Israeli forces have continued with systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) for the reporting period of 20- 26 August 2015.Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings
During the reporting period, Israeli forces used excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip,Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas along the Gaza Strip border. Moreover,Israeli navy forces continued to attack and chasePalestinian fishermen in the sea. During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank.
In the West Bank,Israeli forces continued to use excessive and systematic use of 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,5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during KuforQaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya, and Bil’in protest, west of Ramallah. During Bil’in Protest, 35-year-old Rani ‘Abdel Fattah Burnat, who is disabled and a photographer at the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Bil’in, sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 3 protestors, including 2 photojournalists and a human rights activist, participating in al-Nabi Saleh protest, northwest of Ramallah, under the pretext that they were present in a closed military zone. Two of whom were taken to Benjamin police station, east of occupied Jerusalem, while the third one was taken to Oferdetention facility, southwest of Ramallah.
In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen, on 20 August 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore, north of the Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire at fishermen sailing within 2 nautical miles, but neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Incursions
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 64 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 ones in East Jerusalem.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 64Palestinians, including 19 children. Nineteen of these civilians, including 14 children and the woman, were arrested in East Jerusalem.
During this week, PCHR fieldworkers documented that Israeli forces used tools equipped with silencers when opening the outside doors of many houses as their residents were surprised with the Israeli soldiers’ presence in their houses and bedrooms. They also documented the theft of money and jewellery belonging to women from those raided houses.
In the Gaza Strip, on 20 and 25 August 2015, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions in the northern Gaza Strip, during which they levelled lands 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 (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.
Efforts to create a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem
On 25 August 2015, Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 houses belonging to Mohammed Sa’id al-Abasai and Khaled Sa’id al-Abasi in Jabal al-Mukaber village, southeast of East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
On 20 August 2015, the committee of Helwa valley in Siwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, received a decision from the Israeli Municipal Court for Local Affairs to demolish the playground and its facilities in that area.
In the same context and on the same day, Israeli municipal officers fixed a demolition order on al-Qa’qa’ Mosque in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext it was built without a license. Hani Abu Tayeh, who is responsible for the mosque, said that staff members of the Israeli municipality fixed a demolition order on the 110-square-meter mosque under the pretext that it was not licensed.
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, five Palestinian civilians, including 3 children were wounded in KuforKadoumvillage, northeast of Qaqilya, andin Bil’ein, west of Ramallah. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 3 demonstrators, including 2 journalists and a human rights activist, claiming that they were present ina closed military zone. After that, Israeli forces took two of aforementioned demonstrators to an Israeli police station (Benjamin), east of Jerusalem, while the third one was taken to Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah.
Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity
Following the Friday prayer on 21 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 in response. As a result, a 42-year-old Palestinian civilian was hit by a tear gas canister to the back. In addition, a number of demonstrators, including a photographer of the Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Settlement Activitiesin Bil’ein, Rani Abed al-Fatah Bernat, 35, suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them.
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.
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. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 3 demonstrators, including 2 journalists and a human rights activist, claiming that they were present ina closed military zone. After that, Israeli forces took two of aforementioned demonstrators to an Israeli police station (Benjamin), east of Jerusalem, while the third one was taken to Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah.
The detained persons were identified as:
Belal Abed al-Salam Hasan Tamimi, 48, a jousnalist, who was transferred to Ofer prison.
David Reif, 55, an Israeli journalist; and
Serit, 42, spokesperson of B’Tselem- The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of KuforQaddoum 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, four Palestinian civilians, including 3 children were wounded. The injured persons were identified as:
1. 6-year-old Abed al-Raheem Abed al-Salam, who was wounded by a bullet to the left shoulder.
2. 13-year-old Mousa Abed a-Latif Mousa Ali, who was wounded by a bullet to the left arm.
3. A 17-year-old child who was wounded by a bullet to the right leg; and
4. A 22-year-old civilian who was wounded by 3 bullets to the arms and abdomen.
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 22 August 2015, Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of KuforQaddoum 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.
On Sunday afternoon, 23 August 2015, national factions, popular committeesagainst the wall and Beit Jala institutions organized a peaceful demonstration in Beit Jala in protest of leveling the lands of the city. Hundreds of protestors and human rights activists, including Archbishop Atallah Hanna and Mayor of Beit Jala, Nicholas Khamis, participated in the demonstration.The protestors raised Palestinian flags and signboards denouncing the Israeli practices. They then headedto the leveled lands in Bier Ouna village, north of the city,where Israeli authorities intend to build a section of the annexation wall. After that, the demonstrators dismantled an iron gate and the land’s fence and entered the lands. A group of Israeli border guards immediately came to the area and fired tear gas canisters to disperse protesters and beat some of them. As a result, 11 of the demonstrators were slightly injuredandwere takento a nearby medical center to receive a medical treatment.
