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

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

Summary for September 16 – 22, 2021

The Israeli occupation authorities continue 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, as this week the occupation authorities confiscated 49,000 dunams of land from Bethlehem, allegedly for constructing a nature reserve.

The Israeli settlement expansion works continued on Palestinian lands and properties. 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:

10 Palestinians were wounded, including a woman, and a journalist in army attacks across the West Bank. Three were recorded, including a woman, during an army assault on a protest in Hebron; another in Jerusalem; and 4 in a military incursion into Jenin. Another injury was reported in Salfit, and a journalist was wounded in Nablus.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli Navy ships opened fire 6 times at fishing boats in the Gaza Sea, and the army fired twice on agricultural lands in eastern Gaza.

Army incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:

Israeli forces carried out 104 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, 49 Palestinians were arrested, including 14 children. Soldiers confiscated money from several homes during these raids.

In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military conducted two limited incursions.

Demolitions:

PCHR fieldworkers documented 3 violations:

• Bethlehem: 49 thousand dunams of land confiscated in Kisan, allegedly for constructing a nature reserve

•Occupied East Jerusalem: Palestinian man forced to self-demolish his home in Jabel al-Mukaber.

• Hebron: generator confiscated in Yatta.

Israeli Settler-attacks:

• Occupied East Jerusalem: 2 Palestinian drivers assaulted; one stabbed in the back and the other was strangled.

• Bethlehem: settlement road constructed in Kisan.

• Nablus: assault on agricultural land and at least 10 fruitful olive trees were cut in Burin.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

Israel imposed the closure of all Gaza Strip and West Bank crossings from 16 – 17 September 2021 for Yom Kippur.

The 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.

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 21:00 on Friday, 17 September 2021, dozens of Palestinians gathered in Silwan, occupied East Jerusalem, and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli military vehicles. Soldiers raided the area while heavily firing rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas canisters and stun grenades; the army chased the protestors who threw firecrackers at a settlement outpost and set fire to several surveillance camera poles that authorities implanted in the area. Violent clashes lasted for hours and reached Wadi al-Hilweh neighborhood; several windows were crashed and vehicles were damaged.

• At approximately 11:00, dozens of “Combatants for Peace” activists, and international solidarity activists and local residents of Masafer Yatta, southern Hebron, gathered for a peaceful sit-in where they attempted to deliver a water tank to a local household in al-Mafkara area. While the gathering were on the road that leads to Masafer Yatta, which is used by settlers to reach “Avigal” settlement, large IOF troops arrived in the area along with an Israeli police patrol. The soldiers intercepted the march of the water tank and fired tear gas canisters at participants, forcing them to disperse. A while later, the activists resumed the march, and the Israeli soldiers assaulted and arrested several of them and took them to the military vehicles parked in the area. IOF also fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at the activists. As a result, Adam Rabee (44) was hit with a tear gas canister in the abdomen causing him 3rd-degree burns; he was taken to the medical center in the city. Also, Khloud Abu-Ra’ya was hit with a tear gas canister in the back, causing cuts and burns that required her transfer to hospital.

Meanwhile, a soldier attacked Ely Deeb, pushing him to the ground causing cuts in the face. Deeb was taken to hospital in Israel and underwent surgery. The assault severed Deeb’s lacrimal artery. Also, several activists were arrested and taken to interrogation centers in Israel.

Adam Rabee stated that the sit-in intended to expose the Israeli policy banning Palestinians from supplying water to their homes, located in areas under Israeli security administration. The policy aims to drive Palestinians out of their lands due to drought. He added that the sit-in held the slogan of “right to water.” He added that soldiers used new tear gas canisters that emit black smoke and have a strong effect on the respiratory system.

• At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 17 September 2021, soldiers attacked a peaceful protest in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, pushing and assaulting protestors.

