Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 22 – 28 January 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 10 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 photojournalists, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nine of these civilians, including a child, were wounded in the West Bank, and the 10th one was wounded in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, a Palestinian farmer was beat up by settlers, south of Bethlehem, in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to chase and fire at Palestinian fishing boats.
In the West Bank, on 24 January 2015, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces opened fire at a number of Palestinian youngsters throwing stones at the soldiers in Jabal al-Tour neighbourhood in East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive forces against peaceful protests against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. As a result, a 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including 2 photojournalists, one of whom is the photojournalist of the popular committee against the annexation wall and settlement activities.
In the same context, 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded during other protests.
On 24 January 2015, a settler opened fire at a Palestinian civilian, who was present on his land, south of Bethlehem. As a result, the civilian sustained moderate wounds.
In the Gaza Strip, on 23 January 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at a group of Palestinian youngsters, who were present near the said fence, east of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. A 21-year-old civilian sustained bullet wounds to the right leg and hand.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishers in the Gaza Strip sea, Israeli navy forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats 4 times on 24, 25 and 26 January 2015, but no casualties were reported. However, Israeli forces arrested 4 Palestinian fishers, including 2 children, sailing off al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City, and also drowned their fishing boat. On 28 January 2015 morning, the four fishers were released.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 59 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 28 Palestinians, including 14 children and 2 women. Eleven of these Palestinians, including 5 children and 2 women, were arrested in Jerusalem.
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 8 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 (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. 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.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
On 22 January 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by the Israeli Civil Administration officers and bulldozers demolished a number of residential tents, sheep barns and a water tank in ‘Ein Karzaliya area, southeast of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho. As a result, 5 families, comprised of 33 members, became homeless.
On the same day, Israeli forces moved into Khellet Ibrahim area west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officer handed a Palestinian civilian a notice to halt work in a tin-made barrack, under the pretext it was not licensed.
On 27 January 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Taban area east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officer handed 2 Palestinian civilians 2 notices to halt construction works under the pretext of not obtaining a license. The notices offered them 14-day period from the date of issuance.
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, 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded, including 2 photojournalists.
In the same context, 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded during other peaceful protests.
(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 on 23 January 2015, 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 wastewater at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, 4 civilians were wounded, including 2 photojournalists. Mohammed Basman Bernat (22), a hotojournalist of the popular committee against the annexation wall and settlement activities, was hit by a gas canister to the left leg, while Fat’hi Jadallah (30), a photojournalist of Wafa news agency, was hit by a gas canister to right hand. In addition, a 21-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the head and a 40-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the back of his head.
Around the same time, 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, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
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. They then headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to grab 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, 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, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and other sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Also following the Friday prayer, at approximately 12:20, 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, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
Other demonstrations
Following the Friday prayer on 23 January 2015, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and Yabroud villages near bypass road (60). They threw stones at the aforementioned road. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded: a 16-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right knee, but the bullet penetrated the right knee and settled in the left leg; and a 20-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the buttock.
On the same day, dozens of youngsters gathered from different areas of Ramallah and al-Bireh near Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah. They headed towards the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli soldiers. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers. Israeli forces deployed around the detention facility and started firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded: a 29-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and a 24-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg too.
At approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, dozens of Palestinian youngsters gathered around an Israeli military watchtower overlooking Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They threw stones at the said watchtower, due to which, Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs in response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. In addition, Israeli soldiers captured and harshly beat 13-year-old Issa Mohammed Zraina, from Ayda refugee camp. They detained him for a while and then released him upon the intervention of the Ayda residents.
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 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 7 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
Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
Hebron:
At approximately 07:0 on Thursday, 22 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Halhoul village, north of the city and another one at the entrance of Beit Awwa village, south of Doura, southwest of the city. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 25 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ezzan village, west of the city and another one at the northern entrance of Yatta, south of the city. At approximately 14:00, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Tarama village, southeast of Doura, southwest of the city. The checkpoints were removed a n no arrests were reported.
