PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (28 June – 04 July 2018)

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the week of 28 June – 04 July, 2018.

Israeli forces continued to use force against Palestinian peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed, while another child succumbed to his wounds. Two Palestinians, including a child, were killed and 3 others were wounded in the border areas in the southern Gaza Strip.

Shooting:

Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized within the activities of the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed for the 14^th week in a row peaceful demonstrations along the eastern and northern Gaza Strip border area. During the reporting period in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, while a third child succumbed to his wounds. Moreover, the Israeli forces wounded 156 others, including 18 children, 6 women, 4 journalists and 4 paramedics. Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian civilian.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, who were participating in the peaceful protests organized along the northern and eastern borders of the Gaza Strip. On Friday, 28 June 2018, Israeli forces killed Yaser Abu al-Naja (12) from Ma’en area in Khan younis after he was hit with a bullet to the head, causing brain laceration while participating in the Return protests, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In similar circumstances, the Israeli forces killed Mohammed al-Hamaydah (24) after being hit with 3 bullets to the abdomen and left leg while participating in the Return protests in eastern Shokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.

In the same context, on 29 June 2018, in excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child and moderately wounded another after firing 2 shells as both of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces could have used less lethal force, arrested them in case they crossed the border fence and interrogated them as they were both unarmed and posing no threat to the life of the soldiers.

In another use of lethal forces, on 02 July 2018, the Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and detained his corpse in addition to wounding 2 others, including a child who managed to flee. The Israeli forces opened fire at them after attempting to infiltrate via the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the southern Gaza Strip and then coming back to the Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces chased them into the Gaza Strip territories moving 300 meters into the Strip and pulled them to Israel. The Israeli forces could have used less lethal force, arrested them and interrogated them as they were unarmed and posing no threat to the life of the soldiers.

On 04 July 2018, the medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared the death of Mahmoud Dawoud (15) from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, after he succumbed to wounds he sustained on 14 May 2018 while participating in the Great March of Return in Malakah area, east of Gaza City. At that time, he was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital, where he stayed until his death.

During the reporting period, while using the excessive force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, the Israeli forces wounded 153 Palestinian civilians, including 17 children, 6 women, 4 paramedics, and 4 journalists. Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 39 Palestinians, including 4 children and 2 women, in the West Bank. Meanwhile, 26 other civilians, including 5 children and a young woman, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Eleven of them, including the young woman, were arrested during a peaceful protest organized by hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including dozens of human rights activists, in solidarity with residents of al-Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin Community on 04 July 2018.

In the Gaza Strip, on 02 July 2018, the Israeli forces moved 100 meters into eastern ‘Abasan al-Kabirah in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled near the fence and repaired the border fence heading to the south to eastern Khuza’ah before redeploying along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

On 04 July 2018, the Israeli forces moved 70 meters into the western side of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip and levelled lands adjacent to the fence in addition to setting barbed wires before redeploying along the border fence.

Israeli Forces Continued their Measures to Create a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem

As part of demolishing houses and civilian facilities, on 02 July 2018, the Israeli municipality vehicles demolished a commercial facility and another residential in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem’s Old City. Islam al-Salaymah, owner of the commercial facility “carwash” said that the Israeli municipality demolished his commercial facility and confiscated its contents in addition to levelling the land on which the facility was established. He said that more than 10 workers work in this carwash and make a living from it to support their families. The Israeli municipality demolished a caravan near the carwash, where he used to live with his family. Mustafa Abu Teir, owner of the livestock barrack, said that the Israeli municipality crews accompanied with the Israeli forces raided his barrack in Um Tuba village and called for evacuating it to be confiscated. He added that he took the livestock outside the 300-square-meter barrack and the Israeli forces started demolishing it.

On 02 July 2018, the Israeli authorities issued a notice to stop construction works in a house and water well in al-Jowaya, east of Yata, south of Hebron. The house and well belonging to ‘Issa al-Shawahin were under construction. On the same day, the Israeli authorities issued a similar notice to stop the construction works in a toilet established by a number of activists who pitched sit-in tents to stop settlers from confiscating lands in Sarourah area, west of al-Towanah village, east of Yata.

