Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 06- 12 August 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
Israeli forces escalated the use of excessive force against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces used excessive force killing a Palestinian civilian, while Sa’ed Dawabsha died of burns he sustained earlier due to a settler attack. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian child east of Beit Hanoun town as part of shooting incidents along the Gaza Strip border area. Moreover, 4 police officers were wounded as rubble scattered due to an Israeli airstrike on a training site belonging to a Palestinian armed group in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli navy forces attacked Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
In the West Bank, on 09 August 2015, using excessive force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian from Qatna village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. They opened fire at him while being present in al-Khawaja gas station near Kherbatha al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah. According to the Israeli police, Israeli forces stationed in the scene opened fire at a Palestinian, who stabbed a settler, and killed him.
On Saturday morning, 08 August 2015, a medical source at Soroka Hospital in Israel pronounced Sa’ed Dawabsha (32), from Douma village, southeast of Nablus, dead of burns he sustained earlier when settlers set fire to his family house. The attack resulted in killing his child, Ali (18 months), then.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive and systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights activists in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli policies in the oPt. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.
In the Gaza Strip, on 07 August 2015, Maher Shatat (13) sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, opened fire at houses in Beit Hanoun village, north of the Gaza Strip. The aforementioned child was playing around his family house when he was wounded.
As part of land attacks and shooting incidents, on 09 August 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire around Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, but no casualties were reported.
Concerning airstrikes, Israeli warplanes raided a military training site belonging to Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas movement) in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, 4 Palestinian police officers on duty were injured by scattered rubble. Moreover, windows of 4 houses were damaged.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen, on 07 August 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire at fishermen, but no casualties were reported.
On 10 August 2015, Israeli forces stationed off Deir al-Balah shore, in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 2 fishermen from al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, while fishing in the sea. The two fishermen were taken to Ashdod seaport, where they were questioned on exceeding the fishing limits and other issues. At approximately 14:30, on the same day, Israeli forces released them, but kept their boat in custody.
Incursions
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 47 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 41 Palestinians, including 14 children. Twelve of these civilians, including 6 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 (KeremShaloum) 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%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
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 06 August 2015, Israeli forces destroyed 3 dirt roads and cut off 3 olive trees in Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia.
On 10 August 2015, Israeli forces demolished a barrack used for livestock belonging to Adnan Abdullah in Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit. They also demolished 2 tents and a livestock barn in al-Rahwa area, southwest of al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. On the same day, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room belonging to Zaher Sobhi Suleiman, north of al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilia, under the pretext of non-licensing.
On 10 August 2015, Israeli forces demolished 4 barracks on the road leading to al-Jalama checkpoint between Jenin and Israel. Owners of the barracks were notified 2 months earlier to remove them.
In the same context, on 07 August 2015, a group of settlers from ‘Tsour Yeghal’ settlement, north of Qalqilia, set fire to lands adjacent to the said settlement. They also threw stones at the Palestinian Civil Defense staff that was extinguishing fire.
On the same day, 4 settlers threw a Molotov cocktail on an agricultural land adjacent to a house belonging to Mahmoud Ka’abna (44), from the Bedouin community, east of al-Tiba village, northeast of Ramallah. The man and his wife put out the fire.
Efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem
On 11 August 2015, the Israeli municipality demolished a commercial building belonging to Mazen Abu Diab in the industrial zone in Qalandia, north of East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
In the context of settlement activities, on 09 August 2015, ‘Ateret Cohanim’ settlement organization submitted notices to the Sarhan family to evacuate a piece of land belonging to the family in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood under the pretext that this land originally belongs to settlers.
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 and Israeli policies in the Palestinian territory. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, fainting, and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity
Following the Friday prayer on 07 August 2015, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest against the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protestors tried to sneak the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, fired live bullets, rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased them into the olive fields and into residential houses. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, fainting, and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested an Israeli solidarity activist, Hertzel, 53, and took him to an unknown destination.
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest against the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activity. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation wall. Israeli forces prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind the Annexation Wall, so they threw stones at them. Israeli soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest against the annexation wall and settlement Activity. The demonstrators headed to the lands that the settlers are trying to rob by force near “Halmish” settlement. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since the morning to prevent them from participating in the demonstration. When they arrived at the aforementioned land, the demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and were chased into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, 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. When they arrived at the entrance of the gate, the demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them.
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 08 August 2015, 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. When they arrived at the entrance of the gate, the demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, and sound bombs. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Note: the protest of Kufor Qaddoum was scheduled twice a week (following the Fridays’ prayer and following al-Asr prayer on Saturdays).
