RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) said in its weekly report that the "Israeli violations of international law and humanitarian law continued in the OPT during the reporting period (21 – 27 August 2008)"

The report listed numerous violations in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including shooting, incursions, arrests, restrictions on movement, settlement expansion, land confiscation, building of the apartheid wall, and closure of border crossings of the Gaza Strip as well as an increase in settler attacks against Palestinian villagers.

PCHR stated that these violations are encouraged by the international community turning a blind eye to them: " PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged Israel to act as if it is above the law and encourages Israel continue to violate international human rights and humanitarian law."

During the reporting period, nine Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, and an Israeli human rights defender, were wounded by IOF gunfire at peaceful anti-wall demonstrators in Ni'lin village west of Ramallah.

Furthermore, the IOF conducted 53 military incursions into West Bank Palestinian communities and arrested 48 Palestinians, including five children during those incursions, according to the report.

PCHR also said that the IOF continued to impose restrictions of movement on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank including occupied East Jerusalem.