Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 04- 10 June 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
Israeli forces continued to use force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the oPt and against fishers sailing within the allowed area in the Gaza Strip sea. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in Jenin refugee camp in the north of the West Bank, and wounded 9 others, including 2 children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to target and chase fishermen, moreover, Israeli warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes against training sites belonging to Palestinian armed groups.
In the West Bank, on Wednesday, 10 June 2015, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian in Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They claimed that Israeli soldiers moved into the said refugee camp to arrest wanted persons, but while withdrawing, they noticed a young Palestinian man, who was trying to throw an explosive device at an Israeli patrol. As a result, an Israeli officer fired at him, due to which the device exploded near the young man before he could throw it.
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 atthe construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli policies in the oPt. As a result, 7 civilians, including a child, were wounded.
In the Gaza Strip, 2 Palestinian fishers, including a child, sustained bullet wounds on 04 June 2015, when Israeli gunboats opened fire at a fishing boat sailing off al-Sudaniya shore in the north of the Gaza Strip. There were 5 fishers on board of the boat. Israeli navy forces arrested all of them and confiscated the boat. After they were released, it was found that 2 of whom sustained bullet wounds, but their wounds were minor.
In the context of targeting fishers, in addition to the abovementioned attack on fishermen,Israeli navy forces opened fire thrice at fishermen sailing in the allowed area.
Moreover, Israeli warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes at training sites belonging to Palestinian armed groups. On 04 June 2014, Israeli warplanes attacked al-Yarmouk site, west of al-Maqousi buildings, north of Gaza City, and Abu Jarad site, south of al-Zaitoun neighborhood in the south of the city. On 07 June 2015, Israeli warplanes attacked Palestine site 500 meters away from the border fence, southwest of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, material damage but no casualties were reported.
Incursions
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 70 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 ones in East Jerusalem.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 53Palestinians, including 7 children and a woman. Fourteen of these Palestinians, including 6 children, were arrested in East Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces confiscated NIS 4,300 from the house of prisoner Khader al-Sourkaji (38) and a car claiming that the money would be used for terrorist purposes.
In the Gaza Strip, on 05 June 2015, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion in the east of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip. They levelled land along the border fence. On 10 June 2015, Israeli forces moved about 150 meters in the east of al-Qarara village, east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip. This coincided with a similar incursion in the east of Khuza’a village, where Israeli forces levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew 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 (KeremShaloum) 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.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
On 09 June 2015, the Israeli forces bulldozed 3 industrial establishments in al-Khalaila neighbourhood in al-Jeeb area, northwest of Jerusalem,under the pretext of non-licensing. Mr. Isma’il Abu Rabah, Head of the neighbourhood’s council, said that Israeli bulldozers moved into the neighbourhood around 06:30. They demolished 3 industrial facilities, including a metal workshop belonging to Abdullah al-Keswani and 2 auto repair garages belonging to Nour al-Matari and Mohanned Mansour.He also mentioned that the workshop supports more than 20 persons while the garages support 6 families.
On 10 June 2015, the Israeli forces bulldozed an agricultural land in al-Isawiya village, northeast of Jerusalem, and destroyed the buildings on it. They bulldozed an agricultural room, a kitchen, a bathroom, a water well, and the surrounding fences. They also uprooted more than 70 trees. The land has an overall area of 8 dunums and 50 square meters and belongs to the deceased Sabri Yahya Darwich.
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 04 June 2015, Israeli forces destroyed a land belonging to Ahmed Abdel Aziz Ghuneimat (86) inSha’ab al-Seif area to the west of Sorif village, northwest of Hebron. They bulldozed the stone chains and barbwire in the 30-dunum land. They also buried two water wells and uprooted and confiscated 200 olive trees and 200 almond trees. It should be noted that the Israeli forces handed notices on 31 August 2015 ordering the confiscation of 4,000 dunums of village lands claiming they were state properties, including the above- mentioned land.
On the aforementioned day, the Israeli bulldozers destroyed 5 houses, 4 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, and 14 civilian establishments used as animal shelters in Thera’ Awwad area in the northern mountains belonging to 4 Bedouin families of 29 members. One of the families lost a 350-gram gold ornament.
