30 june 2016
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories continued during the reporting period (23 – 29 June 2016).
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman in Hebron in the southern area of the West Bank. Moreover, Israeli forces wounded 43 other civilians, including a woman, in the West Bank as well. In Jerusalem, 40 civilians were wounded in al-Aqsa Mosque while 19 others sustained bruises, including 2 journalists, in al-Aqsa Mosque as well. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
In the West Bank, on 24 June, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Jaf’at Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron, killed al-Majd ‘Abdullah al=Khdour (18) from Beit ‘Aynoun village, east of the city. The aforementioned was killed when Israeli soldiers heavily opened fire at a “Mazda” car, which al-Majd was driving, with an Israeli yellow registration plate. Israeli forces then published a video of the incident, calming that al-Majd attempted to drive to the car stop at the aforementioned settlement entrance to carry out a deliberate run-over attack.
On 24 June 2016, a young man from al-Dhishah refugee camp was wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Doha village, west of Bethlehem. A number of Palestinian young men gathered to Molotov cocktails at their vehicles. In response, the Israeli soldiers immediately fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them, wounding that young man with a bullet to the right foot.
On 25 June 2016, two Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian youngsters gathered to throw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and live bullets to disperse them. As a result, two civilians were hit with bullets to the lower parts. One of them is 22 years old and the other is 25 years old.
In Jerusalem on 26 June 2016, a special forces from the Israeli police raided al-Aqsa Mosque through al-Magharbah Gate to protect settlers. This happened when dozens of civilians, who were performing prayers “I’tikaf” in the Mosque yards and al-Qebali Mosque. The Israeli forces fired sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets in al-Qebli Msoque. As a result, 24 civilians were wounded; 7 of whom were transferred to al-Maqased Hospital in the City for medical treatment. Moreover, 5 of them sustained bullet and sound bombs shrapnel wounds while two were wounded to the heads. Seventeen other civilians also sustained bruises due to being beaten.
On 27 June 2016, Israeli forces respectively raided al-Aqsa Mosque for the second time and deployed in its yards after closing the doors of al-Qebali Mosque with chains and locked the worshipers inside it. The Israeli soldiers then vacate whoever was in the yards, especially the one next to al-Qebali Mosque. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs and pepper-sprayed. This happened to secure and protect the entry of 90 settlers into the Mosque, provoking the worshipers. According to al-Aqsa clinics, around 35 worshippers were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs shrapnel.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 27 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Soudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats and chased them.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 limited ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 55 Palestinian civilians, including 18 children. Twenty-eight of them, including 15 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
During this week, Israeli forces raided al-Aqsa Mosque twice to secure the entry of dozens of settlers while Palestinian worshipers attempted to prevent them. Israeli forces used force against them, wounding dozens of worshippers in addition to arresting 20 civilians; most of whom were children, at the outside gates.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people.
The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (KeremShaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities
Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations. Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethal if they hit the head of victim from a close range.
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
On Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at al-Aroub refugee camp, the entrance to al-Burj village, and the northern entrance to Hebron.
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Yatta and the entrance to Beit Ommar village.
On Saturday, 25 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Yatta, the entrance to Sa’ir village, and the entrance to Bani Na’im village.
On Sunday, 26 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Aroub refugee camp, the entrance to Karza village and the road of Farsh al-Hawa.
At approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces redeployed at Attarah checkpoint at the northern entrance to Birziet village, north of Ramallah. They checked the vehicles and ID cards of the passengers and then detained number of civilians causing traffic on the road.
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, the crossroad of Beit Our al-Fuqa village, southwest of the city and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
At approximately 17:45 on Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafer Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah.
At approximately 17:10 on Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to the tunnel of Hablah village (the southern entrance to Qalqiliyah). At approximately 21:20
On Sunday, 26 June 2016, they established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jeet village, northeast of Qalqiliyah.
At approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Azzoun village at the road linking between Qalqiliyah and Tulkarm.
At approximately 01:35 on Wednesday, 29 June 2016, they established a similar checkpoint between Azzoun village and Ezbet al-Tabeb village, east of the city.
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Salfit and the northern entrance to Bruqin village, west of the city.
At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 25 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit.
