Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians that are mostly conducted after midnight and in the early morning hours. Additionally, IOF arrested several Hamas movement leaders and raided the houses of others in the West Bank and threatened them with arrest if they seek candidacy in the upcoming Palestinian elections.
IOF shooting and violations of the right to bodily integrity:
IOF shot and injured 7 civilians in its attacks on peaceful protests in the West Bank: 3 children sustained wounds during IOF raid on Abu Shukheidim village in Ramallah; and 3 civilians were wounded in IOF attacks on two separate protests in Kufur Qaddoum – Qalqilia; and another sustained wounds in IOF raid into al-‘Isawiya in occupied East Jerusalem. Dozens of others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.
In the Gaza Strip, seven IOF shootings were reported on agricultural lands eastern Gaza Strip, and seven others at fishing boats off Gaza’s northern shore. Additionally, IOF drones sprayed pesticides on agricultural lands, eastern Khan Younis – approximate to the border fence, destroying crops.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
IOF carried out 98 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 79 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 children and 2 women.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 limited incursions into eastern Central Gaza.
Demolitions:
PCHR documented 12 incidents:
Jericho: tractor confiscated
East Jerusalem: residential building in al-‘Isawiya demolished, as well as 2 shops in Sur Baher.
Tubas: 17 tents (residential and sheep barns) uprooted, and 4 cattle barns demolished.
Bethlehem: two green houses destroyed in al-Khader, and an under-construction house demolished northern Tuqu.
Settler-attacks:
PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented the following incidents:
Nablus: assault on Khan al-Laban area.
Bethlehem: dozens of olive trees cut in al-Walaja
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:
The Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the history of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life.
Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.
I. Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity
At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 18 February 2021, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered near the southern entrance to al-‘Isawiya village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, rejoicing the snowfall on the city, and threw snowballs at each other. Meanwhile, IOF moved into the area and fired rubber bullets and teargas canister to disperse them, under the pretext that the young men were present near the Hebrew University. IOF chased the Palestinians towards French Hill and arrested Ahmed Sami Abu Sbitan, 16, and Mahmoud Sa’ied ‘Obaid, 20. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that IOF targeted a PRCS ambulance at the southern entrance to al-‘Isawiya village.
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 19 February 2020, a peaceful protest took off in front of Beit Dajan village council, east of Nablus, north of the West Bank, at the call of the villagers and with the participation of the National Action Factions in Nablus, towards lands under the threat of confiscation, east of the village. The protestors raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against the Israeli occupation, settlers, annexation wall and deal of the century. When the protestors arrived at the area, they found a large number of Israeli soldiers awaiting them. The protestors chanted slogans again against the Israeli occupation and settlers. IOF immediately suppressed the protest and fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors.. Also, many protestors suffocated due to teargas inhalation and received treatment on the spot.
At approximately 12:30, IOF stationed at the northern entrance to Kufur Qaddoum village, north of Qalqilia, suppressed a peaceful protest organized by dozens of Palestinian young men. IOF chased Palestinian young men gathered in the area, clashed with them and fired live and sponge bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at them. As a result, a 22-year-old male was hit with a sponge grenade in his back.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, opened heavy fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 20 February 2021, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, opened heavy fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:50 on Saturday, 20 February 2021, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at a wastewater vehicle, east of Khuzaʽa village; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyia Shore, west of Jabalia refugee camp, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, opened heavy fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 11:30, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at Palestinian shepherds and agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 12:30, IOF stationed at the northern entrance to Kufur Qaddoum village, north of Qalqilia, suppressed a peaceful protest organized by dozens of Palestinian young men. IOF chased Palestinian young men gathered in the area, clashed with them and fired sponge bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at them. As a result, two civilians, including a child, were hit with a sponge grenade in their limbs.
At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 21 February 2021, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, opened heavy fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 11:45, Israeli drones sprayed agricultural pesticides on the agricultural lands along the border fence, east of Khan Younis. IOF claimed that they sprayed the agricultural lands to get rid of the weeds, and for security reasons. As a result, the Palestinian farmers’ crops in Khuzaʽa and ‘Abasan villages sustained damage. It should be noted that from time to time, IOF sprayed agricultural land along the border area, causing damage and damage to farmers’ crops.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, 22 February 2021, IOF moved into al-Matar neighborhood in Kafr ‘Aqab village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mostafa Mohammed Abu Rumoz, 44, and Maher Rajab Mutair, 53, and arrested them. During which, a number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at IOF, who chased the young men on the neighborhood streets and fired heavy rubber bullets at them. As a result, many civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation.
