The US-Israeli strategy of attempting to tie the destiny of the Arab world with Tel Aviv and to crush the idea of Palestinian resistance to occupation failed on October 7.
There are some governments that are so cruel and unjust that people have no choice but to resist by force. After 16 years, the steel and concrete wall constructed by Israel to imprison Palestinians in Gaza was breached by Palestinian resistance forces on October 7.
The current challenge is to break through the wall of US-Israeli myths and lies that have been carefully constructed over the decades to maintain Israel’s long history of oppression and injustice against the Palestinians; fabrications that have been used to sustain US-Israeli hegemony in West Asia.
Eleven minutes after Zionist leaders declared, without UN Security Council approval, “independence” on 14 May 1948, President Harry S. Truman became the first world leader to officially recognize the self-proclaimed “Jewish” state. The lies that began on that date have never ceased; nor has Palestinian resistance to the racist, settler-colonial “state” being built on their land.
There has also been no break in America’s complicity in financing, protecting, and sustaining the Zionist colonial project in the heart of the Muslim world – a relationship that has exacted an unimaginable price on the Palestinians and on all the people of the region.
The United States sees itself in Israel. For it too was founded on racism and built on indigenous land. US history is replete with examples of resistance and rebellion that mirror the attack of that fateful day.
The indigenous people have never ceased resisting US policies of expansion, removal, and extermination. And the more than 250 acts of resistance by enslaved blacks have been well documented. The most violent of these slave rebellions took place on 21 August 1831 in Southampton, Virginia. The Nat Turner Revolt and the reaction to it are uncannily similar to October 7 in terms of the causes and reaction.
Today, historians look back on that August day differently. The slaughter of over 55 white enslavers, their wives, and children is called a rebellion, insurrection, or revolt. Although the insurrection gave northerner abolitionists a black hero and a martyr for the movement, most newspapers of that era, especially in the South, denounced Turner’s revolt as a massacre. The event further radicalized American politics and moved the country closer to civil war.
Like the corporate media of today which has accepted Israel’s narrative as fact, editors in 1831 rushed to report news, merely reprinting articles that appeared in Virginia newspapers. And analogous to events unfolding currently, the failure to check facts led to the publication of inaccurate, prejudicial, and harmful misinformation.
Akin to the Israeli regime, which has been conducting genocide in Gaza and the West Bank under the guise of eliminating Hamas, revenge-minded white vigilantes lynched blacks who played no part in the uprising. Southern writers talked of retaliation, calling for ethnic cleansing and pogroms against the enslaved and free blacks of Southampton County, expressing a willingness to conduct a “final solution” for Virginia’s black population.
There were few, especially in the South, willing to accept that slavery was the root cause of Turner’s revolt. Similarly, in 2023 the corporate media has drowned out the voices of those contending that the attack by Hamas was inevitable, that it was an act of resistance to 75 years of settler-colonialist violence and Israel’s never-ending war against Palestinians. The media have instead eschewed context, either ignoring or discounting the severity of the Israeli apartheid regime.
The regimes in Washington and Tel Aviv believe they can crush Palestinian resistance by exterminating the Palestinian political and military organization, Hamas (Harakah al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah), an Arabic phrase meaning Islamic Resistance Movement. It looks as if Israel’s objective is to kill as many Palestinians as they can until the moral conscience of the Western world is stirred.
Israel has never observed international and humanitarian laws demanded of an occupying power. Its occupation of Palestine is illegal. Therefore, all Israelis living on Palestinian land are colonizers, regardless of whether they live in Tel Aviv or in the occupied West Bank. Also, all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 have been soldiers, since national military service is mandatory (Palestinian citizens of Israel are exempt).
Under international law, Palestinian resistance, even armed resistance, to occupation is legitimate. Conversely, Israel’s claim that it has a “right to defend itself” is illegitimate. According to international law, it does not have that right as long as it illegally occupies Palestine.
Not only does Israel not have the right to defend itself, Miko Peled, Israeli-American peace and human rights activist, has made the case that Israel as an apartheid state—which it is—does not have the right to exist. And that dismantling the apartheid state and replacing it with a true democracy, one person-one vote, is the only path to peace and security in the region.
In the midst of the current tragedy, it is important to know that before the introduction of Zionism by the imperial powers following World War I, Palestinian Jews lived peacefully with their Muslims and Christian neighbors; harmony that was shaped by a millennium of openness and coexistence.
Continuing the Muslim tradition of tolerance, Muslims, Christians and Jews lived and thrived together under Ottoman rule (1516-1918). In the 1500s, the gates of Palestine were opened to Jews fleeing persecution in Spain and other parts of Christendom. The inscription on the Jaffa Gate (the main western gate into the Old City) reflects that spirit, reads: “There is no God but God, and Abraham is his friend.”
The forceful importation of European Zionist ideology and settler-colonialism into Palestine destabilized Palestinian life and the region. The current tragedy in Gaza can be traced directly to the arbitrary partition of West Asia and the British mandate of Palestine (and Iraq) at the end of the war. In November 1917, the British government, with no regard for the indigenous population, publicly stated its support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” on Palestinian land. The Balfour Declaration, as it came to be known, set in motion Israel’s 75-year genocidal war against the Palestinians. And since 1948, the United States has financed and abetted Israel’s war.
Washington’s hegemonic plans for the region, dependent on its garrison regime in Tel Aviv, have begun to fall apart and pretenses of “honest broker” exposed. From all appearances, the United States has lost control of the Frankenstein monster it helped create.
On October 7, Palestinian freedom fighters did what the United States and Israel thought unimaginable, they dared to leave the “reservation,” to escape their imprisonment. Until that pivotal event, Washington and Tel Aviv believed they were on a clear path to controlling the region and erasing the Palestinian cause by brokering normalization agreements between Israel and authoritarian Arab Gulf regimes.
Resistance movements in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Iran were considered marginalized and contained. The US-Israeli strategy of attempting to tie the destiny of the Arab world with Tel Aviv and to crush the idea of Palestinian resistance to occupation failed on October 7.
At present, the Biden administration has made Israel’s war on Palestinians its war. Without the consent of the Congress, it has given the Netanyahu regime the green light to continue bombing, slaughtering and starving the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza and murdering, imprisoning and terrorizing the over 2 million Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.
The Biden administration has also refused to support life-saving UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. From 1954 to the present, the United States has used its veto power 34 times to block Security Council resolutions critical of Israel and that have attempted to hold it accountable for its violations of international law in Palestine. Israel has consistently ignored all resolutions pertaining to its crimes against Palestinians and keeps bombing UN institutions and personnel in Gaza today.
Additionally, President Biden has submitted a request to Congress for additional military aid for Israel amounting to $14.3 billion to complete its genocide in Gaza (and the West Bank), a request that is in violation of US law. Twenty percent of Israel’s military budget is currently financed by US taxpayers. The Leahy Law, named after its sponsor, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and first enacted in 1997, prohibits the US government from providing military assistance to foreign security forces when there is credible information of human rights violations.
Like Israel, Washington is not playing by the “rules-based order” it demands of others and it is not observing the international laws it helped established. The United States is on the wrong side of history, and its decisions are jeopardizing America’s national security and what is left of its standing worldwide, endangering Muslims and Jews in the United States and in every country, fueling violence at home and in West Asia.
History is replete with acts of violent resistance to oppression. Apartheid is violent, and resistance to it is morally required. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that “To accept passively an unjust system is to cooperate with that system; thereby the oppressed become as evil as the oppressor. Non-cooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. The oppressed must never allow the conscience of the oppressor to slumber.”
– Dr. M. Reza Behnam is a political scientist specializing in the history, politics and governments of the Middle East. He contributed this article to The Palestine Chronicle.
The annual display of Jewish Supremacy in Palestine, known as the Flag March, is not limited to the Old City of Jerusalem. It is part of a campaign of intimidation in cities around the country that have a significant Palestinian population. This year this racist, violent display of supremacy took place in Jerusalem, Yafa ad El-Lyd.
THE TORAH SEED
What could be more innocuous than a seed? A Torah seed is a seed through which the Torah grows and spreads. Building bridges, connecting people to their ancient traditions, aiding those who are in need and generally developing communities steeped in the values of charity and goodwill. This is the veil behind which the Settler community is planting itself in what are known as “mixed cities.”
The world, and most Israeli Jews, concentrate only on the fanatic, racist gangs of settler communities in the West Bank. However, for several decades the same political, quasi-religious movement that created these awful communities has been moving into municipalities known as “mixed cities.” These include Yafa, El-Lyd, Ramle and a few others with large Palestinian populations.
Their purpose is twofold:
• To “plant the Torah seen in the Jewish communities,” or in other words, win the hearts and minds of poor, disenfranchised Israeli Jews, who typically live in “mixed cities.”
• To terrorize and eventually push out the Palestinian communities from these cities, making them pure and Jewish.
This, of course, has nothing to do with Judaism. It is yet another expression of the racist ideology which created the State of Israel and is known as Zionism.
WE ARE THE LANDLORDS
Claiming ownership of Palestine has always been an important Zionist talking point. What the Torah Seed groups are doing is marching through Palestinian neighborhoods to make that point. “We are the landlords,” we heard Itmar Ben-Gvir saying as he walked through the holy sanctuary of Al-Aqsa, and this they yell into the megaphones throughout Palestinian neighborhoods, in Yafa, El-Lyd, Ramle, Hebron, and, of course, Jerusalem.
These settlers – who many people think are confined to the West Bank – are taking over by squeezing Palestinians out. We no longer see trucks with soldiers evicting Palestinians like in 1948 or 1967. Instead, we see settler gangs armed with police protection terrorizing Palestinians and making their lives unlivable. Because these cities are within the boundaries of 1948 Palestine, it is not the army that protects these thugs but the police.
NUMBERS
In order to claim ownership of the land, Zionists have been obsessed with demographics. It was clear from the beginning that on that front, they are losing, and so they found a formula that makes it seem as though there is a Jewish majority and an Arab minority in “Israel.”
Another sign of the Zionist obsession with demographics is that the state of Israel conducts a census almost every year – and year after year for as long as I can remember, they end up with the same calculation. Not that the numbers don’t grow, but the percentage of Arabs always remains more or less at twenty percent of the total population.
We know that for decades Palestinians account for much more than twenty percent, so how does Israel do this? Well, it is not magic; they simply lie about the numbers. Israel does not count all the Palestinians, only the ones who live in the pre-1967 borders. In other words, while Jewish Israelis are counted regardless of where they live within the country, only Palestinians who live in 1948 Palestine are accounted for. This means that the state of Israel is leaving out more than five million Palestinians from their figures.
This makes sense when one considers that successive Israeli governments and Israeli society more generally see no connection to Palestinians living in the territories taken by Israel in 1967. While Palestinians who remained in 1948 are referred to as citizens, the ones who were added as a result of the 1967 occupation have no status and, therefore, do not (officially) exist.
TWO MARCHES PER YEAR
In the city of Yafa, which officially is part of the Tel Aviv municipality, the Settlers conduct two flag marches per year. One on Israeli Independence Day and one on Jerusalem Day. The city claims that it is an expression of diversity, not unlike days when Palestinians hold a Christmas parade or a Ramadan market. But there is a difference; neither the Christmas nor Ramadan events include harassment by uniformed militarized police and plain-clothed detectives.
During these parades of racism and supremacy, Palestinian citizens of the city are instructed to stay out of sight. They are subjected to searches and seizures, and they are confined to areas where they will be out of the way of the parading gangsters with flags of hate.
In the city of El-Lyd, thousands of settlers marched through the old town, through Palestinian neighborhoods and businesses, harassing and terrorizing anyone in their path. Over the years, El-Lyd has seen some of the worst violence by settler gangs, and this parade of hate and supremacy is there to let the Palestinians in the city that El-Lyd is not theirs. In 1948, the area had been subjected to brutal massacres and of the city’s 40,000 citizens, only 400 remained. Today, the Palestinian population makes up between 30% and 40% of the population.
PALESTINE IS NOT CONFINED TO THE WEST BANK
Many people still refer to 1948 Palestine as Israel and to the West Bank as Palestine. However, these people would do well to remember that until May 1948, it was all known as Palestine and that Palestinians live throughout the entire country and endure the same hate and violence regardless of where they live, what identification card they carry or whether they are counted by the Apartheid State or not.
In a self-congratulatory article published in the Atlantic in 2017, Yossi Klein Halevi describes Israeli behavior at the just-conquered holy Muslim shrines in Occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 as “an astonishing moment of religious restraint”.
“The Jewish people had just returned to its holiest site, from which it had been denied access for centuries, only to effectively yield sovereignty at its moment of triumph,” Halevi wrote with a lingering sense of pride, as if the world owes Israel a ton of gratitude in the way it conducted itself during one of the most egregious acts of violence in the modern history of the Middle East.
Halevi’s pompous discourse on Israel’s heightened sense of morality – compared to, according to his own analysis, the lack of Arab appreciation of Israel’s overtures and refusal to engage in peace talks – is not in any way unique. His is the same language recycled umpteen times by all Zionists, even by those who advocated for a Jewish state before it was established on the ruins of destroyed and ethnically cleansed Palestine.
From its nascent beginnings, the Zionist discourse was purposely confusing – disarranging history when necessary, and fabricating it when convenient. Though the resultant narrative on Israel’s inception and continuation as an exclusively Jewish state may appear confounding to honest readers of history, for Israel’s supporters – and certainly for the Zionists themselves – Israel, as an idea, makes perfect sense.
When Israel’s new National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir raided al-Aqsa Mosque on January 3 to re-introduce himself to Jewish extremists as the new face of Israeli politics, he was also taking the first steps in correcting, in his own perception, a historical injustice.
Like Halevi, and, in fact, most of Israel’s political classes, let alone mainstream intellectuals, Ben Gvir believes in the significance of Jerusalem and its holy shrines to the very future of their Jewish state. However, despite the general agreement on the power of the religious narrative in Israel, there are also marked differences.
What Halevi was bragging about in his piece in the Atlantic is this: soon after soldiers raised the Israeli flag, garnished with the Star of David, atop the Dome of the Rock they were ordered to take it down. They did so, supposedly, at the behest of then-Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, quoted in the piece as saying to the army unit commander: “Do you want to set the Middle East on fire?”
Eventually, Israel conquered all of Jerusalem. Since then, it has also done everything in its power to ethnically cleanse the city’s Palestinian Muslim and Christian inhabitants to ensure an absolute Jewish majority. What is taking place in Sheikh Jarrah and other Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem is but a continuation of this old, sad episode.
However, the Haram al-Sharif Compound – where Al-Aqsa Mosque, Dome of the Rock and other Muslim shrines are located – was nominally administered by the Islamic Waqf authorities. By doing so, Israel managed to enforce the inaccurate notion that religious freedom is still respected in Jerusalem even after Israel’s so-called ‘unification’ of the city, which will remain, according to Israel’s official discourse, the “united, eternal capital of the Jewish people”.
The reality on the ground, however, has been largely dictated by the Ben-Gvirs of Israel who, for decades, have labored to erase the Muslim and Christian history, identity and, at times, even their ancient graveyards from the Occupied city. Al-Haram Al-Sharif is hardly a religious oasis for Muslims but the site of daily clashes, whereby Israeli soldiers and Jewish extremists routinely storm the holy shrines, leaving behind broken bones, blood and tears.
Despite American support of Israel, the international community has never accepted Israel’s version of falsified history. Though the Jewish spiritual connection to the city is always acknowledged – in fact, it has been respected by Arabs and Muslims since Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab entered the city in 638 – Israel has been reminded by the United Nations, time and again, regarding the illegality of its Occupation and all related actions it carried out in the city since June of 1967.
But Ben Gvir and his Otzma Yehudit Party. like all of Israel’s major political forces, care little for international law, authentic history or Palestinians’ rights. However, their main point of contention regarding the proper course of action in Al-Aqsa is mostly internal. There are those who want to speed up the process of fully claiming Al-Aqsa as a Jewish site, and those who believe that such a move is untimely and, for now, unstrategic.
The former group, however, is winning the debate. Long marginalized at the periphery of Israeli politics, Israel’s religious parties are now inching closer to the center, which is affecting Israel’s priorities on how best to defeat the Palestinians.
Typical analyses attribute the rise of Israel’s religious constituencies to the desperation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is arguably using the likes of Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and Aryeh Deri to stay in office. However, this assessment does not tell the whole story, as the power of religious parties has long preceded Netanyahu’s political and legal woes. The Zionist discourse has, itself, been shifting towards religious Zionism; this can be easily observed in the growing religious sentiment in Israel’s judicial system, among the rank and file of the army, in the Knesset (Parliament) and, more recently, in the government itself.
These ideological shifts have even led some to argue that Ben-Gvir and his supporters are angling for a ‘religious war’. But is Ben-Gvir the one introducing religious war to the Zionist discourse?
In truth, early Zionists have never tried to mask the religious identity of their colonial project. “Zionism aims at establishing for the Jewish people a publicly and legally assured home in Palestine,” the Basel Program, adopted by the First Zionist Congress in 1897, stated. Little has changed since then. Israel is “the national state, not of all its citizens, but only of the Jewish people,” Netanyahu said in March 2019.
So, if Israel’s founding ideology, political discourse, Jewish Nation State Law, every war, illegal settlement, bypass road and even the very Israeli flag and national anthem were all directly linked or appealed to religion and religious sentiments, then it is safe to argue that Israel has been engaged in a religious war against Palestinians since its inception.
The Zionists, whether ‘political Zionists’ like Theodore Hertzl or ‘Spiritual Zionists’ like Ahad Ha’am’ – and now Netanyahu and Ben Gvir – have all used the Jewish religion to achieve the same end, colonizing all historic Palestine and ethnically cleansing its native population. Sadly, major part of this sinister mission has been achieved, though Palestinians continue to resist with the same ferocity of their ancestors.
The historic truth is that Ben-Gvir’s behavior is only a natural outcome of Zionist thinking, formulated over a century ago. Indeed, for Zionists – religious, secular or, even atheists – the war has always been or, more accurately, had to be, a religious one.
– Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He is the author of six books. His latest book, co-edited with Ilan Pappé, is “Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak out”. Dr. Baroud is a Non-resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA). His website iswww.ramzybaroud.net
Christianity was born in Palestine, but its population there is dwindling in numbers. “We are facing a very dangerous situation,” Archbishop Theodosios said, “where in a few years we might find the holiest city for Christians without any local Christians, without any indigenous Christians.”
OCCUPIED EAST JERUSALEM — Last month, Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) announced plans to encompass Christian holy sites within a national park. Church leaders condemned the move as part of systematic efforts to drive Christians out of the Holy Land.
Following backlash, INPA withdrew the plan from the Jerusalem Municipality’s March agenda, saying it would instead have discussions with local churches on how to preserve the area. Yet the project is back on the municipality’s Local Planning and Construction Committee’s agenda, scheduled for Aug. 31. INPA did not respond to requests for comment on why this item was placed back on the municipality’s agenda.
The plan proposes expanding the Jerusalem Walls National Park, which surrounds the Old City, by about 25% and calls for taking over privately-owned Palestinain and Church-owned land, including some of the most sacred Christian sites. Originally, the proposal also included a Jewish cemetery, but it was left out when Jewish authorities managing the cemetery opposed the decision.
Following the plan’s announcement, Israeli peace and human rights organizations Bimkom – Planners For Planning Rights, Emek Shaveh, Ir Amim, and Peace Now said in a joint statement:
There is a direct link between what is happening in Sheikh Jarrah and the expansion plan. These are various mechanisms used by Israel in East Jerusalem to entrench its sovereignty, to marginalize non-Jewish presence and to prevent much needed development of Palestinian neighborhoods, thereby increasing the pressure to push them out of the Old City basin.
Church leaders also slammed the outlined expansion in a letter to Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection:
This is a brutal measure that constitutes a direct and premeditated attack on the Christians in the Holy Land, on the churches and on their ancient, internationally guaranteed rights in the Holy City. Under the guise of protecting green spaces, the plan appears to serve an ideological agenda that denies the status and rights of Christians in Jerusalem.
The Jerusalem Walls National Park was established after Israel annexed East Jerusalem following the 1967 Six-Day War. Its declaration included the areas designated for expansion, but those efforts did not come to fruition — until now.
Israeli human rights organizations condemned expansion for restricting Palestinian building, while also stressing the park’s current state has significantly hindered Palestinian development.
Sari Kronish, the architect with Bimkom, said the Jerusalem Walls National Park contains several Palestinian neighborhoods, including Wadi-Hilweh and al-Hizbe. “It’s not just a ring around the Old City walls,” Kronish told MintPress News. “Both of these neighborhoods found themselves suddenly living inside a national park, which completely prevents their improvement and development and not to mention also brings heightened law enforcement.”
Palestinian neighborhoods are not the only community affected by the development of Israeli parks. Father Koryoun Baghdasaryan, chancellor of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, told MintPress that since 1967, the Armenian Patriarchate has not received a permit to construct anything new in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City because the area is declared a green space.
“The idea of declaring [areas] national parks or green zones is to impose restrictions,” Baghdasaryan said, explaining how these restrictions have depleted the quarter’s commercial activity and economic growth. “Armenians bought these properties to secure the income for the patriarchate, the convent, to survive here,” Baghdasaryan continued. “Now there is no profit for us.”
Settlers taking over
In their letter to Israel’s environmental protection minister regarding the extension of the Jerusalem Walls National Park, church leaders wrote:
In recent years, we cannot help but feel that various entities are seeking to minimize, not to say eliminate, any non-Jewish characteristics of the Holy City by attempting to alter the status quo… [I]t seems that [the plan] was put forward and is being orchestrated, advanced and promoted by entities whose apparent sole purpose is to confiscate and nationalize one of the holiest sites to Christianity and alter its nature.
The churches are referring here to Israeli settler groups. More specifically, the settler associations Ir David Foundation (or El’ad) and Ateret Cohanim, which have been part of real estate and building operations in and around the Old City.
“They’re trying to create a ring of settlement-related tourism attractions around the Old City,” said Talya Ezrahi, external relations coordinator at Emek Shaveh, an Israeli non-profit focused on archaeology. “Their objective is to transform the identity of the space around the Old City from one that is multicultural and multi-faith into one that has a Judeocentric narrative that justifies the settlements.”
Ateret Cohanim’s endeavors are slightly different. In the Christian Quarter of the Old City, the settler group purchased the Petra and New Imperial hotels from the Greek Orthodox Church in 2004 through a secret deal orchestrated by Nikolaos Papadimas, who was then responsible for the church’s properties. Papadimas disappeared following the $1.25 million sale. Now, the New Imperial Hotel’s Palestinian management is embroiled in a legal battle against their eviction after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled the deal was done in good faith in 2019.
The hotel is situated between the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches and next to the Old City’s main entrance, Jaffa Gate. “If this is in the hands of this radical group, this will threaten the Christian presence on Jaffa Gate and in Jerusalem,” Walid Dajani, the hotel’s manager, told MintPress. His family has been running the hotel since 1949 and are protected tenants.
Archbishop Theodosios of Sebastia, from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, explained lands owned by the Greek Orthodox church are part of a Christian waqf or trust, meaning they are not for sale. “These properties support the steadfastness of Christians,” Archbishop Theodosios said. “These deals are illegal and these properties shall remain in the ownership of the church.” The religious leader added the Christian waqf had been under threat prior to the establishment of the Israeli state. “It started even before 1948,” Archbishop Theodosios said. “There are so many lands that belonged to churches in western Jerusalem that have been confiscated and so many Israeli official institutions were then built on these lands.”
Ateret Cohanim declined to comment on the matter.
Attacks against Christians increasing
A Palestinian Christian, lights candles, in a morning Christmas mass at St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Church, in the West Bank village of Burqin near Jenin city, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Mohammed Ballas)
belonging to the Christian community are under threat, so too is their own safety.
Both Father Baghdasaryan and Archbishop Theodosios described how nearly anyone wearing a cross while walking through the Old City will experience verbal or physical assaults from Jewish extremists. “Once a person is identified as a Christian — doesn’t matter whether he is a clergyman, seminarian or a lay person — they [the settlers] just behave like they are not welcome here. They spit on them. They curse them,” Baghdasaryan said.
Armenian Christians are most susceptible to attacks, given the Armenian Quarter’s proximity to the Jewish Quarter. Last May, Armenian reverends Father Tiran Hakobyan and Father Arbak Sarukhanyan were beaten by a group of Israeli settlers while walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre from the Armenian Convent. Sarukhanyan was hospitalized for his injuries. “I have been in Jerusalem since 1995. [Attacks are] increasing yearly. In the past, there has never been any physical violence, but recently it’s becoming more and more common,” Baghdasaryan said.
Baghdasaryan has been spat on numerous times and Archbishop Theodosios has also been attacked when walking through the Old City. “Some of them are kids. They’re little children who spit, who verbally assault and who are treating religious people and elderly people in a very offensive way,” Archbishop Theodosios said. “These children are being raised on racism and hatred. They think that Jerusalem only belongs to them and not to any other people.”
But it’s not just physical violence that’s disturbing the Christian presence in Jerusalem. Archbishop Theodosios described how the municipality, together with settler groups, often organizes loud festivals during Jewish holidays in the Christian Quarter near the New Gate. “There will be music and dancing that is disrupting the area’s holiness and disrupting the daily lives of residents,” Archbishop Theodosios said. “It’s an attempt to change the dominant Christian atmosphere of that area.”
Erasing a community
Palestinian Christians carry an effigy of Jesus Christ covered by flowers, during a symbolic funeral as part of their services marking Good Friday in the West Bank village of Al-Zababedah near Jenin, Friday, April 18, 2014. Followers of the Eastern Orthodox Churches are marking the solemn period of Easter. (AP/Mohammed Ballas)
Archbishop Theodosios believes strategic efforts are behind the city’s decreasing Christian numbers. Violence and land confiscation are part of a larger plan to empty Jerusalem of its Christian inhabitants.
“We are facing a very dangerous situation,” Archbishop Theodosios said, “wherein a few years we might find the holiest city for Christians without any local Christians, without any indigenous Christians.”
What ‘Q’ Would Never Tell You…The Shocking Truth Behind the Conspiracy Theories
Editor’s Note: The history of the Khazarians, specifically the Khazarian Mafia (KM), the World’s largest Organized Crime Syndicate that the Khazarian oligarchy morphed into by their deployment of Babylonian Money-Magick, has been nearly completely excised from the history books.
The present-day KM knows that it cannot operate or exist without abject secrecy, and therefore has spent a lot of money having its history excised from the history books in order to prevent citizens of the World from learning about its “Evil beyond imagination”, that empowers this World’s largest Organized Crime Cabal.
The authors of this article have done their best to resurrect this lost, secret history of the Khazarians and their large International Organized Crime Syndicate, best referred to as the Khazarian Mafia (KM) and make this history available to the World via the Internet, which is the new Gutenberg Press.
It has been exceedingly difficult to reconstruct this hidden secret history of the KM, so please excuse any minor inaccuracies or errors which are unintentional and are due to the difficulty in digging out the true history of Khazaria and its mafia. We have done the best we can to reconstruct it.
It was Mike Harris that connected the dots and made the actual discovery of the presence of the Khazarian Mafia’s secret history and blood oath to take revenge on Russia for helping Americans win the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and their blood oath of revenge against America and Americans for winning these wars and sustaining the Union.
At the Syrian Conference on Combating Terrorism and Religious Extremism December 1, 2014 — in his Keynote address, Veterans Today Senior Editor and Director Gordon Duff disclosed publicly for the first time ever that World Terrorism is actually due to a large International Organized Crime Syndicate associated with Israel. This disclosure sent shock-waves at the Conference and almost instantly around the world, as almost every world leader received reports of Gordon Duff’s historical disclosure that same day, some within minutes.
And the shock-waves from his historic speech in Damascus continue to reverberate around the world even to this very day. And now Gordon Duff has asked President Putin to release Russian Intel which will expose about 300 traitors in Congress for their serious serial felonies and statutory espionage on behalf of the Khazarian Mafia (KM) against America and many Middle East nations.
We now know that the Khazarian Mafia (KM) is waging a secret war against America and Americans by the use of False-flag Gladio-style terrorism, and via the illegal and Unconstitutional Federal Reserve System, the IRS, the FBI, FEMA, Homeland Security and the TSA. We know for certain that the KM was responsible for deploying an inside-job, Gladio-style False-flag attack on America on 9-11-01, as well as the Murrah Building Bombing on April 19, 1995.
The Hidden History of the Incredibly Evil Khazarian Mafia
100-800 AD – an incredibly Evil Society Emerges in Khazaria:
Khazarians develop into a nation ruled by an evil king, who had ancient Babylonian black arts, occult oligarchs serving as his court. During this time, Khazarians became known to surround countries as thieves, murderers, road bandits, and for assuming the identities of those travelers they murdered as a normal occupational practice and way of life.
800 AD – The Ultimatum is delivered by Russia and other surrounding nations:
The leaders of the surrounding nations, especially Russia, have had so many years of complaints by their citizens that, as a group, they deliver an ultimatum to the Khazarian king. They send a communique to the Khazarian king that he must choose one of the three Abrahamic religions for his people, and make it his official state religion and require all Khazarian citizens to practice it, and socialize all Khazarian children to practice that faith.
The Khazarian king was given a choice between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. The Khazarian king chose Judaism and promised to stay within the requirements laid out by the surrounding confederacy of nations led by the Russian czar. Despite his agreement and promise, the Khazarian king and his inner circle of oligarchs kept practicing ancient Babylonian black-magic, also known as Secret Satanism. This Secret Satanism involved occult ceremonies featuring child sacrifice, after “bleeding them out”, drinking their blood and eating their hearts.
The deep dark secret of the occult ceremonies was that they were all based on ancient Baal Worship, also known as worship of the Owl. In order to fool the confederacy of nations led by Russia that were watching Khazaria, the Khazarian king melded these Luciferian black-magick practices with Judaism and created a secret Satanic-hybrid religion, known as Babylonian Talmudism. This was made the national religion of Khazaria and nurtured the same evil that Khazaria was known for before.
Sadly, the Khazarians continued their evil ways, robbing and murdering those from surrounding countries who traveled through Khazaria. Khazarian robbers often attempted to assume their identities after they murdered these visitors, and became masters of disguises and false identities — a practice they have continued even to this very day, along with their child-sacrifice occult ceremonies, which are actually ancient Baal Worship.
1,200 AD – Russia and the surrounding nations have had enough and take action:
About 1,200 AD, the Russians led a group of nations surrounding Khazaria and invaded it, in order to stop the Khazarian crimes against their people, which included the kidnapping of their young children and infants for their blood sacrifice ceremonies to Baal. The Khazarian king and his inner court of criminals and murderers came to be known as the Khazarian Mafia (KM) by neighboring countries.
The Khazarian leaders had a well-developed spy network through which they obtained prior warning and escaped from Khazaria to European nations to the west, taking their vast fortune with them in gold and silver. They laid low and regrouped while assuming new identities. In secret, they continued their Satanic child blood and sacrifice rituals and trusted Baal to give them the whole world and all its riches, as they claimed he had promised them, as long as they kept bleeding out and sacrificing children and infants for him.
The Khazarian king and his court Mafia plotted eternal revenge against the Russians and the surrounding nations that invaded Khazaria and drove them from power.
The Khazarian Mafia invades England after being expelled for hundreds of years:
To accomplish their invasion, they hired Oliver Cromwell to murder King Charles 1, and make England safe for banking again. This began the English Civil Wars which raged for nearly a decade, resulting in regicide of the royal family and hundreds of the genuine English nobility. This is how the City of London was set up as the banking capital of Europe and launched the beginning of the British Empire.
From David Icke’s website http://www.davidicke.com. David Icke was the first ever to courageously expose the Rothschilds publicly in front of hundreds. This, of course, makes him an international hero and we need more with his kind of courage to break open the coverup hiding the Khazarian Mafia and bring an end to their worldwide illegitimate power.[/caption]
The Khazarian Mafia (KM) decides to infiltrate and hijack all World Banking using Babylonian Black-Magick, also known as Babylonian Money-Magick or the secret art of making money from nothing also using the power of pernicious usury to accumulate interest:
The KM used their vast fortune to enter into a new system of banking, based on secret Babylonian black-magic money-magic that they claimed to have learned from the evil spirits of Baal, in return for their many child sacrifices to him.
This Babylonian money-magick involved the substitution of paper credit certificates for gold and silver deposits, which allowed travelers to travel with their money in a form that offered easy replacement should they lose the certificates or have them stolen.
Interesting how the very problem that was started by the Khazarians also had a solution provided by them. Eventually, the Khazarian king and his small surrounding court infiltrated Germany with a group that chose the name “the Bauers” of Germany to represent them and carry on their Baal-powered system of evil. The Bauers of the Red Shield, which represented their secret blood-based child sacrifices, changed their name to Rothschild (aka “child of the rock, Satan”).
The Rothschilds as the front Men for the Khazarian Mafia (KM) infiltrate and Hijack British Banking and then hijack the whole nation of England:
Bauer/Rothschild had five sons who infiltrated and took over European banking and the City of London Central Banking System through various crafty covert operations, including a false report of Napoleon winning against the British, when actually he lost. This allowed the Rothschilds to use fraud and deception to steal the wealth of the English nobility and the landed gentry, who had made business investments with the City of London Banking institutions.
The Rothschilds set up a private Fiat banking system that specialized in making counterfeit money from nothing — charging pernicious usury for the British people, using what should have been their own money.
This was the black art of Babylonian money-magick; they claimed to insiders that such technology and secret money power was provided to them by Baal, because of their frequent child bleeding-out and sacrifices rituals to Baal.
Once they had infiltrated and hijacked the British banking system, they interbred with the British Royals and infiltrated and completely hijacked all of England and all its major institutions. Some experts believe that the Rothschilds genocided the Royal Family members by staging secretly-managed illicit and adulterous breedings with their own Khazarian men in order to replace the Royals with their own pretenders to the throne.
The Khazarian Mafia (KM) wages an international effort to eradicate Kings who rule by the Divine Right of God Almighty:
Because the KM claims to have a personal partnership with Baal (aka the Devil, Lucifer, Satan) because of their sacrifices to him. They detest any kings who rule under the authority of God Almighty because most feel a responsibility to make sure their own people are protected from infiltrators and treasonous “Enemies within the Gates.”
In the 1600s, the KM murder the British Royals and substitute their own fakes. In the 1700s, they murder the French Royals. Right before WWI, they murder, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand to start WW1. In 1917 they assembled their KM army, the Bolsheviks, and infiltrate and hijack Russia, murder the Czar and his family in cold blood, bayonet his favorite daughter through the chest and steal all the Russian gold, silver and art treasures. Right before WW2, they murder the Austrian and German Royals. Then they get rid of the Chinese Royals and disempower the Japanese ruler.
The Khazarian Mafia’s intense hatred of anyone who professed faith in any God but their god Baal has motivated them to murder kings and royalty and make sure they can never rule. They have done the same with American presidents — running sophisticated covert operations to disempower them.
If that doesn’t work the KM assassinates them, as they did to McKinley, Lincoln, and JFK. The KM wants to eliminate any strong rulers or elected officials who dare to resist their Babylonian money-magick power or their covert power gained from the deployment of their human compromise network.
The Rothschilds create international narcotics trafficking on behalf of the KM:
The Rothschilds then covertly ran the British Empire and crafted an evil plan to recover the vast amounts of gold and silver the British had been paying to China for its high-quality silk and spices that were unavailable anywhere else.
The Rothschilds, through their international spy network, had heard of Turkish opium and its habit-forming characteristics. They deployed a covert operation to buy Turkish opium and sell it in China, infecting millions with a bad opium habit that brought back gold and silver into the Rothschild coffers, but not to the British People.
The opium addictions created by Rothschild opium sales to China harmed China so much that China went to war on two occasions to stop it. These wars were known as the Boxer Rebellions or the Opium Wars.
The money the Rothschilds gained from the sale of opium was so vast that they became even more addicted to the easy money than the opiate addicts were to the opium.
The Rothschilds were the funding source behind the establishment of the American Colonies, by incorporating the Hudson Bay Company and other trading companies to exploit the New World of the Americas. It was the Rothschild’s who ordered the mass extermination and genocide of the indigenous people of North America to allow for the exploitation of the vast natural resources of the continent.
The Rothschild’s also followed the same business template in the Caribbean and in the Asian sub-continent of India, resulting in the murder of millions of innocent people.The Rothschilds start the international slave trade, an enterprise that viewed these kidnapped humans as mere animals — a view that the Khazarians would impose on all the people of the world who were not part of their evil circle, which some called the “Old Black Nobility”:
The Rothschild’s next big project was to start the worldwide slave trade, buying slaves from crooked tribal chiefs in Africa who worked with them to kidnap members of competing tribes for sale as slaves.
The Rothschild slave traders then took these kidnapped slaves on their ships in cramped cells to America and the Caribbean where they were sold. Many died at sea due to bad conditions.
The Rothschild bankers learned early on that war was a great way to double their money in a short time by lending money to both warring sides. But in order to be guaranteed collections, they had to get taxation laws passed, which could be used to force payment.
The KM Rothschild private Fiat Counterfeit Banksters plot eternal revenge against the American Colonists and Russia who assisted them for losing the Revolutionary War:
When the Rothschilds lost the American Revolution, they blamed the Russian czar and the Russians for assisting the colonists by blockading British Ships.
They swore eternal revenge on the American colonists, just as they had when the Russians and their allies crushed Khazaria in 1,000 AD.
The Rothschilds and the English oligarchy that surrounded them plotted ways to retake America, and this became their main obsession.
Their favored plan is to set up an American central bank, featuring Babylonian money magic and secret counterfeiting.
The Rothschild KM attempts to retake America in 1812 on behalf of the Khazarian Mafia but fails, once again because of Russian interference:
This failure enraged the Rothschild KM, and they once again plot eternal revenge against both the Russians and the American colonists and plan to infiltrate and hijack both nations and asset strip, tyrannize and then mass-murder both nations and their populace.