On 02 July 2018, Israeli forces demolished al-Mahatah tent, which is a tourist tent belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdullah and set by him last year on an area of 350 meters near the train rail in al-Batir village, west of Bethlehem, to activate the agriculture, but then turned into a tourist attraction.

On 03 July 2018, the Israeli forces demolished a house belonging to the family of Raed Abu Harthiyah in al-Khammar area in Batir village, west of Bethlehem. The 120-square-meter house was demolished without any prior warning though its owners have all the documents proving their ownership of the land on which the house was built as the Israeli authorities claim the ownership of it.

On the same day, the Israeli forces demolished an agricultural facility in Zaqandah area in al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, in addition to levelling agricultural lands in the area belonging to Yasin Khader ‘Issa. The Israeli forces destroyed and damaged a tin-roofed hut and levelled the land on which the hut was built in addition to damaging the graveyards planted on 10 dunums.

On 04 July 2018, the Israeli vehicles demolished 10 dwellings and 9 barracks for grazing sheep in Abu al-Nowar Bedoun Community near al-‘Izariyah village, east of Eastern Jerusalem, rendering 60 civilians homeless.

On 04 July 2018, the Israeli forces levelled a pool supplying the aforementioned area with water in al-Farisiyah area in the Jordan Valley. The pool established in October 2016 and funded by GVC was built of tin plates and floored with concrete.

in the same context, on 28 June 2018, a group of settlers from Yitsihar settlement established on part of ‘Orif village lands, south of Nablus, punctured wheels of two cars and wrote slogans on the walls of the aforementioned village.

On 30 June 2018, dozens of settlers from Beit Hadasa settlement outpost established in the centre of Hebron’s Old City attacked dozens of Palestinian civilians in Tal al-Rumeidh neighbourhood who were in the area, fearing their houses will be attacked without any intervention from the Israeli forces to stop the settlers of doing so.

Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:

Continuing the demonstrations in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy to it, Palestinian civilians organized protests for the 14^th Friday against the decision throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They further organized peaceful demonstrations where ten thousands of civilians participated on the 42^nd Anniversary of the Land Day in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The demonstrations were named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege.” The demonstrations were as follows during the reporting period:

Gaza Strip:

At approximately 15:00 on Friday 29 June 2018, hundreds of civilians, including women, children and entire families, swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The number of participants gradually increased at approximately 16:30, including elderlies, women and children. They were inside and outside the encampment yards, raising flags, and chanting slogans and national songs in addition to flying dozens of kites. Dozens of them approached the border fence, set fire to tires and attempted to throw stones at the Israeli forces. Moreover, the protestors removed the barbed wire fence established by the Israeli forces inside the Palestinian territories around 30-50 meters away from the main border fence. Israeli forces stationed behind hills and sand barriers, in military vehicles and its surroundings sporadically opened fire and fired dozens of tear gas canisters at the protestors and the area, which is behind them. as a result, Yasser Amjad Mousa Abu al-Naja (12) from Mo’en in Khan Younis was killed after being hit with a live bullet to the head at approximately 18:53, causing a laceration to the brain and he immediately died as he was taken to the field hospital and then transferred to Gaza European Hospital. The shooting, which continued until approximately 19:30, resulted in the injury of 26 civilians, including 2 children and a woman with live bullets and tear gas canisters. Among the wounded were a paramedic and a journalist, who both were hit with tear gas canisters. A female journalist also fainted after a tear gas canister fell near her while she was covering the incidents. The wounded civilians were taken to the field hospital and then transferred to Nasser, Gaza European and Algerian Hospitals. Moreover, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas canisters and received medical treatment on the spot or at the field hospital. Some others were transferred to hospitals due to suffering from inhalation and seizures.