At approximately 11:20, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyia Shore, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles, opened sporadic fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 01:30 on Tuesday, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of Deir al-Balah city in the center of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 09:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyia Shore, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles, opened sporadic fire around them, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 17:20, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of Bureij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 24 February 2021, Israeli gunboats stationed off Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyia Shore, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2-4 nautical miles, opened sporadic fire around them until 09:00, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:30, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at agricultural lands and Palestinian shepherds, east of Khuzaʽa and ‘Abasan villages; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:00, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, north of the Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire at border areas, causing fear among Palestinian farmers. No casualties or material damage were reported.
Around the same time, IOF stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, east of al-Shuhada Islamic Cemetery and adjacent to Abu Safiyia area, east and northeast of Jabalia refugee camp, opened sporadic fire at border area, causing fear among Palestinian farmers. No casualties or material damage were reported.
At approximately 11:20, IOF moved into Abu Shukheidim village, north of Ramallah. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones at IOF, who responded with live and rubber bullets, teargas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, 3 children were shot with rubber bullets; the first child (15), was shot with a rubber bullet in his back and treated on the spot; the second (13) was shot with a rubber bullet in his neck and treated on the spot; and the third (14) was shot with a rubber bullet in his abdomen and taken to the Istishari Arab Hospital in Um Rihan suburb. Moreover, many civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation.
II. Incursions and arrests
Thursday, 18 February 2021:
At approximately 00:00, IOF stationed at Damascus Gate “Bab al-Amud,” in the occupied East Jerusalem, severely beaten and arrested Sajed Ammar al-Salayma, 22, and took him to an unknown destination. A video published on social media showed the Israeli soldiers while they were severely attacking him and attempting to strangle him in the Israeli soldiers’ surveillance room in the area.
At 00:30, IOF arrested Sami Abu Khdeir, 21, and Laith Abu Khdeir, 20, while present near the main street of Shu’afat neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, claiming that they were throwing snow at an Israeli vehicle. IOF took them to a police center in “Neve Yaakov” settlement, north of the city.
At approximately 08:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles “4-bulldozers and a jeep” moved 50-100 meters to the west of the border fence, east of Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They leveled and combed lands and deployed again inside the border fence 5 hours later.
At approximately 09:00, IOF deployed in Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods arrested four civilians in Jaber neighborhood in the eastern side of Cave of the Patriarchs, while they were playing with the snow. IOF took them to Kiryat Arba’ settlement’s police center, east of Hebron, and released them later. The arrestees are: Nizar Naser Gholmah, 19, Ahmed Sa’eed al-Rajabi, 18, Fahed Atta Ehrayiz, 21, and Amjad Jameel al-Adhami, 20.
At approximately 13:00, IOF severely beaten and arrested four civilians while playing with the snow in the Aqsa Mosque yards, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Several Palestinian civilians were playing in the snow before IOF interfered and attempted to disperse them, claiming that soldiers were targeted with snowballs. The arrestees are: Tareq Mahdi al-Basti, 21, Ibrahim Ahmed al-Zaghal, 20, Anas Jaber, 18, and Mousa Mohammed Hamdan, 19.
Around the same time, IOF arrested Alaa Mohammed Ja’abis, 21, while present in Jabel Mukaber village, southeast of the occupied East Jerusalem, claiming that they were throwing snow at an Israeli vehicle. IOF took him to “Oz” police center in the city.
At approximately 19:00, IOF checked the ID cards and arrested Sufian Firas Abu al-Hawa, 18, and Ahmed Waleed Qabaja, 20, while present in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. IOF took them to al-Bareed police center in Salah al-Dein street.