The KM’s attempts to set up a private American central bank are blocked by President Andrew Jackson, who called them Satanic and vowed to route them out by the grace and power of Almighty God.
The Rothschild banksters regroup and continue their covert attempts to install their own Babylonian money-magick bank inside America.
Finally, in 1913, the Rothschild KM succeeds in establishing a major beachhead inside America — and an evil enemy of all American enter the gates of America:
In 1913, the Rothschild KM was able to establish a beachhead by bribing crooked, treasonous members of Congress to pass the illegal, Unconstitutional Federal Reserve Act on Christmas Eve without a required quorum. The Act was then signed by a crooked, bought-off President, who was a traitor to America, like the members of Congress who voted for it.
The Rothschild KM then create an illegal taxation System in America:
The KM put an illegal, Unconstitutional tax system in place, in order to make sure that Americans would have to pay for high-level USG spending, approved by a bought-off, crooked Congress and Presidential puppets, put in place by corrupt KM campaign finance.
It is easy for the KM to garner enough money to elect anyone they want because when you control a bank that is a secret major counterfeiter, you have all the money made for you that you desire. At about the same time that they created their illegal tax system in America, they also bribed members of Congress to approve the Internal Revenue Service, which is their private collection agency incorporated in Puerto Rico.
Soon afterward, they set up the Federal Bureau of Investigation to protect their banksters, to serve their cover-up needs and prevent them from ever being prosecuted for their child sacrifice rituals, pedophile networks; and to also serve as a covert Intel operation on their behalf.
Note that the FBI has no official charter, according to the Library of Congress, and has no right to exist or issue paychecks.
The Rothschild KM deployed the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia to extract incredibly savage, bloody revenge on innocent Russians, which they had plotted for many years, ever since Khazaria was destroyed:
The Rothschild KM pre-staged and engineered the Russian Revolution by using its central banks to pay for the Bolshevik infiltration of Russia and their Revolution on behalf of the Khazarian Mafia (KM).
The Bolsheviks were actually created and deployed by the Khazarian Mafia (KM) as the essential part of their long-planned revenge on the Russian Czar and the innocent Russian people for breaking up Khazaria in about 1,000 AD for its repeated robbery, murder and identity theft of travelers from countries surrounding Khazaria. This little-known fact explains the extreme violence taken out on Russia as long-standing revenge by the Rothschild-controlled Khazarian Mafia (KM).[/caption]
In a well-planned savage and inhuman bloodletting that stunned the world, the Bolsheviks were unleashed in full fury on behalf of the KM to gain revenge on the Russians. This had been planned since the destruction of Khazaria.
The Bolsheviks, at the direction of the Rothschild KM, raped, tortured and mass-murdered approximately 100 million Russians, including women, children, and infants. Some of the torture and bloodletting were so extreme, we are not going to mention it here in this article.
But readers who want to know can do some in-depth internet research on the “Red Terror” or the “Bolshevik Cheka” or watch the classic movie “The Checkist (1992)”.
The Rothschild Khazarian Mafia (KM) once again decided to sheep-dip themselves and infiltrated and hijacked all Judaism:
The Rothschild KM created a master plan to control all of Judaism and mind-kontrol Judaics. The Rothschild KM has hijacked Judaism, patterned it off of Babylonian Talmudism (Luciferianism or Satanism), and gained control over the banking and Wall Street professions in general, Congress, the major mass media; along with most wealth and economic means of success.
Thus, the Rothschild KM could pass out wealth and success to those Judaics who drank their Kool-aide and use them as cutouts, assets, and Sayanims. In this manner, the Rothschilds hijacked Judaism.
Their financing of the Israeli Knesset and construction of it using Freemason occult architecture displayed their commitment to the occult and Babylonian Talmudism and all the evil accompanying it, including child sacrifice to their secret god Baal. They set up a NWO system called World Zionism which taught and inculcated susceptible Judaics with a paranoid group delusion of racial superiority, which assumed that all Gentiles were intent on mass-murdering all Judaics.
Freemasonry architecture was used in the building of the Knesset and the Israeli Supreme Court viewed through windows.[/caption]
They called this racially-paranoid mass Judaic delusion of world conquest, “World Zionism”, which is really a form of covert Babylonian Talmudism or Luciferianism that had been unknown to mainstream Judaics. The system was designed to use Judaics as cover, but also to anoint them with Babylonian money-power, in order to use them as cutouts, and to later be sacrificed to Lucifer in two stages.
The first stage would be their planned WWII in Nazi work camps, cut off from supplies, resulting in the deaths of about 200,000 Judaics from starvation and disease, along with about 90,000 non-Judaic inmates from the same causes, according to respected Red Cross official figures. This number is 5% of what the Khazarian Mafia (aka the World Zionists) claim.
The second great sacrifice would be a final one, when their New World Order Luciferian King would be placed into power, and when all three Abrahamic religions would be eradicated — especially Judaism, which would be blamed for all the wars and destruction of the world.
By then, the Rothschilds would once again morph themselves into a complete new identity not associated with Judaism in any form, not even World Zionism.
It is important to realize that the Rothschild KM took Germany down to nothing after WWI, created a vacuum for Fascism, and then rebuilt it, creating Naziism and installing Hitler as a counter-force to their Russian Bolshevism.
Hitler became a problem for the KM when he broke free and begin acting in the interests of the German people and the free people of the world, and developed his own banking system free of the Rothschilds.
Hitler introduced a financial system that was free of usury and beneficial to the working class. This mandated the utter destruction of Germany and the German people because the Rothschilds and the Khazarians could never allow an economic system that did not depend upon usury to exist.
We see the same thing today with the Khazarian war against Islam because Islam forbids usury. That is why Israel is so vocal and aggressive about destroying the Islamic people of the world.
The KM expected this to be a large WWII and when they supported both sides, this could be used to industrialize the whole world and maximize their bankster money-power.
The Rothschild KM then bribed and induced Members of Congress to send American Soldiers to their pre-stage and engineered WWI:
As a continuance of their well-proven pattern of financing both sides in any war to maximize profits, the acquisition of more federal tax monies and increased international power, the Rothschild Khazarians once again bribed, blackmailed and induced members of Congress to declare war against Germany in 1917.
This was facilitated by a KM false-flag attack with the sinking of the Lusitania.
The Rothschild KM has since developed the usual pattern of covertly staging false-flag attacks as a standard operating procedure for inducing Americans to fight wars for the Khazarian Mafia.
After WWII was finished, the Rothschild KM deployed the Cold War and used this as an excuse to bring Nazi scientists and mind-kontrol experts to America under Operation Paperclip.
This allowed them to set up a worldwide spying and espionage system that far exceeded any of their prior efforts.
Under this new system, they continue to infiltrate and hijack all American institutions, including the various American church systems, Freemasonry (especially the Scottish Rite and York Rite), the US military, US Intel, and most private defense contractors, the Judiciary and most agencies of the USG, including most State governments, and both major political parties as well.
The Rothschild KM sets up Nazi Work Camps as a pretext to later manipulate the Allies into granting them their own private colony in Palestine, using land stolen from the Palestinians:
The Rothschild KM was able to use their self mislabeled, so-called “holocaust” to serve as a mind-kontrol trigger to thwart and resist any criticism of their Zionist ways.
The truth of the matter was that the Rothschild KM set up the Nazi work camps to make huge profits for their corporations that ran their work camps and supplied their Nazi war machine.
Dershowitz is upset by Noam Chomsky, Norman Finkelstein, Karl Marx and Gilad Atzmon’s failure to promote ‘Jewish Values.’ The question that comes to mind is what exactly can we learn about Jewish values from this Harvard ‘law scholar’?
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In this interview with Swiss thinker Piero San Giorgio I delve into the present global cultural, political and spiritual crisis identifying the centrality of Jewish identitarian philosophy at the heart of current events. Together we elaborate on the significant influence of Jewish thought on whatever is left out of both ‘Left’ and ‘Right.’ Those who are interested in my thought and the few who are still disturbed by my ideas will enjoy this extended discussion as we simplified some of the most problematic contemporary topics to do with controlled opposition, identitarianism, the collapse of the Left and its surrender to biological determinism, the centrality of Zionism and more.
Israeli policewoman alleged to have shot Palestinian after telling him to run away
She was later sacked after the offence was released and may face charges
Video of the incident was released by Israel’s Channel 13 news agency
Believed to have been recorded at the al-Zaim checkpoint outside of Jerusalem
Human rights group B’Tselem said the incident was down to ‘culture of impunity’
William Cole – Mail Online Nov 5, 2019
This is the shocking moment an Israeli police officer was recorded shooting a Palestinian man in the back ‘for fun’.
Leaked footage, believed to be from the al-Zaim checkpoint outside of Jerusalem, shows the man falling to the floor in howls of pain after being hit with a sponge-tipped bullet.
Broadcast on Israeli television, the cruel footage shows border officers shouting at the young man to ‘get out of here!’ in Arabic.
One officer then points his rifle at the Palestinian man, who holds his hands up and starts to calmly walk away.
However, Channel 13 news agency report that the police then continue to shout contradicting instructions at him as he begins to panic, before one of them shoots him in the back.
They report the police as saying the man was not seriously hurt, although newspaper Haaretz reported that he was ‘seriously wounded’.
Israeli police said they removed the policewoman from the force after learning of the incident, while other police involved in the incident were re-assigned.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the justice ministry had opened an investigation into the incident, which he said took place a year and a half ago.
Israeli Soldier Shoots Unarmed Palestinian in the Back
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in Palestine Territory (31 October – 06 November)
Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory
31 October – 06 November 2019
Palestinian civilian killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Khan Younis as IOF carried out dozens of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip
147 Palestinian civilians shot and injured by IOF, including 55 children, 3 women, 2 paramedics and 1 journalist at GMR protests in Eastern Gaza Strip
West Bank: 4 civilians shot and injured, including 2 children
During 89 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 73 civilians arrested, including 12 children and 3 women, including:
Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi al-Hedmi; Member of the Dissolved Palestinian Legislative Council, Khaleda Jarar; and writer Ali Jaradat.
10 military orders and notices issued for the confiscation of 3630 dunums in the West Bank
Residential Building demolished and 10 demolition notices issued in occupied East Jerusalem; a barn and a tent bulldozed in Hebron
Settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian farmers in the olive-harvest season in the West Bank for the 5th consecutive week
5 shootings reported at Palestinian agricultural lands, and 4 shootings at the Palestinian fishing boats, east and west of Gaza Strip
42 temporary checkpoints erupted in the West Bank: 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested
Palestinian merchant from the Gaza Strip arrested at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing.
Summary
This week, PCHR documented 165 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
As part of the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity:
In the Gaza Strip, IOF killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded another in an airstrike on Khan Younis as IOF warplanes carried out several strikes across the Gaza Strip. Moreover, IOF wounded 147 Palestinian civilians, including 55 children, 3 women, 2 paramedics and a journalist on the 81st Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege protest (GMR). In addition, seven shootings at agricultural lands and shepherds were documented near the eastern side of the Gaza-Israel border while 4 shootings were reported at fishing boats in the western Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported. Meanwhile in the West Bank, IOF wounded 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, in separate incidents.
Under IOF incursions and house raids, 89 incursions into the West Bank were reported. Those incursions include raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, arresting and/or injuring many others. During this week’s incursions, 73 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 children and 3 women. Among the arrestees was Khaledah Jarrar, Member of the Dissolved Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC); ‘Ali Jaradat, a writer, and Fadi al-Hedmi, Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, who was later released.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF carried out a limited incursion during which it leveled lands it had previously bulldozed amidst continued shooting. No injuries were reported.
Under the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, PCHR documented 10 military orders and 10 military notices to seize 3630 dunums in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Moreover, IOF demolished a residential building and distributed 10 demolitions notices in occupied East Jerusalem; meanwhile a tent and barn were demolished in Hebron by IOF. Also, 4 settler-attacks were documented against farmers in the olive-harvest season.
In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, aggravating the humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.
Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip
IOF continued its excessive use of lethal force against GMR peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
On 01 November 2019, Israeli forces wounded 147 civilians, including 55 children, 3 women, 2 paramedics and a journalist in the 81st Friday titled: “Down with the Balfour Declaration.”
Thousands of civilians took part in the GRM in the five encampments across the Gaza Strip, where some protestors raised the Palestinian flags and chanted national slogans and attempted to set tires on fire, throw stones, Molotov Cocktails and firecrackers at the Israeli forces, who responded with excessive force.
The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: demonstrations took part adjacent to Abu Safiyah area protests, northeast of Jabalia, and in southeast of Beit Hanoun. Israeli forces’ attacks against protestors resulted in the injury of 47 civilians, including 22 children, 2 women and a paramedic: 24 with live bullets and shrapnel, including 13 children; 19 with rubber bullets, including 9 children, a woman and a paramedic; and 4 were hit with tear gas canisters, including a woman. Shady Fayez Awadallah Awadallah (33), a paramedic, was shot with a rubber bullet in his right leg; Moath Mohammed Mohammed Abu-Amira (25) was shot in the head with a live bullet, and he is in extremely critical condition.
Gaza City: IOF shot and injured 12 civilians, including 3 children: 7 with live bullets and shrapnel and 5 with rubber bullets. It is notable that participation at the Malakah area has significantly decreased and participants are generally less active and remain within the vicinity of the established tents. Furthermore, a park was established in the area and named “al-Awda” (The Return) Park.
Central Gaza Strip: Protestors burnt tires, a coffin with the Israeli flag on it and a figurine of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and hrew stones and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli forces. IOF shot and injured 16 civilians, including 7 children and a woman: 7 with live bullets, 2 with rubber bullets, and 7 were hit with tear gas canisters.
Khan Younis: IOF’s’ attacks resulted in the injury of 33 civilians, including 13 children and a paramedic: 7 with live bullets and shrapnel. Many protestors suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and received treatment in the field. A few protestors set tires on fire adjacent to the border fence. Sami Moussa Abu-Moustafa (35), a paramedic, sustained a rubber-bullet-wound to his left hand. Abu-Moustafa volunteers with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS); IOF targeted a PRCS ambulance with rubber bullets, shattering its windshield with no injuries.
Rafah: IOF shot and injured 39 civilians, including 10 children and a journalist; 3 were deemed in critical: 27 with live bullets and shrapnel, 8 with rubber bullets, and 4 were hit with tear gas canisters. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Deeb al-Khatib (42), a freelance journalist, sustained a rubber-bullet wound to his right arm. Ahmed Jum’a al-Lolahy (20) and Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Abu-Jarbou’ (20) were shot in their lower extremities with live bullets, and Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Ramadan Abu-Taim (18) sustained a live bullet to the head; all three are in critical condition.
Excessive use of force in the West Bank:
At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 31 October 2019, IOF dispersed a peaceful protest in Bab al-‘Amoud area in the centre of occupied East Jerusalem in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. Israeli police attacked participants and then arrested 4 young men. Eyewitnesses said that IOF dispersed a group of Palestinians, who were chanting national slogans in support to the prisoners in Bab al-‘Amoud area. The soldiers chased and attacked them physically and arrested Farah Sa’eed Bayadsah (29), a lawyer at Addameer, Danan Mustafa Ruweidi (23), Omer al-Khatib and Mo’ayad Debah. The eyewitnesses added that IOF detained the arrestees in a room in Bab al-‘Amoud area, surrounded the area and attempted to forcibly keep civilians away from the area. The arrestees were later taken to Salah Eden police centre. Few hours later, IOF released Ruweidi, al-Khatib and Debah with a 2-week ban on entering Bab al-‘Amoud area and Salah Eden Street, while Bayadsah was released with no conditions.
At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 01 November 2019, dozens of Palestinians youngsters gathered at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed at the camp’s entrance. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them, wounding a 16-year-old child with a live bullet in the left thigh. The child was transferred via a PRSC ambulance to Abu al-Hasan al-Qasem Hospital in Yatta, south of Hebron for treatment.
At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 02 November 2019, IOF dispersed a peaceful protest organized on Salah Eden Street, in the centre of occupied East Jerusalem in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons for the third time a week. They attacked the protestors and arrested Ahmed Hussein al-Safadi (45), Member of the National Action Commission. Eyewitnesses stated that IOF surrounded the participants, who raised pictures of prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons, and forcibly dispersed them with the help of the Israeli mounted police and arrested journalist Ahmed al-Safadi and took him to Salah Eden police centre for investigation.
At the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men and children, gathered in Bab al-Zawhiyah area in the centre of Hebron. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed at the military checkpoint established at al-Shuhada’a street entrance. The soldiers chased stone-throwers until they reached ‘Alia Hospital’s square, causing fear among the patients, and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of them suffered due to tear gas inhalation.
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 01 November 2019, IOF stationed in eastern Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands in eastern Khuza’ah village for half an hour. A live bullet hit the window of Hafez Hussein Mohammed al-‘Amour’s 80-square-meter house, home to a family of 4 and located at least 1 kilometer away from the border fence.
At approximately 21:30 on the same Friday, Israeli gunboats stationed in western Jabalia shore in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 – 5 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing fire their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
On Saturday dawn on 02 November 2019, A Palestinian civilian was killed and another was wounded in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house, which is used as a resort, southwest of Khan Younis, within a series of Israeli airstrikes throughout the Gaza Strip.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 01:37, an Israeli drone fired a missile near Mahmoud Hamzah al-Farah’s 60sqm summer house located on a 1-dunum land in an agricultural area in al-Mawasi, southwest of Khan Younis. Few minutes, later an IOF warplane fired a missile at the house and destroyed it completely causing a huge crater. As a result, Ahmed Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-Shahri (27) was killed and his body was retrieved from the rubble, while Khamis Ayman Khamis ‘Abdin (24) sustained wounds and bruises in the head, back and hands. ‘Abdin stated to PCHR fieldworker that he and al-Shahri were sleeping at the summer house, which his family looks after, when they were woken up by the sound of an explosion and then a louder one. He recalls waking up later to find himself in Nasser Hospital sustaining various injuries and then he learnt that his friend was killed. It is noteworthy that there were no armed groups related sites near the targeted area.
This attack was part of a series of airstrikes on 12 military sites and agricultural lands across the Gaza Strip.
Later on, Avichay Adraee, Spokesperson of the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), said in a statement that IOF warplanes carried out several airstrikes on several Hamas targets, including a military navy site, an air defense site, another site with an anti-missile shooting simulator, military training, weapons manufacturing and storage sites; as well as, Hamas underground networks in the northern, central and southern Gaza Strip.
Refuting the Israeli claims, all initial data collected by PCHR fieldworker, who visited the targeted house and land in Khan Younis, emphasize that the targeted area is civilian as are the victims.
At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 03 November 2019, IOF assigned to guard the annexation wall, opened fire at Mohammed Ahmed Mass’oud Jaradat (32), from Sela al-Harithiyah villages west of Jenin. As a result, Mohammed was shot with a live bullet to the left leg while attempting to sneak into Israel through ‘Anin village, west of the city. Mohammed was transferred to Salem military camp where a PRCS ambulance took him to Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin for treatment.
At approximately 14:00 on the same Sunday, IOF stationed in eastern Khan Younis, sporadically opened fire at agricultural lands in eastern Khuza’ah village for few minutes; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Monday, 04 November 2019, IOF stationed in eastern Khan Younis, sporadically opened fire at agricultural lands in eastern Khuza’ah village for few minutes; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 20:00 on Monday, 04 November 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed adjacent to western Jabalia shore, north of the Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 – 6 nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 05:40 on Tuesday, 05 November 2019, assigned to guard the annexation wall, opened fire at Faisal Ibrahim Ghanamah (24), from Sela al-Harithiyah village, west of Jenin. As a result, Ghanamah was shot with 2 live bullets in the legs while attempting to sneak into Israel through Thuhor al-‘Abed village, southwest of Jenin. Ghanamah was transferred via a PRCS ambulance to Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin for treatment.
At approximately 07:30 on the same Tuesday, Israeli gunboats stationed adjacent to western Jabalia shore, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 01:50 on Wednesday, 06 November 2019, Israeli soldiers stationed adjacent to eastern al-Shoka village, east of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:30 on the same Wednesday, Israeli soldiers stationed adjacent to eastern Khan Younis, south of the Gaza strip, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands in eastern al-Qararah village; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:30 on the same Wednesday, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting continued from time to time until 09:00 on the same day morning. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 15:00 on the same Wednesday, IOF moved into al-Thaher area, south of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, claiming that they were stoned from behind the border fence adjacent to “Carmi Tsur” settlement established on Palestinian confiscated lands. The soldiers raided a house were a number of construction workers presented in the area and then arrested Rami Tawfiq al-‘Alami (17), taking him into the mentioned settlement. The soldiers fired rubber bullets at a number of children, who were in the area. As a result, Omer ‘Arafat Za’aqiq (17), was shot with a rubber bullet to the left leg. He was transferred to a military camp in “Carmi Tsur”
Second: Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 31 November 2019:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Kafr Qalil village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched Ahmed Ali Sabri’s (29) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Murad Rebhi Nasasra’s (37) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Ramallah, and stationed in al-Irsal neighborhood. They surrounded the house of the former MP Khaleda Kanan Mohammed Jarrar (56). IOF raided and searched her house then she was arrested and taken to the investigation center at “Ofer” prison, southwest of Ramallah. It should be mentioned that Jarrar has been banned from travelling internationally since 1998. Then an administrative detention was issued against her on April 2015, and then she was released on 28 February 2019, after serving a total of 20 months in detention since July 2017.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Batn al-Hawa and al-Teera neighborhoods in Ramallah. They raided and searched the house of prisoner Samer Mina al-Arabeed (44); no arrests were reported. It should be noted that on 25 September 2019, al-Arabeed was arrested and taken to “Ofer” detention at “al-Maskoubeya” investigation center in Jerusalem where he was tortured, and accused of participating in “Ein Bubin” explosion in Deir Ibzi, west of Ramallah on 23 August 2019. IOF also raided and searched Waleed Mohammed Hanatsha’s house, the financial director at Union of Health Work Committees, who was arrested since 03 October 2019.
At approximately 04:40, IOF moved into al-Beira, and stationed in al-Baloa’ neighborhood north of the city. They raided and searched Ali Abdulraheem Jaradat’s (64) house, and searched their ID cards and then arrested him. I should be noted that Jaradat is a journalist and writer, and he spent a total 14 years in IOF prisons on separate periods.
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses then arrested (3) civilians: Alaa Hmaidan Mtour (27); Araz Akram al-Wa’ra (23); and Fadi Darweesh Abu Srour (39).
At approximately 15:00, IOF moved into Zwata village, west of Nablus, and stationed around the Palestinian special police forces’ station. IOF established a temporary military checkpoint at the entrance of the village, checked civilians vehicles and ID cards. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Wadi al-Joz neighborhood, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem’s old city. They raided and searched Hanadi Mohammed al-Halawani’s (38) house, and her husband’s store, Ibrahim Abdullah Abu Ghalya (51). IOF then took Ibrahim to al-Maskoubeya investigation center in the West Jerusalem.
Al-Halawani said that IOF stormed and searched her house, arrested her husband and scared her little son, Mohammed, and confiscated cameras and surveillances devices from her house while she was outside. It should be mentioned that Hanadi is one of al-Aqsa Mosque female guards who was ordered to keep a distance of 200 meters from Bab al-Silsila for two months. Additionally, she was banned from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for six months two weeks ago. For the second day in row, IOF is targeting the female guards’ houses, as they raided and searched Ayda al-Sidawi’s (59) house.
At approximately 20:00, IOF, stationed at Za’tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Ahmed Amer Nour (22) from Anabta, east of Tulkarm, and took him to an unknown destination.
IOF carried out (5) incursions in Beit Oula, Nuba, Bani Na’em, in Hebron; Izbet al-Tabeb village, east of Qalqelya; Murda village, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 1 November 2019:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Ramallah, and stationed in al-Masyoun neighborhood. They raided and searched Hassan Khader Ishtaya’s (52) house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Beit Loqya, southwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Ahmed Mohammed Bader’s (17) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Jalazon refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Abdullah Jamal Mubarak’s (36) house and arrested him. It should be noted that the abovementioned civilian was a former prisoner for 5 years.
At approximately 08:00, IOF moved into Obaid neighborhood in al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Faisal Lo’ay Abed’s (18) house and arrested him.
IOF carried out (6) incursions in Dura and Hebron villages; Ya’bod village, southwest of Jenin; Qariout village, southeast of Nablus; Kafl Hares, north of Salfit; Azoun village, east of Qalqelya. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 2 November 2019:
At approximately 09:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya secondary school, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They stormed and searched the school yard and classes, then they hit the student Saleh Taha al-Taweel (16), the school head teacher, and the school guard, then they arrested them. Mahmoud Fayez Mahmoud, a member of school parents committee in al-Issaweya, said that IOF stormed the school and arrested the student al-Taweel after beaten him. IOF also attacked Tareq Jalajel, the school head teacher, the school guard, and another student, then they threw sound bombs. Mahmoud said that the member of school parents committee in al-Issaweya announced the school strikes in all the village’s schools to protest against the IOF attack on the sanctity of the school and endanger the lives of students.
At approximately 18:00, IOF, stationed in al-Jeep military checkpoint, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested Wadea’ Abdulrazik Farraj (26), from Bethlehem while he was back from his work through this checkpoint. He was taken to an unknown destination.
IOF carried out (7) incursions in Hebron and Yeta villages ; Ain Yabrud, Beit Loqya, Kafr Malek, Kafr Ne’ma villages, in Ramallah; Hibla village, south of Qalqelya. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 03 November 2019:
At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Bab Hata neighborhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched several houses, and arrested (3) civilians: Rowad Ma’moun al-Razim (24); Wissam Mohammed Thalji Sidr (29); and Yousif Khaled al-Loulou (23).
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Nablus. They raided and searched several houses, and arrested (2) civilians: Kamal Ibrahim Abu Zarifa (58) from al-Jabal al-Shamali in Nablus; and Mohammed Eid Sbaih Sobhi Tabanja (39) from Khilla al-Amoud, south of Nablus.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Maher Mohammed Harb’s (48) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 01:45, IOF moved into Jenin. They raided and searched several houses, and arrested Rami Hisham Abu Farha (23); and Aseel Dia’ al-Zara’eni (27).
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Bet Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Ayman Arif Haj Mohammed’s (55) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Raba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched Khaled Basel al-Bazour’s (30) and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved to Dura village, southwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Sharaf neighborhood. They raided and searched Moa’taz Ali Abu Znaid’s (22) house. Before the withdrawal, IOF handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
At the same time, IOF moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Dawoud Zakaria Mousa’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into ‘Awerta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Nabih Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Awad (57) and Mohammed Sa’eed Yusuf ‘Awad (34).
At the same time, IOF moved into ‘Asirah northern village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ja’afar Omer Abul ‘Aziz Rawajbah (23), ‘Ali Nour Eden Daraghmah (38) and ‘Ali Omer Hamed al-Shuoli (22).
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into ‘Arabah village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house of Mahmoud Mustafa Mardawi (23), a student at the American Arab School in Jenin, and arrested him. It should be noted that most of the abovementioned arrestees, from north of Ramallah, are activists at the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into al-Sowanah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They arrested Fadi ‘Arafat al-Hadmi (43), Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, from his house after attacking him in front of his family. Al-Hadmi, who was arrested for the third time and summoned for dozens of times since he took office, was taken to an investigation center in occupied Jerusalem.
At approximately 20:00, an Israeli Infantry unit raided and searched ‘Emad ‘Awni Abu Shamsiyah’s (45) house in Tal al-Ramidah neighborhood in Area classified (H2) in the center of Hebron, searching for young men IOF claimed had entered it. An Israeli officer ordered Abu Shamsiyah and his son ‘Awni, who had a surgery on his left leg 3 days ago, to tell him about the young men, who were in their house. After a fight erupted between Abu Shamsiyah, his son and the soldiers, the latter attacked ‘Awni and kicked him on his wounded leg. Fayzah (40), ‘Awni’s mother, attempted to intervene to stop ‘Awni’s arrest, but the soldiers pushed her away and she fell on the ground. The soldiers also attacked ‘Awni’s father and Bassam Rajab Abu ‘Aishah (60), who was in the house, when he also intervened. An hour later, the soldier arrested ‘Awni; he was later released to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), which arrived at the military checkpoint (56). IOF fired live bullets in the air to disperse the crowding civilians and arrested Abu ‘Aishah and Fayzah Abu Shamsiyah, taking them to detention center in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of the city. At approximately 00:00, Fayzah Abu Shamsiyah was released and fined with NIS 500 until the court appointment, while Abu ‘Aishah was transferred to “Ofer” military prison, southwest of Ramallah.
IOF carried out incursions in al-‘Aroub refugee camp and Karmah village in Hebron; and Hablah village, south of Qalqiliyah.
Monday,04 November 2019:
At approximately 00:15, IOF moved into Nablus and stationed in al-Makhfiyah neighborhood, west of the city. They raided and searched student accommodation on Mahmoud Abdul Rahim Street and arrested Mustafa Suleiman Khalil Abu al-Rab (21), a student at En-Najah National University from Sir Village, southeast of Jenin.
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into ‘Asirah northern village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched ‘Ala’a Monther Sawalmah’s (26) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved to Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched Oday Shawqi Staiti’s (25) house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested Fayeq Nassif Habash (28); Mohammed Habash (32) and Mohammed Younis (26).
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mo’men Abd al-Ghaffar Abu Shamseya (22) and Ahmed Mohammed al-Yamani (35), and then arrested them.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Ram village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ibrahim Sameer Kana’an’s (45) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Yeta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mousa Gabriel al-Amour (30) and Hasan Ibrahim al-Harini (28), and arrested them.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Izareya village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched the house of the Palestinian Police Officer Amjad Na’em al-Khateeb (52). IOF took him and his son Na’em (16) to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint on the entrance of Nazlet Issa village, north of Tulkarm. They searched the vehicles and the ID cards and arrested Owda Reyad Owda Tholthen (25), from Kafr al-Lobad, east of the village; he was taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 05:00, IOF moved into Kafr Na’ma village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched Tamer Abdu’s (20) house, and then arrested him. It should be noted that Tamer was a former prisoner.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Deir Abu Misha’l village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Saleh Ahmed Ata’s (25) house, and arrested him.
IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem three times on this day, during which they arrested Mohammed Ramzi Mhaisen (13) while he was standing in front of his house and took him to an unknown destination. IOF also arrested 3 other children: Isma’el Yousif Mhaisen (15); Waseem Eyad Dari (17); and Omar Ahmed Mahmoud (14).
IOF carried out (3) incursions in Tulkarm; Faroun village, south of the city; Hawara village, south of Nablus. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 05 November 2019:
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 3 civilians, including a child. The arrestees were identified as ‘Issa Ahmed ‘Abed al-Fatah Ta’amrah (22), Hasan Mohamed Hasan Moqbel (25), and Yaseen ‘Adel Ahmed Za’aqeeq (16).
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Hebron, where they raided and searched Waseem Ja’far Abu ‘Isha (20) house and then arrested him.
IOF carried out (8) incursions in Qalqiliyia, Fer’itah and Kafur Qaddoum villages, northeast of the city; Dura and al-Dahiriyia villages in Hebron; and Serda, Kafur Ni’mah and Abu Qash villages in Ramallah and al-Bierah. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 06 November 2019:
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mohamed Hamdi al-Masa’eed (25) and Ashraf Mahmoud al-Shaiekh (19) and then arrested them.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-‘Izzah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Nawaf Isma’il al-Qaisi’s (45) house and then arrested him. It should be noted that al-Qaisi was arrested, noting that he is a cancer patient and suffers poor health condition.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children. The arrestees were identified as Akram Ghadeb ‘Obaid (17), Mohamed Sami ‘Obaid (15) and Majd Basheer Ahmed (18).
Around the same time, IOF moved into Beit Jala and stationed in al-Jadawel neighborhood. They raided and searched Mohamed Nader Jawarish (17) house and then arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, IOF backed by military construction vehicles headed to Abu Safiyia Gate, 50 meters to the west of border fence, northeast of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. They leveled and combed lands that were previously leveled amidst Israeli sporadic shooting. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces arrested Mohamed Naser Hussain al-Badawi (17) while present in al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. He was then taken to an unknown destination.
On evening hours, IOF arrested Jamal Mousa Hasan al-Zaini (57), from Khan Yunis, while traveling via Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in northern Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Liaison, IOF detained al-Zaini and interrogated him before informing them that he was arrested. Al-Zaini’s wife said to PCHR’s fieldworker that her husband left his house on Wednesday morning and headed to Eres Crossing in order to travel to the West Bank through businessman permit. She added that she knew that her husband was arrested though media.
IOF carried out (4) incursions in Hebron, Samou’a, Bani Na’iem and Sureef. No arrests were reported.
Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem
Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities
On Thursday, 31 October 2019, IOF hanged notices and maps on the steel fence, erected as a 1st step towards the completion of the annexation wall, southwest of Jenin. The notices announced the continued seizure of large parts of Jenin lands, for the 15th Rabee’ Abu Baker, Public Relations Officer in Ya’bod Municipality, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that IOF issued a decision to renew the seizure of 409 dunums from Ya’bod, Barta’ah, al-‘Arqah, Zebdah, Nazlet al-Yad, and Daher al-‘Abed villages as a prelude to the completion of the annexation wall. These notices and maps were signed by Nadav Padan, IOF Commander in Judea and Samaria.
On Saturday, 02 November 2019, Israeli authorities notified Hezmah and al-Ram villages, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, of the confiscation of hundreds of Palestinians’ dunums for settlement expansion. Mayor of Hezmah Municipality, Musallam Abu Helo, said that the Israeli authorities handed the Palestinian Liaison a notice to seize at least 500 dunums from Hezmah village, which is located adjacent to “Adam” settlement and 3 others. It should be noted that Hezmah village connects the West Bank’s north with its south, and is one of the main roads for Jerusalem-West Bank traffic. Mayor of al-Ram Municipality, Raqi al-Ghazawnah, said that the Palestinian Liaison handed the municipality decisions to seize a total of 39.9 dunums of al-Ram village lands. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities recently escalated its seizure policy in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
On Saturday, IOF distributed notices and maps to seize 126 dunums from Majdal Bani Fadel village, southeast of Nablus, for the expansion of 3-km street that connects the village’s intersection to the checkpoint of ”Ma’ale Ephraim”
On Sunday, 03 November 2019, IOF distributed notices and maps signed by Nadav Padan, IOF Commander in Judea and Samaria, to seize 36 dunums from Tubas village and expand “Psagot “settlement in northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas.
On Monday, 04 November 2019, Israeli authorities notified dozens of Palestinians in al-Jab’a village, southwest of Bethlehem, of an order to seize 2000 dunums from their agricultural lands in order to expand “Beit Ayin” settlement, established on the lands of al-Jab’a, Nahaleen, Sureef, and Safa villages. Diab Masha’lah, Head of al-Jab’a village council, said that dozens of Palestinians found seizure notices placed in their lands in Nassar Mount, Wadi al-Khanzeer, and al-Khour areas while heading to harvest olive trees. The notices concerned at least 2000 dunums located adjacent to the annexation wall. Masha’lah added that “Beit Ayin” settlement’s settlers flooded a plot of land belonging to Mohamed Ibrahim Abu Loha with water in order to prevent his sons from harvesting the olive trees.
In the same context, on Monday, the Israeli authorities distributed notices to seize 66 dunums from Beit Doqo village lands, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. A press release issued by the village council stated that Israeli authorities handed the Palestinian Liaison decisions to seize 66 dunums from the village lands. It should be noted that during this week Israeli authorities issued many seizure notices for thousands of dunums from different areas in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem for settlement expansion.
On the same day, Beit Loqiyia Municipality stated in a press release that IOF handed a military decision to seize 150 dunums from the village, west of Ramallah. The municipality clarified that it contacted the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority and competent bodies to follow –up on the issue.
On the same day, the Israeli authorities issued notices to seize 243 dunums from the lands of Sureef village, northwest of Hebron. Mohamed ‘Edwan, Mayor of Sureef Municipality, said that Palestinian farmers found notices to seize their lands in Khelet Abu Ghnaim, al-Mansarah, and ‘Ain Hamam areas near “Beit Ayin” settlement. The mentioned lands belong to Ghanimat Family.
On Tuesday, 05 November 2019, IOF distributed notices and maps signed by Nadav Padan, IOF Commander in Judea and Samaria, to seize 60.4 dunums from the lands of Jablun and Faqou’a villages, northeast of Jenin. The decision enters into force from the date of its signature and ends on 31 December 2022. The owners of these lands have the right to challenge within 7 days through the Liaison and Coordination Office or the Legal Adviser Office in Jenin.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, the Israeli Municipality bulldozers demolished a residential building belonging to Mo’tasem Mahmoud ‘Abasi in Abu Tayieh neighborhood in Silwan, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-‘Abasi said that the Israeli Municipality staff accompanied with a large number of police officers, border guard officers and special forces, surrounded his residential building, forced them out and proceeded to demolish it. Al-‘Abasi said that he managed to delay the demolition decision several times before, but he did not know that the court approved the decision. Al-‘Abasi clarified that his building was established in 2011 and in 2018 he paid a fine for the Israeli Municipality estimated at NIS 72,000, in addition to paying a monthly bill of NIS 1255 to avoid the demolition. Al-‘Abasi added that his building comprised of 2 story; each one built on an area of 100 square meters and sheltered 9 persons. It should be noted that Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished 6 shops belonging to Al-‘Abasi family in last June.
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, Israeli Municipality staff moved into many neighborhoods in al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. Mohamed Abu al-Humus, Head of the Follow-up Committee in al-‘Issawiya village, said that the municipality staff took photos of buildings and streets and distributed 10 notices as well as summonses under the pretext of building without licensing.
