Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) Summary for August 12 – 18, 2021
Israeli forces continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations of international law and international humanitarian law against Palestinian civilians and their properties all over the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The army intensified shooting and excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians, incursions into Palestinian cities and villages in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, 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:
Israeli soldiers wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including a child, during incursions into the northern areas of the West Bank; 3 were wounded in Tamoun village; one in clashes in Jenin refugee camp and 2, including a child, in Tubas. In the Gaza Strip, five army shooting incidents at fishing boats were reported in northern Gaza, but no casualties were reported.
Army incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
The Israeli army carried out 92 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included multi-layered violations, encompassing raids and searches of civilian houses and shootings in many cases, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. As a result, 49 Palestinians were arrested, including 4 children. During this week’s incursions, soldiers raided the Palestinian Advertising Company in Hebron and confiscated all the printing machines as well as closing it until 10 February 2021.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military conducted a limited incursion into Central Gaza Strip.
Demolitions:
PCHR fieldworkers documented 9 violations:
Hebron: notices to stop construction works in a dwelling and 2 barracks for grazing sheep was delivered to the owners.
Occupied East Jerusalem: 4 houses self-demolished and part of a kindergarten demolished in Beit Safafa village
Salfit: agricultural room demolished in Deir Ballut village, and 11 notices were handed to stop construction works in Haris village
Nablus: under-construction house demolished in northern Qablan village
Settler-attacks:
PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented 2 settler attacks:
Nablus: a driver was assaulted while working near “Shvut Rachel” Settlement, causing him wounds in the face
Hebron: assault on Palestinian civilians and attacking a woman while covering what was going on.
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:
This week, Israeli occupation authorities continued to ban the entry of dozens of goods, including construction materials, in collective punishment measures against the Gaza Strip as the Israeli closure imposed on the territory entered its 15th year, without an end in sight that would fulfil Palestinians’ right to enjoy their economic, social, and cultural rights. Despite the Israeli occupation’s announcement of a series of relief measures on both Karm Abu-Salem and Beit Hanoun crossing, severe restrictions remain in place as several types of products and raw materials are banned entry.
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 civilians’ 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
On Friday, 13 August 2021, dozens of civilians from Yatta village, south of Hebron, performed the Friday prayer in Um Shaqhan area, east of Yatta, adjacent to “Avigayil” settlement established on the Palestinians lands, which the Israeli authorities are planning to confiscate to establish a new settlement outpost in the area. Following Friday Prayer, the protesters raised the Palestinian flags and chanted national slogans. Meanwhile, the army arrived and suppressed the peaceful protest as well as declaring the area a closed-military zone. Soldiers fired sound bombs and teargas canisters at the protesters; as a result, many of them suffocated due to teargas inhalation. Moreover, the Israeli Border Police attacked and severely beat a number of peaceful Palestinian protesters. As a result, Ali Mohammed Jabarin (44) sustained bruises and was taken to the City’s governmental hospital.
Following the Friday Prayer in the Ibrahimi Mosque in the center of Hebron’s Old City, they organized a peaceful sit-in protesting against the Israeli authorities’ establishing an elevator in the mosque, and putting an end to the violations against the Old City’s residents. Soldiers surrounded the sit-in, attacked the participants and chased them into the main entrance to the mosque yard, where there is a military checkpoint established. Soldiers fired sound bombs at them forcing them to leave.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and sporadically opened fire at them. The army elicited fear and panic among the fishermen and forced them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 05:30 on Saturday, 14 August 2021, 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 fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and sporadically opened fire at them. The army caused fear and panic among the fishermen forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 00:15 on Sunday, 15 August 2021, 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 fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and sporadically opened fire at them as well as firing flare bombs in the sky. The army shooting and chasing continued until 06:30, enticing fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 02:30 on Monday, 16 August 2021, the army moved into Tamun village, southeast of Tubas. Meanwhile, a group of civilians gathered and threw stones at armored military vehicles. In response, soldiers opened fire with live and rubber bullets and teargas canisters at the protestors. As a result, 3 civilians were shot with live bullets in their lower limbs and taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital to receive treatment. Their injuries were reported moderate. Moreover, many protestors suffocated due to teargas inhalation and treated on the spot. Soldiers also arrested Ali Mohammed Kharioush (54) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 04:00 on the same day, soldiers moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, north of the West Bank. Meanwhile, an exchange of fire occurred between Palestinian gunmen and soldiers at the camp entrance. As a result, 4 Palestinian gunmen were shot and killed; 2 of them were taken to Dr. Khalil Suliman Hospital in Jenin, while the army kept the other 2 dead-bodies. Following the killing of 4 Palestinians, violent clashes broke out in Jenin refugee camp and the city, where civilians threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded with live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at the protestors. As a result, a protester was hit with a live bullet in his hand and taken to Dr. Khalil Suliman Hospital in Jenin, while several protesters suffocated due to teargas inhalation and treated on the spot. Furthermore, soldiers arrested Mohammed Sameer Abu Zeina (31) after raiding and searching his house in Jenin refugee camp.
At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 17 August 2021, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and sporadically opened fire at them. The army enticed fear among the fishermen and forced them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, During the army’s withdrawal from Tubas heading to Tayasir checkpoint, and while students heading to their schools in Tayasir village, clashes broke out in front of the schools. Soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters. As a result, two, including a child were injured in their lower limbs and taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital to receive treatment, while several others suffocated due to teargas inhalation and treated on the spot.
II. Incursions and arrests
Thursday, 12 August 2021:
At approximately 00:00, soldiers arrested Mohammed Fathi Hamayil (23) and Mohamed Awad Dawoud (21), after raiding and searching their houses in Beita village, southeast of Jenin.
At approximately 01:30, soldiers arrested Hamza Abed Rabbo Halayqa (41), after raiding and searching his house in al-Shuyukh village, north of Hebron. The army detained his family for 2 hours and took him to “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. It should be noted that Halayqa was arrested after 10 hours of releasing him after he spent 12 years in the Israeli prisons. They released him at approximately 15:00.
At approximately 02:30, the army arrested Emad Ya’qoub Abu Turkey (44) and his son, Ya’qoub (19), after raiding and searching their house in Hadab al-Fawwar village, south of Hebron.
Around the same time, soldiers arrested Abdullah Mohammed Houshiyah (40), after raiding and searching his house in Yatta, south of Hebron governorate.
Around the same time, soldiers arrested Adham Naser Awwad (28), after raiding and searching his house in Jabal al-Mawaleh area in Bethlehem.
At approximately 02:40, the army arrested Salloum Ali Jouda (26), after raiding and searching his house in Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus.
At approximately 03:00, the army arrested Mo’taz Faisal Assaf (23), after raiding and searching his house in Qalandiya refugee camp, north of the occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 05:40, the army arrested four civilians after raiding and searching their houses in Tayasir village, east of Tubas. The arrestees are Fawwaz Mohammed Dawwas (60), his son Mohammed (35), Mos’ab Mwafaq Sawaftah (22), and his brother, Mo’ayad (24).
At approximately 23:45, the army arrested four civilians from their vehicle at the entrance to Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya village, southeast of Nablus. The arrestees are: Ahmed Samir Daraghma (20), Ahmed Wajih Daraghmah (19), Abdullah Othman Owais (22), and Ahmed Ayman Owais (21).
The army carried out (6) incursions in Beita, Aqraba, and Sebastia, in Nablus governorate; Tulkarm, Sa’ir and Imreish in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 13 August 2021
At approximately 01:30, soldiers arrested Adham Mohammed Abu Srour (16), after raiding and searching his house in al-Dawha village, west of Bethlehem.
At approximately 18:30, the army arrested Khalil ‘Aisho (23) after raiding and searching his house in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 23:00, the army arrested Karam Shady al-Za’arir, from al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, when he was near “Kfar Ezion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
The army carried out (4) incursions in Ni’lin, west of Ramallah; Jerucho, Yattas and Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 14 August 2021
At approximately 18:30, the army severely beat, pepper-sprayed and arrested Sa’di Burqan (23), when he was near Bab al-‘Amoud area, in the occupied East Jerusalem. They took Burqan to Shaare Zedek Medical Center to receive treatment.
At approximately 23:30, the army arrested Eisa Rebhi Masarwa (28), from Jalazone refugee camp in Ramallah governorate, while passing through Hizma military checkpoint, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem.
Sunday, 15 August 2021
At approximately 19:00, the army arrested Said al-Dein Tayseer al-Natshah (43), when he was near Bab al-Amoud, in the occupied East Jerusalem.
Monday, 16 August 2021
At approximately 01:00, soldiers arrested Jebril Hmeid Taqatiqa (26), after raiding and searching his house in Bayt Fajar, south of Bethlehem.
Around the same time, soldiers arrested Samed Ahmed al-Faqih (22), after raiding and searching his house in al-Jib village, northwest of the occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 01:30, soldiers arrested Ya’qoub Dawoud al-Masri (36), after raiding and searching his house in Hebron.
At approximately 02:00, soldiers arrested No’man Qasem Kan’an (50), and his son, Adham (30), after raiding and searching his house in Qusra, southeast of Jenin.
Around the same time, soldiers arrested (4) civilians after raiding and searching their houses in Bethlehem. The arrestees are Awad Mohammed al-Harimi (30), Hussain Eisa Hijazi (50), Ra’fat Riyad Malash (32), and Ibrahim Mohammed Abu ‘Aahour (30).
At approximately 11:00, soldiers arrested Ibrahim Ahmed Rizq (38) on his way out of al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Silsila Gate in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
Soldiers carried out (4) incursions in Beit Ummar, Halhul, Sa’ir and Bani Na’im villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 17 August 2021
At approximately 00:30, soldiers arrested Adam Shafiq Obaid (21) and Mohammed Mobtasem Obaid (20), when they were near the western entrance to al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 02:00, soldiers arrested Aysar Jom’a al-Samhouri (20), after raiding and searching his house in Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. It should be noted that Aysar is a former prisoner.
At approximately 03:50, soldiers arrested (3) civilians after raiding and searching their houses in al-Balou neighborhood in al-Bireh, north of Ramallah governorate. The arrestees are: Amro al-Sheikh Qasem (21), Laith Bashar al-Bermawi (21) and Monthir al-Sheikh Qasem (19).
At approximately 07:00, soldiers backed by 9 military vehicles moved 50-100 meters into the western area of the border fence, east of al-Maghazi. They leveled and combed lands adjacent to the border fence with Israel for several hours before they redeployed.
At approximately 11:00, the army arrested Nitham Roshdi Abu Romouz (41), when he was in al-Aqsa Mosque’s eastern yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces raided al-‘Isawiya Sports Club Stadium in central ‘Isawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem and prevented a ceremony organized to honor Tawjihi “High School” students, allegedly for being sponsored by the Palestinian Authority, the legitimate government. They also arrested the Club’s President, ‘Aziz Khaled ‘Abeid.
The Member of the Follow-up Committee in al-‘Isawiya village said that Israeli forces raided al-‘Isawiya Club Stadium and prevented a ceremony organized by Jerusalem Endowment Fund to honor the high school students only minutes before its start. Abu al-Humus added that soldiers attacked the participants in the ceremony and forced them to leave the stadium; during which, he was beaten and pushed. As a result, he sustained bruises and wounds in his face. Abu al-Humus said that Israeli forces forcibly closed the stadium gate and hanged an order to ban the ceremony allegedly for being sponsored by the PA although the Jerusalem Endowment Fund and villagers organized it and not the PA as they claimed.
Wednesday, 18 August 2021
At approximately 00:20, Israeli forces backed by several military vehicles and 3 bulldozers moved into Ein Sarah area in Hebron, closed the roads and banned civilians’ movement. Israeli forces stormed the Palestinian Advertising Company after breaking its main door, confiscated all devices and printing machines. They then closed the main doors with metal plates and then they hanged a military decision to close it until 10 February 2022.
Emad Hussain al-Thiba (50), Owner of the Company, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“After Wednesday midnight, when I was at my house in al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, I received a call from the Israeli Civil Administration who ordered me to come to the company in Hebron. As soon as I arrived, I saw a big number of Israeli soldiers surrounding the building deployed everywhere inside the company. An Israeli officer came to tell me that they will confiscate all the printing machines in the company. When I asked him why, he said that the decision has been already taken. The Israeli soldiers took all machines and put them in their military trucks while many machines fell on the ground and were broken. This continued until 02:00 as 19 Machines, 3 of them were brand-new and still not used, were confiscated, costing me USD 650,000. Before withdrawal, Israeli forces closed the main doors of the company with metal plates and hanged a military decision that says “Military order No. 5770/1651 (2009) under the 1945 Defense (Emergency) Regulations.” The decision included closure of the company’s headquarter until 10 February 2022, noting that the company was established in 1996 where 9 persons are employed and support their families.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces arrested Othman Jamal Hasan (26), after raiding and searching his house in Qusra village, southeast of Jenin.
Around the same time, Israeli forces arrested Mo’tasem Mohammed Hijazi (15) after raiding and searching his house in Jabal al-Mawaleh area in Bethlehem.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces arrested Mo’ath Thyab Awad after raiding and searching his house in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. Meanwhile, they handed Mahdi Mershed Za’aqiq (22) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in Gush Etzion settlement, south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces arrested Fawwaz Fayez Abu Dawwas (61) after raiding and searching his house in Tubas.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli forces arrested Hamza Khaled Ayyad (27), after raiding and searching his house in Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces arrested Bahaa Alaa Abu al-Hamam (17), after raiding and searching his house in Ein a-Luza neighborhood in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the occupied West Bank
a. Demolitions, Confiscations, and Notices
On Thursday, 12 August 2021, the family of ‘Abdullah Taleb Khader demolished 5 houses belonging to them in al-Ashqariyah neighborhood in Beit Hanini village, north of occupied East Jerusalem, after the period given by the Israeli court to evacuate their houses in favor of Hadassa Settlement organization, which claims ownership of the land, has timed out.
‘Alaa Khader said that in 2000 the family added a structure to the old house that was built in the 60s on his father’s land in al-Ashqariyah neighborhood, but the Israeli Municipality issued a demolition decision for the added part and imposed fines on the family under the pretext of unlicensed construction. As a result, the family demolished the new structure and then filed a request to license the structure on the 800-sqm land, so they obtained the license in 2014. Khader said that the family was surprised in the same year with Hadassa settlement organizations’ claiming ownership of the land and calling for evacuating it.
Since then, the family fight in the Israeli courts to prove their ownership of the land. Khader added that the family obtained documents from Turkey and Jordan proving their ownership of the land and that his grandmother bought it in 1953. However, the Israeli court refused to review the documents, did not recognize them and issued a decision to evacuate the land in favor of settlers. The District and Supreme Courts also had the same decision. Khader said that in one of the courts’ sessions in February, his father had a stroke, causing him hemiplegia, distraught over the court’s decision to evacuate the family houses that we had lived in for 70 years. Khader said that the family had to self-demolish the houses with bulldozers after the 20 days given by the court to evacuate the houses timed out. It should be noted that there were 5 residential apartments established on Khader family land and sheltering 25 individuals, including 7 children.
On Saturday morning, 14 August 2021, Mohammed Mahmoud Matter self-demolished his house in Ain al-Lozeh neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old city, pursuant to the Israeli municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Matter said that his house was built in 2011, and over the past few years, the Israeli Municipality has haunted him and issued a house demolition decision, forcing him to resort to the Israeli courts, which imposed on him a fine of NIS 30,000. However, the court had frozen the demolition decision for successive periods. Matter explained that the Israeli court issued a final house demolition decision, so the Israeli municipal crews raided the house on 21 July 2021 and notified him of self-demolishing the house within 21 days. Matter added that the Israeli police called him last Thursday to inform him to carry out the demolition or the municipal crews will do so and fine him with the demolition costs, which exceed 100,000 shekels. Matter added that he had to self-demolish his house, as he cannot bear the huge demolition costs for the municipality. He said that his 60-sqm house shelter him, his wife and five kids.
On the same morning, ‘Ali Sori self-demolished his house in Jabal Assunah area in Jabal Mukaber village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, pursuant to the Israeli Municipality’s decision allegedly for unlicensed construction.
Sori said that his house was built five months ago, and during the construction, the Israeli municipality crews raided the house and notified him of stopping the construction works as well as confiscating the construction materials. Sori added that he insisted on completing the construction of his house, so he furnished it and moved with his wife and 3 kids. Sori said that the Israeli Municipality again raided his house and handed him a house demolition notice, forcing him to resort to the Israeli courts, which approved the demolition decision. Sori added that the Israeli police notified him 2 days ago of demolishing his house before next Monday, so he had to empty the house and demolished parts of it. Sori said that his 150-sqm house, which cost him around 200,000 shekels, adding that he paid the lawyer 75,000 shekels so he could postpone the demolition decision, but he did so in vain.
On Sunday morning, 15 August 2021, Mohammed Usamah Dweik self-demolished his house in Khelet al-‘Ein area in al-Tour village, east of occupied east Jerusalem’s Old City, pursuant to the Israeli Municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.
Dweik said that he built his 70-sqm house 6 months ago near his family house in al-Tour neighborhood. He added that the Israeli Municipality crews raided the house in the beginning of May and handed him a demolition decision while he was busy furnishing and preparing it so he can moved to it with wife following their wedding on 21 May. Dweik said that he hired a lawyer to freeze the demolition decision at the court but in vain. He said that he only lived with his wife for less than 3 months and did not pay the rest of the construction and furniture payments. He added that he spent all that period worried and tense that the Israeli municipality would carry out the demolition in any moment until the municipality notified him 2 days before of self-demolishing his house within 48 hours or the crews would do so and impose on him a big fine. Therefore, he with the help of his family carried out the demolition.
At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 16 August 2021, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room in Khelet al-‘Abhar area in Deir Ballut village, west of Salfit. The 40-sqm room belonging to Ghazi Husni ‘Issa Mousa was built of bricks and roofed with tinplate; it was used for storing agricultural materials and tools and as a shelter for the family while working in the land.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli forces handed the residents of southeastern Haris village 11 notices to stop construction works under the pretext of building in Area C, which is under the Israeli control. It should be noted that all the notified houses are inhabited. (PCHR keeps the names of notified houses’ owners.)
At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Sedet al-Tha’lah area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The soldiers deployed in the area while the Civil Administration officer handed notices to stop construction works allegedly for unlicensed construction in the following:
1. A 50-sqm dwelling built of bricks and tinplate and a 200-sqm tinplate barrack for grazing sheep belonging to Mohammed ‘Alian ‘Awad.
2. A 200-sqm tinplate barrack for grazing sheep and a 3-sqm bathroom built of bricks and tinplate belonging to Yousif ‘Alian ‘Awad.
At approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 17 August 2021, Israeli forces accompanied with a bulldozer and Israeli Civil Administration SUV moved into al-Kaf area, north of Qablan village, southeast of Nablus. IOF immediately demolished a 180-sqm under-construction house belonging to Baraa’ Naser Isma’il Hamdallah, from nearby Yatma village, allegedly for illegal construction in Area C.
At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 17 August 2021, Israeli forces demolished part of a kindergarten yard in Beit Safafa village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, allegedly for unlicensed construction.
Mohammed Hussein Gom’ah, the Kindergarten’s owner, said that Israeli forces raided the kindergarten in al-Safeh neighborhood in Beit Safafa village and demolished the kindergarten’s gate, a wall, a fence and pillars established in a70-sqm yard, allegedly for unlicensed construction. Gom’ah said that he added those parts to the old building preparing for the receipt of the kindergarten’s children in the beginning of the month.
b. Settler attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 13 August 2021, an Israeli settler attacked a driver namely Mohammed al-Qaq (47) from Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem while working near “Shvut Rachel” settlement, south of Nablus, causing him wounds in his face.
Mohammed al-Qaq said that he is a bus driver and while working on “Shvut Rachel” settlement tracks, so an Israeli settler got into the bus. When al-Qaq asked him to put the mask according to the Israeli Government’s measures against Coronavirus, he hurled racist insults and hit him with the cell phone in his face, causing al-Qaq wounds. As a result, al-Qaq was taken to the hospital for treatment.
At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 14 August 2021, settlers from “Kiryat Arba” settlement established on Palestinian lands of eastern Hebron threw stones at the houses and swear him with bad insults. Meanwhile, Jihad Hussein Is’eifan (41) sustained bruises while attempting to cover what was going on and was taken by a PRCS ambulance to the Hebron Governmental Hospital for treatment. It should be noted that 3 families from Abu Is’eifan family live near the security fence of the settlement in eastern Hebron and their houses are constantly under settlers’ attacks.
