Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 21 – 27 May 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
Israeli forces continued to use force against Palestinian civilians in peaceful protests in the oPt and against fishermen sailing within the allowed fishing area. During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 10 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, one of whom was deliberately shot in East Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to target fishermen and opening fire at border areas along the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israeli warplanes launched 13 missiles at targets in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 21 May 2015, an Israeli sniper on top of a building in Shu’fat refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem, fired a bullet at a 10-year-old male while coming back from school. As a result, the boy sustained a serious wound to the left eye and was taken to Hadasa Hospital in West Jerusalem to receive medical treatment.
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, 6 protestors, including 3 children, were wounded. In addition, an ambulance was deliberately attacked, due to which the windshield was broken.
In the Gaza Strip, 2 fishers, including a child, were wounded when Israeli gunboats station in the sea opened fire on 25 May 2015, at a fishing boat belonging to Mohammed Baker (30) that was sailing within 3 nautical miles off al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City. As a result, the aforementioned person sustained a bullet wound to the left hand and the child sustained a shrapnel wound to the foot.
On 27 May 2015, Israeli gunboats opened fire at a fishing boat sailing within 3 nautical miles off Gaza seaport, west of Gaza City. As a result, a fisherman from al-Shati’ refugee camp, sustained 2 bullet wounds.
In the same context, Israeli navy forces opened fire 8 other times at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area according to the last Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported, but fishermen were frightened and sailed back to the shore.
Moreover, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened sporadic fire 4 times at areas north of the Gaza Strip, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Incursions
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 52 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 68 Palestinians, including 13 children. Thirty-seven of these Palestinians, including 11 children, were arrested in East 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. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, including 21.1% who suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
House demolition
On 27 May 2015, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction house belonging to Nassar family in al-Qaddoum valley neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
On 21 May 2015, Israeli forces demolished 3 grocery stalls, north of Jericho.
On 24 May 2015, Israeli forces handed Adnan al-Batran a notice to stop construction works in his house in al-Naqi valley to the west of Ethna, west of Hebron. On 26 May 2015, Israeli forces issued a notice to halt works in an 800-meter long electricity network in al-Koum village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron.
On 23 May 2015, a group of settlers stole 2 metal water tanks used to water sheep and a tent used as a sheep barn in the Bedouin compound, northeast of Ramallah.
On 25 May 2015, 3 settlers with sniffer dogs from ‘Adi Ad’ settlement outpost, east of Termis’ya village, north of Ramallah, attacked a 53-year-old farmer. A tractor driver was in company of the farmer and they were carrying grass to the tractor to be transported.
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, 6 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded. Moreover, Israeli forces deliberately fired a gas canister at Bil’in ambulance, due to which the windshield was broken.
Israeli forces also arrested Yusef Monther Elayan (16) and Ahmed Tayseer Rashed Hussein (21) during a peaceful protest in al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah. The 2 detainees were taken to ‘Beit El’ settlement. Elayan was released in the evening, but Hussein was taken to Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city.
(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 22 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 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 metal 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 beat up. In addition, Israeli forces deliberately fired a gas canister at an ambulance, due to which the windshield was broken.
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 protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beat 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 protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they beat up by Israeli soldiers.
Also following the Friday prayer, there was the weekly protest against the closure of the eastern entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, which has been closed by Israeli forces since the Intifada. Once the protestors approached the closed entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Due to which, the protestors threw stones and empty bottles. No casualties were reported. It should be noted that Israeli forces used a new type of ammunition; fortified sponge-coated metal bullets that cause fractures when hitting the body.
Other demonstrations
On Thursday, 21 May 2015, 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, an 18-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah.
Following the Friday prayer, on 22 May 2015, 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 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, an 18-year-old civilians sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and was 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, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested Yusef Monther Elayan (16) and Ahmed Tayseer Rashed Hussein (21) and took them to the abovementioned settlement. Elayan was released on the same day, but Hussein was transferred to Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah.
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 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, 4 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded and then taken to Palestine Medical Compound. A 16-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left shoulder, a 15-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg, a 17-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the right knee and a 25-year-old civilian sustained 3 bullet wounds to the left underarm, left side of the pelvis and right side of the chest.
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.
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.
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.
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 also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
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. On Thursday, 21 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron. The checkpoint was re-established in the same area on Friday, 22 May 2015.
