18 dec 2018
The international observational organization, Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH), has compiled the situation of Hebron city, over the last 20 years, into a single, significant and damning report.
According to an anonymous source who has read the report, speaking to Haaretz newspaper, the report revealed that Israel has been in severe and regular breach of a number of international and internal laws that they once vowed to uphold.
For a long time, Hebron has been a contentious place, having being divided in two under the 1997 Hebron Protocol. The Palestinian Authority controls 80% of Hebron city, with its 175,000 Palestinian inhabitants, known as H1.
Israeli Forces control H2, which some 40,000 Palestinians live along with up to 800 Israeli settlers.
TIPH has been observing and monitoring the daily situation in Hebron with a goal of assisting and reporting on the maintenance of ‘normal life’. However, looking back on the last few years, the 100 page document shows that life in Hebron is anything but normal.
As an occupying nation, Israel is obligated by international rule to protect civilians that are being occupied, with a particular requirement of upholding the right to non-discrimination.
According to the PNN, explicit counts of favoritism to Israeli settlers and the oppression of Palestinians observed by TIPH’s 64 international mission members disprove any illusion of two peoples living side by side in equality.
Religious Inequality
Religion is a good example to illuminate the stark contrast between the treatment of the inhabitants of Hebron.
Jewish worshipers have had roads built for their convenience that cuts through Palestinian farmlands, with old Ottoman houses demolished to widen the road for their commute to pray.
For Muslims, on the other hand, their journey to the holy Ibrahimi Mosque is literally obstructed by Israeli security checkpoints at the only two access points to reach the mosque, where they get searched and sometimes even strip searched.
Ibrahimi Mosque
In addition to this, the Israeli military restricted the Muezzin from announcing the call to prayer, especially on Friday nights and Saturdays due to Jewish Shabbat. In fact, last month alone, Israeli forces silenced the Ibrahimi athan 47 times as to not annoy the Israeli settlers who also attend another section of the holy site.
Discrimination via freedom of movement
This continual prioritization of settlers and the suppression of Palestinians in H2 by Israel is also evident in people’s freedom of movement, the report states.
A notorious example that illustrates this is Shuhada Street. It used to be a bustling Palestinian market place, a commercial hub for merchants and a popular thoroughfare. Since Israeli forces prohibited Palestinians to drive on this road and restricted access to pedestrians, the once thriving shopping center now resembles an ghost-like town, deserted and empty, with all its buildings shuttered.
Shuhada Street
Israeli citizens, however, can enjoy exclusive freedom of movement with full access to all roads. This also extends to movement between suburbs and townships, where many Palestinians struggle through unpleasant checkpoints manned by Israeli forces.
Next steps
The confidential report, exclusive to only the internal members of Israel, Palestinian authority and TIHP’s member countries (Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey) has overseen 40,000 incident reports against Israel’s actions in Hebron over the last 20 years.
Haaretz said the report concluded with stating that the situation in Hebron is going in the opposite direction to what the Hebron Protocol was aiming to achieve.
TIPH’s detailed report does not provide any recommendations for action to be taken by any government – neither internal nor external. It is merely a reflection on the dire situation in the torn city of Hebron, over the last two decades.
According to an anonymous source who has read the report, speaking to Haaretz newspaper, the report revealed that Israel has been in severe and regular breach of a number of international and internal laws that they once vowed to uphold.
For a long time, Hebron has been a contentious place, having being divided in two under the 1997 Hebron Protocol. The Palestinian Authority controls 80% of Hebron city, with its 175,000 Palestinian inhabitants, known as H1.
Israeli Forces control H2, which some 40,000 Palestinians live along with up to 800 Israeli settlers.
TIPH has been observing and monitoring the daily situation in Hebron with a goal of assisting and reporting on the maintenance of ‘normal life’. However, looking back on the last few years, the 100 page document shows that life in Hebron is anything but normal.
As an occupying nation, Israel is obligated by international rule to protect civilians that are being occupied, with a particular requirement of upholding the right to non-discrimination.
According to the PNN, explicit counts of favoritism to Israeli settlers and the oppression of Palestinians observed by TIPH’s 64 international mission members disprove any illusion of two peoples living side by side in equality.
Religious Inequality
Religion is a good example to illuminate the stark contrast between the treatment of the inhabitants of Hebron.
Jewish worshipers have had roads built for their convenience that cuts through Palestinian farmlands, with old Ottoman houses demolished to widen the road for their commute to pray.
For Muslims, on the other hand, their journey to the holy Ibrahimi Mosque is literally obstructed by Israeli security checkpoints at the only two access points to reach the mosque, where they get searched and sometimes even strip searched.
