Israeli occupation forces (IOF) 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 arrests against civilians. This week witnessed an escalation in Israeli demolitions, and demolition notices against Palestinian properties. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip is in its 15th year under closure, as Israel exercise the worst known collective punishment in human history, exacerbating the humanitarian hardships across the territory.
IOF shooting and violation of right to life and bodily integrity:
During the reporting period, an elderly Palestinian man died of a heart attack after IOF soldiers handcuffed and detained him; IOF also shot and wounded 14 civilians, including 4 children and a journalist, in excessive use of force in the West Bank. On January 12th 2021, 80-year-old Omar Mohammed Abdul-Majid Asad was found dead, handcuffed, and blindfolded, inside an under-construction building where IOF soldiers detained him after forcing him out of his vehicle.
IOF attacks this week also resulted in the following:
2 Palestinians wounded in Tubas;
8 were wounded in Qalqilya, including 3 children;
University student wounded before IOF detained him
Journalist wounded while covering IOF incursion into Bitunia
Palestinian wounded in Hebron and 1 child in Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip, PCHR documented 10 IOF shootings on agricultural lands and 2 on fishing boats.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:
IOF carried out 132 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. During this week’s incursions, 78 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 children and 2 women. IOF also conducted a limited incursion into eastern Rafah, southern of the Gaza Strip.
Demolitions:
PCHR documented 10 incidents:
Occupied East Jerusalem: Palestinian man forced to self-demolish a room inside his house in Ras al-Amoud neighborhood. Another Palestinian was forced to self-demolish his home in Sur Baher. 10 dunums of land razed, a carwash demolished in Issaweiya; an under-construction cemetery demolished in Um Tuba.
Hebron: wheel loader confiscated in Dura, a tin-plated house demolished along with a sheep barn in eastern Ethna; 3 tin-plated houses, a water well, and a warehouse demolished in Yatta.
Nablus: construction vehicle confiscated in Tal
Bethlehem: a residential tent demolished in Beit Jala; along with 2 retaining walls in al-Walaja.
Settler-attacks:
PCHR documented the following attacks by settlers in the West Bank:
Hebron: Palestinians attacked and one wounded with a rock in the head
Jerusalem: vehicle struck with rocks, shattering its windows, and wounding its driver in the face
Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:
The Israeli occupation authorities continued its collective punishment measures against the Gaza Strip as the 15-year Israeli closure imposed on the territory deepens the population’s humanitarian and living crises. Unemployment has skyrocketed at 45%, with 217,000 able workers unemployed, 63% of whom are youth.
More than half of the Gaza Strip’s population suffer from poverty, as the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics data shows that 53% of the Gaza Strip population is impoverished and more than 62.2% are food insecure, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Additionally, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada in 2000, restricting civilian movement with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian are also subjected to arrests, especially at al-Karama border crossing located alongside the Palestinian-Jordanian border.
I. Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity
Thursday, 06 January 2022:
At around 00:45 on Thursday, 06 January 2022, IOF’s gunboats stationed off west Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 6 nautical miles. No casualties were reported.
At around 04:00 on Thursday, 06 January 2022, IOF moved into al-Far’ah refugee camp, south of Tubas. Several Palestinians gathered and threw stones at the Israeli vehicles while IOF fired live and rubber bullets as well as teargas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, few protesters sustained wounds in their lower limb and were taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital for treatment. Also, many civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation and received treatment on the spot. Before withdrawing, IOF arrested Obay Nabil Mohammed al-Amir (21) after raiding and searching his house in the camp.
At around 12:30, IOF stationed along the border fence, eastern Deir al-Balah in central Gaza strip opened fire at the agricultural lands. No casualties were reported.
At around 13:30, IOF stationed along the border fence, eastern al-Maghazi in central Gaza strip opened fire at the shepherds. Neither damage nor casualties were reported.
Friday, 07 January 2022:
At around 00:15 on Friday, 07 January 2022, IOF’s gunboats stationed along the border fence off Khan Younis Shore, southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the fishing boats sailing there. No casualties were reported.
