Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the reporting period of 13 – 19 November, 2014.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings:
During the reporting period, a Palestinian bus driver from Abu Dees village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, was strangled to death in the West Jerusalem. There are suspicions that extremist settlers committed this crime. Moreover, 21 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children, were wounded in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. A Palestinian child from the Gaza Strip died of wounds he sustained during the latest Israeli offensive.
In the West Bank, on 17 November 2014, a 32-year-old bus driver from Abu Dees village, southeast of east Jerusalem, was found strangled to death in the industrial zone of ‘Givat Shaul’ settlement in Deir Yassin village, west of the city. There are suspicions that a number of extremist settlers committed this crime, especially in view of the escalation of settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians mainly in occupied Jerusalem. PCHR calls upon Israeli authorities to seriously and objectively investigate the crime and publish the results.
On 13 November 2014, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into the new Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus.
On the same day, an 11-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right eye, due to which he lost vision and sustained fractures to the nose and skull. The boy was wounded during an Israeli incursion into al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem.
On 15 November 2014, a 21-year-old civilian from Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, sustained wounds to the right arm, due to which his right arm was amputated from the shoulder. He was wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious object of the Israeli forces’ military remnants.
On 18 November 2014, a 17-year-old civilian sustained 2 bullet wounds to the left shoulder and right side of the chest and a 21-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the left leg when about 40 settlers from ‘Yitzhar’ settlement attacked Ourif secondary school for boys under the protection of Israeli forces.
On the same day, 6 Palestinian civilians, including a paramedic, were wounded when Israeli forces raided houses belonging to the families of Ghassan and Ouday Abu Jamal in al-Mukkaber Mount village, southeast of East Jerusalem. Israeli soldiers attacked residents of the houses and fired sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets. They also searched the 2 houses and damaged their contents.
Also on the same day, a 19-year-old civilian from Beitin village, northeast of Ramallah, sustained a bullet wound to the lower jaw during an Israeli incursion into the village.
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, a 38-year-old civilian working as a volunteer photographer at B’tselem was hit by a tear gas canister to the right thigh.
In the same context, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during other protests against the Israeli forces’ and settlers’ attacks in al-Aqsa mosque.
In the Gaza Strip, on 14 November 2014, 2 Palestinian boys were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalya, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of young men who were present in the area.
On 16 November 2014, a 15-year-old child from al-Bureij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, sustained a bullet wound to the neck when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at him, as he was attempting to sneak into Israel through the border. The boy was taken to Soroka Hospital in Israel. He has been still there for he sustained a serious wound.
On 18 November 2014, medical source at a Turkish Hospital pronounced a 15-year-old child dead of wounds he sustained on 21 July 2014 during the latest Israeli offensive.
As part of Israeli navy forces’ attacks against Palestinian fishermen and fishing boats, on 15 November 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a boat anchoring 1.5 nautical miles off Rafah fishermen harbour in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, the boat sustained serious damage.
On 17 November 2014, Israeli gunboats opened fire at 2 fishing boats anchoring 1.5 nautical miles off Rafah fishermen harbour in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, one of the boats was drowned and another one sustained serious damage.
Collective punishment measures and demolition of houses:
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, issued instructions for the Israeli security services to take a series of collective punishment measures against Palestinians, who run down and/or stab Israeli settlers and soldiers, by demolishing, destroying or closing their houses. Since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000, Israeli forces had destroyed dozens of houses. This policy was renewed following the killing of 3 settlers in a village in Hebron in June 2014.
During the reporting period, on 19 November 2014, Israeli forces moved into Selwan village, south of east Jerusalem to demolish a house belonging to the family of Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi, who ran down Israeli settlers and was shot dead on 22 October 2014.
Incursions:
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 54 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 78 Palestinians, including 12 children. 46 of these civilians, including 5 children and 2 women, were arrested in East Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces arrested 2 civilians aged 19 each from Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip while attempting to sneak into Israel in search for work via the border fence near al-Nahda neighbourhood in Rafah.
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 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (KeremShaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient who obtained a permit to travel to the West Bank for medical treatment, while another civilian accompanying his father was arrested while the father was denied travel for medical treatment.
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.
Israeli Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Attacks carried out by Israeli forces
Israeli forces moved into Salfit. They raided a Barraks belonging to Amin ghazi Odeh, an officer in the Protective Security Service, and took photos of the surrounding area.
Furthermore, they handed the residents of Deir Istia via the Palestine liaison notices by which they are informing them that 7 and a half acres in Jabal al-Deeb area are confiscated.
In another event, they moved into Shiukh al-Arroub area, north of Hebron and Kherbat Um al-Kheir.
Attacks carried out by settlers
Nearly 1000 settlers gathered at the intersection of ‘Aber al-Samerah Street, west of Hares village. Furthermore, about 40 settlers from “Yatsahar” settlement attacked ‘Orif high school with stones and Molotov cocktails. On another occasion, settlers from “Adoura” threw stones at Palestinian vehicles on bypass (60). No injuries were reported. Additionally, settlers from ‘Givat Runim’ settlement, south of Nablus, attacked two houses.