On the same day, Haaretz Newspaper stated that the Israel’s housing cabinet approved to build a cable-car route adjacent to al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. The route would reportedly pass from West Jerusalem’s German Colony district over the Mount of Olives to the al-Magharebah Gate adjacent to East Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The cable -car will ferry up to 3,000 people an hour about 1.4km (0.9 miles) from West Jerusalem to the Western Wall in occupied East Jerusalem. According to Israel Hayoum, the service will operate 73 cable cars per hour with each able to carry 10 people. The plan has drawn widespread opposition from architects, local Palestinian residents and environmentalists who criticized the expected damage to the historic landscape of the Old City. In addition, critics say the cable car will not solve the area’s transportation and access problems. They also said that the project would mar Jerusalem’s Old City and bolster the Jewish presence in the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan.
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 06 November 2019, IOF backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Adminstration moved into Mughair al-‘Abid area, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. They demolished 2 residential tents belonging to Mohamed ‘Ali Mohamed Dababsah and ‘Amer Mohamed Dababsah, in addition to demolishing and confiscating a livestock barn belonging to Nuzha Makhamrah, under the pretext of non-licensing. It should be noted that the tents were donated by PRCS after destroying their houses few months ago. Furthermore, IOF notified Mohamed ‘Ali Dababsah to demolish his house built 2 weeks ago within 96 hours.
Israeli Settler Violence
On Friday, 01 November 2019, farmers from Dir Hatab village, east of Nablus, were shocked to find their olives already harvested by settlers from “Alon Moreh“ The olive trees are located in Khelet Shehada, Khelet Abu Ramlah, Bab al-Maghar, Ras Hazem, and Khelet Skik. The trees belong to Shehada ‘Abed al-Baqi Shehada ‘Amer, Nedal ‘Ali Dawoud Zamel, and Hussain Qasem Hussain. The farmers discovered that at least 30 olive trees planted 70 years ago from Shehada ‘Amer’s land were uprooted in order for the construction of a road connecting between 2 settler-houses built in the area and a barn for an Israeli settler.
At approximately 10:00 on Saturday, 02 November 2019, an Israeli settler attempted to enter a plot of land belonging to Badawi Jadallah for breeding his livestock. Jadallah’s land is located near “Negohot” settlement, which is established on Palestinians’ lands in southern Dura, southwest of Hebron. Jadallah attempted to prevent the settler from entering the land, meanwhile, an Israeli force arrived at the area and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, many civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.
On Sunday, 03 November 2019, Palestinian farmers entered their lands in al-Talmah area, north of al-Sawiyia village in southern Nablus, upon a prior security coordination. The farmers were surprised that their crops were already harvested by settlers from “Rahim” settlement, and then called media and Palestinian Liaison to inform them about what happened. These lands belong to Fayiq Sa’ied Abu Ras and his sons, Bashar Saleh Metleq Abu Ras and his sons, ‘Amer Mousa Abu Ras and his sons, ‘Odah ‘Abed al-Kareem al-Khatib, Nawaf ‘Izz al-Deen al-Khatib, Ghaleb Saleh Sa’ied, and Mahmoud Faisal Sa’ied. Afterwards, IOF expelled the farmers from their lands, confiscated their belongings and canceled the security coordination until further notice. It should be noted that IOF prevents Palestinian farmers from entering their lands, which are isolated behind the annexation wall and surrounded by settlements, and only allows them in during the olive harvesting season.
On Tuesday, 05 November 2019, Palestinian farmers were allowed to enter their lands in Area C for harvesting olive trees, upon a prior security coordination. Tayseer Mostafa Basheer al-Nobani and his family, from the Eastern Laban neighborhood, headed to their 30-dunum- plot of land near “Eli” settlement and found out that it was harvested by settlers.
Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods
West Bank
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. IOF established 42 temporary checkpoints and arrested 3 civilians.
The military checkpoint were as follows:
Hebron:
On Thursday, 31 October 2019, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, and at the entrances to Samou’a and Ethna villages.
On Friday, 01 November 2019, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Shayyoukh, al-Dahiriyia and Beit Ummer villages, and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.
On Saturday, 02 November 2019, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, and between Beit ‘Awaa and Samou’a villages.
On Sunday, 03 November 2019, 4 similar checkpoints were established at the entrances to Beit Ummer, al-Shayyoukh and al-Moreq villages, and at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp.
On Tuesday, 05 November 2019, IOF established 5 checkpoints at the entrances to Ethna, Beit Kahel and al-Majd villages, at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp, and on Khelet al-Mayaa road in Yatta.
On Wednesday, 06 November 2019, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Shayyoukh and al-Hadab villages.
Ramallah and al-Bireh:
On Friday, 01 November 2019, IOF established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Nabi Saleh, Dir Abu Mish’al, and al-Moghair villages, and at the intersection of “Hemlish” settlement.
On Saturday, 02 November 2019, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Nabi Saleh and Dir Abu Mish’al villages, and at ‘Ain Sina Square.
On Sunday, 03 November 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to Ras Karkar village.
On Monday, 04 November 2019, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Dir Abu Mish’al village and on al-Mo’arajat Road.
Qalqiliyah:
At approximately 18:40 on Thursday, 31 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 21:30, a similar checkpoint was established at Jeet village intersection, northeast of the city.
On Sunday, 03 October 2019, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia, and at the entrances to Heblah and Jal’oud villages.
At approximately 20:40 on Tuesday, 05 November 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Jeet village, northwest if Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 22:45, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the city.
At approximately 09:20 on Wednesday, 06 November 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
Salfit:
At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 31 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Kaful Hares village, north of Salfit.
At approximately 23:15 on Saturday, 02 October 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the northern entrance to Salfit village.
At approximately 18:20 on Tuesday, 05 November 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafur al-Deek village, west of Salfit
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestine (24 – 30 October )
Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory
24 – 30 October 2019
97 civilians shot and injured by IOF, including 44 children, a woman 2 volunteer paramedics and 2 journalists at Great March of Return in Eastern Gaza Strip;
West Bank: 6 civilians shot and injured, including a child and a woman
During 88 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 103 civilians arrested, including 22 children
Collective Punishment Policy: Abu-Hmaid family home demolished for the 4th time in al-Am’ari refugee camp
3 houses demolished in occupied East Jerusalem; a barn, an agricultural room and school fence in Hebron and Jenin
Settlers continue their attacks against Palestinian farmers in the olive-harvest season in the West Bank.
7 shootings reported at Palestinian agricultural lands, eastern Gaza Strip, 1 worker shot and injured and 4 civilians, including 2 children while attempting to cross the fence into Israel
Palestinian civilian arrested at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing
23 temporary checkpoints erupted in the West Bank, where 1 Palestinian civilian was arrested
Summary
This week, PCHR documented 103 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
As part of the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity:
In the Gaza Strip, IOF wounded 97 Palestinian civilians, including 44 children, 1 woman, 2 journalists and 2 paramedics on the 80th Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege protest (GMR). A worker sustained shrapnel wounds to the face after an Israeli attack in eastern Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip; also, 7 shootings at agricultural lands and shepherds were documented by the Gaza-Israel border with no injuries. Meanwhile in the West Bank, IOF wounded 6 Palestinian civilians, including 1 child and a woman under the pretext that they were executing separate stab attacks in Jerusalem and Hebron.
Under IOF incursions and house raids, 88 incursions into the West Bank were reported. Those incursions include raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, arresting and/or injuring many others. During this week’s incursions, 103 Palestinians were arrested, including 22 children.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF carried out 3 incursions during which it levelled lands it had previously bulldozed amidst continued shooting. No injuries were reported. Four other civilians were arrested, including two children, while attempting to sneak into Israel in eastern Rafah; one civilian was arrested at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.
Under the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, PCHR documented 5 demolitions: 3 houses in Jerusalem; a barn, an agriculture land and a school fence in Hebron and Jenin. Also, 7 settler-attacks were documented against farmers in the olive-harvest season in addition to incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque yards under IOF’ protection.
Under the collective punishment policy, IOF demolished Abu-Hmaid family home for the 4th time in al-Am’ari refugee camp
In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, aggravating the worsening humanitarian conditions and carries catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.
Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip
IOF continued its excessive use of lethal force against the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege (GMR) peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
On 25 October 2019, IOF shot and injured 97 civilians, including 44 children, a woman, 2 paramedics and 2 journalists in the 80th protest titled: “For our Prisoners in Israeli Jails and al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Thousands of civilians took part in the five GRM encampments across the Gaza Strip, where protestors raised the Palestinian flag and chanted national slogans and some attempted to throw stones, Molotov Cocktails and firecrackers at IOF, who responded with excessive force.
The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: protests took off adjacent to Abu Safiyah area, northeast of Jabalia, and in southeast of Beit Hanoun. IOF shot and injured 43 civilians, including 20 children, a woman and a paramedic: 20 with live bullets and shrapnel, including 11 children; 14 with rubber bullets, including 5 children and a woman; and 9 were hit with tear gas canisters, including 4 children. Mohammed Abdul Hamid Tawfiq Deeb (24), a volunteer paramedic, was hit with a tear gas canister in the right leg. IOF used a military vehicle that emits the sound of heavy gunfire to cause fear among the protestors.
Gaza City: IOF shot and injured 10 civilians, including 7 children: 3 with live bullets and shrapnel and 7 with rubber bullets. It is notable that participation at the Malakah area has significantly decreased and participants are generally less active and remain within the parameters of the established tents. Furthermore, a park was established in the area and named “al-Awda” (The Return) Park.
Central Gaza Strip: the area witnessed several shows as hundreds of civilians participated in the engagement celebration of a journalist. Dozens gathered adjacent to the border fence at a range varying between 0 – 300 meters and raised the Palestinian flag. A few of them attempted to throw stones at Israeli forces. IOF shot and injured 12 civilians, including 5 children and a photojournalist: 4 with live bullets, 5 with rubber bullets, and 3 were hit with tear gas canisters. Mahmoud Khalid Mohammed Khattab (26), a journalist from Deir al-Balah, was shot with a rubber bullet in the left shoulder and he received medical treatment in the field.
Khan Younis: IOF’s’ attacks at protestors in eastern Khuza’ah village camps resulted in the injury of 13 civilians, including 4 children and a journalist: 6 with live bullets and shrapnel and 5 with rubber bullets. Iyad Nadi Abdul Hadi Qdaih (27), a freelance journalist, was shot with a rubber bullet in the right thigh and he received medical treatment. In addition, many civilians sustained superficial rubber bullet wounds and suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; they received treatment on the spot.
Rafah: IOF shot and injured 19 civilians, including 8 children and a paramedic: 3 with live bullets and shrapnel, 10 with rubber bullets, and 6 were hit with tear gas canisters. Ibrahim Mazen Abu Telakh (21), a volunteer paramedic, was directly hit with a tear gas canister in the left shoulder.
Excessive use of force in the West Bank:
At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 26 October 2019, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful protest on Salah Eden Street in the centre of occupied East Jerusalem in solidarity with prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli prisons. The Israeli police attacked the participants physically and fired sound bombs. They also obstructed the work of press crews, attacked, chased them and arrested 2 young men, taking them to Salah Eden police centre for investigation.
Eyewitnesses stated that dozens of civilians gathered in the center of Salah Eden Street and raised photos of detainees Heba al-Labadi, Samer al-‘Arabid, and Tareq Qa’adan, who are on hunger strike against their administrative detention in the Israeli prisons. The protestors chanted slogans in support for detainees and held the Israeli authorities responsible for the prisoners’ health condition. IOF surrounded the area, attacked the participants with sticks and batons and fired sound bombs. The soldiers also chased and arrested Ahmed Nabil Salamah (22) and Yazan Amjad al-Baseti (19) after beating and dragging them and took them to Salah Eden police centre for investigation. Furthermore, journalist Fayez Hamzah Abu Ramilah (27) was arrested while on duty. Five detainees are still on a hunger strike in the Israeli prisons against their administrative detention. Samer al-‘Arabid, one of the prisoners on hunger strike suffers from a serious health issues after he was tortured during investigation by Shein Beit. Israeli authorities detain about 5700 Palestinian distributed at 23 prisons or detention and investigation centres; 230 of them are children, 48 women and 500 administrative detainees.
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 16:00 on Thursday, 24 October 2019, IOF fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at houses in the southern area of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, adjacent to “Carmi Tzur” settlement established on confiscated Palestinian lands. As a result, a number of civilians suffered due to tear gas inhalation. IOF claimed that they were attacked with stones in the area.
At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 25 October 2019, IOF stationed in eastern Khan Younis area in the southern Gaza strip, opened fire at a sanitation truck belonging to Ghassan Salem Salman Qdaih (41), while it was present at least 250 meters from the border fence. The shooting caused damage to the truck’s tires; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 21:00 on Friday, a number of Israeli soldiers attacked a wedding ceremony of Da’na family in al-Harayeq area adjacent to the security fence of “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron, fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a number of civilian fainted and were transferred to the city governmental hospital for treatment. IOF has a near permanent presence at their settlement as nearby Palestinian houses are frequently targeted with sound bombs and tear gas canisters by settlers.
At approximately 11:30 on Saturday, 26 October 2019, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis, fired 10 live bullets at a sanitation truck while emptying its cargo in an empty land adjacent to Jaker Street, 300 meters away from the border fence, east of Khan Younis. As a result, Mohammed Salman Qdaih (46), who assists the truck driver, from Khuza’ah village, was shot and injured with a live bullet shrapnel in the right side of his jaw while he was near the truck. The truck also was targeted with 2 live bullets. Qdaih was taken to Gaza European Hospital and then transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, and his health condition was classified as moderate. The truck was shot at approximately 08:30 on the same day; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 13:05 on the same Saturday, IOF stationed in northern Beit Hanoun village, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at the border area, causing fear among farmers, whose lands adjacent to the area; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 27 October 2019, IOF stationed in eastern al-Fertah area, east of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at the border area, causing fear among farmers, whose lands adjacent to the area; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately at approximately 16:00 on Monday, 28 October 2019, Israeli police opened fire at Mohammed Khalid al-Sabbah (16) claiming that he attempted to stab a soldier near a settlement outpost in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a result, al-Sabbah was shot with several live bullets in the upper extremities and taken to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in West Jerusalem while he was under arrest.
According to PCHR investigations and eyewitnesses’ statements, al-Sabbah attempted to attack a soldier at Bab al-Sahera in Jerusalem and ran away towards Bab Hetta and the Old City’s alleys. The Israeli police heavily opened fire in the area while hundreds of soldiers deployed in the Old City neighborhoods and alleys, completely closed its gates, established steel barriers and prevented civilians from entering or leaving the area. Half an hour later, IOF arrested al-Sabbah, who was shot with several live bullets in his upper extremities. A Megan David Adom (MDA) ambulance transferred him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center while his legs were cuffed. Following the incident, IOF closed al-Aqsa Mosque gates, evacuated worshipers, closed the roads leading to the center of Jerusalem, brutally attacked civilians and arrested 4 civilians, including 2 brothers: Jamil Khader Hadad (57), Mohammed Shaheen (51), Mohammed (16) and his brother Malik Fadi Mtour (14).
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 29 October 2019, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis opened and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands in eastern al-Fuhkhari and Khuza’ah villages, east of Khan Younis; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 13:35 on the same Tuesday, IOF stationed along the border fence, east Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at the border area, causing fear among shepherds, who were present in the area; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 30 October 2019, Suhair Ahmed Sa’ed Islimiyah (37), from Ethna village, west of Hebron, was shot with a live bullet in the lower extremities by an Israeli border guard in al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City. Islimiyah was left on the ground bleeding for half an hour before an Israeli ambulance transferred her to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in West Jerusalem. Israeli authorities claimed that Islimiyah was carrying a knife in her hand. In addition, Israeli authorities closed the entrances leading to al-Ibrahimi Mosque and banned workers from entering it. The Commission of Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs announced later that Islimiyah is staying in the Intensive Care Unit in a serious health condition assisted by artificial respiration and anesthesia devices. Karim ‘Ajwah, the Commission’s lawyer, who visited Islimiyah, said that on Sunday, 03 November 2019, Israeli authorities will hold a session in the military court in “Ofer” to extend Islimiyah’s detention without her presence due to her health condition.
Second: Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 24 October 2019:
At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Nayef Muhab Mustafa’s (43) house, then they arrested him and his son Muhab (15). It should be noted that al-Issaweya village has been under very tight Israeli restrictions for the past four months, along with continuous campaigns of arrests against Palestinian civilians and their properties.
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Zeita village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Hadi Osama Asa’ad Abu al-Izz (20); and Qotaiba Eyad Abu Hamda (20), and arrested him.
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Umor village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Khitab Waheed Abu Maria’s (17) family house, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Rujib village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Tha’er Jamal al-Halabi’s (37) house, then they arrested him. Al-Halabi is an officer in the Palestinian Special Units.
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched the family house of Ahmed Abdulqader Khazima (26), and then they arrested him.
In the morning hours, Jehad Mohammed Mahmoud Nabhan (31), from Beer Al Na’ja area in Jabalia, north of Gaza Strip, headed to Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing after getting an exit trade permit to the West Bank by the Gaza Authority of Civil Affairs. At approximately 22:00, Jihad’s father received a phone call from his son informing him that IOF arrested him. It should be noted that Nabhan is married and has three children.
At approximately 17:30, IOF arrested Mahmoud Maher Zaitoun (11) while in Beer Ayoub neighborhood in Salwan village, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s old city, and took him to one of the investigation centers in Jerusalem.
At approximately 18:00, IOF stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, arrested Akram Fayez Mohammed Abu Sharqeya (23), and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 23:00, IOF stationed at the border fence between Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah, south of Gaza Strip, arrested two civilians: Issa Abdullah Salman Abu Sunima (17) and Wissam Abdulaziz Atwa al-Dabari (20), while attempting to sneak through the border fence. Later, IDF Spokesman announced on his Twitter page that the Israeli forces arrested two suspects near the security fence, south of Gaza Strip, they were unarmed and then they were taken for investigation in Israel.
Abdullah Salman Ahmed Abu Sunima (57), living in al-Shawka village, east of Rafah, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he received a phone call from someone who identified himself as an “Israeli Intelligence Officer” on Friday morning, 25 October 2019, and told him that his son Issa was arrested in Ashkelon prison in Israel, and he will appear before court for sentencing. The Israeli officer asked him if he would like to be there, but he declined because he did not think he was serious, as Israeli authorities do not give permits to exit to Israel.
IOF carried out (6) incursions in Hebron; Tarqoumya; Alar village, north of Tulkarm; Qalqelya village; Yasouf and Sakaka villages, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 25 October 2019:
At approximately 01:20, IOF moved into Shwaika neighborhood, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched Asem Monther Akbareya’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 14:00, IOF moved into Bab al-Zaweya square, in central Hebron. Meanwhile, dozens of young men gathered, they burnt tires and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded with rubber bullets and sound bombs. As a result, Mohammed Hamad Abu Qwaider (18) was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 16:00, IOF arrested Isma’el Awad al-Nawaja’a (36), while he was at Kharbet Sousya square, south of Hebron, and took him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They stormed into al-Arba’een Mosque in the center of the city. They searched the worshipers and their ID cards claiming that they are looking for the stone throwers, and arrested Majd Ra’fat Tareq al-Issawy (12).
At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into al-Hawouz al-Awwal in the southern area of Hebron, and stationed in al-Tahrir intersection. They spread out and opened the stores’ doors after calling their owners and brought them in order to check the surveillance cameras. Meanwhile, Journalist Mashhour Hassan Mahmoud al-Wahwah (36), the photojournalist of “Wafa” the Palestinian News and Info Agency came to the cover the incidents. One of the Israeli soldiers hit him with the barrel of the gun to his back and ordered him to leave. The IOF stayed until the next day at 01:00. No arrests were reported.
IOF carried out (8) incursions in Hebron; Beit Oula Tarqoumya; Tafouh; Tulkarm; Shwaika neighborhood; Deir al-Ghsoun; al-Jarousheya village; and north Tulkarm. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 26 October 2019:
IOF carried out (3) incursions in Yasouf village, east of Salfit; Kafl Hares and Derastya villages, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 27 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of East occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (7) young men: Anwar Sami Obaid (22); Hamed Shafiq Obaid (24); Mahmoud Hasan Zumorrod (20); Mohammed Khaled Mahmoud (23); Malek Mahmoud al-Shaikh (21); Mohammed Dawood Mahmoud (16); and Isma’el Mohammed Sunoqrot (19).
Around the same time, IOF moved into ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched Aysar Mamdouh Shadeed’s (47) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Wad neighborhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s old city. They raided and searched the family house of Abdulrahman Marwan al-Hashlamoun (16) and arrested him. It should be noted that Abdulrahman was arrested for two days last week, and rearrested again on Sunday.
At approximately 17:00, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint at the entrance of Hibla (Nafaq), south of Qalqilya. They searched the Palestinian ID cards and vehicles, and arrested Ibrahim Kamel Zaid al-Hindi (22) from Qalqilya.
At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Taha Ra’ed Abu Ryala’s (16) house, then he was taken to one of the Israeli investigation centers. A few hours later, he was released and placed under house arrest for 5 days and banned from connecting with his friends or using social media.
IOF carried out (7) incursions in Baqa al-Sharqeya and Nazlet Issa villages, north of Tulkarm; Hebron, Yata, Beir Amro, Hadab al-Fawwar villages; and al-Fawwar refugee camp, in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 28 October 2019:
At approximately 12:30, IOF moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Hassan Hosny Abu Shanab (24) and Qassam Reyad Bdair (24), and arrested them.
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and stationed in the center of the camp. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (12) civilians including (6) children: Jihad Emad al-Titi (20); Majed Tayseer al-Titi (20); Islam Jamal Jawabra (17); Roshdi Saleem Roshdi (16); Ammar Mohammed Mahmoud Jawabra (17); Abi Mohammed Hamed Jawabra (14); Abdulhakim Khaled al-Sharif (22); Mohammed Waleed Hajajra (15); Qusai Wael Badawi (16); Mohanad Mohammed Abu Shama’a (39); Mohammed Haroun Halayqa (50); and his son Na’el (28). Furthermore, IOF raided and searched Yaser Banat’ss house and confiscated (1700) NIS from it.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Beit Kahel village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mahmoud Ra’ed Mahmoud ‘Asafra (24) and Baker Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Asafra (30) and arrested them.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Hebron, and stationed in al-Hawouz area. They raided and searched Mostafa Hijazi Mostafa Abu Aysha’s (18) house and arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Bedou village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Ayham Ali al-Dali’s (13) house and arrested him.
At approximately 05:00, IOF in a bus moved into Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Jaber Hazeen (22) and Abdulmo’ti Abdulmajeed Abu Snaina (24), and then took them to al-Maskoubeya investigation center in Jerusalem.
At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into al-Sowana neighborhood, east of the occupied east Jerusalem’s old city. They raided and searched Ahmed Adel al-Qadmani’s (16) house, and arrested him.
At approximately 18:30, IOF stationed in al-Naqqar neighborhood, near the annexation wall, west of Qalqilya, arrested Adam Sofian Dawood Baker (25) and Laith Eyad Ali Redwan (25), claiming that they are stone throwers.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Nablus and Jenin. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 29 October 2019:
At approximately 00:30, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched Haitham Zahi Husain’s (30) house and arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Rwaijeb village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Mohammed Ahmed al-Halabi’s (24) house and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Barqin, west of Jenin. They raided and searched Ali Sa’eed Rajeh Qablawi’s (49) house. IOF arrested Ali and his son Kaser (15).
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Asira northern village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested (4) civilians: Jamal Amer Rawajba (22); Alaa Ali al-Shouli (28); Osama Jawad Sawalma (31); and Aziz Ateya Musleh Shouli (26).
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Dheesha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested (3) civilians: Bashar Samir al-Ma’awi (23); his beother Ashraf (26); and Samer Mohammed al-Ajouri (22). IOF handed Adnan Mohammed Shehada (23) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of the city.
At the same time, IOF moved into Eskaka village, east of Salfit. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Zaid Husam Anis Harb (24) and Yahiyah Bahjat Harb (25) and then arrested them.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli authorities handed Adnan ‘Adel Ghaith (45), Jerusalem’s Mayor, a decision issued by the Israeli Interior Minister to ban him from holding any meetings in the city or participate in activities. The decision also banned Mayor Ghaith from funding any institution or individuals affected by IOF maltreatment against Palestinian Jerusalemites. It should be noted that Jerusalem’s Mayor was arrested for more than 13 times since he took office and banned from entering the West Bank for 6 months that was renewed for another 6 months. Also, he was handed a no-contact-list and listed on a black list across state institutions.
At approximately 12:30, IOF backed by several military SUVs moved about 100 meters into the west of al-Maghazi refugee camp. The vehicles leveled lands adjacent to the border fence. At approximately 16:00 on the same day, the vehicles redeployed along the border fence.
At approximately 13:00, IOF arrested Zedan Salah al-‘Abasi (17) while preset in front of al-Rashidiyah School, adjacent to al-Sahera Gate in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. The soldiers beat him and then took him to ‘Salah Eden Police Center for investigation.
At approximately 15:00, IOF arrested ‘Amer Sami al-‘Ajouri (38) after they summoned him to detention room at Military Checkpoint (300) located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a junk yard belonging to Samir Abdul Rahim al-Zain (43) and arrested him.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli police arrested Ihab Ahmed Abu Ghazalah (43), al-Aqsa Mosque caretaker, while on duty near al-Rahma Gate, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City claiming thathe took photos of the Israeli police officers. Abu Ghazala was taken to al-Mascubiyah detention center and released him few hours later under a 10-day access-ban to al-Aqsa Mosque.
At approximately 16:00, IOF attacked a group of Palestinian young men and destroyed the contents of several shops and arrested 7 civilians after a fight erupted between a young man and Israeli soldiers on al-Wad Street in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Eyewitnesses stated that IOF attacked dozens of young men by beating them and paper-spraying them. They added that a fight erupted between a young man and Israeli soldiers after which the soldiers heavily beat him. When other young men attempted to interfere in the fight, the soldiers beat them and smashed the storefronts nearby, in addition to attacking their owners. It should be noted that the arrestees sustained bruises throughout their bodies.
(The names of the arrestees are available at PCHR)
At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. they arrested Abdul Rahman Abdullah Da’na (15) from his house and took him to a detention center.
At approximately 22:00, IOF moved into Salwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s old city. They raided and searched Ahmed Ala’ Swaidan’s (20) house and arrested him.
IOF carried out (4) incursions in Beit Umor; Ethna; Umreesh; and Deir al-Asal villages, in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 30 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into Beit Daqqo, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses, and then arrested (4) civilians: Tareq Khalil Hussain (28); Mousa Ali Hussain (27); Yazan Ibrahim Marrar (32); and Sa’eed Mostafa Dawood (40).
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Beit Umor village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Rifa’at Jamil al-Slaibi’s (48) house. IOF broken the main door of the house, forced the men outside and kept the women in a separate room. His son Mohammed (16) was taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into Wad al-Shajina village, southeast of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Shahin Family, after they forced all its family members outside. Then IOF arrested Fadi (22); Nour (21); and Shadi Ibrahim Shahin (19) and took them to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Sika village, west of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched Reyad Ahmed Jawa’da’s (43) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Izza refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Nader Shibli a;-Izza (20) and Montasir Nawwaf al-Qaisi (23), and arrested them.
At approximately 02:40, IOF moved into Sinjil village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Rabea’ Farah Abu al-Nawwas’s (28) house and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Deir Abu Misha’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mostafa Tayseer Zahran’s (25) house and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Khalil Qasem al-Shaikh (42) and Qasem Taleb al-Shaikh (18), and arrested them.
At approximately 04:40, IOF stormed into al-Mazra’a al-Gharbeya, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched Mohammed Issa Husain’s (45) house and arrested him. It should be noted that the abovementioned civilian is a former prisoner in the Israeli prisons.
At approximately 16:00, IOF moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched Omar Abdulfattah Eslaimeya’s house, and then he was taken to an unknown destination. It should be noted that abovementioned civilian is Suhair Eslaimeya’s husband, who was hit with a live bullet in the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron’s old city in the morning.
(See shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity).
At approximately 20:40, IOF, reinforced by (5) heavy military vehicles and dozens of soldiers stepped out of military jeeps, from Abu Safiya area, moved 50 meters west of the border fence, northeast of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, the vehicles leveledthe area lands and previously razed lands along with shooting. One of the Israeli soldiers put a barbed wire along the border fence. At approximately 22:15, they withdrew and no arrests were reported.
IOF carried out (11) incursions in Kubr, Abu Qash, Abu Shkhaidem, Sarda’, and Birzait villages north of Ramallah; Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho; Sa’er, al-Shyoukh, Beit Kahel villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem
Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 27 October 2019, IOF and the Israeli Civil Administration backed by construction vehicles moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and stationed at the western entrance to the camp. They raided an agricultural land belonging to ‘Oday Jamil Jawabrah (37) and leveled a 40-square-meter barn and a 50sqm agricultural room. It should be noted that almost 18 months ago, Jawabrah received a notice to stop construction works. Jawabrah was handed a 96-hour notice of demolition for his 70-square-meter that shelters his family of 3 members. Meanwhile, an Israeli military watchtower and checkpoint are currently under construction opposite to Jawabrah’s land.
At approximately 06:00 on Monday, 28 October 2019, IOF backed by military construction vehicles moved into Thaher al-Maleh village near the annexation wall, southwest of Jenin. They surrounded al-Tahadi School in the southwestern side of the village and declared the area a closed military zone, preventing families and students from approaching. The construction vehicle destroyed the school fence while workers accompanying IOF dismantled and confiscated steel plates of the school’s kitchen and canteen.
At approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 29 October 2019, IOF construction vehicles demolished Khaled al-Fahham’s house in al-Sawanah neighbourhood, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, under the pretext of building without a license. Khaled al-Fahham said that an Israeli police force surrounded his house and it was later demolished, adding that his 100-sq.m house was built in 1966 before the Israeli occupation of Jerusalem and is home to his family of 6.
At approximately 09:00 on the sameTuesday, Loay Fahmi ‘Abeid self-demolished his house in ‘Abeid neighborhood in al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, pursuant to a decision by the Israeli Municipality under the pretext of building without a license. Loay said that the municipality officers raided his under-construction house and threatened him of demolishing it and billing him. Consequently, he self-demolished his house to avoid paying tens of thousands of shekels. He added that he started building his 130-square-meter house 2 months ago and it was still under construction.
In the same context, Mohammed al-Hummus, Member of the Follow-up Committee in al-‘Issawiyah village, said that the Israeli municipality bulldozers moved into the village on Tuesday morning and demolished a barracks for horses and a container used as a storehouse belonging to Ishaq Hamdan. They also demolished a taxi service company and carwash belonging to Loay Mansour Mahmoud.
At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 29 November 2019, IOF backed by military vehicles and 2 bulldozers moved into Kherbet Jubarah area, south of Tulkarm. They demolished a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdel Fattah ‘Azem, who was notified of his house demolition 3 months ago under the pretext that his house is located within an area designated for the construction of an industrial zone. ‘Azem stated to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“At approximately 13:30 on Tuesday, 29 November 2019, IOF raided my house, which I moved into only 3 months ago. I arrived to see a bulldozer demolishing my house. The Israeli officer did not allow me to take my belongings out and continued the demolition. The officer told me it was built on state land and showed me a document saying that the house is within the area where an industrial zone will be established. The officer added that a wedding hall, 2 houses and a storehouse will be demolished next, all property of Palestinians from the area.”
Israeli Settler Violence
At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 25 October 2019, Israeli settlers, from “Halmish” settlement established on the Palestinian lands of Ramallah’s northwestern villages, attacked Palestinian farmers with stones while harvesting olive trees in al-Ghabt area in the outskirts of Um Saffa village, under IOF protection. As a result, 3 farmers sustained bruises. The farmers were expelled from their lands at gunpoint by the Israeli soldiers who also forced settlers to leave.
On Saturday, 26 October 2019, according to local sources, Israeli settlers, from “Beit ‘Ayen” settlement outpost, cut 25 olive trees in the lands of al-Jamjoum area, south of Nahalin village in Bethlehem next to the outpost. These lands belong to Yousif ‘Abdel Rahman Fanoun and ‘Abdel Motaleb Mohammed Fanoun. Moreover, the settlers vandalized the area with threats for Palestinian farmers against entering the lands, for which settlers claimed ownership.
At approximately 09:50 on the same Saturday, Israeli settlers from Taffouh settlement, established on the lands of Yasouf village, east of Salfit, moved into Eltof area, north of the mentioned village. They attacked 3 farmers: Harb Mahmoud Falah, Mahfouz Mahmoud ‘Ebayah and ‘Abdel Salam Hussein ‘Abdel Fattah, while harvesting olives. Five settlers stared shouting at the farmers, forcing them to leave in addition to threatening and insulting them in Hebrew and Arabic. They were forced to leave at gunpoint in order to avoid any further violence.
At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 28 October 2019, settlers moved into Kafl Haris village, north of Salfit, under the pretext of visiting shrines there. Some of the settlers attacked the houses near the shrines in the main street and attempted to enter them to carry out further attacks. They broke the house windows of ‘Alaa’ al-Deen Saleh Abu Hammad and ‘Adel Mohammed Abu Ya’qoub. Abu Hammad said to PCHR fieldworker that:
“In the afternoon, we learnt that settlers came to the shrines in the village, and usually we wait until they leave because they have repeatedly carried out attacks during such visits. I was checking my house surveillance cameras, but did not see anything. I suddenly heard a bang at the front door. I went to the surveillance screen and saw at least 20 settlers, led by a settler holding a steel stick and breaking the house windows. I rushed to the door, opened it and yelled at them, and they fled away. I chased them into the street, where the Israeli soldiers were stationed and told me to return home and they will guard the area until settlers leave. I told them I saw you accompanying the settlers when they were at my house door and you did nothing as I could see via my surveillance system. They also broke the house windows of a neaby house belonging to ‘Adel Abu Ya’qoub.”
On Monday early morning, settlers from “Yitsihar” settlement attacked an under-construction house belonging to the family of Mahdi Saber Najib Salim ‘Odah in western Howarah village, south of Nablus, and vandalized homes with racial slurs against Arabs.
At approximately 14:00 on the same Monday, a settler armed with an M16 stepped out of a white car with an Israeli registration plate on “Etmar” settlement bypass road, southeast of Nablus. At gun point, the settler stole the olives harvested by the family of ‘Adnan Yousif Dweikat (48) and put them in his car and sped away. Dweikat said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 28 October 2019, with prior coordination between the Palestinian and Israeli Liaison to allow the owners of the lands in Khelet Rajeh area behind the “Etmar” settlement bypass road to enter their lands to harvest olives, many farmers including my family went to our lands in the mentioned area. At approximately 14:00, I started collecting my harvest into storing bags, and putting it in my car when I saw a white car holding an Israeli registration plate. The settler who was driving the car was armed with an M16, approached me with his weapon, stole my harvest and put it in his car. Though I was very close to the settler, I did not dare talking to him fearing for my life and my family’s. I hid behind an olive tree until the settler fled away to Etmar Settlement.”
At approximately 10:00 on Wednesday, 30 October 2019, settlers from “Yitsihar” settlement and protected by IOF attacked farmers harvesting olives in al-Hof area, northwest of Howarah village, south of Nablus although there was a prior coordination with the Israeli authorities for farmers to enter their lands. The latter confronted the settlers and threw stones at them and the Israeli soldiers. Later, Mayor Naser Jihad al-Howari and, village council member, Kamal Jaber ‘Odah (52) arrived to back up the farmers, but they were both injured by the stones thrown by settlers to the head and hand. Both were treated on the spot and went back in the municipality car to the musicality’s building. At approximately 11:30 on the same day, the settlers returned and repeated their attack against farmers in the area with stones, also under IOF protection. Immediately, al-Howari and ‘Odah went to the area, where the clashes broke out, but they were arrested by the Israeli soldiers and taken to an unknown destination. The Israeli soldiers also confiscated the Municipality car and arrested Mahmoud ‘Ali Shehadah (48) from al-Rif Taxi Company, an activist and owner of the taxi company, at the ‘Einabous intersection, claiming he supported farmers to confront settlers in the first attack.
Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods
There were no updates on the movement at the Gaza Strip Crossings. Movement resumed on Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing for 1 day after its closure throughout last week due to Jewish holidays.
West Bank
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. IOF established 23 temporary checkpoints and arrested 1 civilians.
The military checkpoint were as follows:
Hebron:
On Thursday, 26 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the southern entrances to Halhoul.
On Friday, 25 October 2019, they established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron and entrances to Beit Ummer and Sa’ir.
On Sunday, 27 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Dura village, southwest of the city.
On Tuesday, 29 October 2019, IOF established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul and the entrances to Beit ‘Awa and al-Samou’a villages.
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019, IOF established 2 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron and the entrance to Bani Na’im.
Ramallah and al-Bireh:
On Thursday, 24 October 2019, IOF established 6 checkpoints at the entrances to ‘Otarah, Senjel, ‘Aboud, ‘Ein Sinia, Um Safa, and Deir Abu Mesh’al villages. On Friday, 25 October 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance of al-Jalazone refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
On Saturday, 26 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of ‘Ein Yabrud village, northeast of Ramallah. On Tuesday, 29 October 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the intersection of ‘Ein Sinia village, north of the city.
Jericho:
On Thursday, 24 October 2019, the IOF established a military checkpoint at the entrance to Fasayel village, north of Jericho, while on Friday, 25 October 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the northern entrance to Jericho. On Monday, 28 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the intersection of Fasayel village, north of the city.
Qalqiliyah:
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 25 October 2019, IOF established a military checkpoint at the entrance entrance to Qalqiliyah. They checked Palestinians’ IDs and searched their vehicles. The checkpoint was later removed.
Salfit:
On Sunday, 27 October 2019, IOF established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Yasouf village, east of Salfit while another checkpoint was established at approximately 23:55 at the southern entrance to Salfit
Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory
17 – 23 October 2019
A Palestinian civilian was killed in northern West Bank in excessive use of force by Israeli occupation forces under the pretext that he attempted to carry out a stab attack;
100 civilians injured, including 46 children, 2 women and 3 volunteer paramedic at Great March of Return in Eastern Gaza Strip;
West Bank: 10 civilians injured, including 2 children and a photojournalist
During 63 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 65 civilians arrested, including 3 children, a woman and an activist.
