PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (05 – 11 July 2018)

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 05 – 11 July, 2018.

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 15^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 one Palestinian civilian. Moreover, the Israeli forces wounded 141 others, including 29 children, 12 women, a journalist and 5 paramedics. Seven of those wounded sustained serious wounds. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian civilian in Nablus.

In the Gaza Strip, on 06 July 2018, Israeli forces killed Mohamed Abu Halimah (22), from al-Shuja’iyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, during his participation in the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege activities that were organized for the 15^th consecutive Friday. Mohammed was hit with a live bullet to the chest, resulting in killing him immediately.

During the reporting period, while using the excessive force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, the Israeli forces wounded 141 Palestinian civilians, including 29 children, 12 women, 5 paramedics and a journalist. Seven of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 65 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 59 Palestinians in the West Bank. Meanwhile, 11 other civilians, including 6 children, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Among the arrestees was Wasfi ‘Ezzat Qabha (59), Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs in the 10^thPalestinian Government, who was arrested from his house in Jenin on 05 July 2018.

In the Gaza Strip, on 09 July 2018, the Israeli forces moved 100 meters into eastern al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. They levelled lands adjacent to the fence heading to the north to eastern al-Sheja’eyah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, before redeploying along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

On 11 July 2018, the Israeli forces carried out 2 limited incursions in the southern and northern Gaza Strip. They leveled the lands and then redeployed 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 05 July 2018, the Israeli municipality vehicles demolished 4 glasshouses nurseries, a petrol station and a carwash in Hezmah village, northeast of East Jerusalem under the pretext of building without a license. These nurseries belonging to Malek al-Khatib, Mohammed ‘Afif, Hani ‘Asaker and Samer Sewari; the petrol station belonging to Ghaleb Salah Eden and the carwash belonging to Nader Salah Eden. The Israeli forces also leveled a 180-sqaure-meter land belonging to Nader Salah Eden.

As part of its projects, which aim at expelling the Palestinian Bedouin from their Communities deployed in the eastern borders of occupied Jerusalem and gathering them in one area in favor of implementing their settlement projects in the area, the Israeli authorities set up caravans in Palestinian civilians’ lands, east of Abu Dis village, east of occupied Jerusalem, in order to displace the Bedouin residents to these caravans. Hani Halabiyia, the Spokesperson of the Popular Resistance Committees in Abu Dis village, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli authorities set 23 mobile houses in the abovementioned area.

On 11 July 2018, the Israeli vehicles the Israeli authorities confiscated a mobile house “container” in Shu’fat village, north of East Jerusalem under the pretext of building without a license. The container included decks for workers in al-Qawasmi Cars’ Showroom.

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

On 05 July 2018, the Israeli forces confiscated a residential tent in Um Nir area near Susiya village, south of Yatta, south of Hebron. The tent, which was established about 3 weeks ago, was inhabited by Farid Jabour (37) and his family comprised of his wife and 3 children. After the Israeli forces confiscated the tent, Farid refused to leave the land, and have been staying along with his family under the trees since then.

On the same day, Israeli forces dismantled pillars of a barrack built of tin plates in Kherbit al-Mofaqarah area, east of Yatta. The abovementioned barrack belongs to Qasem Mahmoud Hamamdah and was used for grazing sheep. It should be noted that It should be noted that the Israeli forces dismantled the tin plates 2 weeks ago and left the pillars in the area.

On 11 July 2018, the Israeli forces confiscated 2 mobile houses in Khelat al-Dabe’a area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The 2 houses were built to accommodate 13 students from area, which lacks services. The mobile houses were brought from al-Hathalin area after a school of concrete was built there.

