In its weekly report on Israeli human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that during the week of 06-12 May 2010, an infant died from tear gas inhalation fired by Israeli forces in Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.In addition, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli gunfire in the West Bank.
Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank, including using a new type of tear gas against demonstrators.
Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian farmers and workers in border areas of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
During the reporting period, a Palestinian infant was killed and 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
On 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards the Zaher al-Barahish area in the south of the village near ‘Kermi Tsur’ settlement, protesting against the closure and confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement activities. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old Hamza Samar Muhanna Abu Maria suffered severely from tear gas inhalation, of which she died at Hebron Hospital 36 hours later. According to her mother, Israeli troops chased the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear gas canisters at houses. They fired at least 4 tear gas canisters at the balcony of Abu Maria’s house.
Israeli forces conducted 16 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, during which they abducted 38 civilians, including 13 children, a journalist and 4 human rights defenders, in the West Bank.
Israeli troops stationed at military checkpoints in the West Bank abducted two Palestinian civilians.
Israeli forces have imposed arbitrary measures against members of the Popular Committees against the Annexation Wall and Settlements.
Israel has continued to take measures aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem. On 11 May 2010, the Israeli Municipality of Jerusalem issued orders to evacuate 4 tracts of land in Nablus Street near the US Consulate-General central Jerusalem, claiming that the land is owned by the State of Israel. A petrol station, a workshop and a car park managed by Palestinians are located on the 3-donum plot of land. It is worth noting that the land has been registered as an Islamic endowment for 400 years.
During the reporting period, the Israeli organization Peace Now revealed in a recently published report that Israeli occupation authorities have begun to build at least 14 new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-‘Aamoud neighborhood south of al-Aqsa Mosque. The housing units are being built on a site that used to be an Israeli police station. According to the report, there are 119 structures belonging to Jewish parties in Palestinian neighborhoods in East Jerusalem, where at least 1,900 Israeli settlers live.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 06 May 2010, one of the Israeli settlers who seized a house belonging to the al-Ghawi family in East Jerusalem slapped Nabeel al-Kurd, 12, when he was near his house in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. The settler also boxed ‘Abdullah Nasser al-Ghawi, 8, and then escaped.
On the same day, an Israeli settler attacked Jamalat Hashima, 27, when she and her sister Eithar, 18 were on her way home in the ‘Aqabat al-Khaldia neighborhood of Jerusalem’s old city. The settler hit Jamalat and pushed the Eithar. Palestinian civilians intervened and protected the two women, while the settler ran away.
On the same day, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered in the ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya area on the Ramallah-Nablus road, north of Ramallah, and blocked the road. They set fire to tires and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilian vehicles.
At the same time, dozens of Israeli settlers gathered near the road that links the ‘Oyoun al-Haramiya area and Qalandya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.
On 07 May 2010, dozens of Israeli settlers from ‘Qedumim’ settlement threw stones at Palestinian civilian vehicles traveling on the Nablus-Qalqilya road. A number of vehicles were damaged.
On 08 May 2010, a number of Israeli settlers from settlement outposts in the center of Hebron sprayed wastewater on Palestinian civilians who organized a peaceful demonstration demanding the reopening of al-Shuhada Street for the movement of civilians. Israeli troops were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop the settlers.
On 10 May 2010, Israeli settlers burnt 3 donums of land planted with wheat belonging to ‘Aadel Hassan Ymin, 54, in Qalqilya.
A new Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem was released. Israel began constructing new housing units for settlers in the Ras al-‘Aamoud neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
Israeli Annexation Wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest to the construction of the Wall and settlement activities. At least 13 civilians were wounded, and others sustained bruises or suffered from tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall in Bil’ein village, west of Ramallah. The demonstrators moved towards the Wall and attempted to access annexed lands behind it. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and some of them sustained bruises. Israeli troops further abducted 6 demonstrators, including 3 human rights defenders.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the construction of the Annexation Wall. They clashed with Israeli forces troops positioned near the Wall. Israeli forces troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises.
Also following the Friday Prayer on 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Nabil Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest against land confiscations in the Wad al-Raya area between the villages of Nabi Saleh and Deir Nizam. When the demonstrators attempted to reach areas of land seized by Israeli settlers near ‘Halmish’ settlement, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Israeli troops also abducted two Palestinian civilians, including a child: ‘Alaa’ Mohammed al-Tamimi, 19; and Bassel ‘Abdul Elah al-Tamimi, 12. The child was released later, but the young man was kept in custody.
On Friday afternoon, 07 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and a number of international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They moved towards Zaher al-Barahish area in the south of the village near ‘Kermi Tsur’ settlement, protesting against the closure and confiscation of Palestinian land for the purpose of settlement activities. Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the demonstrators. As a result, 7-month-old Hamza Samar Muhanna Abu Maria suffered from severe tear gas inhalation, of which she died at Hebron Hospital 36 hours later. According to her mother, Israeli troops chased the demonstrators into alleys and fired tear gas canisters at houses. They fired at least 4 tear gas canisters at the balcony of Abu Maria’s house. As a result, the infant seriously inhalted a significant amount of tear gas. The baby girl was evacuated to a hospital in Hebron, but died at approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 09 May 2010.
At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 08 May 2010, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of ‘Iraq Bourin village, south of Nablus. They moved towards the eastern part of the village, were Israeli forces plan to confiscate land near ‘Brakha’ settlement. Immediately, Israeli troops fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Hihad Waleed Qadous, 19, was hit by a tear gas canister to the left leg, which caused two fractures.
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 09 May 2010, Israeli forces fired at a number of Palestinian workers who were collecting bricks and construction aggregate in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. On the same day, Israeli warplanes bombed a tunnel under the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. On 10 May 2010, Israeli warplanes bombed another tunnel at the Egyptian border.
Israel has continuously closed all border crossings to the Gaza Strip for over two and a half years. The illegal Israeli-imposed siege of Gaza, which has steadily tightened since June 2007, has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
1.5 million people are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, and their rights to appropriate living conditions, work, health and education.
The main concern of the population of the Gaza Strip is to obtain their basic needs of food, medicines, water and electricity supplies.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the International Committee of the Red Cross to increase its staff and activities in the OPT, including the facilitation of family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
PCHR appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights organizations, bar associations, unions and NGOs, and urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure Israel’s respect for human rights in the OPT and to demand Israel end its attacks on Palestinian civilians.
Israel has continued to prevent the entry of raw construction materials into the Gaza Strip for more than two and a half years.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