Hundreds of settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City for the third week in row.
Settlers continue their attacks against Palestinian farmers in the olive-harvest season in the West Bank.
3 shootings reported against Palestinian agricultural lands, eastern Gaza Strip, and 6 shootings reported against Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza Strip Shore
Complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for Jewish holidays
37 temporary checkpoints erupted in the West Bank, where 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested, including a child.
Summary
During the reporting period, PCHR documented 129 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
As part of the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity: on 18 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces killed a Palestinian civilian at Jbarah military checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, after they fired a barrage of live bullets at him and denied him first aid. IOF claimed that the victim attempted to carry out a stab attack. PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ statements refuted the Israeli claim and affirmed that the victim did not have a sharp tool with him and that he was en route to deliver olives for his relatives in Israel.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF wounded 100 Palestinian civilians, including 46 children, 2 women and 3 volunteer paramedics on the 79th Friday of the Great March of Return (GMR). Meanwhile in the West Bank, IOF wounded 10 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist: 5 in clashes with IOF in Nablus; 3 near the annexation wall; and 2 in an IOF attack on their vehicle in al-Am’ari refugee camp.
For the past three weeks, shooting incidents escalated against Palestinian civilians attempting to sneak into Israel without permits through the annexation wall, north of the West Bank.
As part of the Israeli incursions and house raids, IOF carried out 63 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions include raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, arresting and/or injuring many others. During this week’s incursions, 56 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 children, a woman and a foreign activist.
In the Gaza Strip, 6 shootings were reported against Palestinian fishing boats at sea within the allowed limited area for fishing while 3 shootings were reported against the agricultural lands in eastern Gaza Strip.
Under the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, PCHR documented 7 settler-attacks against farmers in the olive season in addition to incursions into al-Aqsa Mosque yards under IOF’ protection.
In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods and ongoing isolation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.
Moreover, on 21 October 2019, Israel closed Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing in both directions for Jewish Holidays.
Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip
IOF continued its excessive use of lethal force against GRM peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
On 18 October 2019, IOF wounded 100 civilians, including 46 children, 2 women and 3 volunteer paramedics in the 79th Friday titled: “No to Normalization with Israel.” This week witnessed an increase in injuries, particularly children, comparing with last week’s. A young man sustained serious injuries and 36 others were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel in addition to other injuries in the upper body due to direct targeting with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters.
Civilians took part in GRM protests in the five encampments across the Gaza Strip. The protests lasted from 15:00 to 19:00 and involved activities such as speeches and theatrical performances. Hundreds of civilians protested at varied distances from the border fence across the Gaza Strip, where some protestors attempted to throw stones, Molotov Cocktails and firecrackers at IOF, who responded with excessive force.
The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: 24 civilians injured, including 16 children: 6 with live bullets and shrapnel, 13 with rubber bullets and 5 were hit with tear gas canisters.
Gaza City: 23 civilians, including 10 children and a volunteer paramedic were injured: 7 with live bullets and shrapnel; 11 with rubber bullets and 5 with teargas canisters. The wounded paramedic, Shukri Nafeth Esleem (23), was shot with a rubber bullet to the foot.
Central Gaza Strip: 22 civilians, including 9 children, 2 women and a paramedic were injured by IOF: 10 shot with live bullets, 8 hit with teargas canisters and 4 shot with a rubber bullet. The wounded volunteer paramedic ‘Amer Jamal Anwar Abu Jumeizah (30), from Deir al-Balah, was hit with a tear gas canister to the back and he received medical treatment in the field.
Khan Younis: 6 civilians, including 2 children and a paramedic, were wounded, and all of them were transferred to hospitals. Among those wounded, 2 civilians sustained shrapnel wounds, and 3 were shot with rubber bullets. In addition, many civilians sustained superficial rubber bullet wounds and others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; they received treatment on the spot. The wounded paramedic, Asa’ad Mohammed Abu Ghalwah (30), from Khan Younis, sustained a shrapnel wound to the abdomen.
Rafah: 25 civilians were injured by IOF fire, including 11 children and a young man who sustained serious wounds: 11 were shot with live bullets and shrapnel, 13 were shot with rubber bullets, and one was directly hit with a tear gas canister. Iyad Ibrahim Hussein Zanoun (24), was shot with a live bullet to the back and was deemed in a critical condition.
Excessive use of force against peaceful protests in the West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 18 October 2019, Palestinians from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, launched their weekly peaceful protest against the closure of their village’s eastern entrance by IOF for the past 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” settlement. The demonstrators chanted national slogans demanding an end to the occupation and protested IOF crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand berms; the latter fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at protestor. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. The soldiers also chased the protestors and arrested a 24-year-old Spanish activist.
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 19:20 on Friday, 18 October 2019, Israeli security guards (private companies) stationed at Jubarah military checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, opened fire at Ra’ad Majed Mohammed al-Bahri (25), from Kafer Zebad village, south of the city, claiming that he attempted to carry out a stab attack. As a result, al-Bahri sustained severe wounds and was left to bleed to death by IOF, who banned ambulance crews from reaching al-Bahri and saving his life.
An eyewitness told PCHR’s fieldworker:
“At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 18 October 2019, my family and I were en route from our house in Tulkarm, in the West Bank, to our house in al-Taiba in Israel through Jbara checkpoint. Traffic was normal and few vehicles were driving in front of me when an Israeli security guard heavily opened fire at a young Palestinian man who was on the ground. I heard other drivers, who were closer to the scene, shouting at the security guard – saying that the victim did nothing, and asking why he killed him. The drivers added that perhaps the young man reached into his pocket to get his permit, as he was about 30 meters when the guard fired about 7 live bullets at him. The soldiers ordered the drivers to move away, but none of them responded. After a while, the Palestinian and Israeli ambulances arrived at the area, but the soldiers banned both ambulances to rescue al-Bahri, claiming that he attempted to carry out a stab attack. We stayed in the area for an hour and a half until al-Bahri’s death was pronounced without allowing anyone to resuscitate him.”
Al-Bahri’s brother, Abdul Rahman al-Bahri (30) said:
“We do not know how all this happened. My brother worked with us in olives harvest all day and then we returned home, took a bath and dined. Ra’ad went out to deliver some olives to our cousin who lives in Israel at Jabara checkpoint as is usually done in our area. She told me that Ra’ad threw his personal belongings to her when he delivered her the olives; she called after him several times, but he did not listen to her and walked away towards the checkpoint. At approximately 20:00, we learnt of the incident and that my brother was killed. We did not notice anything strange in my brother’s attitude and did not know if he intended to do such a thing. We agreed that he would deliver olives to our cousin and then return home because we still have more work. He said that when he return, we will continue our work, but he never came back.”
At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 17 October 2019, dozens of buses carrying settlers under the protection of IOF entered “Joseph’s Tomb” in the eastern side of Nablus to pray. Meanwhile, a number of civilians gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers and settlers. The soldiers responded with live bullets and tear gas canisters at them. Severe confrontations erupted between the soldiers and the civilians and continued until the early morning. As a result, 5 civilians were shot: 3 with live bullets; a child and a photojournalist were shot with rubber bullets. In addition, many others sustained tear gas inhalation. The wounded civilians were identified as:
Mohammed Walid Ibrahim ‘Amoudi (24), from Nablus, was shot with a live bullet to the left leg;
Iyad Husein Khalil Abu Ja’isah (18), from Nablus, was shot with a live bullet to the left leg;
Abdullah Sharif Mustafa Abdul Razeq (24), from Tubas, was shot with a live bullet in the right foot;
Khalil Ayman Mohammed Hashash (16), from Balata refugee camp, was shot with a rubber bullet to the right foot; and
Samer Mustafa Habash (35), a photojournalist from Nablus, was shot with a rubber bullet in the abdomen and he received medical treatment on the spot.
At approximately 05:00 on Thursday as well, an Israeli military vehicle suddenly collided with a Palestinian civilian vehicle driven by 2 civilians at a bystreet near “Haboub” square, after it withdrew from al-Am’ari refugee camp, south of Ramallah. The soldiers directly opened fire at the vehicle, injuring both civilians, from Jerusalem, and totally smashing the vehicle’s glass. A Palestinian ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) that was in the area attempted to transfer the wounded civilians, but the soldiers banned them from reaching them, fired a sound bomb at them and then arrested the 2 civilians. PCHR’s investigations indicated that the 2 civilians were later transferred to a hospital in Israel.
At approximately 06:00 on the same day, IOF stationed at the annexation wall in the West Bank opened fire at Omer Jamal Obeid (23), from ‘Araba village, southwest of Jenin. As a result, Obeid was shot with a live bullet in the left leg while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate of Thuhor al-‘Abed village, west of Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. Obeid was transferred to Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 08:30 on the same day, IOF assigned to guard the annexation wall opened fire at Mohammed Ahmed Nawasrah (25), from Fahmah village, southwest of Jenin. As a result, Nawasrah was shot with 2 live bullets in the foot while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate of Thuhor al-‘Abed village, west of Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. Nawasrah was transferred to Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 13:00 on the same day, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered in al-Sahel agricultural area and in Tarmas’iyah village, east of Ramallah, and threw stones at Israeli settlers and soldiers, who were protecting the settlers. The soldiers chased the protestors between fields and fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them in an arbitrary manner. As a result, a number of protestors sustained tear gas inhalation. The soldiers also banned press crews from accessing the area and attacked photojournalist Mo’atasem Saqef al-Hait (28) physically and verbally. Furthermore, a military vehicle deliberately collided with the backside of an ambulance for the medical center in the village, denting it.
At approximately 08:10 on Thursday morning, Israeli gunboats stationed in western Jabalia shore in northern Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire and chased Palestinian-fishing boats sailing within 3 – 5 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 18 October 2019, IOF stationed in eastern Khan Younis border area, opened fire for few minutes; at agricultural lands in eastern Khan Younis; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 02:30 on Saturday, 19 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in eastern Jabalia shore, and northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 – 5 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 06:10, Israeli gunboats stationed in Western Jabalia shore and northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 – 5 nautical miles. The shooting recurred at approximately 06:40 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:00 on the same day, IOF stationed along the border fence northeast of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians. As a result, Mohammed Ayman Mesbah Yusuf (18), from Jabalia, sustained minor wounds after being shot with a live bullet to the left leg. He was transferred to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia for treatment.
At approximately 07:30, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 06:25 on Sunday, 20 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting continued from time to time until 07:00 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 13:30 on Monday, 21 October 2019, IOF stationed at annexation wall, adjacent to al-Naqqar neighborhood, west of Qalqiliyah, fired live bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at a group of Palestinian children claiming that they threw stones at them. As a result, Abdul Rahman Majed Hasan (16) was shot with a live bullet to the left foot.
At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 22 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in western Jabalia shore in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting recurred at approximately 09:00 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 22 October 2019, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis opened fire for few minutes at agricultural lands in eastern Khuza’ah village; no casualties were reported.
Second: Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 17 October 2019:
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Jaba’ village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) civilians: Fareed Mohammed Alawna (42); Ibrahim Sa’d Badad (45); and Yousif Mahmoud Fashafsha (32).
At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Beit ‘Owa, southwest of Dura village, southwest of Hebron and stationed in the middle of the village. They raided and searched Akram Abdulqader Isma’el Masalma’s house (28). IOF arrested Masalma and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Anabata village, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched Hazem Yousif Foqaha’s (23) family house and arrested him. Foqaha is a university student.
At approximately 03:00, IOF, reinforced by (20) heavy military vehicles, moved into al-Ama’ri refugee camp, south of Ramallah. They stormed and searched several houses and arrested Bara’ Samer Badra (22) and Islam Fa’eq Nimir (23). At that time, dozens of civilians gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded with a barrage of sound bombs, rubber bullets, and teargas canisters against the protesters and between the houses. As a result, a number of civilians suffered due to teargas inhalation. These clashes continued for two hours, and no injuries were reported.
At approximately 03:30, IOF moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Anan Khairy Shbaita (42) and arrested him.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli infantry forces moved into Bab al-Zaweya neighborhood and Ber Saba’ street in Hebron. They closed the stores and maintained a heavy military presence to secure settlers’ movement coming to Hebron in order to hold their religious ceremony in an old building called “Atnael’s tomb” in the middle of a village in area (A), under Palestinian jurisdiction in the Oslo Accords.
At approximately 10:00, IOF moved into Beit Umor village, north of Hebron. They closed the entrance to the village and banned traffic. Meanwhile, more backups came to ‘Aseeda neighborhood near the entrance. Dozens of young men gathered, they threw stones against IOF, who responded with live and rubber bullets and teargas canisters against them. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation; no arrests were reported.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Sa’er and Deir Samet villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 18 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into the eastern neighborhood in Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Fo’ad Khader Ghabarya (25) and Marwan Hashash (22).
At approximately 08:40, IOF moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched two houses belonging Jamal Adnan Abed (25) and Ahmed Qasem Jaber (25), and then arrested them.
At approximately 11:00, IOF moved into al-Krinat neighborhood, southeast of Burin, southeast of Nablus. They arrested Mohammed Zakarya Asous (24), while he was harvesting olives from his land and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 10:00, IOF arrested Nabeel Nader al-Rajbi (18) from al-Ghaith neighborhood, in Hebron’s old city, while he was passing through the (160) military checkpoint at the city entrance, claiming that he disobeyed the Israeli soldier’s orders.
At approximately 19:10, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint between Jayous and ‘Azoun villages, east of Qalqilya. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards, searched their vehicles, and then arrested Mahmoud Fathi Shana’a (30) from Fara’ta village, east of Qalqilya.
IOF carried out (4) incursions in Tal village, southwest of Nablus; Beit Kahel, al-Shoyoukh, and Beit Oula villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 19 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into several neighborhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched three houses belonging to Maram Mohammed Shwaiky; Faris Ali Shwaiky; and Younis Akram Shwaiky. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 14:30, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint between Jayous and al-Nabi Elias villages, east of Qalqilya. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards, searched their vehicles, and then arrested Akrama Banan Abu Olba (35) from Qalqilya.
At approximately 16:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Beit ‘Owa, southwest of Hebron and stationed in al-Simeya neighborhood. Dozens of young men gathered and threw stones against the Israeli soldiers, who responded with teargas canisters and chased them. As a result, many suffered teargas inhalation and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 18:00, IOF established a temporary military checkpoint on the northern entrance to Salfit. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards, searched their vehicles, and arrested Ibrahim Samih al-Asi (22) from Qarawa Bani Hassan village, north of Salfit.
At approximately 19:00, IOF, stationed in al-Naqqar neighborhood along the annexation wall, arrested Fahed Saleh Shtaiwi (13) claiming that he was throwing stones at them. He was taken to an unknown destination.
IOF carried out (11) incursions in Hadab al-Fawwar, al-Thaherya, and Yeta villages in Hebron; Betounya, Sarda, and Birzeit cities; Ain Qinya, Ain Sinya, Ain Yabrod villages, and al-Qarea’ intersection in Ramallah; al-Owja village in Jericho. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 20 October 2019:
At approximately 02:30, IOF moved into Hebron, raided and searched Hishan Hmaidan al-Sharbati’s (49) house, and handed him summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Services in “Ghosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of East occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (3) young men: Ashraf Issa Darbas (22); Abdulrahman Ayman Bashiti (19); and Lo’ay Ashraf Mhmoud (22).
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into al-Wad neighborhood, in the occupied East Jerusalem’s old city. They raided and searched the family house of Abdulrahman Marwan al-Hashlamoun (16) and arrested him.
At approximately 09:00, IOF arrested Shadi Mohammed Fayez Mhaisen (23) while he was driving in al-Tour Street in al-Issaweya village, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem. He was taken to an unknown destination.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in Sa’eer village and al-Fawwar refugee camp in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 21 October 2019:
At approximately 00:00, IOF stationed on “Eyal” checkpoint, north of Qalqilya, arrested Motasim Mohammed Zaid (14) from Qalqilya, claiming that he was throwing stones at them. He was taken to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, IOF moved into the southern side of Hebron and stationed in the industrial area. They raided and searched a stone-cutting workshop belonging to Ata Mohammed Abu al-Romouz. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:00, IOF, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Hebron and stationed in al-Hawouz neighborhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Saif Jamal Abu Zaina (33); he was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Deya’ Mohammed Isma’el Za’loul (27) and arrested him.
IOF carried out (4) incursions in al-Thahereya, Sa’eer, al-Shoyoukh, Beit Marsam, Beit Tafouh villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 22 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, IOF moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, including Israeli Special Forces, Israeli intelligence service, Police officers, and Israeli under cover unit “Mista’arvim,” were deployed in the streets and neighborhoods of the village. As a result, clashes broke out between dozens of Israeli soldiers and the village young men. The civilians threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing live and rubber bullets at them. Before they withdrew, they raided and searched several houses and arrested (9) civilians: Mohammed Bassam Obaid (22); Mohammed Waleed Obaid (21); Mohammed Zakareya Alian (19); Nour al-Deen Maher Mhaisen (18); Abdulrahman Tha’er Mahmoud (19); Ahmad Mujahid Abu Roumi (19); Hussam Sameeh Alian (20); Wadea’ Dawood Alian (20); and Ramiz Jamal Khater (21).
At approximately 02:00, IOF moved into al-Dheesha refugee camp, south Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmad Khaled al-Laham (23) and arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into Beit Sira, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdulrahman Hamed Wawi (25) who was a former prisoner in the Israeli prisons for two years and half, and then arrested him.
Around the same time, IOF moved into al-Zababida village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Marseel Monther (25) and Maysara Fareed Ishtaya (21), from Salem village, northeast of Nablus, while working.
At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Taqoua’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Suliman al-Sha’er (19) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, IOF moved into Um Maslama village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Hayan Ibrahim Taqatqa (32) and his brother Raddad (29), and then arrested them.
At approximately 04:20: IOF moved into Deir Abu Misha’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Amar ‘Adel Zahran (26) and then arrested him.
Wednesday, 23 October 2019:
At approximately 04:30, IOF moved into Solwad village, east of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ahed Hamed (48) who was a former prisoner in the Israeli prisons, confiscated (80.000) NIS, and then arrested his son Mahmoud (24). Around the same time, another Israeli occupation force raided and searched a house belonging to Tamer Mousa Mershed Hamad. And before the withdrawal, they handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence services in “Beit Eil” northeast of Ramallah.
IOF carried out (2) incursions in al-Jalazon refugee camp and Kafr Na’ma in Ramallah. No arrests were reported.
Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem
Israeli Settler Violence
On Thursday, 17 October 2019, the Security Coordinator of “Efrat” settlement with dozens of armed settlers moved into al-Khader village, south of the city. They prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olive trees and ordered them to leave and not to come back until the Jewish Holidays end on Tuesday, 22 October 2019. Nader Subeih, a farmer who owns around 50 dunums near the gate to “Efrat” settlement, said that the settlement’s security coordinator known as Dida informed Palestinian farmers not to harvest the olive trees until the Jewish Holidays end. Subeih clarified that the coordinator dictated terms and enforced them at gunpoint; Palestinian farmers are forcibly denied staying at their lands after 16:00, effectively forcing them to start their work by 05:30. Subieh added that he is denied harvesting olive trees because he is only 43 years old, and IOF permits access to civilians above 50 only. Subieh added that the Israeli settlers break into the Palestinian farmers’ lands from time to time and search their belongings, provocatively obstructing their work.
At approximately 11:40 on Friday, 18 October 2019, at least 17 Israeli settlers, from “Beit El” settlement attacked Palestinian farmers with stones and sticks while harvesting olive trees in al-Sha’b area, under the Israeli forces’ protection. As a result, 3 farmers sustained bruises. The farmers were expelled from their lands at gunpoint amidst Israeli forces’ firing sound bombs. The Israeli settlers seized the entire harvest.
At approximately 13:30 on Saturday, 19 October 2019, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Ronim” settlement, threw stones at Palestinian farmers while harvesting olive trees in Karem ‘Eid area, southeast of Nablus. As a result, 2 farmers were hit with stones. The Israeli forces later intervened to secure the settlers and expel the farmers from their lands. The Israeli settlers seized the crops and other tools. The wounded farmers were identified as Presley Dakheel ‘Abed al-‘Aziz ‘Eid (44), who was hit with a stone in his right hand; and his brother Bashar (47), who was hit with a stone in his right shoulder.
At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 19 October 2019, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Ala” settlement, threw stones at Palestinian farmers while harvesting olive trees in Batisha area and beat them, under the Israeli forces’ protection. The farmers were beaten up and expelled from their lands.
At approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 20 October 2019, at least 40 Israeli settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City on the 7th day of Sukkot Jewish Holiday. Furthermore, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian young man near al-Rahma Mosque and summoned 6 others for interrogation. The Islamic Endowments (Awqaf) Department in Jerusalem stated that settlers raided the mosque in the early morning via al-Maghareba Gate and performed prayers. The Department pointed out that the Israeli police imposed tightened restrictions on Palestinians while entering the mosque, checked their IDs and detained some of them at the mosque’s gates. During the raid, Israeli police arrested ‘Alaa Monther Najeeb (19) who was near al-Rahma Mosque and handed 6 other Palestinians summonses to refer to al-Qashlah Police Station in the Old City for interrogation. They were identified as Moneer ‘Abdullah al-Basti (24), Ibrahim Moahmed al-Natsha (23), Mohamed Yazan Shareef (21), Ghaith Naser Ghaith (27), Laith Naser Ghaith (24), and Foad Bassam al-Shawish (31). According to the Islamic Endowments Department, at least 2700 settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque during the Sukkot Jewish Holiday.
At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 21 October 2019, hundreds of Israeli settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City on the 8th day of Sukkot Jewish Holiday, and the Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinians, including 2 women, near al-Selselah Gate after pushing and beating them.
The Islamic Endowments Department clarified that at least 122 settlers raided the al-Aqsa Mosque in the early morning via al-Maghareba Gate, under the tight protection by IOF. The settlers performed prayers in the mosque’s yards, especially at al-Rahma Gate while the Israeli soldiers were pushing and beating up the Palestinian men and women at the Selselah Gate. Five of them were arrested: ‘Aydah Mohamed al-Sidawi (59), Wa’d Khalil (32), Tarweq Mohamed Da’our (23), Mohamed Foad Abu Shosha (23), and Habeeb Abu Shosha (19).
At approximately 15:00 on Wednesday, 23 October 2019, around 12 settlers, from Halmish Settlement established on the lands of Ramallah’s northwestern villages and under the Israeli occupation forces’ protection attacked and threw stones at the Palestinian farmers who were harvesting olives in al-Ghabt area in the outskirts of Um Safa village, northwest of Ramallah. The Israeli soldiers forced the farmers to leave their lands by pushing them at gunpoint.
Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods
West Bank
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. Israeli forces established 37 temporary checkpoints and arrested 5 civilians.
The military checkpoint were as follows:
Hebron:
On Thursday, 17 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 5 checkpoints at the southern entrances to Halhoul and Hebron and at the entrances to Beit Ummer, Bani Na’iem and al-Thaheriyah villages. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
On Friday, 18 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 4 checkpoints on Wadi the roads of al-Heryah, Beer al-Mahjar and al-Hadab and at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
On Saturday, 19 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Sa’ir village and on Beit ‘Awaa Road and at the southern entrance to Halhoul village. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
On Sunday, 20 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village and the eastern entrance to Dura. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
On Monday, 21 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Ummer, Sa’ir, al-Koum and Deir Razzeh villages. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
Qalqiliyah:
On Thursday, 17 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyah. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoints were later removed.
On Friday, 18 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint between Jayyous and ‘Azoun villages, east of Qalqiliyah. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. They arrested Mahmoud Fathi Shana’ah (30), from Faqariyat Fer’ata in eastern Qalqiliyah.
On Saturday, 19 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 4 checkpoints between Jayyous and al-Nabi Iyyas villages, east of Qalqiliyah; between Jayous and ‘Azoun villages, east of Qalqiliyah; al-Naqqar area adjacent to the annexation wall, east of Qalqiliyah; and at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyah. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. All checkpoints were later removed.
On Sunday, 20 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established 5 checkpoints at Jeet village’s intersection, northeast of Qalqiliyih; and at the entrances to Siniryah village, south of Qalqiliyah, ‘Ezbet al-Tabib; al-Nabi Elias; and ‘Azzoun villages, est of Qalqiliyah.
On Monday, 21 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces stationed at Iyyal checkpoint, north of Qalqiliyah, arrested Mo’tasem Mohamed Zaid (14), from Qalqiliyah, claiming that he threw stones at them.
Salfit:
On Thursday, 17 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Salfit. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoint was later removed.
On the same day, Israeli occupation forces closed the eastern and western entrances to Kaful Hares villages, north of Slafit. The entrances were later opened.
On Saturday, 19 October 2019, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint at the western entrance to Dirstiyia village, north of Salfit. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoint was later removed.
On the same day, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kaful Hares villages, north of Slafit. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoint was later removed.
On the same day, Israeli occupation forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Salfi. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. They arrested Ibrahim Sameeh al-‘Asi (22), from Qarawet Bani Hassan village, north of Salfit.
On Monday, 21 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Qarawet Bani Hassan village, west of Salfit. They searched Palestinians’ vehicles and checked their IDs. The checkpoint was later removed
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in Palestine Territory (03 – 09 October 2019)
Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory
03 – 09 October 2019
Great March of Return in Eastern Gaza Strip: A civilian was killed and 67 others injured, including 30 children, a woman, and a paramedic and a civilian previously injured succumbed to his wounds.
West Bank: 11 civilians injured, including 2 journalists and an Israeli activist, in the West Bank.
During 80 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 60 civilians arrested, including 2 children and a woman.
Israeli forces accompanied with police dogs raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.
2 houses demolished in Hebron and Jenin, and farmers attacked by Israeli settlers in different areas in the West Bank while harvesting olive trees.
Hundreds of settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City and closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.
4 shootings reported against Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza Strip Shore.
26 temporary checkpoints established in the West Bank, where 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested.
Complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for Jewish holidays
Summary
During the reporting period, PCHR documented 138 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
As part of the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 67 others, including 30 children, a woman, and a paramedic on 77th Friday of the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, a civilian succumbed to wounds he sustained 8 months ago at the Great March of Return protests. Meanwhile in the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 11 Palestinian civilians, including 2 journalists and an Israeli activist; 3 of those wounded, including the activist, were wounded during the peaceful protests weekly organized on Friday against the occupation and settlement activity. While others, including the journalists, were wounded during Israeli forces raids to Palestinian cities, and an incident near the Annexation Wall in the West Bank.
As part of the Israeli incursions and house raids, Israel carried out 80 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, and raided civilian houses, attacking and enticing fear among residents in addition to shooting in many incidents. As a result, 60 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 children and a woman. During this week, the Israeli forces raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem and searched the Oncology Department. They ransacked through the department and terrified patients with their police dogs.
As part of Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, 4 shootings were reported by the Israeli gunboats against the Palestinian fishing boats at sea within the allowed limited area for fishing while 2 shootings were reported against the agricultural lands in eastern Gaza Strip.
Under the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 2 house demolitions in Hebron and Jenin and 8 attacks by settlers, including throwing stones at vehicles and puncturing their tires; preventing farmers from entering their lands; cutting and burning olive trees; raiding al-Aqsa and al-Ibrahimi Mosques and closing the latter.
In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods and ongoing isolation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.
Moreover, during the reporting period, Israel imposed a complete closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for Jewish Holidays. In the West Bank, Israel completely closed the King Hussein Bridge starting from 08:00 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, to Thursday, 10 October 2019, as announced by the General Administration of crossings and borders.
Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continued the excessive use of lethal force against “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” (GMR) peaceful demonstrations in the Gaza Strip; as well as protests in the West Bank against settlement expansion activities.
This week’s protest in Gaza was titled “Reconciliation is the People’s Choice,” and witnessed large civilian participation, faced with excessive and lethal force by Israeli forces despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations. At approximately 15:00 on 04 October 2019, protests started across the five GMR encampments until 19:00, and involved activities such as speeches and theatrical performances. Hundreds of civilians protested at varied distances from the border fence across the Gaza Strip, and threw stones, firecrackers and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli forces. As a result, a civilian was killed and 67 other were injured, including 30 children, a womanand a paramedic. Additionally, a previously wounded civilian at GMR succumbed to his wounds.
The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: Israeli shooting at the demonstrators resulted in the killing of ‘Ala’a Nizar ‘Ayesh Hamdan (28), from Beit Hanoun village, after being shot with a live bullet in the chest while he was about 50 – 100 meters west of the border fence. Hamdan was transferred via an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to the medical point where medical crews tried to resuscitate him for half an hour, with no avail. At approximately 17:05, Hamdan was pronounced dead. Furthermore, 12 civilians injured, including 9 children: 5 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, including 3 children; 5 children were shot with rubber bullets; and 2 civilians, including a child, were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to the Ministry of Health and the Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC) to the Indonesian and al-‘Awda Hospitals and their injuries were classified between minor and moderate.
Gaza City: Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrations, which continued from 16:00 until 18:30, resulted in the injury of 11 protestors, including 7 children: 6 shot with live bullets and their shrapnel; 2 with rubber bullets and 3 were hit with tear gas canisters.
Central Gaza Strip: Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrators, which continued from 15:00 from 19:00, resulted in the injury of 16 protestors, including 4 children; 10 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 5 were shot with rubber bullets and 1civilians was hit with tear gas canister.
Khan Younis: Israeli shooting and teargasing at demonstrators resulted in the injury of 9 civilians, including 4 children and a paramedic; 3 of them were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 3 were shot with rubber bullets and 3 with tear gas canisters. The wounded volunteer paramedic, ‘Ali Abdul ‘Aziz Fuseifes (22), from Bani Suheilah, was hit with a tear gas canister in the head.
Rafah: Israeli shooting and teargasing resulted in the injury of 19 civilians, including 6 children: 5 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 11 were shot with rubber bullets and 3 were hit with tear gas canisters.
Civilian Succumbed to his wounds in northern Gaza Strip:
At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip declared the death of Fadi Osama Ramadan Hejazi (20), from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, after he succumbed to the wounds he sustained at GMR.
According to PCHR’s investigations, on 22 February 2019, Hejazi sustained serious wounds after he was shot with a live bullet in the thighs in eastern Jabalia, damaging his veins, tendons and arteries. He sustained additional wounds on 19 April 2019, as he was shot with a live bullet in the right knee in eastern al-Buraij camp protests in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, Hejazi suffered from another cut in the veins and arteries. Hejazi later suffered from blockage of arteries leading to a coma. At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Hejazi was taken to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors said that he suffered from clots. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at approximately 09:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019. Hejazi was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Department in al-Shifa Hospital to reveal the cause of death; the forensic report identified the complications of thrombosis in the blood vessels in the lower extremities as the cause of death. Therefore, the Palestinian Ministry of Health officially announced that Hejazi’s death was caused by his wounds.
Excessive use of force in the West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 October 2019, Palestinians from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah launched their weekly peaceful protest and headed towards the village’s eastern entrance that has been closed by Israeli forces for the past 16 years in favor of “Kedumim” settlement. The demonstrators chanted national slogans demanding end of the occupation and protested the Israeli forces’ crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand berms while the soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians, were injured injured, including an activist from the Israeli Youth Civic Leadership Institute (YCLI); a 26-year-old civilian was shot with a sponge-bullet in the foot, a 28-year-old civilian was shot with a rubber bullet in the hand, and a 26-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet in the shoulder.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 October 2019, a group of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful protest from the center of Kafer Thuluth village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into ‘Arab Khuli area in the village where Israeli forces established a steel gate to ban farmers from entering their lands behind the gate. The protestors threw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind sand berms, while the soldiers responded with rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, many civilians sustained tear gas inhalation. On Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces opened the gate.
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces moved into Ramallah and stationed in al-Tirah neighborhood, west of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Walid Hanatshah and then arrested him. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian young men and children gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers in military vehicles. The soldiers fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, photojournalist Mohammed Radi was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot. On 16 August 2017, photojournalist Radi was shot with a rubber bullet in the face while covering the demolition of a house by the Israeli forces along with Palestine TV Channel crews.
At approximately 08:30 on the same Thursday, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing between 3 to 5 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 07:35 on Friday, 04 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:25 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting recurred at approximately 08:55 on the same day. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
On Saturday evening, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall, fired rubber bullets at Lo’ai Mohammed Abu Rmelah, from Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the leg while attempting to sneak into Israel through the Gate established on lands of Qifin village, north of Tulkarm. Rmelah was transferred to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital in Jenin for treatment.
Also on Saturday evening, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Suheib ‘Ammar ‘Amer (26), from ‘Alar village in Tulkarm. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city.
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall, fired rubber bullets at Khalid Mahmoud Tawfiq Ja’arah (25), from ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established at lands of Zeta village. As a result, Ja’arah was shot with a rubber bullet to the foot.
At approximately 23:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces moved into Nablus through its eastern and southern entrances and stationed in the eastern area of the city to secure the entry of dozens of buses carrying settlers to the abovementioned area in order to perform their religious rituals and Talmudic prayers in “Joseph’s Tomb” in Balatat al-Balad village. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and set tires on fire, put barricades on streets and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli vehicles in the city. Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them to disperse them. As a result, a number of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and they received medical treatment on the spot. Journalist Mo’tasem Samir Saqf al-Hait (31) was shot with a rubber bullet in the abdomen. Emad Edden Yaseen Taha Hamzah (18) was shot with rubber bullet in the left hand, causing a fracture to it. Hamzah was transferred to Rafidiya Hospital to receive medical treatment. Israeli sources mentioned that Israeli forces moved into Nablus to secure the entry of 17 buses carrying 1100 settlers to “Joseph’s Tomb”. They added that “Eli Cohen”, Israeli Minister of Economy, “Yossi Dagan”, Head of the Shomron Regional Council, and “Moshe Arbel”, a member of the Knesset, were along with the settlers.
At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Ahmed Mustafa Tawfiq Sa’abnah (23), from Fahmah village, south of Jenin, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the Gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot.
On Monday evening, 07 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Abdul Salam Khalil Katanah (25), from Nazlet ‘Essa village, north of Tulkarm, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the leg. Israeli forces detained Katana at Barta’a checkpoint, southwest of Jenin for questioning him and then handed him to the Palestinian Military Liaison. The ambulance officer said that Katana was transferred to Dr. Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm for medical treatment. It should be noted that Katana is the fifth civilian, who was wounded by Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall this week.
At approximately 07:20 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 08:00 on the same Tuesday, Israeli soldiers stationed in eastern al-Shoka village, east of Rafah opened fire at agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 09 October 2019, Israeli soldiers stationed east of Khan Younis opened fire at agricultural lands in the west of the border fence; no casualties were reported.
Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 03 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mesh’al, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yousef Zahran and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kobar village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Obeid Wajdi al-Barghouthi and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus, and stationed at al-Makhfeya neighborhood, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Anwar Fawzi Hamami (25) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Janeya village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mamdouh Jamal Omaira and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into southern Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Yousef Abu Hussain (33) and Basheer Khaled al-Rajabi (31) and then arrested them.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qalqelya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Omar Mohammed Khadraj (25) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ali Bassam Sabri ‘Atyani (27) and then arrested him.
In the afternoon hours, Israeli forces moved into Kober village, north of Ramallah for the second time in a few hours. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdulsalam al-Barghouthi, and then arrested his three sons; Qasam, Nasim, and Aseel.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Dar Hotel at al-Shaikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the old city of occupied East Jerusalem. They banned an event organized by the Higher Islamic Commission titled as “Jerusalem Cultural Landscape”, claiming that it is sponsored by Hamas Movement. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police and intelligence services stormed the hotel while Shaikh Najeh Bkirat, Director of Islamic Education in the Department of Islamic Endowments, was giving his speech. Suddenly, they stopped him and interrupted the event claiming that Hamas Movement sponsored it. The order was signed by Doron Yedid, the Jerusalem District Israeli Police Commander stating that: “By the power vested in me, according to Article 69 of the Anti-Terror Law 2016, I am convinced that today, at al-Dar Hotel, a cultural seminar sponsored by Hamas (terrorist organization) will be held, so I ordered to ban this event in the above-mentioned place or any place inside the State of Israel at this or any other date“. Furthermore, they detained all the attendees at al-Dar Hotel, checked their IDs, and confiscated a video camera belonging to Palestine TV. They also arrested Shaikh Najeh Dawoud Bkairat (65) and the academic researcher Aziz al-‘Asa (63), then they were taken to investigation center number (4) which is belonging to Israeli police office in West Jerusalem.
Israeli forces carried out (7) incursions in Jifna, north of Ramallah; Kafr Romman village, east of Tulkarm; Kafl Hares city and Hares village, in Salfit; Dora, Samoua’, and al-Shoyoukh villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 04 September 2019:
At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Laith Tariq Darweesh (19) and then arrested him after they hit him. It should be noted that a video published on shows the Israeli soldiers beaten Darweesh using batons, then taken him by force into a military vehicle.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces established a temporary military checkpoint at the main street leading to Qalqilya. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards and then arrested, then they arrested Said Belal Swailem (30), form Qalqilya, and took him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bait Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched three houses belonging to Mohammed Ali ‘Asafra (33), Yousef Izzat ‘Asafra (43), and sabri Aqil ‘Asafra, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Jamal village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hasan Abdulatif Mohammed Tuba, and confiscated (15,000) NIS. The above-mentioned civilian said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“At approximately 02:00, on Friday down, 04 October 2019, Israeli forces stormed my house. Suddenly, the Israeli police officer ordered me to give him the money I have. I replied: which money? He answered the money that you withdrew from the bank today. I refused and said I do not have money because I could not bear the idea of having my money taken unlawfully. They searched my house upside down with no avail, so the police officer ordered a female soldier to search my wife’s clothes and then confiscated my money that I took in compensation for my work as a construction worker. At the end, they confiscate 15,000 NIS, and handed me a warrant with the confiscated amount. I headed to the Israeli military liaison and Ariel settlement police station, but with no avail. And now I am banned from working in Israel because I do not have security clearance and I have a martyr son“.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in al-‘Ain neighborhood, they closed the street leading to Israeli military watch tower at the entrance of the village. Dozens of protestors approached and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. The Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants and chased them until they arrived to the city center. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and they arrested Mohammed Mofeed Mohammed Ekhlaliel (18). The Israeli forces claimed that they stormed the village because they found explosives near the abovementioned tower.
