30 jan 2016
Group of Palestinian Civilians at Israeli Checkpoint.
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (21 –27 January 2016).
Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
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. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the West Bank. Moreover, they wounded 22 civilians, including three children; 12 of whom, including a child, were wounded in the Gaza Strip while the remaining others were wounded in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 11 civilians were hit with live bullets and 11 others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounded 11 others, including two children also. Five of the wounded persons were hit with live bullets and five others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Incursions
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and four ones in occupied East Jerusalem.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 47Palestinian civilians, including seven children. Elevenof these civilians, including four children,were arrested in East Jerusalem.
Among the arrested were Hatem Qafisha (56), PLC member representing the Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas movement, and engineer Essa al-Ja’bari (49), a leader in Hamas movement and former Minister in the 10th Palestinian Government. Both of them were arrested from their houses in Hebron.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority
In the context of house demolitions and demolition notices issued on grounds of non-licensing construction works, on 22 January 2016, Dabash family was obliged to self-demolish their house in sour Baher village, southwest of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. They self-demolished the house to avoid paying the fine demolition costs to the Israeli municipality. It should be noted that the 80-square-meter house was built 20 years ago. The Israeli forces imposed fines on the family several times for building without a license, but a final decision was taken to the Israeli court to oblige the family self-demolish the house on 24 January 2016.
On 23 January 2016, Israeli forces accompanied by special forces and police officers moved into a number of neighbourhoods in Silwan village, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem. They distributed notices to owners of a number of residential buildings and commercial facilities to refer to the municipality.
On 27 January 2016, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished an underconstruction house in al-Sal’ah neighbourhood in al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. The house belongs to Mousa Surri, who was finishing the house to move in along with his family within the coming weeks. The house cost him NIS 130,000.
On the same day, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to the family of Kefaya al-Resheq, north of occupied Jerusalem. The house sheltering 19 family members was demolished in favour of establishing Road 21 that has been planned for since the 90s.
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 (Kerem Shaloum) 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.
Settlement activities
On 21 January 2016, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room, a wells and pillars to establish a livestock barrack, west of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. The demolition was carried out under that no permit was obtained from the competent authorities in the Israeli Civil Administration and the abovementioned utilities are located in area (C).
On 22 January 2016, Israeli forces informed the residents of Karma village, east of Doura, southwest of Hebron, of levelling a road under the pretext that it was located in area (C). It should be noted that the abovementioned road was the only way out of the village for Palestinian vehicles after Israeli forces had closed the main entrance to the village for years.
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:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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; 6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. 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;
10. 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;
11. 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;
12. 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;
13. 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;
Fully detailed document
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (21 –27 January 2016).
Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
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. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the West Bank. Moreover, they wounded 22 civilians, including three children; 12 of whom, including a child, were wounded in the Gaza Strip while the remaining others were wounded in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 11 civilians were hit with live bullets and 11 others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounded 11 others, including two children also. Five of the wounded persons were hit with live bullets and five others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Incursions
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and four ones in occupied East Jerusalem.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 47Palestinian civilians, including seven children. Elevenof these civilians, including four children,were arrested in East Jerusalem.
Among the arrested were Hatem Qafisha (56), PLC member representing the Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas movement, and engineer Essa al-Ja’bari (49), a leader in Hamas movement and former Minister in the 10th Palestinian Government. Both of them were arrested from their houses in Hebron.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority
In the context of house demolitions and demolition notices issued on grounds of non-licensing construction works, on 22 January 2016, Dabash family was obliged to self-demolish their house in sour Baher village, southwest of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. They self-demolished the house to avoid paying the fine demolition costs to the Israeli municipality. It should be noted that the 80-square-meter house was built 20 years ago. The Israeli forces imposed fines on the family several times for building without a license, but a final decision was taken to the Israeli court to oblige the family self-demolish the house on 24 January 2016.
On 23 January 2016, Israeli forces accompanied by special forces and police officers moved into a number of neighbourhoods in Silwan village, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem. They distributed notices to owners of a number of residential buildings and commercial facilities to refer to the municipality.
