Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 02 – 08 April 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian from Senjel village, north of Ramallah, and wounded 12 others, including five children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Eight of these civilians, including three children, were wounded in the West Bank, one of whom was wounded in East Jerusalem, while the four others, including two children and a fisherman were wounded in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on Wednesday, 08 April 2015, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian from Senjel village, north of Ramallah. Israeli forces claimed that he had stabbed three soldiers by a knife when the three soldiers were standing near ‘Shilo’ settlement on Ramallah – Nablus road.
On 02 April 2015, Israeli forces wounded two Palestinian civilians, including a child, when they moved into al-Fare’ah refugee camp, south of Tubas.
On 04 April 2015, a child sustained a sound bomb shrapnel wound in the head when Israeli forces moved into Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem.
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, five protestors, including a child and women’s rights activist, were wounded.
In the same context, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers 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 in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city.
In the Gaza Strip, on 03 April 2015, three Palestinian civilians, including two children, were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at dozens of Palestinians civilians gathering 10-100 meters away from the said fence, east of Khuza’a and Abasan villages, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, three civilians were wounded and then taken to European Gaza and Nasser Hospitals to receive medical treatment.
In the same context, on 07 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at the eastern parts of Khuza’a village, but no casualties were reported.
As part of targeting fishermen in the Gaza Strip Seathe reporting period witnessed about seven shooting incidents at Palestinian fishermen and fishing boats in the Gaza Strip sea. As a result, a fisherman sustained a bullet wound to the legs on 08 April 2015. Other fishermen were frightened and sailed back fearing for their lives.
Incursions
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 53 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and four ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 44 Palestinians, including eight children and two woman. Fifteen of these Palestinians, including four children and two women, were arrested in Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, on 06 April 2015, Israeli forces carried out a limited incursion to the east of al-Fukhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew later.
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. In many occasions lately, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian patients and their companions and traders.
Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority:
Demolition of homes and civilian objects
On Sunday afternoon, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Khan al-Ahmer Bedouin compound, east of East Jerusalem, and confiscated dozens of solar cells used to generating electricity under the pretext they were present in an illegal area.
Shooting incidents
On Sunday afternoon, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They attacked dozens of the village residents when they were celebrating that Selwan team was qualified to professionalism in football.
Incursions and arrests
On Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of Ali al-Natcha in Bab Hetta neighbourhood in the old city in East Jerusalem. They searched the house and arrested his son Ibrahim (20).
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian women after they went out of al-Aqsa Mosque. They were taken to Beit Elyahou police station to be questioned.
On Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Ajlouni (19), who was present near al-Amoud Gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. They took him to al-Maskoubya interrogation facility to be questioned.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces arrested three young Palestinian men, who were present on Saladin Street in the old city in East Jerusalem.
At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into the entrance of al-Amoud gate in the old city and banned a press conference that was scheduled to announce the beginning of the week of Shopping Festival in Jerusalem that was organized by a number of Palestinian figures in the city. This festival was organized to support traders and the business sector in Jerusalem.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces arrested Odai Qara’een (19) while crossing through a military checkpoint at the entrance of Silwan village, south of the old city in Jerusalem.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Abdullah al-Zughul (17) when he passing by Ras al-Amoud settlement, east of the old city in East Jerusalem.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Thawri neighbourhood, south of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested five Palestinian civilians, including three children.
On Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Dr. Ahmed Shuqair (53), member of the Committee defending Wadi al-Rababa neighbourhood, in the same neighbourhood.
Settlers attacks in the city
At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 05 April 2015, a group of settlers harshly beat a Palestinian child when he was present near Hebron gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. As a result, the boy was taken to Hadasa Ein Karem Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property:
On Thursday, 02 April 2015, a group of settlers from ‘Itamar’ settlement, northeast of Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus, threw stones at two houses in the said village. Ten minutes later, military vehicles approached to protect the settlers and closed the road connecting Yanoun and Aqraba villages. Israeli soldiers raided the same two houses and arrested their owners.
On Tuesday, 07 April 2015, dozens of settler vehicles coming from settlement established in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, moved into the village’s park, west of the city.
On Wednesday, 08 April 2015, under the protection of Israeli forces, a large number of settlers in buses moved into the eastern area of Nablus. They teased and frightened the Palestinian civilians before entering Joseph Tomb to perform Talmudic rituals there.
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, five protestors, including a child, were wounded.
In the same context, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of the city and the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city too.
(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 03 April 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 33-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. Moreover, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation.
· 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 16-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the head and was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. Furthermore, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.
· Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. They made their way towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby ‘Halmish’ settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers closed all the village’s entrances to prevent the Palestinian and international solidarity activists and journalists from participating in the protest. As a result, a solidarity activist and a civilian were wounded while many protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. Manal Abdul Hafiz Tamimi (42), a solidarity activist, sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and a 24-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg too.
· At approximately 01:30, 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, 32-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.
Other demonstrations
· Following the Friday prayer, 03 April 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. The 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, dozens of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
· 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 number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
· 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, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
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 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 eight 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. 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. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish. 3 weeks ago, Israeli forces started to ban the entry of wood under the pretext is it used for constructing tunnels.
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. It should be noted that in the past weeks Israeli forces arrested a number of Palestinian traders heading to Israel after they got permits or were requested to meet with the Israeli intelligence service at the crossing. During the reporting period, a patient was arrested at the crossing.
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: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aynoun village, east of Hebron. At approximately 17:30, another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit Kahel village, west of the city. At approximately 18:00, two similar checkpoints were established at the northern and southern entrances of Halhoul, north of Hebron. Around the same time, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the northern entrance of Hebron and the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron. Later, all checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron. Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces closed Bab al-Zawyah area in the center of Hebron, amidst the intensive deployment of the Israeli forces to secure the passage of settlers via al-Shuhadaa’ Street and Checkpoint (56) to ”Ataneil Cemetery’ in Beersheba area in the center of the city that was also closed by israeli forces as well. Meanwhile, Palestinian civilians were prevented from crossing Checkpoint (56) or passing by the market until the settlers finished their rituals. At approximately 16:30 on Sunday, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Taramah village, east of Dura, southwest of Hebron. At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces established two similar checkpoints at the northern entrance of Hebron and al-Aroub refugee camp, north of the city. All checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Halhoul, north of city. At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint was established at the checkpoint of Beit Kahel village and Farsh al-Hawa area, northwest of Hebron. Later, both checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Kom village, west of Dura, southwest of Hebron. Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces they re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit, north of the city. They later withdrew, and no arrests were reported. Around the same time, Israeli forces established another checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 20:00, two checkpoints were established at the entrance of Senjel village, north of Ramallah and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Oar al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah. At approximately 19:30, another checkpoint was established near the intersection of “Ofrah” settlement, north of the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.
On Sunday early morning, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces closed the road from Ramallah to al-Jalzone refugee camp adjacent to ‘Beit Eil’ settlement on old Nablus-Ramallah Road with cement cubes under the pretext of building a cement wall around the aforementioned settlement. Israeli force previously informed the Palestinian Liaison about their intention to close the road for 4 days from this day till Wednesday of this week to establish the cement wall.
At approximately 13:30 on Monday, 06 April 2015, israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of N’ilin village, west of Ramallah. Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were reported.
· Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of the city. At approximately 20:00, a similar checkpoint as established at the entrance of al-Zbeidat village, north of the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, another checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of Jericho. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between the villages of between the villages of Hejah and Kafr Qadoum, northeast of Qalqilya, and prevented journalists from entering Kafr Qadoum village to cover the weekly protest. At approximately 15:30, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 00:05 on Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces established another checkpoint at the entrance of Aamtin village, northeast of Qalqilya. At approximately 01:30, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Annab military checkpoint which is established on the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of the city, tightened their restrictions against civilians and obstructed their movement. Later that day, the tightening ended and no arrests were reported. The tightening renewed at approximately 13:00 on Friday, 03 April 2015.
At approximately 18:30 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were removed.
At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were removed.
· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Ya’bod village, southwest of Jenin. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
· At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint established at ‘Oraneit’ settlement near ‘Azoun ‘Etmah village, south of Qalqilya, arrested Maher Ahmed Rafiq Hussein (17), from Fer’ata village, and Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim Selmi (18), from Qalqilya. Both are orphans in the Arab Society for Orphans in Tulkarm. Israeli forces claimed that they accompanied with a third colleague attempted to stab an Israeli soldier at the aforementioned checkpoint.
· On the same day afternoon, Israeli forces stationed at al-Taybeh crossing between Tulkarm and Israel arrested Ahmed ‘Ayyad Mohammed Jarar’ah (30) from Northern ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus, and took him to an unknown destination.
· On Monday afternoon, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces arrested Mousa Sadeq Wishhah (30) while passing via al-Karamah crossing on the Jordanian border, east of Jericho, and took him to an unknown destination. The aforementioned was on his way to Jordan from his home in Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah.
· At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces deployed in the Old City neighborhoods in the center of Hebron arrested Ahmed Nour al-Ja’abari (13) while the Israeli soldiers were protecting the settlers on their tour in the village markets. The aforementioned child was taken to the police station of ‘ Karyat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron.