At approximately 21:00 on Tuesday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafel Hares village, north of Salfit. At approximately 21:50, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance to Qarawet Bani Hasan village, west of the city.
At approximately 00:00 on Thursday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Aranah village, north of Jenin.
Israeli Forces Attacks:
Eid al-Hathalin said that the administration employee (Carlos) handed two notices to halt the work and took photos of four other caravans, claiming that they were built near the area where the previous houses were demolished. Therefore, those caravans are under threat of demolition as well without notifying their owners or even allowing them to appeal the decision. It should be mentioned that the Israeli authorities demolished six houses under the pretext of building without a permit in the above mentioned Kherbah. As a result, 32 civilians became homeless, including 7 children.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian woman in Hebron in the southern area of the West Bank. Moreover, Israeli forces wounded 43 other civilians, including a woman, in the West Bank as well. In Jerusalem, 40 civilians were wounded in al-Aqsa Mosque while 19 others sustained bruises, including 2 journalists, in al-Aqsa Mosque as well. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
In the West Bank, on 24 June, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Jaf’at Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron, killed al-Majd ‘Abdullah al=Khdour (18) from Beit ‘Aynoun village, east of the city. The aforementioned was killed when Israeli soldiers heavily opened fire at a “Mazda” car, which al-Majd was driving, with an Israeli yellow registration plate. Israeli forces then published a video of the incident, calming that al-Majd attempted to drive to the car stop at the aforementioned settlement entrance to carry out a deliberate run-over attack.
On 24 June 2016, a young man from al-Dhishah refugee camp was wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Doha village, west of Bethlehem. A number of Palestinian young men gathered to Molotov cocktails at their vehicles. In response, the Israeli soldiers immediately fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them, wounding that young man with a bullet to the right foot.
On 25 June 2016, two Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian youngsters gathered to throw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and live bullets to disperse them. As a result, two civilians were hit with bullets to the lower parts. One of them is 22 years old and the other is 25 years old.
In Jerusalem on 26 June 2016, a special forces from the Israeli police raided al-Aqsa Mosque through al-Magharbah Gate to protect settlers. This happened when dozens of civilians, who were performing prayers “I’tikaf” in the Mosque yards and al-Qebali Mosque. The Israeli forces fired sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets in al-Qebli Msoque. As a result, 24 civilians were wounded; 7 of whom were transferred to al-Maqased Hospital in the City for medical treatment. Moreover, 5 of them sustained bullet and sound bombs shrapnel wounds while two were wounded to the heads. Seventeen other civilians also sustained bruises due to being beaten.
On 27 June 2016, Israeli forces respectively raided al-Aqsa Mosque for the second time and deployed in its yards after closing the doors of al-Qebali Mosque with chains and locked the worshipers inside it. The Israeli soldiers then vacate whoever was in the yards, especially the one next to al-Qebali Mosque. They fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs and pepper-sprayed. This happened to secure and protect the entry of 90 settlers into the Mosque, provoking the worshipers. According to al-Aqsa clinics, around 35 worshippers were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs shrapnel.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 27 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Soudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats and chased them.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 limited ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 55 Palestinian civilians, including 18 children. Twenty-eight of them, including 15 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
During this week, Israeli forces raided al-Aqsa Mosque twice to secure the entry of dozens of settlers while Palestinian worshipers attempted to prevent them. Israeli forces used force against them, wounding dozens of worshippers in addition to arresting 20 civilians; most of whom were children, at the outside gates.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people.
The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (KeremShaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
- Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities
- Following the Friday prayer, 24 June 2016, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city, and Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilyia. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations. Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethal if they hit the head of victim from a close range.
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
- Hebron:
On Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at al-Aroub refugee camp, the entrance to al-Burj village, and the northern entrance to Hebron.
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Yatta and the entrance to Beit Ommar village.
On Saturday, 25 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the northern entrances to Yatta, the entrance to Sa’ir village, and the entrance to Bani Na’im village.
On Sunday, 26 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Aroub refugee camp, the entrance to Karza village and the road of Farsh al-Hawa.
- Ramallah and al-Bireh:
At approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces redeployed at Attarah checkpoint at the northern entrance to Birziet village, north of Ramallah. They checked the vehicles and ID cards of the passengers and then detained number of civilians causing traffic on the road.
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, the crossroad of Beit Our al-Fuqa village, southwest of the city and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
- Qalqiliyah:
At approximately 17:45 on Thursday, 23 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafer Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah.
At approximately 17:10 on Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to the tunnel of Hablah village (the southern entrance to Qalqiliyah). At approximately 21:20
On Sunday, 26 June 2016, they established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jeet village, northeast of Qalqiliyah.
At approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Azzoun village at the road linking between Qalqiliyah and Tulkarm.
At approximately 01:35 on Wednesday, 29 June 2016, they established a similar checkpoint between Azzoun village and Ezbet al-Tabeb village, east of the city.
- Salfit:
On Friday, 24 June 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Salfit and the northern entrance to Bruqin village, west of the city.
At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 25 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit.
At approximately 21:00 on Tuesday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafel Hares village, north of Salfit. At approximately 21:50, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance to Qarawet Bani Hasan village, west of the city.
- Jenin:
At approximately 00:00 on Thursday, 28 June 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Aranah village, north of Jenin.
- Tulkarm:
- Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israeli Forces Attacks:
- At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 29 June 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with a military jeep and the Construction and Organization Department in the Civil Administration moved into Kherbet Om al-Khair village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The administration employee handed two civilians two notices to halt the work in two houses built of tin plates (caravans). On 06 April 2016, the European Union donated those caravans along with other four to theKherba residents, whose houses were demolished by the Israeli authorities. The demolition notices were as follows:
- A 50-square-meter caravan belonging to Khalil Sulaiman al-Hathalin (78).
- A 50-square-meter caravan belonging to Mo’tasem Sulaiman al-Hathelin (28).
Eid al-Hathalin said that the administration employee (Carlos) handed two notices to halt the work and took photos of four other caravans, claiming that they were built near the area where the previous houses were demolished. Therefore, those caravans are under threat of demolition as well without notifying their owners or even allowing them to appeal the decision. It should be mentioned that the Israeli authorities demolished six houses under the pretext of building without a permit in the above mentioned Kherbah. As a result, 32 civilians became homeless, including 7 children.
- At approximately 11:30 on the same Wednesday, Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Construction and Administration Department in the Civil Administration moved into al-Dairat village, north of Yatta, south of Hebron. The administration employee began photographing a number of houses and facilities after which he handed their owners demolition notices for the second time. The residents said that the Israeli forces had previously handed them notices to halt the work two months ago. These notices were as follows:
- An under-construction house built of concrete comprised of a 190-square-meter ground floor belonging to Suleiman Mahmoud al-‘Adrah.
- An inhabited house built of concrete comprised of a 190-square-meter ground floor, a 100-square-meter livestock barrack built of tin plates and a 150-cubic-meter water well belonging to Mousa Ismail al-‘Adrah.
- An under construction house built of concrete, and it is a ground floor with an area of 170 square meters belonging to Yusuf Mousa al-Jabarin.
- Under-construction Storehouses built of concrete, with an area of 140-square-meters belonging to Jabrin Mohammed Husain al-‘Amour.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
- PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
- PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
- PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
- PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
- PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
- PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
- PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
- PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;
- PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
- PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;
28 june 2016
The majority of the member states of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Monday condemned Israel for persisting in committing serious abuses against the Palestinians in their occupied territories and demanded a halt to all its aggressive practices and racist policies against them.
As part of the proceedings of the 32nd regular UNHRC meeting, the conferees discussed Monday, under Agenda Item 7, the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.
The countries of the Arab, African and Islamic groups as well as pro-Palestine states from Latin America and Europe, and human rights groups took the floor and condemned Israel in their statements.
Pro-Israel western countries, including from Europe, boycotted the Agenda 7 debate at the UNHRC in Geneva.
The statements highlighted different abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinians, including its systematic extrajudicial killings, settlement activities and the inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Their statements also called for immediate moves to end human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and to compel Israel as an occupying power to abide by the international law and the four Geneva conventions.
As part of the proceedings of the 32nd regular UNHRC meeting, the conferees discussed Monday, under Agenda Item 7, the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and the occupied Syrian Golan.
The countries of the Arab, African and Islamic groups as well as pro-Palestine states from Latin America and Europe, and human rights groups took the floor and condemned Israel in their statements.