At around 01:30, IOF stationed along the border fence opened fire at the agricultural lands, east of al-Fokhari, east of Khan Younis. The shooting recurred at 08:30, but no casualties were reported.
At around 10:00, IOF stationed along the border fence in eastern Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip fired teargas canisters at the shepherds. No casualties were reported.
At around 11:00, IOF stationed along the border fence opened fire at the agricultural lands, east of al-al-Qararah, east of Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 12:30, IOF stationed at the southern Qalqiliya checkpoint suppressed a protest organized by dozens of Palestinians. IOF chased the protesters, and clashes broke out. IOF fired sponge-tipped bullets, teargas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 5 protesters were wounded with bullets, including a child; all of them were wounded in the limbs except one in the back.
At approximately 15:00, IOF suppressed a peaceful protest organized by dozens of civilians at the entrance to Beit Duqqu village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, in solidarity with Naser Abu Hmeid, a Palestinian prisoner who is in a critical health condition in the Israeli jails.
Dozens gathered near Beit Duqqu entrance holding pictures and banners in solidarity with Abu Hmeid (49), who was referred by Ashkelon Prison Service last Tuesday to Birzilai Hospital due to the deterioration of his health condition and going into a coma after He had acute pneumonia. IOF surrounded the protesters and fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters to disperse them. As a result, clashes broke out between dozens of young men and IOF between Beit Duqqu and Beit Ijza villages. IOF also arrested Fo’ad Mansour (16) and ‘Ali Abu ‘Eid (17) from nearby Biddu village.
At approximately 18:00, several young men gathered in ‘Asidah area near the eastern entrance to Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, where IOF established a military checkpoint. The young men threw stones at the watchtower then while IOF chased the stone-throwers into the houses and fired sound bombs, teargas canisters and rubber bullets at them. Clashes broke out and continued until 20:00. As a result, stone-throwers suffocated. Also, IOF arrested Noor Ahmed al-‘Alami (16) and took him to a detention center in “Gush Etzion” settlement.
Saturday, 08 January 2022:
At around 15:30 on Saturday, 08 January 2022, IOF stationed at southern Qalqiliya checkpoint suppressed a protest organized by dozens of Palestinians. IOF chased the protesters, and clashes broke out. IOF fired sponge-tipped bullets, teargas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 3 protesters, including 2 children, were wounded with bullets in the limbs.
At around 17:00, a number of outraged young men gathered at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and threw stones at a watchtower established at the camp entrance leading to Bypass Road (60). IOF deployed in the area and chased the young men between houses. They then stationed near UNRWA distribution center and randomly fired teargas canisters at the stone-throwers. Teargas canisters fell near the houses, and several civilians suffocated. IOF later withdrew, closed the main road, and established a checkpoint there.
At around 08:00 on Sunday, 09 January 2022, IOF stationed along the border fence opened fire at the agricultural lands in eastern al-Qararah village, east of Khan Younis. No casualties were reported.
Around the same time, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in central Gaza Strip opened fire at the agricultural lands. No casualties were reported.
At around 14:30, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Deir Balah in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at the shepherds. No casualties were reported.
Monday, 10 January 2022:
On Monday, 10 January 2022, IOF arrested 5 students and wounded one of them at the Birzeit University entrance in Birzeit, northern Ramallah in central West Bank.
According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human rights (PCHR), at around 13:10 on Monday, 10 January 2022, an Israeli Special Unit called “Mista’arvim” operating undercover and dressed as Palestinians sneaked into Birzeit, northern Ramallah, in a white bus. The Unit stationed near the western gate of Birzeit University and stopped 5 students as they stepped out of their car at the gates, to hold a meeting with the Trade Union at the University in order to discuss students and university matters. The students tried to run towards the university, but the Israeli Unit chased and opened fire at them, wounding one of them. They arrested the five students and took them to an IOF site in “Beit El” settlement, north of al-Bireh. IOF later released one of them and kept the others in custody.
