Reports july 2020 35

16 july 2020

Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (09– 15 July 2020)

A civilian shot dead by IOF in Kifl Haris village in Salfit;
A woman succumbed to wounds she sustained in Israel’s 2014 military offensive in Rafah;
9 Palestinians shot and wounded, including a child, in IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank;
5 shootings reported at fishing boats and one reported against agricultural lands eastern and western Gaza Strip;
In 96 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 76 civilians arrested, including 5 children and a university student (female|);
2 houses demolished; 1 self-demolished, a demolition notice given to a residential building, and dozens of dumuns confiscated in occupied East Jerusalem;
Numerous demolition and cease-construction notices delivered to 5 houses, and many lands leveled and others confiscated in Hebron;
Settler-attacks in the West Bank: vehicles vandalized in Nablus and new settlement road established in Hebron; and
IOF established 46 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank and arrested 5 Palestinians on said checkpoints

Summary

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, a civilian was killed by IOF while he was walking with his friend in Kaful Hares village.

In addition, IOF’s excessive use of force rendered 9 injuries among Palestinian civilians during raids and attacks on peaceful protests in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Furthermore, IOF continued to arrest and raid the houses of those working with the Palestinian security services in the West Bank.

Over the past several weeks, the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, witnessed wide-scale demolitions and distribution of demolition notices of civilian houses and properties as well as confiscation of lands for establishing roads for settlements. This week witnessed an increase confiscation lands decisions, especially in al-‘Issawiyia village in occupied East Jerusalem.
This week, PCHR documented 168 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt.

IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:
On 09 July 2020, IOF shot and killed Ibrahim Mostafa Abu Ya’qoub (33) without justification while he was walking with his friend on a street, 600 meters away from the settlement street so-called “Aber al-Samerah”, in north Salfit. On 13 July 2020, Aseen Mahmoud Hamad Duhair(34), from Rafah, succumbed to wounds she sustained after Israeli warplanes targeted her uncle’s house on 04 August 2014. It should be noted that due the Israeli attack, Duhiar suffered a spinal fracture, causing a paraplegics.

IOF shot and wounded 9 Palestinians, including a child, in excessive use of force against peaceful protests in the West Bank: 2 in separate incidents in Salfit, 2 in suppression a peaceful protest in Nablus; and 5 were wounded in IOF raid into al-‘Issawiyia in occupied East Jerusalem.
In Gaza, 5 shootings against fishing boats were reported; and once against agricultural lands western and eastern Gaza Strip.

IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
IOF carried out 96 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 76 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 children. During raids, a Palestinian vehicle was seized.

Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks:
IOF continued its settlement expansion operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 13 violations, including:

East Jerusalem: demolition of 2 houses; 1 self-demolished, a demolition notice given to a building in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, and confiscation of dozens of dunums.
Bethlehem: 2 demolition notices and 2 cease-construction notices distributed, and 3 mixers and a concrete pump detained.
Salfit: 1000 square meters confiscated upon a military order.
Hebron: demolition of a 2-story house comprising of 2 apartments, 70 olive trees uprooted and confiscated, 70-square-long stone chains demolished, agricultural lands leveled, and an agricultural room demolished.
Tulkram: a barrack and a cement wall demolished.

PCHR also documented 2 settler attacks: assault and vandalization on Palestinians’ vehicles in Laban al-Sharqiyia village, and establishing a settlement road in southern Hebron.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

The Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the history of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Furthermore, since the PA ended security coordination with Israeli authorities in May 2020, hundreds of critically ill patients whose condition cannot afford delays in treatment were denied travel.

This was amplified by the restrictions put in place by IOF since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic that had already had grave implications on the humanitarian and economic situation of the Gaza Strip population. Recently, a very limited number of individual cases of patients who have obtained medical referrals and financial coverage to Israel were able to travel, and some others referred to Israeli organizations working in the field of health for assistance in coordination.

Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.

Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF shot dead a Palestinian civilian without justification while he was walking with his friend in Kifl Haris village. According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 23:00 on Thursday evening, IOF deployed in an olive field in Kifl Haris village, north of Salfit, fired 4 – 5 live bullets at 2 Palestinians who were walking on a street, 15 meters away from the olive field. The olive field is about 600 meters away from a bypass road by Israeli settlers and IOF and links between several Israeli settlements and sites. As a result, Palestinian Ibrahim Mustafa Abu Yaqoub (33), from Kifl Haris village, was shot with a live bullet in his neck. Abu Yaqoub’s friend and two passersby transferred his via a civilian vehicle to Yasser Arafat Hospital, but he died before arriving to the hospital. Haitham Ahmed Mohammed Khalil, Abu Yaqoub’s friend:

“At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 09 July 2020, I called my friend Ibrahim and informed him that I am on my way to his house in Kafel Hares village in Salfit. We went out and made a phone call with one of our friends and told him that we are going to visit him, but the said that he went to Bedia village. Therefore, we decided to go back to Ibrahim’s house.