Israeli forces carried out (6) incursions in Tel village, southwest of Nablus; Kafr Jamal village, south of Tulkarm; Kafr Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqelya; Yasouf village, east of Salfit; Yata; and Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 05 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Issa village, in western Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Abdulaziz al-Jamal (39) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ahmed Rafea’ al-Salibi (23) and Kareem Ibrahim Abu Maria (24), and then arrested them. Furthermore, Israeli forces stormed two stores belonging to Yousef Ahmed Abdullah Ekhlaiel and Ahmed Mohammed Ali Ekhlaiel, and then confiscated their digital video recorder device. Also, they stormed a house belonging to Sami Hasan Jaber al-Allami and got onto the roof of his house looking for surveillance cameras.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samit, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khader al-Haroub (34) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Burj village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Kayed Mohammed ‘Amaira (44) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Yousef Fareed Obaid (21) and Nadeem Harbi Obaid (24), and then arrested them.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces stationed at King Hussein Bridge Crossing, arrested Islam Asri Fayyad (24) anbd Na’em Abdulrahim Jaradat (23), from Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, while they were back from Jordan to oPt; they were led to an unknown destination.
At approximately 17:50, Israeli forces arrested Basel Aziz Obaid (21), while he was near his house in al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. He was taken to an investigation center in Israel.
At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya, amidst firing sound bombs and teargas canisters at the participants. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and Dr. Mohammed Othman Mattar’s house sustained damage. Israeli forces threw a teargas canister at Mattar’s window, which burnt the sofas, curtains, and carpets. After that, the civil defense units came and put the fire out.
Sunday, 06 October 2019
At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Bab Hattah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ayham Khaill Sharifah (18) and amjad Mohammed Abu Suneinah (23) and then arrested them
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Emad Eden Kahlil al-‘Abasi (32) and then handed him a summons to refer to al- Maskobiya detention center in West Jerusalem.
At approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Nazlet ‘Essa village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mosa’ab Abdul Qader Abu al-Shawareb (14) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qifin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hadi Saleh Tawfiq Harshah (23) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliya. They raided and searched several houses and the arrested Samer Sa’ed Redwan (22), ‘Ala’a ‘Asem Mansour (24) and Mo’ath Islam Redwan (17).
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested Mo’men Abdullah Hashimah (19) in Bab Hattah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem and took him to a detention center.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They searched the medical departments claiming to search for weapons. Eyewitness that officers from the police and Israeli Intelligence Service along with police dogs and deployed inside the rooms of “Oncology Department” and carried out a wide-scale search process for weapons. As a result, patients in the hospital panicked.
Israeli forces carried out (3) incursions in Deir Samet village, al-Fawar refugee camp and Dura in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 07 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Duheishah refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging Majd Khalid Mohammed al-Ja’fari (21) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in Wad Ma’ali area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Saleh Hasan Salahat (38) and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Safa village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Hanthalah Cultural Centre (HCC) after breaking the main door. They confiscated files and other office contents. Hanthalah was established in 1998 and organize festivals and activities relevant to the Palestinian heritage that aim at developing individual skills.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Mazra’ah al-Ghrabiyah village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Bader Eden Feras Soboh (18) and Abdullah Abu Fraih (19) and then arrested them.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Karam Mohammed Sadaqa (21) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Atil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hammam ‘Atef Mohammed Nassar (24) and the arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Mesleh Shehadah (21) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Na’el Ahmed Mesleh Shehadah Kalib (18) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Reda Majdi ‘Ozati (22), Yusuf Islam Abu Raya (21) and ‘Amr Khalid Husein Foqaha’a (20).
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Na’el ahmed Rafiq Shana’ah (18) and then arrested him.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed at Jeet military checkpoint between Nablus and Qaliliyah, arrested 5 civilians from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus and they were identified as: Mohammed Lutfi Hasan Marshoud (28), Mohammed Mahmoud Suleiman Marshoud (27), Mohammed Maimoun ‘Anab (25), Namer Husein Abu Mustafa (38) and his wife, Shurouq Mohammed Hasan Abu Mustafa (29).
Tuesday, 08 October 2019:
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and the arrested 3 civilians namely: Mahmoud ‘Awad Hamed , Mustafa Abdul Ra’ouf Hamed and Mohammed Saleh Dar Saleh.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ayman Mohammed Sharif (24) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Nasser Eden and then arrestd his sons ‘Ezz Eden (23) and Yahiya (19).
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Atiyah Banat (44) and the arrested him and his son Jamal (20).
At approximately 11:00, Israeli police officers stationed at Bab Hatta, which is one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, handed summonses to journalists Misa’a Mahmoud Abu Ghazala (34) and Sondos Abdul Rahman Abu Baker ‘Ouwais (23) to refer to al-Qashla police center in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. When both journalists arrived at the abovementioned police center, they were interrogated on claims of “disturbing public order” through recording settlers, who entered al-Aqsa Mosque. Both journalists were later released.
Israeli forces carried out (13) incursions in ‘Aboud, al-Nabi Saleh and Kafer Ne’mah villages in Ramalah and al-Birah Jenin and ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah; Shuweikah Suburb, east of Tulkarm; Beit Ummer, Sa’ir, Ethna, al-Koum, Kherbat Mosafer and Yatta villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 09 October 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron and stationed in Farsh al-Hawa area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Badran Bader Jaber (72) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abdul Karim Abu Daya (16) and then arrested him.
Collective Punishment:
On Sunday evening, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces informed Abu Hmaid family, al-Am’ari refugee camp residents, in al-Birah by phone to demolish their house. Lutfiyah Naji Abu Hmaid said that an Israeli officer phone called her and informed her of the demolition decision. The officer told Lutfiyah that she can appeal against the decision within a week, but she confirmed that she would not appeal before, what she called, moot courts. Lutfiyah added that she is currently reconstructing the house, which was blown up, and now building the third floor. Lutfiyah also said that the demolition of the house was on grounds of being built on a confiscated land and Israeli forces ban construction of any demolished house for 5 years.
This decision is part of the collective punishment policy adopted by the Israeli forces against families of Palestinian individuals accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli forces and/or settlers. Israeli forces blew up Abu Hmaid family on Saturday, 15 December 2018 as a punishment for her after her son Islam threw a stone at the head of a soldier on 06 June 2018 leading to his death. Before its demolition, their residence was a 4-story house built on an area of 150 square meters. It should be noted that Israeli forces demolished Abu Hmaid family for the third time as they demolished it before in 1994 and in 2003. Moreover, Abu Hmaid’s family has 6 prisoners, who serve their sentences in the Israeli prisons; the last one of them was Islam, who was arrested on 13 June 2018.
Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank including occupied East Jerusalem
Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, an Israeli force backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with 2 excavators and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They stationed in Wad al-Shaiekh area in the eastern part of the village and demolished an under-construction house under the pretext of non-licensing. The 150-sqaure-meter house belongs to ‘Ali Mohamed ‘Ali al-‘Alami. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities handed al-‘Alami a notice based on a military order No. (1797), which was issued in 2018. Al-‘Alami was given 96 hours to implement the demolition or the Israeli authorities will demolish it.
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, an Israeli force backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with a bulldozer and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Taiba village in western Jenin. They stationed in al-Qars neighborhood, where the bulldozer demolished an under-construction house belonging to Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed Jabareen, under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C. The houses was built on an area of 240 square meters and its cost was estimated at NIS 1000.000.
Israeli Settler Violence
At approximately 02:25 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, a group of Israeli settlers moved into Qirah village, north of Salfit, and punctured the tires of 11 vehicles. They wrote slogans on the vehicles and the walls of 3 houses. ‘Aisha Khalil Nimer, Head of the village’s council, said that surveillance cameras recordings fixed in al-Qibali neighborhood showed the settlers’ attack. She added that “when official authorities came to document the assault, the Israeli liaison officer confirmed that the attackers were the same ones who attacked Askaka village in afternoon”. The affected vehicles belong to: Saher ‘Abed al-Fattah ‘Arabasi, Raied Saleh Saleh, Hekmat Majed Dalelni, Yaseen ‘Abood Abu Shamma, Naseem ‘Abood Abu Shamma, ‘Abood Yaseen Abu Shamma, Jaser Kareem ‘Arbasi, Mohamed Hatem Dalelni, Akram Hatem Dalelni, and Rami Rashid Dalelni. The affected houses belong to: Wael Majed Dalelni, Mahmoud ‘Abed al-Fattah ‘Arbasi and ‘Abed al-Jabbar Abu Shamma.
At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olive trees in the eastern side of Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyia. ‘Akef ‘Abed al-Raouf ‘Abdullaj Jum’a and his family headed to their lands and an Israeli force expelled them. On the next day, Israeli forces expelled Jum’a and other international solidarity groups from his land. Jum’a said that: “on Sunday morning, 06 October 2019, my wife, grandsons and I headed to Hariqat ‘Ali Hijlah area in eastern Kafur Qaddoum village to harvest olive trees. When we began harvesting the trees, the guard of Kedumim settlement, who was armed, came and attempted to expel us. We refused to leave and continue our work. The guard then left the area and an Israeli force came and expelled us. On the next day, international solidarity groups and I headed to my plot of land and the settlement’s guard followed us along with an Israeli force. The Israeli soldiers decided to expel me while the international solidarity groups stayed in the land. The Israeli force came again to inform us that the area is a “closed military zone” and we should leave it. On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, I headed alone to my land and picked up some olive trees while the settlement’s guard was there and shouting at me all the time.”
Early on Monday morning, 07 October 2019, the residents of Bureen village in southern Nablus wake up and found that Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, attacked Bab Khelet al-Ghoul area. The settlers cut 36 olive trees with automatic saws. This attack came in the olive harvest season to deprive the residents of reaping crop. The trees belong to Naser Isma’il Ibrahim Qadous and Ahmed Mahmoud al-Najjar.
At approximately 10:30 on the same day, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, attacked the mixed Bureen School in the eastern entrance to the village, under the Israeli forces’ protection. The School administration evacuate all students for fear of their lives.
On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, hundreds of Israeli settlers, including the Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, and right wing MP Yehuda Glick, moved into al-Aqsa Mosque’s yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, amid tight Israeli security measures. They imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshipers and denied their access to the mosque, coinciding with Yom Kippur Holiday. The Islamic Endowment (Awqaf) Department stated that hundreds of Israeli setters raided al-Aqsa Mosque as groups via al-Maghareba Gate under Israeli forces and intelligence officers’ protection. It should be noted that many Palestinians were threatened with arrest and banned from entering the mosque by Israeli forces if they head to Bab al-Rahma Mosque. The Israeli forces also detained the worshipers’ IDs. It should be noted that groups of Temple Mount Movement have called via media and social networking sites for collective raids of al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holidays, with assurances of full protection by the Israeli police.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, set fire to olive trees belonging to Palestinian civilians on “Yatizhar” Bypass Road in Um Brais and al-Tanour areas, south of the village. As a result, at least 100 fruitful olive trees were burned before the residents and Civil Defense managed
to extinguish the fire. The affected olive trees belong to Ahmed Mohamed Ya’qoub ‘Odah.
At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, Israeli settlers, who were driving a car on Ramallah-Nablus main street in ‘Oyoun Haramiyia area, threw stones at Ibrahim Suliman Mohamed al-Deek’s (31) vehicle, from al-Sawiyia village, south of Nablus. As a result, the vehicle’s windshield was broken. Al-Deek said to PCHR’s fieldworker that: “At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, I was returning from my workplace in Ramallah and heading to al-Sawiyia village. When I arrived at ‘Oyoun Haramiyia area, north of Ramallah, there was a traffic jam. I was startled when a stone hit my windshield. The glass scattered on my face, body and inside my car. I closed my eyes and paused for a moment, then proceeded with caution.”
On Wednesday, 09 October 2019, Israeli forces closed al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the central of Hebron’s Old City. They ordered the Islamic Endowment officers to get out of the mosque and prevented worshipers from entering it. Hundreds of Israeli settlers raided al-Ibrahimi Mosque to perform prayers on Yom Kippur Holiday.
Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods
West Bank
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. Israeli forces established 26 temporary checkpoints and arrested a civilian. Furthermore, 2 civilians were arrested while travelling via King Hussein Crossing.
The military checkpoint were as follows:
Jerusalem:
Israeli forces closed the “Tunnel” and “300” military checkpoints, which separate occupied Jerusalem from Bethlehem, in addition to closing “al-Jeep” and “Hizmah” checkpoints on Monday and Tuesday midnight until Wednesday midnight, coinciding with Yom Kippur Holiday. Furthermore, Israeli forces closed all the entrance to Arab villages and neighborhoods with iron barriers and cement cubes, completely paralyzing traffic within the area.
Hebron:
On Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Sa’ir village and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.
On Friday, 04 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Dura, at the entrances to Tarama and Beit Ummer villages, and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.
On Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Shayyoukh, al-Jalajel and al-Raboud villages, and at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp. In morning hours, the Israeli forces closed the entrance to Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, with a metal detector gate and denied Palestinians’ access to their vehicles. As a result, they were forced to use a bypass road for entering and exiting the village.
On Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, at the entrance to Yatta, at the southern entrance to Hebron, and at the entrance to Beit Kahel village.
On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, at the eastern entrance to Dura village, and at the entrance to Beit Kahel village.
Nablus:
At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint of “Shavi Shamroun” settlement, on Nablus-Jenin Street, northwest of the city, obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles.
Israeli forces stationed at Beit Foreek checkpoint, at the eastern entrance to the village, obstructed the movement of Palestinian every day after 14:00.
At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint in al-Fawar area, at the southeastern entrance to al-Tal village, southwest of the city.
At approximately 15:30, a similar checkpoint was established in al-Sarifi area on al-Bathan-Nablus road, at the northern entrance to the city.
On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at Tall-Madama villages’ intersections (at the southern entrance to Tall village), at the entrance to Homish settlement (Jenin-Nablus Road), and on ‘Asirah-Nablus Road (at the northern entrance to Nablus).
Salfit:
At approximately 08:50 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Dir Balout village, west of the city.
At approximately 09:50, a similar checkpoint was established at the northern entrance to the city.
Tulkarm:
At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb village, east of Tulkarm.
At approximately 19:00, a similar checkpoint was established on a road connecting between Jayyous and Kafur Jamal villages, south of the city.
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in Palestine (26 Sep. – 02 Oct. 2019)
Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory
26 September – 2 October 2019
Great March of Return in Eastern Gaza Strip: One civilian killed and 88 others injured, including 27 children and 9 paramedics, including 4 females.
During 76 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 55 civilians arrested, including 2 children and 2 women.
Palestinian prisoner transferred to the hospital in critical condition after being tortured during investigation
6 shooting incidents reported against Palestinian fishing boats off the Gaza Strip shore
Large numbers of settlers stormed al-Aqsa Mosque grounds in occupied East Jerusalem; Palestinian civilians, including women, banned from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for periods ranging between 15 days to 6 months
33 temporary checkpoints erupted in the West Bank, where 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested.
Complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for Jewish holidays
Summary
During the reporting period, PCHR documented 129 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Under the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 88others, including 27 children and 9 paramedics, including 4 female paramedics in the Gaza Strip at the 76th Great March of Return. On 29 September 2019, Palestinian prisoner Samer al-‘Arabid, was transferred to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem due to the serious deterioration of his health condition while being interrogated by the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) in the Moscovia Prison in occupied Jerusalem.
As part of the Israeli incursions and house raids, Israel carried out 76 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, and raided civilian houses, attacking and enticing fear among residents in addition to shooting in many incidents. As a result, 55 Palestinians were arrested, including a child and 2 women.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces carried out 6 naval attacks against Palestinian fishermen at sea within the allowed fishing area; also, 1 shooting incident was documented in an agricultural land east of Khan Younis.
the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, continued this week as PCHR fieldworkers documented the storming of al-Aqsa Mosque grounds by large settler groups.
In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation in the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods and ongoing isolation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed a full-scale closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for the Jewish New Year. The closure lasted from 00:00 on Sunday 29 September 2019 until early Wednesday 02 October 2019. On Monday 30 September 2019 and Tuesday 01 October 2019, Israeli forces shut Erez (Beit Hanoun) Crossing completely.
Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity
Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip
The 76th Great March of Return took off in eastern Gaza Strip on Friday, 27 September 2019, titled “al-Aqsa Intifada and Palestinian Prisoners.” The Israeli attacks resulted in the killing of 1 civilian and the injury of 88 civilians, including 27 children, 9 paramedic including 4 females.
The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 27 September 2019, hundreds of civilians marched towards the central tent of the Great March of Return (GMR) in Abu Safiyah area, northeast of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces stationed behind sand berms and in military vehicles along the border fence, fired live and rubber bullets as well as teargas canisters at a number of protesters, who threw stones at them. As a result, 22 civilians injured, including 10 children and 2 paramedics: 8, including 2 children, were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel; 7, including 2 children, were shot with rubber bullets; and 7 were hit with tear gas canisters, including 6 children. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to the Ministry of Health and Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC) to the Indonesian and al-Awda Hospitals and their injuries were classified between minor and moderate. The injured paramedics were identified as ‘Atef Mohammed ‘Ali al-‘Arbid (48), a Civil Defense paramedic who was shot with a rubber bullet to the face, causing a fracture to the upper jaw; and Mohammed Husni ‘Abdulatif al-Haw (23), a Military Medical Services paramedic, who was shot with a rubber bullet to the left hand and treated in the medical point. Meanwhile, the injured persons with disabilities were identified as Saber‘Ali ‘Abdel Qader al-Ashqar (37), a double amputee who was shot with a rubber bullet in the left arm; and Mohammed Nabil ‘Abdullah al-Zaharnah (24), a deaf man who was shot with a live bullet to the abdomen.
Gaza City: at approximately 17:00 on Friday, hundreds of civilians marched in eastern Malakah area, east of Gaza City. Speeches, theatrical performances and other segments were performed at the protest central encampment. Dozens of protestors approached the fence and threw stones with slingshots at Israeli soldiers. The activities continued until 18:30 on the same day. Despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations, Israeli forces directly stationed along the border fence fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. As a result, 12 civilians injured, including 4 children: 6 wereshot with live bullets, 4 were shot with rubber bullets and 2 were directly hit with tear gas canisters.
Central Gaza Strip: at approximately 15:00, hundreds of civilians, including women, children and families, took part in the eastern Bureij refugee camp protests; tens of them gathered adjacent to the border fence at a range varying between 3 – 70 meters. A number of protestors approached the fence, raised the Palestinian flags, set tires on fire and threw stones with slingshots at Israeli soldiers. The Israeli soldiers, reinforced with several military SUVs, fired live and rubber bullets in addition to teargas canisters at them. As a result, 16 civilians were wounded, including 2 children: 11 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 5 was shot with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah and their wounds were classified between minor and moderate.
Khan Younis: The gathering witnessed lively speeches, performances, and national songs organized in the area while dozens of protestors approached the border fence and threw stones, fireworks and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli military vehicles. Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at protesters, wounding 21 civilians, including 4 children and 7 paramedics; 3 of them were female paramedics. Seven of those wounded were hit with rubber bullets and 14 were directly hit with tear gas canisters, noting that only 12 injuries were referred to hospitals while others received treatment in field due to their minor injuries. The wounded paramedics were identified as: Saleh Khaled Ahmed al-Haj (21), who was hit with a teargas canister in the left eye; Mohammed Akram Safi (19), who was hit with a teargas canister in the back; Kamal Jawad al-Shahri (24), who was hit with a rubber bullet in the back; Farhmah Walid al-Najjar (35), who was hit with a teargas canister in the hand; Ibtisam Mohammed Abu Louli (22), from Rafah and was hit with a teargas canister in the back; Shorouq Sa’id Abu Reidah (21), who was hit with a teargas canister in the foot; and Naser Hisham Mousa (22), who was hit with a rubber bullet to the right hand
Rafah: Hundreds participated in the eastern Shokah protests, where folklore songs and speeches were held. Dozens approached the border fence and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the shielded Israeli soldiers, who responded with live and rubber bullets and teargas canisters. As a result, Saher ‘Awadallah Jaber ‘Othman (20) declared dead in al-Shifa hospital after sustaining serious wounds due to being shot with a bullet in the chest at approximately 17:45. Further, 17 civilians were injured, including 7 children and a female paramedic; 4 of them deemed in a serious condition : 15 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel; 1 with a rubber bullet and 1 with a tear gas canister. The female paramedic was identified as Sabrin Jaber ‘Abdel Rahim Qeshtah (28), a member of ‘Abdullah Life Pulse Team and was hit with a bullet in the upper extremities and the abdomen. Freelance journalist Ramadan Ibrahim Khalil al-Sharif (30) was shot with a live bullet that settled in his flak jacket. Meanwhile, those seriously wounded were identified as ‘Abdul Halim Sa’id al-‘Abadlah (20), who was hit with a bullet to the lower extremities; Mahmoud Yousif Abu ‘Azoum (14) who was hit with a bullet in the lower extremities and a third one, still unidentified, with a bullet to the neck; and Sami ‘Awni Abu Jazar (18) was shot with a live bullet to the chest.
Excessive use of force in the West Bank:
At approximately 17:00 on Tuesday, 01 October 2019, Israeli forces attacked Palestinian participants, who protested in front of Hadassah Hospital, east of occupied East Jerusalem, in solidarity with prisoner Samer Mina Salim al-‘Arbid, who is in a serious health condition for few days after investigation with him in the Israeli prisons. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces chased the participants near Hadassah Hospital and heavily beat them to prevent them from protesting and chanting for favor of prisoner Samer. Eyewitnesses added that Israeli forces confiscated a banner with the Samer’s photos, stopped young men before the end of the protest, checked their ID cards and then arrested Somoud Nasser Abu Khdair (25), heavily beaten her while taking her to a police vehicle. Israeli forces also arrested Nidal ‘Aboud (27), who sustained bruises after they beat him and dragged on the floor.
It should be noted that the participants called for the Israeli authorities to release al-‘Arabid, who was arrested on 26 September 2019, from his work in al-Birah. Al-‘Arabid was tortured during investigation with him by the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) with the ratification of the Israeli Ministry of Justice. As a result, al-‘Arabid fainted and suffered kidney failure that threatens his life. The participants stressed that al-‘Arabid urgently needs a serious medical treatment and called for bringing all the inspectors who tortured him to trial.
Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 26 September 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 17:30 on the same Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian young women and girls organized a protest from Salah Eden Street and headed into Sultan Suleiman Street in occupied East Jerusalem condemning violence against women in the Palestinian society. The protestors chanted slogans against violence and Israeli occupation. They also raised banners demanding to apply laws that guarantee protection for women in addition to photos of Palestinian female prisoners in the Israeli prisons and called for supporting them. When a woman, who was present near Bab al-‘Amoud Gate (Damascus Gate), raised the Palestinian flag, Israeli soldiers attacked her in addition to a number of participants and then forced them to leave the area. Neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
At approximately 03:20 on Friday, 27 September 2019, Israeli forces backed by 12 military SUVs moved into Ramallah and stationed in al-Tirah neighborhood in the southern side of the city. dozens of Palestinian young men gathered in the neighborhood and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli forces, who responded with tear gas canisters at them and toward houses. As a result, a number of civilians fainted and vomited and were treated on the spot. Israeli soldiers also fired live bullets at a vehicle belonging to Palestine TV, causing material damage in the vehicle; no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, another Israeli force moved into al-Masayef neighborhood. They raided and searched 2 houses after which they arrested Ihsan Sa’ad Eshtiyah (50) and Abdul Razeq Hasan Farraj (62). Farraj served 15 years in the Israeli prison on separate periods.
At the end of Friday prayer on 27 September 2019, dozens of Palestinian organized a peaceful protest in a-Sawahrah eastern village, east of occupied East Jerusalem against settlements outposts established on Palestinian lands in al-Dabbah area, adjacent to al-Montar Mount, east of occupied East Jerusalem. The participants attempted to approach the outpost, but Israeli forces forcibly dispersed them by firing tear gas canisters at them. As a result, tens of participants suffered tear gas inhalation. Younis Ja’far, Head of al-Sawahrah village Council said to PCHR’s fieldworker that dozens of worshipers from al-Sawahrah, al-‘Izariyah and Abu Dese village, performed the Friday prayer at al-Montar lands in East Jerusalem in solidarity with the area residents after the settlement outpost was established upon calls by the Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Committee and Jerusalem Governorates. The protestors raised the Palestinian flags in a tour in Jerusalem City. Few days ago, Israeli forced dismantled the “Right and Dignity” Tent established by the Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall and al-Sawahrah village residents near the settlement outpost on 15 September 2019, and established mobile houses “caravans” and water tanks.
At approximately 06:50 on Saturday, 28 September 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 09:30 on Sunday, 29 September 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:25 on Monday, 30 September 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 10:50, on Tuesday, 01 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 07:45 on Wednesday, 02 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 17:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at agricultural lands in eastern al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Younis. The shooting continued for few minutes; no casualties were reported.
Incursions and Arrests
Thursday, 26 September 2019:
At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Majd Kamal al-A’war (19) and then arrested him.
At approximately 00:15, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliya. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Akrama Ayoub Zamary (21) and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sa’eed Aziz Jaber Zandeeq (26) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Abu Deis village, east of old East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mosheer Mahmoud Halabeya (38) and Emran Warad Halabeya (57) and then arrested them.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Youssef Ibrahim Kamel ‘Allami (22) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Furik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Murad Rebhi Nasasra (37) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil Ibrahim Omaira (51) and then arrested him.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Tayseer Rashed (20) and then arrested him.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Mohammed Hamdan (29), from Saida village, north of Tulkarm after they summoned him to meet the Israeli Intelligence Service.
At approximately 15:40, Israeli police officers stationed at Bab al-Silsila gate (the Chain Gate), one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, arrested Ashraf Hasan ‘Edwan (12) from al-‘Izzariyah village, east of Jerusalem, after they fired live bullets and beat him claiming that he attempted to stab a female soldier in al-Aqsa Mosque. Following the incident, Israeli forces closed the Mosque’s gates, banned all the worshippers from entering it and closed the gates Jerusalem’s Old City. Lawyer Razan al-Ja’ba said to PCHR’s fieldworker: “Israeli forces took Ashraf to investigate him at al-Maskoubeya Police center in West Jerusalem.” al-Ja’ba mentioned that ‘Edwan suffers from bruises throughout his body and did not sustained any live bullet wound.
Israeli forces carried out (18) incursions in: Batn al-Hawa and al-Teera neighborhoods in Ramallah; Abu Shkheidm, Kubr, al-Mazra’a al-Gharbeya, Deir Nizam, Kafr Na’ma, Betin villages, and Birzeit in Ramallah and al-Beira; al-Thaheriya, Tafouh, al-Shoyoukh, al-Koun villages in Hebron; Azoun east of Qalqelya; Kafel Hares, al-Zaweya, badya, Mas’ha villages in Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Friday, 27 September 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested (4) civilians: Ahmed Mohammed Theeb al-Haroub; ‘Ezz Jaber ‘Awda al-Haroub; Tawfeeq Abdulfattah al-Haroub; and Ismail Hussain al-Haroub.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ismail Mohammed Natah and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to ‘Ayed Mohammed Salem Doudin (55) and Khaled Mohammed al-Fasfous (36), and then arrested them.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces established a temporary military checkpoint on the entrance of the Arab American University, southeast of Jenin. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards and then arrested Emad Nader Zaid al-Kilany (25), from Tubas. They also beat his father and their companion. Ahmed Abdul Nasser Mustafa Foqaha’a (17) said to PCHR’s fieldworker:
“At approximately 15:00, on Friday evening, 27 September 2019, I was in the car with my cousin and 2 others, my cousin was driving, going from Tubas towards al-Zababda village. We arrived at our work at our barbershop near the Arab American University. We came across a military checkpoint by the AAU entrance. The soldiers stopped us, checked our ID cards, and then took Emad al-Kilany, my partner, to one of the military vehicles. His father, who was with us, attempted to intervene but with no avail. We waited for Emad to be released for 2 and half hours at the checkpoint. At that time, Emad’s father quarreled with the soldiers so they pushed him away, I tried to intervene but one of the soldiers hit me up with his gun to the left side of my neck and then they buttstroke my shoulder and chest until I fell unconscious. I woke up at Jenin Governmental Hospital, and stayed for two hours before leaving to Tubas with Emad’s father and my cousin. At night, I felt pain in my chest, so my family took me to Tubas Turkish Hospital for treatment and then I left”.
At approximately 16:00, a group of Israeli undercover units “Mosta’rivim” dressed like Palestinian civilians arrested Mohammed Youssef Mohammed al-Haroub (24), from Deir Samet village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They used a civilians vehicle with Palestinian registration plate, and stopped in front of a store in Singer village, east of Hebron, and took him to an unknown destination.
Israeli forces carried out (7) incursions in Kour and Abu Shakhidem villages, and Betunia in Ramallah and al-Beira; Ya’bud village southwest of Jenin; Qaryout village southeast of Nablus; and Halhoul and Yatta villages, north and south of Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Saturday, 28 September 2019
Israeli forces carried out (2) incursions in Beit Ummer and al-Shuyoukh villages, north of Hebron. No arrests were reported.
Sunday, 29 September 2019
On Sunday morning, 29 September 2019, Palestinian Prisoner Samer al-‘Arbid was referred to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem due to the serious deterioration of his health condition while being interrogated by the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) in the Moscovia Prison in occupied Jerusalem. Israeli special forces arrested al-‘Arbid (44) on Wednesday morning, 25 Septmber 2019, while en route to his work in Sateh Marhaba neighborhood in Ramallah. His wife, Noura al-Maslamani, who was with him at the time of his arrest said that members of the Israeli special forces physically assaulted al-‘Arabid and hit him violently on the head and neck. According to the Israeli media and Shin Bet sources, he was taken to the Moscovia Prison, where he was interrogated on suspicions of involvement in the “Dolev” Settlement attack, west of Ramallah, which took place on 23 August and resulted in the killing of a female settler and the injury of 2 others.
At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Ektaba Suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ala’a Zuhair Nemer Jayousi (40), who is a teacher, arrested him and then confiscated his vehicle.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Kamal Ibrahim Abu Tharifah (58) from his house in the city northern mountain, and Mohammed ‘Eid Sbaih Sobhi Tabanjah (39), from his house in Khelat al-‘Amoud, south of the city.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Maher Mohammed Harb (48) and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:45, Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Rami Hesham Abu Farhah (23) and Asil Dia’a al-Zare’ie (27) and then arrested them.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Furik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ayman ‘Aref Haj Mohammed (55) and then arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Raba village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalid Basel al-Bazour (30) and the arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided a house of Jihad Jawad Abu Romouz (15) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Nabih Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Awad (57) and Mohammed Sa’eed Yusuf ‘Awad (34) and then arrested.
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asirah northern village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Ja’far Omer Abdul ‘Aziz Rawajbah (23), ‘Ali Nour Eden Daraghmah (38) and ‘Ali Omer Hamed al-Shouli (22).
At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in al-Karkafah area in the center of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Oudai Makhlouf Zawahrah (20), and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Arabah village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Mustafa Mohammed Mardawi (23) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to ‘Ammar (21) and Kahlil Mohammed Shakarneh (19) and then arrested them.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli authorities closed al-Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City claiming to allow settlers perform their religious rituals to celebrate the Jewish New Year. The closure of the mosque continued until 22:00 on Monday, 30 September 2019.
At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces moved into the main entrance to al-Laban eastern village, which is branching from Ramallah – Nablus Street. They fired tear gas canisters at Palestinians, who were waiting the arrival of Bara’a Mohanned ‘Essa ‘Ouwais, who was released from the Israeli prison at that time. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and they received treatment on the spot. A tear gas canister smashed the glass door of a shop belonging to Ghassan Hasan Daraghmah. No more incidents were reported.
At approximately 23:50, Israeli forces established a temporary military checkpoint at the entrance to Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards and then arrested Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Mar’ei (16), from Qarawet Bani Hassan village, northwest of the city, claiming that they found a knife with him.
Israeli forces carried out (4) incursions in Kuber village, north of Ramallah; Deir Abu Mash’al and al-Nabi Saleh villages, northwest of the city; and ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah. No arrests were reported.
Monday, 30 September 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into l-Duheishah refugee camp, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Raghad Ra’ed Shamroukh (24) and Basel Walid Da’amsah (25) and then arrested them.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested (4) civilians namely; Ayoub Baha’I ‘Obaeid (42), Mohammed Samir Mohammed ‘Obeid (49), Wasim Nayef ‘Obeid (39) and Mohammed Walid ‘Obeid (22).
At approximately 10:00, Israeli Intelligence Services (Shin Bet) in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. Arrested ‘Attalah ‘Essa Abu Sabiah (30), from Yatta, south of Hebron, after he received a phone call informing him that he had a meeting. Sbaih was taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 12:25, Israeli forces established a military temporary checkpoint at the entrance to Deir Balout village, west of Salfit. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards and then arrested Ra’ed Marwan Abdul Rahman Abdullah (22).
Israeli forces carried out (5) incursions in Sa’ir, Surif, Bani Na’im and Karmah village, in Hebron; Kafel Hares village, north of Salfit. No arrests were reported.
Tuesday, 01 October 2019:
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in Safa neighborhood, north of the village. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed Isamil ‘Aadi (60). Before their withdrawal from the house, Israeli soldiers forced ‘Aadi to drive his vehicle to “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem where ‘Aadi was released and his vehicle was confiscated. It should be noted that Israeli authorities did not hand ‘Aadi any confiscation notice of his vehicle that he bought through the Islamic Bank that cost him NIS 130,000.
Israeli forces carried out (3) incursions in Sa’ir and Dura in Hebron; Far’ata village, east of Qalqiliyah. No arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 02 October 2019:
At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces arrested Amir Mohammed Yusuf ‘Awad (23) and Ibrahim Mohammed Sa’efan (22), from Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, after detaining them on a temporary checkpoint established at the road of “Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in Halhoul; Hebron; Ethna, Tarqumiya and Deir Samet villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.
III. Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank including occupied East Jerusalem
Israeli Settler Violence against Palestinian civilians and property
On Monday, 30 September 2019, hundreds of Israeli settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City to celebrate the Jewish New Year. Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian young man and an elderly woman while present in al-Asbat Gate area. The Islamic Endowments (Awqaf) Department stated that around 416 settlers, including the Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, and dozens of rabbis, raided al-Aqsa Mosque on 29 and 30 September 2019 to celebrate the Jewish New Year and perform prayers in al-Rahma, al-Qataneen and al-Selselah Gates, under Israeli forces and intelligence officers protection. The Islamic Endowments Department added that the Israeli forces were deployed in the al-Aqsa Mosque yards and gates, where they took photos of Palestinian worshipers.
Furthermore, the Israeli intelligence officers forced dozens of Palestinian young men out of the mosque yards and handed them summonses for interrogation. Some of those young men were threatened to be arrested. The Israeli intelligence officers also detained the IDs of Palestinians while entering the mosque and prevented others from entering. Eyewitnesses said that on Monday morning, the Israeli forces arrested Hamza Miswadah (19) and an elderly woman, Sanaa Da’our (68) while present at al-Asbat Gate and released them with a 15-day ban from entering al-Aqsa mosque. In addition, Israeli authorities handed Hanadi al-Helwani and Khadijah Khowis notices banning them from entering al-Aqsa Mosque for 6 months. ‘Areen al-Za’aneen was also banned for 4 months.
Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods
The Gaza Strip
As the Israeli closure of the Gaza Strip enters its 14th consecutive year, severe restrictions on the freedom of movement of persons and goods enhance the de facto separation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
From time to time, the Israeli authorities close the crossings with the Gaza Strip as a collective punishment policy against Palestinians or due to Israeli holidays. Furthermore, patients and their companions as well as businessmen are arrested while travelling via Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
West Bank
In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. Israeli forces established 33temporary checkpoints and arrested 3 civilians.
The military checkpoint were as follows:
Hebron:
On Thursday, 26 September 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron and at the entrances to Bani Na’iem and Samou’s villages.
On Saturday, 28 September 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the southern entrance to Halhoul village.
On Sunday, 29 September 2019, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Bani Na’iem and Beit Kahel villages.
On Monday, 30 September 2019, 3 similar checkpoints were established at the entrances to Sa’ir, al-Shayyoukh and Dir Samet villages.
On Tuesday, 01 October 2019, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the entrances to Ethna, Jalajel and Tawanah villages and on Abu Risha and Tarma villages’ roads.
On Wednesday, 02 October 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit ‘Aynoun and Sa’ir villages and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces closed the northern entrance to Halhoul village with a metal detector gate and prevented Palestinians’ vehicles from entering and exiting the village.
Nablus:
At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 27 September 2019, Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint of “Shavi Shamroun” settlement, on Nablus-Jenin Street, northwest of the city, obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Foreek checkpoint, at the eastern entrance to the village, obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles and searched the passengers. No arrests among them were reported.
Qalqiliyia:
At approximately 06:30 on Thursday, 26 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between Jayyous and al-Nabi Iyyas villages, east of Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 10:20, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to Jeet village, northeast of the city.
At approximately 06:30 on Friday, 27 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 23:50 on Saturday, 28 September 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb village, east of the city.
At approximately 07:45 on Sunday, 29 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb village, east of the city.
At approximately 19:20 on Monday, 30 September 2019, a similar checkpoint was established between Jayyous and al-Nabi Iyyas villages, east of Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, 01 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia.
At approximately 08:00, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to ‘Azoun village, east of the city.
