6 apr 2019
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights: Date: 05 April 2019. Time: 09:00 GMT: On Friday evening, 05 April 2019, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 53rd Friday of the March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 109 civilians, including 30 children, six women and two journalists, in eastern Gaza Strip. The injury of three of the wounded civilians was reported serious.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing tear gas canisters at them.
As a result, dozens of the demonstrators were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers. Moreover, the Israeli forces used a device making big noises that sound like explosions of sound bombs in eastern Khan Yunis.
On Friday, 05 April 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered tens of meters away from the main border fence, attempting to throw stones at the Israeli forces and firing incendiary balloons along the border fence.
Demonstrators chanted slogans, raised flags and, attempted to approach the border fence, set fire to tires and tried to throw stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the demonstrators gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 109 Palestinian civilians, including 30 children, six women and two journalists.
Fifty-six of them were hit with live bullets and shrapnel, 47 were directly hit with tear gas canisters and six were hit with rubber bullets. In addition, dozens of demonstrators, paramedics and journalists suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March 2018:
Wounded Killed
2237 43 Children
357 2 Women
193 2 Journalists
187 3 Medical Crews
– 8 Disabilities
11957 202 Total
Notes Among those wounded, 543 are in serious condition and 136 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 122 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR recalls the report of the International Commission of Inquiry issued last February, which confirmed the findings of PCHR and other Palestinian and international human rights organizations, and considered that the violations of the Israeli forces may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, particularly lifting the closure which is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
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Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing tear gas canisters at them.
As a result, dozens of the demonstrators were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers. Moreover, the Israeli forces used a device making big noises that sound like explosions of sound bombs in eastern Khan Yunis.
On Friday, 05 April 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered tens of meters away from the main border fence, attempting to throw stones at the Israeli forces and firing incendiary balloons along the border fence.
Demonstrators chanted slogans, raised flags and, attempted to approach the border fence, set fire to tires and tried to throw stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the demonstrators gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 109 Palestinian civilians, including 30 children, six women and two journalists.
Fifty-six of them were hit with live bullets and shrapnel, 47 were directly hit with tear gas canisters and six were hit with rubber bullets. In addition, dozens of demonstrators, paramedics and journalists suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March 2018:
Wounded Killed
2237 43 Children
357 2 Women
193 2 Journalists
187 3 Medical Crews
– 8 Disabilities
11957 202 Total
Notes Among those wounded, 543 are in serious condition and 136 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 122 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR recalls the report of the International Commission of Inquiry issued last February, which confirmed the findings of PCHR and other Palestinian and international human rights organizations, and considered that the violations of the Israeli forces may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.
PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, particularly lifting the closure which is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
In its weekly report on Israeli human rights violations for the week of 28 March – 03 April 2019, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories throughout the week, including the use of excessive force against the peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip.
Summary:
Five Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed during the 52nd week of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege. 412 civilians, including 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics, were wounded. The injury of nine of them was reported serious. 3 civilians were wounded after being targeted with a missile fired by an Israeli drone in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 8 others, including 5 children in the West Bank. Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian civilian and wounded another in southern Nablus.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian while another was shot dead by settlers. On 02 April 2019, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 2 others when large number of Israeli forces moved into Qalendia refugee camp and Kafr ‘Aqab village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, to carry out an arrest campaign.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the entrance to the camp and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the Israeli vehicles and soldiers, who in response fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at them.
As a result, Mohammed Dar ‘Edwan (23) was killed and 2 others were wounded.
In a new crime of wilful killing committed by the settlers in the West Bank against the Palestinian civilians, on Wednesday, 03 April 2019, 2 settlers killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded another when the settlers opened fire at the one killed near Bita village square on Ramallah-Nablus Street, south of Nablus.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 68 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces abducted
44 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and 3 women. 16 of them, including 2 children and 3 women, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem. Israeli authorities continued their efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. Two under-construction residential buildings, parts of al-Andalus pool and club, and a parking lit were demolished.