The arrested students were identified as Ismail Barghouthi, who was wounded with a bullet in his lower limbs; Waleed Harazneh; Qassem Nakhleh; Mohammed al-Khatib and Abdel Hafez al-Sharabati, who was released a few hours later.
‘Abdel Hafez Hisham al-Sharabati said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“At around 13:30, I arrived along with my colleagues, Isma’il al-Barghouthi, Mohammed al-Khatib; Qassam Nakhleh and Waleed Harazneh, at the western gate of Birzeit University in a white Kia car. When we stepped out of the car, we were surprised with heavy shooting around us. I saw an Israeli unit dressed in plain clothes and accompanied by Israeli soldiers, so I knew they were lying in ambush. We tried to escape towards the university dorms, but we heard heavy shooting and stopped. Two of the Unit’s members surrounded me and handcuffed me, taking me to the bus.”
“I saw an Israeli officer open fire at my colleague, Isma’il al-Barghouthi, wounding him with a live bullet in his left thigh. The officers tried to provide first aid to him before taking us to the Caravelle microbus. Afterwards, I was taken to “Beit El” settlement, north of al-Bireh city, interrogated for few hours about the student union’s activity at the university and then released. I knew later that Isma’il was transferred to an Israeli hospital for treatment.”
Tuesday, 11 January 2022:
At around 08:10 on Tuesday, 11 January 2022, IOF stationed along the border fence, eat of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at the agricultural lands. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 10:30, IOF stationed in Site 16, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire sporadically at a group of farmers in their agricultural lands adjacent to the border fence. IOF also fired tens of teargas canisters, enticing fear among the farmers, and forcing them to leave. They suffocated but no damage was reported.
At around 11:00, IOF opened fire at several young men near a checkpoint established by IOF at the southern entrance to Halhoul, north of Hebron, under the pretext that they were thrown with stones. IOF chased the young men wounding and arresting one of them identified as Mo’men Yousif Ahmed Atrash (18), from Halhoul. Atrash was taken via an Israeli ambulance to Soroka Hospital without knowing the nature of his injury.
Wednesday, 12 January 2022:
On Wednesday, 12 January 2022, a Palestinian elderly died of a heart attack after he was handcuffed and detained by IOF in an under-construction building, northeast of Ramallah.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at around 01:30, IOF moved into Jiljilyya village, northeast of Ramallah, and stationed in the southern side of the village near the main entrance. IOF were foot-patrolling between houses when a car driven by ‘Omer Mohammed ‘Abdel Majeed As’ad (80), who held a U.S. Passport, arrived where IOF were stationed at the entrance. the soldiers stepped out of the military vehicle and forced As’ad to step out of his car after blindfolding and handcuffing him. They took him to an under-construction building in the village center and held him until 03:30, when he died.
Fouad Qattoum, Mayor of Jiljilyya and one of the young men who was detained in the building, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that ‘Omer As’ad (80) was surprised by IOF’s presence at the village entrance, as he was on his way back from a relative’s house in the village, and the soldiers forced him to get out of the car after Blindfolding and handcuffing him. They took him to an under-construction building that is 200 meters from where the military vehicles were stationed. It was found out later that he was left until 03:30 inside the building. After IOF’s withdrawal from the building and the whole village, and when 2 young men, who were detained in the same building, were on their way out, they noticed someone lying on ground and covered with a piece of clothes; they did not see him before because there were cement bags between the old man and them. One of the young men removed the piece of clothes and found As’ad as a dead body handcuffed with plastic wires to the back. He was taken to the hospital, where after medical examination, it was found out that he died due to a heart attack during his detention in the empty building.
IOF said in a statement,
“in the early morning, a Palestinian was found dead near Jiljilyya village. According to the initial investigation, the Palestinian was detained during IOF’s overnight operation in the village after he resisted a security check. However, he was released at night. Thus, The Military Police opened a probe into the incident and at the end of which the findings will be transferred to the Military Prosecution.”
