In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 05 – 11 March 2015, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli navy forces killed a Palestinian fisherman and wounded two others in two separate attacks. In addition, 23 additional civilians were wounded this week by Israeli troops in a number of different incidentsA Palestinian civilian was wounded due to the explosion of an object of the Israeli forces’ remnants left in the Gaza Strip during the latest Israeli offensive. In addition, Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. 12 people were wounded in Kufor Aqeb village, north of occupied Jerusalem, and 12 wounded in other non-violent protests throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 45 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 8 into East Jerusalem this week.
In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, 36 Palestinian civilians, including 16 children, were wounded. On 06 March 2015, Israeli forces opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who drove a group of Israeli soldiers in al-Sheikh Jarrah area, north of East Jerusalem. As a result, he was seriously wounded and then taken to a hospital in West Jerusalem.
On the same day, a seven-year-old child was wounded while being present in the balcony of his family’s house in Ras al-Amoud neighbourhood in the east of the Old City in East Jerusalem.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces at al-Jalama military checkpoint between Jenin and Israel, northeast of Jenin, opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle that was near the said checkpoint. As a result, two young men in the vehicle were wounded. Israeli forces abducted one of them and took him to Afoula Hospital in Israel as he was seriously wounded. The other wounded person was taken to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin.
Seventy Palestinian civilians, including ten children and a woman, were abducted by Israeli troops this week. Twenty-seven of these civilians, including seven children and a woman, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. Five Palestinian civilians were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli forces continued efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. Three barns for poultry and sheep in al-‘Eisawiya village, north of the city, were demolished. Three barns for livestock and a number of tents were demolished in Beit Exa village, northwest of the city. Large areas of the previously known as Qalandia Airport and a carwash were demolished.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
During the reporting period, in two separate attacks, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian fisherman and wounded two others when they chased Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea. In addition, a 3rd civilian was wounded due to the explosion of an object of Israeli forces’ remnants left in the Gaza Strip.
On 05 March 2015, Israeli navy forces chased about 30 fishing boats sailing within two nautical miles off al-Mathaf Hotel, northwest of Gaza City. As a result, a fisherman sustained a bullet wound to the buttock and a bullet wound to the right leg, while another one sustained a bullet wound to the left leg. Moreover, Israeli forces confiscated a fishing boat and abducted four fishermen on board of that boat.
On 07 March 2015, a 34-year-old civilian sustained moderate wounds when an object of Israeli forces’ remnants left in the Gaza Strip exploded near green houses, north of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
As part of targeting border areas in the Gaza Strip, on 06 March 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at agricultural lands, east of al-Qarara and Abasan villages, east of Khan Yunis. On 07 March 2015, the same area was fired at, but no casualties were reported.
In addition, Israel continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. 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 abducted a Palestinian patient who obtained a permit to travel to the West Bank for medical treatment, while another civilian accompanying his father was abducted while the father was denied travel for medical treatment.
Israeli settlement activities:
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. Over the past week, a house in al-Jaroushiya village, north of Tulkarm, and 5 houses and a barn, north of Jericho, were demolished. Under-construction marble factory and barns in Jenin were demolished. Israeli forces levelled 100 dunums of wheat and 300 olive seedlings, east of Salem village, east of Nablus. Settlers set fire to two vehicles in al-Mughir village, northeast of Ramallah. Sixty-five olive trees, east of Burin village, south of Nablus, were cut off.
On Thursday, 05 March 2015, Israeli forces detained the Hebron Agricultural Department staff when they were in the Palestinian lands threatened to be confiscated, east of al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron and adjacent to the settlements of ‘Asfar’ and ‘Bani Qadim’ to document settlers’ attacks on olive trees in the aforementioned area few days earlier. The staff was later released.
Also on Thursday, 05 March 2015, a group of settlers burnt two vehicles and wrote slogans against Arabs on the walls of a house in al-Moghir village, northwest of Ramallah. Settlers broke the windows of the vehicles and poured flammable materials on them.
On Monday, 09 March 2015, around seven masked and armed Israeli settlers stole nine sheep and killed two others after attacking the Bedouin Complex established in the eastern side of the agricultural lands in al-Tibah village, northeast of Ramallah. The sheep belong to Ahmed Mousa Ka’abnah (28).
Also on Monday, 09 March 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by officers from the Nature Protection Department and a number of bulldozers moved into al-Roqraq area, east of Salem village, east of Nablus. The bulldozers immediately levelled hundred dunums of the lands planted with wheat and 300 olive seedlings aged 5 months old. Israeli forces claimed that the lands, which were levelled, are a Nature reserve.
On the aforementioned Monday, Israeli forces destroyed a 2-story house belonging to Kefah ‘Abdel Rahim Sa’id Sholi (44) from al-Jaroushiyah village, north of Tulkarm. The house is established on 120 square meters.