Israeli forces established 92 permanent checkpoints and 103 temporary checkpoints in the West Bank. 2 Palestinian civilians were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. As part of the Israeli house demolitions and notices, on 02 April 2019, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential building in Sho’afat in northern occupied East Jerusalem under the pretext of building without a license. The 2-storey building was built on 450 square meters and belonged to ‘Alaa’ and ‘Adnan Hoshiyah. As soon as the building had been demolished, the Israeli bulldozers destroyed parts of al-Andalus club and swimming pool in the camp. Mustafa al-Bayaa’, owner of the club, said the bulldozer destroyed parts of the second floor of the 300-square meter club. They also demolished a parking lot at the entrance to Sho’fat refugee camp.
On the same day, the Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential building in Beer ‘Onah area in Beit Jala under the pretext of non-licensing. The building’s owner said to lawyer Basimah ‘Issa that Jerusalem Municipality refused to license the building under the pretext that it is in an area where construction is prohibited.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized along the Gaza Strip borders, which witnessed the peaceful protests for the 52nd week along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. They also continued to use force against Palestinians demonstrating the incursions into the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, and wounded 412 others, including 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics. The injury of nine of them was reported serious.
Meanwhile, 3 other civilians were wounded after being targeted with a missile fired by a drone. In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 8 others, including 5 children, while Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian civilian and wounded another.
In the Gaza Strip, during the 52nd Friday of the Return and Breaking Siege March, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, while paricipating in the activities held to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the Land Day and 1st anniversary of the breakout of the Great March of Return and Breaking the siege on 30 March 2019.
In Gaza City: on the abovementioned day morning, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Sa’ed (20), from al-Shija’iyah neighbourhood, after being wounded with a bullet to the chest that was fired by the Israeli forces at a group of civilians gathered 100 meters away from the western side of the border fence in Malakah area in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. At approximately 15:15, Adham ‘Emarah (17), from al-Sha’af neughbourhood, was hit with a teargas canister to his face and then taken to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where his death was announced at 15:30.
In Khan Younis: Israeli forces stationed to southeastern side of the Return encampment opened fire and killed 2 Palestinians identified as Tamer Abu al-Kheir (18), from Hamad Housing Project in Khan Younis, who was wounded with a bullet to the chest, and Belal al-Najjar (17), from Bani Sheila, east of Khan Younis who was wounded with an explosive bullet to the chest, causing lacerations in his abdomen.
On 02 April 2019, medical sources in Naser Hospital in Khan Younis declared that Fares Abu Hajras (25), from Bani Sheila, east of the city, succumbed to wounds he sustained on 30 March 2019.
The abovementioned sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen when he was 20-30 meters away from the border fence in eastern Khuza’ah.
In excessive use of lethal force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, during the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 412 civilians, 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics. The injury of nine of them was reported serious.
As part of airstrikes, Israeli forces drones fired one missile at a group of civilians who were passing by the Shuhadaa’ Cemetery, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, 4 civilians sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies.
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating the on-going Israeli policy to target their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 5 incidents were as follows: 2 incidents off Rafah Shore; 2 incidents off Khan Yunis Shore, south of the Gaza Strip; and one incident off al-Waha resort shore, north of the Gaza Strip.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 28 March 2019, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence with Israel, east of al-Shawka, east of Rafah, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians, who were collecting construction aggregates. However, no casualties were reported.
On 29 March 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the border area adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beit Hanoun. However, no casualties were reported.
On 31 March 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the agrictural lands, east of Gaza Valley village, but no casualties were reported.
In addition, Israel continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 13th consecutive year.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property.
As part of Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property, on Monday morning, 01 April 2019, settlers punctured tires of Palestinian vehicles and wrote on them and on walls racist slogans near “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement established on the lands of Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers carry out attacks against Palestinian property in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, within a group titled as “Price Tag”. This group carry out acts of intimidation amounting to murder attempts, burining and damaging Palestinian lands and property, attacking Isalmic and Christian holy sites and exhumation of graves.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community.
