In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 02 – 08 May 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded during incursions in the West Bank. Another 4 were wounded while Israeli forces protected settlers attacking Palestinian civilians. 3 protesters, including a woman and a 9-year old girl, were wounded during peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities.Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 79 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 45 Palestinians, including 3 children.
On 03 May 2013, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded during Israeli incursions in the south of Hebron and in Beitummar, north of Hebron.
On 04 May 2013, in Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah, Israeli forces wounded 4 civilians while offering protection to Israeli settlers as they carried out attacks.
6 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
On Sunday, 05 May 2013, Israeli forces placed two evacuation notices related to hundreds of dunums of land, which is the property of the al-‘Omla, al-Saraheen and al-Atrash families in the Khelat al-Theeb area, west of Beit Oula village, in the west of Hebron.
On Monday, 06 May 2013, Israeli forces handed notices to a number of civilians ordering them to halt construction work on their houses in Deir Nizam village, in the northwest of Ramallah, under that pretext that they had begun building without obtaining a permit.
On Tuesday, 07 May 2013, Israeli forces bulldozed 68 dunums of land, 6 water wells, 3,420 metres of stone walls, and 2,400 metres of electricity wires and poles in Tarqoumia and Beit Oula village, in the west of Hebron. In addition, they uprooted and confiscated 3,000 trees: 750 olive trees; 2,100 almond trees; and 150 grape vines. Additionally, Israeli forces bulldozed a dwelling in al-Qoum village, in the south of Hebron.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli forces bulldozed an agricultural shed and a caravan in Mikhmas village, in the southeast of Ramallah.
On Wednesday, 08 May 2013, Israeli forces bulldozed two houses, which were made of bricks, wood and tin, in al-Najada neighbourhood, north of al-‘Ouja village, in the northeast of Jericho.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to pursue fishermen at sea. On 06 May 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were around 3 nautical miles offshore. Similar incidents took place on 07 May 2013. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
On 03 May 2013, Israeli forces positioned along the eastern borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at a group of people who were picnicking near al-Shuhada’ cemetery, east of Jabalia. No casualties were reported.
On 05 May 2013, Israeli forces positioned along the border fence opened fire at some gravel and steel collectors who were about 300 metres away from the border fence, north of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip. However, no casualties were reported.
Also this week in Gaza, 2 Palestinians were abducted at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a woman and a child, were wounded. The woman and child were wounded during the weekly protest in al-Nabi Saleh, while the third person was wounded during the weekly protest in Budrus, northwest of Ramallah.
Palestinian civilians organised many peaceful protests in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike. Israeli forces used excessive force against the protestors; as a result, many civilians, including the mayor of Ramallah and al-Bireh, suffered from tear gas inhalation, while others sustained bruises.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
68 dunums of land, 3,000 trees, 6 water wells, and 3,420-metres of stone walls were demolished in the west of Hebron. A tin dwelling, and 2,400-metres of electricity wires and poles were demolished in Hebron. 2 houses were demolished in Jericho, and an agricultural shed and a caravan were demolished in Ramallah.
On Thursday, 02 May 2013, a group of settlers from ‘Ofra’ settlement, established on the lands of Yabroud, Silwad and Deir Jarir villages, in the northeast of Ramallah, broke the branches of 35 olive trees, which were between 15 and 20 years old. The land in question is located in the al-Karm al-‘Ateeq area, west of Deir Jarir village, approximately 1,500 meters to the east of the afore-mentioned settlement.
On Saturday, 04 May 2013, settlers from ‘Beitar Illit’ settlement, established on Palestinian land in the west of Bethlehem, threw stones at Ahmed Abdul-Salam al-Za’oul (25) from Housan village, in the west of the governorate, while he was passing through the intersection with the afore-mentioned settlement. As a result, he sustained minor cuts.
On Saturday, approximately 300 settlers attacked the homes of Palestinian civilians in ‘Ayn Ayoub area, west of Ras Karkar village, in the northwest of Ramallah.
On Sunday, 05 May 2013, a group of settlers, under the protection of Israeli forces and accompanied by military vehicles, raided Yousif Grave area, in the east of Nablus. The settlers stayed in the area for a while and performed some Talmudic rituals.
In the meantime, a group of settlers from ‘Aad’ settlement, established on the land of Jaloud village, in the southeast of Nablus, attacked the homes of Palestinian civilians near the entrance to the village, while under the protection of Israeli forces. Settlers rioted in the area, intimidating the civilians who live there, and threw Molotov cocktails in the area surrounding the houses.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the international community and the United Nations use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;
The PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip;
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