At approximately 03:45, IOF arrested three brothers during their incursion into Bitounia village, west of Ramallah, after raiding and searching their family house. The arrestees were identified as Bassem (19), Samer(26), and Sa’ed Khaled Haddad (22). During IOF’s withdrawal from the village, several young men gathered and threw stones at IOF’s vehicles. Immediately, IOF fortified in their SUVs fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets at the protesters and journalists. As a result, a photojournalist namely Youssef Ahmed Shehadah (21) was wounded with a rubber bullet in the knee and was taken in a civilian car to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah for treatment.
Yousef Ahmed Shehadeh said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“I work as a photographer for the Palestine Times Agency, and when I was covering along with other journalists IOF’s incursion and arrest of young men from Bitounia village, west of Ramallah, I was in a place that is close to the house, which IOF raided and where the 3 brothers were arrested. Afterwards, three military SUVs withdrew, and I was at that time around 50 meters away from them, covering their withdrawal. The third Jeep passed in front of me while the back door was open, and 2 soldiers were pointing their weapons at us. One of the soldiers directly opened fire at me and hit me with a rubber bullet in my left knee, noting that I was wearing PRESS-marked vest. I screamed out of pain and could hardly move until I reached a civilian car that was parked around 2 and a half meters away and took me to Ramallah Hospital for treatment.”
At around 04:00, IOF moved into Beer al-Basha village, southwest of Jenin. Several Palestinians gathered and threw stones at IOF’s vehicles while IOF fired live and rubber bullets as well as sound bombs at the protesters. As a result, a 17-year-old child was wounded with bullets’ shrapnel in the left thigh and taken to Khalil Soliman Hospital in Jenin for treatment. Moreover, many suffocated due to teargas inhalation and received treatment on the spot.
II. Incursions and arrests
Thursday, 6 January 2022:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hizma village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched ‘Odah Ahmed ‘Askar al-Khatib (26)’s house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Suhaib Fares al-Za’aziq (23)’s house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Waleed Mohammed al-Mizyen (30)’s house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Balata village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Mohammed Khaled Jawad Salama (22)’s house and arrested him. During the IOF’s incursion into the village, an exchange of fire erupted between members of Palestinian armed groups and Israeli soldiers, which resulted in the murder of Bakeer Mohammed Mousa Hashash (20), after he sustained a live bullet wound in his head.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Qusra village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses, from which they arrested Mahmoud ‘Abed al-Rahman Abu Ridah (61), No’man ‘Abed al-Hameed Hasan (45) and ‘Asem Fawzi Hasan (37).
Around the same time, IOF moved into Tulkarm, where they raided and searched No’man Mohammed al-Zaghal (23)’s house and arrested him.
At approximately 10:30, IOF arrested Khadija Mohammed Khwais (43) while present in Bab al-Rahma prayer area inside al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 16:00, IOF arrested Fedaa al-Hedra (38) while getting out of al-Aqsa Mosque via the King Faisal Gate in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Thawri neighborhood, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Anas Ghaleb Bader (24)’s house and arrested him.
IOF carried out (4) incursions in Hebron city, Surif and Sa’ir villages, and Tulkarm city. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 07 January 2022
At approximately 03:45, IOF moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Jehad Helal Bani Shamsa (22), Dawoud Ibrahim Bani Shamsa (24) and Muneer Mohammed Bani Shamsa (22).
At approximately 13:30, IOF arrested Ahmed Waleed Shararah (17), from Aida Camp, north of Bethlehem, while crossing through al-Container military checkpoint, east of the city.
At approximately 15:00, IOF arrested Nedal Mohammed Ti’ma, from Qaffin village, north of Tulkarm, while present in Bab al-‘Amoud area, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 18:30, IOF stationed at Mavi Dotan Checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, arrested three citizens, from Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin, while passing through the checkpoint. The arrestees were identified as: Ahmed Yousef Abu Baker (20), Sameeh Naser Sameeh Abu Baker (19) and Rushdi Jawad al-Sheikh ‘Aki (20).