On 27 January 2016, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished an underconstruction house in al-Sal’ah neighbourhood in al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. The house belongs to Mousa Surri, who was finishing the house to move in along with his family within the coming weeks. The house cost him NIS 130,000.
On the same day, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to the family of Kefaya al-Resheq, north of occupied Jerusalem. The house sheltering 19 family members was demolished in favour of establishing Road 21 that has been planned for since the 90s.
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 (Kerem Shaloum) 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.
Settlement activities
On 21 January 2016, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room, a wells and pillars to establish a livestock barrack, west of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. The demolition was carried out under that no permit was obtained from the competent authorities in the Israeli Civil Administration and the abovementioned utilities are located in area (C).
On 22 January 2016, Israeli forces informed the residents of Karma village, east of Doura, southwest of Hebron, of levelling a road under the pretext that it was located in area (C). It should be noted that the abovementioned road was the only way out of the village for Palestinian vehicles after Israeli forces had closed the main entrance to the village for years.
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:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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; 6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. 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;
10. 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;
11. 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;
12. 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;
13. 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;
Fully detailed document
22 jan 2016
Palestinian child looks at the rubble of his demolished home
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 14- 20 January 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories throughout the week.
5 Palestinian civilians were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These include a Palestinian civilian who was killed, and his brother was wounded, in a deliberate run-over attack by settlers in the West Bank. 23 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a female journalist, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians and wounded 13 others, including four children and a female journalist.
In their employment of excessive force, Israeli forces killed on 14 January 2016 two Palestinian civilians, north and south of the West Bank. They opened fire at them under the pretext of alleged stabbings against Israeli soldiers.
According to PCHR’s investigations relevant to the first crime, at approximately 08:30, on the abovementioned day, Israeli soldiers stationed at the eastern entrance to Beit Aynoun village, which was closed with an iron gate, shot dead Mo’yed Jabareen (19), from Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.
Concerning the other crime, at approximately 13:15, two military jeeps were coming from Ebal camp, north of Nablus, and heading towards the bypass road leading to “Shavei Shomron” settlement, northwest of the city. When they reached the road linking northern Asirah village and Nablus, Haitham Yassin (34), from the said village, threw a stone towards the two jeeps, pulled a knife and ran towards them. An Israeli soldier immediately shot him dead with 10 bullets.
In a similar crime, on 16 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the southern entrance to Nablus, killed Wesam Qasarwah (21), from Masliya village, southeast of Jenin. According to PCHR’s investigations, Qasarwah stepped out of a taxi after crossing a checkpoint, as he was heading to Ramallah. He then returned towards the checkpoint and threw a knife at the Israeli soldiers from a far distance, but it did not hit anybody.
As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in the watchtower established at the checkpoint shot him dead with 10 bullets.
On 18 January 2016, a settler from “Ariel” settlement run over two brothers, one of whom is a child, from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, while going back by bicycle from their work in Kufor Qassem village. The settler deliberately hit the bicycle ridden by Khalil (19) and his brother Oday (17).
As a result, the bicycle rolled over, its driver was immediately killed and his brother Oday sustained serious wounds. Oday was then taken to “Beilinson” Hospital in Israel to receive the necessary medical treatment.
Israeli forces conducted 127 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week, during which 77 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were abducted. 6 of them were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces demolished a house in Beit Hanina and forced a civilian to demolish a barn for his farm animals.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians and wounded 11 others, including three children. 10 of them were wounded during peaceful protests near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
On 15 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian youngsters headed towards the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed at the said fence. As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed behind the sand barriers opened fire at them.
As a result, two of the protestors were killed and a third was wounded to the left thigh. The killed persons were identified as Mohammed Abu Zayed (18) and Mohammed Qita (26), from Khan Yunis.
In the context of Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 14 January 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. A gunboat approached a fishing boat manned by the fishermen Mohammed Ibrahim Na’im al-Najjar (27), from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza, and Hosam Mo’een Abu Reyala (18), from Shaikh Redwan neighbourhood in Gaza City. Israeli naval officers abducted the two aforementioned fishermen and confiscated their boat.