IOF carried out two incursions in Azzun, east of Qalqilia; and Deir Nidham village, northwest of Ramallah. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 19 February 2021:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Qalqilia. They raided and searched Rami Mohammed Farhan’s, 25, house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:20, IOF moved into Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Isma’el Abdul Baqi Abu al-Wafa, 31, and Abdullah Fahmi Sha’ban, 30, and arrested them.
IOF carried out two incursions in Jab’, south of Jenin; Deir Ballut, west of Salfit. No arrested were reported.
Saturday, 20 February 2021:
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Hizma, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ra’ed Salah al-Dein’s, 21, house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Shuyukh village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Sharif al-Halaiqa’s, 21, house and arrested him.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Wadi Yasul neighborhood, in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Suhaib Arafat al-A’war’s, 23, house, arrested him and confiscated his vehicle. It should be noted that al-A’war is a former prisoner who spent 2 years in the Israeli prisons.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Alaa Esmat Obaid’s, 33, house and arrested him.
IOF carried out three incursions in Dura, Karma, and Sa’ir villages in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 21 February 2021:
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Rummanah village, west of Jenin, north of the West Bank. They raided and searched Mahmoud Mohammed Bushnaq’s, 35, house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Idhna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Nizar Tmeizi’s, 37, house and arrested him.
At approximately 12:00, IOF moved into Shu’afat neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Sylvia Abu Laban’s house, director of Society organization-volunteer for hope, and arrested her. It should be noted that she was prosecuted, investigated and arrested several times, the latest of which was in April 2020.
At approximately 16:00, IOF arrested the teacher Khadija Mohammed Khwais, 42, while present near Lion’s Gate “Bab al-Asbat”, one of the Aqsa Mosque’s gates in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. IOF took him to al-Qishlah police center where they handed her a decision that bans her entry to the Aqsa Mosque for a week. It should be noted that Khwais was banned from entering the Aqsa Mosque since years due to her activities inside it, as well as her responses to the repeated Israeli raids to the Mosque, and she was arrested several times.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-Thuri neighborhood, south of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched the house of the Jerusalem affairs researcher, Dr. Jamal Radwan Amr, 65, and left him an immediate summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in Moscovia Detention Centre in West Jerusalem. Dr. Jamal’s son, Radwan Amr, said that Israeli special-forces and Intelligence Services stormed his father’s house in attempt to arrest his father, but he was not at home, so they left him a summons to refer to them as soon as possible. He added, when his father arrived at Moscovia Detention Centre, they interrogated him for hours about his role in media incitement regarding Jerusalem, Israeli settlement issues and about Bab al-Rahma area in the Aqsa Mosque. IOF handed his father a decision that banning his entry to the Aqsa Mosque for 10-days.
IOF carried out three incursions in Dhahiriya, Bani Na’im, and Qalqas villages in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 22 February 2021:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Qalqas village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched Jibrin Abdul Hakim Abu Sneina’s, 38, house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hizma, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Wissam Kan’an al-Khateeb’s, 23, house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Anata, northeast the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Islam Isma’el Ibrahim, 22, and Ameer Mohammed Ibrahim, 24, and arrested them.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and arrested the pharmacist Amr Abdul Raheem al-Hanbali, 50, and Mostafa Ali al-Shunnar, 59, a university lecturer, a leader in Hamas Movement, and a former prisoner who was arrested several times.
At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched Mahmoud Mohammed al-Kalouni’s, 22, house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, southwest of Jericho, and stationed in Yaghi area. IOF deployed between civilians’ houses, raided and searched Omar Abu Janada’s house, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Tareq Ziad Arafa, 17, Wael Khalil Salem, 40, Ali Yousef Arafa, 28, and his brother Othman, 25.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Salem village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Mohammed Tareq Eshtayya, 19.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched Ahmed Mohammed Shaqfa’s, 23, house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Qabatiya, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested three civilians; Mo’men Nasri Abu al-Rab, 24, Qusai Subhi Hanaisha, 25, and Mothanna Khaled Kmeil, 23.
Around them same time, IOF moved into Abu Shukheidim village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mo’tasem Khalil Abu Shukheidim’s, 23, house and arrested him.
At approximately 06:00, IOF stationed near Kedumim settlement, east of Qalqilia, arrested Dia’ Rajab Jom’a, 30, from Kufur Qaddoum, east of Qalqilia.
