Bethlehem
– Israeli soldier pointing his gun at demonstrators in ‘Ayda refugee camp.
(AFP)

 

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

      

 

A Palestinian woman from ‘Ayda refugee camp, north of
Bethlehem, died of tear gas inhalation at home.

 

Israeli forces continued to open fire in the border
area of the Gaza Strip.

8 civilians, including 2 children and 5 stone
collectors, were wounded.

7 paramedics suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

Israeli forces continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

A number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

5 civilians, including 2 international activists, were
arrested.

 

Israeli forces conducted 66 incursions into
Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

 19 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, were arrested in the West Bank.

 

Israel continued to impose a total closure on the oPt
and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli forces
established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.

At least 7 Palestinian
civilians were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

5 civilians,
including 4 children, were arrested at the border fence between the Gaza Strip
and Israel.

 

Israeli navy forces continued targeting Palestinian
fishermen in the sea.

Israeli navy forces opened fire at fishermen off
al-Sudaniya shore, in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

 

Israeli forces continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

984 dunums along the road from Bethlehem to Beit Ommar
village, north of Hebron, were confiscated.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(10
– 16 April 2014).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, a woman in Ayda refugee
camp, north of Bethlehem, died of tear gas inhalation used by Israeli
forces.  Another civilian was also
wounded in the West Bank.  Moreover, Israeli
forced wounded 8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, and 7 paramedics
suffered tear gas inhalation in the Gaza Strip    

                       

On 10 April
2014, 3 stone collectors were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northwest of Beit Hanoun town in the
northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at them. One of them sustained a serious wound.

 

On the same
day, a Palestinian boy was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the
border, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of
young men who were present a few meters away from the border fence.

 

On 11 April
2014, a Palestinian boy was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the
border, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of
young men who were present a few meters away from the border. Moreover, 7
paramedics suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

On the same day,
a Palestinian boy was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border,
east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of
civilians, east of al-Faraheen neighbourhood.  His wound was described serious.

 

On 13 and 15
April 2014, 2 stone collectors were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along
the border, northwest of Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened
fire at a group of stone collectors in the area near the said fence. 

 

On 11 April
2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border, northwest of Beit Hanoun town
in the northern Gaza Strip, fired live ammunition and flash bombs in open
areas, but no casualties were reported.

 

On 12 April
2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border, east of Khan Yunis in the
southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural areas, east of al-Qarara
village, but no casualties were reported.

 

In the
context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, Israeli navy forces
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats on 15 April 2014, but no casualties were
reported.

 

In the West
Bank, a 46-year-old woman from ‘Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, died of
tear gas inhalation on 14 April 2014.

 

On 12 April
2014, a Palestinian civilian from al-Nabi Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah,
was wounded by Israeli forces.

 

Furthermore,
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised
by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in
the West Bank. As a result, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 5 civilians, including 2 women, during
demonstrations.

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 66 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 19 Palestinians, including a
child.

 

Restrictions on movement:

 

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt,
imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

 

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has
steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to
undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip
population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7
consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate
the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other
countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people.  The Israeli authorities
have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for
imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s
economy.  They also aim at imposing a
complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 7 civilians in the West Bank.

Settlement activities

 

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the
oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

On 10 April 2014,
Israeli forces accompanied by a vehicle belonging to the construction and
organization department in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into the
agricultural lands surrounding al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  An officer from the construction and
organization department left a number of notices on the civilian lands to
confiscate the lands under the pretext that they are part of the State
lands.  The area of the lands intended to
be confiscated is around 984 dunums as it extends from Bethlehem to the
agricultural lands, north of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.  In the same context, settlers accompanied by
Israeli soldiers roamed the agricultural lands in the areas of Khelet al-Fahem,
al-‘Absiyah and al-Zaytouna and fixed warning signs saying “State Lands” in the
vicinity of the agricultural lands.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On 11 April 2014,
settlers from “Ma’oun” and “Havat Ma’oun” settlements established on the
Palestinian lands confiscated from the southern part of Yata, south of Hebron,
stormed the agricultural lands in al-Kharoubah and al’Arqoub areas, east of the
city, and denied farmers access into their lands. The settlers beat a number of
farmers causing 2 of them minor injuries: 
Jaber Ibrahim ‘Awad (26) and Salah Shehadah Salamah Makhamrah (20).

 

On the same day,
dozens of settlers under the heavy guard of Israeli forces stormed the
agricultural lands in Kherbet Jamrein area, southwest of Sorif village
northwest of Hebron, and performed religious rituals.  No attacks against the Palestinian civilians were
reported.

 

 

Israeli Violations
Documented during the Reporting Period (10 – 16 April 2014)

   

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 10 April 2014

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces backed by several
military vehicles moved into al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

  

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Aynoun village, east of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ni’lin
village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. No arrests were reported.  

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
Farsh al-Hawa area, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging
to the family of Nidal Fadel al-Qawasma (29) and arrested him.    

    

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Oula village, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:20, Israeli forces stationed on
watchtowers at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun
town in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of stone and gravel
collectors who were present in the destroyed industrial zone adjacent to the
border between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Fire was opened until around 11:00.
As a result, 3 workers from Beit Hanoun town were wounded:

 

1. Ali Taha Abed-Rabbu al-Kafarna (26), wounded by bullet
shrapnel to the back of the head;

2. Baker Omar Saber Abu ‘Amsha (24), wounded by bullet
shrapnel wounds to the right hand and foot; and

3. Salem Jalal Abdul Ra’ouf Abdul Hadi (19), wounded by
bullet shrapnel to the left underarm.

 

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR and statements of officers at the Palestinian
liaison office at Beit Hanoun crossing, the wounded workers were a few meters
away from the border. They were carried by other workers about 300 meters
southwards, where carts took them to Balsam military hospital, west of the town.
An  ambulance then transferred them to
Martyr Kamal Odwan hospital in Beit Lahia. They were examined and doctors found
that al-Kafarna’s wound was serious. Consequently, he was transferred to Shifa
hospital in Gaza City. Wounds of Abu ‘Amsha and Abdul Hadi were minor and they
were discharged later.