On 10 June 2015, the Israeli forces destroyed a residential tent of an area of 30 square meters belonging to Khail Abu Qbeita under the pretext of non-licensing in Esteir area, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron.
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,7 civilians, including a 13-year-old child, were wounded.
(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 05June 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 and to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war. 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 activitiesand to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war. 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 activitiesand to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war. 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, there was the weekly protest against the closure of the eastern entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, which has been closed by Israeli forces since the 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 other the protestors.As a result, a 46-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
Other demonstrations
Following the Friday prayer, on 05June 2015,dozens of Palestinians gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, to protest at the Israeli practices against the Palestinian civilians and to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result,a 19-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left knee and was taken to Palestine Medical Compound to receive medical treatment.
Also ffollowing the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and Yabroud villages, near Bypass road (60), in protest at the Israeli policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the aforementioned road and Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result,3 civilians, including a child, were wounded. A 13-year-old Akram Jom’a Hammad sustained a bullet wound to the leftthigh, a 22-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg anda 25-year-old civilians sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
Also ffollowing the Friday prayer,dozens of youngsters gathered from different areas of Ramallah and al-Bireh in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah, to protest at Israeli policies. They headed towards the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli soldiers. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers. Israeli forces deployed around the detention facility and started firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result,2 civilians sustained wounds and were taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. A 40-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh and was hit by a gas canister to the belly and a 25-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the rightleg.
At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 06June 2015, a number of activists from the Popular Committees against Annexation Wall and Settlement Activities and other human rights activists organized a protest in front of ‘Beit Bracha’ building, adjacent to bypass road (60) between al-Aroub refugee camp and Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron, because Israeli forces fixed a security fence and surveillance cameras around the building and its vicinity and declared it as part of ‘Gosh Etzion’ settlement. Israeli officers and police surrounded the place, prevented the participants from approaching the main gate and attacked them.
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 11 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 04 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrance of Hebron, and at the entrance of Karmah village, southeast of Dura, southwest of Hebron.
On Friday, 05 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.
OnSaturday, 06 June 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance of Beit ‘Awa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron; at the entrance of al-Hejrah village, east of Dura and at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron.
On Monday, 08 June 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance of ‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron; at the entrance of al-Samou’a village, south of the city and at the northern entrance of Halhoul, north of the city.
On Tuesday, 09 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, north of Hebron.
On Wednesday, 10 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Samet village, north of Dura, northwest of Hebron.
· Ramallah: Israeli forces established 8 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 04June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of ‘Atarah Checkpoint at the northern entrance of Beir Zeit, north of Ramallah and at the intersection of Beit Or al-Foqa, southwest of Ramallah.
On Friday, 5 June 2015, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, at the entrance of Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah, at the entrance of Senjel village, north of Ramallah, and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
On Saturday, 06 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of al-Mogher village andthe entrance of Tiba town, northeast of Ramallah.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces established7 checkpoints all over the city. On Friday, 05June 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilya, and at the intersection of Jet village, northwest of Qalqilya.
On Saturday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at eastern entrance of Qalqilya City.
On Sunday, 08 June 2015, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints; two of them at the eastern entrance and the other two at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilya, during the morning hours and evening hours.
· Jenin: Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints all over the city.OnSaturday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints on the road between Kafirt village and Ya’bod town, southwest of Jenin, and at the road of the American University in al-Zababda, southeast of Jenin.
On Sunday, 08 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between Kafirt village and Ya’bod town, southwest of Jenin.
· Jericho: Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints all over the city. On Friday, 05June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpointsat the entrance of Fasayel village, north of the city, and at the entrance of al-Zubaidat village, north of Jericho.
On Saturday, 06 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 5June 2015,Israeli forces stationed at ‘Annab military checkpoint which is established on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of the city, tightened their restrictions against civilians and obstructed their movement. The tightening recurred at the aforementioned checkpoint.
At approximately 8:00 on Saturday, 7 June 2015 and at approximately 19:00 on the aforementioned Saturday. At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Pharon village, south of Tulkarm.
Note: all the aforementioned checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 04 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya near the eastern entrance of Jabara village. They stopped a Palestinian car travelled by Mo’ath Mohammad Amen Esheikh Hussein (21) from Kafr Abosh village, northeast Qalqilia, and arrested him.