PCHR fieldworker stated that dozens of Palestinians and activists gathered at Sheikh Jarrah entrance and raised signs with slogans against the occupation and illegal settlements, as well as Palestinian flags. They were physically assaulted by Israeli forces, who confiscated their Palestinian flags; on the other hand, the soldiers provided full protection to a sit-in protesting the Palestinian protest, the sit-in was organized by settlers who live in settlement outposts that were seized from the Arab neighborhood. The settlers raised the Israeli flag and insulted the Palestinian people and leaders with profanity.

• At approximately 23:00, dozens of Palestinians gathered in al-Ram, occupied East Jerusalem, and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at military vehicles. Soldiers fired rubber-bullets and tear gas canisters in the area. As a result, Odai I. Ghnaiman (20) sustained minor wounds from a rubber bullet in the foot. He was taken to a medical center for treatment.

• At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 18 September 2021, Israeli Navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boat sailing at 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them, stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 02:30 on Sunday, 19 September 2021, Navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boat sailing at 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them, stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 03:00, clashes erupted in Jenin’s eastern neighborhood while soldiers were retreating following a military operation in the city, where 4 Palestinians were arrested, including Ayham F. Kamamji (35) and Monadel Y. Infiat (32) who fled Gilboa prison earlier this month.

• PCHR fieldworker stated that while soldiers were retreating, dozens of Palestinians gathered and threw stones at military vehicles. Soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and stun grenades at the protestors. As a result, 4 Palestinians, including a child, were taken to hospital for treatment.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boat sailing at 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them, stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 00:30, soldiers stationed on Qarawat Bani Hassan southern entrance in Salfit, assaulted the participants at a protest against land confiscation for illegal settlement expansion. They chased Palestinians amidst clashes, fired rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A 30-year-old Palestinian sustained a rubber bullet injury in the right leg.

• At approximately 08:05 on Monday, 20 August 2021, Navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boat sailing at 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them. The attack continued off and on until 09:00, and was repeated at 22:15, stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 12:10 on Tuesday, 21 September 2021, Navy gunboats in the northern Gaza sea chased Palestinian fishing boat sailing at 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them, stirring fear among the fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 14:00, soldiers stationed along the Gaza Strip border area in Beit Hanoun, opened fire on and off at a group of shepherds, stirring fear among them and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 23:45, soldiers stationed along the Gaza Strip border area in Jabalia, opened fire in the area. No casualties were reported.

• At approximately 14:00 on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, soldiers invaded al-Tur High School for Boys in occupied East Jerusalem, alleging that a patrol was attacked with rocks by students. During the raid, soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters in the school and chased students. 16-year-old Bassam Abu-Sbitan fell and broke his leg, then the army dragged him on the street into one of their military vehicles. He was taken to hospital and is currently arrested by Israel.

Abu-Sbitan’s mother said that her son was going to the pharmacy to purchase medication for his father as the clashes erupted. She added that soldiers chased her son without cause, terrorizing him; as he was fleeing the area, he fell and broke his leg. Despite his screams of pain and inability to walk on his hurt leg, soldiers dragged him and arrested him.

• At approximately 18:46 on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, photojournalist Nasser Suliman Mohammed Shtayyeh (51) was hit with a rubber bullet in the head that a soldier shot at him while he was covering the clashes in Deir al-Hatab. The clashes started after settlers started construction in “Elon Moreh” settlement.

Shtayyeh, from Salem village in Nablus who works for Flasha and Seba USA, said to PCHR fieldworker;

“at approximately 18:30 on Wednesday, I learned that there were clashes in the nearby town of Deir al-Hatab between the villagers and soldiers who were protecting settlers doing construction work for the expansion of “Elon Moreh” settlement, which is established on Palestinians’ lands in the village. I drove there, along with my 14-year-old son, and I parked in a distant area. I started taking pictures, I was the only photojournalist in the area. I had clearly marker PRESS attire on; nonetheless, I was shot from at least 20 meters away by a soldier with a rubber bullet directly in the head. I was covered in my own blood. My son drove me to the local pharmacy and called a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance, which took me to hospital.”

