30 july 2020
- 3 Palestinians shot and wounded, including a child, in IOF excessive use of force against peaceful protest in Kufur Qaddoum, Qalqilya;
- 4 shootings reported at fishing boats; and once at agricultural lands eastern and western Gaza Strip;
- In 64 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 52 civilians arrested, including 12 children and a woman;
- 2 Palestinians arrested at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing; and two limited incursions into eastern Gaza Strip;
- 3 warehouses and 5 barracks demolished in Jerusalem; 7 cease-construction and demolition notices in Hebron; and equipment confiscated in Nablus;
- Settler-attacks in the West Bank: settlers set a mosque on fire in al-Bireh; attack on a quarry and two machines set on fire in Nablus;
- IOF established 30 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank and arrested 9 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, IOF’s excessive use of force rendered 3 injuries among Palestinian civilians, a child, during raids and attacks on peaceful protests in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Ever since announcing its plans to annex West Bank territories, including occupied East Jerusalem, IOF has continued systematic demolitions and land razing, establishing roads for settlements in an accelerated manner.
This week, PCHR documented 125 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. It should be noted that the limitations due to the corona virus pandemic, including closure of certain territories, has limited PCHR’s fieldworkers mobility and ability to conduct field documentation; therefore, the information documented in this report are only part of the continued IOF violations.
PCHR would like to note that its Weekly Report on Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the oPt will not be published next week as Eid al-Adha is celebrated. PCHR confirms that the following report will cover a two-week period.
IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: IOF shot and wounded 3 Palestinians, including a child, in excessive use of force against the weekly peaceful protest in Kufur Qaddoum in Qalqilya; IOF also used live bullets 4 times in raids into West Bank cities.
In Gaza, opened fire at agricultural lands once and 4 times at fishing boats in eastern and western Gaza Strip.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 64 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, 64 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 children and a woman. IOF also conducted two limited incursions into eastern Rafah and northern Beit Hanoun, southern and northern Gaza Strip.
Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks: IOF continued its settlement expansion operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 14 violations, including:
- East Jerusalem: 3 warehouses demolished in Wadi al-Hilweh in Silwan village; 14 dunums razed and 5 barracks demolished in al-Issaweya; and 1 house vacated in prelude to self-demolishing it;
- Bethlehem: 3 houses received cease-construction notices; 4 cattle barns (barracks) confiscated;
- Hebron: 5 cease-construction delivered to 2 houses, an agricultural room and a barracks; 2 demolition notices for a cave used as a house and a barn; and a machine confiscated;
- Nablus: confiscation of machinery and vehicles used in reconstruction of a road in the Industrial area in Wadi al-Sham area;
- Salfit: demolition notice delivered of a room.
PCHR also documented 3 settler attacks: attack on a quarry, wheel loader and excavator set on fire in Nablus; al-Bir wal Ihsan Mosque set on fire in al- Bireh; and suspicion of settler attack on cattle in north-eastern Jericho where 70 sheep died from poisoning.
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.
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. Of all the Gaza Strip’s border crossings, only 2 currently function:
Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) for movement of goods and Beit Hanoun (Erez) for movement of individuals. The Israeli authorities continued to impose restrictions on the entry of goods classified as “dual-use items”,[1] despite their importance in reviving the market, manufacturing and maintenance.
As to Beit Hanoun crossing, it is almost completely closed except for emergency humanitarian cases. Lately, 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.
I. Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
1. Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
- At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 23 July 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily 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. Israeli gunboats also fired flare bombs in the same area at 13:10 on the same day. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 24 July 2020, IOF stationed at the northern entrance established on lands of Kufur Qaddoum village, suppressed a protest in which dozens of civilian s participated. IOF chased young men who gathered in the area, clashed with them, and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in the area. As a result, 3 civilians were injured, including a child who was shot with a rubber bullet in his waist.
- At approximately 15:20 on the same Friday, IOF stationed at “Eyal” crossing established north of Qalqilya, fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at civilians, who were present in the area. IOF claimed that they were stoned. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 03:15 on Saturday, 25 July 2020, while storming Qalqilya, IOF fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians’ houses. IOF claimed that they were stoned. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
- At approximately 07:30, on the same Saturday, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily 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 00:00 on the same Saturday, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at agricultural lands, east of Khuza’a village, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 19:40 on the same Saturday, IOF stationed adjacent to the annexation wall established in Deir Ballut village, west of Salfit, indiscriminately opened fire at Palestinian workers, while attempting to pass through the annexation wall for work in Israel. No casualties were reported.
- At approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF stormed Deir Estia village, north of Salfit and heavily fired sound bombs, claiming that a bus carrying Israeli settlers was stoned on the main street. IOF withdrew from the villages at 03:00 on the same day. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
- At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 26 July 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily 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.