On Saturday, 23 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron, and another one at the entrance of Beit ‘Awa village, south of Dura, southwest of the city.
On Sunday, 24 May 2015, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrances of al-Shoyoukh village, northeast of Hebron; al-Fawar refugee camp, south of the city; and Beit Ummar village, north of the city.
On Monday, 26 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Ethna village, west of Hebron. At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces imposed a tightened security siege on Hebron and closed Jerusalem-Hebron Road to protect the Marathon organized by settlers from ‘Karyat Arba’ settlement, which is established on Palestinian lands, east of Hebron, to Hebron city. This caused Traffic jam on the road and detained civilian cars for a few hours.
On Wednesday, 27 May 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances of Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron; Beit Kahel village, west of the city; and Sa’ir village, east of the city.
· Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday, 21 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of ‘Ein Sinia village, north of the city and re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Bir Zeit, northwest of the city.
On Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces closed the eastern entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah in addition to establishing two checkpoints under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city and at the entrance of Ni’lin village, west of the city.
On Saturday, 23 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah, and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
On Sunday, 24 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Janiyah village, northwest of Ramallah.
On Monday, 25 May 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city; at the entrance of ‘Ein Sinia village, north of the city; and the entrance of Senjel village, north of the city.
On Tuesday, 26 May 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the entrance of Kafr Malek village and the entrance of al-Tibah village, northeast of Ramallah.
· Qalqilya: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya in the morning and in the evening.
On Saturday, 23 May 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at between the villages of the eastern entrance of Qalqilya and at the intersection of Jeet village, northeast of the city.
· Jenin: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Monday, 25 May 2015, Israeli forces established two checkpoints between the villages of Kafr Qoud and Borqin, west of Jenin, and at the entrance of Ya’bod village, southwest of the city.
· Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of the city.
On Saturday, 23 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.
· Nablus: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Tuesday, 26 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Talfit village, southeast of Nablus.
On Wednesday, 27 May 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Foriq checkpoint, east of Nablus, closed it in both directions and prevented Palestinian vehicles from crossing via the checkpoint.
· Tulkarm: Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Bazaria village, east of Tulkarm.
On Sunday, 22 May 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.
Note: all the aforementioned checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints
· At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces at al-Jalamah military checkpoint, northeast of Jenin, arrested ‘Abdullah Khaled ‘Abdel Fattah al-Beidah (21) from Jayous village, southwest of Qalqilya, while passing via the checkpoint. They took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 22 May 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Hawarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Khamis Shetwi Abu Saqer from al-Far’ah refugee camp, southeast of Tubas. Eyewitnesses said that the soldiers stationed at the checkpoint stopped the car which Abu Saqer was traveling to Ramallah. Israeli forces ordered Abu Saqer to step out of the car and asked the driver to leave. They took him to an unknown destination.
· On the aforementioned Friday, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Eil military checkpoint, northeast of Ramallah, arrested Jamal ‘Emad Taher Kilan (24) from Jenin while passing through the checkpoint.
· At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 25 May 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. The Israeli soldiers arrested Feda ‘Abdel Latif Mohammed ‘Obeid (34) while passing through the checkpoint taking him to an unknown destination.
· On Wednesday morning, 27 May 2015, Israeli forces arrested Ibtisam Yousif Taha Hamarshah (59) from Ya’bod village, southwest of Jenin, while visiting her son, Yehia, who is detained in Jalbou’a prison. They took her to an unknown destination.
· Sa’eb Sa’adah ‘Abed Asmar (25) from ‘Aqrabah village, southeast of Nablus, was subjected to maltreatment and beating by Israeli soldiers after arresting him. He was trying to pass a metal grille in the annexation wall to enter into Israel.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR and the aforementioned civilian’s account to the fieldworker, at approximately 00:00 on Tuesday, 26 May 2015, Asmar was trying to cross the metal grille in the annexation wall, southwest of ‘Azoun ‘Etmah village, southeast of Qalqilya, when he was surprised by an Israeli jeep surrounding him. Four Israeli soldiers stepped out of the jeep and stopped him. Two of them started beating Asmar with their hands and feet and knocked him down. One of the two soldiers beat him with his rifle’s butt on his head, so he started bleeding. When the Israeli soldiers saw that, they left him bleeding on the ground. Asmar went back to the aforementioned village covered with blood and knocked a door of a house. The residents responded to him and brought a taxi to take him to ‘Aqraba dispensary in his village. He was given necessary treatment as his head needed 7 stitches.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
Shooting incidents
· At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 21 May 2015, an Israeli sniper on the roof of a building in Shu’fat refugee camp, north of East Jerusalem, fired a rubber-coated metal bullet at Yehya Sami al-Amoudi (10) while coming back from school. As a result, he sustained a serious wound to the left eye, due to which he was taken to ‘Hadasa Ein Karem’ Hosptial in West Jerusalem.
