Israeli forces continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians, turning the West Bank into isolated blocks of land. Israeli settlement expansion on Palestinian properties and land continued. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip enters its 15th year under closure, exacerbating the humanitarian hardships across the territory.
Army shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:
Thirteen Palestinians were wounded in excessive use of force by Israeli forces inside the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, including two children and a female: 6 were wounded, including 1 child, in army attacks on a peaceful protest in Sabeih Mount, Nablus; a shepherd was wounded -and arrested afterwards- in Nablus; 5, including 1 child and a female, were wounded during an army incursion into Jenin refugee camp. Another Palestinian sustained critical wounds in Silwan, occupied East Jerusalem. Dozens suffocated due to tear gas inhalation, fired by the army in its attacks in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, shooting by the Israeli military was reported against agricultural lands, and another incident was reported against fishing boats at sea, in northern Gaza Strip.
Army incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
Israeli forces carried out 126 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, 72 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 children, a woman, a photographer, and a journalist.
In another blatant violations, the army arrested 45 Birzeit University students on Wednesday, 14 July 2021, after ambushing them with a temporary military checkpoint at the entrance to Turmus Ayya village in Ramallah, while returning from a solidarity visit to Palestinian prisoner, Montaser Shalabi, house – which the army demolished on 08 July 2021 in practice of its collective punishment policy against Palestinians. Twelve students were later released, while the others remain in custody to this moment.
In the Gaza Strip, the army arrested 3 Palestinians, including 1 child, while trying to cross the Gaza border fence in eastern Khan Younis. Two were later released, including the child.
Demolitions:
PCHR fieldworkers documented 10 violations:
Hebron: demolition notice served against a graveyard, health clinic confiscated in Yatta, two agricultural rooms destroyed and a wall in eastern Bani Naim.
Occupied East Jerusalem: 4-floor residential building destroyed in Shufat; 2 houses self-demolished in Jabel Mukaber and Silwan; sheep-barn barracks destroyed in Nabi Samuil.
Salfit: 5 commercial facilities (barracks) destroyed in Haris.
Qalqilia: cease-construction notice served against a house (under-construction) and two rooms were demolished in Azzun Atma.
Ramallah: 7 barracks (made with tin-plates) destroyed, including 5 used for residential purposes, 2 for cattle in al-Mughayer.
Settler-attacks:
PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented 3 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians and their properties:
Nablus: electric grid damaged and 150 olive trees cut.
Hebron: Palestinian civilians assaulted and their lands invaded in Yatta.
Collective punishment:
As part of the occupation collective punishment policy against Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against soldiers or settlers, on Thursday, 08 July 2021, the army demolished of Montaser Ahmed ‘Ali al-Shalabi’s family house, Shalabi is a Palestinian from Ramallah imprisoned by Israel allegedly for killing a settler and wounding others in an attack earlier this year.
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:
The Israeli authorities continued to impose collective punishments against the people of the Gaza Strip by strictly tightening its closure on the Gaza Strip, which entered its 15th year, without any indication for a solution in the future, depriving the Gaza population from enjoying their economic, social, and cultural rights. This week, the occupation loosened its restrictions on the movement of goods and individuals, which were enforced since the May military aggression on Gaza, expanding the fishing area from 9 to 12 nautical miles, and allowed the export of agricultural and fabric goods to Israel, and the import of some raw materials and medical supplies via Karm Abu Salem crossing. The occupation also announced that journalists working for international media organizations and the Palestinian Ministry of media would be allowed travel via Beit Hanoun crossing, as well as all those with appointments with foreign embassies or have medical training abroad.
Meanwhile, occupation authorities continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the 2000 Second Intifada -still closed to this date- and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest, especially at al-Karama border crossing, alongside the Palestinian-Jordanian border.
I. Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity
At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 09 July 2021, a group of Palestinians gathered in central of Beita village, southeast of Nablus, and then headed towards Sabeih Mount, south of the city, where the army established “Avitar“ settlement outpost few weeks ago, to protest against the establishment of the outpost there. The Palestinians gathered in the western side of the mount, set fire to tires on a road leading to the mount. The army indiscriminately opened fire at the protestors and clashed them. During which, the protestors threw stones at the army who continued to fire live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at the protestors. The clashes continued until 19:00 and resulted in the injury of 6 protestors, including a child. All of them were taken to Rafidia Hospital for treatment. During the clashes, the army fired rubber bullets at an ambulance belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), breaking its windshield.
Following the Friday prayer, the army suppressed a peaceful protest organized against settlement in Hizma village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffocated due to teargas inhalation. Afterwards, dozens of Hizma villagers gathered in al-Thaghra area, where they performed the Friday prayer and then headed towards barbed wires that separate al-Thaghra area from the main street, protesting at the establishment of a settlement road in the village lands. The protestors carried Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against settlement. During which, the army deployed in the area, surrounded the protestors and fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at them. As a result, dozens of protestors suffocated due to teargas inhalation. It should be noted that Israeli authorities built a settlement road on Hizma village lands, denying Palestinian citizens and shepherds access to their lands.
At approximately 21:00 on Sunday, 11 July 2021, soldiers moved into Bir Ayoub neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. The army deployed on the neighborhood streets, closed the main street, established several military checkpoints, searched Palestinians’ vehicles, checked their IDs, prevented them from entering the neighborhood, and forced them to pass through bypass roads. Afterwards, dozens of Palestinians gathered in the area, threw stones at military vehicles, and fired fireworks at them. Soldiers immediately assaulted the protestors, indiscriminately fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at them and chased Palestinians who burned columns on which the army’s surveillance cameras were fixed.
Accordingly, clashes erupted and continued until dawn hours. As a result, Harbi Nidal al-Rajbi (18) was shot with a live bullet in his back while getting out of his house and heading to perform ‘Isha prayer. Al-Rajbi was taken to al-Maqased Hospital in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the city, due to his serious health condition. Nidal’s father said to PCHR’s fieldworker that his son underwent several surgeries, during which, doctors removed his kidney and part of his spleen. It should be noted that Harbi suffers from diabetes. He added that the health condition of his son is still serious, and he receives treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Al-Rajbi pointed out that the army raided al-Maqased Hospital looking for his son. Afterwards, the hospital administration intervened and told the army that Harbi’s health condition is serious and he undergo to a serious surgery. It should be noted that al-Rajbi was arrested by the army several times, last of which was 2 weeks ago as the army raided his father’s shop in al-Bostan neighborhood and severely beat him along with his family members.
At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 12 July 2021, the army moved into Jenin refugee camp, al-Jabriyat area and Abu Duhair Moubt, adjacent to the camp, west of Jenin, north of the West Bank, where they conducted arrest campaign. During which, a group of Palestinians gathered and confronted military vehicles. The army responded by firing live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters. As a result, 5 Palestinians, including a child and a girl, were shot with live bullets. PCHR keeps the names of those wounded.
At approximately 00:30 on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, soldiers stationed along the Gaza’s border fence with Israel, north of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire at border area, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 22:15, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyia Shore, west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian gunboats sailing within 1-5 nautical miles, opened heavy fire around them and fired flare bombs in the sky, causing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 14 July 2021, soldiers stationed in “Yitzhar“ settlement, which is established on Madama village’s lands in Nablus, opened fire at a Palestinian shepherd, who was grazing his sheep in al-Rasem area. As a result, the shepherd, namely Ma’moun Ameen Fayiz Nassar (47), from Madama village, was shot with a live bullet in his foot and arrested later. Ma’moun received treatment at Beilinson Hospital in Israel.