While we were walking on the street, we heard a sound of gunfire as we were near Ali Saleh Hamad’s house next to olive fields that were about 15 meters away from our place. I thought that the shooting was far away, but Ibrahim suddenly stopped and said: “Haitham call my family and tell them that I got shot”. I was surprised because I thought that the gun fire was around us as IOF fired 4 – 5 sporadic live bullets. Ibrahim said he was shot in his chest and asked me to call his family. I thought he was joking, but I saw his shirt was covered with blood and he fell on the ground.

I immediately called his brother. 2 young men, who were in the other side of the street, rushed to me and one of them namely Sari, moved Ibrahim to his vehicle and we all stepped into it. We attempted to leave from the village’s main entrance, but the shooting renewed from the olive field again. We returned to Hares village’s road and took Ibrahim to Salfit Hospital. However, Ibrahim died 10 minutes later and stopped moving as blood came out of his mouth. I later learnt that Israeli soldiers were deployed among the olive street, noting that for the last 5 five days, IOF have been storming the village and deploying between olive trees.

Four days ago, an Israeli military vehicle stopped me and an officer said to me: ” if stoning did not stop in the village’s main street, we will carry out killings. I told the officer that I was passing by the street, but the officer told me that I should inform the village residents with this decision: ” tell them on my behalf that we are going to a number of them.”

Simultaneously, IOF deployed in another olive field in the same village, as they were about thousand meters away of the abovementioned olive field, opened fire in the adjacent neighborhoods. As a result, a 15-year-old child , from Kafel Hares villages, was shot with a live in his foot while being present adjacent to a house located in the main street, which about 10 meters away from the olive The child was transferred to Istishari Arab Hospital in Ramallah and his injury was classified as moderate. According to Israeli media, IOF alleged that they opened fire in the area after a Molotov cocktails was thrown at “Aber al-Samerah” street, south of the Kafel Hares village.

At approximately 01:00 on Friday, 10 July 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed adjacent to the border fence in southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area. Fishermen, as a result of that, panicked and had to sail back to the shore. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 11:30 on the same Friday a peaceful protest took part from the center of Asirah northern village, north of Nablus, into lands threatened to be confiscated in al-Marj and Beit al-Zaki areas in Ebal Mount, east of the abovementioned village. The protest was organized upon calls national factions in Nablus. The participants raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against IOF, settlers, Israeli annexation plan, and the U.S president Donald Trump’s Middle East plan. When the participants arrived at the area, a large number of IOF were waiting for them in the area. The participants performed Friday prayer in the abovementioned land while Israeli soldiers were surrounding OF immediately suppressed the protest and fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, Hazem Yusuf Taher Yaseen (46),was shot with a sound bomb in his right hand that caused amputation of the middle finger and fracture in his index finger. A 52-year-old man also was shot with a sound bomb in his left leg that caused fracture in his leg’s instep. Another civilian’s leg was fractured after he was pushed by IOF. The wounded civilians were transferred to al-Najah Hospital in Nablus for medical treatment. Many civilians also suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and they received medical treatment on the field. IOF arrested Yazan Khalid Yaseen (25), from the same village, severely beat him with their legs and rifles’ butt, dragged him on the ground, and took him to an unknown destination. Yaseen was later released and he referred to al-Najah Hospital for medical treatment.

At approximately 13:00 on the same Friday, IOF stationed at the northern entrance to Kafer Qaddoum village, north of Qalqiliyah, suppressed a protest in which dozens of Palestinian civilians. IOF chased young men who gathered in the area, clashed with them, and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Many civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 14:00 on the same Friday, IOF stationed in the vicinity of a military watchtower established on lands of Kafer Qaddoum village, north of Salfit, fired live bullets at dozens of Palestinians participating in a funeral procession of Ibrahim Mustafa Abu Yaqoub, who was killed by IOF the previous day. IOF chased young men who gathered in the area, clashed with them, and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 22-year-old young man was shot with a rubber bullet in his right leg.