II. Incursions and arrests:
Thursday, 23 July 2020:
- At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jama’een village, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Hamza As’ad Zeitawi (25).
- Around the same time, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Hebron, and stationed around Wad al-Hareya. They raided and searched Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) secretary Nizar Abdul Aziz Ramadan’s (59) house and arrested him and his son Ahmed (27). IOF took them to an unknown destination.
- Around the same time, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into northern Hebron and stationed at Ezone. They raided and searched the former minister Eisa Khayrat al-Ja’bari’s (58) house and took him to where IOF’s vehicles stationed. Meanwhile, IOF raided and searched Alaa Mohammed Mujahed’s (50) house, and arrested him. IOF released al-Ja’bari after investigating with him at the Israeli Intelligence Services’ office in Etzion, who threatened him from committing any illegal activities.
- At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Dheesha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Omar Yousef Mana”s (21) house and arrested him.
- At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Jabal al-Mawaleh area, in the central Bethlehem. They raided and searched Ahmed Burhan Daraghma’s (19) house and arrested him.
- At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Aqabat Jabt refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. They raided and searched two houses and arrested Mohammed Taleb Yaghi (17) and Abdullah Mahmoud Yaghi (19).
- At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mahmoud Yousef al-Ghalith’s (18) house and arrested him.
- At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Shu’fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested the Secretary-General of Fatah Movement, Adham al-Hindi.
- At approximately 08:15, IOF reinforced with 5 military vehicles, moved 100-meters to the south of the border fence, at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing’s eastern security passage, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. They leveled and combed lands that were previously leveled amidst a sporadic Israeli shooting which caused fear among farmers. At approximately 10:30, IOF withdrew, and no casualties were reported.
- At approximately 13:00, IOF stationed at Shu’fat military camp, arrested Adam Mansour al-Rashq (17), while passing through the military checkpoint. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 20:30, a group of Mista’arvim (Israeli Special Unit dressed like Palestinian civilians), moved into al-Issaweya in East Jerusalem. When they arrived to Martyr Mohammed Obaid neighborhood in the city, they wore their masks and stepped out of the car and arrested Mo’ath Owaiwi (12). IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- IOF carried out (6) incursions in al-Samoua’, Karza, and Halhoul in Hebron; al-Am’Ari refugee camp, Um al-Sharayet in al-Beira. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 24 July 2020:
- At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Tubas, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians: Osaid Mahmoud Saleh (20), Emad Sayel Abdul Razik (32), and Lo’ay Rasheed Daraghma (28).
- At approximately 15:00, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint on the entrance of Beit Einoun village, east of Hebron, arrested Eisa Adel al-Haroush (26), from Yatta. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 15:14, IOF stationed at Hawara checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, arrested Omar Ahmed Shamasna (27), from Jayyous village in Qalqilya governorate. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 15:30, IOF stationed at Hawara checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, arrested Yaser Abed Hashash (19), from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 23:30, IOF stationed at Elon Moreh settlement, northeast of Nablus, arrested Ahmed Mohammed Hashash (17) and Marwan Bassam Hashash from in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. IOF took them to an unknown destination.
- IOF carried out (2) incursions in Hebron and al-Shoyoukh in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 25 July 2020:
- At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians including 2 children. The arrestees are: Mohammed Emran Obaid (18), Yazan Emran Obaid (23), Zein el-Dein Muhanna (13), and Mohammed Hamza Obaid (12).
- At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed at Nazlet Zeid checkpoint, west of Ya’bd, southwest of Jenin, arrested Rima Abdul Fattah Kilany (16), from the city. IOF took her to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Ahmed al-Rajabi’s (13) house and arrested him.
- At approximately 18:00, IOF severely beaten and arrested (3) children while present in al-Wad neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s neighborhoods, and took them to one of the police stations in the city. The arrestees are: Abdulrahman Ayman al-Bashiti (16), his brother Hatem (14), and Nabil Nidal Sidr (17).
- IOF carried out (4) incursions in Dura, Beit Kahel, Beit Marsm, and Deir al-‘Asal villages in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 26 July 2020:
- At approximately 01:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Qalqilya and stationed in three entrances. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested (3) civilians: Mohammed Nour Yaseen (20), Wajdi Moeen al-Shanti (20), and Wesam Hamadah Yaseen (20).
- At approximately 02:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched the PLC Member of Hamas Movement, Nayef Mohammed Mahmoud Rajoub’s (62) house and arrested him. IOF released Rajoub from “Ofer” prison, west of Ramallah.