Sami al-Amoudi, the boy’s father, said to a PCHR fieldworker that his son was coming back from school, during which, a sniper positioned on the roof of a building belonging to Shweiki family in Shu’fat refugee camp, fired a bullet from a range of 7-10 meters. As a result, his son sustained a serious wound to the left eye. He added that his son was discharged from the intensive care unit on Saturday, 23 May 2015, but he went in a 2-day comma. He underwent 2 operations; the first in the left eye that was enucleated and the second was to treat 11 fractures in the face. Some fractures were around the eye and the jaw. Besides, his mouth was stitched to prevent him from eating for 6 months and to feed him by a feeding tube.
House demolitions
· At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 27 May 2015, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction house belonging to Nassar family in Qaddoum valley neighborhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Ibrahim Nassar said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli police, border guard and municipality officers and a bulldozer moved into Qaddoum valley neighborhood in Silwan village. They declared it as a closed military zone. Israeli officers deployed in the neighborhood passages, in the meantime, the bulldozer demolished an apartment belonging to his family. He added that construction works in the under-construction apartment started 3 months ago.
Incursions and house raids
· At approximately 23:00 on Thursday, 21 May 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Qarmi neighborhood in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Mahdi Abu Asab (12) and Mohammed Isma’il Maz’arow (12).
· At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 24 May 2015, Israeli forces arrested 6 Palestinian civilians from al-Aqsa Mosque yards in the old city in East Jerusalem, after they confronted dozens of settlers, who stormed the mosque and tried to perform religious rituals. Israeli forces took detaineess to al-Qashala police station to be questioned. The arrested were identified as: Mohammed Yusef Qazzaz (23), Tamer Nasser Shala’ta (27), Abdullah Mohammed Da’na (23), Rami Essa al-Fakhouri (22), Jarrah Abu Saleh (25) and Qusai Khaled Dandis (24).
· At approximately 03:30, on Monday, 25 May 2015, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of Kamel Elayan in al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (19) and took him to an unknown destination.
· At approximately 04:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children: Mohammed Bassam Abu Nab (17), Rateb Ragheb al-Haimoni (17), Fahmi Mousa al-Haimoni (20) and Ahmed Dia’ Gaith (17) and Laith Nasser Ghaith (22).
· At approximately 05:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into a number of neighborhoods in the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 7 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children: Mohammed Mostafa Rowaidi (17), Sa’id Ibrahim al-Keswani (16), Hamdi Mohammed Jaber (17), Ahmed Jawdat al-Shawish (20), Shadi Khader Abu Farha (24), Ahmed Mahmoud Badriya (19) and Amir Wa’el Mahmoud (20).
· Also on the same day, a group of Israeli special forces attacked a vehicle in which a number of Palestinians were in al-Tout neighborhood street, east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They also attacked the passengers as the Israeli police claimed that a settler filed a complaint against Emad al-Abasi supporting it with the registration number of al-Abasi’s vehicle under the pretext that the latter attempted to run down a settler in the ‘French Hill’ settlement. Al-Abasi was chased until he reached al-Tour neighborhood. He was questioned and then he and his friends were released.
Emad al-Abasi, one of the attacked, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that dozens of Israeli special officers and police officers, some of whom were masked, stopped his car, in which he was together with 4 others persons, while going back from work to their houses. They were all beaten and insulted. Israeli officers detained them for about 3 hours near ‘Beit Awert’ settlement in al-Sowana neighborhood. The persons who were in the car are: Emad Abasi (28), Ayed Abasi (26), Nihad Abasi (35), Arkan al-Tahhan (30) and Ahmed Awad Rowaidi (24).
Al-Abasi said that he stopped by a grocery in al-tour neighborhood. Once he stepped out of the car, he was surprised to see special forces attacking him. They handcuffed him and took him to ‘Beit Awert’ settlement. An officer drove his car to the settlement and obliged the passengers to step out of it.
