Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (23 – 29 October 2014).Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, in the central West Bank. Moreover, they wounded 18 civilians, including an American human rights activist, 5 children and a cameraman of Palestine TV in occupied East Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces severely wounded a bird hunter in the north of the Gaza Strip, while Israeli navy forces continued to open fire and chase Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
In the West Bank, on 24 October 2014, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child holding an American passport by a bullet to the neck, and wounded another one during a protest at the entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, in protest at the Israeli attacks in al-Aqsa mosque.
On the same day, during similar protests, Israeli forces wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children; 3 of whom, including a child, were wounded in a protest around Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah, while the other 3 ones, including 2 children, were wounded during a protest in the vicinity of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement, north of the city.
On 25 October 2014, a 17-year-old male from al-Jalazonerefugee camp, was wounded in a protest organized in the vicinity of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement, north of the city, while a 20-year-old male was wounded in a similar protest organized at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of the city.
In occupied East Jerusalem, on 23 October 2014, Palestine TV cameraman sustained bullet wound to the right hand while filming a protest organized by Palestinian youngsters in al-Sawana and Wadi al-Jouz neighbourhoods, east of the Old City. Moreover, another civilian sustained a bullet wound to the thigh during a protest in Shu’fat neighbourhood, north of the city.
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful protests 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, an American human rights activist sustained burns as she was hit by a gas canister in Bil’in weekly protest, west of Ramallah on 24 October 2014. In addition, 2 Palestinian protestors were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, on 26 October 2014.
On 28 October 2014, 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded; wounds of one of whom were serious, when Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, south of Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian civilians in the border area. On 29 October 2014, a bird hunter was severely wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of bird hunters who were present near the said fence.
On 23 October 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a fishing boat sailing about 1.5 nautical miles off the fishing harbor in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the boat belonging to fishermen from Baker family in Gaza City caught fire. No casualties were reported.
On 25 October 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at and chased fishing boats sailing from 1 to 6 nautical miles in the sea over 15 times, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Incursions
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 62 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 72 Palestinians, including 5 children and a woman. 27 of those civilians, including 4 children and a woman, were arrested in Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, while attempting to sneak into Israel in search for work via the border fence, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on 25 October 2014.
Restrictions on movement
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been 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 grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have 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. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient who obtained a permit to travel to the West Bank for medical treatment, while another civilian accompanying his father was arrested while the father was denied travel for medical treatment.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority
On 28 October 2014, Israeli forces demolished a house belonging to Nader Hussam Sharif in Salah al-Dein Street in the Old City in Jerusalem.
On 29 October 2014, bulldozers of Israeli municipality of Jerusalem destroyed a residential room, storage houses, and barracks belonging to Khaled al-Zir in al-‘Abbasya neighborhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem.
On 23 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem after announcing the death of Abdel Rahaman al-Shaloudi, who was shot by a guard in the light train station after his car went off track and hit a number of people on 22 October 2014 in al-sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas canisters heavily in response and beat up a number of them.
On 24 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Isawia village, northeast of Jerusalem. Youths gathered and set fire to tires wheels and threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded by firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse them.
Furthermore, Israeli forces moved into al-Swana neighborhood and Wadi al-Jouz. As a result, a cameraman for Palestine TV, sustained a bullet wound to his right hand. Israeli forces raided many houses and attacked women and children. As a result, ‘Awni Eseida (12) sustained wounds to his abdomen Naser Iseida (47) sustained a fractured hand. They also attacked Adnan Iseida, an elderly who suffers a bad heart condition. Before their withdrawal, Israeli forces arrested 5 civilians and took them to an unknown destination.
In addition, Israeli forces moved into Shufat neighborhood after Palestinian youths threw stones at an Israeli police car which was parked in al-Sahel Street. They opened fire at the youth and wounded a civilian.
On the same day, Israeli forces moved into al-Wad neighborhood in the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses and arrested 5 civilians.
On 25 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of Jerusalem. Israelis responded by firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. Furthermore, they arrested 3 civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination.
On 26 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem. Israeli fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. They also arrested Maher Samer Sarhan (13) and took him to an unknown destination. Moreover, Israeli forces moved into al-Thari neighborhood, east of the Old City in Jerusalem and raided a number of houses. They arrested 4 civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination.
On 27 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians from the guards of al-Aqsa mosque and took them to al-Qishla investigation center: Ashraf Abu Irmeila and ‘Arafat Najeeb.
On 28 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Muhammed al-Zaghel (17) near his school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of the Old City. When his aunt Hanan Abu Asab came to check on the child in the investigation center, Israeli forces arrested her as well. They also raided a house belonging to Amin Siam in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood and arrested him and his brother Wisam and Muein Hidda.