At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF stormed al-Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They deployed in the village neighborhoods, established checkpoints at its entrances and searched vehicles before allowing them to leave the village. In the meantime, a number of young men protested at Al Mahmoud neighborhood’s entrance, west of the village, and threw stones, fireworks and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli soldiers. A large Israeli force immediately stormed the neighborhood, fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at civilians and clashed with them. As a result, 5 civilians were injured, 4 of them were shot with rubber bullets and the fifth was hit with tear gas shrapnel. Two civilians also sustained burns to their faces after Israeli soldiers pepper-sprayed them. IOF arrested Sa’di Mahmoud and his sons Mohammed (23) and Ahmed (20) and withdrew from the village.

At approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 22 July 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of the Gaza Strip, chased and sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 nautical miles). Fishermen, as a result of that, panicked and had to sail back to the shore fearing for their lives. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 13 July 2020, medical sources in the Gaza European Hospital declared the death of Aseen Mahmoud Hamad Duhir (34), who was wounded after Israeli warplanes targeted her uncle Mahrus Duhir’s house on 04 August 2014 in Mosbeh neighborhood, north of Rafah. Forensic Medicine Department said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Aseen suffered a spinal fracture, causing paraplegics, and she later succumbed to her wounds.

At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 14 July 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed west of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area ( 4 nautical miles ). Fishermen, as a result of that, panicked and had to sail back to the shore fearing for their lives. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 22:40 on the same Monday, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of the Gaza Strip, chased and sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 – 5 nautical miles). Fishermen, as a result of that, panicked and had to sail back to the shore fearing for their lives. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 15 July 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Gaza Valley (Johur al-Dee), south of Gaza city, opened fire at agricultural lands, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 09:50,on the same Wednesday, Israeli gunboats stationed west of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (6 nautical miles) and fired flare bombs. Fishermen, as a result of that, panicked and had to sail back to the shore. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

Incursions and arrests

Thursday, 09 July 2020:

At approximately 12:00, IOF arrested Rami Mohammed Ghaith (26), while present near al-Boraq (Wailing Wall) in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and took him to one of the investigation center in the city.

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Ras Ateya villaga, south of Qalqilya. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Tareq Majed Mara’ba (17).

At approximately 01:25, IOF moved into Mithlon village southeast of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Majed Hafiz Na’irat’s (53) house, head of health departure in Mithlon Governorate, and arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Sa’eer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Sowah Atta Jaradat (45) and Wajdi Nayef Mohammed Jaradat (23).

At approximately 02:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Hebron, and stationed in al-Daheya area. They raided and searched Mohammed Salah al-Qawasma’s (24) house and arrested him.

Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Ayman Obaid (21) and Omar Ahmed Mahmoud (16), and arrested them.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Bitounya, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched Fahmi Assi’s house and arrested his daughter Ruba Fahmi Assi (18), a student in Birzeit University.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Beit Anan village, northwest of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Obaid al-Mutairy (24) and Mo’ath Mujahed al-Mutairy (20), and arrested them.

At approximately 03:20, IOF moved into al-Beira, north of Ramallah, and stationed at Um al-Sharayt neighborhood, southeast of al-Beira. They raided and searched Hussain Mohammed Hussain Abu Kwaik’s (65) house, one of Hamas Movement leaders, and took him to an unknown destination.

Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp, southeast of al-Beira, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Jamal Mohammed al-Taweel’s (57) house, one of Hamas Movement leaders, and took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians: Allam Sami Massad (51), Bassam Hassan Tayeh (49), Abdulla Afeef Zakarna (57), and Mazen Mohammed Zreiki (58).

At approximately 04:00, IOF reinforced with two military vehicles moved into al-Shoyoukh village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Eid Halayqa’s (39) house and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Hanini’s (24) house and arrested him.

At approximately 10:00, the Israeli Intelligence Services moved into Beit Hanina, north of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Shady Saad al-Mtawar’s (44) house, the Secretary of Fatah movement in Jerusalem, and handed him a summons to refer to al-Maskoubeya investigation center in West Jerusalem.

al-Mtawar family said that: after two hours of summonsing Shady, he headed to al-Maskoubeya investigation center to meet the Israeli Intelligence Services due to a decision signed by the officer of the central region that banning his direct and indirect connection with the deputy chief of Fatah movement, Mahmoud Al-Aloul, and 20 others of Fatah Movement for 6-months, claiming that they were carrying out activities in favor of the Palestinian National Authority.