They were detained until they were released at approximately 20:00, on the same day. However, Israeli forces kept the fishing boat under their custody. Shooting recurred in the same area on 16 January 2016, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
On 16 January 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire heavily around Palestinian fishing boats sailing within three nautical miles off Khan Yunis shore, south of the Gaza Strip. This attack coincided with the fishermen sailing to bring the fishing nets from the sea. A similar shooting attack occurred in the same area on 17 January 2016, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
As part of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the border area, on 16 January 2016, Israeli stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp; and east of al-Salqa valley, east of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at farmers who were present in the eastern area. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Settler attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 15 January 2016, Israeli settlers covered a large rock with black plastic bags and then put it at the intersection of Wadi Qana near the entrance to “Immanuel” settlement, northwest of Salfit. This resulted in a car accident, as Mohammed Ihssan al-Khateib (21), from Dirasitya village, northwest of Salfit, was driving his car when he was surprised to find the rock at the abovementioned intersection.
As a result, the car hit the rock, due to which the car broke down. Mohammed al-Khateib said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 15 January 2016, I was driving my taxi on Wadi Qana road heading to Deiristya village with two passengers with me. When I approached Wadi Qana intersection near the entrance to “Immanuel” settlement, I was surprised that my car had crashed into a black object. After I got out of my car, I found a large rock covered with black plastic bags; the rock was placed at the intersection in an invisible place.”
At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 18 January 2016, an Israeli settler from “Ariel” settlement ran over two brothers, one of whom was a child, from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, while they were returning by bicycle from their work in Kufor Qassem village. The settler intentionally deviated from the main street, although it was empty, and drove towards the bicycle that was rode by Khalil Mousa Zuhair ‘Amir (19), and his brother ‘Odai (17).
As a result, the bicycle rolled over and the driver was immediately killed, while ‘Odai sustained serious wounds, after which, ‘Odai was transported to Beilinsion Hospital in Israel to receive medical treatment.
According to the uncle of the two abovementioned brothers, Bilal Zuhair Ahmed ‘Amir (38):
“At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 18 January 2016, while we were on foot going back from our work in Kufor Qassem village, which was near our house. Khalil and his brother ‘Odai were coming back with us by their bicycle. Additionally, they leave their bicycle near the wall of Kufor Qassem entrance and return daily by it. Khalil and ‘Odai work with their father in Kufor Qassem village. Furthermore, while we were walking on the side of the road, suddenly, an Israeli civilian car deviated towards the two brothers and ran over them, although the street was empty and wide enough. We saw how the settler intentionally deviated by his car towards them. Some photos of this settler were later published on social media websites showing who he was.
The settler’s father then came to the incident place shouting at his son asking, ‘Why did you do that?!’ Afterwards, Israeli forces arrived and attempted to tell the people that it was an accident, but we saw with our own eyes how the settler intentionally deviated towards the brothers and how he did not attempt to use the brakes to stop the car.”
On Monday, six Israeli settlers, from “Bracha” settlement, south of Nablus, set an ambush for Palestinian civilian vehicles behind their parking station, south of Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus. The settlers were waiting the arrival of Palestinian vehicles coming from Hawara checkpoint, and they suddenly appear in front of their vehicles, so the Palestinian drivers were forced to drive slowly to avoid the Israeli claims about carrying out a run-over attack or opening fire at them. When Palestinian vehicles approached the settlers, the latter were throwing stones towards the vehicles under the Israeli soldiers’ protection, before the driver could even escape.
As a result, two Palestinian vehicles were damaged. The first one belonging to Harees Abu ‘Awad, from Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus, sustained damage in the left windows; and the second one belonging to Wadah Nabeel Abed al-Jaleel Ahmed ‘Amir (27), from Kufor Qalil village, east of Nablus, sustained damage in the windshield.
In addition to these attacks, also this week Israeli settlers wrote racist slogans on the walls of a church.
7 houses and 9 livestock and poultry barracks were demolished, and 47 fruit trees were cut down.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli troops violently assaulted numerous non-violent demonstrations this week.
On Friday, 15 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys, 300 meters away from the fence of “Beit-Eil” settlement, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the oPt. The demonstrators threw stones at the settlement fence; due to which, Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and then chased them into the camp.