Ibrahimi Mosque
In addition to this, the Israeli military restricted the Muezzin from announcing the call to prayer, especially on Friday nights and Saturdays due to Jewish Shabbat. In fact, last month alone, Israeli forces silenced the Ibrahimi athan 47 times as to not annoy the Israeli settlers who also attend another section of the holy site.
Discrimination via freedom of movement
This continual prioritization of settlers and the suppression of Palestinians in H2 by Israel is also evident in people’s freedom of movement, the report states.
A notorious example that illustrates this is Shuhada Street. It used to be a bustling Palestinian market place, a commercial hub for merchants and a popular thoroughfare. Since Israeli forces prohibited Palestinians to drive on this road and restricted access to pedestrians, the once thriving shopping center now resembles an ghost-like town, deserted and empty, with all its buildings shuttered.
Shuhada Street
Israeli citizens, however, can enjoy exclusive freedom of movement with full access to all roads. This also extends to movement between suburbs and townships, where many Palestinians struggle through unpleasant checkpoints manned by Israeli forces.
Next steps
The confidential report, exclusive to only the internal members of Israel, Palestinian authority and TIHP’s member countries (Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey) has overseen 40,000 incident reports against Israel’s actions in Hebron over the last 20 years.
Haaretz said the report concluded with stating that the situation in Hebron is going in the opposite direction to what the Hebron Protocol was aiming to achieve.
TIPH’s detailed report does not provide any recommendations for action to be taken by any government – neither internal nor external. It is merely a reflection on the dire situation in the torn city of Hebron, over the last two decades.
17 dec 2018
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR): On Saturday, 15 December 2018, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, wounded a fisherman and arrested him. Moreover, Israeli naval forces chased Palestinian fishing boats, arrested 4 fishermen and detained 2 fishing boats as part of the ongoing Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen and preventing them from freely sailing and accessing the fishing breeding areas.
According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 15 December 2018, Israeli gunboats chased a Palestinian fishing boat, which was sailing within 9 nautical miles in Gaza Valley area, and opened fire at it.
As a result, a fisherman, Mohammed Falah abu Riyalah (19), from al-Sadr area in Gaza, was wounded.
The Israeli gunboats surrounded the fishing boat mentioned above, and the soldiers arrested the injured fisherman, Abu Riyalah, and another fisherman, Mohammed Salah Abu Riyalah (27), from Gaza City, and detained their fishing boat.
In a separate incident, at approximately 09:00 on the same day, Israeli gunboats chased a fishing boat sailing within 8 nautical miles off Gaza Valley shore manned by fishermen Mohammed Saleh Abu Riyalah (28) and ‘Atef Saleh Abu Riyalah (16), from Gaza city.
The Israeli naval soldiers ordered both fishermen to stop fishing, arrested them and detained their fishing boat.
It should be mentioned that at approximately 00:00 on Saturday, the Israeli authorities released ‘Atef Salah Abu Riyalah while the 3 other fishermen are so far under arrest and the boats are still in custody.
PCHR emphasizes that the attacks by the Israeli naval forces against the fishermen in the Gaza Strip fall within the collective punishments imposed against the Palestinian civilians.
Moreover, PCHR stresses that the decision to reduce the area allowed for fishing violates the right to work recognized by Article (6) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Thus, PCHR:
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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
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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 investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 15 December 2018, Israeli gunboats chased a Palestinian fishing boat, which was sailing within 9 nautical miles in Gaza Valley area, and opened fire at it.
As a result, a fisherman, Mohammed Falah abu Riyalah (19), from al-Sadr area in Gaza, was wounded.
The Israeli gunboats surrounded the fishing boat mentioned above, and the soldiers arrested the injured fisherman, Abu Riyalah, and another fisherman, Mohammed Salah Abu Riyalah (27), from Gaza City, and detained their fishing boat.
In a separate incident, at approximately 09:00 on the same day, Israeli gunboats chased a fishing boat sailing within 8 nautical miles off Gaza Valley shore manned by fishermen Mohammed Saleh Abu Riyalah (28) and ‘Atef Saleh Abu Riyalah (16), from Gaza city.
The Israeli naval soldiers ordered both fishermen to stop fishing, arrested them and detained their fishing boat.
It should be mentioned that at approximately 00:00 on Saturday, the Israeli authorities released ‘Atef Salah Abu Riyalah while the 3 other fishermen are so far under arrest and the boats are still in custody.
PCHR emphasizes that the attacks by the Israeli naval forces against the fishermen in the Gaza Strip fall within the collective punishments imposed against the Palestinian civilians.