In another incident, a settler deliberately hit the back of a Palestinian civilian’s motorcycle. The wounded civilian was moved to Nablus Hospital and it turned out that he suffers a concussion and fractures in his hands.
Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall:
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 38-year-old Haitham Mohammed Jamal al-Khateeb was hit by a gas canister to the right thigh.
In the same context, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during protests organized against the Israeli forces’ and settlers’ attacks in al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
(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
· At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 14 November 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians in coordination with the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in the south of the West Bank organized volunteer work day to plant olive trees in the lands threatened to be confiscated in the northeastern area of Sa’ir village adjacent to ”Amos’ settlement established on the Palestinian lands of east Hebron. When the activists and residents were planting trees, a number of Israeli patrols arrived and their officer told the participants that they must leave the area as soon as possible after declaring it as a closed military area. The participants refused to leave and minutes later Israeli forces randomly fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result, some of the demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and were treated on the spot.
· Following the Friday Prayer on the same day, 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. The demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall. Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests. The protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and waste water at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result,Haitham Mohammed Jamal al-Khatib (38), a photographer volunteering at ‘B’Tselem’,was hit by a tear gas canister to the right thigh.
· On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained 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 al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the Palestinian unity resistance, and then they headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces had 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, the demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were chased into the village. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
· Also at approximately 13:20, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, several protestors suffered tear gas inhalation.
Other Demonstrations
· On Thursday afternoon, 13 November 2014, dozens of Palestinian children and boys gathered at the northern entrance of Bitello village, northwest of Ramallah, and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed near the aforementioned entrance. The Israeli forces fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response and chased them to the village. As a result, a 17-year-old boy was hit by a live bullet to the left hand and was then transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Moreover, many others suffered tear gas inhalation.
· At approximately 16:00 on the aforementioned Thursday,dozens of Palestinians youngsters gathered at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, and threw stones and empty bottles. Israeli forces chased the boys into the camp and closed the main entrance to it amidst the Israeli firing of rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canister. As a result, some of them suffered tear gas inhalation, and no arrests were reported.
· On Friday afternoon, 14 November 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered at the western entrance ofSelwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on Selwad-Yabroud road near street (60) to organize a protest against Israeli policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
· At approximately 02:00, on the abovementioned day,dozens of Palestinians organized a protest at the southern entrance of Nablus in protest at the Israeli attacks in Jerusalem. The protestorsthrew stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, an18-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg. He was taken to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus to receive medical treatment. Medical source at the hospital described his wound as moderate.
· Also on Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered from different areas in Ramallah and al-Bireh around Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah. They made their way towards the facility’s gate, which was closed by Israeli soldiers. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a 25-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh and was taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
· Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians and human rights activists gathered in front of Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, in protest at the Israeli settlers’ and forces’ attacks in al-Aqsa Mosque. They headed towards Qalandya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah, where Israeli heavily armed forces were deployed.The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left knee.
· Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the eastern entrance of Senjel village, north of Ramallah. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a 20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left arm.
· At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 16 November 2014, dozens of Palestinians gathered in al-Talla area opposite to Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. They threw stones at Israeli vehicles patrolling in the area. Israeli soldiers opened fire in response. As a result, a 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left knee. The wounded was taken to Rafidya hospital to receive medical treatment. His wound was moderate.
· At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 18 November 2014, a number of Palestinians gathered in ‘Natanya’ street near the Israeli Jeicora factories, west of Tulkarem, condemning the Israeli attacks in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank. Israeli forces fired gas canistersat the protestors, who threw stones and empty bottles in response. Israeli soldiers fired also rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs, but Palestinian security service arrived and intervened. No more incidents were reported.
· Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian boys and children gathered in al-Tawil Mountain area adjacent to ‘Psagot’ settlement established on Palestinian lands in al-Bireh and threw stones at the stationed Israeli forces. Israeli forces immediately fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs, and live bullets at the demonstrators. As a result, a 14-year-old child was wounded by a bullet to the left knee while a 20-year-old civilian was hit by a bullet to the face.
· At approximately 15:00, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the entrances of Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of President Yasser ‘Arafat. Israeli forces were deployed in the area. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a 15-year-old child was wounded by a bullet to head while a 20-year-old civilian was hit by a bullet to the left thigh. They were both taken to Palestine Medical Complex to receive medical treatment.
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. During the 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, Israeli authorities did not allow the entry of any construction materials. As a result, vital and infrastructure projects have been obstructed so far.
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.
West Bank
· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 13 November 2014, Israeli forces reestablished their existence at ‘Attarah checkpoint on the northern entrance of Beirzeit. All checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 14 November 2014, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northeast of the city. At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under Yabroud Bridge. At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near “Ofrah” settlement, north of the city. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 19:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the three entrances of Sinjil village. At approximately 23:30, they closed the western entrance of al-Laban village, northwest of the city.