· At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 08 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the annexation wall, which is established on Palestinian lands confiscated from the west of Deir Samit village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron, arrested Jihad Mahmoud ‘Abdel KArim al-sharawnah (21) and took him to the police station of ‘ Karyat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron.
· At approximately 14:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed at al-Container checkpoint established at the entrance of al-Shuhadaa’ Western Street, in the center of Hebron , arrested Eyad Mohammed al-Dweik (46) while passing via the checkpoint on his way back home in Tal al-Ramidah neighborhood. He was then taken to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 05 April 2015, an Israeli officer from the border guards stationed at al-Nafaq Checkpoint, northwest of Bethlehem and connected to Occupied Jerusalem, attacked Mohamm Ibrahim Mohammed Qotouf from Roq’ah neighborhood, west of Yata, south of Hebron. This happened when an Israeli soldier stationed at the checkpoint stopped the aforementioned civilian who was on his way back from work. He insulted and strongly pushed him, so he fell from a 100-meter slope. He was then taken ‘Tish’aar Tsaideq’ settlement in Occupied Jerusalem, and medical sources said that he sustained bruises in his chest and scratches throughout his body.
Qatouf said to a PCHR fieldworker:
‘I am 25 years old and work in Jerusalem in the field of porterage. I was arrested by Israeli forces 15 years ago and sent to prison for 3 months after which I was banned from obtaining a work permit. However, I went back there and everything was normal. On Sunday, 05 April 2015, I was on my way back from Jerusalem to Hebron in an Israeli taxi. An Israeli officer from the border guards stopped me at the checkpoint and asked for my ID card to check it. Meanwhile, another Israeli officer arrived and asked for my ID card. I told him that it is with that officer. He told me: do you hold a West Bank ID Card? and I answered: Yes. He asked me to walk and stand near a wall near the checkpoint and followed me. When he arrived, he started insulting me with bad words without any reason. He pushed me two meters to the back and I did not know that the slope behind me was very long. He suddenly pushed me with all his strength, so I fell from a distance of 100 meters on thorns and rocks. It was very dark and I heard a police officer speaking in Hebrew ‘he ran away’. I saw five border guards approaching me with torches. The same police officer arrived and pushed me. He insulted me again and stepped on face from the left side. He then kicked me on the back from the left and upper sides. Four police officers arrived, and one of them torn my shirt up and pulled my underneath blouse to my face. They kicked me twice and I fainted. I came back conscious inside an ambulance belonging to the David Red Star and there was a paramedic beside me and three other officers. I was handcuffed to the bed inside the ambulance. At approximately 00:30, I was admitted to ‘Tish’aar Tseideq’ settlement and handcuffed to the bed. The Israeli soldier who beat me and two others were standing outside the room. I underwent medical tests and x-rays as well as given medicine. I asked the doctor to bring the police. I waited until approximately 14:00 on Monday, 06 April 2015, a policeman dressed in civil clothes came and identified himself by showing me his card. He took my affidavit and then asked the Israeli border guards to untie me. However, they refused and then removed the handcuffs after arguing. At approximately 15:30, a military vehicle belonging to the border guards took me to ”Atarout’ police station in Jerusalem where they completed the investigations. At approximately 17:30, I left and was taken by the same vehicle to Qalandia checkpoint and was released. The Israeli police handed me a notice to refer to the court in ‘Ofer, west of Ramallah, on 08 September 2015.’
Israeli forces arrest a patient from Khan Younis at Beit Hanoun ‘ Erez’ crossing in the northern Gaza Strip
On Thursday morning 02 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun ‘Erez’ Crossing arrested Yehia ‘Odah Salim al-Tarabin (25), from Khan Younis, when attempting to travel to the West Bank to receive medical treatment in a hospital.
His brother, Mousa al-Tarabin, said to a PCHR fieldworker that his brother obtained a medical transfer from the Ministry of Health to receive medical treatment in al-Maqased Hospital from a cartilage he suffers. He added that his brother arrived at the crossing on the aforementioned day morning and then lost contact with him. He also said that at approximately 13:00 on the same day, he received a phone call from a person identified himself as member of the Israeli forces informing him that his brother is under arrest.
Efforts to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
Demolition of homes and civilian objects
· On Sunday afternoon, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Khan al-Ahmer Bedouin compound, east of East Jerusalem, and confiscated dozens of solar cells used to generating electricity under the pretext they were present in an illegal area.