As a result, three children were wounded; two of whom were hit with live bullets while the third one was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of young men gathered in the vicinity of Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah, to organize a demonstration against the Israeli policies and settler attacks. After the protesters then made their way to the prison gate, so the Israeli forces closed the gate and deployed in the area. The protesters set fire to rubber tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who immediately fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, a 34-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of young men gathered near al-Moftah area in ‘Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and then headed to Bilal Bin Rabah mosque. The protesters threw stones and Molotov Cocktail at a military watchtower established in the area. Due to this, Israeli soldiers immediately fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, 3 civilians were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, while a female journalist, Safiya Omar (27), was hit with a Two-Two bullet.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, and threw stones at Israeli vehicles stationed in the area. After that, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the protesters and a PRCS ambulance. As a result, the ambulance windshield was broken, while the paramedics sustained shrapnel wounds.
Director of Emergency Department at the PRCS, Mohammed ‘Awad, said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the windshield of the ambulance stationed at al-Khader area to offer medical treatment for the wounded persons. Due to this, the ambulance windshield was broken, while the paramedics sustained shrapnel wounds. The abovementioned wounded paramedics were identified as Loay al-Shareef and Fadi Ja’afrah, both of whom were wounded to the face. ‘Awad added that medical staffs offered first aid to the wounded and then took them to Beit Jala Hospital to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed behind the sand barriers along the fence, due to which, the Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. As a result, three protesters were wounded; one of whom was hit with a live bullet to the right thigh. The abovementioned wounded were identified as:
Mohammed ‘Adel Mohammed Abu Zayed (18), from al-Bureij, who was hit with a live bullet to the neck and immediately died.
Mohammed Majdi ‘Azmi Qitah (26), from Khan Yunis, who was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen and underwent a surgery in al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. It should be mentioned that doctors’ efforts to save his life failed and medical sources declared his death an hour later.
Around the same time, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
As a result of the clashes which continued until 17:30, six civilians, including two children, were wounded. Four of them were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, while the two others were directly hit with tear gas canisters throughout their bodies.
Following the Friday prayer on 15 January 2015, in spite of the bad weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a demonstration in protest at the Israeli settlement activities in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah. The Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters and chased them into agricultural fields.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, one of whom was identified as Manal Abed al-Hafiz Tamimi (42). Manal was then taken to Yasir ‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 15:30 on Friday, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, and made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters in response.
As a result, a 17-year-old civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.
For the full text of the report, click on the link
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 14- 20 January 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories throughout the week.
5 Palestinian civilians were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These include a Palestinian civilian who was killed, and his brother was wounded, in a deliberate run-over attack by settlers in the West Bank. 23 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a female journalist, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians and wounded 13 others, including four children and a female journalist.
In their employment of excessive force, Israeli forces killed on 14 January 2016 two Palestinian civilians, north and south of the West Bank. They opened fire at them under the pretext of alleged stabbings against Israeli soldiers.
According to PCHR’s investigations relevant to the first crime, at approximately 08:30, on the abovementioned day, Israeli soldiers stationed at the eastern entrance to Beit Aynoun village, which was closed with an iron gate, shot dead Mo’yed Jabareen (19), from Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.
Concerning the other crime, at approximately 13:15, two military jeeps were coming from Ebal camp, north of Nablus, and heading towards the bypass road leading to “Shavei Shomron” settlement, northwest of the city. When they reached the road linking northern Asirah village and Nablus, Haitham Yassin (34), from the said village, threw a stone towards the two jeeps, pulled a knife and ran towards them. An Israeli soldier immediately shot him dead with 10 bullets.
In a similar crime, on 16 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the southern entrance to Nablus, killed Wesam Qasarwah (21), from Masliya village, southeast of Jenin. According to PCHR’s investigations, Qasarwah stepped out of a taxi after crossing a checkpoint, as he was heading to Ramallah. He then returned towards the checkpoint and threw a knife at the Israeli soldiers from a far distance, but it did not hit anybody.
As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in the watchtower established at the checkpoint shot him dead with 10 bullets.