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Sil al-Harithiya and Misilyah villages in Jenin. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 08 January 2022
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Deir al-Ghusun village, north of Tukarm. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Osama Zaid ‘Awad (25) and Mo’taz ‘Adnan Taleb Badran (26) and arrested them.
At approximately 19:00, IOF arrested ‘Amer Ziyad Zaidani (26) while present in Bab al-Maghareba area in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. ‘Amer was returning to his home in ‘Ein al-Louza neighborhood in Silwan village.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Ahmed al-Haj Mahmoud, Mo’taz al-Haj Mahmoud and Mohammed Hussain Motawer.
Sunday, 09 January 2022:
At around 08:00, IOF arrested ‘Amer Khaled Taqatqah (17) and ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Taqatqah (22) after raiding and searching their houses during IOF’s incursion into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem.
IOF carried out 5 incursions into Sebastia and Burqa villages in Nablus and Beit Kahel and Ad-dhahiriya villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 10 January 2022:
At around 01:00, IOF arrested ‘Oday Farah Jumhour (27) after raiding and searching his house in IOF’s incursion into Beit ‘Anan village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem.
At approximately 02:00, IOF arrested Hamoudah ‘Abdullah Hammad (22) after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
Around the same time, IOF arrested Mohammed Majeed al-Zaghal (21) after raiding and searching his house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem.
At around 02:30, IOF arrested 3 civilians after raiding and searching their houses during IOF’s incursion into Bita village, southeast of Nablus. The arrestees were identified as Ibrahim ‘Ali Mohammed Khabisah (26), ‘Omer Salamah (Bani Shamsah (24) and Adham Ghaleb Abu Zaitoun (32).
Around the same time, IOF arrested Naser Mohammed al-Wahsh (23) after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into al-Saf Street in central Bethlehem.
At around 03:00, IOF arrested Hazem Jom’ah Salah (46) after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem.
Around the same time, IOF arrested ‘Abdel Rahman Mohannad ‘Abdel Rahim Sadqah (26) after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into ‘Anzah village southeast of Jenin.
At around 03:30, IOF arrested 7 Palestinians, including a child after raiding and searching their houses in IOF’s incursion into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. The arrestees were identified as Mohammed Ja’afar Taqatqah (23), Ibrahim Khaled Taqatqah (17), Mohammed Mahmoud Taqatqah (20), Ma’moun Akram Taqatqah (19), Rabie’a ‘Alaa Taqatqah (21), Nour al-Deen Jalal Taqatqah (24) and his brother Mohammed (22).
At around 16:00, Extremist Israeli Members of Knesset (MKs), Itamar Ben Gvir and Samur King, and Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, Aryeh King, accompanied with a group of settlers moved into al-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under Israeli police and special units’ heavy protection.
The committee of Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood said that the 2 MKs and Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor conducted a provocative visit to Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in coordination with Israeli journalists to cover their visits that aims at supporting the setters who seized Palestinian houses in the neighborhood. The committee said that several families confronted Ben Gvir after he insulted the families and calling them to leave. The families chanted national slogans expressing their steadfastness in the neighborhood. IOF also arrested an activist namely Mohammed Khader Abu al-Humus (55) by pushing and beating him after he raised the Palestinian flag in front of them. They also confiscated the flag.
IOF carried out 4 incursions into Beer al-Basha village, southwest of Jenin, Merda, Kafr al-Deek and Burqin villages in Salfit. They also raided a carpentry shop and poultry barracks belonging to Ahmed al-Hendi in Kafr Laqef, east of Qalqiliya and Merda and Burqin villages. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 11 January 2022:
At around 00:00, IOF handed Faris Khaled al-Khadour (18) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into Biddu village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem.
At around 01:30, IOF arrested ‘Alaa Saleh Shahin (23) after raiding and searching his house in the southern neighborhood in Tulkarm.
At around 02:00, IOF arrested Mohammed Eyad al-Masri (20) and 2 brothers: Mohammed and Bashar Na’im and al-Masri (16) and (21) after raiding and searching their houses in IOF’s incursion into al-Dheisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem.
