Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 26 June- 01 July 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
In the west Bank, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian at al-Hamra checkpoint in the Jordan Valley and wounded 2 others, including a child. Additionally, Israeli forces continued to use force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the oPt and against civilians approaching the border fence along the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 26 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed at al-Hamra checkpoint, south of Tubas, killed a Palestinian civilian from al-Ouja village, north of Jericho. They claimed that an armed Palestinian in a vehicle fired at Israeli soldiers stationed at the said checkpoint, but no casualties were reported. However, Israeli soldiers fired in response and seriously wounded him, due to which he died.
On 30 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Qalandia checkpoint, north of East Jerusalem, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who cries out ‘Allah Akbar’ while being near the checkpoint. As a result, he sustained 5 bullet wounds throughout his body.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive and systematic use of force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights activists in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli policies in the oPt. As a result, a 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh in Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya.
In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting border areas, on 25 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalia, opened fire sporadically at the cemetery area, but no casualties were reported. On 01 July 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at agricultural lands, east of al-Maghazai refugee camp, but no casualties were reported either.
As part of targeting fishermen, Israeli gunboats stationed off Deir al-Balah shore, in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, but no casualties were reported.
Incursions
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 41 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 33 Palestinians, including 10 children. Eleven of these civilians, including the 7 children, were arrested in East Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, on 01 July 2015, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion into the east of al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew few hours later.
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 8 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. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem
In the context of collective punishment policies, on Wednesday morning, 01 July 2015, Israeli forces locked with metal boards the windows and doors of a house belonging to the family of Odai Abu al-Jamal in al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of East Jerusalem, after evacuating the family.
Settlement Activities
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 24 June 2015, Israeli forces issued notices to halt construction works and to demolish civilian objects in Kherbet Janaba, east of Yatta south of Hebron.
On 27 June 2015, 3 Israeli settlers from ‘Mitzpe Yair’ settlement, east of Yatta south of Hebron, attacked a 53-year-old Palestinian civilian with stones and tried to physically attack him. As a result, he sustained wounds to the head and pain in the back.
On 27 June 2015, a number of settlers beat and insulted a 31-year-old Palestinian civilian while driving his car on Beit Hanina new road, north of East Jerusalem. As a result, he sustained bruises and wounds.
On 30 June 2015, 4 masked settlers from ‘Dulip’ settlement, northwest of Ramallah, sprayed pepper spray over the face of a 60-year-old Palestinian civilian and attacked him with sticks, sharp tools and stones.
On the same day, a group of settlers wrote racist slogans against Arabs on the walls of a number of houses in Beit Safafa village, south of East Jerusalem. The slogans included: ‘Arabs should be slaughtered’.
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, a Palestinian child sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh during Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya.
(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 26 June 2015, 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 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 metal bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beat up.
Also following the Friday prayer, 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, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beat up by Israeli soldiers.
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They made their way towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby ‘Halmish’ settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers closed all the village’s entrances to prevent the Palestinian and international solidarity activists and journalists from participating in the protest. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they beat up by Israeli soldiers.
Also following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians organized a protest against the closure of the eastern entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, which has been closed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada. Once the protestors approached the closed entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also sprayed skunk water over the protestors. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they beat up by Israeli soldiers.
Following the afternoon (al-Asr) prayer on Saturday, 27 June 2015, Palestinian civilians organized a protest against the closure of the eastern entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, which has been closed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada. Once the protestors approached the closed entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also sprayed skunk water over the protestors. As a result, Abdul Elah Abdul Mahdi Ali Mohammed (14) sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh.
Note: the protest of Kufor Qaddoum was scheduled twice a week (following the Fridays’ prayer and following al-Asr prayer on Sundays).
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.
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.
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. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
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 also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
West Bank
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
· Hebron: Israeli forces established 9 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 25 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at Mothalath al-‘Aqabah between Dura and its southern villages, south of the city and at the entrance of Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron.
On Friday, 26 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of the city.
On Saturday, 27 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron.
On Sunday, 28 June 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the south-eastern entrance of Hebron and at the entrance of Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.
On Monday, 29 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.
On Wednesday, 01 July 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the entrance of al-Tabqah village and on ‘Oyoun Abu Seif road, south of Dura, southwest of the city.
· Ramallah: Israeli forces established 26 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 25 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah and at the entrance of Termes’aya village, north of the city.
On Friday, 26 June 2015, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the eastern entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village and closed the iron gate established at the entrance preventing civilians from entering or leaving through it; the entrance of Ni’lin village; under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city; at the intersection of Beit ‘Oar al-Foqa, southwest of the city and Deir Abu Mash’al villafe, northwest of the city.