On 18 January 2016, a settler from “Ariel” settlement run over two brothers, one of whom is a child, from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, while going back by bicycle from their work in Kufor Qassem village. The settler deliberately hit the bicycle ridden by Khalil (19) and his brother Oday (17).
As a result, the bicycle rolled over, its driver was immediately killed and his brother Oday sustained serious wounds. Oday was then taken to “Beilinson” Hospital in Israel to receive the necessary medical treatment.
Israeli forces conducted 127 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week, during which 77 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were abducted. 6 of them were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces demolished a house in Beit Hanina and forced a civilian to demolish a barn for his farm animals.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians and wounded 11 others, including three children. 10 of them were wounded during peaceful protests near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
On 15 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian youngsters headed towards the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed at the said fence. As a result, Israeli soldiers stationed behind the sand barriers opened fire at them.
As a result, two of the protestors were killed and a third was wounded to the left thigh. The killed persons were identified as Mohammed Abu Zayed (18) and Mohammed Qita (26), from Khan Yunis.
In the context of Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 14 January 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. A gunboat approached a fishing boat manned by the fishermen Mohammed Ibrahim Na’im al-Najjar (27), from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza, and Hosam Mo’een Abu Reyala (18), from Shaikh Redwan neighbourhood in Gaza City. Israeli naval officers abducted the two aforementioned fishermen and confiscated their boat.
They were detained until they were released at approximately 20:00, on the same day. However, Israeli forces kept the fishing boat under their custody. Shooting recurred in the same area on 16 January 2016, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
On 16 January 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire heavily around Palestinian fishing boats sailing within three nautical miles off Khan Yunis shore, south of the Gaza Strip. This attack coincided with the fishermen sailing to bring the fishing nets from the sea. A similar shooting attack occurred in the same area on 17 January 2016, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
As part of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the border area, on 16 January 2016, Israeli stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp; and east of al-Salqa valley, east of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at farmers who were present in the eastern area. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Settler attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 15 January 2016, Israeli settlers covered a large rock with black plastic bags and then put it at the intersection of Wadi Qana near the entrance to “Immanuel” settlement, northwest of Salfit. This resulted in a car accident, as Mohammed Ihssan al-Khateib (21), from Dirasitya village, northwest of Salfit, was driving his car when he was surprised to find the rock at the abovementioned intersection.
As a result, the car hit the rock, due to which the car broke down. Mohammed al-Khateib said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 15 January 2016, I was driving my taxi on Wadi Qana road heading to Deiristya village with two passengers with me. When I approached Wadi Qana intersection near the entrance to “Immanuel” settlement, I was surprised that my car had crashed into a black object. After I got out of my car, I found a large rock covered with black plastic bags; the rock was placed at the intersection in an invisible place.”
At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 18 January 2016, an Israeli settler from “Ariel” settlement ran over two brothers, one of whom was a child, from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, while they were returning by bicycle from their work in Kufor Qassem village. The settler intentionally deviated from the main street, although it was empty, and drove towards the bicycle that was rode by Khalil Mousa Zuhair ‘Amir (19), and his brother ‘Odai (17).
As a result, the bicycle rolled over and the driver was immediately killed, while ‘Odai sustained serious wounds, after which, ‘Odai was transported to Beilinsion Hospital in Israel to receive medical treatment.
According to the uncle of the two abovementioned brothers, Bilal Zuhair Ahmed ‘Amir (38):
“At approximately 16:30 on Monday, 18 January 2016, while we were on foot going back from our work in Kufor Qassem village, which was near our house. Khalil and his brother ‘Odai were coming back with us by their bicycle. Additionally, they leave their bicycle near the wall of Kufor Qassem entrance and return daily by it. Khalil and ‘Odai work with their father in Kufor Qassem village. Furthermore, while we were walking on the side of the road, suddenly, an Israeli civilian car deviated towards the two brothers and ran over them, although the street was empty and wide enough. We saw how the settler intentionally deviated by his car towards them. Some photos of this settler were later published on social media websites showing who he was.