At approximately 15:30, hundreds of Palestinian swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in Tal Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. the protestors raised flags, chanted slogans and national songs and set fire to tires. Dozens of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The Israeli forces deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. The clashes that continued until approximately 21:00 on the same day, resulted in the injury of 37 civilians, including 5 children, a paramedic and a female paramedic. Twenty of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 17 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Medical Services and the Palestinian Ministry of Health to the Indonesian and al-Awdah Hospitals. Doctors classified the injuries of 3 civilians as serious, including Mohammed Ra’ed Abdul Halim Abu Husein (13), who was hit with a live bullet that caused a laceration to the right leg and laceration to the tissues, arteries and tendons, so the doctors had to cut his leg. Doctors classified the others’ injuries between minor and moderate. The 2 paramedics were identified as”

Mohammed Ziyad al-‘Abed Abu Foul (25), a volunteer paramedic at the PRCS, was hit with a tear gas canister to the chest.
Rabab Mesbah Mohammed Halawin (22), a volunteer paramedic at the Palestinian Ministry of Health, was hit with a tear gas canister to the right knee.

At approximately 16:00 on the same Friday, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return camps established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the 14^th consecutive Friday known as “From Gaza To the West Bank Friday”. The activities included raising flags, chanting national slogans, setting fire to tires and flying kites. Though the demonstrations were fully peaceful, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 26 civilians, including 2 children, were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel tear gas canisters.

At approximately 16:30 on the same day, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, 400 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. Dozens of them approached the border fence, set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 18 civilians, including 3 children and a paramedic, were wounded. Eleven of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 7 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors classified the injury of 3 civilians as serious and two of them immediately entered the surgery room while the others’ injury between minor and moderate.

At approximately 17:00 on the same Friday, thousands of Palestinian protestors swarmed to the encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return, 300 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of them of them approached the border fence, flew kites, set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes continued until approximately 20:00. As a result, Mohammed Fawzi Abdul Hakim al-Hamaidah (24) was killed after being hit with a live bullet to the abdomen and left leg. Moreover, 26 civilians, including 4 children and a woman, were wounded. Twenty of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 4 others were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were taken to the field hospital in the Return camp and then transferred to Abu Yusuf al-Najjar in Rafah and Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis.

At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 03 July 2018, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampment established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the 14^th consecutive Friday known as “From Gaza To the West Bank Friday”. The activities included raising flags, chanting national slogans, setting fire to tires and flying kites. Though the demonstrations were fully peaceful, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. as result, 18 civilians, including 3 women, 2 journalists and a photojournalist from the Ministry of Health, were hit with live bullets and tear gas canisters and its shrapnel. The 2 wounded journalists and the photojournalist were identified as:

Iyad Nabil Darabeh (22) was hit with a tear gas canister to the left shoulder;
Mohammed ‘Emad Mohammed al-Za’noun (32) was hit with a shrapnel to the left shoulder and right hand;
Ahmed Mahmoud Mahmoud al-Khatib (25) was hit with a tear gas canister to the left arm.

At approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 03 July 2018, Israeli forces stationed behind a sand barrier, east of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at a number of civilians, who were around 50-150 meters into the west of the border fence. As a result, a 14-year-old civilian from al-Tuffah neighborhood, northeast of Gaza City was hit with a live bullet to the right leg. He was transferred to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors classified his injury as moderate.

Child Succumbed to his Wounds:

At approximately 21:30 on Wednesday, 04 June 2018, medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, announced the death of Mahmoud Majed Ahmed Dawoud (15) from al-Shuja’iyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, succumbing to wounds he sustained earlier. Mahmoud was hit with a live bullet to the head in the clashes erupted in the 70^thanniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah Day ( the catastrophe) in Malakah area, east of Gaza City on 14 May 2018. Mahmoud was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital where he stayed until his death was announced.

House Demolitions and Notices:

On Monday, 02 July 2018, Israeli Municipality vehicles demolished commercial and residential facilities in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, and another barrack used for breeding livestock in Um Tuba village, south of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The barrack owner, Mostafa Abu Tair, said that the Israeli Municipality vehicles and staff accompanied with Israeli forces raided his facility in Um Tuba village and ordered him to vacate it for the demolition. He added that he vacated the livestock from the 300-square-meter barrack, and then the Israeli forces demolished it.