Other demonstrations
On Friday afternoon, 07 August 2015, dozens of youngsters gathered in the southern entrance of Salwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Selwad and Yabroud to organized a protest against Israeli policies. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers who fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises. Additionally, Israeli soldiers went up to the top roof of the house belonging to the Abu Nahel family and then they opened fire toward the youngsters and houses randomly.
Also at approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 08 August 2015, following the funeral of Saeid Dawabsha ,32, who was on Soroka Hospital in Israel due to an arson attack on his house by settlers on 31 July 2015. The demonstration moved from the center of Duma village, southeast of Nablus, into the Za’tara and Jericho main road. The protestors raised Palestinian flags and Dawabsha’s picture, and they set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers in protest of the crime was committed against Dawabsha family. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them then the injured persons were treated in the spot.
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.
Note: Data relevant to Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, and Beit Hanoun (‘Erez’) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is not available this week for technical reasons.
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 established 11 checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 06 August 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance of al-Shoyokh village, north of Hebron, at the eastern entrance of Dura village, southwest of Hebron, and on Wad al-Arab road, east of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron.
At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 07 August 2015, Israeli farces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Awaa, south of Dura village, southwest of Hebron.
On Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the northern entrance of Hebron, at the northern entrance of Halhoul village, and the entrance of Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.
On Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Wad Abu Rishaa road, western of Athanaa, in the west of Hebron, and at the entrance of Sa’ier village, eastern Hebron. Moreover, Israeli forces closed a dirt road leading to Khirbet al-Tayaran, southwest of al-Dahirya village, southern Hebron, by a bulldozer using sand barriers. The residents of al- Khirba annoyed from Israeli practices, especially, this road was the only one leading to al-Khirba which located between ‘Tina and Sham’aa’ settlements.
On Wednesday, 12 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the eastern entrance of Dura village, southwest of Hebron, and at the northern entrance of Hebron , in the north of Hebron.
Ramallah and al-Beira: Israeli forces established 9 checkpoints all over the city.
At approximately 20:30 on Thursday, 07 August 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Atara checkpoint at the north entrance of Bir Zeit village, north of the city.
Around the same time , Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of Ramallah.
On Friday, 07 August 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, at the entrance of Senjel village, north of Ramallah, and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city.
On Saturday, 08 August 2015, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrance of Dier Abu Meshal village, northwest of Ramallah, the intersection of Beit Ur al-Foukaa, southwest of the city, on Atara checkpoint at the northern entrance of Berzite, and at the intersection of Ofer settlement, northeast of the city.
Qalqilya: Israeli forces established 9 checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 06 August 2015, Israeli forces established 6 checkpoints; at the entrance of Kafer Kadoum village, northeast of the city, at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, at the entrance of Kafer Lakef village, in Ezbet al-Tabeeb village, and at the entrance of al-Nabi Iyass village, eastern of Qalqilya.
On Saturday, 08 August 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at thr eastern entrance of Qalqilya, at the entrance of Ezbet al-Tabeeb village, and at the western entrance of Azoun village, in the east of Qalqilya.
Jericho:
Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints all over the city.
On Friday, 07 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Fasail village, and at the entrance of al-Zabedat village, north of Jericho.
On Sunday, 08 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint in the vicinity of the southern entrance of Jericho village.
Tulkarm: On Saturday, 08 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Faroun village, southern Tulkarm, and on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya, in the vicinity of the entrance of Jibara village, southern the city.
At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Anab military checkpoint, on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, eastern of Tulkarm, stressed their arbitrary practices against Palestinian civilians and obstructed the civilians movement. Additionally, at approximately 21:30 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015,
they repeated the same arbitrary practices.
At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the maim road between Tulkarm and Nablus, near the intersection of Beit Yelied village, eastern of Tulkarm.
Jenin:
At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and Tulkarm and Nablus, in the vicinity of the intersection of al-Mansoura village, southern Jenin.
At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road between al-Jarba and Sanour village, southern of Hebron. Also at approximately 23:00, Israeli forces stationed at Barta’aa military checkpoint, at the entrance of eastern Barta’aa village, southwest of Jenin, closed the checkpoint claiming that a suspicious object was there. The aforementioned checkpoint was the only road to the villages residents to connect with the international world, and if it closed, the village will be as a prison.
Salfit: Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints all over the city.
On Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints under the bridge of Askaka village, eastern of Salfit, and at the entrance of al-Zawayda village, western of the city.
At approximately 12:15 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Deir Balout village, western of Salfit.