As part of Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

On 05 July 2018, Israeli settlers from “Neve Daniel” settlement established in Palestinian civilians’ lands, south of Bethlehem, uprooted with an electric saw 350 grape trees from a plot of land belonging to Islam ‘Ali Jaber Ghunaim. The land’s owner said that while he was heading to his plot of land in Thaghrit Hammad area in al-Khadir village, which is located near the abovementioned settlement, he was surprised with uprooting the grape trees planted 5 years ago.

in the same context, on 06 July 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Yitzhar” settlement established in “Orif” village’s lands, south of Nablus, attacked al-Marrah and al-Safafeer areas under the Israeli forces’ protection. The settlers set fire to trees and damaged their twigs. The number of trees, which were burnt and damaged, were 166, including 141 olive trees, 22 almond trees, and 3 grapevines.

On 07 July 2018, a group of Israeli settler from “Neve Daniel” settlement established in Palestinian civilians’ lands, south of Bethlehem, uprooted with an electric saw 250 grape trees from a plot of land belonging to Hasan Isma’il ‘Esaa. Hasan said that he was waiting for several days to harvest the grape trees, which crops was estimated at 7 tons. As a result, Hasan’s family was deprived of the trees’ financial returns.

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 15^th Friday against the decision throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They further organized peaceful demonstrations that were launched on 30 March 2018, where ten thousands of civilians participated on the 42^ndAnniversary 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 16:00 on Friday 06 July 2018, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampments 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 15^th consecutive 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, Mohammed Jamal ‘Elyan Abu Halimah (22), from al-Shuja’iyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, was hit with a live bullet to the chest, causing his immediate death. Moreover, 62 civilians, including 10 children and 9 women, were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and tear gas canisters.

Around the same time, hundreds of Palestinians swarmed to the Return encampments, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip to participate in the demonstrations organized by Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege. The number of protestors increased at approximately 16:30, as the participants gathered inside the encampments yard and organized a memorial service for Yasser Amjad Abu Naja (12), who was killed by the Israeli forces on last Friday. Moreover, hundreds of civilians gathered outside the camp’s yard, raised flags, chanted national slogans and flew dozens of kites as dozens of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and set fire. A number of them attempted to throw stones at Israeli forces and remove the barbed wire fence established by those forces on the Palestinian lands 30-50 meters away from the main border fence. The Israeli forces stationed behind hills, sand barriers, military vehicles and their vicinity sporadically opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at the protestors and at the area behind them. An Israeli drone also fired tear gas canisters amidst the protestors and near the area where the ambulances were stationed, 250 meters away from the border fence. The shooting continued until approximately 20:00. As a result, 27 civilians, including 4 children, 2 women and 2 paramedics, were hit with live bullets and tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were taken to the field hospital and then transferred to Nasser, Gaza European and Algerian Hospitals in Khan Younis.

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, a paramedic and a journalist, were wounded. Twelve of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 6 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. One of them immediately entered the surgery room while the 2 others were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The other civilians’ injuries were classified between minor and moderate. The Israeli forces targeted the civilians’ gathering in camps and the field hospital belonging to the Ministry of Health. As a result, a number of medical staffers and dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Some of them received medical treatment on the spot while others were taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

At approximately 17:00, hundreds of Palestinian swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. The protestors raised Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans 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 them. the clashes continued until approximately 20:30 on the same day. As a result, 23 civilians, including 8 children and a paramedic, were wounded. Seventeen of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel while 6 of them were hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via PRCS ambulances, Medical Services, General Union Committee and the Ministry of Health to the Indonesian and al-Awda Hospitals. Doctors classified the injury of 2 civilians as serious. The wounded paramedic was identified as Mahmoud Hasan Abu ‘Aitah (26), a volunteer at PRCS was hit with a tear gas canister to the left leg.

Around the same time, 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 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, 11 civilians, including 4 children, a woman and a paramedic, were wounded. Five of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 6 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 Hospital in Rafah. Doctors classified the injury of 2 civilians as serious. The wounded paramedic was identified as ‘Ali Mohammed al-‘Aloul (24).