It should be noted that this decision comes after several decisions taken against him such as; banning his entry to al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem’s Old City, and imposed the house arrest several times, with varying periods against him. Furthermore, the latest arbitrary decision included the deputy head of the Fatah movement, the governor of Jerusalem, members of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah Movement, the Legislative Council, the head of the Jerusalem unit in the Palestinian presidency, former members of the Legislative Council, members of a region, secretaries of regions and organizational cadres in Fatah Movement.

At approximately 19:30, IOF moved into Khillat Hassan, west of Salfit. They raided and searched Azmi Taha Hamdan’s (24) house and arrested him.

In the evening of the same day, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint between Ramallah and Jenin, north of the West Bank. IOF arrested Mohammed Falah Yousef Owais (26), from Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

IOF carried out (10) incursions in al-Jadida and Siries, southeast of Jenin; Ein al-Bida, east of Tubas in the northern valleys; Silwad in Ramallah; Ein al-Sultan refugee camp and Jericho, in Jericho governorate; Qafin in Tulkarm; Hebla in Qalqilya; Kafl Hares and Derastya in Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 10 July 2020:

At approximately 02:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles, moved into Yatta, south if Hebron governorate. They raided and searched Mahmoud Mohammed Shamisty’s (40) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles, moved into the southern area of Hebron. They raide4d and searched two houses and arrested Amjad Mahmoud Jaber (22) and Malek Haroun Jaber (19).

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Abdullah Sami Dwaik’s (17) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Zeyad Zaki Twam’s (25) house and arrested him.

At approximately 12:00, IOF stationed at Za’tara military checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, arrested Shady Mahmoud Mohammed Hammad (33), member of the Palestinian National Security, from al-‘Arqa village, west of Jenin. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into al-Sa’deya neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods. They raided and searched Tamer Mohammed al-Khalafawi’s (22) house and arrested him.

At approximately 21:40, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint at the entrance of Jebia village, north of Ramallah, stopped Ra’d al-Barghouthi’s (35) car while driving with his friend, Mohammed Ali Saleem (31), and arrested them. IOF released them after several hours but confiscated their car, under the pretext of being illegal.

IOF carried out an incursion in Tayaseer village, east of Tubas. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 11 July 2020:

At approximately 00:40, IOF stationed at Za’tara military checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, north of the West Bank, arrested Ibrahim Samir al-Banna (28), member of the Palestinian National Security, from Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 01:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into al-Fawwar refugee camp, west of Hebron. They raided and searched Siraj Eshaq Abu Hashhash’s (19) house and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Yatta, south of Hebron. They raided and searched Eissa Ali Abu Arram’s (40) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:40, IOF moved into Ya’bd village, southeast of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Adham Omar Qabha (25), Mohammed Bassam Ba’jawi (35).

At approximately 04:10, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Abd Rabbo Khaled Hashash (21) and Fathi Hani Abu Rizq (20).

At approximately 11:00, IOF arrested Ahmed Ali al-Mallah (26) while present near Qalqndia refugee camp, north of the occupied East Jerusalem. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

Sunday, 12 July, 2020:

At approximately 03:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Yazeed Mohammed Abu Eisha’s (20) house, in Ras al-Joura neighborhood, and arrested him.

IOF carried out (4) incursions in al-Samoua’ and Dura villages in Hebron governorate; Hares and Kafl Hares villages, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 13 July 2020:

At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Towr neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians; Mohammed Tayseer Abu Sbaitan (29), Ahmed Khaled Abu Ghannam (21), and Mousa Abu Ghannam.

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Thawri neighborhood, south of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mo’taz Waleed Shwaiky’s (18) house and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ein al-Lawza neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied east Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mousa Na’eem Fatafita’s (33) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Hindaza, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Huthaifa Yasser Abayat’s (23) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba village, southwest of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians; Ahmed Adnan Suliman Murdai (33), Ja’far Fawzi Abdullah Abu Salah (53), and Hassan Ramzi Hussain Abu Salah (43). IOF released Ja’far Abu Salah in front of “Mafi Dutan” settlement on the entrance of Arraba at approximately 10:00.

At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Abayat village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mahmoud Abdul Karim Ayyad (29) and Mohammed As’ad Nawawra (26), and arrested them.

At approximately 06:00, IOF moved into Taqoua’, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Mohammed Salem al-Sabbah’s (24) house and arrested him.