· At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli forces arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 elderly people, while getting out al-Aqsa Mosque through al-Selselah gate.: Taha ali Shawahna (62), Baker al-Shaimi (67), Mohammed al-Hashlamoun (32) and Nizam Adli Abu Rmouz (24).
· At approximately 04:30 on Wednesday, 27 May 2015, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Ziad Ja’afra (29) in the eastern Sawahra area in Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood, southeast of East Jerusalem. They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.
Settler attacks against Palestinian civilians and their 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.
Israeli forces’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
· At approximately 11:30 on Thursday, 21 May 2015, Israeli bulldozers demolished 3 grocery stalls between al-Zbaidat and Marj Na’jah villages, north of Jericho, near road (90). The stalls belong to Rezeq Ibrahim Sweirki, Yusef Abdul Karim Ayed and Salam Zbaidat.
· At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 24 May 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by Civil Administration vehicle moved into al-Naqi valley area, west of Ethna village, west of Hebron. On Sunday, 24 May 2015, Israeli forces deployed between the houses and handed Adnan Fayez al-Batran a notice to stop construction works in a one-storey house under the pretext it is located in the area under the Israeli security control.
· At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 26 May 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Koum village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. An Israeli Civil Administration officer photographed an 800-meter long electricity network that was established in 2003 and provides services to dozens of houses, 3 of which are threatened to be demolished. He put a notice on side of the road that work in the electricity network should be suspended and competent authorities in ‘Beit El’ settlement, north of Ramallah, should be referred to. The officer also handed Ahmed Mohammed al-Rjoub a notice to stop works in an under-construction water well.
· Around the same time, Israeli forces handed 12 Palestinian civilians demolition notices in Fasayel village, north of Jericho.
According to information collected by a PCHR fieldworker from the village local council, at approximately 09:00, on the abovementioned day, Israeli forces accompanied by a Civil Administration officer moved into Fasayel village, north of Jericho. They declared the area as a closed military zone. The officer distributed 12 demolition notices. It should be noted that Israeli forces distributed notices for the evacuation of the abovementioned area a year ago under the pretext of building in area (C).
Demolition notices included the following:
1. A 150-square-meter house sheltering a 10-member family and belonging to Ibrahim Mohammed Nawawra;
2. A 65-square-meter house sheltering a 6-member family and belonging to Ali Salem Ebayat;
3. A 120-square-meter house sheltering a 5-member family and belonging to Abdul Rahim Ahmed Ebayat;
4. A 30-square-meter residential tent sheltering an 8-member family and belonging to Hassan Mohammed Zayed;
5. A 20-square-meter residential tent sheltering a 5-member family and belonging to Ali Hussein Ebayat;
6. A 40-square-meter residential tent sheltering a 10-member family and belonging to Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Kharabeesh;
7. A 50-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Ibrahim Salama Ebayat;
8. A 50-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Dawood Khalil Ebayat;
9. A 50-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Yusef Mousa Nawawrah;
10. A 30-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Aziz Mousa Ebayat;
11. A 60-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Suleiman Msallam Sawarka; and
12. A 60-square-meter sheep barrack belonging to Mansour Nassar Sawarka.
· On the same day, Israeli forces moved into al-Mazra’ah area, east of Termis’ya village, north of Ramallah. A Civil Administration officer handed a notice to Omer Mohammed Awwad (30), a driver of a wastewater vehicle, to refer to the Israeli police station, northeast of Jerusalem. It should be noted that Israeli forces closed the landfill of Ramallah and al-Bireh municipality a year ago.
Settlers’ attacks
· At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 23 May 2015, a group of settlers stole 2 metal water tanks used to water sheep and a tent used as a sheep barn from a Bedouin compound, east of al-Taiba village, northeast of Ramallah. The tanks belong to Qadri Ka’abna (30). Moreover, the settlers threw stones at Ka’abna while grazing the sheep in the area. It should be noted that settlers stole 9 sheep and slaughtered 2 others when attacking the same Bedouin compound on 09 March 2015.
· At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 25 May 2015, 3 settlers with sniffer dogs from ‘Adi Ad’ settlement, east of Termis’ya village, north of Ramallah, attacked farmer Hamed Fawzi Hamed (53). Hamed was in company of Emad Abu Awwad (32), a tractor driver, carrying grass to the tractor. Israeli forces immediately arrived at the area, due to which the settlers fled towards the settlement outpost.
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;
Full, detailed document, including info on patrols and border crossings available at the official PCHR website.