At approximately 13:00, IOF summoned Daniel Zuhair Nasra, 20, via a phone call, to refer to Moscovia Detention Centre. When he arrived, he was interrogated for several hours and the released on conditions that compliance the house arrest for two days and banning his entry to al-Tur neighborhood for two weeks.
At approximately 17:00, IOF arrested the director of Lady of the Earth Foundation, Dr. Kamal al-Husseini, while heading to Jabal al-Zaitun area, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City for shooting. IOF took him to Moscovia Detention Centre and interrogated him for 4-hours, then they handed him a decision that banning him from holding any national activities or events in Jerusalem or raising the Palestinian flag in the city, and then he was released.
IOF carried out three incursions in Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, near Jericho; Yatta and Karmel villages in Hebron; Saffarin and Khirbet Jubara, south of Tulkarem. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 23 February 2021:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Hizma, northeast the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Mohammed Sa’ada Sa’eed’s, 27, house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into al-Saff street in Bethlehem. They raided and searched Mo’ath Mohammed Suman’s, 31, house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Einabus village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Abdul Jabbar Mustafa Allan, 55, and his two sons; Jawad, 30, and Mustafa, 26.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Tayasir village, east of Tubas. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Hasan Khaled Amer, 28.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses and arrested Obay Yousef Abu Maria, 17, and handed Mohammed Ibrahim Bahar, 24, a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Qusai Jehad Ja’ara’s, 26, house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Tubas. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Faze’ Sedqi Sawafta, 49, a leader in the Hamas Movement, and Obada Shafiq al-Kharraz, 18.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Harmala village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ahmed Sa’eed Sabbah, 23, and Salah Mousa Sabbah, 23, and arrested them.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Qalqilia. They raided and searched Ayman Hasan Thiab’s, 40, house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into al-Yamun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Mohammed Farah Smoudi, 31 and Sanad Sufian Khamaisa, 32.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Shu’fat refugee camp, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ma’moun Farhan’s, 29, house and arrested him. It should be noted that Farhan was preparing for his wedding on the next Thursday.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Dawha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Taqi Saleh Manasra’s, 25, house and arrested him.
At approximately 09:30, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles moved into Kuseise village, east of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Nayef Mohammed al-Rajoub, 63, one of the former Palestinian legislators, Hamas leader, and former minister of Endowments; and Rizq Abdullah al-Rajoub, 60. IOF field interrogated them and ordered them to not to run or participate in any electoral propaganda or they will be arrested. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 10:30, IOF stopped a vehicle belonging to al-Alam news network staff, while present in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem. They searched the vehicle and confiscated all its contents, then checked the ID cards of the staff and arrested the photojournalist Ahmed Othman Jalajel, 42. IOF took him to Moscovia Detention Centre and released him later.
The reporter, Khader Shahine, said that:
“when the staff and I were heading to al-Tur neighborhood to continue preparing a news report, an Israeli vehicle stopped us, searched our vehicle, checked our ID cards, confiscated our equipment and cameras and arrested the photojournalist Ahmed Jalajel”.
Shahine added that IOF questioned the staff and accused Ahmed Jalajel of participating in incitement events and activities. Shahine also emphasized that IOF released Ahmed Jalajel after several hours of interrogating him with the presence of his lawyer, and that Jalajel is still under investigation and he has a trial in a couple of days.
At approximately 11:30, IOF moved into Kharsa village, south of Dura. They raided and searched Mohammed Kamel Iqtaiel’s, 58, house and field-investigated him about the Palestinian elections, as he was threatened to be arrested if he participated in the legislative elections or supported any electoral list. No arrests were reported.
IOF carried out ten incursions in Jenin, Silat al-Harithiya, Arraba, Ya’bad, Zababdeh in Jenin governorate; Salem village, northeast of Nablus; Beit Ula, Imreish, and Tarrama in Hebron; Kifl Hares village, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 24 February 2021:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Shwiaka suburb in Tulkarem. They raided and searched As’ad Mohammed Na’alwa’s, 52, house and arrested him along with his two sons: Hisham, 19, and Haitham, 28.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Dhahiriya village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched al-Ja’bari’s house and arrested Ahed Awni al-Ja’bari, 19, and her brother Anan, 20.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tulkarem refugee camp, Illar and Anabta villages in Tulkarem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested three civilians; Jehad Mohammed Kharioush, 24, Emad Mohammed Abu Osba, 34, and Qusai Hussam Belbaisi, 19.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Tell village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Hussam Adnan Eshtayya, 20.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Wadi al-Far’a village, south of Tubas. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Anwar Sa’oud Barahma, 43.