At approximately 15:00 on Monday, 26 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bani Naim village, east of the city. The checkpoint was removed an no arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Halhoul, north of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 14:30 on Wednesday, 28 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kharsa village, south of Doura, southwest of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
Ramallah:
At approximately 08:30, on Thursday, 22 January 215, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Mashal village, northwest of the city. Later, the checkpoint was removed. At approximately 21:30, israeli forces re-established their existence at Attara checkpoint on the northern entrance of Beirzeit, north of Ramllah. The checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 23 January 2015, Israeli forces re-established their existence at Attarah checkpoint on the northern entrance of Bir zeit, north of the city. Later, they withdrew and no arrests were reported. At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces closed the eastern entrance of Nabi Saleh village, northeast of the city with a metal gate. At approximately 10:30, they established a checkpoint under Yabroud bridge, northeast of the city. At approximately 11:00, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Nilin village, west of the city. At approximately 16:30 on the aforementioned day, they established a checkpoint at the intersection of Beir Ore al-Foqa village. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 24 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under Kharabtha al-Misbah bridge, southwest of the city. At approximately 19:30, they re-established their existence at Attarah beige on the northern entrance of Beirzeit, north of the city. At approximately 20:00, they established a similar checkpoint on al-Murrajat road between Jericho and Ramallah. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
Jericho:
At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 23 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Fasail village, north of Jericho. At approximately 17:00, they established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of the city. All checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
Qalqilya:
At approximately 18:10, on Saturday, 24 January 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the annexation wall gate near Jious village, northeast of the city arrested a number of civilians including Imad Abdel Rahim al-Hamad and released them later at 19:00. No further events were reported.
At approximately 10:40 on Monday, 25 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Izbat al-Tabib, east of the city and prevented civilians from entering the village. No arrests were reported and civilians were allowed through at approximately 13:45 at 19:40, they established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Azzoun village, all checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:40 on Tuesday, 26 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Amatin village, northeast of the city. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
Tulkarem:
At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 22 January 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the ‘Annab checkpoint which is established on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus tightened their restrictions against Palestinian civilians. Later, the tightening ended and no arrests were reported. The tightening reoccurred on Friday, 23 January, and Saturday, 24 January.
Jenin:
At approximately 06:30 on Sunday, 25 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 26 January 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Zabouba village, northwest of the city. The checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 23 January 2015, Israeli forces arrested 2 civilians from Azzoun village during their incursion into Falmya village. At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 24 January 2015, they were released. They were identified as Muath Marwan Abdel Rahim Sweidan and Omar Ahmed Tafesh.
At approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli forces established checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Amer village. They arrested Yazan Ashraf Badawi (17) then took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 24 January 201, Israeli forces arrested 4 children when they were playing before their houses in the southern area of Hebron. The children were taken to the police station near the Ibrahim mosque. Israeli forces alleged that the children were throwing stones at the soldiers. The children were released later. They were identified as: Hijazi Mahmoud Edeis (16); Muhanned Edreis (17); Hashem Nazieh Doufash (16); and Amjad Tareq Arfiah (16).
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday 2015, Israeli forces arrested Abdel Halim Abdel Rahman Inaya (29), from Azzoun village east of Qalqilya, when he was heading to his work inside Israel.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces arrested Mazouz Ibrahim Yousif Awad (19) from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, after detaining him in Jerusalem when he was heading to visit his brother Jafar in ‘Oghasta Victoria’ hospital after his release form Israeli prisons.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Israeli forces arrested Sameh Yaqoub al-Nathsha (17) for allegedly throwing stones at Israeli forces. He was taken to ‘Keryat Arab’ settlement, east of the city.
Later on the same day, Israeli forces arrested 3 civilians from Bourqin village, west of Jenin, when they were near Salem camp participating in an event to receive freed prisoners. They were identified as: Osama Yaser Sobeh (16); Odai Mahmoud Hassan Qash (21); Ali Imad Ali Khalouf (20).
Efforts to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
Shooting
On Saturday evening, 24 January 2015, a Palestinian civilian sustained wounds after Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated bullets at a number of Palestinian children and youths who were throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers in Jabal al-Tour neighborhood, east of Jerusalem. The aforementioned civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left side of his forehead and was taken to ‘Tshari Tesedek’ hospital.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 14:00 on the aforementioned day, Saedul Deen Samir Abu Sneina (20) was leaving his house in Jabal al-Tour neighborhood. He sustained a bullet wound to the left side of his forehead. The incident took place during clashes between young Palestinians and Israeli soldiers who opened fire indiscriminately, which resulted in wounding the aforementioned civilian.