At around 03:00, IOF arrested ‘Oday Saleh Saddouq and Hussein Yousif al-Shomali after raiding and searching their houses in Beit Sahour village, east of Bethlehem.
Around the same time, IOF arrested ‘Abdel Karim Qandil (22) after raiding and searching his house in Beit Sorik village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem.
At around the same time, IOF arrested Mo’ath Yousif al-Shyoukhi (23) after raiding and searching his house during IOF’s incursion into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem.
At around 03:30, IOF arrested Qaseem Waleed Khashan (28) after raiding and searching his house in Beer al-Basha village, southwest of Jenin.
At around 08:30, IOF backed by military vehicles and bulldozers moved 100 meters into al-Shokah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza strip, from the border fence with Israel. They combed and leveled the area before redeploying along the fence few hours later.
At around 20:00, IOF arrested Tariq ‘Abdullah Jaradat (24) from Silat al-Harithiya village, west of Jenin at a checkpoint established at ‘Arrabah intersection, southwest of Jenin.
IOF carried out an incursion into Jabe’a village, south of Jenin. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 12 January 2022:
At approximately 02:00, IOF arrested 3 Palestinians after raiding their family homes in Halhoul, Anwar Mohammed al-Baw (22); Ali Mohammed Abu-Zalata (18); and Malek Kahshan (19).
Around the same time, IOF arrested Wisam Es’aid (32) after raiding him family home in Hebron.
At approximately 02:30, IOF arrested Mohammed al-Shawaly (23) and Ammar al-Shawaly (44) after raiding their houses in Asira al-Sahamalya, Nablus.
At approximately 03:20, IOF arrested Abdullah Makhamra (39), Yusuf al-Jundi (38), and Ali al-Najar (40) after raiding their houses in Yatta, Hebron.
At approximately 03:30, IOF arrested Mohammed al-Shalabi (21), Amr Tahayna (23) and Samer Shawahna (20) after raiding their houses in Silat al-Harithiya, Jenin.
IOF carried 4 incursions into Dura, al-Aroub refugee camp in Hebron, Qabatya, and southern Jenin. No arrests were reported.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank
a. Land razing, demolitions, and notices
On Friday, 07 January 2022, Na’iem Hamdan Qara’een implemented the Israeli Municipality’s decision and self-demolished a room from his house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Na’iem Qara’een said that the room is annexed to his house a year and a half ago, aiming to expand the house. He indicated that the room is a living room built in an area of 20 square meters. Qara’een added that the Israeli Municipality handed a demolition notice to his family house, which is comprised of 2 stories, including his house, and built 22 years ago. When his family headed to the court, it ordered them to demolish the room built a year and a half ago firstly, so that they could delay the destruction of the house.
At approximately 11:00, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers moved into ‘Ain Fares area, east of Krisah village, east of Dura, southwest of Hebron, and deployed in the area. IOF confiscated Nabil Mohammed Sharha’s digger while building an agricultural road on Hamza Diyab Abu Saleh’s land, under the pretext of working in Area C without a prior permission.
At approximately 14:30 on Sunday, 09 January 2022, IOF confiscated an excavator belonging to Shaher Hussain Mostafa Qatt, from Madama village, southeast of Nablus, while working in a plot of land to plant it with olive trees in Tell village. The excavator was confiscated under the pretext of working in Area C.
At approximately 21:00, Ibrahim Abu Kaf implemented the Israeli Municipality’s decision and self-demolished his house in Qisam area in Sur Baher village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Abu Kaf said that his 120-square-meter house was built from 11 years, and he resides in it with his family comprised of 4 members and his son’s family comprised of 3 members, including 2 children.
He clarified that since he has lived in the house, Israeli Municipality pursued him and imposed a fine of 65,000 NIS on him in 2015; 54,000 were paid and other installments are paying monthly. Abu Kaf added that over the past years, he tried to license the house and he paid more than 300,000 NIS for engineers and lawyers in order to license the house and delay the demolition, but in vain. He indicated that at the end of 2021, the municipality insisted to self-demolish his house, or its staff will do so and impose a fine of 150,000 NIS on him.