Salfit:
At approximately 11:50 on Friday, 27 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Hares village, northwest of the city.
At approximately 00:00 on Monday, 30 September 2019, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to Dir Balout village, west of Salfit.
At approximately 13:45 on Monday, 30 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Salfit.
Tulkarm:
At approximately 08:30 on Thursday, 26 September 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Taneeb, east of Tulkarm.
At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 27 September 2019, Israeli forces re-established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Taneeb, east of Tulkarm.
Seven-year-old Tariq Zabania from Al-Khalil (Hebron) was killed on the spot when an Israeli Jewish settler ran his car over him on July 15. Little Tariq’s photograph, lying face down on the road, was circulated on social media. His untimely death is heartbreaking.
Tariq’s innocent blood must not go in vain. For this to happen, we are morally obliged to understand the nature of Jewish settler violence, which cannot be viewed in isolation from the inherent racism in Israeli society as a whole.
We are all often guilty of perpetuating the myth that militant Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories are a different and distinct category from other Israelis who live beyond the so-called “Green Line”.
Undoubtedly, the violent mentality that propels Israeli society, wherever it is located, is not governed by imaginary lines but by a racist ideology, of which disciples can be found everywhere in Israel, not just in the illegal Jewish colonies of the West Bank.
Israel is a sick society and its ailment is not confined to the 1967 Occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
While Palestinians are imprisoned behind walls, fences and enclosed regions, Israelis are a different kind of prisoners, too. “A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred, he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness,” wrote the late anti-Apartheid hero and long-time prisoner, Nelson Mandela.
It is this racism and bigotry that makes Tariq invisible to most Israelis. For most Israelis, Palestinian children do not exist as real human beings, deserving of a dignified life of freedom. This callousness is a defining quality, common among all sectors of Israeli society – right, left and center.
Tariq Zabania
An example is the terrorist attack carried out by Jewish settlers against the Palestinian Dawabshe family in the village of Duma, in the northern West Bank in July 2015, resulting in the death of Riham and Sa’ed, along with their 18-months old son, Ali. The only member of the family spared that horrific death was Ahmad, 4, who was severely burned.
This cruelty was further accentuated in the episodes that followed this criminal incident. Later that year, Israeli wedding guests were caught on tape while dancing with knives, chanting in celebration of the death of the Palestinian baby.
Three years later, as the Dawabshe family members were leaving an Israeli court, accompanied by Arab parliamentarians, they were greeted by a crowd of Israelis chanting “Where is Ali? Ali’s dead” and “Ali’s on the grill”.
The passing of time only cemented Israelis’ hatred of a little child whose only crime was his Palestinian identity.
The only survivor, Ahmad, was punished thrice: when he lost his whole family; with his severe burns and when he was denied compensation. The then Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, simply resolved that the boy was not a “terror victim.” Case closed.
Although the Dawabshes were killed by Jewish settlers, the Israeli court, army and political system all conspired to ensure the protection of the killers from any accountability.
This was no different in the case of Israeli soldier Elor Azaria, who, on March 24, 2016, killed an unconscious Palestinian man in Hebron. In his defense, Azaria insisted that he was following army manual instructions in dealing with alleged attackers, while top Israeli government officials came out in droves to support him.
When Azaria was triumphantly released following only nine months in jail, he was hailed by many Israelis as a hero. Possibly, he will have a successful career in politics should he decide to pursue that route. In fact, he was courted by Israeli politicians to help them garner more votes in April’s general elections.
Condemning solely Jewish settlers while sparing the rest of Israeli society is equivalent to political whitewashing, one that presents Israel as a healthy society prior to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. This view presents Jewish settlements as a cancerous disease that is eating up at the otherwise proud and noble achievements of early Zionists.
It is convenient to classify Jewish settlers as rightwing extremists and to link them with Israel’s ruling right-wing political parties. But history proves otherwise.
Ahmad Dawabsheh, the sole survivor of an Israeli settler arson attack in Duma is dressed at Tel HaShomer Hospital, July 22, 2016. Tsafrir Abayov | AP
It was Israel’s Labor Party that created the settlement projects originally, soon after the colonization of the West Bank. Some of Israel’s largest, and most militant colonial enterprises, in occupied East Jerusalem – Ramat Eshkol, Gilo, Ramot and Armon Hanatziv – are all the creation of the Labor Party, not the Likud.
Neither is the ‘settler’ a new phenomenon. Historically, the early settlers who preceded the establishment of Israel in 1948 were idealized as true Zionists, celebrated as “cultural heroes” – the Jewish redeemers, who eventually ethnically cleansed historic Palestine from its native inhabitants.
“The original Labor movement,” wrote Amotz Asa-El in The Jerusalem Post, “never thought settling beyond the Green Line was illegal, much less immoral.” If there was any debate in Israel regarding settlements, it was never truly concerned with the issue of legitimacy or legality, but practicality: whether these colonial projects can be sustained or defended.
Protecting the settlements is now the overriding task of the Israeli occupation army. The Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, which monitors the conduct of the Israeli army and Jewish settlers in the West Bank, explained the nature of this relationship in a report published in November 2017.
“Israeli security forces not only allow settlers to harm Palestinians and their property as a matter of course – they often provide the perpetrators escort and back-up. In some cases, they even join in on the attack,” B’Tselem wrote.
Another Israeli organization, Yesh Din, concluded in a report published earlier that 85% of cases involving settler violence against Palestinians are never pursued by law. Of the remaining cases, only 1.9% led to a conviction, which is likely to be inconsequential
Jewish settler violence should not be analyzed separately from the violence meted out by the Israeli army but seen within the larger context of the violent Zionist ideology that governs Israeli society entirely.
This violence can only end with the end of the racist ideology that rationalizes murder, like that of little Tariq Zabania.
Feature photo | Jewish settlers point their guns at unarmed Palestinians protesting the confiscation of their land by the Jewish settlers in the West Bank village Burin, near Nablus, Aug. 7, 2009. Majdi Mohammed | AP
Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and editor of Palestine Chronicle. His last book is ‘The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story’ (Pluto Press, London). Baroud has a Ph.D. in Palestine Studies from the University of Exeter and was a Non-Resident Scholar at Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies, University of California Santa Barbara. His website is www.ramzybaroud.net
Stories published in our Daily Digests section are chosen based on the interest of our readers. They are republished from a number of sources, and are not produced by MintPress News. The views expressed in these articles are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect MintPress News editorial policy.
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (27 June – 03 July 2019)
Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(27 June – 03 July 2019)
A Palestinian Civilian was Killed by Israeli police in al-Issawiya village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem.
45 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a photojournalist, were wounded in the West Bank.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against the peaceful protesters in the Gaza Strip for the 64th
129 protesters, including 32 children, 5 women, 8 paramedics and 2 journalists, were wounded; one of them sustained serious wounds.
Israeli forces conducted 67 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, 8 incursions into Jerusalem.
121 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, were arrested in the West Bank.
65 of them, including 10 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Two civilians from the Gaza Strip were arrested while attempting to sneak into Israel.
Israeli authorities continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
Three livestock barracks, electricity generators and water pumps were confiscated in Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem.
Five water wells were demolished, and forest trees were uprooted from a nature reserve, south of Hebron.
Settlers carried out 4 attacks against Palestinian civilians, wounding an elderly man.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Israeli forces escalated their attacks against al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of the city.
A Palestinian civilian was forced to self-demolish his house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood while demolition notices of residential and commercial facilities were distributed.
A tunnel was inaugurated under Wad al-Helwa neighborhood in Silwan, in the presence of the US Ambassador to Israel.
Three Shooting incidents were reported against the fishing boats off the Gaza Strip shore.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 13thconsecutive year.
Five Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (27 June – 03 July 2019).
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests of the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, witnessing the 64th consecutive Friday of the peaceful protests along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces also used force against civilians who participated in the demonstrations against the Israeli incursions into the West Bank cities and villages or against their policies.
In the West Bank, on 27 June 2019, an Israeli police officer opened fire at Mohamed Sameer Mohamed ‘Obaid (21), from al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, during clashes erupted between young Palestinian men and Israeli forces in al-‘Issawiyah village after the latter suppressed a protest organized by the residents at the village’s northern entrance. As a result, ‘Obaid was hit with 3 live bullets to the chest and lower limbs and then taken to Hadassah- Ein Karem Hospital, where medical sources declared his death only few minutes after his arrival.
In the same context, Israeli forces wounded 44 civilians, including 3 children and a photojournalist in separate shooting incidents. Thirty-five of them were wounded in al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 129 Palestinian demonstrators, including 32 children, 5 women, 8 paramedics and 2 journalists, while participating in the peaceful protests of the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege on its 64th Friday. One of those wounded sustained serious wounds.
Injuries in the Gaza Strip from 27 June – 03 July 2019 According to the Governorate
Governorate
Injuries
Total
Children
Women
Journalists
Paramedics
Critical Injuries
Northern Gaza Strip
21
2
1
0
1
0
Gaza City
22
2
1
0
0
0
Central Gaza Strip
33
8
2
1
5
0
Khan Yunis
23
6
0
0
1
1
Rafah
30
14
1
1
1
0
Total
129
32
5
2
8
1
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating an ongoing Israeli policy of targeting fishermen’s livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 3 incidents.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 67 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs in addition to the daily incursion of al-‘Issawiyah village. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 56 Palestinians, including 2 children, in the West Bank while 56 other civilians, including 10 children, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Forty of them, including 7 children, were arrested in al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of the city. Among the arrestees was the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi ‘Arafat al-Hadmi (43), as he was arrested on Sunday, 30 June 2019, when Israeli forces raided and searched his house in al-Sowan neighbourhood in the centre of occupied East Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, on 27 June 2019, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters to the east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The vehicles levelled lands adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, and then headed to the south. Few hours later, the Israeli vehicles were redeployed along the abovementioned border fence.
On 01 July 2019, Israeli forces moved about 80 meters into the east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, and levelled lands in the area.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Thursday, 27 June 2019, al-‘Issawiyah village witnessed a series of grave violations committed by Israeli forces against the civilian residents. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was killed, and 35 others were wounded. Further, 40 civilians, including 7 children, were arrested, taken to investigation centers and tortured during investigation. (See the Incursionsinto Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip)
Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
As part of settlement expansion, demolitions and house demolition notices, on 28 June 2019, Yaser Mousa al-‘Abasi self-demolished his house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem, to implement the Israeli Municipality decision under the pretext of non-licensing.
In the same context, on 27 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into several neighborhoods in Kafer ‘Aqab village and Qalandiya refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They then distributed notices to demolish residential and commercial facilities and barracks under the pretext of non-licensing.
As part of Israeli measures to make a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem, on 30 June 2019, in presence of the US Ambassador in Israel, David Friedman, and amid tight Israeli security measures, the Israeli authorities inaugurated a tunnel constructed under Wadi al-Helwa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. It is noteworthy that this tunnel is part of a construction plan for a complex network of tunnels that has been ongoing for the past 13 years.
As part of the settlement expansion, demolitions and house demolition notices, on 30 June 2019, the Israeli Civil Administration prevented the Battir Municipality, west of Bethlehem, from completing the construction of a new strategic road under the pretext of being in Area C.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces accompanied with officers from the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem, and dismantled 3 livestock barracks.
At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and officers from the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into a natural reserve between Kherbit Khashm al-Daraj and Kherbit Um al-Khair, south of Hebron. The Israeli vehicles demolished 5 water wells and uprooted forest trees planted on an area of 400 dunums, claiming that the reserve was established in “a military training area”, which is in fact 700 meters away from the reserve.
As part of the Israeli settlers’ attacks, on Sunday and Monday, 30 June and 01 July 2019, dozens of buses carrying Israeli settlers under the Israeli forces’ protection moved into an archaeological site in Sabastiyia village, northwest of Nablus. The Israeli forces closed the area and denied Palestinian civilians’ access until the settlers, who performed Talmudic prayers, left the site.
On 30 June 2019, three Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” outpost in Tel Rumeida neighbourhood in Hebron attacked Edrees ‘Abdul Mo’ti Mousa Zahida (74) while he was working in his agricultural land near ‘Ain Ma’ Aljadeeda area. They stabbed his left hand with a sharp tool and he was then referred to Hebron Governmental Hospital for treatment.
On 02 July 2019, dozens of busses carrying hundreds of settlers secured by Israeli forces moved into the eastern areas in Nablus to perform Talmudic prayers and religious rituals in “Joseph’s Tomb” in Balatat al-Balad.
Use of Force against Peaceful Demonstrations:
Israeli forces continued to use excessive lethal force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip within the so-called “Great March of Return and Breaking Siege” and in the West Bank against the settlements, confiscation of lands, and Israeli crimes. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ observations on the 64th Friday, the border area witnessed large participation from Palestinian civilians while the Israeli forces continued to use upon highest military and political echelons excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators. The incidents during the reporting period were as follows:
Gaza Strip:
Northern Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at Palestinian demonstrators resulted in the injury of 21 civilians, including 2 children, a woman and a paramedic. Nine of them were hit with live bullets, 5 were hit with rubber bullets and 7 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. Paramedic Mohammed ‘Amer Husein al-Shurafi, who works at Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) from Jabalia, was hit with a rubber bullet to the abdomen.
Gaza City: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at Palestinian demonstrators resulted in the injury of 22 civilians, including 2 children and a woman. Three of them were hit with live bullets and 19 were hit with rubber bullets and tear gas canisters.
Central Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrations, which continued until 19:30, resulted in the injury of 33 demonstrators, including 8 children, 2 women, a journalist and 5 paramedics. Fifteen of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, and 18 were hit with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. Doctors classified the injury of one civilian as serious. The wounded journalist was identified as Mohammed Omer Abdul ‘Aziz Kassab (26), a freelance journalist from Deir al-Balah, was hit with a rubber bullet to the head. The wounded paramedics were identified as:
Ekhlas Ahmed Mohamed al-Qareawi (22), from al-Buraij, was hit with live bullet shrapnel to the lower limbs.
Ahmed ‘Adnan Mahmoud Matar (28), from Deir al-Balah, was hit with a rubber bullet to the lower limbs.
Yahiya ‘Awni Obaidullah Khattab (22), from Deir al-Balah, was hit with a tear gas canister to the shoulder.
Mohammed Abdul Qader Mohammed Abu ‘Abdah (22), from al-Buraij, was hit with a rubber bullet to the lower limbs.
Mahmoud Jehad Ahmed al-‘Emawi (31), from al-Zawaidah, was hit with a rubber bullet to the lower limbs.
It should be noted that Ekhlas, Ahmed and Yahiya work as volunteer paramedics at PRCS while Mohammed and Mahmoud work at the Military Medical Services.
Khan Younis: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrators resulted in the injury of 23 civilians, including 6 children a paramedic. Mohammed Nasser Kamel Abu Daqqah (20), who is a volunteer paramedic at the Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC), was hit with a tear gas canister to the head.
Rafah: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrators resulted in the injury of 30 civilians, including 14 children, a woman, a journalist and a paramedic. Twelve of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, 7 were hit with rubber bullets, and 11 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. Journalist Ra’ed Yusuf Abdul Fattah Abu Mathkour (34), who works at “Rowad Al-Haqiqa” Network, was hit with a live bullet to the left leg while paramedic ‘Ali Mohammed Mohammed al-‘Aloul (25) was hit with a rubber bullet to the pelvis. Further, a rubber bullet hit and broke the right door of a PRCS ambulance.
West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, 28 June 2019, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration, which started from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, and then headed to the eastern village entrance that has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” The demonstrators chanted national slogans demanding end of the occupation and protesting the Israeli forces’ crimes against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand berms while the soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 6 civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist, were wounded. Nidal Eshtiyah, a photojournalist at the Chinese News Agency, was hit with a rubber bullet to the hand. (PCHR keeps the names of the other wounded civilians)
Following the end of the same Friday prayer, a group of Palestinians organized a demonstration, which started from the center of ‘Azmout village, northeast of Nablus, and then headed towards lands threatened to be confiscated in favor of “Alon Moreh” settlement established on the village land. The participants raised Palestinian flags and chanted against the Bahrain Conference. When they approached the lands, Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, an 18-year-old civilian from Nablus was hit with a rubber bullet to the right leg. He was then taken to Rafidiya Hospital to receive medical treatment. (PCHR keeps the name of the wounded civilian)
At approximately 14:00 on the same Friday afternoon, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered near a military checkpoint established at entrance to al-Shuhada’a Street in al-Zawiyah Gate area in the center of Hebron. The demonstrators set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. The soldiers chased the protestors and then arrested Abdul Rahim Raja’ei al-Sha’rawi (14) taking him to an investigation center in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of the city.
Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Thursday, 27 June 2019:
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested Abdul Fattah Fathi al-Aghbar (18), from al-Dahiyah Suburb, south of the city, and Baha’a Ghazi Ahmed Abu Keshek (18), from al-Ma’ajin neighborhood, west of the city.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Abu Wardah (34) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abed Ismail Mohammed Za’aqiq (55) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:20, Israeli forces moved into Kuber village, north of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers chased the demonstrators to the center of the city and then fired rubber bullets and sound bombs at them. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian was hit with sound bomb shrapnel to the foot. He received medical treatment on the spot by PRCS crews present in the area. Meanwhile, another Israeli force raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 5 civilians namely: Yahiya Mahmoud Baker ‘Amiriyah (26), Qassam Majd al-Barghuthi (26), Qassam Na’el al-Barghuthi (25), Ahmed (23) and Basel Motee’a al-Barghuthi (25). At approximately 08:00, the arrestees were released.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Abdullah Mohammed al-Husari (24), Jihad Ra’ed Tawlbah (19) and Ahmed Mohammed Shaqfah (21).
At approximately 02:45, Israeli forces moved into al-Silah al-Harithiyah village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Adnan ‘Adel al-Mahr (23) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’a village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Omer Thiyab al-‘Amour (30) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Kafer Ne’mah village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Fa’eq Eshtiyah (21) and then arrested him.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved about 100 meters into the east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli vehicles leveled lands adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and then headed to the south. Few hours later, the Israeli forces were redeployed along the border fence, adjacent to al-‘Awdah refugee camp, east of Khan Younis.
At approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within one nautical mile and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (8) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Shuyoukh, Surif, Deir Razeh villages in Hebron; Qalqiliyah and ‘Azzoun village, east of the city; Birzeit, Abu Shakhedem, Shaqba villages in Ramallah and al-Birah.
Friday, 28 June 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Fukhari village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, arrested Saqer Zayed Mousa Abu Samhadanah (25), from Rafah, and Salem Suleiman ‘Atwah Abu Suneimah (29), from Khan Younis, during their attempt to sneak into Israel.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fadi Jalal al-Nabtiti (19) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Kafer Ra’ie village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf Fakhri al-Atrash (21) and then arrested him.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ummer, Beit ‘Awa, Deir Samet and Dura villages in Hebron; Tulkarm and al-Nazlah eastern village, north of the city, and Sartah village, west of Salfit.
Saturday, 29 June 2019:
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abdul ‘Arouri (22) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. they raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ismail Talab al-Nattah (36) and Nasser ‘Ammar Abu ‘Akar (24) and then arrested them.
Sunday, 30 June 2019
At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’a village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Dakhal Allah Habes al-‘Amour (29) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khatab Mohammed Hamamrah (33) and then arrested him.
At approximately 20:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed area for fishing. The shooting sporadically continued for more than an hour. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-‘Araqah village, west of Jenin; Dura, Beit al-Roush village and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron.
Monday, 01 July 2019:
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Morad Mar’ie Na’erat (45) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:20, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ezbat al-Ashqar village, south of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Saber ‘Ata Mohammed Ashqar (23) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 civilians namely ‘Oudai Ziyad ‘Elian (21), Mo’tasem Farid al-Sheikh Yusuf (23) and Mohammed Bajes Nakhlah (23).
At approximately 08:00, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian farmers. As a result, the farmers were forced to leave the area, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved about 80 meters into the east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah in eastern Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. The vehicles leveled lands along the border fence and then headed to the south. Few hours later, the Israeli forces were redeployed along the abovementioned border fence adjacent to the Return encampment in Khuza’ah, east of Khan Younis.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (8) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Masaken al-Sha’biyah neighborhood, northeast of Nablus; Joyous, ‘Azzoun, al-Nabi Elias and ‘Asalah villages in Qalqiliyah; Hebron, Halhoul and Shuyoukh al-‘Aroub village in Hebron.
Tuesday, 02 July 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Balatat al-Balad village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah Tareq Duweikat (25) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Mohyee Fakher Taqatqa (24) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Awarta village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Asa’ad Abdul Karim Loulah (36) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Birzeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a residential building after which they arrested Amir ‘Adnan (19) and ‘Ezz Eden Saleh Hassunah (19).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Duma village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Hesham Dawabshah (29) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’a village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Jamal al-‘Amour (20) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli force moved into Joyous village, north of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of Yusuf Na’eem Samhah (20) and Khattab Zeyad Ghassan Kharishah (16) and then arrested them.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jifna village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Bilal Hamed al-‘Enabi (20), a student at Birzeit University, and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of Osamah Yusuf al-Fakhuri (19) and Mohammed Hasan Nakhlah (20), students at Birzeit University, and arrested them.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Betounia village, west of Ramallah, and stationed in al-Fawakeh Square. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of Mo’ath Abed ‘Abed (20) and Bara’a al-‘Asi (21), students at Birzeit University, and arrested them.
At approximately 17:00, officers from the Israeli “Mista’arvim” undercover unit dressed like Palestinian civilians moved into Yatta, south of Hebron driving a small van for food supplies. The van stopped in front of a jewelry store belonging to Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Salamah al-Haroub (55) and his son Anas (25). The officers stepped out of the van, raided the store and then arrested Mohammed and Anas amidst shooting in the air. Another Israeli force accompanied with GMC vehicles arrived and closed the area until the officers left along with the arrestees.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Qalqiliyah and ‘Ezbet al-Ashqar village, south of the city; Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus; Deir al-‘Asal, Karmah and al-Thaheriyah villages in Hebron.
Wednesday, 03 July 2019:
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Diya’a Abdul Rahman Ahmed Abu ‘Akar (42) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Jifna village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Adnan al-Kansh (29), a former prisoner in Israeli jails, and arrested him.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Nuba, Beit Ummer, al-Majd Deir Razeh villages in Hebron.
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
Following table illustrates temporary and permanent checkpoints and arrests at these checkpoints in the West Bank from 27 June to 03 July 2019
Governorate
Permanent temporary
Temporary checkpoints
Closed Roads
Arrested persons
Jerusalem
13
11
–
1
Nablus
10
19
2
–
Jenin
5
5
–
2
Ramallah
11
9
4
–
Tulkarm
7
5
1
–
Tubas
2
2
1
–
Salfit
3
6
1
–
Qalqiliyia
5
5
4
1
Hebron
20
32
15
–
Bethlehem
11
8
2
1
Jericho
5
3
–
–
Al-Karama Crossing
–
–
–
–
Total
92
105
30
5
Arrests at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 27 June 2019, Israeli forces patrolling on streets near the annexation wall in Um al-Raihan village, southwest of Jenin, arrested Radi Yehia Hasan Khadour (45), from ‘Aneen village, west of the city. He was arrested while present in his land near the annexation wall.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the road to Haddad Tourism village, southeast of Jenin. The Israeli forces arrested Mohamed Sajed al-Sa’idy (20), from Jenin refugee camp, west of the city, and later removed the checkpoint, taking Mohamed to an unknown destination.
At approximately 21:10 on Thursday, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint established on the main street between Nablus and Qalqiliyia, arrested Murad Nihad Abu ‘Asab (22), from Qaliqlaiyia.
At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 29 June 2019, Israeli forces arrested Ihab Yunis Sa’ed (23) in ‘Anata village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. He was then taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 30 June 2019, Israeli forces arrested Osama Mohamed Qandil (24), from ‘Askar refugee camp, northeast of Nablus. He was arrested while crossing a temporary checkpoint established by the Israeli forces near al-Farides village, east of Bethlehem.
Efforts to Create A Jewish majority
Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:
During the reporting period, al-‘Issawiyah village witnessed a series of grave violations committed by Israeli forces against the civilian residents. As a result, a Palestinian civilian was killed, and 35 civilians were wounded. Further, 19 civilians, including 3 children, were arrested.
According to PCHR’s investigations, the series of incidents was as follows:
At approximately 21:00 on Thursday, 27 June 2019, an Israeli police officer opened fire at Mohamed Sameer Mohamed ‘Obaid (21) during clashes erupted between Palestinian young men and Israeli forces in al-‘Issawiyah village after the latter suppressed a protest organized by the residents at the village’s northern entrance. As a result, ‘Obaid was hit with 3 live bullets to the chest and lower limbs and then taken to Hadassah- Ein Karem Hospital, where medical sources declared his death few minutes after his arrival.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 18:30 on Thursday, dozens of al-‘Issawiyah village residents organized a protest at the northern entrance to the village against the Israeli policy of violence and collective punishment which targets the residents and against the Israeli forces and police’s daily incursions in addition to the demolition and evacuation notices concerning Palestinian lands in the village in favor of establishing a Talmudic Park. The Israeli forces surrounded the protest and forcibly dispersed the protesters. As a result, clashes broke out between dozens of Israeli soldiers and the village young men and then spread to Obeid neighborhood near its northern entrance. The protesters threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers and fired fireworks at them. Immediately, the Israeli soldiers heavily fired live ammunition in the area, wounding 3 young men, including Mohammed Samir ‘Obeid, who was hit with three bullets; one of which hit his heart. When many of the young men tried to rescue and evacuate ‘Obeid via a civilian vehicle for treatment, the Israeli forces moved into the village in large numbers and closed its roads and alleys. The Israeli soldiers detained ‘Obeid who was in a critical condition and then took him to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem. Around 21:30 on the same day, doctors at Hadassah declared his death., Omar Attiyah, an activist in al-Issawiya village and an eyewitness to the injury of the young Obeid, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“After the al-Maghreb (Sunset) prayer in the mosque, and while I was with resident of the village, police were present all over the area. During our attempt to go to see what was going on, one of the police officers pulled his gun and fired 3 bullets at Mohammed Samir ‘Obeid, and then I heard screams of young men from all sides. At that moment, I felt something hit my face and then saw blood flowing from my head.” ‘Attiyah added: “After the injury of ‘Obeid, the young men were able to rid him of the soldiers, and drove him in a private vehicle for medical treatment. However, the Israeli troops stormed the village in large numbers and closed roads and alleys, and managed to kidnap the young man who was bleeding.” Attiyah noted that the shooter of ‘Obeid was one of the police officers and was only few meters away from him.
After the medical staff at the Hadassah Hospital declared the death of ‘Obeid, the Israeli forces attacked the young men and patients inside the Emergency Department in the hospital and prevented his family from entering the Emergency Room in an attempt to ask about their son and get information about his condition. During full closure of the vicinity of the hospital, the Israeli soldiers managed to take his corpse out of the hospital via back rooms and doors. Following the declaration of his death, a number of young men from neighborhoods and villages in the city of Jerusalem outraged and rose up in response to his death. Jerusalem’s neighborhoods witnessed sporadic confrontations, where the young men threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks at settlement outposts and soldiers who were deployed in large numbers in the neighborhoods of the occupied city. The Israeli forces then fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters to disperse them, wounding 20 of them with rubber bullets and others suffering tear gas inhalation, according to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
On Friday morning, 28 June 2019, hundreds of Palestinian civilians gathered in the vicinity of al-Arba’een mosque in al-‘Issawiya village and then marched the village streets to protest the killing of ‘Obeid and to demand that the Israeli authorities return his body. The Israeli forces moved into the village and hundreds of soldiers stationed in the streets and alleys. They then started firing rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at the protesters to disperse them. The young men threw stones and bottles in addition to fireworks at the soldiers, who continued to fire heavily rubber bullets. As a result, around 13 protesters were wounded with rubber bullets to the face, the lower and upper limbs while dozens of them sustained fractures and bruises as said by the eyewitnesses. The Israeli forces arrested Sa’ed Oussamah Dari, 19, and Jamal Mohammed Dari, 22, in front of their houses for no reason, and detained them inside the village cemetery. They then took them to an interrogation center.
On Saturday morning, 29 June, the Israeli forces moved into the village and launched a large-scale campaign of arrests targeting 17 residents, including 3 children, amid repressive measures as most of the arrestees were severely beaten. During her visit to the arrestees in the interrogation centers, Attorney Razan Al-Jabe’a reported that most of them were beaten and pushed while being detained in the police vehicles and inside the detention centers. She added that she noticed signs of torture on them. Furthermore, the Israeli forces too much tied their hands with plastic wires or steel cuffs and even blindfolded their eyes while some were prevented from wearing their clothes during their detention. She pointed out that the arrestees were transferred to the Barid police station on Salah al-Din Street, in the center of occupied East Jerusalem, and, “Muskubiya” Center in West Jerusalem. (Arrestees’ names available upon request)
At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, Israeli forces raided a condolence tent of the deceased Mohamed Sameer ‘Obaid, and fired rubber bullets. The Israeli forces attacked the mourners staying in the tent and arrested 6 of them, according to the statement of Mohamed Abu al-Humus, Member of al-‘Issawiyia Follow-up Committee. The arrestees were identified as Foad Mahmoud ‘Obaid (27), Mahmoud ‘Asem ‘Obaid (23), Mahmoud ‘Esam ‘Obad (21), Mahmoud Mohamed ‘Obad (19), and Faeq Habash (20).
On Monday, 01 July 2018, hundreds of Jerusalemites participated in the funeral procession of Mohamed Sameer ‘Obaid in al-‘Issawiyia village after detaining his body for 5 days amid tight Israeli security measures. Following the funeral, hundreds of Israeli soldiers moved into the village from all its entrances and then were deployed in its neighborhoods. They then raided ‘Obaid’s house, where women were staying. The women confronted them and prevented them from entering the house. During the raid, 3 young Palestinian men were arrested and beaten by the soldiers and one of them was later released.
At approximately 20:00 on Monday, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-‘Issawiyia village, and then arrested 13 civilians, including 4 children, claiming that they participated in ‘Obaid’s funeral The arrested children are from al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied Jerusalem. (Arrestees’ names available upon request)
Incursions and Arrests:
At approximately 23:00 on Thursday, 27 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into al-Maqdisi Street in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 5 civilians and then took them to al-Masqobiyia Investigation Center in West Jerusalem. The arrested civilians were identified as ‘Areen al-Za’aneen (24) Majd Nader ‘Imran Sa’diyia (19), Anas Hazem al-Dijani (21), Mohamed Waleed Sa’diyia (20), and Salah al-Deen Mofeed Sa’diyia (20).
At approximately 03:30 on Friday, 28 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to activist Mohamed Ibrahim al-Shalabi (40), who was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 29 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into Wadi al-Helwa neighborhood, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 5 civilians, including 2 children. The arrestees were identified as ‘Obada Bassam Siyam (18), Mahmoud ‘Awni Siyam (17), Mo’min Mohamed al-Saliymah (16), ‘Abdullah Sa’ied Siyam (22), and Salah al-Deen Siyam (19).
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 30 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into al-Sawan neighborhood in the center of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Fadi ‘Arafat al-Hadmi (43). The Israeli forces confiscated his cell phones and a PC set. Al-Hadmi was then arrested and taken to an unknown destination. According to his lawyer, Mohanad Jabarah, the Israeli police claimed that Fadi violated the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem last week when he visited al-Aqsa Mosque with the President of Chile. The lawyer added that the minster was interrogated for over 8 hours and then released at approximately 17:00 on the same day.
At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Alaa Mohamed Johar (49) and then arrested his son Mohamed (23), taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 20:40 on Tuesday, 02 July 2019, an Israeli soldier shot ‘Ali Belal Taha (16) in the foot with live ammunition. According to Thair Fasfous, Spokesperson of Fatah Movement in Sho’afat Refugee Camp, violent confrontations erupted at Sho’fat refugee camp checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli forces dragged the wounded and detained him at the checkpoint without providing treatment to him. Thair also said that the Israeli forces heavily and indiscriminately fired live bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, dozens of the camp’s residents suffered tear gas inhalation.
At approximately 13:00 on Tuesday, 02 July 2019, Israeli forces arrested Tareq Sa’adah al-‘Abasi (27), who was in Wadi al-Rababa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and sent him to an investigation center.
At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, Israeli forces moved into al-Mukaber Mount area, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Adham Fayiz ‘Obaidat (18) and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They then raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Mohamed Ibrahim ‘Ariqat, Suhaib Mahmoud Jaffal and Basel ‘Afanah.
At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, Israeli forces moved into Sho’fat neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 5 civilians identified as ‘Anan Naser Abu Khudair (22), Mahmoud Adeeb Hadad (24), ‘Adnan Mohamed Hadad (19), Saif al-Deen al-Asmar, and Ibrahim Abu Na’iy’.
Measures to Make a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem:
On Sunday, 30 June 2019, with the participation of the US Ambassador in Israel David Friedman and amid tight Israeli security measures, the Israeli authorities inaugurated a tunnel constructed under Wadi al-Helwa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Israeli forces closed most of the streets in Silwan village and nearby neighborhoods entrances. Silwan village residents said that the Israeli authorities completely closed Wadi Hilweh and al-Ein streets in the village and obstructed their movement, forcing them to take long alternative roads for entering and exiting the village. The residents added that the underground excavations under Silwan village come at the expense of its indigenous people, endangering their lives and property. It is noteworthy that this tunnel is part of a construction plan for a complex network of tunnels that has been ongoing for the past 13 years. This resulted in severe damage to the infrastructure of the village, including landslides and cracks, as 80 houses sustained varying damages and at least 5 others classified as “dangerous” by the Israeli municipality due to the damage to their foundations.
Settlement expansion, demolitions and house demolition notices:
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 27 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into many neighborhoods in Kafur ‘Aqab village and Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They then distributed notices to demolish residential and commercial facilities and barracks under the pretext of non-licensing. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces handed Yousef and Mahmoud Rasheed Nabhan, ‘Adel Bowaitel, and Rami al-Kasba notices to self-demolish their facilities or the municipality bulldozers will do so and bill them.
At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 28 June 2019, Yaser Mousa al-‘Abasi self-demolished his house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem, to implement the Israeli Municipality decision under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-‘Abasi said that he built his house 3 years ago and lived in it with his wife and their 4 children. He clarified that the Israeli forces raided his house 3 times last week and ordered him to self-demolish his 90-sqaure-meter house. He added that the Israeli police informed him that the Israeli Court sentenced him in absentia to 15 days detention and a fine of 1,500 NIS. Al-‘Abasi pointed out that on Friday, he self-demolished his house to avoid paying fines.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israeli forces’ attacks:
On Sunday, 30 June 2019, the Israeli Civil Administration prevented the Battir Municipality, west of Bethlehem, from completing the construction of a new strategic road under the pretext of being in Area C. Media activist Mostafa Bader said that Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at young Palestinian men in the Karam Hadidoun area, east of the city. The construction workers were ordered to stop the construction works and surrender the construction vehicles. Further, the Israeli soldiers confiscated the ID of Tayseer Qattoush, Head of Battir Municipality.
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces accompanied with officers from the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem, and dismantled 3 livestock barracks. The Israeli forces confiscated the barracks in addition to electricity generators and water pumps. The confiscated materials belong to Nahar Mohamed al-Rashidah, Farah Hussain al-Rashidah and Khaled Ahmed al-Rashidah. All of them are from al-Rashidah village, east of Bethlehem.
At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 03 July 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and officers from the Israeli Civil Administration, moved into a natural reserve between Kherbit Khashm al-Daraj and Kherbit Um al-Khair, south of Hebron. The Israeli vehicles demolished 5 water wells and uprooted forest trees planted on an area of 400 dunums, claiming that the reserve was established in “a military training area”, which is in fact 700 meters away from the reserve.
Israeli settlers’ attacks:
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday and Monday, 30 June and 01 July 2019, dozens of buses carrying Israeli settlers under the Israeli forces’ protection moved into an archaeological site in Sabastiyia village, northwest of Nablus. The Israeli forces closed the area and denied Palestinian civilians’ access until the settlers, who performed Talmudic prayers, left the site at approximately 13:00.
At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, 30 June 2019, three Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” outpost in Tel Rumeida neighbourhood in Hebron attacked Edrees ‘Abdul Mo’ti Mousa Zahida (74) while he was working in his agricultural land near ‘Ain Ma’ Aljadeeda area. They stabbed his left hand with a sharp tool and he was then referred to Hebron Governmental Hospital for treatment. Mr. Zahida gave the following statement to PCHR fieldworker, “At approximately 18:00, while I was near my house in Tel Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron weeding my land, a settler in his twenties approached me and asked in Hebrew:”What are you doing here?” I told him that I was working in my agricultural land, to which he replied that this land belongs to Israel. He then went to an adjacent area out of sight, and I thought I heard him talking to himself, but it turned out that he was accompanied by two others. They attacked me and broke my denture. I tried to keep them away from me, but the first settler pulled out a sharp tool hidden under his clothes and tried to stab my neck. I managed to avoid it, but my left hand was hurt and started bleeding. I started shouting and asking for help so the settlers stepped back. My son, Adham who lives near me, rushed out holding a stick in his hand and stood in front of them to keep them away. The Israeli soldiers then arrived at the scene and detained all of us until the police arrived and took the settlers and my son Adham (27). Later on, I headed to Hebron Governmental Hospital for treatment and then to “Kiryat Arba” police station to file a complaint. The Police showed me a video recording that captured the incident, but cut the part documenting the settlers’ attack against me. I left the police station at approximately 03:00 on Monday, 01 July 2019, and then my son Adham was released a few hours later”.
At approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, 02 July 2019, dozens of buses manned by hundreds of settlers raided the eastern areas of Nablus, under the Israeli forces’ protection to perform the Talmudic prayers at “Joseph Tomb” in Balata village. A group of Palestinian civilians gathered and burnt rubber tires in the middle of Oman Street, and threw stones and bottles at the Israeli forces. Immediately, the Israeli forces responded by shooting rubber and live bullets randomly. As a result, Basil ‘Abdulrahim al-Aklik (27), a nurse at Rafidia Governmental Hsopital, was wounded with shrapnel to his right leg even though he was inside his house on Oman Street.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of the State of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC for an ongoing investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and serious violations in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law, considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to work jointly and seriously to enable the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination and establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with an overwhelming majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including punitive means, to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and UN to take all necessary measures to stop the Israeli policy aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in the Palestinian territory and at emptying Palestine from its original inhabitants through expulsions and the policy of house demolitions as a punishment, which are serious violations of the international humanitarian law and may amount to crimes against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work for guaranteeing accountability and prosecution of the Israeli war criminals.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. This is achieved by activating the principle of universal jurisdiction to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls for an urgent and prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the total closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, which restricts the freedom of movement of goods and individuals, and to save the life of 2 million civilians living in the Gaza Strip in unprecedented and strangulating economic, social, political and cultural conditions due to the collective punishment policy and retaliatory actions against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the EU to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the competent committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
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Public Document
For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email pchr@pchrgaza.org or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.
Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(13 – 19 June 2019)
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against the peaceful protesters in the Gaza Strip.
95 Palestinian civilians, including 34 children, 1 woman and 4 paramedics, were wounded; one of them sustained serious wounds.
Israeli forces conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 other incursions into Jerusalem.
51 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and 1 woman, were arrested in the West Bank.
17 of them, including 6 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli warplanes launched 7 missiles in 3 airstrikes against different targets in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued to open fire at the farmers and shepherds in the border areas of the Gaza Strip, but no injuries were reported.
Israeli authorities continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
Israeli forces demolished 4 dwellings, rendering 33 persons homeless, including 20 children, south of Hebron, and another house in Jericho.
Israeli forces damaged and confiscated plates and iron arches, north and west of Hebron.
Settlers burnt 42 trees and punctured 22 cars in addition to attacking a farmer and his child.
Israeli authorities continued to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
The Israeli municipality demolished a residential building in Sho’fat refugee camp and forced 2 brothers to self-demolish their buildings in Silwan.
The Supreme Court decided to demolish 15 buildings comprised of 120 residential apartments in Sour Baher, claiming they are close to the annexation wall.
Three Shooting incidents were reported against the fishing boats off Rafah shore in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli forces imposed a naval blockade on the Gaza Sea, preventing any fishermen from sailing or fishing.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 13th consecutive year.
Two Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (13 – 19 June 2019).
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized within the activities of “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed the 61st Friday of the peaceful protests along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces also used force against civilians who participated in the demonstrations organized against the Israeli incursions into the West Bank cities and villages. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces wounded 95 Palestinian demonstrators, including 34 children, 1 woman and 4 paramedics. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, during their participation in Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqiliya.
Injuries in the Gaza Strip from 13 – 19 June 2019 According to the Governorate
Governorate
Injuries
Total
Children
Women
Journalists
Paramedics
Critical Injuries
Northern Gaza Strip
6
2
0
0
0
0
Gaza City
19
5
0
0
0
0
Central Gaza Strip
25
11
0
0
0
1
Khan Yunis
5
1
0
0
0
0
Rafah
40
15
1
0
4
0
Total
95
34
1
0
4
1
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating an ongoing Israeli policy of targeting fishermen’s livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 3 incidents off the western Rafah Shore in the southern Gaza Strip.
As part of the Israeli airstrikes, on 13 June 2019, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at an agricultural land, east of al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.
On 14 June 2019, Israeli drones launched 2 missiles at al-Mina military site belonging to the Palestinian armed groups, west of Khan Younis. Minutes later, the Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at the same site, causing damage to it. However, no injuries were reported.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 16 June 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the agricultural fields, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah, east of Khan Youni. No injuries were reported.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 13 June 2019, Israeli soldiers opened fire at agricultural lands, east of al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City. However, no injuries were reported.
On 16 June 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at the agricultural fields, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah, east of Khan Younis. Howoever, no injuries were reported.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 4 civilians, including 1 child, while participating in the Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqiliya, north of the West Bank.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 34 Palestinians, including 1 child and 1 woman, in the West Bank while 17 other civilians, including 6 children, were arrested from Jerusalem and its suburbs.
In the Gaza Strip, on 04 June 2019, Israeli forces moved 100 meters into al-Shokah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. They combed lands in front of the Return encampment before redeploying along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
As part of settlement expansion, demolitions and house demolition notices, on 18 June2019, two brothers namely Basel and Hatem al-‘Abbasi self-demolished their residential buildings in ‘Ein al-Lozah neighborhood, in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, applying the Israeli municipality’s decision, under the pretext of building without a license. Al-‘Abbasi Family clarified that the building is comprised of 2 stories; each of which is around 170 square meters and still under-construction. The family added that they started building it in early May and was preparing to move and live in it.
On 18 June 2019, an Israeli municipality bulldozer demolished an under-construction building in Sho’afat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, after forcing its owner to self-demolish parts of it last week. The 2-story and 300-square-meter building belongs to ‘Emran ‘Alqam and is comprised of 4 residential apartments where ‘Alqam family members were supposed to live.
In the same context, on 13 June 2019, , the Israeli Supreme Court decided to demolish 15 buildings comprised of 120 residential apartments in Wadi al-Humus area in Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall and obstructing the Israeli soldiers’ work. Mohamed Abu Tair, Member of the Defense Committee of Wadi al-Humus houses, said that Wadi al-Humus case started when Israeli forces distributed collective demolition orders of 16 residential buildings upon the Israeli Military Commander decision under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall between occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. Thus, the village residents decided to appeal the decision before the Israeli Supreme Court, but the court refused the appeal and upheld the Israeli Military Commander’s decision about demolishing all houses near the annexation wall and preventing Palestinians from using their lands located up to 250 meters away from the wall.
Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
As part of the house demolitions and notices, on 13 June 2019, the Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Israeli Construction and Organization Department in the Civil Administration cut and confiscated steels from a shop used for selling scrap in Fqeiqes village under the pretext of working in area classified as Area C without a prior permission from the Israeli competent authorities.
On 17 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into Kherbit al-Halawa in al-Masafer area southeast of Hebron. They demolished 3 dwellings built of bricks and tin plates, rendering 21 civilians, including 13 children, homeless.
On the same day, Israeli forces moved into Kherbit al-Dabi’, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli vehicles demolished two residential rooms built of bricks and tin plates, rendering 12 persons, including 7 children, homeless. They laso confiscated solar panels, which supply the rooms with electricity.
On the same day, the Israeli forces confiscated iron arches for a plant nursery built on an area of 300 square meters in Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron.
On 19 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into al-Karama crossing area, east of Jericho. They demolished an under-construction 240-square-meter house belonging to Shadi Ibrahim Sunuqrot, from occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of building without a license in Area C as classified in the Oslo Accords.
As part of settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property, Israeli settlers carried out 7 attacjs against Palestinian civilians and their property during the reporting period. The attacks were as follows:
On 13 June 2019, a group of settlers from “Yitsahar” Settlement established to the southeastern side of ‘Einabus village, south of Nablus, attacked the central village and wrote racist slogans against Arabs on the walls of the Old Mosque, village clinic and a house. The residents of the village then caught the settlers and forced them to leave the village.
On the same day, settlers severely beat up with a stick Mohammed Yehia al-Tamimi (42) and his son Rami (15), from Deir Nizam village, northwest of Ramallah, when they were both in an agricultural area belonging to Mohammed near “Halmish” settlement established along the borders of that area, northwest of the city.
On the next day, under the eyes of the SIraeli forces, dozens of Israeli settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost established on Palestinians lands of Tal al-Ramidah neighbourhood in Hebron, attacked members of Abu ‘Eishah Family, who were building a wall in the vicinity of their house. The settlers also destroyed the timber, which was fixed in the place to put the concrete inside.
On 17 June 2019, a group of settlers punctured the tires of 3 vehciles belonging to Hasan Ibrahim Hamayel (33) and Hussein ‘Atef Hamayel (30) from Kafr Malek village, northeast of Ramallah, and wrote racist slogans on them.
On the same day, a group of settlers from “Giv’at Asaf” settlement set fire to agricultural lands of Biteen and Burqah villages, east of Ramallah. As a result, 35 olive trees, 5 Fig trees, and 2 grape vines were burnt.
On 18 June 2019, a group of settlers carried several attacks in Deirsita village, north of Salfit, as they punctured the tires of 18 vehciles and wrote hostile slogans that included threats to escalate their attacks against civilians on the walls of many houses in al-Khayousah and al-Njeimah neighborhoods, west of the abovementioned village. Of those slogans was “People of Israel is Alive and Stones Equal Death.”
Details
Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Thursday, 13 June 2019:
At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Bedia village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abbas Mahmoud Ahmed Salamah (22) and then arrested him.
At approximately 01:40, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sha’ban Mahmoud ‘Ouweisi (24) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mousa Zarinah (49) and then arrested his wife Lailah and his son Mousa (23). It should be noted that 3 days ago the Israeli forces demolished 4 barracks and a residential room belonging to Mohammed Zarinah in Beir ‘Ounah area in Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem.
Around the same time, an Israeli force accompanied with several military vehicles moved into Hebron and stationed in al-Sheikh neighborhood. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Yazan Yusri Abu suneinah (30) and Ramadan Mohammed No’man Jaber (15).
At approximately 02:45, Israeli warplanes launched 3 missiles at an agricultural land, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, but no injuries were reported.
At approximately 13:00, an Israeli force accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved into Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron. The soldiers surrounded a house belonging to Mofeed Mousa Abdul Majid Shadid (33) and then demolished it. The Israeli forces arrested the abovementioned civilians and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah, opened fire at agricultural lands, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a shop for car spare parts and then arrested Mohammed ‘Adel Mohammed ‘Enayah (30).
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hebron; Surif, al-Hadab and Beit ‘Omrah villages in Hebron; ‘Atil, Deir al-Ghusouna, Zeta and Baqah al-Sharqiyah villages in Tulkarm, and ‘Azzoun village in Qalqiliyah.
Friday, 14 June 2019:
At approximately 00:54, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles at al-Mina site belonging to Palestinian armed groups, west of Khan Younis. Few minutes later, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at the same site. As a result, the site sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the shore, but no casualties were reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (8) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hadab al-Fawar village and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Heborn; Bedia village in Salfit; Tulkarm, Noor Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps in Tulkarm, ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyah and Ramallah.
Saturday, 15 June 2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Suheib Abdul Hamid Abu Jarour (33) and then arrested him. They also confiscated NIS 1000 from the family, handing them a transcript of the confiscated money.
At approximately 05:40, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of the central Gaza Strip shores, chased and opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within less than one nautical mile and forced them to leave the sea, but no injuries were reported. It should be noted that the Israeli forces have closed the sea and prevented fishermen from sailing freely since last Wednesday evening.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Samou’a, al-Thaheriyah, Yatta, and al-Majd villages in Hebron.
Sunday, 16 June 2019
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Mahmoud Nabil Taqatqah (18) and Mahmoud ‘Ali Taqatqah (18).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Lo’ai ‘Eid al-Razeq al-Tamimi (33) and Karim Saleh al-Tamimi (25) and then arrested them.
At approximately 08:10, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence with Israel, east of Khan Youni, fired live bullets at the agricultural fields, east of ‘Abasan. The shooting continued for few minutes, but no casualties were reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin; Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus; Hebron and al-Fawar refugee camp, west of the city; Juyous and ‘Azzoun villages, east of the city.
Monday, 17 June2019:
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Amour neighborhood in Taqou’a village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested 8 civilians and took them to an unknown destination.
(PCHR keeps the names of the arrestees)
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Belal Talal Abu Baker (22).
Around the same time, the Israeli forces moved into Deir Ghassanah village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Aysar Sharif al-Sha’ibi (21) and Karim Hatem al-Barghuthi (48).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forced moved into Northern ‘Asirah village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Diya’a Yaseen Abdul Fattah Jarar’ah (24).
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 civilians namely Ahmed Hamdan al-‘Alami (25), Warad Husein ‘Aadi (22) and Ahmed Karim Mohammed Ekhleil (18).
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Amjad Ibrahim Hammad (35) and then arrested him.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Kafel Hares and Kafer al-Deek villages in Salfit and Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus.
Tuesday, 18 June 2019:
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and then withdrew from the village. However, no arrests were reported. Some of the houses’ owners were identified as Mahmoud ‘Eid ‘Awad, Mohammed Abdul ‘Aziz ‘Awad, Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Awad, Mohamed Hassan ‘Aadi and ‘Ali Mohammed Ekhleil.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Rema village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Mustafa ‘Asidah (28) and then arrested him. It should be mentioned that Mahmoud was a former prisoner in the Israeli jails where he served 3 years.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sa’ir, Bani Na’im, al-Thaheriyah and Beit al-Roush villages in Hebron.
Wednesday, 19 June 2019:
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Halhoul, north of Hebron, and stationed in al-Nabi Younis area. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Asem ‘Emad al-Tawaihah (22) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, an Israeli force accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved into Yatta, south of Hebron, and stationed in Roq’ah neighborhood. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Saif ‘Ayed Abu Fanous (26) and Ibrahim ‘Essa al-Shawahin (25) and then arrested him.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Thaheriyah, al-Samou’a, Beit Marsam villages, and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron.
Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:
Israeli forces continued to use excessive lethal force against peaceful demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip within the so-called “Great March of Return and Breaking Siege” and in the West Bank against the settlements, confiscation of lands, and Israeli crimes. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ observations on the 61st Friday, the border area witnessed large participation from Palestinian civilians as the Israeli forces continued to use upon highest military and political echelons excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators, though the demonstrations were fully peaceful. The incidents during the reporting period were as follows:
Gaza Strip:
Northern Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at Palestinian demonstrations, which continued from 16:30 until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 6 demonstrators, including 2 children. Three of them were hit with rubber bullets, and one was directly hit with a tear gas canister.
Gaza City: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at Palestinian demonstrators resulted in the injury of 19 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children. Seven of them were hit with rubber bullets, and 7 were directly hit with tear gas canisters.
Central Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrators resulted in the injury of 25 demonstrators, including 11 children. Fourteen of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, and 11 were hit with teargas canister and rubber bullets. Doctors classified the injury of a child, who was hit with a live bullet to the chest, as serious. Moreover, others suffered tear gas inhalation and received medical treatment on the spot.
Khan Younis: The Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrations, which continued from 16:30 until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 5 demonstrators, including a child, with directly-hit tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. Moreover, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Those directly wounded were transferred to Nasser, European and Algerian Hospitals, while the other wounded received medical treatment on the spot and in medical points.
Rafah: The Israeli shooting at the demonstrations, which continued from 16:00 until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 40 demonstrators, including 15 children and 4 paramedics. Three of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, and 37 were hit with rubber bullets. The wounded paramedics were identified as Sabreen Jaber Abdul Rahim Qeshtah (28), who was hit with a rubber bullet to the head; Mohammed Saleh Ahmed Sheikh al-‘Eid, who was hit with a rubber bullet to the left leg; Tawfiq Ibrahim Salman al-Mashwakhi (58), who was hit with a rubber bullet to the right shoulder; and Taiseer Abdul ‘Aziz Jom’ah al-‘Ajili (42), who was hit with a rubber bullet to the back. It should be noted that Sabreen and Mohammed work at the Pulse of Life Youth Team while Tawfiq and Taiseer work at the Palestinian Civil Defense.
West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, 14 June 2019, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration which started from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, and headed to the eastern village entrance, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” settlement The demonstrators chanted national slogans demanding end of the occupation and protesting the Israeli forces’ crimes against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. . The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand berms while the soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 civilians, including a child, were hit with rubber bullets.
(PCHR keeps the names of those injured)
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is designated for the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing
(12-18 June 2019)
Category
12 June
13 June
14 June
15 June
16 June
17 June
18 June
Patients
119
54
5
–
128
104
116
Companions
103
46
2
–
114
90
102
Personal needs
22
17
4
–
19
14
23
Families of prisoners
–
–
–
–
–
17
–
Arabs fromIsrael
5
11
13
–
16
4
3
Diplomats
80
5
–
–
–
–
–
Meetings in Erez
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
International workers
30
39
17
–
14
32
31
TravelersAbroad
1
43
–
–
6
1
56
Business people+ BMC
471
441
1
–
800
527
455
Economic and agriculture interviews
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Security interviews
3
3
–
–
2
5
–
Death cases
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Companions’ Deaths
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Return to the West Bank
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Christians’ Holidays
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Conferences and Training courses
–
–
–
–
1
–
–
Permits’ renewal
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
VIPs
1
1
–
–
–
–
–
AmbulancesPatient
3
4
1
–
1
3
2
Ambulancescompanion
2
2
1
–
–
3
3
Following table illustrates temporary and permanent checkpoints and arrests at these checkpoints in the West Bank between 13 – 19 June 2019
Governorate
Permanent temporary
Temporary checkpoints
Closed Roads
Arrested persons
Jerusalem
13
6
–
–
Nablus
10
13
2
–
Jenin
5
7
–
–
Ramallah
11
8
4
–
Tulkarm
7
3
1
–
Tubas
2
3
1
–
Salfit
3
7
1
2
Qalqiliyia
5
5
4
–
Hebron
20
33
15
–
Bethlehem
11
5
2
–
Jericho
5
2
–
–
Al-Karama Crossing
–
–
–
1
Total
92
92
30
2
Arrests at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 17 June 2019, Israeli forces arrested 2 civilians near “Ariel” settlement, north of Salfit, namely Sajed Nawaf Souf (19) and Murad Ra’ed Souf (24), from Hares village, northwest of the city and released them later.
Efforts to Create A Jewish majority
Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:
Arrests and Incursions:
At approximately 01:50 on Thursday, 13 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 6 civilians identified as Mahmoud ‘Esam Shanti (15), Wadee’ Murad Suliman (13), Yaseen Mahmoud Manasrah (11), Jehad Fares Ghateet (17), Ameer Mohamed Salhiyah (17), and Salah Ayoub Abu al-Humus (15).
On the same day morning, Israeli police arrested Basem al-Halaq(61), Head of the Construction Department at the Islamic Endowments (Awqaf); Taha ‘Owidah (51), an engineer at the Department; and Mohamed al-Hadrah (37), an employee at the Department. All of them were arrested while present near al-Qataneen Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque’s gates in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They were then taken to an investigation center in the city.
At approximately 01:00 on Sunday, 16 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Mahmoud Hasan al-Shawish (18), Mahmoud Miswadah (20), and ‘Areen al-Za’aneen (24).
At approximately 03:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces moved into al-Wad neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Khalil Ibrahim al-Tarahouni (32), Mohamed Khaled Sharifah (20) and ‘Obada Sameer Najeeb (21).
At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 17 June 2019, Israeli forces moved into Hizma village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Daher Sa’ied (32) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khaled Abu al-Hawa (20) and then arrested him.
House Demolitions:
At approximately 21:00 on Monday, 18 June 2019, the two siblings Basel and Haten al-‘Abasi self-demolished their building in ‘Ain al-Louz village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, to implement the Israeli Municipality decision under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-‘Abasi family clarified that the under-construction building was comprised of 2 floors, each one was around 170 square meters. The family added that last May they started to build it, but the Israeli Municipality issued a demolition order a week ago and did not give them time to license it. The family pointed out that the municipality order forced them to self-demolish the building or the municipality bulldozers will do so and the family will be forced to pay the demolition costs.
At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 18 June 2019, the Israeli Municipality bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential building in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, after ordering its owner to self-demolish parts of it a week ago. The building belonging to ‘Imran ‘Alqam was comprised of 2 floors, each of them included four 300-square-meter apartments. It should be noted that ‘Alqam started to self-demolish his building on Monday, 10 June 2019, along with his relatives to avoid paying the demolition costs. The Israeli Municipality staff headed to the area and ordered him to use a bulldozer while demolishing the building, but he refused for fear of causing damage to his neighbors’ houses and then stopped the demolition. As a result, the municipality decided to demolish the building. ‘Alqam said that he previously attempted to license the building, but the municipality refused under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall. It should be noted that the building is adjacent to “Bazat Ze’ev“ settlement, which is established on Beit Hunina village’s lands, and only settlers are allowed to build on it .
In the same context, on Thursday, 13 June 2019, the Israeli Supreme Court decided to demolish 15 buildings comprised of 120 residential apartments in Wadi al-Humus area in Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall and obstructing the Israeli soldiers’ work. Mohamed Abu Tair, Member of the Defense Committee in Wadi al-Humus, said that Wadi al-Humus case started when Israeli forces distributed collective demolition orders for 16 residential buildings upon the Israeli Military Commander decision, under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall, between occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. The village residents decided to appeal the decision before the Israeli Supreme Court, but the court refused and upheld the Israeli Military Commander decision about demolishing all houses near the annexation wall and preventing Palestinians from using their lands located up to 250 meters away from the wall. Abu Tair clarified that the Israeli forces claimed that they want to vacate this area for security reasons and to help the Israeli soldiers pursuing Palestinians from the West Bank if the latter attempt to sneak into occupied Jerusalem. Abu Tair pointed out that the buildings are comprised of 120 residential apartments as 11 buildings are located in Area A, which is under the Palestinian Authority control, and 3 buildings are located in Area C while 2 buildings are located in Area B. He added that the area is marginalized by the municipality because it does not belong to it. Moreover, the Israeli forces prevent Palestinian civilians from the West Bank from entering the area, noting that this area is supposed to be within the Palestinian local governance. He added that around 100 families, comprising of 500 persons, were supposed to live in these buildings and some of these buildings are already inhabited while others are under construction. Furthermore, the residents of Wadi al-Humus neighborhood in Surbaher village organized a protest on Sunday, 17 June 2019, against the Israeli Supreme Court decision. During the protest, the residents established a tent near the houses threatened to be demolished before the Israeli forces moved into the area and forcibly dismantled it. Belal al-Kasawani, one of the residents affected by the decision, said that he attempted several times to license his house, but the Israeli court refused under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall and “threaten the security of the State.” Al-Kasawani also added that he paid a lot of money to build his house and shelter his children and now they became homeless.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 13 June 2019, Israeli forces backed by 2 military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and a truck moved into Faqiqis village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers cut and confiscated steels from a shop used for selling scrap and located on the roadsides, under the pretext of working in area classified as Area C without a prior permission from the Israeli competent authorities. The shop belongs to Omar Ahmed al-Atrash (30).
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 17 June 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, a digger, and a bulldozer moved into Kherbit al-Halawa in al-Masafer area southeast of Hebron. The Israeli vehicles started to demolish three 40-sqaure-meter houses built of bricks and tin plates. Those houses were donated by GVC. As a result, 21 civilians, including 13 children, became homeless. The houses were demolished under the pretext of non-licensing. The demolished houses belong to:
Mohamed ‘Ali Abu ‘Arram, comprised of 12 persons, including 6 children.
Mohamed Ahmed Isma’il Abu ‘Arram, comprised of 4 persons, including 2 children.
Yaser Khalil Yunis Abu ‘Arram, comprised of 5 persons, including 3 children.
Around the same time, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration, a digger, and a bulldozer moved into Kherbit al-Dabi’, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli vehicles demolished two 40-sqaure-meter residential rooms built of bricks and tin plates. The rooms belong to Mohamed ‘Ali Mohamed Dababsah, whose family is comprised of 12 persons, including 7 children. It should be noted that the Israeli Civil Administration officers confiscated solar panels that supply the rooms with electricity.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with a mounted-crane truck and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They then stationed in Beit Za’tah area, adjacent to Bypass Road (60). The Israeli forces dismantled iron arches for a plant nursery built on an area of 300 square meters and then confiscated them. The nursery belongs to Mahdi Mujahed Jameel Museef (31), from Beit Ummer village. The Israeli forces handed him a 30-day transcript of the confiscated arches in case he wants to take back the iron arches. The demolition and confiscation came under the pretext of working in area classified as Area C without a prior permission. It should be noted that Mahdi started to build his plant nursery in October 2018 and then he received a notice to stop construction works.
At approximately 09:30 on Wednesday, 19 June 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer moved into al-Karama crossing area, east of Jericho. The Israeli bulldozer demolished an under-construction 240-sqaure-meter house belonging to Shadi Ibrahim Sanaqrat, from occupied Jerusalem. The house was demolished under the pretext of non-licensing and being in area classified as Area C.
Settlers’ aatcks against Palestinian civilians and property
Israeli settlers’ attacks:
On Thursday morning, 13 June 2019, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement established in the southeastern side of Ainabous village, southeast of Nablus, attacked the center of the village and wrote racist slogans against Arabs on the walls of the Old Mosque (Mosque of the Forty Martyrs), the village clinic and a house belonging to Tariq Al-Sulwadi. After that, the village residents saw the settlers and made them leave the village.
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 13 June 2019, a group of Israeli settlers severely beat Mohammed Yehia Al-Tamimi (42), from Deir Nitham, north west of Ramallah, with a stick while he was in an agricultural area belonging to him near “Helmish” settlement, which is established along the borders of the abovementioned area, northwest of the city. Mohammed said that he was surprisingly attacked by two settlers, who severely beat him along with his son Rami (15), noting that Rami suffers an “Impaired mobility”. As a result, Mohamed and his son sustained bruises throughout their bodies, and Rami was taken to nearby Bait Rima emergency center to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 08:00 on Friday, 14 June 2019, for the second day in a row and in light of Israeli tight measures, dozens of Israeli settlers moved into Solomon’s Pools area, south of Bethlehem, under the Israeli forces’ protection. Eyewitnesses said that about 100 Israeli settlers, raided Solomon’s Pools area and a high hill overlooking the Qirtas village, which is classified within Area (A). Eyewitnesses said that the armed settlers accompanied with their sniffer dogs wandered in the pools and nearby forests and then bathed in the pools, claiming that it is a holy area for Jews. The eyewitnesses said that the settlers, who moved into the area, were youngsters aged between 16 to 17 years old. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities always bring them to this area before they join the conscription to incite settlers and tell them that this area is for Jews and they must preserve it. The settlers move into this area from time to time under the Israeli forces’ protection. It should be noted that Solomon’s Pools are under the full control of the Palestinian Authority (PA) because it is located in Area (A).
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 16 June 2019, a group of settlers, from “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost established in Tal Rumeida neighborhood in Hebron, attacked members of Abu Aysha Family while they were building a cement wall around their house. It should be noted that the family got an approval from the Israeli Civil Administration to build the wall. The Israeli forces were in the area and did not disperse the settlers, who destroyed the wood fixed in around the house as a prelude to pour the concrete in them. It should be noted that this is the second time that the settlers attacked Abu Aysha family while building the abovementioned wall.
On Monday morning, 17 June 2019, a group of settlers punctured the tiers of 4 vehicles belonging to Hassan Ibrahim Hamayel (33) and Hussain ‘Atef Hamayel (30) in Kafr Malik village, northeast of Ramallah. They then wrote racist slogans on the vehicles. Hussain ‘Atef said that they were surprised with the Israeli moving into the village and attacking around 4 vehicles parked in front of their owners’ houses. He added that the settlers wrote racist slogans on the vehicles.
On Monday, 17 June 2019, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Givat Asaf “ settlement, set fire to agricultural lands belonging to Beteen and Barqah villages, east of Ramallah. As a result, around 35 olive trees, 5 fig trees and 2 grape vines were burnt. The agricultural lands belong to Esam Darwish (40) and Bahjat Darwish (44).
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 18 June 2019, a group of settlers attacked Dirsitiyia village, north of Salfit, where they punctured 18 vehicle’s tiers and wrote racist slogans on the houses’ walls in the “Khayousa” and “Njaima” neighborhoods, west of the abovementioned village. PCHR keeps the names of the vehicles’ owners.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
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Public Document
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Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 30 May – 12 June, 2019.
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child while attempting to enter al-Aqsa Mosque, to perform prayers. 17 civilians, including 6 children, were wounded in the West Bank. Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian ambulance officer succumbed to his wounds. 50 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a paramedic, were wounded on the 60th Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege.
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized within the activities of “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed the 60th Friday of the peaceful protests along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces used force against civilians who participated in the demonstrations organized against the Israeli incursions into the West Bank cities and villages. In the West Bank, the Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child and wounded 17 civilians, including 6 children, in separate incidents. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces wounded 50 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a paramedic, during their participation in the Great March of Return.
In the West Bank, on 31 May 2019, in a new crime of excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed ‘Abdullah Loay Ghaith (16) while attempting to enter al-Aqsa Mosque to perform the last Friday Prayer in Ramadan. When he attempted to sneak into the city along with his cousin for not obtaining an entry permit, the Israeli police officers (Border Guard) opened fire at him, wounding him with 2 bullets to the lower back of the thorax.
In the same context, Israeli forces wounded 17 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. Ten of them, including 2 children, were wounded during their participation in Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqiliya. Six of them, including 4 children, were wounded while protesting against the Israeli forces’ incursion into Nablus to secure the entyry of hundreds of settlers into the eastern area of the city to perform rituals in Josef Tomb. Moreover, a civilian was wounded in Romanah village, west of Jenin, with a bullet which was fired from the side of the annexation wall.
In the Gaza Strip, at approximately 13:00 on Monday, 10 June 2019, Palestinian medical sources announced the death of ambulance officer, Mohammed Sobhi Salamah al-Judaili (36), from al-Buraij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, succumbing to wounds he sustained at approximately 18:10 on Friday, 03 May 2019. Al-Jadili was hit with a rubber bullet to the nose, causing fractures to the nose and skull, while on duty within the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) team, east of Abu Safiyah Hill in the northern Gaza Strip. Mohammed attempted to put 2 wounded civilians in the Great March of Return inside an ambulance which was around 200 meters away from the western side of the border fence.
In the same context, the Israeli forces wounded 50 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and a paramedic, in excessive use of force against the peaceful demonstrators on the 60thFriday of the Great March of Return in the eastern Gaza Strip.
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating an ongoing Israeli policy of targeting fishermen’s livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 3 incidents off the northern and southern Gaza shores. It should be noted that the Israeli forces declared on 11 June 2019 that the allowed area for fishing decreased to 6 nautical miles under the pretext of incendiary balloons fired from the Gaza Strip. Next day afternoon, the spokesperson of the Israeli Forces, Avichay Adraee, declared a total naval blockade off the Gaza Strip shore until further notice; thus, fishermen are not allowed to sail or fish in the sea.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 83 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 37 Palestinians, including 2 children and a woman, in the West Bank, while 45 other civilians, including 3 women, were arrested from Jerusalem and its suburbs.
In the Gaza Strip, on 04 June 2019, Israeli forces moved 100 meters into al-Shokah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. They combed lands in front of the Return encampment before redeploying along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
As part of settlement expansion, demolitions and house demolition notices, on 10 June2019, Mervat Jamal Abu Kaf self-demolished her house in Qisan area in Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, to implement the Israeli Municipality order, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mervat said that she was forced to demolish her house after a decision issued by the Israeli court because she could not pay demolition costs estimated at NIS 70,000 for the Israeli Municipality. She added that the court’s decision was issued after she paid a construction fine estimated at NIS 60,000. Mervat lived in her 125-sqaure-meter house along with her 6 children.
On the Same day, the Israeli forces forced a Palestinian civilian to self-demolish his residential building, which was under-construction, in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing.
On 11 June, the Israeli forces demolished a house and a residential building in addition to 2 commercial facilities in the villages of sour Baher and al-Mukaber Mount village, south of occupied East Jerusalem.
On 12 June 2018, Israeli bulldozers demolished a residential building, 7 stores and a gas station in the vicinity of Qalendia checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
As part of the house demolitions and notices, The Israeli authorities issued a military order to confiscate 80 dunums belonging to Palestinian civilians in order to build a new settlement street for “Alon Moreh“ settlement established in northeast of Nablus. The street is 12 kilometers long and 13 meters wide.
On 11 June 2019, Israeli forces uprooted 550 forest trees and fruitful olive trees in addition to destroying 2 wells in Kherbet Abu Kbaish, east of Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas. Most of those trees were donated by the Brazilian Consulate.
On the same day, the Israeli forces destroyed an under-construction house comprised of 2 floors and 4 residential apartments in addition to a roof of 500 square meters. They also backfilled a well of 150 cubic meters in Khelet al-Surbati area near Jabal Jawhar neighborhood in southern Hebron. The demolition came under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C.
On the same day, the Israeli authorities issued 2 military orders; one to change the boundaries in order to seize Palestinian agricultural lands in ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah village, southeast of Nablus, and another to confiscate 1.5 dunums from the Palestinian agricultural lands in Burin village, southeast of Nablus. This order was on grounds of building a new security street in favor of Barakha settlement established in northeastern Burin village, east of Nablus. On the same day, the Israeli forces destroyed a residential room and 4 barracks for grazing sheep and horses in Beer ‘Onah village, north of occupied East Jerusalem.
On 12 June 2019, Israeli forces demolished 5 residential tents, 5 tents used for sheltering livestock, a tent used as a kitchen, livestock barn and water tanks in addition to backfilling a well in Kherbet al-Ras al-Ahmar in the northern Valleys in eastern Tubas.
On the same day, the Israeli forces demolished a tin-plate house of 30 square meters in Um al-Kheir village, southeast of Yata, south of Hebron, under the pretext of non-licensing.
On the same day, the Palestinian Civil Liaison handed the head of Burin village, southeast of Nablus, a military order which was given by the Israeli liaison about the confiscation of 1.5 dunums from the Palestinian agricultural lands in favor of building a new security street, which is 1.5 kilometers long, for Barakha settlement established in northeastern Burin village.
As part of settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property, on 05 June 2019, Israeli settlers, from “Ahiya” settlement, which is established in the southern side of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, attacked the village outskirts from the southern side. The settlers threw stones at Jaloud Secondary School, broke 2 windows and set fire to olive fields. As a result, over 1000 olive trees planted 65 years ago were completely burned.
On 06 June 2019, Israeli settlers seized agricultural lands in al-Makhrour area in Beit Jala, under the pretext of owning them. Hasan Barijiyah, Head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance in Bethlehem, said that the settlement association “Kern Kemet” seized, reclaimed and planted 4 dunums from Palestinian lands in Beit Jalaand in addition to setting barbed wires around them to place mobile homes on them.
On 08 June 2019, settlers attacked a land belonging to the heirs of the late Ismael Mousa in Al-Khader village in southern Bethlehem. Maryam Mousa, one of the heirs, said that her family was surprised with raiding her 8-dunum land by settlers in Wad Abu Bajeer area in al-Khader village. She also added that the settlers placed water pipes and planted the land with hundreds of olive, apricot, and peach trees.
Ambulance Officer Succumbed to his Wounds:
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 10 June 2019, Palestinian medical sources announced the death of Mohammed Sobhi Salamah al-Judaili (36), from al-Buraij refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip, succumbing to wounds he sustained at approximately 18:10 on Friday, 03 May 2019, while on duty east of the Return encampment, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Al-Jadili, who was an ambulance officer at Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was hit with a rubber bullet to the nose fired by Israeli soldiers. As a result, he suffered fracture to the skull while he was transferring 2 civilians wounded in the Return March inside the ambulance, which was around 200 meters into the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.
According to the testimony of his colleague, (Y. A), after Mohammed was injured, he was taken to the medical point belonging to the Ministry of Health and then transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive medical treatment. Doctors found out that Mohammed suffered from fracture to the nose and skull. He was later transferred to al-Quds Hospital of the PRCS in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City. Mohammed stayed at al-Quds Hospital waiting a medical referral for treatment in a hospital in the West Bank. Mohammed left the hospital to spend Eid al-Feter holiday with his family on Sunday, 02 June, 2019. On the same day evening, Mohammed suffered a seizure and fainted and then his heart suddenly stopped. He was then taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in the central Gaza Strip where he stayed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) until receiving a referral to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron, West Bank. Mohammed death was announced at approximately 13:00 on Monday, 10 June 2019 succumbing to his wounds.
House Demolitions:
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 10 June 2019, Mervat Jamal Abu Kaf self-demolished her house in Qisan area in Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem, to implement the Israeli Municipality order, under the pretext of non-licensing. Mervat said that she was forced to demolish her house after a decision issued by the Israeli court, because she could not pay demolition costs estimated at NIS 70.000 for the Israeli Municipality. She added that the court’s decision issued after paying a fine estimated at NIS 60.000. Mervat said that the demolition decision was unjust and deprived her of living in conditions of safety and stability with her 6 children. Mervat clarified: “ My blind husband, Hasan Khalil Abu Kaf, died after suffering from incurable disease and I paid the fine in installments and took care of my children alone, but the Israeli Municipality did not take into account this” Mervat added that she lives in her 125-sqaure-meter house along with her 6 children 6 years ago. Her house was comprised of 4 rooms, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. She pointed out that she was forced to live in one room in her father- in-law house because she became homeless. Jaber ‘Omirah, Head of the organizing committee of Dir al-‘Amoud, al-Mentar and al-Qisan in Surbaher village, said that the abovementioned areas are located within the Jerusalem municipal boundaries, but their lands are not organized. He added that the Jerusalem municipality staff demolished several houses in these areas and around 250 Jerusalemites are suffering from paying construction fines, under the pretext of non-licensing. He clarified that Dir al-‘Amoud, al-Mentar and al-Qisan areas are built on an area of 5000 dunums and around 5000 people are living in these areas. He pointed out that the committee called upon the Jerusalem Municipality years ago to organize these areas, but in vain.
On Monday, 10 June 2019, the Israeli Municipality forced ‘Imran ‘Alqam to self-demolish his residential building, which was under-construction, in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Imran ‘Alqam said that he along with his relative started to demolish the building, but the municipality forced him to use a bulldozer while demolishing the building and he refused because his house is adjacent to his neighbor’s house. In this case, the neighboring houses will sustain damage and he will force to pay compensation for them. ‘Imran clarified that he was forced to stop self-demolition because the Israeli municipality insistence to use the bulldozer. The municipality warned him that it will demolish all the building by using a bulldozer within few days. He pointed out that in this case he will force to pay over NIS 70000 for the municipality staff. He added that the building is comprised of 4 apartments, each of them is built on an area of 300 square meters. ‘Imran emphasized that he attempted to license the building, but the municipality refused under the pretext of being close to the annexation wall. It should be noted that the building is adjacent to “Bazat Ze’ev“ settlement, which is established on Beit Hunina village’s lands, and settlers are allowed to build on it .