· At approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 20 January 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Isawiyah village, north of East Jerusalem. They stationed at the northern entrance of the village and established a checkpoint in the area. Dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs. As a result, Iman Khalil Abu ‘Asab (34) was hit by a bullet to the face and was taken to Hadasa Hospital to receive medical treatment.
Arrests and Incursions
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 22 January 2015, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to Walid Abu al-Hawa in al-Tour neighborhood, east of Jerusalem. They arrested his son Muhammad (19) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 23 January 2015, Israeli forces arrested 2 Palestinian women and a child when they were in al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City in Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, 5 police officers attackED one of the Palestinian women when they were leading her and the others to al-Silsila gate police center for investigation. The detainees were identified as: Amani al-Tawil (20); Nour Abu Sneina (19); and Hour Abdin (14).
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 25 January 2015, Israeli forces raided al-Silsia gate neighborhood in the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses then arrested Ahmed Musa Abu Shawish (24).
At approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Afif Khweis (10) when he was at a playground near Juma al-Maqased Charity Hospital in al-Tour neighborhood. According to eyewitness testimonies, Israeli forces arrested the child when he was playing. The child started crying and was panicked. The child’s family intervened yet the Israeli soldiers attacked them. They sprayed paper on Hani Khweis’s face (50) and arrested him.
At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 26 January 2015, Israeli undercover units arrested Muhammad Said Aweida (10) before his house in Shufat neighborhood, north of the city. According to eyewitness testimonies, the child was taken to al-Nabi Yaqoub investigation center in Beit Hanina for being suspected of throwing stones at the light train. Hours later, the child was released.
At approximately 05:00 on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Israeli forces moved into Silwan, south of the Old City in Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children. They were identified as: Ahmed Abdullah al-Aqar (17); Bilal Abudllah al-Awar (19); and Anas al-Shaloudi (16).
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
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.
At approximately 06:30 on Thursday, 22 January 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a vehicle belonging to the Organization and Construction Department in the Israeli Civil Administration and two bulldozers uprooted several residential tenets and bulldozed barracks for animals and water pipes in Ain Karzlya, southeast of al-Jaftelk village. They demolished 5 tents; 3 tents used as kitchens; and 8 animal barns, thus displacing 5 families of 33 persons.
The bulldozing were as follows:
1. Demolition of a residential tent of a area of 60 square meters resided by 9 persons and a tent uses as a kitchen; two animal barn; 2 feedlots and a water tank of a capacity of 3 cups belonging to Ata Fahmi Qassem Bani Mani.
2. Demolition of residential tent resided by 3 persons belonging to Yousif Ata Bani Mani.
3. Demolition a tent resided by 9 persons and a tent used a kitchen and an animal barn and two tin sheds for animals and a water pipes belonging to Zahi Fahmi.
4. Demolition a tent of an area of 60 square meters and a tent used a kitchen and animal shed of an area of 75 square meters and two tin sheds for animals belonging to Zuheir Fahmi Qassem Bani Mani.
5. Demolition of a residential ten of an area 40 meter resided by 2 persons belonging to Salah Zuheir Bani Mani.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces backed by a vehicle belonging to the Organization and Construction Department in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Khilat Ibrahim in the western area of Ezzna village, west of Hebron. They handed Ali Badel Hadi Farajallah a notice to stop construction in a tin barracks of an area of 600 square meters.
A approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Israeli forces backed by a vehicle belonging to the Organization and Construction Department in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Tabban area, east of Yatta. They handed two civilians two notices to stop construction under the pretext of illegal construction in area C. the notices gave the residents 14 days to destroys:
– A tin barracks of an area of 40 square meters belonging to Naser Mahmoud Khalil;
– A tin barracks of an area of 3 square meters and a residential tent of an area of 40 square meters belonging to Samir Muahmed Hassan Hamamda.
Settlers’ attacks
On Saturday, 24 January 2015, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who was on his land in Khilat al-Nahla near Rahal valley area, south of Bethlehem. As a result, the person sustained a moderate wounds. According to PCHR’s investigation, Muhammad Omar Khalil Asad (24) was working on his land near Rahal valley, south of Bethlehem, when he was shot by one of 3 settlers who had taken over part of his land and set up a tent. The aforementioned civilian was taken to a military hospital in Abu Najim area, south of Bethlehem.
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.
Full, detailed document, including info on patrols and border crossings available at the official PCHR website.