At approximately 07:00, IOF stationed at al-Nafaq military checkpoint, west of Beit Jala, arrested Mustafa Kamel Ayesh (21), and took him to an unknown destination.

At approximately 16:00, IOF stationed at the end of al-Wad street, near Bab al-Majles, one of the Aqsa Mosque’s gates in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested (5) civilians including 3 children. The arrestees are: Abdul Rahman Ayman al-Bashiti (16), his brother Hatem (14), Ameer Mohammed al-Malki (19), Mustafa Mousa Abu Sanina (19), and Suhaib Abu Saleh (16).

At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-Wad street in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched al-Aseel Deserts store, and arrested its owner Jehad Nazmi Abu Sbaih (37).

IOF carried out (3) incursions in ‘Allar village, north of Tulkarm; Kafl Hares and Hares villages, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Thursday, 14 July 2020:

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Anas Awni Abu Balaha’s (25) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Barqin village, west of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Abdullah Hasan Soboh’s (19) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Jadida village, southeast of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Thafer Sami Zaqouq’s (20) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:50, IOF moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mujahed Ayed Flaih’s (28) house and arrested him.

At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Hizma village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Hasan al-Khateeb’s house and arrested hid sons, Hamada (30) and Omar (24).

IOF carried out (3) incursions in Hebron, Sa’eer, and Yatta, in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 15 July 2020:

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Kafr Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Hussam Yousef al-Barghouthi’s (30) house house and arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Silat al-Thuhr village, south of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Jarrah Abdullah Hantouli (25) and Mofeed Fathi Za’rour (35), and arrested them.

At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Ourif village, southeast of Nablus, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Khaled Mustafa Sbbah’s (22) house and arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, IOF infantry unit moved into Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Saleem Rasem al-Rimawi’s (36) house abd arrested him. It should be noted that al-Rimawi is a former prisoner in the Israeli prisons for 9 consecutive years.

At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Mish’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Wael Mohammed Atta (27) and Taha Hussain al-Barghouthi (29), and arrested them.

Around the same time, IOF moved into Kobr village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided anmd searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Maher al-Barghouthi (26) and Fladimir Majed al-Barghouthi (45), and arrested them.

At approximately 05:20, IOF moved into Ramallah, and stationed in al-Masayef neighborhood, in the northern side of the city. They raided and searched Husni Mohammed Dars’s (47) house and arrested him. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

IOF carried out (6) incursions in al-Nabi Saleh, Deir al-Swadan, Um Safa, ‘Aroura, and Berzeit, in Ramallah; and Burin village, south east of Nablus. No arrests we4re reported.

III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem

Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 10 July 2020, Israeli authorities notified to demolish parts attached to 2 inhabited houses in al-Walajah village, west of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Activist Ibrahim ‘Awadallah said that IOF notified Ahmed Mohammed ‘Awadallah and Mohammed ‘Abdullah Rabah to demolish parts attached to their houses in ‘Ain Jowizah area, under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Awadallah added that the notification gave the houses’ owners until next Sunday to implement it, or they will bear the demolition costs. It should be noted that ‘Ain Jowizah area is exposed to a settlement attack, including demolishing houses and retaining walls and stop construction works in other houses.

At approximately 13:00 on the same day, IOF moved into Um Rokba area and distributed notices to stop construction works in 2 inhabited houses located in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The first 330-square-meter house belongs to Nader ‘Abed al-Salam Salah, and the second 500-square-meter house belongs to Mohammed Mahmoud Salah. Also, IOF detained 3 mixers and a concrete pump from Mohammed’s house.

On Sunday, 12 July 2020, Israeli Municipality staff raided al-Tahan family’s facility in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. The municipality staff informed the family to evacuate the facility comprising of 3 apartments as a prelude to demolish it. Weal Tahan clarified that the Israeli Municipality issued a demolition notice against the facility built in 1990, under the pretext of non-licensing. He added that in 1993 the municipality issued a decision to confiscate the land for the “public benefit” and began pursuing the family after construction on their land. Tahan added that many hearings were held to stop demolition and confiscation, but in vain. Tahan said that the municipality imposed a fine of NIS 260,000 on the family and they paid it. Tahan pointed out that 5 families lived in the facility.

