Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Weekly Update 11-17 August 2022)
Violation of right to life and bodily integrity:
Two Palestinians were killed and 19 others, including 3 children, were injured, while dozens of others suffocated in Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF)’s attacks in the West Bank. Details are as follows:
On 15 August 2022, IOF killed Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaham after opening fire at him inside his house in Kafr ‘Aqab village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, claiming that he tried to stab one of the Israeli soldiers who raided and searched the house. Al-Shaham family refuted the IOF’s claims. (Details available in this press release)
On 17 August 2022, Waseem Naser Khalifa (19) was killed after being shot with a live bullet in his chest while he was near Balata Camp’s entrance, and five Palestinians were injured; 2 of them in serious condition, when IOF opened fire in clashes that accompanied their incursion into eastern Nablus. According to filed investigations, at around 22:00, IOF moved into eastern Nablus and Israeli snipers topped the roofs of residential houses to secure settlers’ raids to Joseph’s tomb. Afterwards, clashes broke out with IOF and continued until 02:00, resulting in the murder of Khalifa and the injury of others.
Meanwhile, those injured were victims of excessive use of force that accompanied IOF suppression of peaceful protests and gatherings organized by Palestinian civilians and they were as follows:
On 11 August 2022, a 15-year-old child was shot with a live bullet in his right knee after IOF opened fire at him during clashes broke out in Bab al-Zawiyia area in central Hebron.
On 12 August 2022, 7 Palestinians, including 2 children, were shot with rubber bullets during clashes that followed IOF’s suppression of Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest in northern Qalqilya.
On 13 August 2022, a Palestinian was injured with a rubber bullet in his left knee during clashes with IOF near the military court checkpoint established near the “Beit El” settlement, north of al-Bireh city.
On 15 August 2022, a Palestinian sustained wounds and dozens of others suffocated during clashes with IOF near Qalandia military checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem, after organizing a protest against the murder of Mohammed Ibrahim al-Shaham (21) by IOF, who raided his family house at dawn and shot him.
On 16 August 2022, 3 Palestinians were shot with live bullets in clashes that accompanied IOF’s incursion into Dheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem. Before their withdrawal, IOF arrested 3 Palestinians and raided and searched creative institution after destroying its main door. Also, through leaflets, IOF threatened and warned the camp’s residents of participating in activities related to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
On 17 August 2022, a Palestinian was shot with a rubber bullet in his face during clashes that followed IOF’s incursion into Rafidia neighborhood, west of Nablus.
In the Gaza Strip, 5 IOF shootings were reported on fishing boats off the Gaza shores, and 2 other shootings were reported on agricultural lands in eastern Gaza Strip.
”So far in 2022, IOF attacks killed 109 Palestinians, including 78 civilians: 24 children, 8 women (one was a journalist Shireen Abu ‘Aqlah), 2 Palestinians killed by Israeli settler and the rest were activists; 15 of them were assassinated. Thirty-two of those killed, including 19 civilians: 8 children and 3 women were in the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
Also, 1248 Palestinians were wounded in IOF’s attacks, including 190 children, 39 women, and 20 journalists all in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Moreover, 3 Palestinian prisoners, including a female, died in the Israeli jails.
Land razing, demolitions, and notices
IOF demolished 5 houses and parts of 2 other houses, rendering 3 families of 17 persons, including 3 women and 7 children, homeless. Also, IOF notified to cease construction works in 8 houses and demolished 4 commercial facilities and agricultural rooms. In contrast, IOF approved the establishment of a new settlement outpost in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Details are as follows:
On 11 August 2022, IOF notified to demolish a 300-square-meters house in southern Dura city in Hebron, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. The shelters a family of 6 persons, including 4 children.
On 14 August 2022, a Palestinian implemented the Israeli Municipality’s decision and self-demolished part of his house in Bab Hetta neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
On 11 August 2022, Israeli authorities approved a new settlement plan to establish a new settlement, including 381 housing units, buildings, open areas, and streets to link the settlement with its surroundings. The new settlement will be established on Palestinians’ lands (259 dunums) that are under the threat of confiscation in Deir Istiya village in Salfit.
On 14 August 2022, IOF handed cease-construction notices against 2 houses in western Beit Awwa village in Hebron, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
On the same day, IOF dismantled and confiscated 13 solar panels in Qawawis village in Hebron, rendering 42 persons living in the area without electricity.
On 15 August 2022, IOF distributed demolition notices to 3 under-construction houses in Budrus village, west of Ramallah, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Also, IOF demolished a caravan in al-Mas’oudaiyia area in Nablus.
On 16 August 2022, IOF forced a Palestinian to self-demolish an uninhabited apartment in his building in Isawiya village in occupied East Jerusalem. On the same day, IOF demolished a house in Silwan village in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction, rendering a family of 8 persons, including a woman and 2 girls, homeless.
Moreover, IOF demolished al-Salam wedding hall in Isawiya village in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of being a state-owned land.
Also, IOF demolished an agricultural barrack in Battir village, west of Bethlehem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. Additionally, IOF demolished a house and 2 livestock barns in Al-Jiftlik village, north of Jericho, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. On the same day, IOF notified to cease construction works in 2 under-construction houses in eastern Yatta city in Hebron.
On 17 August 2022, IOF demolished part Palestinian’s house internal walls in Beit Safafa village in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction. The house shelters a family of 5 persons, including 3 children.
Also, IOF forced a Palestinian to self-demolish his house sheltering a family of 4 persons, including 2 children, in al-Thawri neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. On the same day, IOF demolished 5 agricultural rooms in Bruqin and Kafr ad-Dik villages in Salfit.
”So far this year, settlers carried out at least 167 attacks on Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank. In two of the attacks, 2 Palestinian were killed.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
IOF carried out 181 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids and searches of civilian houses and facilities and establishment of checkpoints.
During those incursions, 118 Palestinians were arrested, including 7 children and 2 women. Also, IOF conducted wide-scale arrest campaigns, as 15 Palestinians were arrested in Deir Abu Mash’al village in Ramallah, 23 in Teqoa village, and 11 in Ya’bad village in Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip, on 16 August 2022, IOF arrested 4 fishermen, west of Beit Lahia shore, and confiscated 2 fishing boats boarded by them. (Details available in this press release).
”So far in 2022, IOF conducted 5392 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, during which 3290 Palestinians were arrested, including 310 children and 29 women. IOF also conducted 24 limited incursions into eastern Gaza Strip and arrested 78 Palestinians, including 45 fishermen, 28 infiltrators, and 5 travelers via Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing.
Israeli collective punishment and closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:
Meanwhile, Israeli occupation maintains its illegal and inhuman 15-year closure on the Gaza Strip. Details available in PCHR’s monthly update in the Gaza crossings.
In the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, IOF continues to impose restrictions on the freedom of movement. On top of its 108 permanent checkpoints, IOF established 100 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
On 11 August 2022, IOF established a metal detector gate at the western entrance to Husan village, west of Bethlehem.
On 14 August 2022, IOF closed the metal detector gate established at the western entrance to Husan village in Bethlehem.
”So far in 2022, IOF established 2726 temporary military checkpoints and arrested 121 Palestinians at those checkpoints
