In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 21- 27 Nov. 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians in Yatta, south of Hebron.In addition, 12 Palestinians were wounded – including a Palestinian child who was wounded in Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah, and 2 Palestinian civilians who were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, in a new crime of extra-judicial execution, on 26 November 2013, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians in Hebron by targeting their vehicle, north of Yatta village, south of the city.
Half an hour later, in an excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in the south of Hebron. After examination of the crime scene, it was found that Israeli forces had opened fire randomly at the victim while he was walking near a targeted house. He was hit by a number of bullets causing his death before he was taken to the hospital. According to medical sources at the hospital, al-Najjar was hit by a bullet to the left side of his chest, 3 bullets to chest and a bullet to the right shoulder. In addition, part of his head was taken out as he was pulled by an Israeli robot.
In the same context, on 23 November 2013, 5 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded when dozens of boys gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, and clashed with Israeli forces.
On 23 November 2013, a Palestinian child was wounded by 2 bullets to the left leg when Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah.
Israeli forces conducted 64 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. At least 46 Palestinians, including 10 children, were abducted in the West Bank.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 23 November 2013, Israeli forces abducted 3 Palestinian children from Gaza valley (Johr al-Deek), as they crossed through the border fence. The children were questioned and then released 3 hours later via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
Israeli navy forces have continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea. 2 Palestinian fishermen were abducted off the fishing port in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people. The Israeli authorities has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.
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.
On 25 November 2013, Israeli forces bulldozed a 300-square meter tin barrack, west of Ezna village, west of Hebron, belonging to Nader Mohammed Mahmoud Faraj Allah under the pretext of having no license, and he was not allowed to vacate his belongings. Israeli forces also confiscated a 410 Mercedes car loaded with pieces of steel.
On the same day, Israeli forces bulldozed a 40-square meter house comprised of a room, kitchen and bathroom belonging to Ashraf Mohammed Yousif al-Batran in al-Ra’s neighborhood, west of the village, and a 160-squre-meter tin barrack under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
On 23 November 2013, a group of settlers, under heavy guard of Israeli forces, attacked members of ‘Awad Faily and number of Israeli solidarity activists from “Co-existence” and “Yashin Dove” movements, while heading to Qweiwes area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. As a result, some of them sustained bruises, and 5 of them, including 3 children, were abducted.
On the same day, a large group of settlers from “Beit Eil” settlement, north of al-Birah, threw stones at Palestinian cars. Israeli soldiers then intervened to control settlers and evacuate them from the aforementioned area. Neither injuries nor vehicle damages were reported.
On 24 November 2013, residents of Borqin village, west of Salfit, found out that a group of settlers from “Brokhin” settlement, chopped down 10 olive trees belonging to ‘Abdullah Mohammed ‘Othman Sheikh ‘Omer (65) in Baqdounis Valley area, north of the aforementioned village.
On 25 November 2013, , a group of settlers from “Givat Ranim” outpost extended from “Brakha” settlement, northeast of Bourin village, south of Nablus, attacked a house belonging to the family of Ghassan Mustafa ‘Emran, at which they threw stones and a Molotov cocktail.
On the same day, Israeli forces confiscated 120 square meters of construction bricks of al-Dirat village, northeast of Yata, south of Hebron, under the pretext of building a mosque without a construction permit.
On 26 November 2013, around 30 settlers from “Nokadim” settlement, east of Taqou’a village, southeast of Bethlehem, and “Tekwa’a” settlement, northeast of the aforementioned village, chopped down around 200 olive trees aged between 30 to 60 years under the Israeli forces’ protection.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank. 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in protests in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, and Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia. 5 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded in al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah.
Moreover, 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 civilians, including a child, were wounded. Two of the civilians were wounded during a protest in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, while the third was wounded during a protest in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah.
Following the Friday Prayer, 22 November 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them in olive fields. As a result, an 18-year-old civilian was wounded by a bullet to the back. Moreover, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the middle of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from passing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity, and they then headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since morning to prevent the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, the demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ma’sara village, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstration started in front of the Candles Cultural Centre in the centre of the village. Demonstrators moved in the streets raising the Palestinian flag. When they arrived at the area where the annexation wall is established, Israeli forces started firing tear gas canisters in attempt to disperse them and prevented the demonstrators from reaching the annexation wall. A number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 12:30 on the same day, Palestinian civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada. Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded. The 17-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the back and the 20-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the belly.
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 UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them.
In addition, the PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfill its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directed targeted the civilian infrastructure
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
