PCHR: Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights: Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory Weekly Update January 27 – February 2, 2022

In the West Bank, attacks by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) rendered 7 Palestinians wounded, including 3 children.

28 January 2022:

Palestinian male was shot with a live bullet in the back during an IOF incursion in Dayr Jarir, eastern Ramallah

4 Palestinians, including 2 children, sustained rubber-bullet wounds during an IOF attack on Kafr Qaddum’s weekly peaceful protest, northern Qalqilya

29 January 2022:

2 Palestinians, including a child, sustained rubber-bullet wounds in Kafr Qaddum

5 shootings and use of tear gas grenades were recorded in IOF incursions in the West Bank causing several cases of suffocation due to the tear gas inhalation

In the Gaza Strip, IOF opened fire 6 times at agricultural lands in access restricted areas mostly in eastern Khan Younis. It was also reported that 7 IOF shooting incidents took place against fishing boats, mostly in the northern Gaza sea. No injuries were reported.

“Since the beginning of 2022, IOF attacks killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 40 others, including 6 children and 2 journalists, all in the West Bank.”

Land razing, demolitions, and demolition notices

IOF demolished 8 houses in the West Bank, including 5 that were under-construction, and one apartment’s interior contents completely destroyed and its front door sealed. This act of collective punishment has resulted in 3 families becoming homeless, a total of 17 people (3 women and 12 children). IOF also demolished other establishments and properties, and served 11 cease-construction notices against 4 houses, a mosque, and other commercial establishments. The majority of the destroyed houses were in occupied East Jerusalem.

“Since the beginning of 2022, Israeli occupation forces have made 21 families homeless, a total of 128 people, including 23 women and 50 children. This was the consequence of IOF demolition of 26 houses and 3 residential tents. IOF also demolished 10 other civilian objects.”

Here follows a detailed account of demolished establishments:

30 January 2022:

IOF demolished an under-construction house in the northern Jordan valley, eastern Tubas, allegedly for illegal construction in Area C; IOF arrested the owner’s brother and confiscated his private vehicle.

31 January 2022:

Palestinians were forced to self-demolish 4 houses in occupied East Jerusalem in execution of Israeli Municipality orders, allegedly for non-licensed construction:

Two brothers forced to self-demolish their houses in Jabel Mukaber, southern occupied East Jerusalem; as a result, 2 families lost their homes, a total of 12 people (2 women, and 8 children).

Palestinian man demolished two under-construction houses (200 sqm) in Isawiya, northeastern occupied East Jerusalem.

In eastern Yatta, IOF delivered a cease-construction notice against a 2-floor house and removed a barracks.

01 February 2022:

IOF destroyed an under-construction house, 2 greenhouses, a power grid that was feeding the area, and other properties in southern Hebron.

Palestinian man self-demolished his under-construction house in Silwan, southern occupied East Jerusalem, executing an Israeli municipality order allegedly for unlicensed construction.

IOF sealed entrance to Fadi Abu Shkhaydam’s family apartment and destroyed its walls and interior contents. Abu Shkhaydam was killed after shooting a settler in occupied East Jerusalem on 21 November 2021. The destruction of Abu- Shkhaydam’s house falls within the Israeli collective punishment policy, making a family of 5 (including 4 children) homeless.

IOF destroyed 25 produce street carts near al-Jalama checkpoint, northern Jenin.

02 February 2022:

IOF destroyed a commercial barracks and razed the surrounding land in Anata, northeastern occupied East Jerusalem, allegedly for non-licensed construction.

IOF demolished 4 water wells in eastern Yatta, southern Hebron.

IOF delivered 9 cease-construction notices against the following establishments in Marda allegedly for being in Area C: a mosque, a shop, 3 houses, commercial barracks, and farm road.

IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:

IOF carried out 132 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 112 Palestinians were arrested, including 8 children and a woman.

On 1 February 2022, IOF launched a mass arrest campaign across the West Bank, arresting 19 Palestinians from al-Am’ari Refugee Camp, southern al-Bireh, and 9 from Tuqu’, eastern Bethlehem.

In the Gaza Strip, IOF arrested three Palestinians attempting to cross the border area, 2 in eastern Rafah, and a 3rd in northern Gaza. Also on 1 February 2022, IOF conducted a limited incursion into eastern Khan Younis.

Settler-attacks:

27 January 2022: a group of settlers from “Kiryat Arba” eastern Hebron, assaulted Palestinians playing in the snow with stones in Haret Jaber, eastern Ibrahimi Mosque.

29 January 2022, a group of settlers from “Mitarim” outpost, southern ad-Dhahiriya, Hebron, assaulted shepherds near the village. The settlers intended to deny the shepherds access into the lands they plan to seize for expansion of the outpost.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

On 29 January 2022, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the Israeli authorities have banned the import of new medical radiology devices for the Gaza Strip hospitals for several months, including stationary and mobile x-ray machines. Further details are available in this press release. This act is in continuation of Israel’s illegal and inhuman 15-year closure on the Gaza Strip. More information is available in PCHR’s monthly update on the Gaza crossings.

“In the West Bank, IOF continues to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement. On top of its 108 permanent checkpoints, IOF established 60 temporary military checkpoints this week and arrested 8 Palestinians at those checkpoints. The majority of the checkpoints were in Hebron (26) followed by Bethlehem (11).”