II. Incursions and arrests

Thursday, 16 September 2021

• At approximately 02:00, soldiers arrested Isma’el Mohammed Naser (33), after raiding and searching his house in Dura, southwest of Hebron governorate.

• At approximately 14:00, soldiers arrested Zeyad Naser al-‘Adowein after raiding and searching his house in Ras Shihada area in Shu’afat refugee camp, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 17:00, soldiers arrested Hisham Mohammed Manasra (15) and Mo’awiya Khair Allah Manasra (14), after raiding and searching their houses in Beitunia, west of Ramallah.

• The army carried out (3) incursions in Azzun, east of Qalqilya; Qarawat Bani Hassan, west of Salfit; and Burqa village, northeast of Ramallah. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 17 September 2021

• At approximately 08:00, soldiers arrested Wissam Mohammed Thalji Sidr (28), after raiding and searching his house in Bab Huta neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods.

• At approximately 17:30, soldiers severely assaulted and arrested Shadi Hasan al-Mohtaseb (37) and Abdullah Hasan al-Mohtased (23), after stopping them at a military checkpoint established near al-Za’tary building which the Israeli settlers seized near the Ibrahimi Mosque, in Hebron’s Old City. Soldiers took them to a police center in “Kiryat Arba’” settlement.

• At approximately 15:00, soldiers arrested Mohammed Waleed Sabarnah (15), after raiding and searching the grocery
store, where he and his father work in Khilat al-Kotla area, near “Karmei Zur” settlement, south of Beit Ummar. Soldiers took him to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 19:00, soldiers arrested Ramzi Adel Salah (37), from Abu Dis, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, while passing through the Container military checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem.

Saturday, 18 September 2021

• At approximately 04:50, soldiers arrested Abdul Naser Adnan Rabi (52), after raiding and searching his house in Qalqilya.

• At approximately 09:00, the army arrested Baker Mohammed Oweis (23), after stopping his vehicle in Ras al-‘Amud neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 16:30, the army severely assaulted and arrested Hamad Fawwaz Fafisha (20) and Dia’ Tareq Fafisha (24), from Hebron’s Old City, while present in al-Sahla area, near the Ibrahimi Mosque.

• At approximately 18:00, the army arrested Yazan Ishti (23) and Osama Mujahed (26), while present near Herod’s Gate, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s Gates.

• At approximately 18:00, the army arrested Tawfiq Khalil Afana (29), while passing through al-Za’eem military checkpoint, east of the occupied East Jerusalem.

• The army carried out (3) incursions in Beit Ummar, Hebron, and Beit Kahil in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 19 September 2021

• At approximately 00:00, the army arrested (3) civilians after raiding and searching their houses in al-Isawiya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. The arrestees are: Mohammed Alian (22), Amjad Derbas (51) and his son, Alaa (21).

• At approximately 01:00, the army arrested (4) civilians after surrounding and storming a house in Jenin belonging to Abu Ja’far family, in the eastern side of Jenin. The arrestees are: Ayham Fo’ad Kamamji (35) and Monadel Ya’qoub Nufei’at (32); the 2 prisoners of 6 who escaped from Gilboa prison on 06 September 2021, Abdul Rahman Abu Ja’far (28) and Mahmoud Ridwan Abu Ja’far (32), who were arrested under the pretext that they provided help for Kamamji and Nufei’at.

• Around the same time, the army arrested Monir Farah Manasra (44), after raiding and searching his house in Arabiya area, east of Bani Na’im, east of Hebron. They confiscated (170,000 NIS) that the family saved for the medical operation of their 3-year-old girl who is suffering from a hole in the heart (VSD), in addition to financial guarantees and checks of 30,000 NIS.

• At approximately 02:00, the army arrested Salah Mahmoud al-Batran (39), after raiding and searching his house in Idhna village, west of Hebron.