On the same day, Bahaa’ ‘Adnan Zaytoun implemented the Israeli Municipality order and self-demolished his house in Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Zaytoun said that the Israeli Municipality threatened him to pay heavy fines if its staff implemented the demolition. He added that his 75-square-meter house sheltering 6 persons, including 4 children, was built 4 years ago. It should be noted that since the beginning of this year, Israeli authorities forced 25 Jerusalemite families to self-demolish their houses or they will pay the demolition costs. Regarding the Israeli Municipality staff, they demolished 31 houses in occupied East Jerusalem since the beginning of 2020, in addition to 11 facilities and an under-construction house. Israeli authorities imposed many obstacles on Jerusalemites citizens and refused to license their houses.

On Monday, 13 July 2020, Israeli Municipality staff hanged eviction notices on dozens of dunums in al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of being state owned-lands. Mohammed Abu al-Humus, Member of al-‘Issawiyia Follow-up Committee, said Israeli police officers accompanied with the Israel Lands Administration staff hanged notices on Palestinian lands confiscated in 1967. Parts of these lands were given to Hadasah Hospital to establish parking and other facilities, and were given to expand “French hill” The owners of these lands are prohibited from using the rest of their lands. Abu al-Humus clarified that the dunums belong to ‘Eliyan, Mostafa, Derbas, Abu Reyalah, Darwish, Mahmoud, and ‘Obaif families. Abu al-Humus added that the notices ordered the owners to demolish and remove all constructions and trees from the land. It should be noted that Israeli authorities recently distributed dozens of eviction notices in al-‘Issawiyia village for settlement expansion.

At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 13 July 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Kherbet Bereen, southwest of Bani Na’iem village, east of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers handed Ya’qoub Ishaq Ya’qoub Burqan and As’ad Yousef Burqan final demolition notices against their under-construction house (120 sqm). The notices gave them 7 days to challenge. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities notified the mentioned civilians on 07 June 2020 to stop construction works in their house comprising of 2 apartments and gave them until 17 June 2020 to challenge. Fareed Burqan, Head of the Village Council, said that “I went with the owners of the house to the Israel Lands Administration Department in order to challenge the decision, bu Israeli soldiers there prevented us from entering, under the pretext of the Corona pandemic.

At approximately 09:00, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-‘Adisa area, south of Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. The soldiers were deployed in the area while the Israeli Civil Administration officers cut Yousef Isma’il Yousef Jaradat’s 70 olive trees plated 5-10 years ago and confiscated them. This land is located within a land of 350 dunums, adjacent to “Kiryat Arba ” settlement, east of Hebron, and Israel considers it as state-owned land. It should be noted that Jaradat was previously handed a seizure notice by IOF. Jaradat said to PCHR’s fieldworker that: ” During the previous years, my 12-dunum land was exposed to a fierce attack from the Israeli Civil Administration Department. Since the beginning of 2000, my olive trees were uprooted 4 times, under the pretext of being state-owned land. On Monday, we headed to my land, where Israeli Civil Administration officers were uprooting the trees. We attempted to stop them and told them that I filed a case in the court, but they refused to listen and forcibly got us out of the land.“

At approximately 09:30, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Khelet al-‘Eidah area, east of Hebron. The Israeli bulldozer demolished a 70-meter-long stone chains and leveled Nemer Fahmi Mostafa Jaber’s 2-dunum land, under the pretext of being state-owned land. The losses were estimated at NIS 40,000. It should be noted that Israeli authorities distributed eviction notices on 17 March 2020.

At approximately 10:00, , IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into al-Boq’ah area, east of Hebron. IOF leveled Mohammed Mostafa ‘Awwad Jaber’s agricultural land (1.5 dunums), under the pretext of being state-owned land and near the bypass road (60) and “Kiryat ‘Arba'” and “Karsina” settlements. It should be noted that on 05 July 2015, Israeli authorities demolished stone chains surrounding the agricultural land. On 03 May 2015, the Israeli authorities notified Jaber to vacate the agricultural land within 45 days and return it to its previous status, under the pretext of being state-owned land, or he will pay the eviction costs to the Israeli authorities. During the previous years, Jaber had obtained a land reclamation project from the agricultural labor committees, which included a 10-dunum land, a water well, barbed wire and stone chains. The Israeli bulldozers demolished the water well and stone chains and leveled the agricultural land. They also confiscated irrigation networks, fertilizer, generator, and pesticide spraying machine. At the beginning of 2014, Jaber reclaimed the land at his own expense and rebuilt part of the chains that had been destroyed by IOF, but the Israeli Civil Administration Department issued a new notifications against the land, so he bulldozed it for the 2nd

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into ‘Izbet Shofa village in eastern Tulkarm, where they demolished a barrack and a cement wall surrounding ‘Amer Mohammed Hamed’s parking. Also, IOF demolished another wall surrounding Malek Abu Safiyia’s land, under the pretext of being in Area C.