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, 21 August 2015, dozens of youngsters gathered in the southern entrance of Salwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Selwad and Yabroudto organize 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, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Also on Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinians gathered at the southern entrance of al-Jalazonerefugee camp, north of Ramallah, near the UNRWA’s boys school to protest at the Israeli practices against the Palestinian civilians. The protestors threw stones at the fence of ‘Beit Eil’ settlement. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Also on Friday afternoon, dozens of Palestinian youngsters gathered in the vicinity of Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah to protest against the Israeli policies. The demonstrators went to the prison’s gate. Israeli forces closed the gate and soldiers were deployed in the area. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles 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 as Israeli soldiers beat them.
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 established 11 checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 20 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the eastern entrance of Halhoul village (al-NabiYounis), and at the entrance of Sa’ier village, east of Hebron.
At approximately 08:30 on Friday, 21 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummer village, south of Hebron.
On Saturday, 22 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Halhoul village, south of Hebron, and at the northern entrance of Yatta village, south of Hebron.
At approximately 06:30 on Sunday, 23 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
On Monday, 24 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Athana village, west of Hebron, and at the entrance of BeirSamet village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron.
On Tuesday, 25 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Sa’ire village, east of Hebron, and at the northern entrance of Hebron.
At approximately 16:00 on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.
Ramallah and al-Beira: Israeli forces established 10 checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 20 August2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints, 2 of whichunder the bridge of Kherbit al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah, while the third one was established at the entrance of AienSinaa village, north of the city.
On Friday, 21 August 2015, Israeli forces established 6 checkpoints at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah; at the entrance of Na’lin village, west of the city; under the bridge of AienYabroud village, northeast of Ramallah; on Atara checkpoint, at the northern entrance of BerZeit; and at the intersection of ‘Ofer’ settlement, north of the city, on the road between Trmas’iya and al-Mo’ier villages, north of Ramallah.
At approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 22 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ur al- Fouka village, southwest of Ramallah.
Qalqilya: Israeli forces established 9 checkpoints all over the city.
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 20 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 21 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘ezbiet al-Tabeeb village, east of the city.
On Saturday, 22 August 2015, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrance of KaforKadoum; at the entrance of Amatien village, northeast of Qalqilya; near the Annexation Wall leading to Azoun ‘etma village, south of the city; and at the eastern entrance of Qalqilya.
On Monday, 24 August 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance of KaforKadoum village, at the intersection of Jeit village, northeast of Qalqilya, and at the entrance of Azoun village, east of the city.
Jericho: Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints all over the city.
On Thursday, 20 August 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Fasail village, and at the entrance of al-Zebidat village, north of Jericho.
At approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 22 August 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance of Jericho.
Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints:
On Monday, 24 August 2015, Israeli forces arrested Fares Jebrien al-Hasanat, 37, from al-Dahisha refugee camp, south of Betahem, after setting up an ambush to him on al-Khan al-Ahmarroad in the vicinity of al-‘Eizariyahvillage, east of Jerusalem. They stopped Feras’s car, arrested him and took him to unknown destination. Israeli authorities had attempted to arrest al-Hasanatseveral times.
At approximately09:20, Israeli forces stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested 3 Palestinian civilians were in a private car while they were going from Nablus to Ramallah. Israeli soldiers stationed at the military checkpoint stopped the aforementioned private car, checked its passengers and arrested and took them to unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as: AmjadShaher Qamiha,26; Anan Iyad Halbouny,24, from Nablus; and Feras Mahmoud Hashash, 24, from Balata refugee camp, east of the city.
At approximately 15:00 also on Monday, Israeli forces stationed at Gabi military checkpoint, east of Jerusalem, arrested As’ad Kamal al-Masri,44, and his son Alaa, 21, from Halhoultowb, north of Hebron, while they were coming back from their work. After that, Israeli authorities released As’ad while his son remained in custody.
At approximately 09:15 on Monday, 24 August 2015, a 19-year-old, Palestinian civilian, Khaled MarwamBaniShamsa, from Beita village, southeast of Nablus, get out of a Palestinian taxi, near Za’tara checkpoint to take another taxi heading to Ramallah. During that, two Israeli border guards stopped Khaled and asked him why he was standing there. They then beat him andexpelled him to Ramallah.