Pro-Israel western countries, including from Europe, boycotted the Agenda 7 debate at the UNHRC in Geneva.
The statements highlighted different abuses committed by Israel against the Palestinians, including its systematic extrajudicial killings, settlement activities and the inhumane blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Their statements also called for immediate moves to end human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories and to compel Israel as an occupying power to abide by the international law and the four Geneva conventions.
27 june 2016
Adalah, The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, sent a letter to senior Israeli government, military and water officials demanding that they cease cutting the water supply to Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank.
“In violation of int’l treaties, Israel has cut water supply up to 70%, leaving homes with no running water and causing factory shutdowns, severe damage to agriculture, deaths of livestock,” said the center.
According to media reports and calls to Adalah, from West Bank residents, Mekorot, the Israeli water company, has significantly reduced the amount of water it is supplying to West Bank Palestinians, since early June 2016. These water cutbacks are expected to continue throughout the summer.
According to reports, WAFA informs, the Israeli state notified the Palestinian water authority that, starting in June, the supply of water piped to the West Bank would be cut from previous levels by some 50 to 70 percent.
This cutback has intensified an already existing water shortage faced by Palestinian residents across the West Bank that results from Israeli control over fresh water sources.
In her letter to Infrastructure Minister Yuval Steinitz, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major General Yoav Mordechai, and Mekorot national water company CEO Shimon Ben Hamo, Adalah lawyer Muna Haddad detailed the serious repercussions of water cutbacks to West Bank residents.
“The reduction in water amounts and pressure prevents the filling of holding reservoirs in the Palestinian communities. As a result, in some of the communities, including the villages of Salfit, Azmut, Salem and Dir Al-Hatab in the northern West Bank, water flow to residential homes has been almost completely cut for more than two weeks.
“The cuts have also caused factory shutdowns, damage to gardens and agricultural lands, and the deaths of livestock due to dehydration. The situation, exacerbated by a period of heavy heat over the past several weeks and that is expected to continue through the summer months, is causing significant harm to West Bank residents,” Attorney Haddad wrote.
Adalah’s letter, sent on 23 June 2016, also highlighted the dramatic difference in access/supply of water to Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Israeli Jewish settlers.
“Even before this decision, [to cut the water supply to the West Bank] which does not apply to Israeli Jewish settlements, the water access gap between Palestinian residents and Jewish settlers in the West Bank was enormous.”
The center noted that, “Palestinian residents, for example, are provided with an average of 70 liters of water a day while the minimal average daily water consumption recommended by the World Health Organization set at 100 liters. Israeli Jewish settlers in the West Bank, on the other hand, have access to more than 300 liters per person per day.”
In the letter, Adalah also noted that the cuts in water supply to Palestinian residents of the West Bank violate international conventions ratified by Israel including: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which determines the right to an adequate standard of living, and specifically details the right to food and the basic needs of human existence – including the right to water; Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child likewise determines that signatory states are obligated to provide clean drinking water; Articles 47 of the Hague Convention and 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention forbid pillaging which, in this case, would apply to Israel’s practice of transferring West Bank water resources from Palestinian residents to Israeli Jewish settlers.
“Given these severe violations of basic human rights guaranteed by international law, Adalah demands that COGAT, the Infrastructure Minister, and Mekorot immediately halt cuts in the water supply to Palestinian residents of the West Bank.”
“In violation of int’l treaties, Israel has cut water supply up to 70%, leaving homes with no running water and causing factory shutdowns, severe damage to agriculture, deaths of livestock,” said the center.
According to media reports and calls to Adalah, from West Bank residents, Mekorot, the Israeli water company, has significantly reduced the amount of water it is supplying to West Bank Palestinians, since early June 2016. These water cutbacks are expected to continue throughout the summer.
According to reports, WAFA informs, the Israeli state notified the Palestinian water authority that, starting in June, the supply of water piped to the West Bank would be cut from previous levels by some 50 to 70 percent.
This cutback has intensified an already existing water shortage faced by Palestinian residents across the West Bank that results from Israeli control over fresh water sources.
In her letter to Infrastructure Minister Yuval Steinitz, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Major General Yoav Mordechai, and Mekorot national water company CEO Shimon Ben Hamo, Adalah lawyer Muna Haddad detailed the serious repercussions of water cutbacks to West Bank residents.