West Bank:

At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 07 July 2018, dozens of Palestinian civilians, and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Hamra area, east of Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron, demanding the Israeli forces to deport the settlers of the land belonging to D’ais family. The 20-dunum land, which is adjacent to “Bani Hefer” settlement, was overtaken by the Israeli settlers since a month and half. The protestors raised flags and chanted national slogans. An Israeli force immediately arrived at the area and the soldiers surrounded the protestors, prevented the media crews from covering the incidents and then announced the area as military closed zone. After verbal clashes, a number of the participants were arrested, including Eyad Abdul Hafeth al-Hashlamun (28), a photographer at Palestine TV Channel, and Bade’a Ismail al-Duwaik (45) and a number of foreign and Israel activists. The arrestees were transferred to an investigation center in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron. In the evening hours, the arrestees were released and the Israeli forces prevented them from returning to the area for 15 days while the foreigners were deported from the West Bank for 15 days.

Arresting Participants on Board of Breaking Siege Ship By Israeli Gunboats

At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 10 July 2018, the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege declared in a crowded festival established in Gaza Seaport, west of Gaza City, the kicking off ” Freedom and Breaking Siege Ship 2″ as part of the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege activities. This March was launched from the Gaza Strip on 30 March 2018 to challenge the Israeli closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and to facilitate the travelling of patients, university students and holders of residence visas in countries abroad. According to PCHR’s fieldworker’s observations of the activities of kicking off the ship, at approximately 11:30 on Tuesday, a ship, which was manned by 8 civilians, a ship, kicked off from Gaza Seaport to Cyprus. The persons, who were on the ship board, were identified as: Mahmoud Jehad Abu ‘Atayiah, Raied Khalil Diyab and Ayman Mohamed al-Louh ( all of them were wounded); ‘Aliyan Kamel al-Louh (hepatic patient); Mohamed Ibrahim al-‘Arow and ‘Ali Hisham Abu ‘Atayiah ( Both of them are students), and Khaled al-Hesi and his nephew Mohamed al-Hesi (ship’s captain). The Israeli gunboats stationed offshore began to approach the ship that was sailing within 6 nautical miles and intercepted its way when it was sailing within 12 nautical miles offshore. The connection with the participants on the shop was cut off and they were arrested and taken to Ashdod Seaport in Israel. At approximately 22:00, the Israeli forces released all the ship’s passengers, except the captain, Khaled Mohamed al-Hesi, via Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing, north of the Gaza Strip.

A Car Confiscated On Nablus-Ramallah Road

At approximately 22:00 on Saturday, 07 July 2018, Israeli forces, who established a checkpoint near ‘Oyoun Haramiyah area on Nablus-Ramallah Road, confiscated a car for selling fruits belonging to Suleiman Ahmed Nabhan Saqer (25), from ‘Asker Camp, east of Nablus. Suleiman said to PCHR’s fieldworker that: “At approximately 16:30 on Saturday, 07 July 2018, my father and I were returning from Ramallah to Nablus. I was surprised with a checkpoint established near ‘Oyoun Haramiyah area, where a large number of vehicles were parking and Israeli soldiers were checking the passengers’ IDs. I was driving my car and carrying a fruit box. When I arrived at the checkpoint, the soldiers ordered us to show our IDs in order to check them. They then got my father out of the car and asked me to park the car and then step out of it. They then put each of us on different sides of the checkpoint. After an argument erupted between my father and the soldiers, then put us together and informed us that an officer will come and talk with us. At approximately 22:00 on the same day, an officer came and gave me a list of a confiscated item, claiming that the car was bought by terrorist funds. After that, we returned to our house by cars passing on the road.

House Demolitions and Notices:

On Thursday, 05 July 2018, Israeli Municipality bulldozer accompanied with military vehicles demolished 4 glasshouse nurseries, a petrol station, and a carwash in Tablas area in Hizmah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. One of the glasshouse nurseries owners, Malek al-Khatib, said that the Israeli forces moved into the area and then demolished 4 glasshouse nurseries belonging to Mohamed ‘Afeef, Hani ‘Askar and Samer Siwery. He added that the Israeli forces demolished a petrol station belonging to Ghaleb Salah al-Deen and a carwash belonging to Nader Salah al-Deen. He also said that that the Israeli forces damaged a large number of seedling ,confiscated tools used for cleaning cars, and leveled a 180-square-meter plot of land belonging to Nader Salah al-Deen. He pointed out that the Israeli forces deployed in the area while conducting demolition, attacked civilians present in the area, and prevented press staff from covering the demolition.

In the framework of its projects, which aim at expelling the Palestinian Bedouin from their Communities deployed in the eastern borders of occupied Jerusalem and gathering them in one area in favor of implementing their settlement projects in the area, the Israeli authorities set up caravans in Palestinian civilians’ lands, east of Abu Dis village, east of occupied Jerusalem, in order to displace the Bedouin residents to these caravans.

Hani Halabiyia, the Spokesperson of the Popular Resistance Committees in Abu Dis village, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that, on Sunday, 08 July 2018, the Israeli Civil Administration staff accompanied with Israeli trucks carrying caravans raided a plot of land belonging to Palestinian civilians, east of Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem under the Israeli forces protection. The Israeli trucks then got the caravans down into the area. This coincided with the Israeli forces’ declaration that the area in a closed military zone and surrounded it with over dozens patrols in order to prevent Palestinian civilians from approaching. He said that 10 caravans were put on the same day while 13 other were put next day on Monday, 09 July 2018. Halabiyia expected that the displacing is not only for Khan al-Ahmer Community, but also for Abu Nawwar Bedouin Community. It should be noted that on 04 July 2018, the Israeli forces demolished 10 mobile houses and 9 barracks used for breeding livestock in Abu Nawwar Bedouin Community near al-‘Izzariyia village, east of the city. As a result, around 60 civilians became homeless.

On 24 May 2018, the Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision that grants the Israeli authorities the right to demolish the houses of Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin Community and expelling them from their houses to what so-called “Jerusalem Gate” in al-‘Izzariyia village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. On 04 July 2018, the Israeli forces moved into Khan al-Ahmar Community, cut wires and removed the gate leading to it as a prelude to enter military vehicles that would demolish the community. After that, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission filed a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court by its lawyer. On 09 July 2018, the commission was able to issue a precautionary order that prevents the Israeli authorities from demolishing the community. The court gave the Israeli authorities until 16 July 2018 to response the petition.

On Wednesday, 11 July 2018, the Israeli authorities imposed a partial curfew on Khan al-Ahmar Community residents and other human rights activists, in solidarity with residents of al-Khan al-Ahmar Bedouin Community, east of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext that this area is a closed military zone. Dawoud Jahaleen said that the Israeli Civil Administration vehicles did not stop building roads from the last week in Khan al-Ahmar Community and its surrounding as a prelude to conduct the demolition. He added that the Israeli forces daily imposed a full curfew on the residents from 08:00 to 16:00.

At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 11 July 2018, Israeli authorities confiscated a container from Shu’fat village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Ameer al-Qemirey said that the Israeli Municipality staff along with the Israeli forces raided al-Qawasmi car showroom in Shu’fat neighborhood and confiscated a container, which includes desks for the car showroom‘s workers. During last June, the Israeli vehicles demolished 15 residential and commercial buildings in Jerusalem while the Israeli Municipality forced 3 civilians to self-demolish their facilities.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli forces’ attacks

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 05 July 2018, Israeli forces backed up with 2 military vehicles and accompanied with 3 vehicles of the Israeli Civil Administration and a mounted-crane truck moved into Um Nir area near Sosiyia village, south of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli soldiers deployed in a plot of land belonging to al-Jabour Family and confiscated a tent belonging to Fareed Ahmed Za’al Jabour (37), under the pretext of non-licensing. It should be noted that Fareed established the tent 3 weeks ago in a plot of land and he was living in it with his wife and their 3 children. After confiscating the tent, he refused to leave and lives with his family under trees. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities established a park years ago near Kherbit Um Nir and conducted an archaeological excavation for some ancient Roman temples and surrounded them with stone walls, where many tours are organized for Israeli settlers.