Israeli Settlement activities
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, in a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 26 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-Markaz area, backed by bulldozers of the Israeli Civil Administration. They handed Mahmoud Ali al-Najjar a notice to stop construction in a tin Barracks in the pretext of illegal construction in area C.
On 27 October 014, Israeli forces moved into Kherbat Um Ulkheir, south of Hebron. They deployed in the agricultural lands near the area. They forces residents to leave their homes in the pretext of not having a construction permit. The demolishing operation included 6 houses. Forty people have become homeless.
On 29 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Khashem al-Darraj, north of Yatta. They bulldozed a house, a bathroom, a cave for housing animals, and fence of an animal barn.
Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized 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, 22-year-old Camay, an American human rights activist, sustained burns to the belly as she was hit by a gas canister during Bil’in weekly protest, west of Ramallah on 24 October 2014. Furthermore, 2 Palestinian protestors were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya, on 26 October 2014.
In the same context, a Palestinian child holding an American passport was killed in a protest at the entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah.
(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded in fear of being arrested by the Israeli forces within its policy to oppress the peaceful protests and prevent Palestinian civilians from participating).
Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity
· Following the Friday Prayer on 24 October 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests. The protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli soldiers 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 waste water at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, 22-year-old Camay, an American human rights activist, sustained burns to the belly as she was hit by a gas canister. In addition, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
· 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. The 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 crossing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up 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. The demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then they 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 the morning to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the aforementioned 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, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
· Also at approximately 13:20, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, several protestors suffered tear gas inhalation. Moreover, Israeli forces sprayed skunk water at civilians and houses around and used bulldozers to gather stones in front of houses in the main road, but no further incidents were reported.
· At approximately 12:00 on Sunday, 26 October 2014, Palestinian civilians and a number of participants in the popular resistance conference made their way in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya towards the eastern entrance of the village, which was closed. Israeli forces immediately fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, 2 civilians sustained wounds. The first 45-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the back and the second 19-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
Other Demonstrations
· On Friday afternoon, 24 October 2014, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child holding an American passport and wounded another civilian during a protest at the entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, in protest at the Israeli attacks at al-Aqsa mosque.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and statements of eyewitnesses, on the abovementioned day, dozens of youngsters gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah near road (60) in protest at the Israeli policies. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs in response. As a result, 15-year-old Orwa Abdul Wahab Abdul Ghani Khaleq (Hammad) sustained a bullet wound to the left side of his neck. The bullet exited from the back of the neck. The abovementioned boy was taken by ambulance to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. Doctors tried to revive him in the intensive care unit, but failed. Medical sources pronounced him dead in the evening. It should be noted the victim holds an American passport. Moreover, an 18-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right knee and a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
· On Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinians youngsters gathered from different areas in Ramallah in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah, to protest at the Israeli practices in al-Aqsa mosque. They headed to the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded and dozens of others suffered tear gas inhalation. A 16-year-old male and an 18-year-old male both sustained bullet wounds to the left thighs and a 20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right elbow.
· On Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, about 300 meters away from ‘Beit Eil’ settlement, in protest at the Israeli practices in al-Aqsa mosque. The protestors threw stones at the fence of the settlement, due to which, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded and others suffered tear gas inhalation. The first 16-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg, a 16-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and a 24-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh.
· On Saturday, 25 October 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, about 300 meters away from ‘Beit Eil’ settlement, in protest at the Israeli practices in al-Aqsa mosque. The protestors threw stones at the fence of the settlement, due to which, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a 17-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and others suffered tear gas inhalation.
· On Saturday afternoon, dozens of Palestinian young 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. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a 20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left knee and dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
· On Sunday, 26 October 2014, following the funeral of 16-year-old Orwa Hammad from Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, who was killed on Friday, 24 October 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians 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. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
· On Sunday afternoon, dozens of Palestinian youngsters gathered near Attarah checkpoint, north of Birzait village, north of Ramallah. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas canisters.
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar (‘Karni’) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated for 9 months due to the closure of Karm Abu Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza per day. This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter. The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of electricity. The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzene to run generators. As a result, the demand for gas further increased.
For almost 6 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations in the Gaza Strip. On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the private sector. However, on 13 October 2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing tunnels. Last week, Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP projects. As a result, construction works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and an increase in unemployment levels. During the 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, Israeli authorities did not allow the entry of any construction materials. As a result, vital and infrastructure projects have been obstructed so far.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 23 October 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Masha’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They arrested ‘Asem Kheir Suleiman Barghouthi (17) from the aforementioned village and took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 20:10 on Friday, 24 October 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Qalqilya and arrested Walid Samih Anis Sweilim (33) and Rezeq Ahmed Zeid Hibla (33) from the aforementioned city, then took them to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 27 October 2014, Israeli forces stationed at the gates of the Ibrahimian Mosque, at the center f the Old City in Hebron, arrested ‘Alaa Taisir al-Rajbi (16) in the pretext of attempting to stab a soldier. He was taken to the police station of “Kiryat Araba” settlement.