“The reduction in water amounts and pressure prevents the filling of holding reservoirs in the Palestinian communities. As a result, in some of the communities, including the villages of Salfit, Azmut, Salem and Dir Al-Hatab in the northern West Bank, water flow to residential homes has been almost completely cut for more than two weeks.
“The cuts have also caused factory shutdowns, damage to gardens and agricultural lands, and the deaths of livestock due to dehydration. The situation, exacerbated by a period of heavy heat over the past several weeks and that is expected to continue through the summer months, is causing significant harm to West Bank residents,” Attorney Haddad wrote.
Adalah’s letter, sent on 23 June 2016, also highlighted the dramatic difference in access/supply of water to Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Israeli Jewish settlers.
“Even before this decision, [to cut the water supply to the West Bank] which does not apply to Israeli Jewish settlements, the water access gap between Palestinian residents and Jewish settlers in the West Bank was enormous.”
The center noted that, “Palestinian residents, for example, are provided with an average of 70 liters of water a day while the minimal average daily water consumption recommended by the World Health Organization set at 100 liters. Israeli Jewish settlers in the West Bank, on the other hand, have access to more than 300 liters per person per day.”
In the letter, Adalah also noted that the cuts in water supply to Palestinian residents of the West Bank violate international conventions ratified by Israel including: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which determines the right to an adequate standard of living, and specifically details the right to food and the basic needs of human existence – including the right to water; Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child likewise determines that signatory states are obligated to provide clean drinking water; Articles 47 of the Hague Convention and 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention forbid pillaging which, in this case, would apply to Israel’s practice of transferring West Bank water resources from Palestinian residents to Israeli Jewish settlers.
“Given these severe violations of basic human rights guaranteed by international law, Adalah demands that COGAT, the Infrastructure Minister, and Mekorot immediately halt cuts in the water supply to Palestinian residents of the West Bank.”
The Palestine Prisoners Center for Studies detected 80 methods of torture perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities (IOA) against Palestinian detainees.
Media director of the Palestine Center for Prisoner Studies, Reyad al-Ashqar, said in a statement released on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture marked on 26 June, the IOA has not only been seeking a legal cover to decriminalize tactics of torture perpetrated against Palestinian detainees but has also striven to prevent the documentation of such crimes in order to avoid prosecution.
He added that dozens of Palestinian detainees have been tortured to death in Israeli jails, the latest of whom was prisoner Arafat Jaradat from al-Khalil.
Al-Ashqar identified 80 tactics of psycho-physical torture used by the Israeli occupation forces, which have taken away the lives of 71 prisoners so far.
According to recent statistics, 98% of Palestinian detainees have been subjected to torture in Israeli lock-ups and detention centers, particularly during the first days of detention.
He spoke out against the crimes committed by Israeli medics against sick detainees, referring to preplanned medical neglect to force confession and counterfeit reports as cases in point.
Al-Ashqar further pointed out the serious aftermaths of the Israeli methods of torture during the post-detention phase.
Several detainees died shortly after they were released while others have gone traumatized following the painful experience they have been through in Israeli detention.
Media director of the Palestine Center for Prisoner Studies, Reyad al-Ashqar, said in a statement released on the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture marked on 26 June, the IOA has not only been seeking a legal cover to decriminalize tactics of torture perpetrated against Palestinian detainees but has also striven to prevent the documentation of such crimes in order to avoid prosecution.
He added that dozens of Palestinian detainees have been tortured to death in Israeli jails, the latest of whom was prisoner Arafat Jaradat from al-Khalil.
Al-Ashqar identified 80 tactics of psycho-physical torture used by the Israeli occupation forces, which have taken away the lives of 71 prisoners so far.
According to recent statistics, 98% of Palestinian detainees have been subjected to torture in Israeli lock-ups and detention centers, particularly during the first days of detention.
He spoke out against the crimes committed by Israeli medics against sick detainees, referring to preplanned medical neglect to force confession and counterfeit reports as cases in point.
Al-Ashqar further pointed out the serious aftermaths of the Israeli methods of torture during the post-detention phase.
Several detainees died shortly after they were released while others have gone traumatized following the painful experience they have been through in Israeli detention.
