In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 12- 18 September 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continued systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 4 others, including 3 children, in Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 42 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. At least 41 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were abducted in the West Bank.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces raided a house in Jenin refugee camp and killed a Palestinian civilian. In addition, they wounded 4 others, including 3 children, in the same operation. Israeli forces wounded 8 others during incursions in different areas in the West Bank. Moreover, 3 women, including 2 sisters and their aunt, one of whom is disabled, sustained bruises when Israeli forces attacked them during an Israeli incursion into Kherbet Safa to the south of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.
On 17 September 2013, Israeli occupation forces killed a Islam Hussam al-Tubasi (20) and wounded 4 others, including 3 children, in Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank. Al-Tubasi was wounded by 2 bullets to the abdomen when Israeli forces raided his bedroom. They took him out of the house bleeding and fired at his legs again in front of the building. This happened when Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp and raided the victim’s house. During this attack, a number of young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. In response, Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs. As a result, 4 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded.
On 13 September 2013, Nesfat Ishteiwi (25) was hit by a tear gas canister to the head when clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and Israeli forces that moved into Qalqilia.
On the same day, Israeli forces attacked Nabila Abu Daiya (29), a disabled person, her sister Jamila (30) and their aunt Maliha (50) when Israeli forces moved into Kherbet Safa to the south of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.
On 12 September 2013, 7 civilians sustained bullet and shrapnel wounds when Israeli forces moved into Nablus to secure and protect settlers, who moved into Joseph Tomb to perform Talmudic rituals. Israeli forces abducted one of the wounded persons after chasing him. Israeli forces claimed that wounded person had opened fire at them.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 12 September 2013, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence moved about 200 meters into the east of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.
On 15 September 2013, Israeli forces moved about 200 meters into the east of al-Shuhada’ cemetery, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and opened fire sporadically. As a result, dozens of farmers were denied access to their lands. Israeli forces withdrew at approximately 12:00, on the same day. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
On 16 September 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 4 nautical miles off the shore. The fishermen were frightened and fled back to the shore fearing of being abducted or injured. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
On 17 September 2013, Israeli forces moved about 200 meters into the east of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They levelled lands along the border fence, moved northwards and withdrew later.
On the same day, Israeli forces conducted a similar incursion in the east of al-Faraheen neighbourhood in Abassan, east of Khan Yunis. They levelled lands, opened fire sporadically and withdrew few hours later.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces demolished a residential compound resided by 10 Palestinian families, including farmers and shepherds, in Mak’houl area in the northern Jordan Valley.
Israeli forces demolished 4 civilian facilities in Barta’a village and razed 5 agricultural dunums, south of Qalqilia.
Israeli forces handed distributed notices to halt construction works in 2 houses north of Bruqin village.
Settlers set fire to an under-construction house in Madama village, south of Nablus.
Settlers stormed a water well and performed Telmudic ristuals, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces obliged dozens of families in the northern Jordan valley to evacuate the area under the pretext of military training.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 civilians, including a photojournalist, were wounded. Furthermore, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises.
Following the Friday prayer, 13 September 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields as far as the outskirts of the village. As a result, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and, when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields as far as the outskirts of the village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at the Martyrs Square in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby ‘Halmish’ settlement are trying to seize. From the morning, Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration. Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.
At approximately 12:30, on Friday, 13 August 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians from Kofur Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilia, and international activists gathered and made their way through the eastern entrance of the village in protest at closing that entrance with an iron gate since al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000. Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters randomly. As a result, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation.
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 European Union 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 violation and crimes against Palestinian civilians.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