Among these were a recommendation that the international community and United Nations take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR also called upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them, and called upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
For the full text of the report, click here.
Summary:
Five Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed during the 52nd week of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege. 412 civilians, including 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics, were wounded. The injury of nine of them was reported serious. 3 civilians were wounded after being targeted with a missile fired by an Israeli drone in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 8 others, including 5 children in the West Bank. Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian civilian and wounded another in southern Nablus.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, the Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian while another was shot dead by settlers. On 02 April 2019, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 2 others when large number of Israeli forces moved into Qalendia refugee camp and Kafr ‘Aqab village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, to carry out an arrest campaign.
Meanwhile, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the entrance to the camp and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the Israeli vehicles and soldiers, who in response fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at them.
As a result, Mohammed Dar ‘Edwan (23) was killed and 2 others were wounded.
In a new crime of wilful killing committed by the settlers in the West Bank against the Palestinian civilians, on Wednesday, 03 April 2019, 2 settlers killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded another when the settlers opened fire at the one killed near Bita village square on Ramallah-Nablus Street, south of Nablus.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 68 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces abducted
44 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and 3 women. 16 of them, including 2 children and 3 women, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem. Israeli authorities continued their efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. Two under-construction residential buildings, parts of al-Andalus pool and club, and a parking lit were demolished.
Israeli forces established 92 permanent checkpoints and 103 temporary checkpoints in the West Bank. 2 Palestinian civilians were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. As part of the Israeli house demolitions and notices, on 02 April 2019, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential building in Sho’afat in northern occupied East Jerusalem under the pretext of building without a license. The 2-storey building was built on 450 square meters and belonged to ‘Alaa’ and ‘Adnan Hoshiyah. As soon as the building had been demolished, the Israeli bulldozers destroyed parts of al-Andalus club and swimming pool in the camp. Mustafa al-Bayaa’, owner of the club, said the bulldozer destroyed parts of the second floor of the 300-square meter club. They also demolished a parking lot at the entrance to Sho’fat refugee camp.
On the same day, the Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential building in Beer ‘Onah area in Beit Jala under the pretext of non-licensing. The building’s owner said to lawyer Basimah ‘Issa that Jerusalem Municipality refused to license the building under the pretext that it is in an area where construction is prohibited.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized along the Gaza Strip borders, which witnessed the peaceful protests for the 52nd week along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. They also continued to use force against Palestinians demonstrating the incursions into the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, and wounded 412 others, including 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics. The injury of nine of them was reported serious.
Meanwhile, 3 other civilians were wounded after being targeted with a missile fired by a drone. In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 8 others, including 5 children, while Israeli settlers shot dead a Palestinian civilian and wounded another.
In the Gaza Strip, during the 52nd Friday of the Return and Breaking Siege March, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, while paricipating in the activities held to commemorate the 43rd anniversary of the Land Day and 1st anniversary of the breakout of the Great March of Return and Breaking the siege on 30 March 2019.
In Gaza City: on the abovementioned day morning, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Sa’ed (20), from al-Shija’iyah neighbourhood, after being wounded with a bullet to the chest that was fired by the Israeli forces at a group of civilians gathered 100 meters away from the western side of the border fence in Malakah area in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. At approximately 15:15, Adham ‘Emarah (17), from al-Sha’af neughbourhood, was hit with a teargas canister to his face and then taken to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where his death was announced at 15:30.
In Khan Younis: Israeli forces stationed to southeastern side of the Return encampment opened fire and killed 2 Palestinians identified as Tamer Abu al-Kheir (18), from Hamad Housing Project in Khan Younis, who was wounded with a bullet to the chest, and Belal al-Najjar (17), from Bani Sheila, east of Khan Younis who was wounded with an explosive bullet to the chest, causing lacerations in his abdomen.
On 02 April 2019, medical sources in Naser Hospital in Khan Younis declared that Fares Abu Hajras (25), from Bani Sheila, east of the city, succumbed to wounds he sustained on 30 March 2019.
The abovementioned sustained a bullet wound to the abdomen when he was 20-30 meters away from the border fence in eastern Khuza’ah.