On Saturday, 27 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah while they established two checkpoints at each of the following village entrances: Beitin; ‘Ein Yabrud and Selwad, northeast of the city.
On Monday, 29 June 2015, Israeli forces established 10 checkpoints in each of the following areas: at the entrance of Termes’ayah village, at the entrance of Kherbtha Bani Haris village; under the bridge of Yabrud village; Deir Abu Mash’al village; at the intersection of Beit ‘Oar al-Foqa village; the entrances of Selwad village; the road between the villages of Beitin and ‘Ein Yabrud; the road between Deir Jarir and Kafr Malek; the road between the villages of Kafr Malek and Kherbet Abu Falah; and the road between al-Mogheir and Termes’ahya villages.
On Tuesday, 30 June 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the entrance of Ras Karkar village, northwest of Ramallah and the entrance of ‘Ein Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
On Wednesday morning, 01 July 2015, Israeli forces closed the road from Ramallah to al-Jalazone refugee camp adjacent to Beit Eil settlement with cement cubes.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints all over the city. On Monday, 29 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.
On Tuesday, 30 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya; on the road between ‘Azoun and Jayous villages, east of the city.
· Jericho: Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints all over the city. On Friday, 26 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of al-‘Oja village, north of the city, and at the southern entrance of Jericho.
On Monday, 29 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of al-‘Oja village, north of the city, and at the southern entrance of Jericho.
Note: all the aforementioned checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 26 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at Mothalath al-Shuhadaa’, south of Jenin. They arrested Ahmed Tawfiq Raja al-Qereini (19) from Jenin refugee camp adjacent to Jenin while passing through the checkpoint and took him to an unknown destination after removing the checkpoint.
At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 27 June 2015, Israeli forces deployed in the Old City in the center of Hebron arrested Hamdi Mohammed Abu Hamdiyah (19) after stopping him at the entrance of al-Ibrahimi Mosque.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 28 June 2015, Israeli forces arrested Fatmah Naser Mesleh Nazzal (42) from Qalqilya while trying to sneak into Israel via a hole in the annexation wall near Qalqilya. Israeli news websites reported that Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned woman, who had a hunting rifle, while she was trying to sneak into Israel.
At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 29 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya near the eastern entrance of Jbarah village. The Israeli soldiers stopped a Palestinian car travelled by Belkheir ‘Isam Fayeq Qonbor (23) from tulkarm and arrested him taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 12:40 on the same Monday, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Qobet Rahil’ checkpoint near Belal Ben Rabah Mosque, north of Bethlehem, arrested Maysoun Mousa Mousa (19), from al-Shawawrah village east of the city, and took her to an unknown destination. Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned girl stabbed an Israeli female soldier at the checkpoint.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed at al-Jalamah checkpoint, northeast of Jenin, arrested Moayad ‘Omer Ahmed al-Sa’adi (31) when he was near the checkpoint area claiming that he attacked the Israeli soldiers with fireworks. The aforementioned civilian was released later after Israeli forces was ascertain that he is mentally ill.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
Shooting incidents
At approximately 16:30 on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Qalandia checkpoint, north of East Jerusalem, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian, who cried out ‘Allah Akbar’, when he was near the checkpoint. As a result, he was wounded. An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces stationed at Qalandia military checkpoint opened fire at Hassan Ayoub Abu Ermaila (21), from Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of the city, after he suddenly cried out ‘Allah Akbar’ near the aforementioned checkpoint. As a result, he sustained 5 bullet wounds throughout his body and was taken to ‘Tsha’ri Tsedeq’ Hospital in West Jerusalem to receive the necessary medical treatment. His health condition was serious.
House belonging to the family of Odai Abu al-Jamal in al-Mukaber Mount locked up
· In the context of collective punishment policies adopted by Israeli forces against Palestinian families of persons accused of being involved in resistance acts against them, Israeli forces locked up on Wednesday morning, 01 July 2015, the doors and windows of a house belonging to the family of Odai Abu al-Jamal in Jabal al-Mukaber village, southeast of East Jerusalem, using metal plates after evacuating the family. An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli infantry units moved into the village. They deployed in the neighbourhoods and then raided the yard of Ghassan and Odai Abu al-Jamal’s houses, during which a helicopter was hovering overheads. The witness added that Israeli forces closed 3 entrances of the village and it was like a curfew. He said that Israeli forces raided the house of Odai and evacuated the 6-member family. They banned the Abu Jamal family and other neighbours from approaching. They threw the furniture and clothes out of the house and closed the windows and doors with metal plates. It should be noted that Odai’s family house that was built in 1936 was resided by his father, mother, sister and 3 brothers.
