In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 24- 30 Dec. 2014, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, with 4 dead this week from Israeli attacks and 17 wounded. 3 of the dead and 16 of the wounded were civilian non-combatants, and 2 of the dead were children.Over the past week, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child and wounded another one south of Nablus. Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas in the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian militant was killed and another one was wounded when an Israeli drone targeted them, east of Khan Yunis. 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the north of the Gaza Strip.
In addition, a Palestinian child died of wounds he sustained during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, and an elderly man died of wounds he sustained in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded during Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya. 3 Palestinian children were wounded during other protests. 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 women, were wounded during several shooting incidents.
A child was wounded due to the explosion of a sound bomb of the Israeli military remnants.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 65 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, abducting 61 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 2 women. 16 of these civilians, including 8 children and 2 woman, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At least 3 Palestinian civilians were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 29 December 2014, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child and wounded another one in Beita village, southeast of Nablus. The 2 children were walking on a highland and the area was quiet then. Israeli forces could have abducted the children and questioned them in case of suspicion.
On 30 December 2014, a medical source in a hospital in West Jerusalem pronounced a 62-year-old Palestinian civilian, from Jerusalem Old City, dead of wounds he sustained during the funeral of Mohammed Sonoqrot on 07 September 2014.
On 24 December 2014, an Israeli soldier fired a rubber-coated metal bullet at a 5-year-old child while being in the yard of his family house in al-‘Eisawiya village, north of east Jerusalem. As a result, the child sustained a wound to the eye.
On 26 December 2014, a 72-year-old woman sustained a bullet wound to the right arm and another 48-year-old woman sustained a bullet wound to the right arm but the bullet settled in the belly, when Israeli forces moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.
On 28 December 2014, an 8-year-old child, from al-Nabi Saleh village northwest of Ramallah, sustained wounds to the left eyebrow and left hand middle finger and burns to the right hand pointer finger, due to the explosion of a sound bomb of the Israeli military remnants.
On 29 December 2014, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron, opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle driven by 2 Palestinian civilians while going back to the village. As a result, the 2 civilians were wounded. The 2 wounded were taken to al-Ahli hospital in Hebron. Wounds of one of them were described as serious.
On 30 December 2014, a Palestinian child was wounded when Israeli forces protecting settlers, who attacked Palestinian houses in Burin village, south of Nablus, opened fire at Palestinian civilians, who confronted the settlers.
Israeli forces continued their measures to create Jewish majority in occupied Jerusalem. Israeli forces demolished 3 houses, a butchery and a restaurant in Jabal al-Mukabber neighborhood.
In an incident documented by a PCHR fieldworker, on December 25th, Israeli troops stole money from a Palestinian woman, Mai Rashad Anis Shbeiri, during a raid of his home.
Shbeiri said to a PCHR fieldworker that: ‘At approximately 01:30 on Thursday, 25 December 2014, my husband, Ahmed ‘Ali Ahmed Shbeiri (52), sons; ‘Abdullah (20), ‘Obadah (18), ‘Inayah (21), and ‘Abdel Rahman (13), and I were sleeping in our house in al-Qaryoun neighbourhood in Nablus. We woke up to the voice of Israeli soldiers’ steps on our dilapidated old house roof. They suddenly pushed the door house with their feet without knocking, so I got up out of bed to the living room. An Israeli soldier then asked me who the owner of the house is, and I then called my husband to come. He came and brought his ID card. The Israeli officer asked us to call for all those in the house and kept us in the guest room under the eyes of two Israeli soldiers. Other Israeli soldiers searched the house and when they reached the room we were staying in, they asked us to leave to our sons’ room on the opposite side. While we were passing by my room, I noticed that my closet’s lock has been broken. I told my husband who then told the Israeli soldiers that there is 70,000 NIS in the closet and he wants to get them. We were surprised that one of the soldiers brought it inside a plastic bag. They then asked my husband where he got that money from, and he answered that he is a candy and sweets trader and this money is for the goods. The Israeli soldiers gave him the money and took a photo for him with a black cell phone while receiving the money. After 20 minutes of receiving the money, two Israeli soldiers came back to question my husband again about the money. After arguing for hours, the Israeli soldiers were not convinced. They then abducted my son, ‘Abdullah, and confiscated 70,000 NIS.’
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, on 24 December 2014, a Palestinian militant was killed and another one was wounded when an Israeli drone targeted them, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces opened fire at al-Sanati area, northeast of Khuza’a village for about 45 minutes, but no casualties were reported. However, Israeli forces claimed that an Israeli soldier was wounded as a Palestinian sniper fired at him.
On 25 December 2014, a Palestinian medical source pronounced a 15-year-old child dead of wounds he sustained on 30 July 2014, during the latest Israeli offensive.
On 28 December 2014, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers in and around Beit Hanoun crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians near the border fence, who participated in protests called for by Islamic and national powers to end the Israeli closure and reconstruct the Gaza Strip.
Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea. In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, on 25 December 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles limit, north of the Gaza Strip. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Israel continued to impose a total closure on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli settlement activity:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 24 December 2014, Israeli forces bulldozed 3 retaining walls in Qasra village, southeast of Nablus.
They also bulldozed a tin barn used for raising poultry in al-Ras area, west of Hebron, and another shed used for collecting scrap.
On 25 December 2014, Israeli forces bulldozed a tin barracks and a two-floor building used as a cowshed and a dairy factory in Doura, west of Hebron. It should be noted that the aforementioned facilities are located near the annexation wall which is established on the lands of Hebron.
On 26 December 2014, Israeli settlers moved into the lands of Silat al-Zaher area to perform Talmudic rituals.
On 27 December 2014, a number of settlers from “Susia” settlement, south of Hebron destroyed 2 acres of winter crops after spraying them with chemicals.
On 29 December 2014, the security guards of “Ofra” settlement attacked a 29-year-old civilian from Silwad village. As a result, he sustained bruises throughout his body.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded during Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya.
In the same context, 3 children were wounded during other protests throughout the West Bank in protest at the Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, especially in East Jerusalem.
Following the Friday prayer, on 26 December 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests. Protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since the morning to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the aforementioned land, demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village. As a result, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Also at approximately 13:20, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up. Moreover, a 46-year-old male was hit by a gas canister to the back; a 53-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the back too; and a 19-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg.
At approximately 15:30, on 24 December 2014, a protest moved from the centre of Beit Foreek village, east of Nablus, towards lands threatened to be confiscated in al-Naqar area, near ‘Etamar’ settlement, southeast of the said village. The demonstrators were surprised to find Israeli forces stationing in the area. The Palestinian youngsters threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who opened fire in response. As a result, a 15-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and another 16-year-old male sustained bullet wound to the right side of the chest. The 2 wounded persons were taken to Rafidya hospital in Nablus to receive the necessary medical treatment. A medical source stated that their health condition was settled.
Following Friday prayer, on 26 December 2014, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered from different areas in Ramallah and al-Bireh around Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah. They made their way towards the facility’s gate, which was closed by Israeli soldiers. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound above the right knee. He was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on Selwad-Yabroud road near street (60) to organize a protest against Israeli policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
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 United Nations provide international perotection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip.
Th PCHR also called 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