At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 15 July 2020, Israeli military construction vehicles demolished Ghassan Mostafa Shoqirat’s residential house in al-Mokaber Mount area, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Shoqirat (24) said that IOF moved into Shoqirat neighborhood, closed the area surrounding his 120-square-meter house and demolished it. Shoqirat clarified that IOF handed him a fine and withdrew later.

At approximately 10:00, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers move into Beit Marsam village, west of Dura, southwest of Hebron. IOF demolished Mahmoud ‘Abed al-‘Aziz al-Sharha’s 60-square-meter agricultural room built of bricks and tin plates. Al-Sharha’s losses were estimated at NIS 24,000. It should be noted that the Israeli Civil Administration Department handed al-Sharha a cease-construction notice on 02 June 2020, and handed him a demolition notice on 03 July 2020.

Israeli Settler Violence

At approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 09 July 2020, Israeli settlers, from ” Price Tag ” groups, attacked al-Laban al-Sharqiyah village, southeast of Nablus. The settlers attacked Palestinian civilians’ vehicles parked in front of their owners’ houses and on the village streets. Also, they vandalized the vehicles with racist slurs and punctured the tires of 8 of them before leaving. PCHR keeps the names of affected persons.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli settlers, under IOF protection, built a new road connecting between “Ma’oun” settlement and a dairy farm established on Palestinian confiscated lands in Um Zaytouna area, east of Yatta in southern Hebron. IOF seized these lands upon the Israeli Military Order No. 59 “Order Concerning State Property (Judea & Samaria)” (1967) established the ‘Custodian of Government Property’ to take control of land owned by the Jordanian Government (occupied in 1967).

Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods

West Bank:
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the movement of goods and individuals between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. IOF established 46 temporary checkpoints, where they searched Palestinians’ vehicles, checked their IDs and arrested 5 of them. IOF closed many roads with cement cubes, metal detector gates and sand berms and tightened their measures against individuals movement at military permanent checkpoints.

Ramallah and al-Beirh:

On Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

Jericho:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Jericho, east of the West Bank.
On Friday, 10 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Jericho.
On Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Ain al-Dayyouk village, north of Jericho.

Bethlehem:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to Taqou’a village, near Um al-Nashnash intersection and in ‘Aqabet Hasnah area.
On Friday, 10 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Jala and Taqou’a villages and near al-Nashnash area, south of Bethlehem.
On Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint in ‘Aqabet Hasnah area, leading to Bethlehem western villages.
On Sunday, 12 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Hosan village, west of Bethlehem.
On Monday, 13 July 2020, IOF closed with barbed wires the area leading to al-Freadas Mount, east of Bethlehem, and set up a metal detector gate at the entrance leading to the area in order to isolate it from Beit Ta’mour village.

Hebron:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp, and at the entrances to Sa’ir and Ethna villages.
On Friday, 10 July 2020, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to Wad al-‘Arab, Beit ‘Awaa and Beit ‘Aynoun villages, and on Zaif road.
On Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit ‘Awaa, al-Shayyoukh and Sa’ir villages.
On Sunday, 12 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron and at the entrance to Sureef village.
On Tuesday, 14 July 2020, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Shayyoukh, Beit Ummer and Karma villages, and at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp.
On Wednesday, 15 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Ethan and al-Koum villages and on ‘Oyoun Abu Saif road.

Nablus:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Tal village and at the intersection of “Yatizhar” settlement, southeast of Nablus.
On Friday, similar checkpoints were re-established in the same area.
On Sunday, 12 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Laban al-Sharqiyia village, southeast of Nablus.
On Monday, 13 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jama’een village, southeast of Nablus.

Jenin:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Araba village intersection, southwest of Jenin.

Salfit:

On Sunday, 12 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Dirsitiyia and Dir Balout villages, west of Salfit.

Qalqiliyia:

On Thursday, 09 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
On Friday, 10 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to ‘Azoun village and at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
On Saturday, 11 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
On Monday, 13 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb village and at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.

OCHA Report: West Bank Demolitions and Displacement | June 2020

The United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Summary for June 2020

100 structures demolished or seized in June, the highest level since January 2017.