In excessive use of lethal force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, during the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 412 civilians, 67 children, 11 women, 8 journalists, and 7 paramedics. The injury of nine of them was reported serious.
As part of airstrikes, Israeli forces drones fired one missile at a group of civilians who were passing by the Shuhadaa’ Cemetery, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. As a result, 4 civilians sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies.
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating the on-going Israeli policy to target their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 5 incidents were as follows: 2 incidents off Rafah Shore; 2 incidents off Khan Yunis Shore, south of the Gaza Strip; and one incident off al-Waha resort shore, north of the Gaza Strip.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 28 March 2019, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence with Israel, east of al-Shawka, east of Rafah, opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians, who were collecting construction aggregates. However, no casualties were reported.
On 29 March 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the border area adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beit Hanoun. However, no casualties were reported.
On 31 March 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the agrictural lands, east of Gaza Valley village, but no casualties were reported.
In addition, Israel continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 13th consecutive year.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property.
As part of Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property, on Monday morning, 01 April 2019, settlers punctured tires of Palestinian vehicles and wrote on them and on walls racist slogans near “Pisgat Ze’ev” settlement established on the lands of Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. Jewish settlers carry out attacks against Palestinian property in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, within a group titled as “Price Tag”. This group carry out acts of intimidation amounting to murder attempts, burining and damaging Palestinian lands and property, attacking Isalmic and Christian holy sites and exhumation of graves.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community.
Among these were a recommendation that the international community and United Nations take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR also called upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them, and called upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
For the full text of the report, click here.
4 apr 2019
The number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in 2018 increased sharply from the previous year and reached 57 compared to 15 in 2017, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) said in a report published on Thursday marking Palestinian Child Day, which coincides on Friday.
The PCBS report said that based on data provided by the Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP), among the 57 children killed in 2018 five were in the age group of 0 to 12 years, 29 in the age group of 13 to 15 years, and 23 children were in the age group of 16 to 17 years.
The PCBS also said that according to data released by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, 1,063 children were among around 6,500 detention cases in 2018, and among around 6,000 Palestinian detainees by end of 2018, 250 were children under 18 years of age.
It also said that the percentage of children who were living in poverty rose from 27% in 2011 to 31% in 2017, which is 645,000 children (14% in the West Bank, and 53% in Gaza Strip). In 2017, the percentage of children who were suffering from deep poverty was 17% (5% in the West Bank, and 34% in Gaza Strip). While in 2011, it was 14% (8% in the West Bank, and 22% in Gaza Strip).
The percentage of employed children remained low at only 3% and includes both paid or unpaid employment in the age group of 10 to 17 years with 4% in the West Bank and 1.3% in Gaza Strip and 5.5% males and 0.2% females.
The percentage of children enrolled in schools and engaged in the labor market reached 0.8% (1.1% in the West Bank compared to 0.4% in Gaza Strip and 1.5% males compared to 0.2% females).
The PCBS report said estimated number of children under 18 years was 2,226,077 in Palestine in by mid-2019, with 1,139,311 males, and 1,086,766 females. Children in Palestine comprise 45% of the total population (43% in the West Bank, and 48% in Gaza Strip).
PCBS also said that despite the significant decrease in the percentage of early marriage in Palestine; still, one-fifth of the registered marriage contracts included female children.
Data of the Population, Housing, and Establishments Census 2017 showed a decrease in the percentage of women (20-24 years) who were married before the age of 18 years from 30% in 1997 to 11% in 2017.
The data of registered marriages contracts showed a decline in the percentage of early marriage for both males and females (less than 18 years). The percentage of females under 18 years of age who got married during the year 2017 is around 20% of the total number of married females in the same year (19% in the West Bank, and around 21% in Gaza Strip). Whereas the percentage of 2010 was 24%.
The percentage of males under 18 years of age who got married in 2017 is around 1% of the total number of married males during the same year. Whereas the percentage was 1.5% in 2010, according to the database of marriages and divorces in Palestine.