• At approximately 03:00, the army handed Ibrahim Abdullah al-‘Arrouj (38) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in military checkpoint (300), after raiding and searching his house in Jannatah, east of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 04:00, the army arrested Ameer Ahmed Taqatiqa (17), after raiding and searching his house in Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 05:00, the army arrested Omar Amer Abu al-Hawa (21), after raiding and searching his house in al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 13:00, the army arrested Ahmed Abu Khudair (25), after raiding and searching his house in Shu’afat neighborhood, north of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

Monday, 20 September 2021

• At approximately 00:00, the army arrested Mo’ath Monthir Abu al-Hawa (14), while present in one of the stores on the main street of al-Tur neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 02:00, the army arrested Sami Ibrahim al-Harimi (18) and handed his brother, Nour al-Dein (22) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in military checkpoint (300), after raiding and searching their house in Abu Njeim village, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 03:00, a group of undercover “Mista‘arvim” (Israeli Special Unit dressed like Palestinian civilians) sneaked into Bayt Rima village, northwest of Ramallah. They used a car and a bus with Palestinian registration plates and stationed in front of Abu al-Izz Supermarket for food supply, near Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque. They stormed and searched the supermarket and arrested Khair al-Dein Moshrif al-Rimawi (22), the owner of the supermarket. Soldiers took him to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 04:00, the army arrested (3) civilians, after raiding and searching their houses in Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. The arrestees are: Yousef Hasan Hannoun (26), Bara’ Yousef Mezyid (21), and Tamer Issam Nassar (22).

• At approximately 08:00, the army arrested Belal Ali Qatanani (26) and Nour Ashraf Shawahnah (24), after raiding and searching their houses in Hable village, south of Qalqilya.

• At approximately 16:00, the army arrested Sultan Mahran Shuweiky (16), after raiding and searching his house in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.

• At approximately 16:50, the army arrested Salah Nadeen Bedo (15), after raiding and searching his house in Shuweika, in Tulkarm.

• At approximately 20:00, the army arrested Hamza Mohammed al-Joulani (31), after raiding and searching his house in Bab Huta neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods.

• At approximately 23:00, the army arrested Mohammed Ali al-Jabbar (15), after raiding and searching his house in al-Tur neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods.

• The army carried out (3) incursions in Sa’ir, Beit Kahil and al-Aroub refugee camp in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 21 September 2021

• At approximately 00:30, the army arrested Izz al-Dein Mohammed Za’loul (18), after raiding and searching his house in Husan village, west of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 16:00, the army arrested Ameer al-Dein Khalil Abu al-Hawa (17) and Mustafa Mohammed Abu al-Hawa (16), while present near Herod’s Gate in the occupied East Jerusalem.

• At approximately 18:00, the army arrested (4) civilians including 2 children, after raiding and searching their houses in Silwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. The arrestees are: Brownk Zaki Zaytoun (20), Mohammed Mahdi al-Shalloudi (17), Sultan Samer Sarhan (16), and Mahdi Abed Jaber (18).

• The army carried out (3) incursions in Hebron, Surif and Dayr al-‘Asal villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 22 September 2021

• At approximately 03:15, the army arrested Sobhi Samer Zeid (17), after raiding and searching his house in al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

• At approximately 14:00, the army closed a military checkpoint established at the entrance of al-Shuhada street in Hebron and banned the movement of civilians. Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers deployed in Be’er Sheva street and closed the stores before groups of settlers arrived to visit the “Tomb of Otniel Ben Knaz” under the Israeli army’s intensive protection.

III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank a. Demolitions, Confiscations, and Notices

• On Tuesday afternoon, 21 September 2021, ‘Ali Mohammed ‘Abeidiyah self-demolished part of his house in Jabal al-Mukaber neighborhood, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, pursuant to the Israeli Municipality’s decision under the pretext of unlicensed construction.