II. Incursions and arrests
Thursday, 08 July 2021:
At approximately 01:00, soldiers moved into Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (5) civilians, including a father with his son. The arrestees are: Dawoud Ahmed Banat (48), his son Ayoub (21), Ehsan Mohammed Tafish (30), Abdullah Mahmoud Tafish (35), and Hisham Rawhi Tafish (29).
Around the same time, soldiers moved into Shu’afat refugee camp, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Yousef Ahmed al-Hawas’s (23) house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:40, soldiers moved into Tell village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched Emad Yousef Raihan’s (54) house, a former candidate on “Jerusalem is our destiny” electoral list of 2021 and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, soldiers moved into Hebron and stationed in Juneid area. They raided and searched Yehya Mohammed Qawasmah’s (39) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, soldiers moved into Abu Dis village, east of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Abdul-Salam Ayyad’s (49) house, a member of Abu Dis municipality, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:10, soldiers moved into Thinnaba village in Tulkarem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Eman Khalil ‘Amarnah (52), and her son, Mohammed Belal ‘Amarnah (31).
At approximately 03:05, soldiers moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched Rani Hashem Dweikat’s (23) house and arrested him.
At approximately 11:00, soldiers moved into Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Khaled Isma’el Abu Ghannam’s (46) house and arrested him. The army left a summons for his son, Emad (16), to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services.
Around the same time, soldiers arrested Ahmed Yousef Bader (31), an employee in the Palestinian customs police, from Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, while passing through a temporary military checkpoint established near “Ma’ale Adumim” settlement, east of the city.
At approximately 14:00, soldiers arrested Ibrahim Sami Mutair (29), from his shop near Qalandiya refugee camp, north of the occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 15:30, soldiers arrested Khaled al-Zeir (46), from Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, while present on al-Jesir street in Beit Hanina, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 21:00, a group of Mista’arvim, (Israeli Special Unit dressed like Palestinian civilians), sneaked into Birzeit, north of Ramallah, and stationed at the Old City’s crossroad. They stopped a gray vehicle and arrested the driver, Abdul Rahman Husain al-Jalies (35), and Fares Ahmed Zumra (33), while back home in Jalazone refugee camp, north of the city.
The army carried out (8) incursions in Jalamah and Beit Kad, northeast of Jenin; Deir Sharaf and Beit Iba, west of Nablus; Badhan, north of Nablus; Sarra, Awarta and Usarin, southeast of Nablus. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 09 July 2021:
At approximately 02:30, soldiers moved into Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched 2 houses and arrested Nassar Eissa Jabarin (40), and his brother, Ayyoub (37).
Around the same time, soldiers moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Bassam Hamed Qufeisha’s (35) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, soldiers moved into Yatta, south of Hebron governorate and stationed in Ruq’a area. They raided and searched Isma’el Abdul Hadi Makhamera’s (42) house and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, soldiers moved into Bab Huta neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods. They raided and searched Sufian Omar al-‘Ajlouni’s (23) house and arrested him.
At approximately 13:00, soldiers arrested Naser Mohammed Nawaj’a (38), a field researcher at the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the oPt, from Susya village, south of Yatta, after stopping him while returning to the village. They released him later.
At approximately 14:30, soldiers arrested three civilians while present in the Aqsa Mosque’s yards in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, after finishing the Friday Prayers, and took them to one of the detention centers in the city. The arrestees are: Ahmed Yasine Kmail (28), from Qabatiya in Jenin governorate; Baker Awni Barri (26), from Immatain in Qalqilya governorate; and Yousef Shehada Khalil (26), from Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem governorate.
At approximately 15:00, soldiers arrested Sameer Mohammed Shahin (39), from Hebron, after stopping his vehicle on a temporary military checkpoint established at the entrance of Samu village, south of Hebron.