At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 16 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Ore al-Foqa village. At approximately 10:30, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Badras village, northwest of the city. At approximately 19:30, they established a similar checkpoint under Yabroud Bridge, northeast of the city. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 15 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho. At approximately 19:30, they established a similar checkpoint at the southern entrance of the city. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 21:00 on Thursday, 13 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of the western village of al-Toura, southwest of Jenin. They withdrew and no arrests were reported.
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, 13 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Farun village, south of Tulkarm. They checkpoint was removed later and no arrests were reported. At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Annab checkpoint which is established at the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened their restrictions against the Palestinians and obstructed their movement. Later, the tightening ended and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:00 on Friday, 14 November 2014, Israeli forces closed at the annexation wall, gate No. 623, near Deir al-Gusoun village, north of the city. Local sources told PCHR that that the gate was closed allegedly because a group of boys threw stones at it. Late, the gate was reopened and no further events were reported. At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces closed at the annexation wall gate No. 906 near al-Ghusoun village, north of the city, for the same reasons.
At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 15 November 2014, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Annab checkpoint which is established at the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened their restrictions against the Palestinians and obstructed their movement. At approximately 13:45, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus near Bazarya village intersection. The checkpoint was removed later and no arrests were reported. At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces stationed at the annexation wall, gate No. 623, near al-Ghusun village, north of the city, detained Ahmed Jaber Muhammad ‘Odeh (29) from the aforementioned village while crossing through the gate. Later, he was released.
At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 16 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus near Ba’a village intersection, east of Tulkarm. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were made.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 15:10 on Thursday, 13 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafer Qaddoum village and another between hijja and al-Funduq. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were made.
At approximately 15:50 on Friday, 14 November 2014, Israeli forces established checkpoint at the entrance of Azzoun village. At approximately 18:20, Israeli forces established checkpoint at the entrance of Sinberia village. At approximately 22:40, they established another at the entrance of Kherbat Saber village. At midnight, they established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the city. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were made.
At approximately 18:50 on Saturday, 15 November 2014At approximately 18:20, Israeli forces established checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet village. At approximately 21:00, they established another at the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib village. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were made.
At approximately 15:50 on Sunday, 16 November 2014, Israeli forces established checkpoints at the entrance of Azzoun village and the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib. At approximately 17:50, they established another between Azzoun and Jaus villages. Later, the checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
· Salfit: at approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 13 November 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Hares village, northwest of Salfit. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were made.
Maltreatment of Palestinian Civilians:
· At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 14 November 2014, an Israeli infantry force of 6 soldiers performing regular procedures in al-Haj mosque area, in the northern side of Huwara village, south of Nablus. A golden 1985 Obol car belonging to Yazan Odeh (22) who was accompanied by Luqman Odeh (22) and Ibrahim al-Bis (20) passed by. Israeli soldiers opened the car door and told them to get off the car. They searched the aforementioned and then searched the car. A soldier found a screwdriver in the front jeep of the car. He told the aforementioned that he has previously ordered them to put the screwdrivers in the back of the car. He cursed Yazan who cursed the soldier in return. Three of the soldiers attacked Yazan and one of them beat him with his gun. Yazan lost conscious and was moved after the soldiers withdrew to Ibn Sina medical center in Hwara.
· At approximately 16:30, the same infantry force attacked Radwan Khamous from the aforementioned village near the fast food restaurant on the main road. The aforementioned begged the soldiers not to hurt him because he was sick and had 3 surgical operations in his hands and legs.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
· At approximately 11:00 on Thursday, Israeli forces arrested Isamil Ahmed al-Sharif (12) from Hebron and took him to “Kiryat Arab”, east of the city. They claimed the child threw stones at Israeli soldiers. He was released then handed to the Palestinian liaison.
· At approximately 14:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Jamil al-Duda (12) from Halhoul. They claimed the child threw stones at Israeli soldiers. He was released then handed to the Palestinian liaison.
· At approximately 15:10, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet, northeast of Qalqilya. They arrested Maher Jamil Ali Khamaisa from al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin.
· At approximately 10:00 on Friday, Israeli settlers at al-Karam border crossing arrested Ribhi Omar Shaqiq (56) from al-Zawiah area, northwest of Salfit. The aforementioned told PCHR that his arrest happened to pressure his son Mazen who is wanted for Israeli intelligence. The aforementioned was release two days later after he signed a pledge to hand over his son to Israeli authorities.
· At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, Israeli forces stationed at Zatra checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Mujahed Tantawi (23) from the New Askar Camp and took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, Israeli forces stationed at Tarqumia checkpoint arrested Amal Ahmed al-Sa’ada from Halhoul when she was heading to visit her brother who is arrested in Negev prison, south of Israeli.
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.
Fully detailed document available at the official PCHR website.