At approximately 19:00 on the aforementioned Thursday, Israeli forces arrested former prisoner Saleh Mohammad Abed Arrahman Deria (39) from Beit Fojar town, while he was at the intersection of “Gosh Atsion” settlement, south of Bethlehem under the claim of having a knife and then took him to an unknown destination. It should be noted that Deria spent 12 years in the Israeli jails over two periods: the first was 5 years and the second was 7 years and he was released with a serious mental health problem and other diseases. Deria is married and has three children.
At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 05 June 2015, Israeli forces deployed in the old town, center of Hebron City, arrested Muhammad Nader Qafesha (14) under the pretext of his disobedience to the soldiers. They transferred him to the police station of “Kiryat Aba’a”, east Hebron.
At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Nafaq checkpoint, west of Beit Lahem, arrested Ahmed Mahmoud Abed Assalam Alama (24) from Beit Amer town, North of Hebron, during his return from his work and then took him to unknown destination.
At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Heja village, east Qalqilya. Before removing the checkpoint later, the Israeli soldiers arrested Omer Waleed Omer Borhom (30), from the neighboring Kafr Qaddom, while crossing the checkpoint and then took him to an unknown destination
At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 10 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Amer town, north of Hebron City and before removing it, they arrested Ahmed Yaser Aza’qeq (24) after stopping his vehicle.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
House demolitions
On Tuesday, 09 June 2015, bulldozers of the Israeli municipality in East Jerusalem demolished 3 industrial facilities in al-Khalaila neighbourhood in al-Jaib village, northwest of East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Mr. Isma’il Abu Rabah, head of the neighbourhood’s council, said that Israeli bulldozers moved into the neighbourhood around 06:30. They demolished 3 industrial facilities, including a metal workshop belonging to Abdullah al-Keswani and 2 auto repair garages belonging to Nour al-Matari and Mohanned Mansour. Abu Rabah said that Israeli bulldozers demolished the abovementioned workshop for the 4th time. It should be noted the workshop supports over 20 persons, while Mansour’s garage supports 3 families. Abu Rabah pointed that Israeli forces demolished al-Matari garage for the second time. He stressed that licenses for construction and industrial facilities have been suspended for 30 years.
Incursions & House Raids
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 04June 2015, Israeli forces raided moved into al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Ata Mohammed Eweisat (42) and Ahmed Aziz Eweisat (23).
At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Abed al-A’wer (17) and Mahmoud Zaidan al-A’wer (16) while walking in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 05 June 2015, dozens of human rights defenders and Palestinian civilians from Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood, north of the old city in East Jerusalem, organized a peaceful protest to mark the 48th anniversary of the 1967 war. They made their way in the streets near the houses that wereseized in the past days. They raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against settlement activities. Israeli forces moved into the neighbourhood and surrounded the protest. Moreover, they arrested Saleh Diab (32) and Ahmed Nasser Dawrwish (24) and took them to an unknown destination.
At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 06 June 2015, Israeli forces moved into Bab Hetta neighbourhood, in the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Mo’aweya Abdullah al-Ajlouni (23) and Amir al-Baseti (17).
At approximately 03:30 on Sunday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Rabah Elayan in al-eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (21) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 07 June 2015, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinian civilians while going out of al-Aqsa mosque in the old city in East Jerusalem. They took them to al-Qashala interrogation facility to be questioned. The arrested civilians were identified as: Esmat al-Hamouri (43), Ra’fat Najib (39); and Nidal Ahmed Seyam.
At approximately 04:00 on Tuesday, 09 June 2015, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 children: Karim Mahmoud Seyam (17); Ahmed Ali Yaseen (16); and Yusef Ahmed Eweida (16).
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.
On Thursday morning, 28 May 2015, Israeli forces closed the entrance of a room in the underground floor of the Ibrahimi mosque in the center of Hebron, for security reasons. They changed the door lock and refused to give its key to mosque servants. It should be noted that the room overlooks the yard that was established by settlers near the mosque.