Saturday, 10 July 2021:
At approximately 01:00, the army moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Sameer Mohammed Shahin’s (39), house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, the army moved into Karkafe area in Bethlehem. They raided and searched Hamza Da’dara’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 17:00, the army arrested (3) civilians including a child, while attempting to sneak through the border fence in Khan Younis. The arrestees are: Qusai Hasan Abu Selmi (17), from Abasan al-Kabeera; Mohammed Ramadan al-Derdisi (20) and ‘Ahed Ahmed Abu Shehada (19), both from Bani Suheila. IOF released the minor Selmi through Erez crossing the next morning, and kept al-Derdisi and Abu Shehada under arrest.
The army carried out (6) incursions in Kaubar and Kafr Malik in Ramallah; Beit Ummar, Bayt Kahil, Beit Mirsim and Hadab villages. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 11 July 2021:
At approximately 01:00, the army moved into Ras al-Amud neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mohammed al-Salaima (23) and Mohammed al-Tweity (21) and arrested them.
At approximately 17:00, the army moved into Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Khaled Omar Rweidy’s (12) house and arrested him.
Monday, 12 July 2021:
At approximately 02:00, the army moved into Idhna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched Ahmed Abdul Rasoul Bashir’s (44) house, but no arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:00, the army moved into Qabatia, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Hussain Amin Samadi (35), and Adham Khaled Abu Aisha (18).
At approximately 03:30, the army moved into Beita, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched Issam Ghassan Hamayil’s (23) house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, the army moved into Jenin refugee camp, Jabriyat area and Jabal Abu Thhair adjacent to the refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Mo’tasem Omar Steity (37), from Jenin refugee camp, Omar Bayan Abed (28) and his brother, Osaid (20), from Jenin. Meanwhile, soldiers opened fire at the protestors who protested the storming of their village. As a result, 5 civilians; including a child and a girl, were injured. For more details check “Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity” in this report.
At approximately 10:00, the army summoned Mazen al-Jabari, Director of the Arab Studies Society’s Youth Development Institute, from interrogation in al-Maskobiya police center in West Jerusalem.
At approximately 14:00, soldiers moved into al-‘Isawiya, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ra’fat Tareq al-Isawiya’s (50) house and arrested him. It should be noted that Ra’fat was arrested on the same day of his daughter’s engagement party, and a day before releasing his brother, Medhat, who spent over than 27 years in the Israeli prisons.
At approximately 15:00, the army arrested Zeid Anwar Rabay’a (26), from Ubeidiya village, east of Bethlehem, while present near Bab al-Amud area in the occupied East Jerusalem. Soldiers took him to an unknown destination.
Soldiers carried out (3) incursions in Hebron, Dura and ‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 13 July 2021:
At approximately 02:00, the army moved into Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses, arrested (3) civilians and took them to unknown destinations. The arrestees are: Ahmed Khaled Taqatqa (22), Eyad Nader Taqatqa (20) and Mohammed Akram Taqatqa (26).
At approximately 02:00, soldiers moved into Sur Baher village, south of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mo’tasem Emad ‘Atwan (20) and Mousa Zeyad ‘Atwan (21), and arrested them.
At approximately 02:15, the army moved into al-Tabqa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron governorate. They raided and searched Hani Mohammed Amro’s (37) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, soldiers moved into Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched Hammam Waleed Bani Fadel’s (23) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:40, the army moved into Hebron. They raided and searched Belal Saleem Salhab’s (35) house and arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, soldiers stationed at al-Container military checkpoint, east of Bethlehem, arrested Mahmoud Hasan Salah (32), while passing through the checkpoint, they took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 18:00, the army moved into Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ra’ed Hazem al-Sayyad (16) and Na’eem Ibrahim Abu al-Hawa (16) and arrested them.
At approximately 23:00, the army moved into Bidu village, northwest of the occupied East Jerusalem. they raided and searched Ayyoub Mohammed al-Khadour’s (29) house, arrested him and confiscated his vehicle.
