In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 22 – 28 May, 2014, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces wounded 8 Palestinians, including 7 civilians and a child.Four of the aforementioned Palestinians were wounded in the West Bank, and the other four ones were wounded in the Gaza strip. Israeli naval forces fired at and chased Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip Sea. In addition, Israeli forces conducted at least 65 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 46 Palestinians, including 10 children and a woman.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 8 Palestinians, including 7 civilians and a child. Four of the aforementioned Palestinians were wounded in the West Bank, and the other four ones were wounded in the Gaza strip. Israeli naval forces fired at and chased Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip Sea.
In the Gaza Strip, on 23 May 2014, Mohammed ‘Abdel Men’em Ahmed Abu Shehadah (16) from al-Msadar village was wounded by a bullet to the right shoulder causing him paraplegia when Israeli forces stationed along the border, east of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at 3 brothers, who were collecting straws in an agricultural area around 350 meters away from the border.
On the same day, a member of an Palestinian armed group was wounded by a bullet to the right thigh when Israeli forces stationed along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of al-Sifah area in the northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of a number of armed Palestinians who were present near the border.
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed along the border, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at a group of young men who were near the border in attempt to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers. No injuries were reported.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces stationed on the watchtowers at Beit Hanoun Crossing (Erez) and in its vicinity, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting raw materials in the destroyed industrial zone to the west of the crossing near the border. No injuries were reported.
On 25 May 2014, Israeli forces stationed on the watchtowers along the northern border, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting raw materials near the border fence in the destroyed industrial zone near Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by a bullet to the left leg.
On 26 May 2014, ‘Emad Shokri Salem (52) from Beit Lahia Housing Project was wounded by two bullets to the back and right hand when Israeli forces stationed along the border, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians who were along the Beit Lahia shore around 300 meters away from the northern borders.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 24 May 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles offshore. No injuries were reported, but fishermen lost 4 nets which are 250 meters long.
On 27 May 2014, Israeli naval forces arrested 3 Palestinian fishermen while sailing 3 nautical miles off Rafah shore in the southern Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 23 May 2014, Israeli forces wounded 3 Palestinian civilians who were participating in a demonstration organized in the vicinity of ‘Ofer Prison, southwest of Ramallah, in solidarity with the Palestinian administrative detainees who have been on hunger strike in the Israeli jails. The first civilian (19) sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, the second one (24) was hit by a tear gas canister to his chest, and the third one (23) sustained a rubber-coated metal bullet wound to his forehead.
On 24 May 2014, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers established along the fence surrounding “Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, opened fire at a group of boys in the agricultural lands near al-Jalzone UNRWA School for Boys to the west of the aforementioned settlement. As a result, Mohammed ‘Ali Hasan Safi (‘Eishawi) (18) from the refugee camp was wounded by 3 bullets to the left and right legs. He was arrested and taken to Hadasa ‘Ein Karem Hospital in Jerusalem, where his wounds were described as critical.
In the same context, Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 65 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 46 Palestinians, including 10 children and a woman.
On 22 May 2014, Israeli forces moved 200 meters into the east of Khaza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and then redeployed along the border fence.
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 7 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 1.7 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) 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.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
As part of using military checkpoints and border crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are wanted, Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinian civilians at military checkpoints in the West Bank, and another 5 civilians along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, in a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Attacks carried out by Israeli forces
On 22 May 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by a group of settlers moved into Thaher al-Soboh area, north of Kafr al-Deek village, west of Salfit. They surveyed tracts of lands in the area till at approximately 15:00. At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 25 May 2014, Israeli forces backed by bulldozers moved into the area again and leveled tracts of lands in it. The lands threatened with leveling are located adjacent to “Brokhin” and “’Ali Zihav” settlements.
Attacks carried out by settlers
On 23 May 2014, settlers from “Mitsibi Ya’ir” settlement established on Palestinian lands, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, set fire to peals of wheat crops on a land belonging to Khaled Mousa al-Najjar (60), from Qawawis village, east of the city.
On the same day, four settlers from “Kokhaf Hashaher” settlement established on the lands of Deir Jarir village, northeast of Ramallah, attacked two civilians who were on the road between Mekhmas and al-Tibah villages, northeast of the city. During their attack, the settlers used plastic sticks, clubs and a knife causing injuries and bruises to them.
On 26 May 2014, settlers from “Hayofal” outpost established on the Palestinian lands, west of Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus, cut down 30 almond and olive trees from the aforementioned village lands. The attack was backed by the settlement guard, who claimed that the trees were cut for security reasons.
On 27 May 2014, when Fawzi Ibrahim ‘Abed Haj Mohammed arrived at his land in Khelet Abu Shabraqah area, southeast of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, he was surprised that settlers entered their sheep into the land and damaged the wheat crops, i.e. 45 dunums, causing a loss of around 45,000 NIS.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
(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, 23 May 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Israeli forces stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with Palestinian detainees on hunger strike. 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 demonstrators. They also sprayed waste water at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities, in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity, and they then headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to seize by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village since the morning to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the aforementioned land, Israeli forces fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and waste water at the demonstrators and chased into the village. Moreover, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 13:00 on the aforementioned day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international activists organized a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest at the closure of the eastern entrance of the village with a metal gate since the beginning of the second Intifada. Protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, and sound bombs in response. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Other Demonstrations
On Friday afternoon, 23 May 2014, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered near ‘Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah, to organize a demonstration in solidarity with administrative detainees in the Israeli jails. Protesters headed towards the prison’s gate, so the Israeli forces closed the gate and large numbers of Israeli soldiers were deployed in the vicinity of it. Protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers who fired in response live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians sustained wounds and were taken to Palestine Medical Complex to receive the necessary medical treatment. Moreover, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. The first civilian (19) sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, the second one (24) was hit by a tear gas canister to his chest, and the third one (23) sustained a metal bullet wound to his forehead.
After the Friday prayer of the aforementioned day, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah on the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village near Street (60) to throw stones at the aforementioned street. The Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them and chased them into the village. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 13:00 on Saturday, 24 May 2014, activists from the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements and Hebron Defense Committee and other civilians residents organized a peaceful demonstration at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation. Israeli soldiers moved into the area and deployed in order to distance the demonstrators from the area. The Israeli soldiers then fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, some of them suffered tear gas inhalation. Meanwhile, youngsters gathered to throw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers who fired tear gas canisters in response. No arrests were reported.
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.
The total closure of al-Mentar (‘Karni’) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports. The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
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.
The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated for 9 months due to the closure of Karm Abu Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza per day. This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter. The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of electricity. The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzene to run generators. As a result, the demand for gas further increased.
For almost 6 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations in the Gaza Strip. On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the private sector. However, on 13 October 2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing tunnels. Last week, Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP projects. As a result, construction works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and an increase in unemployment levels.
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.
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 denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian delegations. Supposedly the crossing opens seven days a week. Nowadays, the crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side, particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travelers’ movement in both directions.
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 continued aggression 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;
14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human rights law and humanitarian law instruments.
Complete document, with charts and full report on Israeli patrols, in its entirety, at the PCHR official site, via link below.