At approximately 23:00 on Monday, two Israeli soldiers stationed at Za’tara checkpoint stopped a 34-year-old, Palestinian civilian, Amied Othman As’ad al-Bahsh, from Nablus, while he was coming back from Ramallah by his private car. Israeli soldiers asked al-Bahsh about his ID card and searched his car. After checking, one of Israeli soldiers strongly closed the trunk of al-Bahsh’s car. When Al-Bahsh protested, the Israeli soldier cursed him. Furthermore, the soldier opened the car’s doors and strongly closed them many times. As a result, al-Bahsh protested again so the Israeli soldier cursed his mother then al-Bahsh cursed him in response. The Israeli soldier beat al-Bahsh with gun butts to the chest and let him waiting for 10 munities, and then returned the ID card to him and waited in front of the car. When al-Bahsh sat on his car,the Israeli soldier strongly closed the car’s door so the door hit al-Bahsh’s chest. As a result, he went to the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, and after the medical examination the doctors found bruises in the chest.
Efforts to create a Jewish majority:
Property demolitions
On Thursday morning, 20 August 2015, the committee of Helwa valley in Siwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, received a decision from the Israeli Municipal Court for Local Affairs to demolish the playground and its facilities in that area.
The valley’s committee mentioned that the Israeli municipal court decided to demolish a playground whose area is onedunum and a half and its facilities in Helwa valley. The playground facilities included a 15-square-meter storehouse and a 40-square-meter barrack used for livestock. The committee added that the decision was issued by the Israeli municipality in early June, in which it was stated that the decision could be challenged within 30 days. However, the committee received the decision on the abovementioned day through the post office 2.5 months after it was issued.
Ahmed Qara’in, member of the valley committee, explained that the decision was issued against unknown persons and any protestor to the decision would be obliged to pay a fineand the expenses of demolition in an attempt to prevent anyone from objecting. It should be noted that the owners of the land are well known as they struggled against Israeli courts for years to maintain their land. The playground was raided several times and the land owners were arrested.
Qara’inadded that the land belongs to the heirs of AttallahSiyam and it is used by Mada Centre as playground for children of Silwan village in general and Helwa valley in particular. Activities are organized onn the playground throughout the year in view of the lack of open areas, parks and playgrounds in the village. He said that the Israeli municipalitytried to confiscate the land in 2007 to turn it into a car parking as part of a project for the interest of settlers in Silwan. However, the project was challenged in Israeli courts. In 2009, Mada Centre turned the land to a playground according to the district court.
Qara’inhighlighted that a number of decisions were issued against Helwa playground. In 2012, the Israel Nature Authority demolished facilities attached to the playground under the pretext of removing garbage. They demolished the cultural café, barracks, storehouses and toilets. Qara’in warned against the seriousness of the decision of demolishing the playground, as it would be a step towards establishing a road for settlers, confiscating more lands and demolishing houses. Israeli forces aim to connect Helwa valley with al-Rababa valley to reach al-Thawri neighbourhood in Silwan village.
In the same context and on the same day, Israeli municipal officers fixed a demolition order on al-Qa’qa’ Mosque in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext it was built without a license. Hani Abu Tayeh, who is responsible for the mosque, said that staff members of the Israeli municipality fixed a demolition order on the 110-square-meter mosque under the pretext it was not licensed. He added the mosque was built 3 years ago while the demolition order was issued 4 months ago. According to the order, the demolition order can be challenged within 30 days of issuance, but the order was fixed on the mosque on the abovementioned day so it could not be challenged anymore. Abu Tayehexplained that the order was issuedaccording Law 212 used by the Israeli municipality and publicprosecution for property demolition.This Law allows the public prosecutionto issue demolition orders against any non-licensed building even if the one who built it was unknown.
Israeli municipality also fixed a demolition order on a residential room belonging to Eyad al-Abasi in Ein al-Fouqa area in Silwan village. Al-Abasai said that Israeli officers fixed a demolition order on a 35-square-meter room that was built 12 years ago. It should be noted that Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 stores and 2 rooms belonging to the same person under the pretext of non-licensing too.
At approximately 05:00 on Tuesday, 25 August 2015, Israeli bulldozers demolished 2 houses belonging to the brothers Mohammed Sa’id al-Abasai and Khaled Sa’id al-Abasiin Jabalal-Mukaber village, southeast of East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Mohammed al-Abasisaid to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces and special units accompanied by bulldozers and municipality officers moved into the area at approximately 05:00 and closed it. The bulldozers started demolishing the 2 houses without prior warning. He added that his family, consisting of 9 members,started building the 2 houses a month and a half ago and they were supposed to move in there in the few coming days. Al-Abasiindicated that his house’s area is 140 square meters while his brother’s is 120 square meters.