Moreover, PCHR stresses that the decision to reduce the area allowed for fishing violates the right to work recognized by Article (6) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Thus, PCHR:
- Calls upon the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, to intervene to stop all Israeli violations against fishermen and allow them to fish freely in the Gaza Sea;
- Calls upon the Israeli authorities to stop chasing the fishermen and enable them to fish freely, especially that they do not pose threat to the Israel authorities; and
- Calls for releasing the arrested fishermen and compensate them for their losses.
Public Document
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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
Public Document
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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
16 dec 2018
Ref: 133/2018 – Date: 15 December 2018 – Time: 13:00 GMT: The West Bank is witnessing the worst and most violent escalation by the Israeli forces and settlers in this year.
Only within 48 hours, the Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including an elderly and 2 extra-judicially killed, and wounded dozens due to use of armed force against the peaceful demonstrators.
The Palestinian cities have witnessed large-scale incursions; mostly in the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, and a strangulating closure on both cities.
Meanwhile, the Israeli settlers have escalated their attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property in light of the Israeli military and political leaders’ calls for incitement against the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) emphasizes that the Israeli forces continue to pursue the policy of Extra-judicial executions that have publicly carried out for the first time in the so-called “Bus 300” operation on 10 April 1984 when 4 Palestinians were killed.
Thus, PCHR condemns in strongest terms this escalation and holds the Israeli forces responsible for it and its repercussions. PCHR also calls upon the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, to intervene effectively to stop the Israeli forces’ crimes against the Palestinians and their property and to work on providing protection for them.
According to PCHR’s investigation, those crimes were as follows:
While strongly condemning these crimes, which further prove the Israeli forces continue to commit crimes against Palestinian civilians in disregard for their lives, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective action to stop the Israeli crimes and escalating violations and to work on providing protection for Palestinians.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations 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.
These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
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
Only within 48 hours, the Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including an elderly and 2 extra-judicially killed, and wounded dozens due to use of armed force against the peaceful demonstrators.
The Palestinian cities have witnessed large-scale incursions; mostly in the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, and a strangulating closure on both cities.
Meanwhile, the Israeli settlers have escalated their attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property in light of the Israeli military and political leaders’ calls for incitement against the Palestinians.
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) emphasizes that the Israeli forces continue to pursue the policy of Extra-judicial executions that have publicly carried out for the first time in the so-called “Bus 300” operation on 10 April 1984 when 4 Palestinians were killed.
Thus, PCHR condemns in strongest terms this escalation and holds the Israeli forces responsible for it and its repercussions. PCHR also calls upon the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities, to intervene effectively to stop the Israeli forces’ crimes against the Palestinians and their property and to work on providing protection for them.
According to PCHR’s investigation, those crimes were as follows:
- At approximately 19:30 on Wednesday, 12 December 2018, a group from the Israeli “Yamam Unit”, which is known for carrying out extra-judicial killings while undercover like the “Mistarivim” Unit in the Israeli Forces and is dressed like Palestinian civilians, infiltrated into Serda village, north of Ramallah. The Yamam members used a white Mercedes Bus and intercepted a car driven by Saleh ‘Omer al-Barghouthi (29) who was on his way back from Ramallah to Cooper village, north of the city, where he lived. They opened fire at the front side of the car and then stepped out of their bus to surround Saleh’s car, forcing him to get off. They then blindfolded him and handcuffed him, taking him to their bus and then to an unknown destination. According to an eyewitness’s account, Saleh was not wounded at the moment of his arrest and other eyewitnesses said that they did not see any blood inside his car that was later confiscated by the Israeli forces. At approximately 00:30, The Israeli Shin Bet security service and the Israeli media announced the death of Barghouti, raising doubts about killing him after his arrest.
- At approximately 01:30 on Thursday, 13 December 2018, large numbers of Israeli forces moved into ‘Askar al-Jadid refugee camp, northeast of Nablus, and stationed in the vicinity of a building belonging to Hussein Mohammed Bushkar. Many of them topped the roofs of the nearby buildings and surrounded the 3-storey building. Following that, heavy explosions and shooting were heard in the area. At approximately 03:30, the Israeli soldiers took out a dead body from the second floor in the building , where there was an empty apartment, on a litter covered with a dark color cover. The Israeli forces later declared that they managed to kill Ashraf Walid Soliman Na’alwah (23) from Shwikah Suburb in Tulkarm. Na’alwah had been chased by the Israeli forces since 07 October 2018 on grounds of being accused of carrying out a shooting attack in Burkan Industrial Area, west of Salfit, and killing at the time 2 settlers and wounded a third one. Eyewitnesses said that they did not hear any sound indicating occurrence of an exchange of fire in the building.
