered under Hamas-controlled Gaza will cut-off thousands of Palestinians from basic health and humanitarian services.  PHRMG strongly discourages the closure of fundamental services to innocent civilians.

 

·                      The Executive Force in Gaza has arrested and severely tortured over 20 suspected members of the Fatah movement within the last week.  We strongly urge investigation into the detainment and beatings of these individuals.

·                     On August 25^th, 2007, Ayed Suliman Masalma (22) died in EL-Ramla Prison, due to medical negligence.  We encourage further examination of the deteriorating health services offered to Palestinians in the Israeli prison system.

·                     On August 25^th, 2007, Executive Force members attempted to arrest Sakher Abu al-‘Oun in Gaza, a journalist for the France Press in the Gaza Strip. 

·                     On August 24^th, 2007, during the coverage of a non-violent demonstration of Fatah supporters in Gaza City, four journalists were arrested and taken to Gaza Central Prison.  These arrests are part of a larger slew of recent journalist arrests by the Executive Force.

·                     Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishing boats continue after extreme restrictions were placed on fishing in Gaza.  Over 70 fishermen have been arrested since the establishment of the restrictions.  Around 35,000 individuals in and around Gaza coastal communities are reliant on the fishing industry.

·                     The Gaza Strip faces the second severe power shortage crisis in 14 months after the Israeli Occupational Forces closed the Nahal Oz crossing.  The closure followed the EU’s decision to halt payment for fuel to Gaza’s lone power supplier.  Hamas is accused of withholding electricity payments from Gaza Electricity Company accounts.  The outages affect millions of civilians in Gaza, forcing the closure of hospitals, NGO’s, and various other vital services.

·                     Health services in Gaza continue to plummet after the Fatah-allied Union of Medical Professions in the Gaza Strip decided to cut down on work hours in response to harassment from Hamas security forces.  The already grave health conditions in Gaza will progressively decline under deteriorating medical attention.

·                     Yusef El-Mansi, the acting Justice Minister, ordered the dismissal of the Attorney General due to unlawful appointment procedures.  However, the Justice Minister does not have the judicial authority to execute the dismissal.  Soon after the decision, the Attorney General and his assistants were forcibly arrested by the Executive Force and brought into Gaza Central Prison on August 16^th after being suspected of smuggling files on murder and corruption.  He was beaten and forced to sign a document stating that he would no longer resume any duties as A.G.

The statistics below represent a summary of the number of the Palestinian and Israeli fatalities during August 2007 according to PHRMG Research. The fatalities are classified as the following:

·                     Summary of Palestinians killed by Israelis.

·                     Summary of Palestinians killed by Palestinians.

·                     Summary of Israelis killed by Palestinians. 

Email: admin@phrmg.org