Soldiers carried out (2) incursions in Halhul and Surif villages in Hebron governorate. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 14 July 2021:
At approximately 02:00, soldiers moved into al-Ram village, north of the occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Yazan Ahmed Shawabka’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, soldiers moved into Tulkarem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (4) civilians, including a photojournalist. The arrestees are: the photojournalist Khaled Adnan al-Zebda (30), Hamada Abdullah Badawi (27), Ahmed Mohammed Owda (26), and his brother, Ra’d (28).
At approximately 02:30, soldiers moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (11) civilians, including a child and 2 siblings. The arrestees are: Adham Sameer al-Shorafa (24), Yousef Mohammed al-Shorafa (28), Hamad Taleb Ma’ali (23), Yousef ‘Ahed Hamayil (26), Rashed Hasan Qawariq (21) and his brother, Ramiz (20), Omar Dawoud Borhom (21), Bayan Abdul Jalil Borhom (21), Emad Faleh Dawoud (31), Qassam Zahi ‘Adili (17), and Na’eem Taleb Dweikat (22).
At approximately 03:00, the army moved into Teqoa, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Abdullah Adel al-‘Ammour’s (27) house and arrested him.
At approximately 18:30, the army raided Turmus Ayya village, northeastern Ramallah, and stationed near the village’s main entrance. Soldiers deployed in the agricultural fields near the village entrance and established a temporary military checkpoint. The soldiers stopped a Mercedes bus, property of al-Tamimi company- that carried Birzeit University students on their way back from a solidarity visit to Montasser Shalabi’s family, whose house was demolished by the occupation authorities on 8 July 2021. Shalabi is imprisoned by Israeli allegedly for killing a settler and wounding 2 others in an attack at Zatara checkpoint in southern Nablus.The soldiers arrested the entire group, 45 students, and took them along. At approximately 23:00, soldiers released 12 students while the others remained in custody. Note: A group of the arrestees’ names is available at PCHR.
The army carried out 2 incursions in Dura and Sa’ir villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the occupied West Bank
a. Demolitions, Confiscations, and Notices
At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 08 July 2021, soldiers backed by a military vehicle and accompanied with an Israeli Civil Administration vehicle moved into al-Deirat village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli administration officer handed a notice (final decision) to demolish a cemetery, which the villagers are building in the area. The cemetery includes a number of graves built of concrete, and on 18 April 2021, the army handed the villagers a notice to stop the construction works and then confiscated 2 excavators on agricultural land in the same village under the pretext of working in Area C.
At the same time, soldiers handed Nasser Abu Khudeir a notice to vacate his house as the Israeli municipality intends to demolish the 4-storey residential building he lives in in Shuafat neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, within 14 days. The building houses 10 families of 55 individuals.
Abu Khudeir said that an Israeli intelligence officer called him to vacate his house as the municipality intends to carry out the demolition within 14 days. Abu Khudeir said that the building was established by a number of civilians on a plot of land to the west of the Shuafat structural plan. The plot of land is planned for construction but located in an unorganized zone. Abu Khudeir added that the Israeli municipality stopped the construction at the time and imposed a high fine of more than USD 200,000, and in 2005, it issued a decision to demolish the residential building. During the hearings, the demolition decision was replaced with a decision to close completely all the building’s outlets with bricks. It should be noted that Ramat Shlomo settlement is only 200 meters away from the building that was established on lands confiscated from Shuafat neighborhood. Abu Khudeir highlighted that the settlement’s setters raised the building issue at the Israeli municipality, followed up the case of its demolition and then sought for its closure.
‘Ezzatt Ghaith, one of the apartments’ owners in the building under the threat of demolition, said that the building houses 10 different Palestinian families, who prepared their apartments again after 2015 when the owners obtained the decision to lift the closure. Ghaith added that all the apartments’ owners worked hard to get the building license and did all the necessary legal proceedings. Thus, the Israeli municipality lately allowed them to submit a request to the Israeli Tabu in order to obtain a building license. The municipality also allowed them to add a floor and a half to the building. Ghaith said that they were all surprised with the demolition decision as the licensing procedures were going perfectly fine, emphasizing that the Israeli municipality’s decision to demolish the building is part of its collective punishment policy as Naser Abu Khudeir who lives in the building is wanted by the Israeli municipality and intelligence.