Incursions and arrests
At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 20 August 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wesam Abu al-Hommos in al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mahmoud (11) and took him to Saladin police station in the city to be questioned.
At approximately 02:00, on the same day, Israeli forces moved into Beit Hanina, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 children: Laith Mohammed Abed Rabbu (16), Khalil YusefAbdo (16) and Mohammed Ra’ed al-Shaloudi (17).
At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces arrested Arafat Ahmed Najib (32), a guard of al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city in East Jerusalem, while being on duty. They took him to al-Qashala police station for interrogation.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces arrested 2 siblings Sondos (18) and Laith Nasser Ghaith (21), who were present in the yards of al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city in East Jerusalem.
On Monday morning, 24 August 2015, Israeli forces closed the majority of al-Aqsa mosque’s gates in the old city in East Jerusalem, and denied students of the Sharia schools, including women and children under 17, access to the mosque. However, they allowed settlers to storm the mosque through al-Maghareba gate. An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli police officers closed the majority of the gates and denied women and children studying at the Sharia schools access to the mosque. They also seized ID cards of young men, who were allowed to enter. The eyewitness added that Israeli forces erected checkpoints and were deployed around the open gates. He pointed out that the Israeli police officers harshly pushed the worshippers and attacked some of them. They also arrested an elderly person and 3 children: Mahdi Ahmed Abu Asab (14), Ahmed Nader al-Salayma (14), Adham Nasser al-Za’tari (16) and Hashem Abu Dheim (61).
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into the central neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses under the pretext of looking for stone throwers. They arrested Mohammed NourFathi Abu Nab (13) and HaithamDawoodYusefBarakat (17) and took them to Saladin police station.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Sour Baher village, south of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to former prisoners: Jihad Mohammed Atoun (27) and Samer Mohammed Hamada (37). They handed both of summonses to refer to the Israeli intelligence service on Thursday, 27 August 2015. It should be noted that Atoun was released from the Negev Prison on 13 August 2015 after serving 4.5 years in prison. As for Samer, he was released on Monday, 17 August 2015, from Negev Prison too after serving 18 months in prison.
At approximately 20:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the old city in East Jerusalem, after some Palestinian boys threw stones at settlers’ vehicles. Dozens of young men gathered around Israeli soldiers positioning in the street and threw stones and empty bottles at them. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Na’imAshayer (17) and withdrew later.
On Tuesday, 25 August 2015, Israeli forces rearrested a former prisoner, Nasser Ziad Abdullah Ibrahim (20),from his house in al-Sa’diya neighbourhood in the old city in East Jerusalem. Amjad Abu Asab, head of the families of Jerusalemite prisoners’ committee, said that Ibrahim was released on Monday, 24 August 2015, from the Negev Prison after serving 21 months and 3 days in prison. Ibrahim was warmly received by his neighbours and relatives, due to which Israeli forces were annoyed, so theyrearrested him.
At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 25 August 2015, Israeli forces arrested 2 children while being at Ras al-Amoud intersection, east of the old city in East Jerusalem, under the pretext they threw stones at Israeli soldiers. The 2children, who were taken to an unknown destination, were identified asAzzamEssaGhorab (17) and Mohammed Yusef al-Sabbah (17).
At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 26 August 2015, Israeli forces arrested two students from’al-Aqsa Sharia School’ near al-Selselah door, which is one of al-Aqsa Mosque’sgates, in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalemin the context of restrictions imposed on the Palestinians’ entry into al-Aqsa Mosque. ‘EhadSabri, Principal of al-Aqsa Sharia School for girls, said that the Israeli forces arrested two students of the 10th grade identified as Israa’ YaserGhizzawi (16) and Baraa’ah Mohammed Ghizzawi (16) when they were at al-Selselahgate after being denied access to the mosque and school as well. She added that the Israeli forces on the day before denied 4 students access to a school as well. After talking with the officer in charge, he claimed that the students make trouble inside the mosque and then asked to bring their ID cards to allow them to enter. Sabri added that the students brought today their birth certificates so they can enter the school. However, the police tore them up. It should be mentioned that al-Aqsa Sharia School for girl, where 120 female students from the 7th- 12th grade study at, is located in al-Aqsa Mosque yards.
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.