Before demolishing his house, he received a phone call from the Israeli police informing him that they gave him until 04:00 to implement the demolition, or the municipality staff will move into the area and demolish the house. Abu Kaf said that after demolishing his house, he will rent a house for his family and another house for is son, despite the significant rise in house prices in Occupied East Jerusalem due to house demolitions policy. Abu Kaf emphasized that living condition on the city became very difficult and this is what Israeli authorities are seeking to do in order to force Palestinian to leave Jerusalem and live in other nearby cities in the West Bank.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 10 January 2022, Israeli Municipality construction vehicles razed 10 dunums, demolished a car wash and leveled a plot of land belonging to ‘Eliyan family in Isawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. Member of Isawiya follow-up committee, Mohammed Abu al-Humus, said that IOF demolished Mohammed Mostafa’s 60-square-meter car wash built of bricks and iron near the eastern entrance of the village.
They also razed 10 dunums belonging to several families, southeast of Isawiya village, in favor of establishing Talmudic National Park, which is scheduled to extend from al-Isawiya village to al-Tur village and then to Wadi al-Rababa village lands in Silwan. Abu al-Humus clarified that after several hours, the municipality construction vehicles and staff moved into al- Aqsa Mosque’s guard Fadi ‘Ali ‘Eliyan (34)’s family land and leveled it, despite that the family implemented the municipality order and demolished a bran established on the land a day before. Abu al-Humus added that the 200-square-meter barn was built of bricks and iron pillars. He also indicated that the municipality notified that family to demolish the barn 2 months ago.
Last Friday, the municipality gave the family until Monday dawn to implement the demolition, so the family demolished the house on Sunday, fearing for paying a fine of tens of thousands of shekels. Despite that, the municipality moved into the land few hours after demolishing the barn and razed it without any justification. It should be noted that at the beginning of 2022, IOF demolished Fadi ‘Eliyan’s family house ( 370 sqm), which was comprised of 4 apartments sheltering 17 members, including 12 children. Fadi has been arrested in the Israeli jails since December 2021, and he was arrested several times and threatened to demolish his house. Also, he was exposed to harassments and assaults, because of his work at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Around the same time, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers and a bulldozer moved into Kherbet Fer’ah, east of Idhna village, west of Hebron. IOF deployed in the area while the bulldozer demolished Khalil Isma’il Taninah’s (65) following facilities:
1. A 22-square-meter house built of tin plates sheltering Taninah’s family of 5 members, including a child.
2. A 60-square-meter agricultural tent used as livestock barn sheltering 70 sheep and built of sheds and iron pillars.
3. A 4-square-meter bathroom built of tin plates.
Taninah said that Israeli authorities demolished his facilities without handing him cease-construction or demolition notices. He added that on 08 November 2021, Israeli authorities demolished his facilities established on the same place, but he rebuilt them after receiving assistance from several institutions.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction cemetery in Umm Tuba village, southeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mohammed Idreis, cemetery supervisor, said that the villagers were shocked by storming the village’s cemetery by municipality staff, bulldozers, and a large number of Israeli soldiers, demolishing its wall, destroying 100 under-construction graves, and then leveled it.
Idreis indicated that the municipality hanged a demolition notice on the cemetery wall 2 weeks ago, so Abu Tir family, which constitutes the majority of the village’s residents, headed to the court to stop the demolition, as it has begun its legal procedures. He added that Abu Tir family established a new cemetery 6 months ago on an area of one dunum after that old cemetery built in 1920 reached full capacity. He also pointed out that the family is currently suffering from the shortage of graves, and their only choice now is to expand the cemetery and build 100 new graves instead of those demolished by municipality staff.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 11 January 2022, Israeli authorities demolished a residential tent sheltering Ramzi Qisa’s family in al-Makhrour area, northwest of Beit Jala city, west of Bethlehem. Qisa said that the 70-square-meter tent built of woods, fabric and sheds was established on his family land in al-Makhrour area, and sheltered his family comprised of 6 members, including a child and 2 women. He indicated that he built the tent in 2019 after demolishing his 2-storey house and his restaurant by IOF, under the pretext of non-licensing. Qisa added that his house and restaurant were established on his 5 dunums, and IOF demolished them 3 times: on May 2012, on 16 January 2013, and on 27 August 2019.