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Kafr Malik village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched Abdul Fattah Farouq Ba’irat’s, 26, house and arrested him. It should be noted that Ba’irat is a former prisoner.
At approximately 07:40, IOF moved into al-Mughayyir village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Mo’men Faleh Abu Alia, 22.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into the southern side of Hebron. They raided and searched Majdi Mohammed Qaisiyah’s, 29, house and arrested him.
IOF carried out free incursions in Kobar, al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya, Dura al-Qar’ in Ramallah governorate; Halhul village in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the occupied West Bank
a. Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property
At approximately 19:20 on Saturday, 20 February 2021, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with an Israeli Civil Administration SUV moved into Arab al-Zayed Bedouin Community in An-Nuway’imah village, north of Jericho. IOF seized a tractor under the pretext of working in Area C. The tractor’s owner, Hussein Dawoud Tarif al-Zayed, 65, was beaten up by IOF while trying to prevent the latter from seizing his tractor; as a result, he sustained wounds in the head and bruises in his body. He was taken to Jericho Governmental Hospital in the City, noting that he has diabetes. IOF arrested Hussein’s son, Taqfiq, 35, and withdrew to release him later.
At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 22 February 2021, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished ‘Alian Family 2-storey building in al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of no construction license. Fadi ‘Ali ‘Alian, one of the residential apartments’ owners in the building and in charge of al-Aqsa Mosque’s Guard Unit, said that large forces of Israeli soldiers, accompanied with 500 Israeli police officers gathered at the entrances to al-‘Isawiya village in Monday’s early morning and moved into the village. They deployed in the streets way to his family building, surrounded the building and closed all the roads leading to it. They raided the building and forcibly expelled all those inside, including women, children and young men, as well as the citizens gathered on the building roof attempting to stop the demolition. ‘Alian said that the building was built 10 years ago; during which the Israeli Municipality issued a decision to demolish it and imposed on the family a fine for unlicensed construction of 16,000 shekels. The family thereby applied for the license with the help of lawyers and engineers as the building meets requirements necessary to accomplish all the license procedures and is within the new structural map of al-‘Isawiya village. He added that the lawyer of his family had filed a petition before the Supreme Court of Justice against the “Chemnitz” Law, which aims to accelerate house demolitions in Arab towns, but the Court rejected and referred the demolition decision of the ‘Alian family building to the Central Committee that had approved the decision. ‘Alian indicated that he was surprised yesterday evening with the Israeli Municipality’s call to inform him of its intention to implement the demolition order and they need to vacate the building the next morning.
‘Alian emphasized that the decision to demolish his family building was a political decision par excellence, especially since he previously received several calls from the Israeli Intelligence threatening him to demolish his family building if he continued to work as the Head of the Guard Unit in the mosque. He added that the IOF did not suffice with arresting him for a year and teasing him by denying him access to Al-Aqsa Mosque for long periods, but also implemented their threats and demolished his house and houses of his family. ‘Alian Family building, which is on an area of about 370 sqms of two floors that contain 4 apartments, sheltered ‘Ali ‘Alian, his wife and children, Amjad, Murad, and Fadi with their families (i.e. around 20 family members, including 12 kids.) After IOF finished the demolition and withdrew, they returned to confiscate the Palestinian flags that were fixed on the rubbles and fired rubber bullets and sound bombs randomly at dozens of citizens gathering there. As a result, Mohammed Abu al-Hummus (51), Head of the Follow-up Committee in al-‘Isawiya village, was injured with a rubber bullet in the abdomen, after IOF hit him with rifles’ butts on his hand to smash his cell phone. He was taken to al-Maqased Hospital for treatment.