‘Ali ‘Abediyah said that he built 2 additional rooms in his old house in 2017 so it would be enough for his family after his wife delivered his baby girl Mariam. ‘Abeidiyah added that the two rooms were a living room and a bedroom for his 4-year-old daughter of only 40 sqms. He said that the Israeli Municipality raided his house in the beginning of the month and handed him a decision to self-demolish the 2 rooms or the Municipality will send its crews to carry out the demolition and fine him with tens of thousands of shekels for the demolition costs, forcing him to self-demolish the 2 rooms.

• On Tuesday morning, 21 September 2021, the Israeli authorities issued a decision to seize 48,700 dunums from Kisan village in eastern Bethlehem and turn it to a nature reserve.

Hassan Breijiyeh, Director of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in Bethlehem, said that the Israeli authorities issued a decision to take over around 49,000 dunams from Kisan village allegedly for turning it into a nature reserve, noting that big part of these lands had been already confiscated and roads were built in it. Breijiyeh added that the seized area is located in southeastern Kisan village and near al-Rashayidah village; they were agricultural lands and used as livestock pastures. The area also included Wadi al-Hajjar historical site characterized with its historical caves, geological diversity, and wildlife.

Brejiyeh added that the Israeli decision is intended to continue settlement expansion in the area and to turn it to a nature reserve, which will be transformed in the future for a settlement project. He explained that this decision aims to facilitate seizure of Palestinian lands in Kisan for the expansion of “Abi HaNahal settlement.”

• At approximately 11:00 on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, soldiers backed by military vehicles and accompanied with the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Kherbet al-Sfeir, southwest of Yatta, south of Hebron, behind the annexation wall. The Civil Administration employees confiscated a generator belonging to ‘Othman Abu Qbeitah after raiding his under-construction house in the area.

b. Israeli Settlers’ attacks on civilians and their property

• At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 17 September 2021, 3 settlers severely beat up a Palestinian driver from Silwan, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, when the latter was on his way back from his work in Givat Shaul settlement, which was established on the lands of displaced Deir Yassin village in West Jerusalem. They stabbed him 3 times in his back; as a result, he was hospitalized for treatment.

The 43-year-old driver namely Mohammed Abu Nab, said that when he was driving the bus as usual in Givat Shaul settlement, he overrode a car with 3 settlers, outraging them, so they hit his bus and blocked the road in front of him. They then hit him on his head from the bus window and got into the bus to stab him 3 times in his back. They also kicked him and beat him before running away. Abu Nab said that this attack was not the first of its kind for Arab drivers as they have been exposed to constant racist attacks and insulted just for being Arabs. Abu Nab added that the Israeli police arrived at the scene and attempted to arrest him instead of the 3 settlers and denied him first-aid. He fainted after bleeding so much. Abu Nab said that the stabs could have caused him severe harm as they were very near to the spine and could have caused him paralysis or a laceration to one of his organs.

• On Tuesday morning 21 September 2021, Israeli settlers built a settlement road in Kisan village, east of Bethlehem, to connect Ibei Hanahal settlement established on it with the settlement industrial zone established between Kisan and al-Menia village, east of the city.

Ahmed Ghazal, Kisan Village Council Deputy Director, said that Ibei Hanahal settlers started building a new settlement road (two kilometers long and four meters wide) in a hilly area overlooking Wadi al-Hajjar to the northwest of the village. Ghazal added that the road is aimed at connecting the settlement of Ibei Hanahal with the industrial settlement that was built on the Palestinian lands in the west of the village near al-Menia village. He said that the industrial zone included solar units and recycling factories and the new road would annex hundreds of nearby dunams. It should be noted that the Israeli settlers and the army have recently targeted Kisan village as only few hours before the settlers’ attack on the village lands, the Israeli authorities issued a decision to seize 48,700 dunams in favor of establishing a nature reserve.

• At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 22 September 2021, a group of settlers from “Yitsahar” settlement established on the Palestinian lands of southern Nablus assaulted the agricultural lands in southern Burin village and cut 10 fruitful olive trees that were planted 70 years ago belonging to Akram Musbah Ibrahim ‘Omran from the same village.