PCHR Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (11 - 17 January 2018)

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the week of 11 – 17 January, 2018.

3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 112 Palestinian civilians, including 29 children, 2 journalists and a paramedic, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. 44 of them were hit with live bullets, 54 were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, and 14 were hit with tear gas canisters and their shrapnel. Israeli warplanes targeted a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They also wounded 112 Palestinian civilians, including 29 children, 2 journalists and a paramedic, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to chase Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea and target border areas in addition to targeting tunnels by Israeli warplanes.

In the West Bank, On 11 January 2018, Israeli forces killed ‘Ali Qino (Qadous) (17) from ‘Iraq Burin village, south of Nablus. The aforementioned child was killed when Israeli soldiers stationed near cement cubes established by Israeli forces in the morning on the main street of the village to close it opened fire at him. A number of children threw stones from a distance of 150 meters at the Israeli soldiers. The latter immediately opened fire at them, killing the abovementioned child. Doctors in Nablus Specialist Hospital where the child was transferred said that the latter was hit with a bullet that entered his forehead and exited the left side, causing skull fracture and brain herniation

On 15 January 2018, in a similar crime, Israeli forces killed Ahmed Salim (24) from Jayous village, northeast of Qaqliliya. The aforementioned was killed when he was in a peaceful protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel daily organized in al-Mentar area near the annexation wall, west of the village. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces fired more than 20 live bullets in a row from a distance of only 20 meters.

During the reporting period, the West Bank witnessed protests against the U.S. President’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. During the protests, the Israeli forces used force against the protesters, and the shooting to disperse the protests resulted in the injury of 30 civilians, including 4 children, 2 journalists and a paramedic. Four civilians were hit with live bullets, 20 were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, and 6 were directly hit with tear gas canisters and sound bombs shrapnel.

In the same context, in addition to the abovementioned wounded persons, on 15 January 2018, 7 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Burqin village, west of Jenin and a number of Palestinian children and youngsters protested against the soldiers. On 16 January 2018, Israeli forces wounded a civilian when they moved into Nablus to carry out an arrest campaign and protect hundreds of Israeli settlers who entered the city to perform their Talmudic rituals in “Josef’s Tomb.” On 17 January 2018, 28 civilians, including 12 children, were wounded; 25 were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets and 3 with sound bombs and tear gas canisters. This happened when Israeli settlers moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliya, and civilians confronted them. Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers moved into the village amidst intensive firing of sound bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets after cutting off the electricity.

In the Gaza Strip, in new crime of using lethal force, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip killed Amir Abu Musa’ed (15) from al-Musadder village after being shot with a bullet to the chest. The child was killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire at 20 children and young men who were protesting on Um Hasaniyah Hill area, east of the camp, and throwing stones at the soldiers stationed behind sand barriers.

The border areas with Israel witnessed protests against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy to it. During the protests, the Israeli forces used force against the protestors. Due to opening fire to disperse the protests, 46 civilians were wounded, including 10 children. Thirty-nine were hit with live bullets, 2 were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets, and 5 were directly with tear gas canisters at their bodies.

As part of the Israeli airstrikes, on 13 January 2018, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a tunnel near Kerm Abu Salem Crossing in al-Shokah village at the border junction between Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip to the southeastern side of Rafah City. However, no casualties were reported.

As part of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 11 January 2018, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah Shore, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. The shooting recurred in the above-mentioned area on 13 January 2018.

As part of targeting the border areas, on 11 January 2018, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the agricultural lands, east of Gaza Valley village near the eastern borders of the village. The shooting recurred in the same area on 13 January 2019. However, no casualties were reported in both incidents.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli Settlers’ attacks:

On 11 January 2018, a group of Israeli settler from “Gilead” settlement moved intoFare’at village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and attempted to carry out assaults for the second consecutive time. It should be noted one day before; a group of Israeli settlers attacked civilian houses in the village and threw stones at them. As a result, windows of 7 houses were broken.

On 12 January 2018, around 100 Israeli settlers from “Ariel” settlement established in the southern side of Salfit attacked a house belonging to Yousef Hasan Suliman Daraghmah, south of al-Laban village, south of Nablus.

On 13 January 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Yitzhar” settlement established in the western side of Hawarah village, south of Nablus, damaged around 80 fruitful olive trees in al-Lohaf area near the abovementioned settlement.

On the same day, around 30 Israeli settlers from” Yitzhar” settlement raided a house belonging to Moneer Suliman al-Nouri, in the outskirts of ‘Oreef village, south of Nablus. The Israeli settlers set fire to an old tractor and broke windows of houses.

On the same day, Israeli settlers under the intensive protection of Israeli forces leveled lands belonging to the villages’ residents in al-Khanadeq and Khelet Abu ‘Amer Areas between the villages of Tal and Fare’ata. This reflects the clear intention of the Israeli authorities to seize vacant areas and annex them to the “Havat Gelad” settlement outpost to connect it with “Kadomim” settlement established on the lands of Kafr Qaddoum, east of Qaliqilya, in order to be an official settlement.