At approximately 08:00, IOF accompanied with an Israeli Civil Administration truck mounted crane and 2 bulldozers moved into Kherbet Humus in the Northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. The bulldozers uprooted 17 residential and sheep-grazing, demolished livestock barns and confiscated water tanks for the sixth time consecutively within a month under the pretext of illegal construction in Area C.
Those affected were as follows:
‘Abdel Ghani al-‘Awawdah and his 2 sons, Mo’az and Anas: 3 residential tents donated by the Palestine Red Crescent Society and another sheep tent donated by the European Union were removed and confiscated
Walid Suleiman Freij Abu al-Kabbash and his two brothers Harb and Mohammad: 3 residential tents donated by PRCS and another tent donated by EU were removed and confiscated; 2 water tanks were confiscated; 2 sheep barns on an area of 500 sqms were demolished
Ismail Freij and his two sons Nazem and Nizam: 2 water tanks confiscated; 4 plastic tanks confiscated; 2 sheep tents donated by EU confiscated and removed; 3 residential tents donated by PRCS removed and confiscated; An open livestock barn on an area of 250 sqms demolished
Yasser Mahmoud Abu al-Kabbash and his son Sanad: 2 residential tents donated by PRCS removed and confiscated; An open livestock barn on an area of 250 sqms demolished
Harb, Mohammad and Walid Suleiman Freij: 4 tents donated by EU confiscated
At approximately 11:00, IOF demolished 2 stores belonging to Mohammed ‘Omer Salman Tarshan in Sour Baher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. The owner, Mohammed Tarshan, said that the Israeli Municipality demolished the 2 stores (each is 60 sqms) without any prior notice. Tarshan added that this is the second time IOF demolish his stores as the Israeli Municipality bulldozers demolished on 28 October 2020 2 stores that were built back in 1940 when they were rented as a coffee shop and a flower shop in addition to an under-construction house in the second floor that is around 100 sqms.
At approximately 11:00 on Monday, the Israeli occupation authorities demolished 2 agricultural arbors in Khader village, south of Bethlehem under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Head of the Wall Resistance Committee office in Bethlehem, Hasan Breijiyeh, said that IOF demolished 2 arbors in the “Dabdoub” and “al-Sowanah” areas, south of the village, belonging to Mahmoud Khalil Ghuneim and Mohammed Mustafa Sbeih under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
At approximately 12:30, the Israeli bulldozers demolished an under-construction house in Kherbet al-Deir village, north of Teqoa village, east of Bethlehem, under the pretext of unlicensed building. Director of Teqoa village Municipality, Taysir Abu Mefreh, said that IOF moved into Kherbet al-Deir area, north of the village, and denied movement. They demolished an under construction 160-sqm house belonging to Mojahed Mahmoud Salman. Abu Mefreh said that the demolition is part of a series of IOF’s constant attacks and measures against Teqoa village and its residents.
b. Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property
At approximately 17:45 on Friday, 19 February 2021, a group of settlers from “Levona” settlement established on eastern al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya village, southeast of Nablus, attacked the Ottoman Khan, east of the village, attempting to take it over. A number of citizens gathered and threw stones at the IOF and settlers; in respose, the IOF fired teargas canisters and rubber bullets to disperse them. As a result, many citizens suffocated due to teargas inhalation.
On Sunday morning 21 February 2021, Israeli settlers cut tens of fruitful olive trees in a plot of land belonging to Fawzi Mahmoud Khalifah in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem. The head of the village council, Khader al-A’araj, said that a group of settlers from “Har Gilo” settlement established on al-Walajah village land cut around 70 fruitful olive trees planted 10 years ago in Fawzi Khalifah’s land in ‘Orouq Zneid area, south of the village, using a saw. It should be noted that al-Walaja village has been under IOF and settlers’ fierce campaign of house demolitions and notices to stop construction works in addition to land-razing and tree-uprooting.
PCHR is an independent Palestinian human rights organization (registered as a limited non-profit company) based in Gaza City. The Center enjoys consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
واصلت قوات الاحتلال الحربي الإسرائيلي تنفيذ جرائمها وانتهاكاتها المركبة ضد المدنيين الفلسطينيين وممتلكاتهم، بما في ذلك…