- At approximately 03:20, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Hebron. They raided and searched the PLC Member of Hamas Movement, Hatem Qafishah’s (58) house and arrested him. At approximately 10:00, IOF released Qafishah from a detention center in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
- At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed at Erez crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested Sa’eed Harbi Abdul Fattah al-Shurafa (37), from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, who is married and have 2 children and Franchise owner of DHL Company. IOF arrested al-Shurafa after he drove his vehicle into an Israeli gate to deliver and receive mail. IOF took al-Shurafa to an unknown destination and confiscated his vehicle.
- At approximately 15:00, IOF stationed at Erez crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested Mansour Ibrahim Mansour (18), who have a Jerusalemite ID card, while leaving the Gaza Strip to study in Abu Dis University in Jerusalem.
Mansour’s father, a former prisoner who served 11 years in the Israeli prisons from 1988 to 1999 and married to a Jerusalemite woman who lives in Jerusalem, and he lives in Gaza city, said that his son headed to Erez crossing at 11:00 to go to occupied East Jerusalem to study in Abu Dese University. Mansour’s father added that he received a phone call from his wife’s family informing him that Israeli police informed them that Mansour was arrested, and he is detained in al-Ouz detention center.
- At approximately 16:30, Israeli police stationed adjacent to Bab al-Rahma, one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates, arrested Mohammed Ma’moun al-Sheikh (28), from Ras al-Amoud neighborhood in Silwan village, in the occupied East Jerusalem and took him to a police station in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
- At approximately 21:30, IOF stationed at a temporary military checkpoint, established at the entrance of Jeet village, north of Qalqilya, and arrested Jamila Salman Daghamesh, from Jericho.
Monday, 27 July 2020:
- At approximately 01:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into al-Samoua’ village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched three houses and arrested (3) civilians: Eisa Mohammed al-Hawameda (25), Mohammed Ibrahim al-Hawameda (29), and Ayman Ali Abu ‘Arqoub (30).
- At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Silat al-Thuhr village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Maher Abdul Latif al-Akhras (49).
- Around the same time, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Emara Abdul Latif Fashafisha (29).
- At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Anata village and Shu’fat refugee camp in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians: Ya’qoub Qawasmi, Abdullah al-Bakri, Ali al0Rashq, and Ra’fat Kayali.
- At approximately 07:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles and bulldozers, moved 100-meters in al-Shawka village, east of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. They combed and leveled lands along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
- At approximately 11:00, IOF stationed at Hawara military checkpoint, on the eastern entrance of Nablus, north of the West Bank, arrested Oday Yehya Hamada (18), from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 19:00, IOF stationed at Hawara military checkpoint, on the eastern entrance of Nablus, north of the West Bank, arrested Baker Emran Hashash (21), from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. IOF took him to an unknown destination.
- IOF carried out (5) incursions in Sebastya and Rujeib in Nablus; al-Zababeda, east of Jenin; Beit Kahel and Hebron in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Thursday, 28 July 2020:
- At approximately 01:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Abed Owaida Misk’s (39) house and arrested him.
- At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Aqabat Jabr Refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. They raided and searched three houses and broke the back window of Jamal Sukkar’s vehicle, while storming his house, and arrested Mahmoud Sami Abu Atta (28).
- At approximately 07:00, IOF moved into Wad Qaddoum neighborhood, in Silwan, in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Nidal Abd al-Wadoud Dandis’s house and arrested his two sons: Obada (23) and Oday (18). It should be noted that Obada is a former prisoner who spent 50-months in the Israeli prisons and was released last January.
- IOF carried out (7) incursions in Nablus, Sebastya, and Qublan in Nablus governorate; Um al-Tout village, east of Jenin; Deir Samit, Nouba, and Yatta villages in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem
- Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property
- On Thursday, 23 July 2020, Israeli authorities demolished 3 stores in Wadi Helwa neighborhood in Silwan village, under the pretext of using the land for public utility. Wadi Hilweh Information Center – Silwan stated that joint crews from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Israeli Municipality and IOF raided Marwan Siyam’s plot of land in Bab al-Magharebah area in Wadi Helwa neighborhood. The municipality staff demolished the 3 stores with manual tools, under the pretext of using the land for public utility. Othman Siyam, a store owner, said that the plot of land belongs to his family and the stores are established on the land before occupying Jerusalem. He added that the Israeli Municipality notified his family in October and November 2019, claiming that the land is for public utility, and his family challenged the municipality decision. Siyam also clarified that his family was shocked when IOF raided the land and vacated the stores to demolish them, upon a decision issued by the legal advisor at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Siyam added that Elad settlement association attempted several times to raid his family land and conducted excavation works on it, but his family confronted them. He said that the municipality notified his family and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority seized the land.