At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 12 July 2021, soldiers backed by military vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers and a mounted-crane truck moved into Um Qussa area, east of Yatta city, south of Hebron. Soldiers deployed around a school and confiscated a tin-plate room (10 sqm) used a clinic, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Around the same time, Israeli bulldozers demolished 5 barracks in western Haris village in Salfit, under the pretext of being in Area C. The barracks, which is located on the bypass road (Samaria), belong to Fadi Hasan Saleh Suliman. These tin-plate barracks used as a vegetable shop, an auto repair workshop, a workshop for selling aluminum, a blacksmith workshop, and a carpentry workshop. Fadi Suliman said that this is the fifth time that soldiers demolished his barracks, and in each time, he rebuilt them. He added that the army demolished the barracks over its contents, which caused heavy loses.
At approximately 11:30, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers and 2 diggers moved into Wadi al-Joz area, east of Bani Na’im village in eastern Hebron.
IOF deployed in the area while the diggers demolished the following facilities:
1. A 30-square-meter agricultural room built of bricks and tin plates, a water well of 150 cubic metres, and a 100-meter-high cement wall belonging to Nader ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mahmoud ‘Odah.
2. A 100-meter-high concrete wall belonging to ‘Azzam ‘Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Odah.
3. A 30-sq-m agricultural room built of bricks and tin plates, a 1.5-sq-m bathroom built of tin plates, and a 100-meter-high concrete wall belonging to ‘Abed al-Salam ‘Azzam al-Qimiri.
On Monday, Jamal ‘Ajaj implemented the Israeli Municiplaity order and self-demolished his house in al-Sal’ah neighborhood in Jabel Mukaber village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Ajaj said that his 4-story under-construction house ( 110 sqm) was built 3 months ago to live in it with his wife. The house was comprised of 3 rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. ‘Ajaj clarified that a month ago, the Israeli municipality delivered him an administrative demolition notice, and yesterday evening, he received a phone call from the Israeli police, which gave him 24 hours to implement the demolition or he will be fined NIS 100,000 if the municipality crews will do so.
At approximately 23:00, Mohammed Nassar al-Hussani implemented the Israeli municipality order and self-demolished his house in Wad Qaddoum neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-Hussani said that his 124-sqaure-meter house sheltered his family comprised of 7 persons, including 2 children, his father and mother, and his sister. He clarified that his house was built in 2013 and since that time, IOF file lawsuits against him in the Israeli courts and impose fines on him. In 2019, IOF imposed a fine of NIS 40,000 on him. He added that despite all attempts to licsene his house through lawyers and engineers, in January 2021, the Israeli court refused to delay the demolition and issued a decision to implement it. Al-Hussani pointed out that the Israeli police phoned him and told him to self-demolish his house or it will impose a fine of NIS 200,000 on him as a demolition costs. Accordingly, he vacated his house contents and rented a bulldozer to implement the demolition.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 13 July 2021, soldiers handed 3 civilians from Azun Atme village, south of Qalqilia, decisions; one to cease-construction of a house which is under-construction belonging to Mohammed Isma’el Younis, and the two others notices to demolish 2 agriculture rooms belonging to Mohammed Ibrahim Younis and Ahmed Abdul Fattah Younis.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 14 July 2021, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles along with 2 vehicles belonging to the Israeli Construction and Organization Department in the (Civil Administration), a bulldozer, truck and a digger moved into Qaboun Complex area, east of Mughayir village, northeast of Ramallah. They demolished 7 barracks (2 used for cattle, and 5 for residence). Furthermore, the army brought Israeli workers who confiscated 3 tents and a tractor.