· At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 29 October 2014, Israeli infantry force moved into Ziad Jaber School and arrested Baraa ‘Aref al-Jabri (12) in the pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. He was taken to the police station of “Kiryat Araba” settlement.
· A Palestinian patient arrested at Erez crossing:
At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 27 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Ribhi Abu Khalifeh (31) from Jabalia village in the Northern Gaza Strip, when he was heading for a surgical operation in al-Mizan Medical Center in the West Bank. The aforementioned suffers stiffness in his spine since he was a child. Israeli forces told Khitam Said Abu Khalifeh, stepmother of the aforementioned who escorted him, to return to the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned patient is still in Israeli custody.
· A Palestinian arrested and his father banned from traveling to Jerusalem through Erez for treatment:
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesdasy, 28 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested Hassan Muhammad Hassan Muhanna (39), from Tal al-Sultan area in Rafah, when he was escorting his father Muhammad Hassan al-‘Assi Muhanna (72) on their way to Jerusalem for treatment at al-Maqased hospital. Muhanned Muhammad Muahnna, the detainee’s brother, told PCHR that at approximately 13:00, he lost contact with his brother. On the same day, he received a call from the Palestinian liaison at Erez crossing. They told him his father is to be returned to the European hospital in the Gaza Strip despite the medical reference to al-Maqased hospital that he had obtained and the permit to travel through Erez that he had been granted. His father told him his brother was in Israeli custody.
Efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem
· At approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, 28 October 2014, Israeli forces demolished a house belonging to Nader Hussam Sharif in Salah al-Dein Street in the Old City in Jerusalem. The aforementioned civilian told PCHR that the owner of the house is the grandmother of Abdel Rahaman al-Shaloudi, who Israeli forces claimed he deliberately killed an Israeli child and an Ecuadorian woman in the 22 October 2014 car accident. The family had received a notice to demolish their house two years ago. However, the family was surprised when the occupation municipality staffs came without prior warning.
· At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 29 October 2014, bulldozers of Israeli municipality of Jerusalem destroyed a residential room, storage houses, and barracks belonging to Khaled al-Zir in al-‘Abbasya neighborhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem.
Israeli police and Special Forces accompanied by Nature Authority staffs, Israeli occupation municipality, and bulldozers in addition to a helicopter, moved into Silwan village and deployed heavily in al-‘Abbasya neighborhood. They raided a room belonging got Khaled al-Zir and arrested him and his brother Fahmi after beating them up. They also destroyed tin barraks of an area of 12 square meters to house horses and sheep. It should be noted that al-Zir house was destroyed previously in 2013, so he had to live in a cave in his land with his family of 7 members. The Israeli Nature Authority claimed that the land is an archeological site. He had to build himself and his family a small room.
· At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 23 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem after announcing the death of Abdel Rahman al-Shaloudi, who was shot by a guard in the light train station after his car went off track and hit a number of people on 22 October 2014 in al-sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas canisters heavily in response and beat up a number of them.
· At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 24 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Isawia village, northeast of Jerusalem. Youths gathered, set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded by firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters to disperse them. Fuad Obeid, the director of the Arab Paramedic Union, told PCHR that ambulance staffs evacuated 7 buildings in which 20 families reside. Among the families is the Jamjoum family whose house and furniture caught fire. Taisir Jamjoum (63) sustained tear gas inhalation in addition to his pregnant wife, their 4 children. Harima Hamdan (63) also suffered tear gas inhalation. They were all treated in Hadasah hospital.
· At approximately 14:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces moved into al-Swana neighborhood and Wadi al-Jouz area after a group of Palestinian youth threw stones and fireworks after the death of Abdel Rahaman al-Shaloudi. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, Nader Baibars, a photojournalist for Palestine TV, sustained a bullet wound to his right hand. Israeli forces moved into many houses and attacked women and children. As a result, ‘Awni Eseida (12) sustained wounds to his abdomen Naser Iseida (47) sustained a fractured hand. They also attacked Adnan Iseida, an elderly who suffers a bad heart condition. Before their withdrawal, Israeli forces arrested 5 civilians and took them to an unknown destination: Hazem Ahmed Iseida (22); Ahmed Ali al-Salaima (19); Shadi Yousif Abu Remeila (21); Abdel Hafez Tawfiq Zablah (23); Muhammad Omar Abu ‘Asab (19).
· At approximately 16:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces moved into Shufat neighborhood after Palestinian youths threw stones at an Israeli police car which was parked in al-Sahel Street. They opened fire at the youth and wounded a civilian.