- On Friday, 24 July 2020, Israeli authorities notified to stop construction works in 3 houses in Beit Sakaria village, south of Bethlehem. Hasan Breijieh, Head of the Bethlehem office of Settlement and Wall Resistance Commission, said that IOF moved into Beit Sakaria in the central of “Gush Etizon” settlement, where they distributed 3 cease-construction notices to Mohammed Ibrahim ‘Atallah’s houses, under the pretext of non-licensing. It should be noted that Beit Sakaria village is exposed to a fierce settlement attack, which prevents its residents from urban expansion in order to seize their lands and displace them.
- At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Khelet al-Forn area in southern Hebron. IOF were deployed between Palestinians’ houses while the Israeli Civil Administration officers distributed 2 cease-construction notices, under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C. The 2 notices included: Yousef Suliman al-Hanjory’s residential rooms, kitchen and bathroom built of tin plates on an area of 80 square meters; and Ja’far Mohammed al-Qadi’s tin-plate house and foundations built on an area of 70 square meters.
- At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 27 July 2020, IOF moved into ‘Asirah al-Qabaliyia village, southeast of Nablus. IOF seized equipment and machineries that were working to rehabilitate a street located in the industrial area in Wadi al-Sham, north of the village, under the pretext of working in Area C. These equipment and machineries belong to Shahir Hanini’s company. It is noteworthy that the village local council has been working on this street for almost three years without objection, and yesterday they started paving it.
- On the same day, IOF seized 4 barracks used for breeding livestock in Nahaleen village, west of Bethlehem. Municipality Mayor, Subhi Zaydan, said that IOF moved into ‘Ain Fares area and seized Ibrahim, Mahmoud and Mousa Hasan Shakarna’s barracks. It should be noted that Nahaleen village is exposed to recurrent attacks by IOF and settlers, in addition to distributing cease-construction notices and leveling agricultural lands.
- At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 28 July 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Kherbet Bereen, west of Bani Na’iem village in eastern Hebron. IOF were deployed between Palestinians’ houses while Israeli Civil Administration officers stopped a truck belongs to Hebron Municipality and confiscated it. Also, IOF distributed 2 demolition notices to ‘Imran Burqan’s old cave used for breeding animals and to Yousef al-‘Ajlouni’s barn built of tin plates and bricks, under the pretext of non-licensing.
- At approximately 11:30, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into Ethna village. The Israeli Civil Administration officers distributed 3 cease-construction notices to:
- ‘Abed al-Rahman ‘Abed al-Fattah Tamizy (80)’s 300-square-meter barrack built of tin plates and used for breeding livestock.
- Rezeq Mohammed Isma’il Salimiyia’s 40-square-meter agricultural room built of concrete and roofed with tin plates.
- Fadel Ahmed ‘Abed al-Fattah Salimiyia’s 45-square-meter agricultural room built of concrete and roofed with tin plates.
- On the same day, IOF accompanied with Israeli Municipality staff moved into al-‘Issawiyia village in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli military construction vehicles leveled 14 dunums and demolished 5 barracks. Mohammed Abu al-Humus, Member of al-‘Issawiyia Follow-up Committee, said that, IOF accompanied with Israeli Municipality staff leveled lands in northern and western of al-‘Issawiyia village and detained vehicles parked near the lands. IOF also confiscated sheep, horses and dogs from the area.
- On the same day, Eyad Abu Subieh was forced to vacate his house in Silwan village in occupied East Jerusalem as a prelude to self-demolish it upon a decision issued by the Israeli Supreme Court. Abu Subieh said that: ” I was shocked when Israeli municipality bulldozers raided my house and vacated it 2 weeks ago. I headed to the Israeli Supreme Court to challenge and the lawyer managed to delay the demolition for 21 days. During this period, I appealed the demolition decision before the court, but in vain.”
In the evening, IOF placed mobile houses in lands, which were previously leveled in Kisan village, east of Bethlehem. Hasan Breijieh, Head of the Bethlehem office of Settlement and Wall Resistance Commission, said that IOF placed 2 mobile houses in Kisan village lands, near “Ebi Hanahel” settlement.
- At approximately 23:00, IOF moved into al-Zawiyia village, west of Salfit. They handed Ibrahim Mostafa As’ad Shoqair a notice to demolish his agricultural room in the western area, under the pretext of being in Area C.
- Israeli Settler Violence
- On Thursday, 23 July 2020, Israeli settlers, from ” Price Tag group”, attacked Ayman ‘Abdullah Zitawi’s quarry in Jama’een village, southeast of Nablus. Also, the settlers vandalized the quarry walls with racist slogans, set a digger and a bulldozer ablaze and fled later.