Following that, the Israeli forces headed to Kherbit al-Mofaqarah, east of Yatta, where the Israeli Civil Administration Staff dismantled pillars of a barrack built of tin plates and used for breeding livestock. The abovementioned barrack belongs to Qasem Mahmoud Hamamdah. It should be noted that the Israeli forces dismantled the tin plates 2 weeks ago and left the pillars in the area.

At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 10 July 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with 2 military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Khelet al-Farra area, west of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officer handed Fawzi Hammad Taim Abu Tabeikh 3 notices to stop construction works in 3 houses and a livestock barn under the pretext of non-licensing. The Israeli Civil Administration officer gave Fawzi 20 days to change the legal status.

At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 11 July 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, a bulldozer, and a mounted-crane truck moved into Khelet al-Dabie’ area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli forces deployed in the vicinity of a school, which was built a month ago for 13 students from the village’s residents. The school is comprised of 2 caravans brought from al-Hathaleen area. The Civil Administration officers dismantled the caravans’ walls before confiscating them while the bulldozer demolished the caravans’ floor built with concrete.

Israeli settlers’ attacks

On Thursday, 05 July 2018, Israeli settlers from “Neve Daniel” settlement established in Palestinian civilians’ lands, south of Bethlehem, uprooted with an electric saw 350 grape trees from a plot of land belonging to Islam ‘Ali Jaber Ghunaim. The land’s owner said that while he was heading to his plot of land in Thaghrit Hammad area in al-Khadir village, which is located near the abovementioned settlement, he was surprised with uprooting the grape trees planted 5 years ago. He also said that the Israeli authorities established before many months a Talmudic School, which includes dozens of students. Islam pointed out that he submitted a complaint to the Israeli authorities, which as usual respond slowly to the complaints and without achieving any results.

At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 06 July 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Yitzhar”settlement established in ‘Oreef village’s lands, south of Nablus, attacked al-Marrah and al-Safafeer areas under the Israeli forces’ protection. The settlers set fire to trees and damaged their twigs. Meanwhile, a group of the village residents gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at them. The Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs, and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result, a 22-year-old male was hit with a rubber bullet to the head and was then taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus to receive medical treatment. Doctors classified his health condition as stable. The number of trees, which were burnt and damaged, were 166, including 141 olive trees, 22 almond trees, and 3 grapevines. The damages were as follows:

Forty olive trees, which belong to ‘Esam Najeh Shareef al-Safadi and were planted 4 years ago, were damaged.
Sixty-two olive trees, which belong to Mohamed Ahmed Khalil Shehadah and were planted 4 years ago, were burnt and damaged.
7 olive trees, 9 almond trees and 3 grapevines, which belong to Sameer Mohamed Mohamed Sawalmah and were planted 12 years ago, were burnt.
10 olive trees and 2 almond trees, which belong to Raied Mahmoud Ahmed Sabbah and were planted 4 years ago, were damaged.
10 olive trees and 4 almond trees, which belong to Najeh Abdullah Dieb Shehadah, were damaged.
12 olive trees, 6 almond trees and a pomegranate tree, which belong to Shaher Abed al-Hafiz Khalil Shehadah, were burnt.

On Saturday, 07 July 2018, a group of Israeli settler from “Neve Daniel” settlement established in Palestinian civilians’ lands, south of Bethlehem, uprooted with an electric saw 250 grape trees from a plot of land belonging to Hasan Isma’il ‘Isaa. Hasan said that on Saturday afternoon, he went to his plot of land in ‘Ain al-‘Asafeer area in al-Khadir village and was surprised that Israeli settlers cut around 250 grape trees from his land. He said that he was waiting for several days to harvest the grape trees, which crops was estimated at 7 tons. As a result, Hasan’s family was deprived of the trees’ financial returns.

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.