On Tuesday, 11 June 2019, Israeli vehicles demolished a residential house, an under-construction building and a commercial facility in Surbaher village and al-Mukaber Mount area, south of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli Municipality staff along with Israeli vehicles moved into Surbaher village, under the protection of dozens of infantry Israeli soldiers and police officers. They surrounded an under-construction building belonging to Wesam Jabbour and closed all streets leading to it before demolishing it. They then raided a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Afana and then demolished it. Wesam Jabbour said that the Israeli bulldozers raided his under-construction building and surrounded it without a prior warning. He pointed out that the Israeli Municipality staff raided the building 2 days ago and informed him to stop construction works. Jabbour clarified that the building was comprised of 2 floors, each of them built on an area of 350 square meters.
Ahmed ‘Afana said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he built the house 5 years ago and around 5 persons are living in it. He added that the Israeli forces prevented his family from vacating the house content and then demolished it. The Israeli bulldozers also demolished a commercial facility for selling Aluminum in al-Mukaber Mout area, under the pretext of non-licensing. The 90-sqaure-meter facility, which belongs to ‘Esam Mohamed Ja’abees, built 7 years ago. ‘Esam said that the Israeli bulldozers demolished large part of the facility, noting that the municipality demolished it despite of giving him until the beginning of July to demolish it.
At approximately 07:00 on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Israeli bulldozers along with dozens of infantry soldiers moved into the vicinity of Qalandia checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They then demolished a residential building, a petrol station and 7 shops along the main street, adjacent to the checkpoint at the entrance to Qalandia refugee camp, under the pretext of non-licensing.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
The Israeli authorities issued a military order to confiscate 80 dunums belonging to Palestinian civilians in order to build a new settlement street for “Alon Moreh“ settlement established in northeast of Nablus. At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 10 June 2019, ‘Azmout and Dir Hatab villages’ council received from the Palestinian Liaison a copy of the Israeli military order to confiscate 80 dunums belonging to Palestinian civilians in order to build a new settlement street. The street is 12 kilometers long and 13 meters wide and it belongs to “Alon Moreh“settlement, which is established in the southeastern side of ‘Azmout village and in northern Dir Hatab village.
At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 11 June 2019, Israeli forces backed by 2 bulldozers moved into Kherbet Abu Kbaish, east of Tamoun village, southeast of Tubas. The Israeli bulldozers uprooted 550 forest trees and fruitful olive trees in addition to destroying 2 wells. The uprooted trees planted 8 years ago. The Israeli authorities declared the area as a nature reserve. The demolition resulted in the uprooting of 240 olive trees belonging to Jehad, ‘Adullah and Mohanad Yousef Mostafa Bani ‘Odah, in addition to destroying an agricultural well belonging to Jehad Yousef Bani ‘Odah. Moreover, 310 forest trees were uprooted and an agricultural well was destroyed. Both of them are donated by the Brazilian Consulate.
At approximately 08:00, an Israeli force accompanied with a number of military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and 3 diggers moved into Khelat al-Sharbati area near Jawhar Mount neighborhood, in the southern area in Hebron. The diggers demolished an under-construction house, 2 floors (4 apartments), a 500-square-meter roof, and a 150- cubic- meter well belonging to Lafi Zayed Jamal al-Rajbi (49). The demolition was under the pretext of non-licensing in Area classified (C). it should be noted that the Israeli authorities handed Lafi a notice to halt construction in the house on 20 February 2019, a year after he began building the house.
On Tuesday, 11 June 2019, Israeli authorities issued 2 military orders; one of which was to change borders and seize agricultural lands belonging to Palestinian civilians in ‘Asirah al-Qabaliyah village, southeast of Nablus while the other order was to confiscate 1.5 dunums of agricultural lands belonging to Palestinian civilians in Burin village, southeast of Nablus. At approximately 11:00 on the same day, the Palestinian Liaison in Nablus handed the Head of ‘Asirah al-Qabaliyah village Council a military decision to change borders and seize around 5 dunums and 455 meters to expand the military camp established in al-Shaqa’eq area reaching al-kuroum area in Area classified (B) in favor of Yitzhak settlement in the southern area of the abovementioned village.
In the same context, Israeli forces demolished a residential room and 4 barracks to raise livestock and horses belonging to Mohammed Mousa Zarinah in Beir ‘Ounah area, north of Beit Jala under the pretext of non-licensing. Eyewitnesses said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces moved into Ber ‘Ounah area on the same morning, closed it and prevented civilians from reaching it. They then demolished 4 agricultural facilities and barracks, each of them was built on an area of 120 square meters in addition to a residential room belonging to Mohammed Mousa Zarinah. The eyewitnesses emphasized that the Israeli forces randomly fired rubber bullets during the demolition process. As a result, Mohammed Mousa was hit with a rubber bullet to the foot. the soldiers also attacked his family members. It should be noted that the Israeli forces demolished several houses belonging to Zarinah family in that area few months ago under the pretext of non-licensing.
At approximately 08:00 on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Israeli forces accompanied with 3 jeeps of the Israeli Civil Administration and 2 bulldozers moved into Kherbit Ras al-Ahmar in northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. The bulldozers uprooted tents and demolished houses and barns belonging to 4 families. The damage were as follows:
Name
Damage
1.
‘’Allan ‘Izzat Bani ‘Odah
– 2 residential tents– 2 tents for livestock– A mobile bathroom
– A 200-sqaure-meter barn
– A water tank
2 .
Baker ‘Allan Bani ‘Odah
– A residential tent– A tent for livestock
3.
Jameel Suliman Mofdi Bani ‘Odah
– A residential tent– A tent as a kitchen– A 300-sqaure-meter barn
– 20 water tanks
4.
Suliman Jameel Mostafa Bani ‘Odah
– A residential tent– A tent for livestock– 10 water tanks
Following the demolition in Ras al-Ahmar area, the bulldozer headed to Kherbit Tayaseer and al-‘Aqabah in northern Jordan Valley, east of Tubas. The bulldozers demolished a water well.
At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer moved into Um al-Khair village, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. The bulldozer demolished a 30-sqaure-meter house built of tin plates and belong to ‘Ali Issa al-Tabni (39). Ten persons, including 7 children, were living in the house. The house was demolished under the pretext of non-licensing.
Around the same time, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer moved into Kherbit Khashem al-Daraj, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration staff uprooted and confiscated barbed wire and demolished a 30-sqaure-meter barn built of tin plates and sheds. The barn belongs to Ahmed ‘Odah al-Tebni (44).
At approximately 11:00, the Palestinian Liaison handed the council of Bureen village, southeast of Nablus, an Israeli military order to confiscate 1.5 dunums belonging to Palestinian civilians in order to build a security street for “Berkha “ settlement established in the northeastern side of Bureen village.
Israeli settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and property
At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 02 June 2019, Israeli forces closed the bypass roads and streets in the vicinity of Al-Walja, Al-Khader, Housan villages and leading to Nahaleen and Fouken villages in western Bethlehem and Bait Fajjar village, south of the city. Moreover, they closed a road near tunnels established on Beit Jala village’s lands. As a result, vehicles’ movement was obstructed for hours in order to secure Marathon organized by dozens of Israeli settlers, from settlements established in western, southern and northern Bethlehem. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces established many military checkpoints on streets to prevent the entry of vehicles and secure the Marathon. The eyewitnesses clarified that this Marathon caused a traffic jam and provoked Palestinian civilians because the Israeli participants raised political banners against Palestinians and called for expelling them from their lands.
At approximately 10:20 on Wednesday, 05 June 2019, coinciding with the first day of ‘Eid Al-Fitr, about 12 Israeli settlers, from “Ahiya “ settlement, which is established in the southern side of Jaloud village, southeast of Nablus, attacked the village outskirts from the southern side. The settlers threw stones at Jaloud Secondary School, broke 2 windows, and set fire to olive fields. As a result, over 1000 olive tree planted 65 years ago were completely burned. These trees belong to the heirs of the late Ibrahim ‘Abed Haj Mohammed, Tawfeeq ‘Abdullah Haj Mohammed, Ahmed ‘Abd Al-Hadi Hammoud, and Hamza Saeed Issa.
On Thursday, 06 June 2019, Israeli settlers seized an agricultural land in al-Makhrour area in Beit Jala, under the pretext of owning it. Hasan Barijiyah, Head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance in Bethlehem, said that the settlement association “Kern Kemet” seized, reclaimed and planted 4 dunums from Palestinian lands in Beit Jala, them, in addition to setting barbed wires around them to place mobile homes on them. Barijiyah added that this attack reflects the Israeli plans to target al-Makhrour and al-Qaysar areas, west of Bethlehem. He pointed out that the Israeli settlers claim that these lands are belonging to them, but they could not prove that. It should be noted that the Palestinian lands’ owners have all documents that prove their ownership.
On Saturday morning, 08 June 2019, settlers attacked a land belonging to the heirs of the late Ismael Mousa in Al-Khader village in southern Bethlehem. Maryam Mousa, one of the heirs, said that her family was surprised with raiding her 8-dunum land by settlers in Wad Abu Bajeer area in al-Khader village. She also added that the settlers placed water pipes and planted the land with hundreds of olive, apricot, and peach trees.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 23 – 29 May, 2019.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip. 11 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, a paramedic, and a journalist, were injured. A Palestinian child was wounded in the West Bank.
Shooting:
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized along the Gaza Strip borders, which witnessed the peaceful protests for the 59th week along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. They also continued to use force as well during the incursions into the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 11 civilians, including 3 children, a paramedic, and a journalist, while participating in the Return March. Moreover, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded after being targeted in the border area of the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian child.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 11 civilians, including 3 children, a paramedic and a journalist, while participating in the 59th Friday of the Return March.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 26 May 2019, Israeli forces opened fire and fired an artillery shell at 2 Palestinian civilians, who were about 250 meters into the east of Um al-Mahd area, east of ‘Abasan al-Jadidah village, east of Khan Younis. As a result, they sustained shrapnel wounds. The injured civilians stayed in the area for an hour after which a number of farmers arrived and transferred them to Gaza European Hospital.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded a Palestinian child during the reported period.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 54 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 47 Palestinians, including 4 children, from the West Bank, while 25 other civilians, including 8 children and a woman, were arrested from Jerusalem and its suburbs.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
Despite their claims to provide facilities for Palestinian civilians in Ramadan and allow them to perform prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque yards in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli forces continued to impose restrictions on them, including the city residents. During this week, and for the second consecutive week, large forces of Israeli soldiers raided al-Aqsa Mosque after al-‘Isha and al-Taraweeh prayers and forcibly ordered al-Mo’takefeen, who are staying in the al-Aqsa Mosque for a certain number of days to perform prayers, to leave the mosque.
Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
Aspart of the Israeli house demolitions and notices, on 23 May 2019, Israeli bulldozers demolished an under-construction house in Khalyil al-Louz area near al-‘Abayyat village, east of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The house, which is comprised of 40 square meters belongs to a person from Surbaher village in occupied East Jerusalem.
On 27 May 2019, Israeli forces destroyed an agricultural facility in Shoshahla village near al- Khadir village, south of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The 40-sqaure-meter agricultural room belongs to Mohamed Ahmed Salah.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israeli forces’ attacks:
On Thursday, 23 May 2019, Israeli bulldozers demolished an under-construction house in Khalyil al-Louz area near al-‘Abayyat village, east of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Hasan Barijiyah, Head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission in Bethlehem, said that the Israeli bulldozers moved into Khalyil al-Louz area and demolished an under-construction house, which was comprised of 2 story. The house belongs to a person from Surbaher village in occupied East Jerusalem.
On Monday, 27 May 2019, Israeli forces destroyed an agricultural facility in Shoshahla village near al- Khadir village, south of Bethlehem, under the pretext of non-licensing. Eyewitnesses said that at approximately 11:00, the Israeli forces accompanied with a bulldozer moved into Shoshahla village. The bulldozer demolished a 40-sqaure-meter agricultural room without a prior warning. The room belongs to Mohamed Ahmed Salah.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), for the week of 16-22 May, 2019.
Eight Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded in the northern West Bank. Israeli forces conducted 55 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 other incursions into Jerusalem. 47 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, were arrested in the West Bank. Five Shooting incidents were reported against the fishing boats in the Gaza Strip Sea.
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized along the Gaza Strip borders. In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. Five of them, including 2 children, were wounded in the northern West Bank, while 3 others, including a child, were wounded in the southern West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen and target their livelihoods.
In the West Bank, in excessive use of lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests, Israeli forces wounded 5 protestors, including 2 children, while participating in Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqiliyia. The abovementioned protest was organized on Friday, 17 May 2019, and on Saturday, 18 May 2019.
On 21 May 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at Mahmoud Husain Salah (15), from al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem, when he was near the annexation wall, which surrounds the village. As a result, Mahmoud was hit with 2 live bullets to the lower limbs. The soldiers then arrested him and took him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in West Jerusalem to receive medical treatment.
On 22 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 2 protestors while moving into al-Duhisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, to carry out an arrest campaign. They then opened fire at dozens of Palestinian young men who were protesting against them.
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating the on-going Israeli policy to target their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 5 incidents were as follows: 3 incidents in the northern Gaza Strip Shore and 2 incidents in the southern Gaza Strip Shore.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 55 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 29 Palestinians, including 2 children, from the West Bank, while 18 other civilians, including 10 childre, were arrested from Jerusalem and its suburbs.
Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
As part of the Israeli house demolitions and notices, on 16 May 2019, Israeli forces moved into Sosiya village, south of Yatta, south of Hebron. They dismantled a 30-sqaure-meter residential tent built with sheds, rubber tires and steel pillars. The tent belongs to Hussain Radi Nawaj’ah (55). The Israeli authorities claimed that the tent was confiscated and demolished under the pretext of non-licensing. It should be noted that it was the fourth time that the tent was confiscated and the latest was on 16 April 2019.
Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
Despite their claims to provide facilities for Palestinian civilians in Ramadan and allow them to perform prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque yards in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City, Israeli forces continued to impose restrictions on them, including the city residents. During this week, a large force of Israeli soldiers raided al-Aqsa Mosque after al-‘Isha and al-Taraweeh prayers and forcibly ordered al-Mo’takefeen, who are staying in the al-Aqsa Mosque for a certain number of days to perform prayers, to leave the mosque.
In the same context, the Israeli authorities confiscated dozens of food parcels prepared by Jerusalem Endowment Fund. Those parcels were supposed to be distributed to poor families. The Jerusalem Endowment fund said that the Israeli authorities claimed that the food parcels are funded by the Palestinian Authority (PA) that is banned by the Israeli authorities and considered in violation of its law.
Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:
Israeli forces continued its excessive use of lethal force against peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and it was named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege.” The demonstration was in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to move the U.S. Embassy to it. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ observations, the border area witnessed large participation by Palestinian civilians as the Israeli forces continued to use upon highest military and political echelons excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators, though the demonstration were fully peaceful. The demonstration was as follows during the reporting period:
West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, 17 May 2019, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” The protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. The soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 civilians, including a child, were hit with rubber bullets.
(PCHR keeps the names of the injured civilians)
At approximately 16:30, on Saturday, 18 May 2018, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” The protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. The soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a child was hit with a rubber bullet to the head.
(PCHR keeps the name of the injured child)
Israeli forces’ attacks:
At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 16 May 2019, Israeli forces backed by 2 military vehicles and accompanied with a bulldozer and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Sosiya village, south of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration officers dismantled a 30-sqaure-meter residential tent built with sheds, rubber tires and steel pillars. The tent belongs to Hussain Radi Nawaj’ah (55). The Israeli authorities claimed that the tent was confiscated and demolished under the pretext of non-licensing. It should be noted that it was the fourth time that the tent was confiscated and the latest was on 16 April 2019.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(09-15 May 2019)
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against the peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian civilian was killed in the 58th Friday of Return and Breaking Siege March.
182 civilians, including 63 children, 7 women, 2 journalists, and 3 paramedics, were wounded while participating in the Return March and commemorating the 71stanniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah.
Eight Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in the West Bank.
Israeli forces conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 other limited incursions into the Gaza Strip.
61 Palestinian civilians, including 15 children and a girl, were arrested in the West Bank.
Twenty-one of them, including 6 children and a girl, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Israeli forces arrested a child while sneaking into Israel, north of the Gaza Strip.
Shooting incidents were reported against the border areas of the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian farmer was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
Israeli authorities continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
A barrack used for selling cars accessories was demolished in Hares village, northwest of Salfit.
Nine Shooting incidents were reported against the fishing boats in the Gaza Strip Sea.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 13thconsecutive year.
Israeli forces established 92 permanent checkpoints and 121 temporary checkpoints in the West Bank.
Five Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (09-15 May 2019).
Shooting:
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against the participants in the peaceful protests organized along the Gaza Strip borders, which witnessed the peaceful protests for the 58th week along the eastern and northern border area of the Gaza Strip. They also continued to use force as well during the incursions into the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 182 others, including 63 children, 7 women, 2 journalists, and 3 paramedics, while participating in the Return March and commemorating the 71stanniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah. Moreover, a Palestinian farmer was wounded in northern Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including four children, in different shooting incidents.
In the Gaza Strip, on Friday, 10 May 2019, in excessive use of lethal force against Palestinian protestors participating in the 58th Friday of the Return March in eastern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 48 others, including 11 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 2 paramedics.
On 15 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 134 Palestinian civilians, including 52 children, 5 women and a paramedic, while commemorating the 71stanniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah, which was organized along the Gaza Strip eastern borders.
Injuries in the Gaza Strip between 09-15 2019 According to the Governorate
Governorate
Injuries
Total
Children
Women
Journalists
Paramedics
Critical Injuries
Northern Gaza Strip
41
15
3
0
0
0
Gaza City
31
14
1
0
1
0
Central Gaza Strip
24
3
0
0
0
0
Khan Yunis
22
6
0
0
1
0
Rafah
64
25
3
2
1
0
Total
182
63
7
2
3
0
As part of targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, indicating the on-going Israeli policy to target their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR documented 9 incidents were as follows: 6 incidents adjacent to al-Waha resort, 2 off al-Sowdaniyia Shore and 1 off Rafah Shore.
As part of targeting the border areas, on 10 May 2019, Israeli forces opened fire at a group of Palestinian farmers in eastern al-Shuja’iyia neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, a Palestinian farmer sustained moderate wounds.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children. Four of them, including 2 children, were wounded while participating in two peaceful demonstrations organized at the eastern entrance to Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyia. Moreover, 3 protestors, including a child, were wounded when the Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, north of the West Bank. Furthermore, a child was wounded after the Israeli forces stationed at Beit Eiel checkpoint opened fire at him and then arrested him.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 other incursions into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 40 Palestinians, including 9 children, from the West Bank, while 21 other civilians, including 6 children and a girl, were arrested from Jerusalem and its suburbs. It should be noted that the arrested girl is an employee at the Prisoners and Ex-prisoner affairs committee.
In the Gaza Strip, on 13 May 2019, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters into the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, southeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli vehicles leveled and combed lands that were previously levelled amidst a sporadic Israeli shooting. After that, the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence.
On 14 May 2019, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters into al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli vehicles combed the area adjacent to the Return March before redeploying along the border fence.
Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property
As part of the Israeli house demolitions and notices, on 14 May 2019, Israeli forces demolished a barrack used for selling cars accessories in Hares village, northwest of Salfit. The abovementioned barrack belongs to ‘Abed al-Naser ‘Abed al-Haleem Dawoud, whose loss was estimated at NIS 40,000.
Details
Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Thursday, 09 May 2019:
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ourif village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses, from which they arrested Oseid Mashhour Abdul Hfith Shehadah (25), As’aad Louis As’aad al-Safadi (26), and Feras Mohammed Husni Shehadah (21).
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ummer, Tarqumiya, Beit Marsam, al-Hadab villages and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron
Friday, 10 May 2019:
At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, opened fire at a group of Palestinian farmers, east of al-Sheja’eya neighbourhood, east of the Gaza Strip. As a result, Mohammed ‘Ali al-Da’our (20) was hit with a live bullet to the right foot. Mohammed was taken to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive medical treatment. Medical sources classified his injury as moderate.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces attacked ‘Awni (19) and his brother Mohammed Emad Abu Shamsiyah (17) when they were returning back to their house in Tal al-Ramidah neighbourhood in the center of Hebron. They then arrested them and took them to Israeli military camp in “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost, which is about 150 meters away from their house. ‘Awni and Mohammed were released at approximately 19:00. ‘Emad Abu Shamsiyah said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
“At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 10 May 2019, my son Saleh (12) told me that his mother headed quickly to the street, so I followed her. We then saw Israeli soldiers detaining my sons ‘Awni (19) and Mohammed (17), who work in al-‘Izariyah village, and didn’t come home for 2 months. The soldiers, who dressed like civilians, attempted to handcuff ‘Awni, so I approached them in an attempt to calm him down, but the soldiers beat him with their hands. The soldiers arrested my sons and took them to a military camp in “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost. I wanted to know what happened, but then saw female soldiers taking my wife, Fayzah Abu Shamsiyah, to the abovementioned outpost. Moreover, the soldiers detained my son Saleh and broke his camera. Meanwhile, an Israeli officer, who introduced himself as military governor, came and wanted to shake hands with me, but I refused. I demanded him to release my wife and sons. The soldiers then attempted to attack me again, but a resident moved forward and spoke with the officer. After that, my wife was released. I stayed in front of the military camp until approximately 19:00 when my sons were released. After returning home, ‘Awni said that he met with the extremist settler “Baruch Marzel”, who started cursing him in Hebrew language, so ‘Awni cursed him too. When ‘Awni approached the house gate, a number of armed soldiers dressed like civilians attacked him. After the soldiers took him to “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost, a soldier ordered him to drink water, but ‘Awni told him that he is fasting, so the soldier brought a bucket with water that smells bad and poured it on ‘Awni.”
At approximately 17:0, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the gaza Strip and Israel, east of Abu Safiyah area, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, arrested Qusai Amin Mohammed Abu al-Husain (15), from Jabalia, after he crossed the border fence. According to field investigation, Abu al-Husain participated in the March of Return and Breaking Siege before crossing the border fence.
At approximately 20:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 5 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 21:50, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah fired several flare bombs in the sky. However, no more incidents were reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Tarqumiya, Raboud and Abu al-‘Asja villages in Hebron; and ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliya.
Saturday, 11 May 2019:
At approximately 10:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. The shooting recurred at approximately 19:00 on the same day at the fishing boats that were on an area of 2 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sa’ir and Bani Na’im villages in Hebron; Beta and Howarah villages, south of Nablus.
Sunday, 12 May 2019
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Arabah village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Anas ‘Awad Hamran (30) and Waddah Khalil al-Sha’ah (29) and then arrested them.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir village, north of Hebron, and stationed in Ras al-‘Aroud area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bajes Suleiman al-Matour (44) and then arrested Bajes’s son Saleh (15). Meanwhile, another Israeli force raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf Abdul Qader Jaradat (33) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement”, south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 07:50, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Sudaniyah area, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 5 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. The shooting continued form time to time until approximately 09:40 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ummer, Surif and al-Burj villages in Hebron; Qalqiliya and ‘Azzoun village, east of the city.
Monday, 13 May2019
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ala’a ‘Ali al-Badi (23) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Walajah village, northwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ma’rouf Ahmed al-Atrash (15) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ourif village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdul Qader As’aad Abdul ‘Aziz Sabbah (25) and then arrested him.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested 3 civilians namely Wajdi Kathem Thawabtah (34), Anas Kathem Thawabtah (30) and Nidal Nabil Thawabtah (28).
At approximately 03:20, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Ahmed ‘Arbas (25) and then arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, to carry out arrest campaign. They raided and searched several houses from which they arrested 4 civilians namely Feras Mohammed al-Wehadah (30), Ahmed ‘Azmi Mohammed Husain (23), Ahmed Husain Abdul Hafith Abu ‘Abed (20), and Khalid Saleh Husain Abu Zainah (59). Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli forces. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets, and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded. When the Israeli forces withdrew from the camp, they deliberately ran over Amin Mohammed Tawfiq Zakarnah (27), from Qabatia village, southeast of Jenin. As a result, Amin sustained wounds and bruises to the chest and abdomen. The soldiers also heavily beat Wasim Ahmed Abu Jalboush (19). All the wounded civilians were taken to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital in Jenin to receive medical treatment.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces accompanied with 6 military vehicles moved about 100 meters into the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, adjacent to the memorial statute, southeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The Israeli vehicles leveled and combed lands that were previously leveled amidst a sporadic Israeli shooting. At approximately 12:00, the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence and neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. The shooting continued until 12:40 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah, Qarawet Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit; Howarah village, south of Nablus.
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Abu Shakhaidem village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 3 civilians, including a child, namely Amir Naji Abdul Razeq (17), Hamdi Mohammed Qandah (19) and Anwar Mohammed Salem (19).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested 4 civilians namely ‘Ammar Mohammed Jawabrah (22) Ahmed Hassounah al-Badawi (21), Mohammed Nasser Mahfouth (21), and Mohammed Jamal Abu Sal (19).
At approximately 08:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing between 2 and 4 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties not material damage was reported.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles and bulldozers moved about 100 meters from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel into al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled lands adjacent to the Return March. The Israeli forces then redeployed along the border fence.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hebron, Yatta and al-Fawar refugee camp; Beit al-Roush al-Tahta village in Hebron.
Wednesday, 15 May 2019
On early morning, Israeli soldiers stationed at “Beit Eil” military checkpoint, north of al-Birah, opened fire at Mohammed ‘Emad Hasanain (17), from the Gaza Strip. As a result, Mohammed was hit with a live bullet to the right leg. The Israeli forces then arrested Mohammed and took him via a military vehicle to a hospital in Israel.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jaber Wa’el al-Badawi (15) and then arrested him.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested Hasan Baker Zahran (15), Anwar Safi ‘Ata (15) and Mohammed Abdul Karim Zahran (15).
At approximately 08:40, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 20:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Sudaniyah area, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hebron, al-Burj, Deir Razeh and Beit Ummer villages in Hebron; Kufor Ne’mah village, west of Ramallah.
Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:
Israeli forces continued its excessive use of lethal force against peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and it was named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege.” The demonstration was in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to move the U.S. Embassy to it. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ observations, the border area witnessed large participation by Palestinian civilians as the Israeli forces continued to use upon highest military and political echelons excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators, though the demonstration were fully peaceful. The demonstration was as follows during the reporting period:
Gaza Strip:
During the 58th week of the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 48, including 11 children, two women, two journalists, and two paramedics. The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting, at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued from 17:30 to 18:30, resulted in the injury of 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Two of them were hit with rubber bullets and the two others were directly hit with tear gas canisters.
Gaza City: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued from 16:00 until 18:30, resulted in the injury of 2 Palestinian civilians. One of them was hit with a live bullet to the left foot and the other one was hit with a rubber bullet to the left hand.
Central Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued from 16:00 until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children. Six of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and 2 were hit with rubber bullets.
Khan Younis: The Israeli shooting at the demonstrators, which continued from 16:00 until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 4 civilians, including a paramedic. The wounded paramedic was identified as Mohammed Sobhi Abu Ta’emah (24), a volunteer paramedic at Watan Medical Team.
Rafah: The Israeli shooting at the demonstrators, which continued from 16:30 until 18:00, resulted in the killing of Abdullah Jom’ah Ahmed Abdul ‘Aal (24), who was hit with a live bullet to the back at approximately 18:15. Medical sources at Gaza European Hospital, Khan Younis, announced Abdullah’s death. Moreover, 30 civilians, including 8 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and a volunteer paramedic, were injured. Eleven of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, 4 were hit with rubber bullets, and 15 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded journalists were identified as Abdul Rahim Mohammed Deeb al-Kahtib (42), who is a freelance journalist, was hit with a tear gas canister to the left leg; and Ramzi Hatem Jameel al-Shakhrit (34), who works at “Rowad Al-Haqiqa” Network. The wounded paramedic was identified as Bara’a Mohammed ‘Obeid al-Sufi (21), who was hit with a tear gas canister to the right hand.
At approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 15 May 2019, thousands of Palestinian civilians swarmed to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege, east of the Gaza Strip, in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakbah. The Israeli shooting at demonstrators resulted in the injury of 134 civilians, including 52 children, 5 women, and a paramedic. The incidents were as follows:
Northern Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued until 17:00, resulted at the injury of 37 civilians, including 14 children and 3 women. Fifteen of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, 5 were hit with rubber bullets, and 7 were directly hit with tear gas canisters.
Gaza City: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators resulted in the injury of 29 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, one woman and a paramedic. Eight of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, 17 were hit with rubber bullets, and 4 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded paramedic was identified as ‘Adel Darwish Khalid al-Mashharawi (47), who works at Military Medical Services, was hit with a rubber bullet to the head.
Central Gaza Strip: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued until 18:00, resulted in the injury of 16 civilians, including 3 children. Seven of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and 9 were hit with rubber bullets and tear gas
Khan Younis: The Israeli shooting at demonstrators, which continued until 19:00, resulted in the injury of 18 civilians, including 6 children.
Rafah: The Israeli shooting at Palestinian demonstrators, which continued until 18:00, resulted in the injury of 34 civilians, including 17 children and a woman. One of them was hit with a live bullet, 7 were hit with rubber bullet, and 26 were directly hit with tear gas canisters.
West Bank:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday afternoon, 10 May 2019, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” The protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. The soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a child, was hit with a rubber bullet to the back.
(PCHR keeps the name of the injured child)
At approximately 16:30, on Saturday, 11 May 2018, a group of Palestinians organized a peaceful demonstration from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of “Kedumim” The protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. The soldiers immediately fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were hit with rubber bullets.
(PCHR keeps the names of the injured civilians)
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is designated for the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.
Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing
(30 April – 07 May 2019)
Category
30 April
01 May
02 May
03 May
04 May
05 May
06 May
07 May
Patients
113
74
40
1
–
–
–
–
Companions
92
64
30
2
–
–
–
–
Personal needs
22
20
8
7
–
–
–
8
Families of prisoners
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Arabs fromIsrael
14
4
17
42
–
–
–
36
Diplomats
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Meetings in Erez
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
International workers
62
35
33
16
–
–
–
29
TravelersAbroad
58
–
52
–
–
–
–
–
Business people+ BMC
323
286
306
1
–
–
–
4
Economic and agriculture interviews
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Security interviews
4
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
Death cases
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Companions’ Deaths
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Return to the West Bank
–
–
8
–
–
–
–
–
Christians’ Holidays
47
21
7
8
–
–
–
–
Conferences and Training courses
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Permits’ renewal
5
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
VIPs
1
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
AmbulancesPatient
2
2
1
1
–
–
–
1
Ambulancescompanion
2
3
3
1
–
–
–
1
Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing
(08-13 May 2019)
Category
08 May
09 May
10 May
11 May
12 May
13 May
Patients
–
–
–
–
142
92
Companions
–
–
–
–
118
75
Personal needs
–
–
2
–
24
15
Families of prisoners
–
–
–
–
–
–
Arabs fromIsrael
–
–
14
–
–
–
Diplomats
–
–
–
–
–
2
Meetings in Erez
–
–
–
–
2
–
International workers
–
–
11
–
8
18
TravelersAbroad
–
–
–
–
–
–
Business people+ BMC
–
–
–
–
580
389
Economic and agriculture interviews
–
–
–
–
–
–
Security interviews
–
–
–
–
1
7
Death cases
–
–
–
–
–
1
Companions’ Deaths
–
–
–
–
–
–
Return to the West Bank
–
–
–
–
–
–
Christians’ Holidays
–
–
–
–
–
–
Conferences and Training courses
–
–
–
–
–
–
Permits’ renewal
–
–
–
–
–
–
VIPs
–
–
1
–
–
1
AmbulancesPatient
–
1
2
–
1
5
Ambulancescompanion
–
–
2
–
2
3
Following table illustrates temporary and permanent checkpoints and arrests at these checkpoints in the West Bank between 09-15 May 2019:
Governorate
Permanent temporary
Temporary checkpoints
Closed Roads
Arrested persons
Jerusalem
13
11
–
1
Nablus
10
28
2
1
Jenin
5
5
–
1
Ramallah
11
10
4
–
Tulkarm
7
6
1
–
Tubas
2
3
1
–
Salfit
3
8
1
1
Qalqiliyia
5
5
4
1
Hebron
20
35
15
–
Bethlehem
11
9
2
–
Jericho
5
1
–
–
Al-Karama Crossing
–
–
–
–
Total
92
121
30
5
Arrests at Military Checkpoints:
At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 09 May 2019, Israeli forces arrested Khaled Dahes Ma’rouf Bani Fadel, from ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus, near “Areil” settlement square, north of Salfit.
At approximately 18:30 on Friday, 10 May 2019, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint established on al-Moraba’ah road, south of Nablus, arrested Mahmoud Khaled Sa’ied Yameen (26), from Tal village, southwest of the city.
At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 11 May 2019, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint established at the intersection of ‘Araba village, south of Jenin, arrested Fares ‘Abed al-Rahman ‘Awwad (28), from the abovementioned village.
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 12 May 2019, Israeli forces stationed at Qalandia military checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem, arrested Hamza ‘Abed al-Kareem Sa’ayidah (26) while passing through the checkpoint and heading to al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City.
At approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 12 May 2019, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint arrested Ahmed ‘Isaa Abu Libdah, from Qalqiliyia, while returning from Ramallah. It should be noted that Ahmed is an officer at the Palestinian National Security Service.
Efforts to Create A Jewish majority
Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:
Arrests and Incursions:
At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 09 May 2019, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aqbat al-Sarayia neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hatem Abu ‘Asab and then arrested his two sons Mohamed (19) and Mahdi (16), taking them to an unknown destination.
On Friday, 10 May 2019, the Israeli authorities handed the director of al-Aqsa Mosque, Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani (57), a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “al-Qashlah” investigation center in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. Local sources stated that the Israeli police summoned the director of al-Aqsa Mosque, calling him to prevent Palestinian worshipers from staying in the al-Aqsa Mosque for a certain number of days (I’tikaf). On Saturday night, 11 May 2019, a large force of Israeli soldiers raided the al-Aqsa Mosque yards and forcibly ordered the worshipers to get out of the mosque. The worshipers were repeatedly prevented from performing I’tikaf inside the mosque over this week.
On Friday, Israeli forces arrested ‘Ali Rafeeq Mohamed Shawahna (39), from Qalqiliyia, while he was near al-‘Amoud Gate area in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. ‘Ali’s wife, Amina al-Taweel, the spokesperson of the Palestinian Media Center for Studies, said that the Israeli forces arrested her husband while they were heading to perform al-Jum’a prayer at al-Aqsa Mosque. She added that after they passed through Qalandia checkpoint, north of the city, and approached al-‘Amoud Gate area, the Israeli forces arrested her husband and then taken him to “’Ofer” prison, southwest of Bitoniyia village, west of Ramallah. It should be noted that Shawahna served 15 years in the Israeli jails.
Following al-Taraweeh prayer, Israeli forces raided al-Aqsa Mosque’s yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, for 3 consecutive days, and forcibly got the worshipers out of the mosque. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces raided al-Aqsa Mosque from al-Magharebah Gate side, deployed in the mosque’s yards, surrounded and raided al-Qibli and al-Marwani Mosques from all sides, and then ordered the worshipers to get out of them. The eyewitnesses added that following al-‘Isha and al-Taraweeh prayers, clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian young men and the Israeli soldiers in al-‘Amoud Gate area in the center of Jerusalem. The Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs at the Palestinians and then pursued them. Seven Palestinians, including four children, were arrested by the Israeli forces. The arrested persons were identified as ‘Isam Abu Nab (16), Mohamed al-Ghazzawi (16), ‘Ali Anas al-Taweel (17), Mahmoud Khaled Tahhan (16), Mo’tasem Abu Nab (18), Khaled al-Showiki (37), and Mohamed al-Ghoul. Few hours later, the Israeli authorities released the children on one condition that they will expel from Jerusalem’s Old City, al-‘Amoud Gate area and al-Sultan Suliman Street, in addition to imposing a house arrest on them for 5 days, a fine estimated at NIS 500 and a third party bail. The Israeli police also decided to refer Mohamed al-Ghoul and Khaled al-Showiki to the Israeli Court.
At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 15 May 2019, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched dozens of houses and then arrested 10 civilians, including a girl. The arrested civilians were identified as Ghadeer al-‘Amori, an employee at the Prisoners and Ex-prisoner affairs committee; Yaser Darwish, Secretary of the Fatah Movement in the village; Mahmoud ‘Ali Naser; Fadi Mahmoud; Wael Mohamed Mahmoud; Mansour Mahmoud; Mahmoud Abu Riyalah; Malek Darwish; Hussain Abu Irmilah; and Loai Mansour. Moreover, the Israeli forces handed Fares Shafiq ‘Obaid (19) and Mofeed Mohamed ‘Obaid (21) two notices to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in al-Maskobiyia investigation center in West Jerusalem.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israeli forces’ attacks:
At approximately 21:40 on Tuesday, 14 May 2019, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles, 2 bulldozers and officers of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They stationed in the western area of the village and then surrounded a barrack used for sellings cars accessories. The workers immediately vacated the barrack contents and then the bulldozers demolished it completely, under the pretext of non-licensing and being in area classified as Area C. The abovementioned barrack belongs to ‘Abed al-Naser ‘Abed al-Haleem Dawoud, whose loss was estimated at NIS 40,000.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law. Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.
PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
PCHR calls upon the international community to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.
PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.
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Public Document
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UPROOTED PALESTINIANS: SALAM ALQUDS ALAYKUM 