On the same Monday, Ahmed ‘Abdel Fattah Falah Khalifah accompanied by his son lawyer, Mahmoud Khalifah, went to their land in Bab al-Thaniyah area, east of Burin village, south of Nablus after the security coordination declared by the Palestinian Civilian Liaison that allows Palestinian farmers to plough their lands in that area. When Khalifah arrived at his land, which is 104 dunums and planted with 450 olive trees aged between 60-70 years, he was surprised to find that Israeli settlers from ‘Jev’at Ronim’ settlement outpost adjacent to the aforementioned land had cut 65 olive trees
On Tuesday afternoon, 10 March 2015, a number of settlers threw stones at a cap travelled by Usamah ‘Abdullah Jabali Nasasrah (33) from Beit Foriq village, east of Nablus. One of the stones damaged the right-side window, but no injuries were reported.
On Tuesday, 10 March 2015, Israeli forces levelled 5 residencies and a sheep barn in Abu ‘Ajaj area, southwest of al-Jaftalak village, north of Hebron. Around 43 civilian, most of which were women and children, became homeless.
On Wednesday, 11 March 2015, Israeli forces moved into Barta’ah al-Sharqiyah village, which is isolated from its surrounding due to the annexation wall, west of Jenin. Israeli forces declared the village as a closed military area. Israeli forces then levelled an under-construction marble factory and destroyed the machines and equipment in it.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Zebdah village, southwest of Jenin. They surrounded a number of barracks belonging to Walid Matter Ahmed Abu Kabbash (41) from Hebron. The aforementioned civilian lives with his family there and grazes his sheep. Israeli forces destroyed the barracks and later withdrew. No further incidents were reported.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Umm l-Rayhan village, which is isolated from its surroundings by the annexation wall, southwest of Jenin. They levelled vacant lands in the vicinity of a barrack used to manufacture marble.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued the use of excessive and systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international solidarity activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, a 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and a 36-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the right hand, during Kufor Qaddoum weekly protest.
In the same context, six Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded during other protests organized at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, and around Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah.
On 10 March 2015, twelve civilians, including six children, were wounded during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces in Kufor Aqeb village, north of occupied Jerusalem, in protest of the leveling of lands near the annexation wall by Israeli troops with armored bulldozers.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces abducted four French solidarity activists, who participated in Bil’in weekly protest, west of Ramallah, and took them to an unknown destination.
Following the Friday prayer, on 06 March 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 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, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. In addition, Israeli forces abducted four French solidarity activists and took them to an unknown destination.
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.
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 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and a 36-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the right hand, due to which his thumb was fractured.
Following the Friday prayer, 6 March 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), in protest at the Israeli policies. Protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the aforementioned road and Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, a 22-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right knee and a 21-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the head. Both of them were taken to Palestine Medical Compound to receive medical treatment.
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, three civilians, including two children. A 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left side of the chest, due to which his right lung was ruptured and his ribs were fractured. He underwent a surgery and has been still in the intensive care unit in Palestine Compound. In addition, a 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh, while a 29-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the back left side.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of youngsters gathered from different areas of Ramallah and al-Bireh in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah. They headed towards the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli soldiers. They set fire to tyres 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, a 18-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg, due to which he was taken to Palestine Medical Compound.
At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 7 March 2015, the popular committee against the annexation wall and settlement activities in cooperation with the international solidarity activists organized a protest to plant olive seedlings in lands threatened to be confiscated around Kherbet Khellet al-Adra, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They raised Palestinian flags. Israeli forces clashed with them, cursed them with racist slogans and forced them to get out of the lands under the pretext they were confiscated. As a result, a number of civilians sustained bruises, but no arrests were reported.
On Saturday, 07 March 2015, dozens of Palestinian civilians and feminist activists from different areas in the West Bank gathered near the entrance of Qalandya checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem, gathered to organize a protest on the International Women’s Day. They chanted slogans on the freedom of Palestine, prisoners and occupied Jerusalem. They also raised Palestinian flags, posters on the fundamental role of Palestinian women in the Palestinian struggle and other posters on the Israeli policies against Palestinian civilians. They then headed to Qalandya checkpoint, where Israeli soldiers closed the checkpoint and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. When the protestors tried to cross the checkpoint towards Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers denied them access, due to which the protestors threw stones in response. Clashes erupted, and dozens of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained burns as they were sprayed with pepper spray. Four of the wounded were taken to hospital.
On Tuesday, 10 March 2015, dozens of Bir Zeit university students gathered in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah, to mark the first anniversary of the killing of their colleague Saji Darwish. They proceeded to the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers started firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation. Moreover, Israeli soldiers abducted Bayan Mahfouz Safi (20) and took her inside the facility. At approximately 20:10, the aforementioned girl was handed to the Palestinian Liaison office.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the United Nations provide international protection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip.
In addition the PCHR called 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