Incursions & house raids
At approximately 22:00 on Thursday, 25 June 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayed al-Taweel (40) in Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of East Jerusalem. They arrested the aforementioned person and his 2 children, Saif (15) and Zaid (16), and took them to an unknown destination.
At approximately 23:00 on the same day, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the al-Taweel family in Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood in the east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested Obaida Salman al-Taweel (25) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 23:30, on the same day, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Essa Qotob in al-Khelleh neighbourhood in the east of East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (13) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 27 June 2015, Israeli forces moved into a number of neighbourhoods in the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched some houses from which they arrested 3 children: Yazan Abdullah Ayoub (14), Mostafa al-Deb’i (16) and Ameer al-Deb’i.
At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 28 June 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of Ghassan and Odai Abu Jamal and questioned their families. Members of the Abu Jamal family said that Israeli undercover units accompanied by an officer raided and searched the 2 houses belonging to the Abu Jamal. They added that Israeli forces questioned members of the 2 families on the spot. They also photographed all the family members without saying why. Israeli soldiers asked in particular about the children of Ghassan, Walid, Salma and Mohammed, and photographed them as well. Israeli forces photographed the houses belonging of the family from inside and outside and the roads leading to them. They added that an Israeli officer threatened before leaving that they would always raid the 2 houses. It should be noted that Ghassan and Odai Abu Jamal carried out an attack on an Israeli synagogue near Deir Yassin, west of Jerusalem, on 18 November 2014 that resulted then in killing 5 Israelis.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 28 June 2015, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Jasem Shweiki (10) while he was around his family’s house in al-Thawri neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They took him to Saladin police station. Shweiki’s father said that Israeli special units arrested his child when he was playing with his friends around his house. He added that his child was referred to the police station to be questioned, where he remained in detention from 14:00 to 17:00. Israeli forces did not allow any of his family members to attend the investigation. The father was only allowed one hour and a half after interrogation. Jasem said also that he learnt about the detention of his child from the neighbours not from the Israeli authorities.
At approximately 04:00 on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Essam al-Kord (45) in al-Sa’diya neighbourhood in the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested him and his son, Tareq (19), and took them to an unknown destination.
Confiscation of lands for the interest of settlement activities in the city
On Monday morning, 29 June 2015, officers from the Israeli municipality and Nature Authority distributed maps and decisions signed by the head of the Israeli municipality on lands in al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. The decisions and maps showed that dozens of agricultural dunums would be planted with trees to be turned into a public park.
Mohammed Abu al-Hommos, member of the follow-up committee in the village, said that decisions were distributed regarding al-Eisawiya lands. According to the maps, the Israeli municipality plans to plant more than 200 dunums to make them a public park. He added that the lands are located within the settlement plan ‘National Park Plan 11092’ in al-Tour Mount and al-Eisawiya village. This plan was cancelled by the Israeli district planning and construction committee last year because the committee required meeting the needs of people, including, schools, kindergartens, houses and health care centres, before establishing a public park in that place. It should be noted that the threatened lands are the ones remaining for the village’s residents to meet their natural growth. Abu al-Hommos added that the Israeli municipality and nature authority, according to the decision left on the lands, claim that those lands are not used by their owners and thus they would be used for the interest of the public. He rejected the Israeli claim and stressed that parts of the lands were planted with trees tens of years ago and other lands were levelled by Israeli bulldozers.
Settler attacks
At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 27 June 2015, a number of Israeli settlers beat and insulted Ibrahim Dawood al-Alami (31) while driving his car on Beit Hanina road, north of East Jerusalem. As a result, al-Alami sustained bruises and wounds, due to which he was taken to Hadasa Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
The victim’s brother, Ashraf al-Alami, stated to PCHR:
‘While my brother Ibrahim, who works as a driver in an Israeli transport company, was going to his work in West Jerusalem, he took Beit Hanina new road, where 3 settlers intercepted his car. They surrounded his car and then asked him: ‘Are you an Arab?’ he answered: ‘Yes’. The settlers cursed him with abusive and racist words and then beat him severely. Moreover, one of settlers tried to strangle him with his hands. Consequently, Ibrahim Dawood was wounded in the chest and face. The settlers fled after my brother was able to defend himself. After that, he continued driving his car and went to work in the company. Signs of assault were clear on him. As a result, the manager of company called the police that investigated the incident and brought an ambulance to take al-Alami to Hadassah Hospital for medical treatment.’
