In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 27 March – 02 April 2014, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces wounded 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with one civilian sustaining a bullet wound in the West Bank, as a settler opened fire at him. Israeli navy forces fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the sea 4 times. Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
In the West Bank, Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
In the same context, 6 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during other peaceful demonstrations at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah; Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron; and Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. In addition, 3 women suffered tear gas inhalation during a demonstration at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, on 28 March 2014.
On the same day, an 11-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right leg while he was standing in front of his house in Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron, and was then abducted by Israeli soldiers from his family house.
Israeli forces conducted 68 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 23 Palestinian civilians were abducted. Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 8 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were abducted at checkpoints in the West Bank.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 68 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted at least 23 Palestinians.
On 28 March 2014, Israeli forces maltreated Yusef ‘Allami (52) when they raided his house near Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron. They searched the house and threatened to demolish his house as it was built without a license.
On the same day, Israeli forces maltreated Shadi Seder (31) when they raided his house in Hebron’s Old Town. They sprayed pepper spray into his face and his mother’s. Israeli forces also abducted the aforementioned person, his brother and neighbour.
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 27 March 2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, fired live ammunition and gas canisters at hundreds of Palestinian civilians who organized demonstrations to mark the Land Day. As a result, a 37-year-old journalist and a 20-year-old civilian suffered tear gas inhalation.
On 29 March 2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of youngsters who approached the border fence to throw stones at Israeli soldiers. As a result, an 18-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh. His wound was moderate.
On 31 March 2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east and north of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at dozens of Palestinians who organized a demonstration and headed towards the border fence marking the Land Day. However, no casualties were reported.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, Israeli navy forces opened fire 4 times at Palestinian fishing boats on 29 and 31 March and 01 April 2014, but no casualties were reported.
Israel continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 30 March 2014, a 24-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg when a settler opened fire at him on ‘Yitzhar’ bypass road.
Israel continued efforts to create a Jewish majority in the occupied East Jerusalem. Two civilians were obliged to demolish two residential barracks of their own.
A Palestinian sustained a bullet wound as a settler opened fire at him.
8 residential tents and 4 livestock barns were demolished.
18 civilian facilities in the Northern Jordan Valley were demolished, due to which 38 civilians, including 22 children, became homeless.
7 residential rooms, south of Hebron, were demolished, due to which 95 civilians became homeless.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
In the same context, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during other protests organized at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah; Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron; and Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia. Three women suffered tear gas inhalation during a demonstration at the southern entrance of al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah, on 28 March 2014.
Following the Friday Prayer, 28 March 2014, 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 the morning in order to prevent 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 into the olive fields. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre 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 barbed wire and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it, before they responded by throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unified resistance and, then, they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force, near “Halamish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village, since the morning, to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the land, 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, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten by Israeli soldiers.
On Friday, 28 March 2014, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Of the wounded were three women: Amina Taleb Mohammed ‘Attari (82); Sabrin Malek Mohammed Attari (25); and Majeda Issa Attiya Abu Aisha (54).
On the same day, dozens of young Palestinian men gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village, near Street (60), to throw stones at the aforementioned street. In response, Israeli soldiers attempted to raid houses overlooking the area in which the clashes occurred, to turn them into military sites, but residents of the houses denied them access to their houses. As a result, two civilians were wounded and then taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive the necessary medical treatment. The first 26-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and the second 18-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right knee. Moreover, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers also stopped a vehicle driven by Mohammed Omar Hamed (20) and obliged him to step out. When they asked his brother Nabil (22), who is handicapped due to a previous injury in the spine by Israeli forces, to step out as well, they attacked him with their gun butts on his shoulder. Mohammed was taken to Ofer detention facility, but he was released at approximately 21:00.
At approximately 13:30, a peaceful demonstration was organized by dozens of Palestinians in Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron. They raised Palestinian flags and chanted patriot slogans. When they approached Asida area, about 300 meters away from the village’s entrance, Israeli forces deployed and started firing sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets in response. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation. In the meantime, military vehicles accompanied by a vehicle to spray wastewater moved into the village. The vehicle sprayed wastewater over stores at the entrance of the village. In addition, Israeli soldiers chased boys in al-Shaikh and al-Zahlaqan neighbourhoods and fired live ammunition indiscriminately. As a result, Qais Mohammed Kamel Abu Maria (11) sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh, as Israeli soldiers fired at him from a distance of 10 meters, while he was standing in front of his house. The child entered inside, but Israeli soldiers raided the house and abducted him. When his mother intervened, an Israeli soldier pushed her away and she lost consciousness. The child was taken to ‘Kfar Etzion’ settlement. He was offered first aid and then delivered to a Palestinian ambulance that took him to Hebron Hospital. It was found that he sustained a deep wound. He was offered the necessary medical treatment and then discharged.
The child said to a PCHR fieldworker: ‘I am a 5th-grade student in Hettin school. Our house is about 300 meters away from the Israeli surveillance site at the entrance of the village. At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 30 March 2014, I heard gunfire around the house. Other students at school told me it was the Land Day, so I realized clashes had erupted. I went out to see what was happening. I was standing on a high place about 10 meters away from the house. I saw students throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. The boys asked me to go away, so I approached the house door. I saw a soldier who took position and fired at me from a distance of about 10 meters. I felt something had hit my left thigh from the back. I ran towards the house, but the same soldier raided the house and pointed his gun at me, my mother Feryal (34) and uncle Sajed (38). He caught me from the back and pulled me to the outside. My mother tried to stop him but it vain. He took me to the military watchtower although I kept telling him that my leg was hurting. Another soldier pulled my hair and another one slapped me on the face and hit me by a gun butt to my back. The soldier pulled me from my hair to the watchtower and then forced me to get into a jeep. My mother hurried to help me, but a soldier pushed her away and she lost consciousness. They offered me first aid in the jeep. I stayed there for about 3 hours. A PRCS’s ambulance arrived then and took me to Hebron Hospital.’
At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 29 March 2014, 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 to mark the Land Day. Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded and 2 others suffered tear gas inhalation. Khaled Morad Ishtaiwi (9) sustained a bullet wound to the right leg; a 17-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the back and a 23-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
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 calls on States which apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction in perpetuating the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals.
The PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trade with them.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