- On Monday, 27 July 2020, Israeli settlers moved into al-Bireh city , where they set al-Bar and al-Ihsan mosque ablaze and vandalized its walls with racist slogans. Mayor of al-Bireh municipality, ‘Azzam Isma’il, said that Israeli settlers moved into the city, vandalized the mosque’s interior walls and set its facilities ablaze. The imam of the mosque, Sheikh Ghassan Abdul Salam al-‘Adassi, said that at approximately 03:00, he went to the mosque before dawn prayer. When he arrived at the mosque, he smelled a smoke from the mosque’s facilities. He entered the bathrooms and saw fire flames. Al-‘Adassi said that flammable materials were poured through the bathroom window on the floor. He also said: ” I immediately called the civil defense to put out the fire and they informed us that there was a defect in the mosque’s electrical wires“.
- On Tuesday, 28 July 2020, 70 sheep died after they were poisoned while grazing them in a pastoral area, close to “Naamat” settlement, northeast of Jericho. The sheep’s owner accused the settlers of intentionally poisoning his sheep. According to information obtained by PCHR’s fieldworker that Ahmed Khaled Zawahra (78) headed to a pastoral area in al-‘Ojah village, near “Naamat” settlement, to graze his sheep. In afternoon, Zawahra took his 110 sheep and returned to the barn. After that, he was shocked when he saw his sheep died together within few minutes. He immediately brought a veterinarian to treat them , and it turned out the sheep were poisoned. As a result, 70 sheep died while the rest sustained pain.
IV. 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 goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. IOF established 30 temporary checkpoints, where they searched Palestinians’ vehicles, checked their IDs and arrested 9 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-Bireh:
- On Friday, 24 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Jalazone refugee camp and at the entrances to al-Nabi Salah and Kufur Malek villages.
- On Saturday, 25 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beitin, Dir Abu Mish’al and ‘Aboud villages.
Jericho:
- On Friday, 24 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Jericho.
Hebron:
- On Thursday, 23 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp, and at the entrances to Ethna and al-Daheriya villages.
- On Friday, 24 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Bani Na’im, Sa’ir and al-Jalajil villages.
- On Saturday, 25 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints on ‘Oyoun Abu Saif road and at the entrance to al-Dahiriyia village.
- On Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Samou’a and Bani Na’iem villages.
- On Monday, 27 July 2020, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron, at the northern entrance to Yatta, and at the entrances to al-Daheriya and Ethna villages.
Jenin:
- On Friday, 25 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at ‘Araba village intersection, southwest of Jenin.
- On Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at Romana village entrance, west of Jenin.
Salfit:
- At approximately 09:50 on Friday, 24 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfit, where they checked Palestinians’ IDs.
- At approximately 16:10 on Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Dir Istiya village, north of Salfit.
Qalqilya:
- On Thursday, 23 July 2020, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to ‘Azoun and ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb villages, and between Jayyous and ‘Azoun villages, east of Qalqilya.
- On Sunday, 26 July 2020, IOF established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jeet village, north of Qalqilya.
[1] Israeli authorities claim that despite the fact that these items are normally used for civilian purposes, it is possible to use them in developing the Palestinian armed groups’ military capacity.
The Israeli occupation authorities demolished or seized 30 Palestinian-owned structures in Area C of the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem for the lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing 25 people and otherwise affecting around 140 others, according to the biweekly Protection of Civilians Report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the occupied Palestinian territory covering the period between 14 and 27 July.
In one incident on 21 July, the Israeli authorities demolished a structure on the outskirts of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, which, according to the Hebron Municipality, was planned to be used as a COVID-19 testing centre.
This and three other structures were demolished using Military Order 1797, which allows the removal of "unauthorized" buildings within 96 hours from the delivery of a notice. Humanitarian and human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concern about this procedure, which largely prevents affected people from being heard before a judicial body.
Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency on 5 March, citing the lack of building permits, the Israeli occupation authorities demolished or seized 19 inhabited homes that were in place prior to that date, displacing 104 Palestinians, said the OCHA report. This follows a commitment by the occupation authorities to suspend the demolition of such structures during the pandemic.
An additional seven inhabited homes were demolished during this period by their owners, following the issuance of demolition orders. Since the start of the emergency, 282 Palestinian structures of all types have been demolished or seized due to lack of building permits, in contravention to international humanitarian law, it said.
Israeli settlers also injured three Palestinians and vandalized a mosque, some 30 trees and other properties during the reporting period, said OCHA. The injuries include two Palestinian men physically assaulted with sticks and stoned in Turmus’ayya village near Ramallah and another in the Israeli-army controlled H2 area of Hebron city.