· At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Wad neighborhood in the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses and arrested 5 civilians: Ahmed Mustafa Sub Laban, a field worker who was covering the vent; Nawras Muhammad Abu Ghazala; Abdullah Ahmed Da’ana; Anas Ibrahim Tuffaha; Muhammad Ibrahim Tuffaha; and Muhammad Abdel Rahim Kamela.
· At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 25 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanina neighborhood, north of Jerusalem, after dozens of Palestinian youths set fire o tires protesting the death of Abdel Rahaman al-Shaloudi. Israelis responded by firing rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. Furthermore, they arrested 3 civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination: Qusai Shwiki (20); Sameh Naser Najeeb (17); and his brother Muhammad (19).
· At approximately 19:00 on Sunday, 26 October 2014, Israeli ofrcesw moved into Silwan village, south of the Old City in Jerusalem. Israeli fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. They also arrested Maher Samer Sarhan (13) and took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 21:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces moved into al-Thari neighborhood, east of the Old City in Jerusalem and raided a number of houses. They arrested 4 civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination: Rami Mahmoud Barakt (16); Rami Muhammad al-Rajbi (19); Ammar Abdullah Ghaith (19); and Musa Naser Hadya (22).
· At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 27 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested 3 guards of al-Aqsa Mosque and took them to al-Qishla investigation center: Ashraf Abu Irmeila and ‘Arafat Najeeb.
· At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 28 October 2014, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Muhammed al-Zaghel (17) near his school in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of the Old City. When his aunt Hanan Abu Asab came to check on the child in the investigation center, Israeli forces arrested her as well.
· At approximately 20:00 on Tuesday, Israeli forces moved into Silwan. They raided a house belonging to Amin Siam in Wadi Hilwa neighborhood and arrested him and his brother Wisam and Muein Hidda. They also raided Au Tayeh area and attacked Ahmed and Nader Aby Tayeh. Muhammad Younis was aslo attacked during the raid on his house.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
· At approximately 18:30 on Friday 17 October 2014, Israeli settlers attacked Faisal Muhammad Azzam (20) in “Reinim Shalom” hotel after he tried to defend a colleague of his when she was attacked for wearing a head cover.
Azzam told PCHR that 11 settlers attacked his Palestinian colleague for wearing head cover. They verbally abused her and when he tried to defend her, they attacked him. He sustained bruises and was taken to “Shaare Zedek” for treatment.
· At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 20 October 2014, Israeli settlers took over two residential buildings and a land in the central neighborhood in Silwan, south of the Old City in Jerusalem. The buildings are made up of 10 apartments belonging to Salah al-Rahbi and the other to Omran al-Qawasmi. Each building is made up of 3 floors. The families sold their estates to a civilian who was accused of selling the two buildings to colonist organizations. The land which is located near al-Rajbi building has an area of 700 square meters and was sold for the same person who deals with colonist organizations.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
· At approximately 09:00 on Sudnay, 26 October 2014, Israeli forces moved into al-Markaz area, backed by bulldozers of the Israeli Civil Administration. They handed Mahmoud Ali al-Najjar a notice to stop construction in a tin Barracks under the pretext of illegal construction in area C.
· At approximately 08:30 on Monday, 27 October 014, Israeli forces moved into Kherbat Um Ulkheir, south of Hebron. They deployed in the agricultural lands near the area. They forces residents to leave their homes in the pretext of not having a contraction permit. The demolishing operation included 6 houses:
– A tin and brick house of an area of 60 square meters belonging to Abdulah al-Hathalin;
– A house of cement and tine of an area of 60 square meters belonging to Kheirallah al-Hathalin;
– A house of tin and brick of an area of 60 square meters belonging Bilal al-Hathalin;
– A house of tin and brick of an area of 80 square meters belonging Sulaiman al-Hathalin;
– A house belonging to Halima al-Hathalin, presented to her by OCHA organization in June 2012 to house her family of 8 perons;
– A house of tin and brick of an area of 70 square meters belonging Maliha al-Hathalin, and;
– Bread Taboon for making bread, which was established year ago.
40 people are now homeless.
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 29 Octoner 2014, Israeli forces moved into Khashem al-Darraj, north of Yatta. They bulldozed:
– A house of tin of an area of 40 square meters and a bathroom of an area of 2 square meters belonging to Mustaf al-Tibna;
– A bathroom of Tin of an area of 2 square meters and a cave for housing animals belonging to Ali al-Tibna; and
– A fence of an animal Barn belonging to Musa al-Tibna.
Recommendations to the International Community:
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to 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;
2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to 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;
11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;
14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human rights law and humanitarian law instruments.
Complete document, with charts on crossing statistics and full reports on Israeli patrols, at the official PCHR website, via link below.