25 june 2016
In occupied al-Khalil (Hebron), the Tel Rumeida neighborhood and the tiny strip of Shuhada Street still accessible to Palestinian pedestrians, has seen endless restrictions by Israeli forces.
After the area was first declared a ‘closed military zone’ (CMZ) on 1st November 2015, Palestinian residents were put under a closure imposed as a form of collective punishment, denying them their most basic rights and even their humanity – degrading them to mere numbers.
Only Palestinian residents registered with the Israeli forces as a number where allowed to reach their homes inside the closed military zone. At the same time, Israeli settlers were free to roam the streets and do as they please, without ever being stopped – a ‘normality’ under the apartheid-rule in occupied al-Khalil.
Despite the lifting of the zone, the stairs leading to Qurtuba school have remained closed for Palestinians. This not only cuts off the main access for all the families using these stairs to reach their homes, but also visitors to the Muslim cemetery and the weekly second hand market in Qarantina.
On Friday, 24th June, Israeli forces denied a Palestinian man walking down these stairs, on the grounds that he ‘is Palestinian’. Whereas first they allowed the man to go down the stairs and turn around the corner, they stopped him right after, ordering him to climb up the stairs again, as he’s not allowed to pass.
Two internationals, on the other hand, when enquiring whether they have to go back now, were told that the man was only sent back because ‘he’s Palestinian’, but they clearly ‘were tourists’.
The denial of access based on ethnicity clearly is an apartheid-strategy – allowing privileges to non-Palestinians only.
At Shuhada checkpoint, that leads from the tiny strip of Shuhada Street accessible to Palestinian pedestrians into the H1 area of al-Khalil, Israeli forces often delay Palestinians trying to pass. Early Friday morning, they yelled ‘uskut’ (Arabic for ‘shut up’) at Palestinians ringing the bell for them to open the turnstile – repeatedly.
Once finally allowed to pass through the checkpoint, a settler youth was standing inside the checkpoint behind the bullet-proof window with the settlers, chatting with them and watching them check IDs. This illustrates the apartheid-policies enforced in al-Khalil – whereas Palestinians are harassed and intimidated, settlers are neighbours and friends – even allowed to be inside the checkpoint with the soldiers.
In the early afternoon of the same day, soldiers arbitrarily decided to close the exit of the checkpoint, leading into the H1 neighborhood, claiming that ‘there’s a training’, but refusing to tell when this would be finished, forcing Palestinians to wait without any reason.
These measures are just some examples, in a very tiny area within the H2 area under full Israeli military control, exemplifying the arbitrariness and every day humiliation enforced by the Israeli forces on the Palestinian population.
After the area was first declared a ‘closed military zone’ (CMZ) on 1st November 2015, Palestinian residents were put under a closure imposed as a form of collective punishment, denying them their most basic rights and even their humanity – degrading them to mere numbers.
Only Palestinian residents registered with the Israeli forces as a number where allowed to reach their homes inside the closed military zone. At the same time, Israeli settlers were free to roam the streets and do as they please, without ever being stopped – a ‘normality’ under the apartheid-rule in occupied al-Khalil.
Despite the lifting of the zone, the stairs leading to Qurtuba school have remained closed for Palestinians. This not only cuts off the main access for all the families using these stairs to reach their homes, but also visitors to the Muslim cemetery and the weekly second hand market in Qarantina.
On Friday, 24th June, Israeli forces denied a Palestinian man walking down these stairs, on the grounds that he ‘is Palestinian’. Whereas first they allowed the man to go down the stairs and turn around the corner, they stopped him right after, ordering him to climb up the stairs again, as he’s not allowed to pass.
Two internationals, on the other hand, when enquiring whether they have to go back now, were told that the man was only sent back because ‘he’s Palestinian’, but they clearly ‘were tourists’.
The denial of access based on ethnicity clearly is an apartheid-strategy – allowing privileges to non-Palestinians only.
At Shuhada checkpoint, that leads from the tiny strip of Shuhada Street accessible to Palestinian pedestrians into the H1 area of al-Khalil, Israeli forces often delay Palestinians trying to pass. Early Friday morning, they yelled ‘uskut’ (Arabic for ‘shut up’) at Palestinians ringing the bell for them to open the turnstile – repeatedly.