On 27 July, a mosque in Al Bireh city, adjacent to Ramallah, was set on fire, damaging parts of it, and Hebrew graffiti was painted on its walls. Some 30 olive trees were set on fire or cut down in Turmus’ayya, as well as Burin and Qaryut villages near Nablus in the north of the West Bank, and Sa’ir town, near Hebron. Other properties vandalized include bulldozers and other tools at a quarry in Jamma’in village near Nablus and closed shops in the H2 area of Hebron city.
Also in H2 area in Hebron, and on 21 July, two Palestinian boys, ages 11 and 14 years, were burned and injured, one of them severely, after handling an object that fell from an Israeli aircraft, reportedly during a military training, and ignited. The incident occurred near the boys’ home.
In one incident on 21 July, the Israeli authorities demolished a structure on the outskirts of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, which, according to the Hebron Municipality, was planned to be used as a COVID-19 testing centre.
This and three other structures were demolished using Military Order 1797, which allows the removal of "unauthorized" buildings within 96 hours from the delivery of a notice. Humanitarian and human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concern about this procedure, which largely prevents affected people from being heard before a judicial body.
Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency on 5 March, citing the lack of building permits, the Israeli occupation authorities demolished or seized 19 inhabited homes that were in place prior to that date, displacing 104 Palestinians, said the OCHA report. This follows a commitment by the occupation authorities to suspend the demolition of such structures during the pandemic.
An additional seven inhabited homes were demolished during this period by their owners, following the issuance of demolition orders. Since the start of the emergency, 282 Palestinian structures of all types have been demolished or seized due to lack of building permits, in contravention to international humanitarian law, it said.
Israeli settlers also injured three Palestinians and vandalized a mosque, some 30 trees and other properties during the reporting period, said OCHA. The injuries include two Palestinian men physically assaulted with sticks and stoned in Turmus’ayya village near Ramallah and another in the Israeli-army controlled H2 area of Hebron city.
On 27 July, a mosque in Al Bireh city, adjacent to Ramallah, was set on fire, damaging parts of it, and Hebrew graffiti was painted on its walls. Some 30 olive trees were set on fire or cut down in Turmus’ayya, as well as Burin and Qaryut villages near Nablus in the north of the West Bank, and Sa’ir town, near Hebron. Other properties vandalized include bulldozers and other tools at a quarry in Jamma’in village near Nablus and closed shops in the H2 area of Hebron city.
Also in H2 area in Hebron, and on 21 July, two Palestinian boys, ages 11 and 14 years, were burned and injured, one of them severely, after handling an object that fell from an Israeli aircraft, reportedly during a military training, and ignited. The incident occurred near the boys’ home.
27 july 2020
The Abdullah al-Hourani Center for Studies and Documentation” which is run by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has reported, Sunday, that Israeli soldiers killed 27 Palestinians, including seven children and two women, in addition to wounding 1070 other, and abducted around 2330 Palestinians in the first half of this year, 2020.
The Center stated that the soldiers killed 17 Palestinians in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and ten in the Gaza Strip.
It added that ten of the slain Palestinians were killed in February and that Israel is still holding the bodies of 63 Palestinians, including many who were killed in previous years, in direct violation of International Law.
The Israeli army also abducted 2330 Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, including those who were taken prisoner on the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing in northern Gaza. Among the abducted Palestinians are 304 children and 70 women.
It is worth mentioning that the detainees in Israeli prisons face harsh conditions, constant violations, including torture, collective punishment, and being deprived of basic rights guaranteed by International Law and all related treaties.
700 detainees have various illnesses and serious health conditions, including cancer, and are denied professional and adequate medical attention.
Israel is also holding captive a total of 4700 detainees, including 41 women, 160 children, and about 565 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial.
Also, Israeli soldiers injured 1070 Palestinians, mainly during nonviolent protests against the illegal annexation of their lands, home demolitions, and the isolation of entire villages and towns.
Abdullah al-Hourani Center also said Israel prepared plans for the construction of thousands of colonialist units in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
It added that Israel also demolished 357 Palestinian buildings, including 136 homes and 221 structures, and that %54 of these demolitions took place in Hebron and Jerusalem.
The Center stated that the soldiers killed 17 Palestinians in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and ten in the Gaza Strip.
It added that ten of the slain Palestinians were killed in February and that Israel is still holding the bodies of 63 Palestinians, including many who were killed in previous years, in direct violation of International Law.
The Israeli army also abducted 2330 Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, including those who were taken prisoner on the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing in northern Gaza. Among the abducted Palestinians are 304 children and 70 women.