Following are the details of the demolished properties:
1. Atallah Hamed Hamed – No prior notices received – Two (70 sqm) barracks; (90 sqm) cattle tent; Water tank; Six cattle feeders; Tractor
2. Abdullah Jaber Hamed – No prior notices received – (60 sqm) residence barrack; (60 sqm) cattle barack
3. Abdul Raheem Atallah al-Qabouni – No prior notices received – Two (70 sqm) residential barracks; (90 sqm) cattle tent
4. Abdullah Hassan al-Qabouni – No prior notices received – (70 sqm) residential barrack; (50 sqm) residential tent
At approximately 09 on Wednesday, 14 July 2021, Israeli bulldozers demolished a barrack for cattle belonging to Ibrahim Obaid, in al-Nabi Samuil village, northwest of the occupied East Jerusalem, and ordered to demolish 2 barracks under the pretext of non-licensing. Ibrahim Obaid stated that he was surprised when the army stormed the area and demolished his cattle barrack, noting that demolishing his (26 sqm) barrack will cause him many losses and troubles. It should be noted that soldiers handed Mohammed Ayed and Za’al Abu Dahouk 2 notices to demolish their barracks.
b. Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property
On Sunday morning, 11 July 2021, a group of settlers from “Ahya” settlement established on Jalud village’s eastern lands, southeast of Nablus, assaulted the electricity network in Kherbet Sarah in the southeastern area of the village, damaged the network lines and cut the network’s poles.
At approximately 10:00, a group of settlers of “Ma’on” settlement east of Yatta, south of Hebron governorate, threw stones at Palestinian shepherds while present in their pastures near the abovementioned settlement, and forced them to leave their lands. Meanwhile, the army came and did not prevent the settlers from throwing stones and attacking the Palestinian shepherds.
On Wednesday, 14 July 2021, a group of settlers launched from “Yitzhar” settlement established on lands southeast of Nablus, north of the West Bank, attacked Palestinian agricultural lands in Jabal Salman, eastern side of Burin village. As a result, the Israeli settlers cut 150 olive trees aged between 60-70 years, using hand and automatic saws and stones, belonging to Mohammed Mustafa Zebin, from Nablus.
IV. Collective punishment:
As part of occupation’s collective punishment policy against Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks against soldiers or settlers, on Thursday, 08 July 2021, the army demolished the family house of a prisoner from Ramallah at the Israeli prisons after accusing him of killing a settler and wounding others.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 00:00 on Thursday, the army, backed by dozens of military vehicles moved into Turmus Ayya village, northeast of Ramallah. They stepped out of the military vehicles and deployed between houses, where 30 soldiers topped the roofs. Meanwhile, large number of Israeli forces raided the family house of Montaser Ahmed ‘Ali al-Shalabi (44), who has been arrested since 06 June 2021 to carry out the demolition decision, which the family was informed of following army’s claims that the prisoner killed a settler and wounded 2 others at Za’atarah checkpoint, south of Nablus.
Soldiers forced the neighbors of Shalabi’s house to vacate their houses. Meanwhile, the army surrounded another house belonging to the family of the prisoner’s wife, Sanaa’ Hamdi al-Shalabi, who said to PCHR’s fieldworker that she moved to her family house with her 3 children, Sarah, Mohammed and Ahmed, after she received a call from her lawyer on 30 June 2021 informing her of the decision to demolish the house. After the army surrounded her family house, she tried to get out and be near her house, but the army prevented her. Therefore, she went back to her family house and via the live video on Turmus Ayya page and from her family house window, she watched soldiers surround her house in the eastern neighborhood near Turmus Ayya School and plant explosives in the walls. At 06:15, they exploded the house from the inside but part of a floor was still there, so the soldiers again planted explosives in the land under the first floor. At 08:30, the house was completely blown up and IOF withdrew from the village.
