In its weekly report on Israeli human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights found that in the week of 29 April – 06 May 2015, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and abducted 65 Palestinians during 71 separate invasions of Palestinian land.Israeli attacks in the West Bank:
Israeli forces conducted 61 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 10 others in East Jerusalem. 65 Palestinian civilians, including five children, were abducted. 18 of these civilians, including six children, were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.
In the West Bank, 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, four protesters, including a child, were wounded.
In Jerusalem, on 04 May 2015, a 35-year-old Palestinian was wounded when the light rail guards opened fire at him in the French Hill area, north of the old city in East Jerusalem. He was taken to Hadasa Hospital in Israel to receive medical treatment.
Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas in the Gaza Strip and chase fishermen in the sea. Several shooting incidents in the east of Rafah and Jabalia in the south and north of the Gaza Strip respectively. Several shooting incidents at fishermen off the northern and southern shores of the Gaza Strip. Six civilians, including five children, were abducted by Israeli forces at the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, Rafah and Johr al-Deek.
As part of targeting border areas, on 01 May 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border area opened fire at agricultural lands in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. A similar shooting incident occurred on 02 May 2015 at lands to the east of al-Shuhada cemetery in the north of the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported too.
In the context of targeting fishermen, on 02 May 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased and opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, fishermen sailed back to the beach fearing for their lives. Similar incidents occurred 3 times in the north of the Gaza Strip, while on 06 May 2015, a shooting incident occurred off Khan Yunis shore in the south of the Gaza Strip.
On 02 May 2015, Israeli forces abducted a Palestinian civilian while attempting to infiltrate into Israel via the border fence, east of Khan Yunis. On the following day, Israeli forces abducted two children at Johr al-Deek area, east of Gaza, but released them the day after. On 04 May 2015, three children were abducted while sneaking into Israel in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli settlement activities:
On Friday 30 April, at approximately 14:00, Israeli forces abducted three shepherds, including a 13-year old boy, while grazing their sheep near the already evacuated ‘Homash’ settlement on Palestinian lands near Jabe’a village, south of Jenin. The Israeli soldiers questioned the shepherds on the spot and released them after the Palestinian Military Liaison intervened.
Around the same time, Israeli forces deployed in Tal al-Ramidah in the center of Hebron abducted two children, who were taken to ‘Karayat Arba’a’ police station and then to the detention centre in in ‘Ghosh ‘Etzion’ settlement, south of Bethlehem.
A PCHR fieldworker said that the family of ‘Emad Abu Shamsiyah, who lives in the neighbourhood and whose house is surrounded with barbwires, suffers from the daily violations committed by the Israeli soldiers and settlers as the house is only 50 meters away from the Israeli ‘Gilbert’ checkpoint.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
In the West Bank, 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, four protesters, including a child, were wounded.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. Four protesters, including a child, were wounded in protests in Kufor Qaddoum, al-Jalazonerefugee camp, Selwad village and around Ofer detention facility.
Following the Friday prayer, on 01 May 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 rotesters 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 metal bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a number of rotesters 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. A number of rotesters suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
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 number of rotesters suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Following the Friday prayer, on 01 May 2015, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a protest at the eastern entrance 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 protestor sustained a bullet wound to the legs, due to which he was taken to Qalqilya Hospital, where his wound was described as moderate.
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, in protest at Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians. 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, a 21-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh, due to which he was taken to Palestine Medical compound in Ramallah. Moreover, a number of rotesters 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. Israeli soldiers topped a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Dar Shaikha and opened fire at the youngsters. As a result, 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh, due to which he was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. Moreover, a number of rotesters suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Also following the Friday prayer, 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 rotesters 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 rotesters. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh, due to which he was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. Moreover, a number of rotesters suffered tear gas inhalation.
Recommendations to the international community:
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this year, 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 additionm the 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 Occupied Palestinian Territories.
For the full text of the report, click on the link below:
