PCHR: Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

August 19 - 25, 2021

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:

The army killed two Palestinians, including 1 child, and wounded 58 others, including 27 children and 2 journalists, in excessive use of force. On 24 August 2021, an army sniper killed 15-year-old ‘Emad Khaled Hashash (15) with a bullet in the head, Hashash was taking a video via his cellphone of soldiers raiding a neighboring house in Balata refugee camp. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, there was no imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ lives at the time the child was targeted. He was only holding his cellphone to take a video other than the army’s claims that he attempted to throw a solid object at the soldiers.

Additionally, 4 others, including two children among whom 1 was arrested, and a person with disability, were wounded due to IOF excessive use of force in Beita, the Container checkpoint, and in Hebron.

In the Gaza Strip, Usama Khaled Mohammed Daij (31), from Jabalia refugee camp, was pronounced dead at 07:00 on Wednesday, 25 August 2021. Daij died of wounds he sustained on Saturday during a Great March of Return protest. Another 40 Palestinians, including 24 children and a journalist, were wounded during the attacks in eastern Gaza; and another 14 Palestinians, including a journalist and a child, were wounded in the army’s excessive use of force against a protest in eastern Khan Younis.

Also in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli airforce launched air strikes on an agricultural land in al-Fukhari, eastern Khan Younis. Additionally, two army shootings at fishing boats were reported in northern Gaza, and 3 times at agricultural lands in eastern Gaza.

Army incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:

The army carried out 142 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, 65 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 children, and woman.

In the Gaza Strip, soldiers stationed at Beit Hanoun “Erez” checkpoint arrested two Palestinian merchants, the first was arrested after being summonsed to the checkpoint, and the other was arrested while traveling via the checkpoint.

Demolitions:

PCHR fieldworkers documented 10 violations:

Hebron

• East Jerusalem: the Torah Garden project commenced in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood; house self-demolished in Beit Hanina; agricultural barracks demolished in Hizma; and an under-construction house demolished in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.

• Bethlehem: agricultural land razed in Za’tarah village; house demolished in al-Walaja.

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.

On Monday, 9 August 2021, the Presidential Committee for coordinating the entry of goods to the Gaza Strip via Karm Abu-Salem crossing announced that the Israeli occupation reversed its decision to allow the entry of certain goods to Gaza. According to the Committee, the goods in subject include 34 types, mostly cell phones, laptops/computers, and connection/internet materials.

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 07:30 on Thursday, 19 August 2021, Israeli navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing at 3 nautical miles. The Israeli gunboats opened fire in their surroundings on and off until 09:00 stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 08:45 on Friday, 20 August 2021, the army stationed within the Gaza border fence and opened fire on agricultural lands east of Khuza’a, eastern Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 14:30, the army stationed within the Gaza border fence and opened fire on agricultural lands east of Abassan al-Kabeera, eastern Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 13:15 on Friday, a group of Palestinians gathered in the center of Beita village, southeastern Nablus, and marched in protest towards Mount Sbaih where Israeli settlers have established “Avitar” settlement outpost. The group stationed on the western side of the Mount and set tires on fire along the fences and the western road connecting to it. The army fired gunshots at the protestors and violent clashes erupted as the protestors threw rocks at the soldiers who continued to fire live and rubber-coated bullets, as well as tear gas canisters and stun grenades. The clashes continued until 19:30 and resulted in the injury of a 32-year-old Palestinian male with a live bullet in the thigh. He was taken to Rafidia Hospital for treatment.

• Also on Friday, dozens of Yatta residents performed the Friday prayers in Um-l-Shakhan area next to “Avigal” settlement, which is established on Palestinians’ lands in Hebron. Um-l-Shakhan area is threatened with confiscation by the Israeli occupation for settlement expansion. After the prayers, the gathering held Palestinian flags and chanted national slogans; large Israeli military forces arrived at the area along with Israeli Border Guards, and got into hand fights with the protestors, and fired tear gas and stun grenades at them. Dozens of participants suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. The occupation alleges that these lands were declared as state lands many years ago, which is denied by the local owners who have been planting these lands for many years.

• At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 21 August 2021, the army fired tear gas canisters at a land surveying team present near “Avigal” settlement. The team suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and were treated in the field.

• Also on Saturday, 41 civilians, including 24 children, and a journalist, were injured due to the army’s suppression of dozens of protesters in eastern Gaza. the arm purposefully used snipers through holes in the wall constructed along the Gaza Strip border to inflict more damage and victims among Palestinian civilians. This conduct reflects a political decision to use excessive force against protestors, as has been documented as systemic and recurrent behavior by the army throughout the Great March of Return protests in 2018 and 2019.

At approximately 17:30, thousands of Palestinians of different ages headed to Malakah area in eastern Shuja’yia neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, in order to participate in a mass festival organized by the Palestinian factions in commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of the arson attack on al-Aqsa Mosque, marking today. Thousands gathered in the Return Camp, where the Great March of Return (GMR) activities used to be held back in 2018. Speeches were delivered and different activities were held; meanwhile, dozens of protesters headed to the border fence, which is a 2-meter concrete wall with barbed wire stock and holes through which the Israeli snipers’ weapons appear in addition to a sand berm topped by a tank behind the wall.

A number of protesters approached the border fence while others chanted national slogans and threw stones at the fence. Via the holes in the wall, Israeli snipers fired live and rubber-coated bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters, who were at the time peaceful. As a result, some of them were injured. Meanwhile, other protesters approached the concrete wall and threw stones at the holes, where the snipers’ rifles were positioned amid the latter’s ongoing shooting from many places.

• Meanwhile, a young man who was near the wall took out a hand-gun and fired several bullets at one of the snipers’ pits. In consequence, the snipers intensified their fire at the protestors in the area until 19:00 causing a large number of injuries among civilians.

13-year-old child who sustained a live bullet in the head

For their part, the Israeli occupation’s military announced that a soldier from the Border Guards sustained critical wounds due to shooting coming from the Gaza Strip.

• At approximately 23:10, Israeli Navy gunboats chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing between 3 – 5 nautical miles and opened heavy fire against them as well as light bombs; the attack stirred fear among the fishermen who fled the area. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 23:40, soldiers stationed at the Gaza Border area, eastern Beit Hanoun, opened sporadic fire at the border area. No casualties were reported.

• On Sunday, 22 August 2021, Israeli Border Guards at Container checkpoint, northeastern Bethlehem, opened fire at a Palestinian with a mental disability from Sair, Hebron, and wounded him with a bullet in the leg. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

PCHR investigations indicate that at approximately 09:45, Omar Mousa Hasan Shalalda, a 25-year-old male with a mental disability, approached the vehicles’ lane at the checkpoint, with his mother a few meters behind him. The Border Guards called on him to stop and shot him in the foot. Palestinian Red Crescent Society medical crews took him to Beit Jala hospital; his condition is stable.

• At approximately 00:20 on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, Israeli warplanes launched two missiles on an agricultural land eastern al-Fukhari, Khan Younis. The airstrikes caused material damage; no injuries were reported.

• On Tuesday, A Palestinian child died today at dawn after being shot in the head by the Israeli Forces, while he was taking video of the army raid into a nearby house in Balata refugee camp in Nablus, north of the West Bank.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, there was no imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ lives at the time the child was targeted. He was holding his cellphone to take a video other than army’s claims that he attempted to throw a solid object at the soldiers.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 03:30 on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, Israeli forces moved into Balata refugee camp in eastern Nablus and surrounded a house belonging to the family of Sa’d Nemer As’ad al-Ka’by (26) in Hashash Family neighborhood, east of the camp. They then raided the house and stayed there for around half an hour; during which, al-Ka’by was arrested and taken away. When the soldiers were on their way out of the house, one of the soldiers stationed on the street opened fire at 15-year-old ‘Emad Khaled Hashash (15), who was on his 4-storey house roof taking a video via his cellphone for the soldiers. As a result, he was shot in the head and taken with a civilian car to Rafidia Governmental Hospital in Nablus, where the medical staff pronounced his death.

Mahmoud Hashash, an eyewitness, stated to PCHR fieldworker,

“From the rooftop of my house, I saw 40-50 Israeli soldiers with police canines stationing on the street opposite al-Ka’by family house – few meters from our house. There were sounds of gunshots coming from the camp. I noticed Imad Khaled Hashash standing on the rooftop of his house (4-storey building), located 20 meters on the opposite side of the al-Ka’by family house. Emad was filming the soldiers as they withdrew from al-Ka’by’s house; I heard one gunshot go off and then I no longer could see Emad. Few moments later, I heard women screaming, and I learnt that Emad had sustained a live bullet in the head fired by soldiers. I rushed to his house as the army fired tear gas canisters in the area to cover their withdrawal from the area. We took Emad to hospital where he was deemed dead upon arrival with a bullet to the head.”

Emad Hashash – shot dead by Israeli forces.

Later, the army alleged that ”violent riots” took place that included throwing stones and other objects at Israeli forces from nearby houses; the claimed that the identified a suspect holding a suspicious large object that he tried to throw at a soldier standing below. The army alleged that a soldier acted by shooting the so-called ‘suspect’.

a military and political decision at the upper echelons that allows snipers to shoot to kill Palestinian civilians, including children.

• At approximately 20:00, the army stationed at the military watch tower near al-Aroub refugee camp, northern Hebron, opened fire at a group of young Palestinians on the main road, allegedly for throwing rocks at the watchtower. As a result, 2 children were wounded: a 17-year-old sustained a bullet in the abdomen, he was taken to hospital for treatment; and 16-year-old Mohammed Monir Mikbel was shot with a live bullet in the foot, he was arrested by the army and taken to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 16:30 on Wednesday, 25 August 2021, hundreds of Palestinians marched to eastern Khuza’a, east Khan Younis, to participate in an event called for by Palestinian political factions in protest to the Israeli closure policy and the Judaization of Jerusalem. The event was held at least 400 meters from the border area with Israel. Dozens of participants approached the border area, where soldiers were stationed behind sand berms and in military vehicles. Some protestors attempted to approach the border and raise the Palestinian flag on top of it and throw stones. The army fired live and rubber bullets, while Israeli drones fired tear gas canisters at the protestors. The clashes continued until 19:00, and resulted in the injury of 14 Palestinians, including a child and a journalist who were wounded with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters thrown at the body.

dressed in clearly identifiable press clothing and helmet and had 4 cameras on him

II. Incursions and arrests

Thursday, 19 August 2021:

• At approximately 00:05, the army arrested Yehya Omar Abu Haniya (26), after raiding and searching his house in Huwwarah village, southeast of Jenin.

• At approximately 01:20, the army arrested Ahmed Ghaleb Droubi (22), from Far’un village, south of Tulkarm.

• At approximately 02:00, the army arrested Wael Saleh Hamouda (23) and Hamza Ibrahim Younis (21), after raiding and searching their houses in Bir Nabala village, northwest of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 03:30, soldiers arrested Fadi Mahyoub I’mir (24) and Maher Na’eem Mahmoud (24), after raiding and searching their house in Bal’a, north of Tulkarm.

• Around the same time, soldiers arrested Mo’awiya Ahmed al-Shorafa (36) and Osaid Mohammed Dagher (32), from Shuweika in Tulkarm.

• At approximately 06:30, soldiers arrested (7) civilians after raiding and searching their houses in Anata village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. The arrestees are: Abdul Salam Jamal Salama, Mohammed Jamal Salama, Mohammed Yaser Salama, Abdullah Mousa Salama, Ehab Yaser Salama, Mohammed Husein Salama and Mousa Jamal Salama.

• At approximately 07:30, soldiers arrested Eisa No’man Abu ‘Aahour (28), from al-Saf street in Bethlehem, while working in al-Khader city, west of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 14:30, soldiers arrested Ghassan Ibrahim Zawahrah (40), after raiding and searching his house in Bayt Fajar, south of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• Around the same time, soldiers arrested Medein Mashhour ‘Ammawi (30), from Qalqilya, while passing through a military checkpoint heading to the occupied East Jerusalem. Soldiers took him to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 15:00, soldiers arrested Mohammed Taleb Taqatqa (24), after raiding and searching his house in Bayt Fajar village, south of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 17:00, soldiers arrested Ayman Hani Abu al-Hawa (14), after raiding and searching his house in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 18:00, soldiers stationed at al-Jalamah checkpoint, northeast of Jenin, arrested Ibrahim Ammar Abbas (20), from al-Shuhada village, southeast of Jenin.

• In evening hours, soldiers summonsed the engineer Samer Nuseibeh, president of the Palestinian Federation of Sports Culture and a manager in al-Dar Hotel in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Authorities warned him from holding the Chess competitions which supposed to be held in the next day morning at the above-mentioned hotel.

The Palestinian Federation of Sports Culture stated that occupation authorities summonsed the engineer Samer Nuseibeh to Moscovia Detention Center in West Jerusalem and warned him from organizing the Chess competition in coordination with the Staff Club in Jerusalem for a group of children from Jerusalem. The army claimed that this competition affects Israeli sovereignty over the occupied city. The Federation of Sports stated that this competition is just to provide participants (aged between 10 and 14) with the rules and skills of the mental sports game. They added that authorities threatened Nuseibeh that the hotel will be closed if they held the competition in it.

• Soldiers carried out (3) incursions in Sarra and Qusra in Nablus; and Marda in Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 20 August 2021:

• At approximately 01:20, the army arrested ‘Ayed Ali al-Shawaheen (49), along with his sons; Ali (22) and Hasan (25), after raiding and searching their house in al-Karmel, west of Yatta, south of Hebron governorate.

• Around the same time, the army moved into Yatta, south of Hebron governorate. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ya’qoub Ismael Abu Arram and Mohammed Rajeh Hamameda, but no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 01:30, the army arrested Diaa’ Mohammed Khuseib (19), after raiding and searching his house in Qaffin village, east of Tulkarm.

• At approximately 02:30, the army arrested Ibrahim Munir Amayra (22), after raiding and searching his house in Dura, southwest of Hebron governorate.

• The army carried out (6) incursions in Hebron, Bani Na’im, Kurza, Karmel, Dura and Bayt al-Rosh villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 22 August 2021:

• At approximately 01:00, the army arrested Monthir Jamjoum (21), after raiding and searching his house in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 02:00, the army arrested Shady Waleed Taqateqa (23), after raiding and searching his house in Bayt Fajar, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 02:30, the army arrested Khalil Mousa Herbawi (38), after raiding and searching his house in Hebron.

• At approximately 10:00, soldiers arrested Osaid Mohammed Shuyukhi (17), from Hebron, while present in al-Sahla area in the city, claiming that he was in possession of a knife.

• At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops arrested Bahjat Mousa Nawaj’a (28), from Yatta, south of Hebron governorate, after stopping his on a military checkpoint established at the southern entrance of Hebron.

• At approximately 13:00, Yazan Zuhair al-Rajabi (22), from Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, surrendered himself to the Israeli Intelligence Services in Moscovia Detention Center, where his arrest was extended for several days to be presented before the court.

• At approximately 20:00, Mohammed Jamal Ghaith (23), from Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, surrendered himself to the Israeli Intelligence Services in al-Bareed police center on Salah al-Dein street, where his arrest was extended for several days to be presented before the court.

• At approximately 21:00, Israeli troops arrested Ameer Hazem al-Sayad (19), after raiding and searching his house in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old city.

• At approximately 23:00, Israeli troops arrested Tayseer Ibrahim Halayqa (35), from al-Shuyukh village in Hebron governorate, while passing through a temporary military checkpoint near al-Nashash junction, south of Bethlehem.

• Israeli troops carried out (4) incursions in Halhul, Bani Na’im, Seka and Nuba villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 23 August 2021:

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops arrested Khaled Nadi ‘Azim (22), after raiding and searching his house in Sebastia, northwest of Nablus.

• Around the same time, soldiers stationed at a temporary military checkpoint established at the entrance of Jinsafut village, east of Qalqilya, arrested Ayman Mohammed Hasan Ali (48), from Kafr Qaddum, while heading to Qalqilya. IOF took him to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 02:15, soldiers arrested Mousa Marwan Housha (28), after raiding and searching his house in Birzeit, north of Ramallah.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli troops arrested Mohammed Jawdat Shahrour (24), after raiding and searching his house in Tulkarm.

• At approximately 09:30, Israeli troops stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) checkpoint, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested Husni Mohsen al-Shrafi (31), a father of 3 children from Jabalia.

Hosni’s father said to PCHR’s fieldworker that on Sunday, 22 August 2021, Hosni received a call from the Palestinian Civil Affairs that he is summonsed by the general intelligence services of Erez checkpoint on grounds of applying for a trader permit to enter Israel. On Monday morning Hosni headed there, and then we received a call to inform us that our son is under arrest at approximately 17:00.

• On the same day, Israeli troops stationed at Erez crossing arrested Amjad Ahmed Dardona (42), from Jabalia, married and have 5 children.

His uncle, Maher Dardona, said that at approximately 01:00, Amjad headed to Erez checkpoint to seize the opportunity and enter Israel before the big number of traders who wanted to travel on the same day. At approximately 20:00, Amjad’s brother, Nidal, received a call from a private number to inform him that Amjad is under arrest. It should be noted that Amjad is the owner of a marble and granite factory who decided to travel and work in Israel to fulfill his financial deficits.

• At approximately 13:15, Israeli troops stationed a temporary military checkpoint established at Qarawat Bani Hassan junction, north of Salfit, arrested Abdul Mohsen Adel Ahmed Ali (24), from Kufr al-Dik village, west of Salfit.

• At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops arrested Mahmoud Ashayer (17), while present near Bab al-Amud area in the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 16:30, the army stationed at a temporary military checkpoint near Haris village junction, north of Salfit, arrested Belal Fa’eq Abdul Ra’ouf (24) and his brother, Ayman (20), from Haris village, and released them later.

• Israeli troops carried out (7) incursions in Kufeirat and Araqah in Jenin governorate; Jericho, Ein al-Sultan refugee camp and Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho; Kur and Safari, south of Tulkarm. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 24 August 2021:

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli troops arrested Omar Salama Bani Shamsah (30), after raiding and searching his house in Beita, southeast of Nablus.

• At approximately 02:15, Israeli troops arrested Ahmed Nafea’ Ali Mousa (35) and Nafea’ Ali Nafea’ Mousa (45), after raiding and searching their houses in Mirka, southwest of Jenin.

• Around the same time, soldiers arrested Islam Mahmoud Zayed (25), after raiding and searching her house in al-Masyoun neighborhood in Ramallah.

• Around the same time, the army arrested Shady No’man al-Rifi (30), after raiding and searching his house in al-Bireh, north of Ramallah governorate.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli troops arrested Mo’tasem Rebhi Hunini (42), after raiding and searching his house in Bayt Dajan village, northeast of Nablus.

• At approximately 02:30, soldiers arrested Yehya Abdul Salam Isleem (22), after raiding and searching his house in Azun, east of Qalqilya.

• At approximately 03:00, soldiers arrested Husni Rida Jarrar (25), after raiding and searching his house in al-Zawiya village, southeast of Jenin.

• At approximately 03:00, soldiers arrested (4) civilians after raiding and searching their houses in Sa’ir, north of Hebron. The arrestees are: Hamad Shawki Jabarin (30), Mohammed Isma’el Jabarin (37), Ha’il Eisa Jabarin (27), and Ahmed Mousa Jabarin (28).

• At approximately 04:00, soldiers arrested Wajeeh Owda al-Ra’i (28), after raiding and searching his house in Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.

• At approximately 08:30, soldiers arrested Abdullah Nash’at Ishtaya (28), from Salfit, while working in al-Ra’s area, west of Salfit.

• At approximately 13:30, soldiers arrested the twins Ahmed and Mahmoud Khalil Zreina (30), after raiding and searching their house in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem governorate.

• At approximately 18:30, soldiers arrested Harbi Nidal al-Rajabi (18) and Ibrahim Ahmed Ghaith (22), after raiding and searching their houses in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• Israeli soldiers carried out (5) incursions in Shuyukh and Yatta in Hebron; Anabta, east of Tulkarm; Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, near Jerichol and Ra’s Karkar, west of Ramallah. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 25 August 2021:

• At approximately 01:30, soldiers arrested Khaled Majed Bader (27) and Haitham Omar Iriqat (31), after raiding and searching their houses in Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 02:00, soldiers arrested Mohammed Abdul Jamil Taqateqa (23) and Anas Mohammed Taqateqa (24), after raiding and searching their houses in Bayt Fajar village, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 02:00, soldiers arrested Yasine Issam al-Rajabi (19), after raiding and searching his house in Hebron’s Old City.

• At approximately 03:00, soldiers arrested Mahmoud Nidal Shoman (23), after raiding and searching his house in Husan village, west of Bethlehem.

• The army carried out (3) incursions in Hebron, Tapuah and Surif villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem

• On Thursday morning, 19 August 2021, the occupation army’s vehicles levelled an agricultural land belonging to Mohammed al-Taweel in Za’tarah village in eastern Bethlehem.

Hussein Breijiyeh, Director of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said that the Israeli authorities levelled the 1-dunum land under the pretext of unlicensed construction works.

• In the same morning, the Israeli authorities started implementing the biblical garden in Karam al-Mufti area in al-Sheikh Jarrah, north of occupied East Jerusalem in favor of the settlement outpost in the neighborhood so that it could be connected with the biblical gardens surrounding al-Aqsa Mosque.

The Israeli municipality had declared that the biblical garden will be established on 25 dunums confiscated from Karam al-Mufti area, which is 32 dunums, at a cost of 28 million shekels and is supposed to be inaugurated in 2023. The Israeli media said that the garden plan includes pedestrian and cycling paths, a stadium, parks, fountain, vacant areas for sports and recreation, statutes, games, guide signs, and biblical symbols indicating Jews’ existence in the area.

It should be noted that Karam al-Mufti area was named after its owner Haji Amin al-Hussein, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, was seized by the Israeli authorities after the occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967 and was later under the “Atarit Cohanim” settlement association, which turned the palace of the Grand Mufti in the area to a Jewish synagogue. Moreover, years ago, 28 settlement units were established for settlers, and many are expected to be established near the palace, amounting to 56 units.

• On Sunday morning, 22 August 2021, Muhanad ‘Abdeen self-demolished his house in Beit Hanina, north of occupied East Jerusalem for the second time pursuant to the Israeli Municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

‘Abdeen said that his first house was established 13 years ago when the Israeli municipality issued a decision to demolish the house so he had to self-demolish it back in 2009, pursuant to the municipal decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction and after the fines accumulated, fearing that the municipality would impose on him extra fines for the demolition costs by the municipal crews. ‘Abdeen added that in 2013 he rebuilt the house of reinforced iron plates after he consulted a lawyer to be sure it was legal. ‘Abdeen said that the Israeli municipality again haunted him and imposed fines in addition to issuing a demolition decision to the new house, forcing him to self-demolish it again. He added that he lived with his wife and 6 children in the house that included 3 rooms, a living room, and its facilities.

• On Monday morning 23 August 2021, the Israeli municipality demolished an agricultural barrack in Hizma village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction in Area C.

‘Abdullah Salah al-Deen, Head of the administrative affairs in Hizma Municipality, said that IOF demolished a 700-sqm barrack belonging to Muhie al-Deen al-Qadi without a prior warning, under the pretext of established it in Area C, where the Israeli authorities ban Palestinians from building without a license and limit and observe their construction works as it is under the Israeli civil, administrative and security control.

• At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 24 August 2021, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with an Israeli Civil Administration vehicle, a bulldozer and a truck-mounted crane moved into al-Rahwah area, west of ad-Dhahiriya village, south of Hebron. The soldiers deployed between houses and evacuated 4 tinplated barracks. They then dismantled the barracks and confiscated them under the pretext of unlicensed construction in Area C.

The confiscated barracks were as follows:

• At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 25 August 2021, IOF backed by military vehicles, an excavator and a bulldozer moved into al-Harayeq area at the southern entrance to Hebron. The vehicles demolished a 100-sqm tinplated barrack and damaged a storage caravan in addition to digging in a concrete slab of 50 sqms used as an automobile repair garage belonging to Montaser Thiab Theeb al-‘Aweiwi (32), costing him around 60,000 shekels. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities previously handed him a notice to stop construction works.

• Around the same time, the Israeli municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to Tariq Naser Abu al-Teen in ‘Ain Jweizah area in al-Walaja village, northwest of Bethlehem, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

The house’s owner, Tariq Abu al-Teen, said that he was surprised in the morning when he was at work with a phone call telling him that the Israeli municipality’s crews and vehicles were surrounding his house and starting to demolish it over its contents. Abu al-Teen added that he headed to the house immediately, but the IOF prevented him from approaching and attacked his wife and old mother. Abu al-Teen said that IOF handed him and his brothers, Hussein, Ahmed and Mohammed, demolition decisions against their houses in the area at the end of June, but he did not receive any notice to evacuate the house. He was surprised with the Israeli municipal crews demolishing the house over the contents when the family was not inside. Abu al-Teen added that his 130-sqm house sheltered 7 individuals, including his wife, elderly mother and 4 children.

It should be noted that IOF seized vacant areas of al-Walaja village lands in favor of the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem after 1967. Only 3,000 dunums were left, including 60 dunums in Area B that is under the PA control and where construction is allowed, while the rest is under Jerusalem’s municipal control and the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank; these are agricultural lands where IOF ban construction and expansion.

In the last few years, occupation authorities have significantly escalated demolitions and razing operations in the village as the Israeli municipality distributed 180 demolition notices, including judicial decisions to demolish 40 houses.

• At approximately 10:00, the army backed by military vehicles and accompanied with an Israeli construction vehicle, 2 excavators and a bulldozer moved into Khelet al-Form, south of Hebron. The soldiers deployed in the area while the vehicles levelled an 8-dunum land and the stone chains surrounding it as well as a 300-meter barbed wire stock. Moreover, 80 grape seedlings and 30 almond trees were damaged in addition to garbage and eggplants planted in 4 dunums belonging to Rateb ‘Abdel Rahman al-Rajabi. The army’s razing operation came under the pretext that the land restoration was illegal allegedly for it is a state property. The Israeli authorities did the same in this land back in 2019 after they had notified of evacuating the land.

• At approximately 10:00, the Israeli municipality vehicles demolished an under-construction house belonging to Muhanned al-Zaghal in al-Shayyah area in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

The house’s owner said that he built the house 5 months ago; the house is an unroofed second floor of 90 sqms. Al-Zaghal added that the Israeli municipality haunted him since then and issued a demolition decisions 3 months ago, forcing him to resort to the Israeli courts in order to postpone or freeze the decision but in vain. He said that he was surprised with the Israeli municipality’s crews raiding the house and destroying the walls with electric saws.

• At approximately 15:30, the army, backed by military vehicles and accompanied with an Israeli Civil Administration vehicle, a bulldozer and an excavator moved into Za’atout area adjacent to Kherbet al-Bweib, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The soldiers deployed in the area while the vehicles demolished a 30 sqms concrete slab and a water well of reinforced concrete that was allocated for the construction of a mosque in the area. The demolition was allegedly for unlicensed construction.