Note: all the aforementioned checkpoints were later removed, after the inspection of the vehicle and its passengers and detained them for varying periods, and no arrests were reported.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 12:00 on Thursday afternoon, 06 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the intersection of Jeit village, northeast of Qalqilya. Israeli soldiers searched the civilians IDs and their vehicles, and arrested 3 civilians from Tulkarm: Feras Fauzy Fesal Abed al-Khalek, Amier Zaher Kamel Akawi, and Fatehalla Naeil Mostafa Ashour.
At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed at Hawaraa checkpoint, southern Nablus, arrested Asied Mohammed Moalaa, 22, from Beitaa village, southeast of the city. Eyewitnesses stated that Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint stopped the taxi which carried Moala and checked the passengers’ IDs. Moreover, they ordered the passengers to step out from taxi then took the detainee to unknown place.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
Property demolition
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015, the Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished a commercial building in the commercial zone in Qalandia area, north of East Jerusalem, belonging to Mazen Abu Diab under the pretext of non-licensing. The aforementioned person said that Israeli forces and special forces moved into the industrial zone in Qalandia. They surrounded the whole zone and started demolishing the commercial building without a warning. He added that half of the building was built in 1971 and that he expanded the building with an additional area of 100 square meters 2 years ago. As a result, the Israeli municipality issued a demolition order for the building. Abu Diab tried to obtain a construction license, but in vain. The total area of the building is 220 square meters. It consists of 4 floors (4 room and 2 meeting rooms). He said that the building was abandoned and he was preparing it for office use.
On the same day morning, Israeli forces demolished a room belonging to the family of Nabil Sha’lan in al-Tour village, east of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Sha’lan said that Israeli bulldozers demolished a 6-square-meter room he owns in al-Tour village. It should be noted the room that he used as a store was built in the same place where his house was demolished in May 2015.
Incursions and arrests
At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 06 August 2015, Israeli forces arrested Haitham Nasim Khweis (13) when he was in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext of throwing stones. The boy’s father Nasim Khweis said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces arrested his son while getting out of al-Zaitoun Mount Club. Israeli police officers stepped out of a vehicle and arrested him although there were no clashes in the area. They beat him while being in the vehicle and then took him to Saladin police station to be questioned. The father added that Israeli forces accused his son of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. The boy was questioned and then released 7 hours later.
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli forces took a donkey away from some children in al-Tour neighbourhood under the pretext that settlers in the settlement outpost were annoyed. An eyewitness said that Israeli forces seized a donkey belonging to Mohammed Abu al-Hawa while some children were using it and walking in al-Khelleh Street near a settlement outpost. The settlers called the Israeli forces that arrived at the area and took the donkey away to an unknown destination.
At approximately 23:00 on Saturday, 08 August 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Khalil Abu al-Hawa in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Omar (17) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 Palestinian boys: Ali Hassan Moheisen (18), Odai Dari (18) and Mahmoud Mostafa Moheisen (18).
At approximately 04:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 2 civilians, including a child: Ahmed Nasser al-Bakry (17) and Wesam Castiro (19).
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli police officers attacked 3 guards of al-Aqsa Mosque while on duty near al-Asbat gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. As a result, the guards sustained burns and bruises due to which they were taken to a nearby health centre. Ana eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli officers beat and sprayed pepper spray over the guard, Mo’ayed Hashima, Ashraf Abu Rmaila and Yehya Shehada, when they were doing their work by al-Asbat Gate. As a result, they sustained severe pains and burns, due to which Abu Rmaila and Shehada were taken to a health centre for medical treatment, while Mo’ayed Hashima was arrested.
At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Ramadan Hajj in Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, north of the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested his 2 sons Mohammed (11) and Mo’taz (12). They took them to Saladin police station to be questioned.
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015, Israeli forces arrested Ms. Siham Tayseer Ouda (49) and Mohammed Morad al-Baya’ (13) under the pretext they threw eggs at Israeli soldiers stationed by al-Selsela gate in the old city in East Jerusalem. They were both taken to Bab al-Selsela police station to be questioned.
Settlement organization seeks control over Batn al-Hawa neighbourhood in Silwan village
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, ‘Ateret Cohanim’ association handed to the Sarhan family a legal notice to evacuate a tract of land belonging to the family in Batn al-Hawa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext that it belongs to the settlers. It should be noted there are 3 houses built on the land.
Zuhair al-Rajabi, Head of Batn al-Hawa neighbourhood committee, said to a PCHR fieldworker that the houses belong to Ali Sarhan and his son Mohammed Sarhan, and Mohammed Maher Sarhan. Al-Rajabi added that the area of each house is 80 square meters and the Sarhan family have been living in this place for over 80 years. He said that Sarhan family should respond within 30 days to the settlers’ claims before the court. The settlers claim that this piece of land originally belongs to 3 Jews from Yemen, who owned the land before 1948. Al-Rajabi pointed out that the families received legal notices from settlers few days after the Abu Nab family had received similar notices. This shows how the abovementioned organization is working on seizing control over property in the neighbourhood.