At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, a group of settlers wrote racist slogans against Arabs on the walls of a number of houses in Beit Safafa village, south of East Jerusalem. An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Beit Safafa residents were surprised on the day to see racist slogans against Arabs on the walls of some houses in the village. Of the written slogans were: ‘The Arab blood is vulnerable to attack’, ‘Arabs should be slaughtered’ and others.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 24 June 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by an Israeli Civil Administration vehicle moved into al-Deirat village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They stationed in the center of the village, where the civil administration officer handed Salah Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed (39) a notice to demolish his 100-square-meter, under-construction house under the pretext it was not licensed. It should be noted that Israeli forces handed the same person a notice to halt construction works on 13 April 2015.
At approximately 09:30 on the same day, Israeli forces accompanied by an Israeli Civil Administration vehicle moved into Kherbet Janaba, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They deployed in the vicinity of the Kherbe and delivered 9 notices to halts construction works and 3 others for house demolitions as follows:
1. 2 residential rooms, 34 square meters each, belonging to Nabil Hussein Jabarin;
2. A 35-square-meter residential room belonging to Mohammed Ali Jabarin;
3. A 66-square-meters residential room belonging to Ali Mohammed Jabarin;
4. A 30-square-meter residential room belonging to Essa Ahmed Yunis;
5. A 42-square-meter residential room belonging to Maher Ahmed Essa;
6. A 50-square-meter residential room belonging to Mahmoud Ahmed Essa;
7. A 45-sqaure-meter residential room belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed Essa;
8. A 30-square-meter residential room belonging to Mousa Ibrahim Abu Yunis;
9. A 35-square-meter residential room belonging to Essa Yunis Abu Yunis.
The notices gave them a deadline on 23 July 2015 to refer to the competent departments in the Israeli courts.
Concerning the demolition notices that gave a period of one week were as follows:
1. A 30-square-meter residential room belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Hoshiya. He was notified to halt construction work in May;
2. A 30-square-meter residential room belonging to Esam Essa Yunis; and
3. A 35-square-meter residential room belonging to Essa Essam Yunis.
Othman Jabarin, director of Mosafer Yatta Protection Society, said to a PCHR fieldworker that the distribution of notices was meant to dismiss civilians from their lands, especially as Israeli authorities classify Kherbet Janaba as a shooting area. Moreover, the civil administration officer confiscated a power generator and a manual digger that was used by the Palestinians civilians to fix the dirt road leading to their area.
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 25 June 2015, 15 settlers from ‘Kiryat Arba’ settlement, east of Hebron, demolished a part of a water well belonging to Abdul Karim Ibrahim al-Ja’bari that was established 60 years ago. They threw big rocks over the well, due to which the upper part was damaged.
At approximately 19:30 on Saturday, 27 June 2015, 3 settlers from ‘Mitzpe Yair’ settlement, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, attacked Ziad Mohammed Yunis Makhamra (53), from Kherbet Beer al-Add, with stones. They tried to physically attack him. As a result, he sustained wounds to the back of the head and pains in the back. He was then transported to Abu al-Hassan al-Qasem hospital in the city.
According to Ziad Makhamrah:
‘I work in the field of livestock breeding, and live in Khirbet Bir Alaad which is about 17 kilometers in east of Yatta town, Southern Hebron. At the beginning of 2000, many families were expelled by Israeli force, claiming that the area was a closed military zone. After 6 years, Israeli court issued an order to allow people to return to their land (Kherba). At that time, my family and I returned to the Kherba and another family too, and we stayed there so far. On Thursday, 27 June 2015, at approximately 7:30, I went on foot to Ma’in area which is about 5 kilometers from the Bir Alaad. My relatives sent to me an invitation to Ramadan breakfast. I contacted my son, Mohammed, 25, to take me there. While I was walking on the dirt road leading to the settlement of ‘Mitzpe Yair’, I saw three settlers coming to the main gate of settlement. When I arrived to the gate, I met the three settlers. They surrounded me and tried to take my stick, but I refused. I walked back and called my son, Mohammed, again in order to come quickly. After that, I ran quickly to the dirt road, the settlers chased me and hit me by stones, I was wounded in my back, head and left thigh. Moments later, and the car of my son arrived. After that, the settlers fled into the settlement. My son Mohammed took me to Ma’in area, where they provided me first aid. I was transferred to Abu al-Qasim al-Hassan Hospital to conduct some medical tests and x-ray. In the end, they gave me the appropriate treatments.’
At approximately 18:45 on Tuesday, 30 June 2015, 4 masked settlers from ‘Dulip’ settlement, northwest of Ramallah, sprayed pepper spray over the face of Mahmoud al-Haj Hassan Nofal (60) and attacked him with sticks, sharp tools and stones. The aforementioned person was ploughing his land in al-Aqaba area, southwest of Ras Karkar village, when he was attacked.
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 latest 51-day offensive 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;
Full, detailed document, including info on patrols and border crossings available at the official PCHR website.
