Escalated violence against the Palestinian people and their property, by both Israeli military and civilians, continued on Thursday, with reports of violations and abuses surfacing throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military vehicles invaded farmlands east of Khuza’a, located to the east of Khan Younes, in southern Gaza Strip, on Thursday.
Five Israeli tanks and two bulldozers infiltrated the area, going about 200 meters into a region located to the east of Khuza’a, where they leveled land and opened fire on nearby houses as reconnaissance drones patrolled the area.
Israeli forces routinely raze Palestinian lands near the borders of Gaza Strip, deeming them off-limits to Palestinians and regularly opening fire on Palestinian farmers who approach this area.
In the video below, farmers returning to farm the land in Abassan, where Israeli soldiers had opened fire on them 2 days previously, were able to harvest their parsley crop for only half an hour before soldiers again began to shoot.
A number of shots were fired into the air before the soldiers started to aim in the direction of the farmers and international support.
North of Ramallah, Israeli forces brutally assaulted four farmers Thursday morning, near the village of Aboud.
Stationed in a military camp established on lands seized from Aboud villagers, forces detained and brutally assaulted the farmers as they attempted to work their lands near the camp.
The farmers sustained multiple wounds and injuries and were subsequently hospitalized.
In the Bethlehem region, Israeli settlers uprooted scores of olive saplings, Thursday, from Palestinian-owned land near Wadi Rahhal village, to the south of Bethlehem, said a local activist.
The settlers uprooted 50 olive saplings in an area known as Khalit al-Nahli, near the village of Wadi Rahhal, according to Coordinator of the Anti-wall and Settlement Popular Committee in Bethlehem District Hassan Breijah.
The settlers broke into and razed the area, built a room using tin sheets and wood, and prevented the farmers from accessing their lands before proceeding to destroy the saplings.
According to WAFA, an Israeli court had previously ruled in favor of Palestinian landowners against Israeli settlers’ attempts to take it over.
Also near Bethlehem, the army served demolition notices for property belonging to three people in Al-Khader, according to a local activist.
Coordinator of Anti-wall and Settlement Resistance Committee, Ahmad Salah, said Israeli forces and ‘Civil Administration’ officers stormed ‘Um Rukbah’, an area located to the south of Al-Khader, serving demolition notices for structures used as a car wash, paint and maintenance shop as well as a barn belonging to three citizens.
The citizens were given 45 days to demolish their property.
Salah noted that Um Rukbah is the only area where residents of Al-Khader are allowed to engage in construction. For the past several years, this area has been targeted by Israel, which has been systematic in carrying out demolitions and serving demolition orders.
Furthermore, Israeli forces seized marble slabs from a store in Husan, located to the west of Bethlehem.
Member of Husan Village Council Taha Hamamra said that Israeli forces seized marble slabs that were placed in front of their owners’ store near Wadi Fukin junction, seizing a bulldozer and excavator used for the construction of agricultural roads, in addition.
Just east of Hebron, Israeli settlers pelted Palestinians travelling along Road 60 with stones, causing damage to their vehicles.
The settlers are reported to have come from ‘Kharsina’, an illegal Israeli settlement built on Palestinian-owned land near Hebron.
No injuries were reported among the passengers.
Furthermore, in the Hebron district, Israeli forces stormed and sealed off at-Tabaqa village, located to the southwest of Hebron.
The army invaded the village, sealing off its access roads, before launching a large-scale search in the villagers’ houses.
Meanwhile, forces sealed off Kharsa junction, located to the south of Doura, as well as the road which connects the villages, in the southwest of Doura.
Yesterday morning, Israeli forces closed down the Islamic soccer club in Qalqilya, according to a local source.
Mahmoud Qashmar, member of the club’s information committee, said that the army stormed the club and secured it with red tape, which is to remain until the end of this year.
He noted that they could not enter the club to find out if any items were seized by the soldiers.
The club, which is considered the most prominent club in Palestine, had been closed down by Israeli forces, back in 2008, before it went back into operation in 2011, according to WAFA.
Several of the club soccer players had been arrested by Israeli forces, the last one at a border crossing with Jordan as he made his way back home from a Doha soccer league.
International acitivists have gained recent recognition by calling for suspension of Israel’s membership in the Israeli Football Association, until Israel respects the human rights of Palestinians and observes international law, thus enabling Palestinian footballers to play and compete nationally and internationally.
The Israeli occupation specifically impacts on Palestinian football by restricting movement of players within the West Bank, between the West Bank and Gaza, preventing them from taking part in international competitions. Israel also limits imports of vital sporting equipment.
Players have been harassed, detained, imprisoned and killed.