- At approximately 17:30 on the abovementioned day, Hamdan Tawfiq al-‘Aardah (60), who was from ‘Arabah village, south of Jenin, and lived in al-Bireh, was driving his black Ford Jeep in al-Bireh Industrial area, back home from his work. Meanwhile, Israeli forces were stationed there in their military vehicles. When his car approached the Israeli vehicles, one of the soldiers opened fire at him, wounding him with 2 bullets to the head. The Israeli soldiers prevented the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) staff that was in the area from aiding him and then arrested Hamdan to take him to an Israeli Hospital. At approximately 19:30, the Israeli forces declared his death and Israeli media published on its websites claims that Hamdan attempted to carry put a run-over attack.
- At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 14 December 2018, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles moved into al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah, and stationed next to al-Jalazone High School for Boys that belongs to UNRWA and is established at the main entrance of the camp. Dozens of Palestinian young men gathered to throw stones, empty bottles and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired a barrage of live and rubber-coated metal bullets in addition to teargas canisters and sound bombs at the young men. At approximately 16:20, Israeli soldiers surprisingly moved forward and heavily and randomly opened fire at the demonstrators from a distance of 50 meters. As a result, Mahmoud Yousif Nakhlah (18) was hit with a bullet that penetrated his abdomen and fell on the ground while bleeding. He was then taken by a PRCS ambulance to Palestine Medical Complex in the City and was in very critical condition. He was immediately admitted to the Operating Room for surgery, and at approximately 17:30, his death was declared. It should be noted that Mahmoud is the only son of his family comprised of his father and mother.
While strongly condemning these crimes, which further prove the Israeli forces continue to commit crimes against Palestinian civilians in disregard for their lives, PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate and effective action to stop the Israeli crimes and escalating violations and to work on providing protection for Palestinians.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations 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.
These grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions.
Public Document
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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
15 dec 2018
On Friday evening, 14 December 2018, Israeli forces wounded 120 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children, 1 woman and 2 paramedics in the peaceful demonstrations in the eastern Gaza Strip despite the decreasing intensity of the demonstrations there for the sixth week consecutively and absence of most means usually used during the demonstrations since the beginning of the Return and Breaking the Siege March 8 months ago.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, for the seventh week since the beginning of the Return March on 30 March 2018, the demonstrators abstained from burning tires while the attempts to cross the border fence and throw stones and incendiary balloons were completely absent.
Though the demonstrators were around tens of meters away from the border fence, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and military jeeps along the fence continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them, without the later posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On 14 December 2018, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 14:30, 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. Further, setting fire to tires and throwing stones, incendiary balloons and Molotov cocktails were almost absent.
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.
Despite the prevailing calmness, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to hundreds of teargas canisters, particularly in eastern Jabalia, Gaza and al-Bureij refugee camp.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:00, resulted in the injury of 120 Palestinian civilians, including 20 child, 2 women, 1 journalist and 2 paramedics. In addition, hundreds 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:
Notes Medical Crews Journalists Women Children Total Casualties
Among those Killed, there were 6
Persons with Disabilities and a girl. 3 2 1 34 176 Killed
Among those wounded, 511 are in serious
condition and 82 had their lower or upper
limbs amputated; 82 lower-limb amputations,
2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger
amputations and 17 children had their
limbs amputated according to the Ministry 152 129 281 1773 9874 Wounded
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 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 calls 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 hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations 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
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, for the seventh week since the beginning of the Return March on 30 March 2018, the demonstrators abstained from burning tires while the attempts to cross the border fence and throw stones and incendiary balloons were completely absent.
Though the demonstrators were around tens of meters away from the border fence, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and military jeeps along the fence continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them, without the later posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On 14 December 2018, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 14:30, 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. Further, setting fire to tires and throwing stones, incendiary balloons and Molotov cocktails were almost absent.
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.
Despite the prevailing calmness, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to hundreds of teargas canisters, particularly in eastern Jabalia, Gaza and al-Bureij refugee camp.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:00, resulted in the injury of 120 Palestinian civilians, including 20 child, 2 women, 1 journalist and 2 paramedics. In addition, hundreds 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:
Notes Medical Crews Journalists Women Children Total Casualties
Among those Killed, there were 6
Persons with Disabilities and a girl. 3 2 1 34 176 Killed
Among those wounded, 511 are in serious
condition and 82 had their lower or upper
limbs amputated; 82 lower-limb amputations,
2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger
amputations and 17 children had their
limbs amputated according to the Ministry 152 129 281 1773 9874 Wounded
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 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 calls 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 hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations 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
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