It is worth mentioning that the detainees in Israeli prisons face harsh conditions, constant violations, including torture, collective punishment, and being deprived of basic rights guaranteed by International Law and all related treaties.
700 detainees have various illnesses and serious health conditions, including cancer, and are denied professional and adequate medical attention.
Israel is also holding captive a total of 4700 detainees, including 41 women, 160 children, and about 565 who are held under the arbitrary Administrative Detention orders without charges or trial.
Also, Israeli soldiers injured 1070 Palestinians, mainly during nonviolent protests against the illegal annexation of their lands, home demolitions, and the isolation of entire villages and towns.
Abdullah al-Hourani Center also said Israel prepared plans for the construction of thousands of colonialist units in the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
It added that Israel also demolished 357 Palestinian buildings, including 136 homes and 221 structures, and that %54 of these demolitions took place in Hebron and Jerusalem.
24 july 2020
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR):
On Wednesday, 22 July 2020, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided Yabous Cultural Centre and Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) in the center of occupied East Jerusalem and confiscated thousands of documents, files, PCs, tablets, and surveillance cameras.
At the same time, IOF raided a house owned by the couple: Rania Elias and Suhail Khouri, Directors of the abovementioned centers, in Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. IOF searched the house and confiscated several devices and private files and arrested both Khouri and Elias.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns IOF’s illegal and systematic violations targeting the presence of Palestinian associations in occupied East Jerusalem and aiming at altering the city’s features.
PCHR calls on the international community to pressure IOF to stop their attacks and attempts to change the city’s features and create Jewish majority in addition to threatening Palestinian presence, last of which was the arrest of Jerusalem’s Mayor a week ago pending investigation, and activating relevant Security Council resolutions, including the resolutions that cancel changing the status of the holy city.
According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 22 July 2020, an Israeli force of the police and Intelligence Service raided Yabous Cultural Centre and ESNCM on al-Zahra’a street in occupied East Jerusalem and confiscated documents, files, PCs, tablets, and surveillance cameras.
Mohammed Maraghah, Director of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, said that an Israeli force of police and Intelligence Service stationed adjacent to ESNCM waiting for the staff to arrive before raiding it, alleging that they have a search warrant from the Israeli police and approved by the court, that allows them to search ESNCM and confiscate the devices and files alleging connection to funding terrorism.
An Israeli force also arrested Dawoud al-Ghoul, Director of Jerusalem Arts Network – Shafaq after raiding his house in Silwan village, and confiscated documents and files.
Maraghah added that IOF confiscated large numbers of files and PCs, financial files of the years from 2014 – 2020, and 7 PCs and all papers from the center. Mraghah also said that about 15 Israeli police and intelligence officers were inside ESNCM, in addition to other forces deployed in its vicinity.
They also confiscated about 21 medium-sized boxes of files and devices from both centers and the surveillance cameras. It should be noted that IOF confiscated devices Khuori and Elias’ house, Directors of both centers.
Maraghah emphasized that IOF raided both centers under the pretext of counter-terrorism and alleged having a search warrant by the Israeli court that allowed them to confiscate any content in the center without explanation. Maraghah pointed out that IOF raided ESNCM auditor’s office in Jerusalem.
For his part, Nasser Oudah, the couple’s lawyer, said that Khouri and Elias were detained at Abu Ghnaim police station, south of occupied East Jerusalem on charges of financing terrorist organizations. They were interrogated for 12 consecutive hours and then released with conditions. As for Dawoud al-Ghoul, Director of Jerusalem Arts Network, his detention was extended until appearing before court the next day.
Israeli authorities claimed during a joint statement by the Israeli spokesperson for the Israeli police in Jerusalem, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, and a spokesperson for the Tax Authority, that the detention was based on a confidential investigation of suspicious violations and serious economic crimes related to income tax evasion, money laundering, and other crimes.
It should be noted that Suhail Khouri (57), contributed in establishing multiple artistic and cultural institutions in Palestine in addition to developing ESNCM with its branches spread across Palestinian cities. As for his wife, Rania Elias, who runs Yabous Cultural Centre, a Palestinian civil society organization founded in 1995 and based in East Jerusalem that aims at reviving the cultural life in the occupied city, and shedding a light on the city’s importance, its Arab identity, history, and its religious, political and cultural influences.
PCHR believes that IOF’s practices are illegal and falls under a systematic policy adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities against occupied East Jerusalem and its associations since its occupation in June 1967, which aims at uprooting Palestinians from the city, deleting their heritage and fighting any proof of their existence and history in the city; changing its features in favor of settlement expansion and to create a Jewish majority and identity to the City to impose facts on the ground that nullify the Palestinian right to it.