Once finally allowed to pass through the checkpoint, a settler youth was standing inside the checkpoint behind the bullet-proof window with the settlers, chatting with them and watching them check IDs. This illustrates the apartheid-policies enforced in al-Khalil – whereas Palestinians are harassed and intimidated, settlers are neighbours and friends – even allowed to be inside the checkpoint with the soldiers.
In the early afternoon of the same day, soldiers arbitrarily decided to close the exit of the checkpoint, leading into the H1 neighborhood, claiming that ‘there’s a training’, but refusing to tell when this would be finished, forcing Palestinians to wait without any reason.
These measures are just some examples, in a very tiny area within the H2 area under full Israeli military control, exemplifying the arbitrariness and every day humiliation enforced by the Israeli forces on the Palestinian population.
UNRWA is gravely concerned about the recent decision of the Israeli High Court of Justice to reject the appeals filed by Palestine refugee families against two punitive demolitions in Qalandia refugee camp. The two families were given five days as of 14 June to evacuate the apartments. Today, the family is in a state of perpetual apprehension as they wait for implementation of the punitive demolition which could occur at any undefined time.
The demolition orders were given for stabbing attacks perpetrated by individual members of the families outside Jaffa gate, Jerusalem Old City on 23 December 2015. Two Israeli civilians died during the attack while a third civilian was seriously wounded. The perpetrators were shot dead by Israeli Security Forces. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned all attacks against Israeli or Palestinian civilians, including in statements by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
UNRWA remains concerned that six Palestine refugees are at risk of being made homeless as a result of the punitive demolitions. Further, although the Court stated the demolition of the home located in the most crowded area should not involve explosives, it could impact other neighboring structures. On 16 November 2015, during a punitive demolition in the same refugee camp, 19 Palestine refugees were displaced and 46 persons were affected. Two Palestine refugees were also killed during the clashes that erupted during the operation.
Punitive demolitions are illegal under international law. UNRWA communicated its position to the Israeli authorities in April 2016 in the context of Israeli court proceedings relating to punitive demolitions in Qalandia refugee camp. UNRWA calls upon the Israeli authorities to put an end to the practice of punitive demolitions in the West Bank.
In 2015 and 2016, a total of 30 punitive demolitions were carried out, displacing and rendering homeless 243 Palestinians, including 42 Palestine refugees, as a result.
christopher gunness | spokesperson, director of advocacy and strategic communications
unrwa | office of the commissioner general | jerusalem
t: +972 2 589 0267 | m: +972 54 240 2659 | f: +972 2 589 0240
e: c.gunness@unrwa.org | skype: chrisrobertgunness l Twitter: @ChrisGunness
unrwa.org | facebook | youtube | twitter
The demolition orders were given for stabbing attacks perpetrated by individual members of the families outside Jaffa gate, Jerusalem Old City on 23 December 2015. Two Israeli civilians died during the attack while a third civilian was seriously wounded. The perpetrators were shot dead by Israeli Security Forces. The United Nations has repeatedly condemned all attacks against Israeli or Palestinian civilians, including in statements by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
UNRWA remains concerned that six Palestine refugees are at risk of being made homeless as a result of the punitive demolitions. Further, although the Court stated the demolition of the home located in the most crowded area should not involve explosives, it could impact other neighboring structures. On 16 November 2015, during a punitive demolition in the same refugee camp, 19 Palestine refugees were displaced and 46 persons were affected. Two Palestine refugees were also killed during the clashes that erupted during the operation.
Punitive demolitions are illegal under international law. UNRWA communicated its position to the Israeli authorities in April 2016 in the context of Israeli court proceedings relating to punitive demolitions in Qalandia refugee camp. UNRWA calls upon the Israeli authorities to put an end to the practice of punitive demolitions in the West Bank.
In 2015 and 2016, a total of 30 punitive demolitions were carried out, displacing and rendering homeless 243 Palestinians, including 42 Palestine refugees, as a result.
christopher gunness | spokesperson, director of advocacy and strategic communications
unrwa | office of the commissioner general | jerusalem
t: +972 2 589 0267 | m: +972 54 240 2659 | f: +972 2 589 0240
e: c.gunness@unrwa.org | skype: chrisrobertgunness l Twitter: @ChrisGunness
unrwa.org | facebook | youtube | twitter