Of the targeted structures, ten were humanitarian aid, including a tent used as a quarantine site.
Only 0.009% (6 out of 700) housing units applied for by Palestinians in Area C were issued permits.

In June 2020, the Israeli authorities demolished or seized 100 Palestinian-owned structures, a sharp increase compared with previous months and the highest such figure since January 2017. As a monthly average, the number of structures targeted during the first half of 2020 is the same as during the whole year of 2019.

The continuous targeting of Palestinian properties amidst the ongoing pandemic, especially inhabited homes (25), water and sanitation structures (5) and a tent used as a quarantine site, remains of serious concern, as it undermines the capacity of already vulnerable communities to prevent infection.

77 of this month’s demolitions and seizures were in Area C and 23 in East Jerusalem, resulting in the displacement of nearly 140 people, while over 400 others had their livelihoods, or access to services, affected. All the incidents were under the pretext of a lack of building permits, which are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain.

In July 2019, the Israeli security cabinet announced the promotion of 700 housing units for Palestinians in Area C. However, by end June 2020, only one building permit, allowing for the construction of six housing units, has been issued, according to official information obtained by the Israeli organization ‘Peace Now’.

By contrast, between July 2019 and March 2020, the Israeli authorities issued a total of 1,094 building permits in illegal Israeli settlements in Area C, according to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.

10 of the structures demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities in June 2020 had been provided as humanitarian assistance at a value of over 27,000 euros. Another 4 donor-funded aid structures were destroyed or damaged by Israeli settlers in Lifjim, a small herding community in Nablus.

The Hebron Governorate, which is the hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, was also the most affected by demolitions, accounting for over 40 per cent of the targeted structures in Area C (33).

Over half of these structures were located in Massafer Yatta, an area declared a closed ‘firing zone’ for military training, where some 1,200 Palestinians are at risk of forcible transfer. The largest incident in this area took place on 3 June in the community of Mirkez, where 14 residential and livelihood structures, including four donor-funded, were targeted, displacing 36 people, including 23 children.

In Maghayer al Abeed, within the same ‘firing zone’, the Israeli authorities seized a donor-funded tent that had been provided as a quarantine site for the community and recently used by a family with COVID-19.

Also affected this month were 4 Palestinian Bedouin communities in Area C of the Jerusalem Governorate, located within or next to an area slated for the expansion of the Ma’ale Adumim settlement (the E1 plan), where 17 structures, including two donor-funded, were demolished or seized.

In another community in the same area, Jabal al Baba, Israeli authorities carried out a land survey and handed over demolition orders. Two of the structures targeted this month, including one donor-funded structure, were demolished based on Military Order 1797, which allows for the expedited removal of unlicensed structures deemed as “new”, down from eight in May.

Since coming into effect in July 2019, at least 12 donor-funded structures, have been demolished based on this order.

In East Jerusalem, over half of the structures targeted this month were self-demolished by their owners, following the receipt of demolition orders, to avoid demolition fees and reduce damage to adjacent structures and personal belongings.

This follows a trend observed since the start of 2020. Six of the structures demolished in East Jerusalem were in the Jabal al-Mokabber neighborhood, the most affected area over the past three years.

One of these structures, home to 11 people, including seven children, was located on the route of a major road (the so called ‘Eastern Ring Road’), currently under construction; the road cuts through the neighborhood and will connect Israeli settlements in the southern West Bank to Jerusalem.

See the full report here.

13 july 2020

Prisoners’ advocates: Israel detained 2330 Palestinians since January; 1363 since corona outbreak

The Israeli army detained 2330 Palestinians in the first six months of this year, including 1363 detained since the coronavirus outbreak in early March, prisoners’ advocacy groups said today.

They said 304 minors and 70 women were among the detained since January, and Israel issued 565 administrative detention orders for new and current detainees.

The Detainees Affairs Commission, the Palestinian Prisoner Society, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Organization and Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in their semi-annual report on the situation of Palestinians held in Israeli jails that there are 4700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails serving various periods of time, including 41 women and 160 minors, while administrative detainees held without charge or trial and based on secret evidence reached 365.

In June, Israel detained 469 Palestinians, most of them from Jerusalem where 211 residents were detained in the month of June and 1057 since January, including 57 women, two of them minors, 202 minors and five children, in addition to 45 from Ramallah area, 33 from Hebron, 36 from Jenin, 43 from Bethlehem, 32 from Nablus and the rest from other parts of the West Bank and two from the Gaza Strip, while issuing 98 administrative detention orders.

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