The settler’s father then came to the incident place shouting at his son asking, ‘Why did you do that?!’ Afterwards, Israeli forces arrived and attempted to tell the people that it was an accident, but we saw with our own eyes how the settler intentionally deviated towards the brothers and how he did not attempt to use the brakes to stop the car.”
On Monday, six Israeli settlers, from “Bracha” settlement, south of Nablus, set an ambush for Palestinian civilian vehicles behind their parking station, south of Hawara checkpoint, south of Nablus. The settlers were waiting the arrival of Palestinian vehicles coming from Hawara checkpoint, and they suddenly appear in front of their vehicles, so the Palestinian drivers were forced to drive slowly to avoid the Israeli claims about carrying out a run-over attack or opening fire at them. When Palestinian vehicles approached the settlers, the latter were throwing stones towards the vehicles under the Israeli soldiers’ protection, before the driver could even escape.
As a result, two Palestinian vehicles were damaged. The first one belonging to Harees Abu ‘Awad, from Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus, sustained damage in the left windows; and the second one belonging to Wadah Nabeel Abed al-Jaleel Ahmed ‘Amir (27), from Kufor Qalil village, east of Nablus, sustained damage in the windshield.
In addition to these attacks, also this week Israeli settlers wrote racist slogans on the walls of a church.
7 houses and 9 livestock and poultry barracks were demolished, and 47 fruit trees were cut down.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli troops violently assaulted numerous non-violent demonstrations this week.
On Friday, 15 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys, 300 meters away from the fence of “Beit-Eil” settlement, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the oPt. The demonstrators threw stones at the settlement fence; due to which, Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and then chased them into the camp.
As a result, three children were wounded; two of whom were hit with live bullets while the third one was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of young men gathered in the vicinity of Ofer Prison, west of Ramallah, to organize a demonstration against the Israeli policies and settler attacks. After the protesters then made their way to the prison gate, so the Israeli forces closed the gate and deployed in the area. The protesters set fire to rubber tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who immediately fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, a 34-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the back.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of young men gathered near al-Moftah area in ‘Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, and then headed to Bilal Bin Rabah mosque. The protesters threw stones and Molotov Cocktail at a military watchtower established in the area. Due to this, Israeli soldiers immediately fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesters.
As a result, 3 civilians were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, while a female journalist, Safiya Omar (27), was hit with a Two-Two bullet.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, and threw stones at Israeli vehicles stationed in the area. After that, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the protesters and a PRCS ambulance. As a result, the ambulance windshield was broken, while the paramedics sustained shrapnel wounds.
Director of Emergency Department at the PRCS, Mohammed ‘Awad, said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the windshield of the ambulance stationed at al-Khader area to offer medical treatment for the wounded persons. Due to this, the ambulance windshield was broken, while the paramedics sustained shrapnel wounds. The abovementioned wounded paramedics were identified as Loay al-Shareef and Fadi Ja’afrah, both of whom were wounded to the face. ‘Awad added that medical staffs offered first aid to the wounded and then took them to Beit Jala Hospital to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the centre of the Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed behind the sand barriers along the fence, due to which, the Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. As a result, three protesters were wounded; one of whom was hit with a live bullet to the right thigh. The abovementioned wounded were identified as:
Mohammed ‘Adel Mohammed Abu Zayed (18), from al-Bureij, who was hit with a live bullet to the neck and immediately died.
Mohammed Majdi ‘Azmi Qitah (26), from Khan Yunis, who was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen and underwent a surgery in al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. It should be mentioned that doctors’ efforts to save his life failed and medical sources declared his death an hour later.
Around the same time, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
As a result of the clashes which continued until 17:30, six civilians, including two children, were wounded. Four of them were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, while the two others were directly hit with tear gas canisters throughout their bodies.
Following the Friday prayer on 15 January 2015, in spite of the bad weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a demonstration in protest at the Israeli settlement activities in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah. The Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters and chased them into agricultural fields.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, one of whom was identified as Manal Abed al-Hafiz Tamimi (42). Manal was then taken to Yasir ‘Arafat Hospital in Salfit to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 15:30 on Friday, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, and made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters in response.
As a result, a 17-year-old civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.
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