The commercial facility owner, Islam al-Saliymah, said that at approximately 09:00, the Israeli Municipality vehicles and staff accompanied with dozens Israeli officers and special forces raided his car wash and confiscated its contents. He added that the Israeli vehicles demolished the facility and leveled the plot of land, where the facility was established, under the pretext of the carwash belonging to the Israeli Municipality and not licensing. He said that more than 10 workers used to work in the carwash, which was the only source of income for them and their families, and have now become unemployed. He added that the Israeli forces demolished a caravan next to his carwash. It should be noted that since the beginning of this year, the Israeli vehicles had demolished over 40 residential facilities in various areas in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs under the pretext of non-licensing.

At approximately 04:00 on Wednesday, 04 July 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with Israeli special police vehicles and the Israeli Civil Administration staff moved into Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin Community, which was threatened to be demolished. An activist ‘Atallah Mazar’ah said that the Israeli staff removed wires and a gate leading to the community in a prelude to enter vehicles that would demolish the whole community upon a decision issued by the Israeli Supreme Court. He pointed out that the Israeli forces declared yesterday that the Khan al-Ahmar Community and its surroundings are considered as a closed military zone from 06 July 2018. The Israeli forces closed all roads leading to the community in order to prevent solidarity activists from access to it or support it. On Wednesday morning, hundreds of solidarity activists gathered in Khan al-Ahmar and attempted to confront the Israeli forces, who were building a road in a prelude to enter vehicles that would demolish the community. At the beginning, the solidarity activists managed to prevent the demolition and stood in front of the bulldozer. At approximately 12:30, a large force of Israeli soldiers headed to the community, suppressed the activists, dispersed them with sticks, and then attacked them. As a result, 35 solidarity activists sustained bruises and wounds. Among those activists were: Mohamed Hamdan, reporter at al-‘Awda Channel; Shadi Mutwir, Secretary of the Fatah movement in Jerusalem; ‘Adel Abu Zunaid, Deputy Secretary of Jerusalem; Adnan Ghaith, Chairman of the Jerusalem Committee in the Revolutionary Council of the Fatah Movement; ‘Adnan Husseini and his facilities Mahmoud Badwan, Governor and Minister of Jerusalem Affairs; Waleed Assaf, Minister of Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee; and Musa Jabr; Ra’ed Fayez Mutair; and Hamdi Al-Rajabi, Secretaries of al-‘Azariya village. Furthermore, the Israeli forces arrested 11 civilians, including a girl, while suppressing the protesters. The Israeli forces pulled the abovementioned girl, removed her hijab and violently arrested her. PCHR keeps the names of the arrested persons. In last May, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision to demolish Khan al-Ahmer completely, in addition to a school built of rubber tires. The court claimed that community was built without a license though knowing obtaining those permits is impossible for Palestinians in areas under the Israeli control in the West Bank, known as Area C. It should be noted that Khan al-Ahmar is one of the forty-six Bedouin communities in the West Bank, which is threatened of forced transfer because of the Israeli resettlement plans, and the pressure exerted on residents to leave. These Bedouin communities are located in Area C according to the 1993 Oslo Accords signed by the Israeli authorities and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Around 180 members from al-Jahaleen Family live in Khan al-Ahmar Community.

On Wednesday, the Israeli vehicles demolished 10 residential caravans and 9 barracks used for breeding livestock in Abu Nawwar Bedouin Community near al-‘Aizariyia village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. Around 60 Palestinian civilians became homeless. According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ statements, at approximately 08:30, the Israeli forces accompanied with 3 bulldozers and the Israeli Civil Administration staff moved into Abu al-Nawwar Bedouin Community near al-‘Izzariyia village. The Israeli forces expelled the residents from their houses and took their contents out before demolition. Around 60 Palestinian civilians living in houses built of tin plates became homeless. The demolished houses belong to al-Jahaleen and Hamadeen Families. The demolition were as follows:

A house belongs to Hasan Mohamed Hasan Jahaleen, sheltering 7 members;
A house belongs to ‘Abed Mohamed Hasan Jahaleen, sheltering 6 members;
A house belongs to ‘Emad Mohamed Hasan Jahaleen, sheltering 4 members;
A house belongs to Yousef Mohamed Khamis Jahaleen, sheltering 12 members;
A house belongs to Suliman Jahaleen, sheltering 10 members;
A house belongs to Harbi Dawoud Saleh Hamadeen, sheltering 3 members;
A house belongs to Hamad Dawoud Saleh Hamadeen, sheltering 5 members;
A house belongs to ‘Atallah Yunis Saleh Hamadeen, sheltering 4 members;
A house belongs to Suliman Ibrahim Salama Hamadeen, sheltering 9 members;
Nine barracks used for breeding livestock belonging to Suliman Jahaleen, Ibrahim Jahaleen, and the two siblings Hasan and ‘Emad Jahaleen.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli forces’ attacks

At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 02 July 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with 2 military vehicles and a vehicle of Israeli Civil Administration moved into Sarourah area, west of al-Tawanah village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, where a group of solidarity activists set up a sit-in tents in protest at confiscating the lands by Israeli settlers. The Israeli Civil Administration officer handed the protesters a notices to stop construction a toilet in the area under the pretext of non-licensing.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces backed up with a military vehicle and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Jawayia area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officer handed ‘Isaa Hasan Hussain al-Shawaheen a notice to stop construction in a house and a water well under the pretext of non-licensing.

On Monday, 02 July 2018, Israeli forces demolished al-Mahata tent belonging to Mohamed Abdullah. This tent is a tourist tent established last year in a 350-square-meter plot of land near the railway train in Bateer village, in order to activate agriculture and then tuned into a tourist attraction and resort. This tent is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the World Heritage List.

At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 03 July 2018, Israeli bulldozers demolished a house belonging to Raied Abu Harithiyia in al-Khimar area in Bateer village, west of Bethlehem. Hasan Barijiyah, Member of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in Bethlehem, said that the targeted house was built on an area of 120 square meters and belongs to Raied Abu Harithiyia. He also said that the Israeli forces claimed that the house was not licensed because of establishing it in an area classified as Area C two years ago. He added that the Israeli forces deliberately demolished the house without a prior warning, in spite of having documents with the house owner that prove his ownership.

On Tuesday, Israeli bulldozers demolished an agricultural facility in Zaqandah area in al-Khadir village, south of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing, in addition to demolish other agricultural lands in the area. Ahmed Salah, a Coordinator in Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, said that the Israeli Civil Administration accompanied with Israeli forces raided a plot of land belonging to Yaseen Khadir ‘Isaa in Zaqandah area, which surrounded by many settlement outposts. The Israeli forces damaged an agricultural cottage roofed with tin plates. He added that the Israeli forces levelled a plot of land belonging to Yaseen while demolishing his facility. As a result, grapevines, which were planted on an area of 10 dunums, were damaged.

At approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 04 July 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with a jeep of the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer moved into al-Farisiyia area in Northern Jordan Valley. The Israeli bulldozer demolished a water pool feeding the abovementioned area. The pool was built in October 2016 and funded by GVS Italian Institution. It should be noted that the water pool was built of tin plates while its land was a reinforced concrete.

Israeli settlers’ attacks

On Thursday, 28 June 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Yitzhar” settlement established in ‘Oreef village’s lands, south of Nablus, punctured the tiers of 2 vehicles and wrote slogans on walls. Ghaleb Redwaan Ahmed ‘Amer (59) said that the Israeli settlers punctured his vehicle’s tires belonging to the Palestinian National Security Service. He also said that the settlers punctured the tires of his son Mahmoud’s car (25). The settlers wrote slogans on a retaining wall leading to Ghaleb’s house. They also wrote slogans on a water tank belonging to Mohamed ‘Abed al-Rahman Salman Safadi (64). The water tank is located about 500 meters away from Ghaleb’s house.

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 30 June 2018, dozens of Israeli settlers from “Beit Hadassah “ settlement established in the center of Hebron’s Old City, in Tal al-Ramidah neighborhood, gathered in the area under the Israeli forces’ protection. Meanwhile, the Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians live in the neighborhood. The Palestinian civilians present in the area fearing for their houses to be attacked by the settlers. The Israeli forces did not intervene while the settlers stayed in the area until the night.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community 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.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.