Efforts to Create A Jewish majority

Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:

Use of force against demonstrations protesting the U.S. President’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:

Following the Friday prayer on 12 January 2018, dozens of Palestinian civilians from Abu Dis village, east of occupied Jerusalem headed to Kabsa area, which is the nearest point between Abu Dis village and occupied Jerusalem, separating between them the annexation wall. The Palestinian civilians threw stones at Israeli forces stationed in the area. The Israeli forces then fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes, which continued for over 5 hours, resulted in the injury of 13 protestors, including a child, and arrest of 3 other civilians, including 2 children. Among the arrested civilians was the abovementioned wounded child. Hani Halibah, Spokesperson of the Popular Resistance Committees, said that around 7 masked Israeli undercover agents “al-Mosta’rbin” dressed like Palestinian civilians infiltrated the demonstration carrying stones. The undercover agents, who were hiding guns in their clothes, pointed their guns at the protestors and then arrested 3 of them, including 2 children. The Israeli forces moved into the area from Jerusalem through a gate in the annexation wall in order to help the undercover agents. Moreover, a drone hovering above the area took photos of the clashes erupted in the village. The arrested persons were identified as Mohamed Talal ‘Ariqat (17), Shawkat Khadir al-Shaiekh (35), and Hamza Sa’ied al-Khatib (15). Halibah added that Mohamed ‘Ariqat was hit with live bullets while arresting him. It should be noted that Mohamed’s injury and health condition were unknown.

At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 13 January 2018, dozens of Palestinian young men organized a protest on Salah al-Deen Street in the center of occupied Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Israeli forces fired sound bombs at them and then beat them up. Eyewitnesses said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces surrounded protestors and then took photos of them. The Israeli forces also confiscated the Palestinian flag-printed posters with the sentence of “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Palestine”, in addition to ripping the same posters hanged on the shops doors and Salah al-Deen Street walls. When the protestors chanted slogans for Jerusalem, the Israeli forces beat and pushed them in order to disperse them. The Israeli forces also fired sound bombs at the protestors and chased them into al-Zahraa and Saint George Streets in the city. As a result, 5 civilians were hit with sound bombs shrapnel. Among the wounded persons was Yaser Darwish, Secretary of Fatah Movement in al-‘Issawiyia village, who was hit with a rubber coated metal bullet and then arrested after chasing him for a long distance. It should be noted that journalists’ cameras captured an Israeli soldier firing a rubber coated metal bullet at Darwish from close range. The PRCS crews stated that 3 Palestinian young men were hit with sound bombs and a paramedic ‘Areen Za’aneen was hit with a sound bomb while offering first aid to a wounded person. Furthermore, among the wounded persons was cameraman Mohamed Adkidak, who sustained sound bomb shrapnel wound to the head.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli forces’ attacks

At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 15 January 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Khelt al-Dabi’ area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers handed Mohamed ‘Ali Jaber Dababsah (30) a notice to stop construction works in a 15-square-meter agricultural room and solar power cells. The Israeli authorities also noticed Kherbit al-Mofaqarah Mosque to stop construction works under the pretext of non-licensing. On the same time, the Israeli settlers set barbed wires in Palestinian civilians’ lands in the vicinity of “Ma’on” settlement. The abovementioned lands belong to Abu Qubitah family, who live in al-Tawani village.

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 16 January 2018, a force of Israeli soldiers accompanied with Israeli vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Tibah area, east of Tarqomiyia village, northwest of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers handed Omar Ratib Thayaynah (31) a final demolition notice of a 20-square-meter agricultural room under the pretext of non-licensing.

Israeli settlers’ attacks

At approximately 16:30 on Thursday, 11 January 2018, a group of Israeli settler from “Gilead” settlement moved into Fare’atah village, northeast of Qalqiliyia, and attempted to carry out attacks in the area for the second consecutive time. It should be noted that at approximately 17:00 on Wednesday, 10 January 2018, a group of Israeli settlers attacked the residents’ houses and threw stones at them. As a result, windows of 7 houses were broken. The abovementioned houses belong to ‘Odah Kamal al-Taweel, Amjad ‘Adnan al-Taweel, Ya’qoub Mohamed Abed al-Fatah, Belal ‘Odah al-Taweel, Yaser Mohamed Yameen, and ‘Ali Mohamed ‘Ali Hussain.

At approximately 13:25 on Friday, 12 January 2018, around 100 Israeli settlers from “Ariel” settlement established in the southern side of Salfit attacked a house belonging to Yousef Hasan Suliman Daraghmah, south of al-Laban village, south of Nablus. The Israeli settlers were in an educational trip in Khan al-Ahmar area in the above-mentioned area. The Israeli settlers then broke the house windows before being confronted by the village residents.

At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 13 January 2018, Israeli settlers from “Gilead” settlement accompanied with Israeli forces started building a new settlement road around “Gilead” settlement outpost between Tal and Fer’itah villages, northeast of Qalqiliyia. The Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli forces leveled lands in al-Khanadeq area and Khelit Abu ‘Amer. They also set tents in the area. This refers to the Israeli authorities’ clear intention to seize large areas, annex it to the “Havat Gil’ad” outpost, connect it with “Kedumim” settlement, east of Qalqiliyia, and consider it as an official settlement. The Israeli Defense Minister declared the recognition of “Havat Gil’ad” outpost and considering it as an official settlement after the killing of an Israeli settler few days ago.

At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 13 January 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Yitzhar” settlement established in the western side of Hawarah village, south of Nablus, damaged around 80 fruitful olive trees in al-Lohaf area near the abovementioned settlement. Meanwhile, the village residents gathered to confront the Israeli settlers. After that, the Israeli forces intervened to protect the Israeli settlers and returned them to the settlement. The plot of land belongs to Mowafaq Ahmed Saleem ‘Odah, Manwa ‘Odah, Hamdan Sameh Abu Shehadah, and Sabi’ Saleem ‘Odah.

At approximately 17:20 on Saturday, around 30 Israeli settlers from” Yitzhar” settlement established in the western side of ‘Oreef village, south of Nablus, raided a house belonging to Moneer Suliman al-Nouri, which is in the village outskirts from the eastern side. The Israeli settlers set fire to an old tractor and broke the house windows before confronting them by the village residents. After that, the Israeli forces intervened to secure the return of the Israeli settlers to the settlement.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community 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.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.