The primary data for the scholastic year 2018/2019 showed that the number of school students in Palestine reached about 1.289 million students, of which 1.048 million were students in the elementary stage (50.4% males and 49.6% females), and 241,000 students in the high school (45% males and 55% females).
While the number of children enrolled in kindergartens in the scholastic year 2018/2019 in Palestine reached about 148,000 children (51% males and 49% females).
The scholastic year of 2016/2017 witnessed a drop-out rate of 1.1% among males compared to 0.8% among females. When comparing the drop-out rate based on the grade, the highest rate is amongst males in the tenth and eleventh grades. Whereas the highest drop-out rate among females was in the eleventh and twelfth grades, according to the database of the education survey for the scholastic year of 2017/2018.
According to the Population, Housing and Establishments Census of 2017, there were 18,206 children (0-17 years) suffered from at least one type of disability, (7,729 children in the West Bank, and 10,477 children in Gaza Strip). (10,771 male children and 7,435 female children).
The PCBS report said that based on data provided by the Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP), among the 57 children killed in 2018 five were in the age group of 0 to 12 years, 29 in the age group of 13 to 15 years, and 23 children were in the age group of 16 to 17 years.
The PCBS also said that according to data released by the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs, 1,063 children were among around 6,500 detention cases in 2018, and among around 6,000 Palestinian detainees by end of 2018, 250 were children under 18 years of age.
It also said that the percentage of children who were living in poverty rose from 27% in 2011 to 31% in 2017, which is 645,000 children (14% in the West Bank, and 53% in Gaza Strip). In 2017, the percentage of children who were suffering from deep poverty was 17% (5% in the West Bank, and 34% in Gaza Strip). While in 2011, it was 14% (8% in the West Bank, and 22% in Gaza Strip).
The percentage of employed children remained low at only 3% and includes both paid or unpaid employment in the age group of 10 to 17 years with 4% in the West Bank and 1.3% in Gaza Strip and 5.5% males and 0.2% females.
The percentage of children enrolled in schools and engaged in the labor market reached 0.8% (1.1% in the West Bank compared to 0.4% in Gaza Strip and 1.5% males compared to 0.2% females).
The PCBS report said estimated number of children under 18 years was 2,226,077 in Palestine in by mid-2019, with 1,139,311 males, and 1,086,766 females. Children in Palestine comprise 45% of the total population (43% in the West Bank, and 48% in Gaza Strip).
PCBS also said that despite the significant decrease in the percentage of early marriage in Palestine; still, one-fifth of the registered marriage contracts included female children.
Data of the Population, Housing, and Establishments Census 2017 showed a decrease in the percentage of women (20-24 years) who were married before the age of 18 years from 30% in 1997 to 11% in 2017.
The data of registered marriages contracts showed a decline in the percentage of early marriage for both males and females (less than 18 years). The percentage of females under 18 years of age who got married during the year 2017 is around 20% of the total number of married females in the same year (19% in the West Bank, and around 21% in Gaza Strip). Whereas the percentage of 2010 was 24%.
The percentage of males under 18 years of age who got married in 2017 is around 1% of the total number of married males during the same year. Whereas the percentage was 1.5% in 2010, according to the database of marriages and divorces in Palestine.
The primary data for the scholastic year 2018/2019 showed that the number of school students in Palestine reached about 1.289 million students, of which 1.048 million were students in the elementary stage (50.4% males and 49.6% females), and 241,000 students in the high school (45% males and 55% females).
While the number of children enrolled in kindergartens in the scholastic year 2018/2019 in Palestine reached about 148,000 children (51% males and 49% females).
The scholastic year of 2016/2017 witnessed a drop-out rate of 1.1% among males compared to 0.8% among females. When comparing the drop-out rate based on the grade, the highest rate is amongst males in the tenth and eleventh grades. Whereas the highest drop-out rate among females was in the eleventh and twelfth grades, according to the database of the education survey for the scholastic year of 2017/2018.