It is worth noting that the houses belonging to the Sarhan family are included in the plan of Ateret Cohanim to seize control over 5 dunums and 200 square meters from the central neighborhood in Batn al-Hawa area under the pretext that they belong to Jews from Yemen since 1881. The organization also claims that the Israeli Supreme Court approved that settlers from Yemen own the lands of Batn al-Hawa although 30-35 residential buildings were built and about 80 Palestinian families consisting of 300 persons have been present there for dozens of years. These families bought the lands and property from their original owners according to the official documents they have.
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 11:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces destroyed 3 sub dirt roads belonging to Kafer Kadoum lands, northeast of Qalqilya. These roads lead to Tulkarm through al-Kaferyat road. On this road, Israeli bulldozers cut off 3 olive trees belongs to aforementioned agricultural roads.
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 09 August 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a Civil Administration vehicle moved into Kherbet Khlet al-Mayaa in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Civil administration officer gave the head of the village council, Khaled Mahmoud Abu- Hamied a notice to stop the operation of a water tank whose capacity is 1,700 cubic meters in the village.
At approximately 05:45 on Monday morning, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a bulldozer moved into Deir Ballut village, western of Salfit. The Israeli bulldozer demolished a brix for livestock breeding in the pretext of did not licensed the brix, because it was in the classified area ‘C’ that is under the Israeli control. The brix belongs to Andan Abed al-Rahman Abdullah.
At approximately 08:15 on the same day, Israeli forces accompanied by a bulldozer and a number of military vehicles moved into al-Nabi Elias village, east of Qalqilya. They demolished an agricultural room, north of the village belonging to Zaher Sobhi Suleiman under the pretext of non-licensing, as it is located in area (C). Israeli forces withdrew at approximately 09:00 and no further incidents were reported.
At approximately 10:00 on Monday morning, Israeli forces accompanied by a Civil Administration vehicle and a GCB bulldozer moved into al-Rahwa city, southwest of al-Daheriya village, southern Hebron. The Civil administration officers evacuated 2 residential tents, and after that, the Israeli bulldozer demolished the tents and the sheepfold under the pretext of the lack of licenses.
The demolishing process included:
1. A 40-square-meter residential tent belonging to Rajeh Farhan Smamraa,52, used by14 persons;
2. A 35-square-meter residential tent belonging to Iyad Fraaj Flah al-Samamraa,31, used by 7 persons; and
3. A 100 square- meter livestock barn belonging to Rajeh Farhan Samamraa.
The Civil administration officers cut off the wire of Solar power panels that provided electricity to the tents that have been donated by Arij Association.
A Palestinian civilian, Iyad Samamra stated that the demolishing process came after receiving many notices to stop working. Additionally, Israeli forces did not care about any case filed in order to stop the demolishing process, especially, that the ‘Tina’ settlement is not far from our tents more than 250 meters, adding that his loss is NIS 7,000.
On Monday afternoon, Israeli forces seized a truck which carried raw materials that would be used to prepare an agriculture road in Kherbet al-Taweel, southeast Nablus.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:00 on Monday, Israeli forces stopped a truck carried raw materials, in the center of Kherbeit al-Taweel, southeast of Akraba village, southeast of Nablus. The truck was driven by Mohsen Mohammed Husien Katnani, 48, from Habla village in Qalqilya. Israeli forces ordered the driver to empty the material on the street and then they took him and a municipality employee who was with him in the truck to an Israeli camp near Fasaiel village in Jericho. Two hours later, the 2 persons were released but the truck was kept by Israel forces that gave the diver a letter stating that he could take his truck but should pay the expenses for transporting it.
· At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 10 August 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a bulldozer and a jeep carrying officers of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Nazareth street, north of Jenin. They demolished 4 barracks on the road leading to al-Jalama checkpoint between Jenin and Israel. Owners of the barracks were notified 2 months earlier to remove them because they hinder the expansion of al-Jalama checkpoint and because they were not licensed.
The demolished barracks were as follows:
1. A taxi office belonging to Hussein Mohammed Ali Salim;
2. A café belonging to Ersan Rafiq Mahmoud Abu Salama;
3. A cafeteria belonging to Fawzi Tawfiq As’ad Sha’ban; and
4. A restaurant belonging to Khaled Abu Farha.
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 latest 51-day offensive 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.