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 12 January 2022, IOF backed by military vehicles and accompanied with Israeli Civil Administration officers and bulldozers moved into al-Fakhit village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. IOF deployed between residential houses while military construction vehicles demolished the following facilities:
Three dwellings built of bricks and tin plates, each of them built in an area of 25 square meters. The dwellings belong to Mohammed Abu Sabha and he lived in it along with his family comprised of 14 members, and his mother and his stepmother.
1. Mohammed Abu Sabha’s under-construction water well (70 cubic meters).
2. Mohammed Abu Sabha’s 50-square-meter fodder store built of bricks and tin plates.
3. Akram Sari Abu Sabha’s 150-square-meter barrack built of iron and tin plates and used for breeding livestock.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli bulldozers demolished two retaining walls in Al-Walaja village, west of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Khader al-A’raj, Head of Al-Walaja village’s council, said that IOF moved into the village and demolished Jameel ‘Ali Abu Hamdan’s retaining wall in Khelet al-Hour area in the center of the village, and another retaining wall belonging to ‘Ali Hasan al-Darras in Khelet al-Samak area. Al-A’raj indicated that IOF closed the two areas, prevented anyone from approach and fired teargas canisters at villagers to disperse them.
b. Setters’ Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and their Property
At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 07 January 2022, a group of settlers, from ” Susya ” settlement, which is established on the confiscated Susya village’s lands, south of Yatta city in southern Hebron, assaulted Palestinian young men while present in their lands located near the settlement. A number of villagers rushed to the village, where settler present, to prevent them from approaching the tent. Meanwhile, a settler opened fire in the sky while other settlers threw stones. As a result, Mohammed Salem al-Haddar (40) was hit with a stone in his head and taken to Yatta Governmental Hospital. Afterwards. IOF arrived and dispersed the villages, while the settlers returned to the settlement. It should be noted that villages located south and east of Yatta city, are subjected to recurrence settlers’ attacks, aiming at preventing Palestinian farmers from planting their lands with winter crops.
At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 09 January 2022, a number of Israeli settlers, from “Beit Romano “settlement outpost, which is established on central Hebron, deployed on the roofs of buildings located near the old municipality building at the end of al-Shalalah Market. They threw stones at Palestinians wandering on the road leading to the Old City, but no casualties were reported. It should be noted that IOF established a military watchtower in the area, and they saw settlers’ attack, but did not intervene. Also, IOF and settlers pass through the area almost every day, as there is the main gate that connects the old market with the closed Shuhada Street, which was seized by settlers after the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre in 1994.
At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 09 January 2022, an Israeli settler threw stones at ‘Abeer Dawoud Abu al-Jamal (32)’s vehicle while passing on a road leading to al-Jeep military checkpoint, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. As a result, the vehicle’s glass was broken and ‘Abeed sustained wounds in her face. She was then taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital in West Jerusalem, for treatment. Abu Jamal family said that ‘Abeer was coming from Ramallah and returning to her house in Jabel Mukaber village in occupied East Jerusalem. When she approached al-Jeep checkpoint, she was shocked by an Israeli settler throwing stones at her vehicle, breaking the windshield glass and wounding ‘Abeer in her face. The family indicated that ‘Abeer sustained fractures in her jaw and bruises in the face. Accordingly, she underwent a surgery and received 8 stitches, and she is waiting to undergo another surgery. The family expressed their anger that the Israeli police did not open an investigation into the incident and did not take ‘Abeer’s testimony.