According to the Population, Housing and Establishments Census of 2017, there were 18,206 children (0-17 years) suffered from at least one type of disability, (7,729 children in the West Bank, and 10,477 children in Gaza Strip). (10,771 male children and 7,435 female children).
2 apr 2019
The Palestinian Center for Human Right (PCHR): PCHR follows up with concern Palestinian prisoners’ conditions in the Israeli prisons following the statement of Gilad Ardan, Minister of Public Security, on 30 March 2019, threatening that there will be no negotiations with the Palestinian prisoners if they go on a hunger strike.
Associations of Palestinian prisoners’ affairs stressed that the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons will go on a hunger strike on Sunday, 07 April 2019 if the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) refuses their legitimate demands; most significantly improving their living conditions; ending use of jamming devices; and allowing the prisoners to contact their families.
According to information obtained by PCHR, in case the prisoners declared their hunger strike on Sunday, 07 April 2019, it would be gradually as 50 prisoners, including leaders of Palestinian factions, will start a dry hunger strike.
In case of not responding to their demands, the hunger strike will go on until declaration of a comprehensive strike in all prisons on 17 April, which marks the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day.
The hunger strike, which is the hardest choice for the prisoners, comes after the IPS has imposed tightening measures against the detainees and prisoners and deprived them of their most basic human rights that are guaranteed under international laws and standards.
PCHR is concerned that in case the prisoners went on the hunger strike in the Israeli prisoners, the IPS would use new suppressive and punitive measures against them.
Thus, PCHR calls upon the international community to practice pressure on the Israeli government to oblige it to comply with the international standards and principles which protect prisoners and maintain their rights and dignity.
Public Document
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Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information, please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
Associations of Palestinian prisoners’ affairs stressed that the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons will go on a hunger strike on Sunday, 07 April 2019 if the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) refuses their legitimate demands; most significantly improving their living conditions; ending use of jamming devices; and allowing the prisoners to contact their families.
According to information obtained by PCHR, in case the prisoners declared their hunger strike on Sunday, 07 April 2019, it would be gradually as 50 prisoners, including leaders of Palestinian factions, will start a dry hunger strike.
In case of not responding to their demands, the hunger strike will go on until declaration of a comprehensive strike in all prisons on 17 April, which marks the Palestinian Prisoner’s Day.
The hunger strike, which is the hardest choice for the prisoners, comes after the IPS has imposed tightening measures against the detainees and prisoners and deprived them of their most basic human rights that are guaranteed under international laws and standards.
PCHR is concerned that in case the prisoners went on the hunger strike in the Israeli prisoners, the IPS would use new suppressive and punitive measures against them.
Thus, PCHR calls upon the international community to practice pressure on the Israeli government to oblige it to comply with the international standards and principles which protect prisoners and maintain their rights and dignity.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information, please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
31 mar 2019
The National Gathering of Palestine Families on Sunday said that the Israeli occupation has killed 41 Palestinians since the beginning of 2019.
Secretary general of the gathering Mohammed Sbeihat said in the first quarterly report for 2019 that 24 of the martyrs were from the southern governorates and 17 from the north.
Sbeihat added that two of the martyrs were women and 12 under the age of 18. Mujahed Abu Amsha, 13, from Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, was the youngest.
The oldest was Fares Baroud, 51, from al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, and he died in Israeli jails on 6 February, according to the report.
Sbeihat noted that seven Palestinian families have not received the bodies of their killed relatives yet, which means that in 2019 the number of Palestinian martyrs held by the Israeli authorities increased to 266.
Secretary general of the gathering Mohammed Sbeihat said in the first quarterly report for 2019 that 24 of the martyrs were from the southern governorates and 17 from the north.
Sbeihat added that two of the martyrs were women and 12 under the age of 18. Mujahed Abu Amsha, 13, from Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, was the youngest.
The oldest was Fares Baroud, 51, from al-Shati refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, and he died in Israeli jails on 6 February, according to the report.
Sbeihat noted that seven Palestinian families have not received the bodies of their killed relatives yet, which means that in 2019 the number of Palestinian martyrs held by the Israeli authorities increased to 266.
