In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 23 – 29 May 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank. 3 civilians, including a Palestine TV driver, were wounded during peaceful protests in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, and Kufor Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilia.Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 73 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.
41 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman, were abducted in the West Bank.
In one example of this week’s 73 incursions, on Monday May 27th, at approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and positioned themselves in the centre of the camp. They also deployed between the houses, stopped some civilians and checked their ID cards. A number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces which in response fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets. As a result, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation. The Israeli forces withdrew later and no abductions were reported.
Israel continued its efforts to create Jewish majority in the occupied East Jerusalem. A house and 5 barracks were demolished in Jerusalem and its suburbs.
The settlers seized 2 commercial stores in the Old Town and punctured tyres of a number of vehicles in al-Sheikh Jarrah area.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.
On Monday, 27 May 2013, Israeli forces bulldozed a house (made of tin, wood and bricks) and two barracks used as a sheep barn in Abu-‘Ajaj area in al-Jaftalak village, north of Jericho.
Also on Monday, Israeli forces carried out large-scale bulldozing in Palestinian civilians’ lands in al-Hussain valley area, in the east of Hebron. Such bulldozing is part of a plan scheme to establish a new road for settlers that links ‘Kiryat Arba’ settlement, in the east of Hebron, to the Ibrahimi Mosque in the centre of the old city.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to pursue the Palestinian fishermen in the sea. On 23, 26 and 27 May 2013, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing within the 6 nautical mile limit off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Also this week in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion in the northeast of Khan Yunis, in the south of the Gaza Strip on 24 May 2013, and 2 others in the same area on 26 May 2013. They levelled lands and opened fire, but no casualties were reported.
On 29 May 2013, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions in the central and southern Gaza Strip. They levelled and combed lands and withdrew later.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces completely closed the commercial border crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They closed Karm Abu Salem crossing for 4 consecutive days because of Jewish holidays. This closure negatively affected the entry of goods, construction materials and medical consignments in the Gaza Strip. It also has a detrimental impact on the living conditions of Palestinian civilians. As a result, thousands of Palestinian workers were denied access to their work in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. Moreover, Palestinian traders were denied access to Israel and/or travel via the border crossings between the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
A room, a stockyard and a barrack were demolished in al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem.
A house and 2 barracks for sheep were demolished in al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.
24 dunums were levelled in Hebron to establish a new road for settlers.
The settlers set fire to 3 vehicles and a bus and attempted to burn a tractor in Zbeidat village, north of Jericho.
On 27 May 2013, Israeli settlers seized two shops under the protection of Israeli police in al-Hakari neighbourhood in ‘Akabat al-Khaldia in the old city of Jerusalem.
On the same day, Israeli settlers punctured the tires of 15 cars in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood in the centre of the occupied East Jerusalem.
On 29 May 2013, Israeli forces bulldozed a mechanic’s garage in Hazma village, northeast of Jerusalem, under the pretext of not obtaining a license. Also, Israeli forces bulldozed a house in Beit Hanina village under the pretext of not obtaining a license. In Beit Hanina as well, Israeli forces bulldozed 4 barracks that are used as garages under the pretext of not obtaining licenses, and seal waxed and closed 4 warehouses.
Also on 29 May 2012, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians’ property again in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood, puncturing the tires of a number of vehicles belonging to Palestinians.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded; 2 of whom were wounded in Bil’in protest, west of Ramallah, and the third one was wounded in Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilia.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
In addition, the 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in its reports submitted to the concerned committees.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