Eid Jahaleen said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces moved into the abovementioned area and confiscated 20 solar cells used by the Jahaleen bedoun compound to generate electricity. He added that the cells were donated by Falasteen al-Ghadd association as part of the first project for a Bedouin compound. He pointed that about 140 persons benefit from the cells. Eid said that the solar cells were legal as they were mobile. He added that when Israeli forces moved into the area, Ahmed Abu Dahouk (4) fainted as he was attacked by a soldier. The boy was taken to Jericho hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
Shooting incidents
· On Sunday afternoon, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They attacked dozens of the village residents when they were celebrating that Selwan team was qualified to professionalism in football.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces heavily and randomly fired sound bombs at residents of Selwan village because they were celebrating in Ein al-Louza neighborhood, in the village. As result, a boy named Ahmed Ayyash sustained sound bullet wound to the head and was taken to the hospital.
Incursions and arrests
· At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of Ali al-Natcha in Bab Hetta neighbourhood in the old city in East Jerusalem. They searched the house and arrested his son Ibrahim (20).
· At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinian women after they went out of al-Aqsa Mosque. They were taken to Beit Elyahou police station to be questioned. The detainees were identified as: Hanan Abu Snaina (42) and Fatena Hussein (39).
· At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 03 April 2015, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Ajlouni (19), who was present near al-Amoud Gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. They took him to al-Maskoubya interrogation facility to be questioned. It was found out later that al-Ajlouni was arrested because he posted ‘Forgive me’ on Facebook and Israeli forces claimed that he intended to carry out terrorist acts.
· At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces arrested three Palestinian young men, who were present on Saladin Street in the old city in East Jerusalem. The deatainees were identified as: Tareq Emad al-Qadhmani (24), Mousa Ahmed al-Qadhmani (23) and Wahbi Mekki (23).
· At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 04 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into the entrance of al-Amoud gate in the old city and banned a press conference that was scheduled to announce the beginning of the week of Shopping Festival in Jerusalem that was organized by a number of Palestinian figures in the city, including Hatem Abdul Qader, former Minister of Jerusalem Affiars, Hosam Abu al-Lail, a leader in Hamas movement, Suleiman Ahmed, the one responsible for Jerusalem and al-Aqsa file in Hamas movement, Ali Abu Sheikha, a leader in the movement, and Hassan al-Hroub, director of Jerusalemite Traders’ Association. This festival was organized to support traders and the business sector in Jerusalem.
· At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces arrested Odai Qara’een (19) while crossing through a military checkpoint at the entrance of Silwan village, south of the old city in Jerusalem. They beat him and took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Abdullah al-Zughul (17) when he passing by Ras al-Amoud settlement, east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They took him to al-Masqoubia interrogation facility.
· At approximately 22:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Thawri neighbourhood, south of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested five Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. The arrested were identified as Hani Ahmed Shweiki (27), Basel Nasser Shweiki (20), Mahmoud Sharif Ashour (16), Amjad Mohammed Shweiki (16) and Tawfiq Mohammed Shweiki.
· At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Dr. Ahmed Shuqair (53), member of the Committee defending Wadi al-Rababa neighbourhood, in the same neighbourhood. They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to Saladin police station to be questioned.
Settlers attacks in the city
· At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 05 April 2015, a group of settlers harshly beat a Palestinian child when he was present near Hebron Gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. As a result, the boy was taken to Hadasa Ein Karem Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that over four settlers harshly beat Mahmoud al-Batroukh (12) when he was near Hebron gate on his head. As a result, he sustained serious wound to the head, face and neck. The boy was taken to Hadasa Ein Karem Hospital where doctors said his wounds were moderate.
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 15:30 on Thursday, 02 April 2015, a group of settlers from ‘Itamar’ settlement, northeast of Yanoun village, southeast of Nablus, threw stones at 2 houses in the said village. Ten minutes later, four military vehicles approached to protect the settlers and closed the road connecting Yanoun and Aqraba villages. Israeli soldiers raided the same two houses and arrested their owners: Riyadh Aqel Bani Jaber (50); and Qutaiba Khalil Rabee’ Bani Jaber (25).
· At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 07 April 2015, dozens of settler vehicles coming from settlement established in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, moved into the village’s park, west of the city. The settlers performed religious rituals under the protection of Israeli soldiers.
· At approximately 00:30 on Wednesday, 08 April 2015, under the protection of Israeli forces, big number of settlers in buses moved into the eastern area of Nablus. They teased and frightened the Palestinian civilians before entering Joseph Tomb to perform Talmudic rituals there. In the early morning, Israeli forces secured their withdrawal by firing sound bombs in the streets to tease the Palestinians and frighten children. However, neither arrests nor casualties were reported.
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.