At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 02 June 2015, Israeli forces moved into Rummana village, northwest of Jenin. They deployed in Palestinian farmlands and informed farmers they had an order to bridge an artesian well and 2 agricultural rooms belonging to Fayadh Riyadh Fayad Sbaihat (35) under the pretext they were not licensed. An Israeli bulldozer demolished the well and rooms under Israeli forces’ protection. They withdrew from the area and no more incidents were reported.
Settler attacks against Palestinian civilians and their 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 05:00 on Thursday, 04 June 2015, Israeli forces, backed by several military vehicles and accompanied by a vehicle belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the ‘Civil Admiration’, and four bulldozers, moved into Sha’ab al-Seif area to the west of Sorif village, northwest of Hebron. They stationed in a land belonging to Ahmed Abdel Aziz Ghuneimat (86) and they bulldozed the 30-dunum land and stone chains and 500 meters of barbwire. They also buried two water wells; the capacity of each is 80m3. Moreover, they uprooted 200 olive trees and 200 almond trees and confiscated them. It should be noted that the Israeli forces handed notices on 31 August 2015ordering the confiscation of 4,000 dunums of the village’s lands claiming they were state property. The above-mentioned plot was included in the confiscation notices.
Bachir Ghuneimat stated that:
‘My father has approximately 30 dunums in Sha’ab al-Seif area to the west of Sorif village, west of Hebron. We rehabilitated the land through a project from the Agricultural Relief. We contributed with 20% of the land restoration process in addition to our efforts. The restoration cost us 120,000 NIS. We built stone chains and barbwire and dug two water wells; one of them was built with concrete. Furthermore, we planted the land with different seedlings. At approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 04 June 2015, one of my relatives called me and told me that Israeli military vehicles were stationed on our land. I headed tothe roof, which overlooks the land, and saw several vehicles and bulldozers. I headed there in my car and met the municipal director on the way. We tried to approach the land but the soldiers stopped us. After a long argument, the municipal director spoke with the Israeli officer who told us that there was a court order to confiscate the land. He suggested going to court in case we had an objection. At approximately, 19:00, the forces left the land and we found it wascompletely destroyed. They uprooted the seedlings and confiscated them. It should be noted that we did not receive any notices to stop working on the land.’
At approximately 07:00 on the aforementioned Thursday, the Israeli forces, backed by several military vehicles and accompanied by two bulldozers and two jeeps belonging to the Civil Administration, moved into the Thera’ ‘Awwad area in the northern mountains. They bulldozed a residential compound for Bedouin families in the area. They destroyed 5 houses, 4 kitchens, 4 bathrooms, and 14 civiliansestablishment used as barns and animal shelters. The property of 29 persons was bulldozed. One of the families lost a 350-gram gold ornament.
The bulldozing activity was as follows:
1. bulldozing a residential tent of an area of 60 square meters, a tin barrack of an area of 160 square meters, a tin kitchen of an area of 30 square meters, a mobile bathroom, an animal shelter of an area of 300 square meters, and 15 iron cutters belonging to Nizam Yusif Abu Awwad;
2. bulldozing a residential tent of an area of 60 square meters, a tin barrack of an area of 250 square meters, a tin kitchen of an area of 30 square meters, a mobile bathroom, an animal shelter of an area of 300 square meters, and 15 iron cutters belonging to Nidhal Yusif Abu Awwad;
3. bulldozing two residential tents of an area of 60 square meters, tin barrack of an area of 244 square meters, a tin kitchen of an area of 30 square meters, a mobile bathroom, an animal shelter of 350 square meters, and 30 iron cutters belonging to Kayed Ghayyad Abed Salamin; and,
4. bulldozing a residential tent of an area of 60 square meters, a tin barrack of an area of 160 square meters, a tin kitchen of an area of 30 square meters, a mobile bathroom, an animal shelter of an area of 300 square meters, two tents used as animal shelters of an area of 240 square meters, 20 iron cutters, and a 350-gram gold ornament belonging to ‘Adel Abdel Mahdi Salamin.
At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 10 June 2015, the Israeli forces backed by two militaryvehicles and a vehicle, belonging to the Construction and Organization Department in the Civil Administration and a GCB bulldozer moved into Esteer area near Kherbat Minzil, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. They bulldozed a residential tent of an area of 30 square meters belonging to Khalil Muhammad Abu Qbeita under the pretext of illegal construction in area C.
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.