PCHR also emphasizes that East Jerusalem is an occupied city and that all measures taken by the Israeli occupation authorities following the occupation of the city in 1967 do not change its legal status as an occupied territory.
PCHR also calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal obligations and ensure Israel’s respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention in the oPt, in accordance with Article (1) of the Convention.
PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community encourages Israel to act as a state above law, and to commit more violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Wednesday, 22 July 2020, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raided Yabous Cultural Centre and Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) in the center of occupied East Jerusalem and confiscated thousands of documents, files, PCs, tablets, and surveillance cameras.
At the same time, IOF raided a house owned by the couple: Rania Elias and Suhail Khouri, Directors of the abovementioned centers, in Beit Hanina village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. IOF searched the house and confiscated several devices and private files and arrested both Khouri and Elias.
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) strongly condemns IOF’s illegal and systematic violations targeting the presence of Palestinian associations in occupied East Jerusalem and aiming at altering the city’s features.
PCHR calls on the international community to pressure IOF to stop their attacks and attempts to change the city’s features and create Jewish majority in addition to threatening Palestinian presence, last of which was the arrest of Jerusalem’s Mayor a week ago pending investigation, and activating relevant Security Council resolutions, including the resolutions that cancel changing the status of the holy city.
According to PCHR’s follow-up, at approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 22 July 2020, an Israeli force of the police and Intelligence Service raided Yabous Cultural Centre and ESNCM on al-Zahra’a street in occupied East Jerusalem and confiscated documents, files, PCs, tablets, and surveillance cameras.
Mohammed Maraghah, Director of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, said that an Israeli force of police and Intelligence Service stationed adjacent to ESNCM waiting for the staff to arrive before raiding it, alleging that they have a search warrant from the Israeli police and approved by the court, that allows them to search ESNCM and confiscate the devices and files alleging connection to funding terrorism.
An Israeli force also arrested Dawoud al-Ghoul, Director of Jerusalem Arts Network – Shafaq after raiding his house in Silwan village, and confiscated documents and files.
Maraghah added that IOF confiscated large numbers of files and PCs, financial files of the years from 2014 – 2020, and 7 PCs and all papers from the center. Mraghah also said that about 15 Israeli police and intelligence officers were inside ESNCM, in addition to other forces deployed in its vicinity.
They also confiscated about 21 medium-sized boxes of files and devices from both centers and the surveillance cameras. It should be noted that IOF confiscated devices Khuori and Elias’ house, Directors of both centers.
Maraghah emphasized that IOF raided both centers under the pretext of counter-terrorism and alleged having a search warrant by the Israeli court that allowed them to confiscate any content in the center without explanation. Maraghah pointed out that IOF raided ESNCM auditor’s office in Jerusalem.
For his part, Nasser Oudah, the couple’s lawyer, said that Khouri and Elias were detained at Abu Ghnaim police station, south of occupied East Jerusalem on charges of financing terrorist organizations. They were interrogated for 12 consecutive hours and then released with conditions. As for Dawoud al-Ghoul, Director of Jerusalem Arts Network, his detention was extended until appearing before court the next day.
Israeli authorities claimed during a joint statement by the Israeli spokesperson for the Israeli police in Jerusalem, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice, and a spokesperson for the Tax Authority, that the detention was based on a confidential investigation of suspicious violations and serious economic crimes related to income tax evasion, money laundering, and other crimes.
It should be noted that Suhail Khouri (57), contributed in establishing multiple artistic and cultural institutions in Palestine in addition to developing ESNCM with its branches spread across Palestinian cities. As for his wife, Rania Elias, who runs Yabous Cultural Centre, a Palestinian civil society organization founded in 1995 and based in East Jerusalem that aims at reviving the cultural life in the occupied city, and shedding a light on the city’s importance, its Arab identity, history, and its religious, political and cultural influences.
PCHR believes that IOF’s practices are illegal and falls under a systematic policy adopted by the Israeli occupation authorities against occupied East Jerusalem and its associations since its occupation in June 1967, which aims at uprooting Palestinians from the city, deleting their heritage and fighting any proof of their existence and history in the city; changing its features in favor of settlement expansion and to create a Jewish majority and identity to the City to impose facts on the ground that nullify the Palestinian right to it.
PCHR also emphasizes that East Jerusalem is an occupied city and that all measures taken by the Israeli occupation authorities following the occupation of the city in 1967 do not change its legal status as an occupied territory.
PCHR also calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal obligations and ensure Israel’s respect for the Fourth Geneva Convention in the oPt, in accordance with Article (1) of the Convention.
PCHR believes that the conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community encourages Israel to act as a state above law, and to commit more violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including efforts to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
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