   

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tarqoumia village, west of Hebron. They arrested Tareq Mohammed Zabanya (30)
while he was building on his land, west of the village, under the pretext he
was building in a seized area.

 

At approximately 10:40, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. At
approximately 12:00, Israeli forces withdrew and neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 11:40, Israeli forces moved into
Bedya village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:10, Israeli forces moved into
Termis’ya village, north of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:40, Israeli forces moved into
Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and detained Haitham
Yusef Mohammed Abu Haniya and Marwan Mostafa Hawari. Israeli forces released
them at approximately 14:40.

 

At approximately 14:20, Israeli forces stationed along
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuhada cemetery to
the east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of young
men who were throwing stones a few meters away from the said border. As a
result, Dia’s Ahmed As’ad al-Natour (18), from Jabalia, sustained a bullet
wound (entered and exited) to the left thigh. He was evacuated by an ambulance
to Martyr Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, where his wound was described as
moderate.

 

At approximately 14:35, Israeli forces moved into
Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:15, Israeli forces moved into Jeet
village, northeast of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ematin village, northeast of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Friday, 11 April 2014

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.   

 

 

At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces stationed east of al-Shuhada cemetery, east
of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of young men who
were throwing stones a few meters away from the border. As a result, Amir
Mohammed Ahmed Salah (16), from Jabalia, sustained a bullet wound (entered and
exited) to the left thigh. He was taken by an ambulance to Martyr Kamal Odwan Hospital
in Beit Lahia to receive the necessary medical treatment. His wound was described
moderate.

 

Moreover,
Israeli forces fired a number of tear gas canisters around 3 ambulances that
were about 700 meters away. As a result, a number of paramedics suffered tear
gas inhalation. They were treated on the spot. The were identified as:

1. Dr. Dia’ al-Din Mohammed Abu Hussein (37);

2. Fares Awad Attiya Afana (33);

3. Abdullah Abdul Hafez Oukal (33);

4. Ahmed Sha’ban Mohammed Sabbah (27);

5. Fo’ad Zohair Jaber (26); and

6. Zakariya Monir Kamel al-Dreimli (26).

 

At
approximately 15:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest
of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets in a provocative manner, where a number
of youngsters gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a
number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, but neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.   

 

At
approximately 15:50, Israeli forces moved into Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast
of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later.
Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border, east of Khan
Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of civilians who were
present on their lands, east of al-Faraheen neighbourhood in the east of
Abassan village. As a result, Mohammed Jamal Abu Jame’ (16) sustained a bullet
wound (entered and exited) to the left thigh. He was taken to the European Gaza
Hospital in the city to receive the necessary medical treatment. Abu Jame’s
father said to a PCHR fieldworker that the bullet caused ruptures in the leg’s
main artery and severe haemorrhage, due to which he was admitted to the
intensive care unit.   

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Sheqba village, west of Ramallah. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.  

 

At
approximately 17:10, Israeli forces moved into the area between Koful Hares and
Hares villages, northwest of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time
and withdrew later. No further incidents were reported.  

 

At
approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Hassan, northwest
of Salfit. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:45, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers in the vicinity of
Beit Hanoun crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip,
fired live ammunition and  a number of
flash bombs in open areas. However, no casualties were reported.

 

Saturday, 12
April 2014

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir village, east of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Dyouk village, northwest of
Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces raided Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a house belonging to Sultan Yusef al-Namoura
(23). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Daheriya village, south of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at
agricultural areas in Abu Rida neighbourhood in the east of Khuza’a village. No
casualties were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:45, Israeli forces moved into Kofur Laqef village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets and handed Jamal Hosni ‘Assaf (50) a
summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service.

 

At
approximately 12:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Luqia village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets, where a number of boys gathered and threw
stones at Israeli soldiers who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a
result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, but no arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 13:30, Israeli forces closed the eastern entrance of al-Nabi
Saleh village, northeast of Ramallah, and prevented Palestinian civilians from
going into or outside of the village. They also announced it as a closed
military zone. A number of youngsters gathered and threw stones at Israeli
soldiers, who fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters in response. As a result, a 20-year-old male sustained a shrapnel
wound to the nose. Moreover, a number of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation. Israeli forces also detained Wejdan Reda Shehada Tamimi (48) and
her nephew Adam Amjad Tamimi (4) while going back to the village, but released
them 2 hours later. Wejdan sustained bruises to the right hand and shoulder as
she was beaten up by gun butts and kicked by Israeli soldiers, while Adam was
frightened.

 

At
approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 19:00, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to the family of
Mofeed Zaidan al-Sharabati (48). They attacked the aforementioned person and
his brother Zaidan (44) when they tried to prevent Israeli soldiers from
raiding the house. Israeli forces arrested Zaidan al-Sharabati and took him to
“Kiryat Arba” police station, east of Hebron.

 

At
approximately 19:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border, east of Khan
Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands in the east
of al-Qarara village. They also fired flare bombs for about 2 hours, but no
casualties were reported.

 

At approximately
22:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Ouja village, northeast of Jericho. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west
of Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

  Sunday, 13
April 2014

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses. Israeli
forces withdrew later, and neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Fasayel village, north of
Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.  

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Mahmoud Zuhair al-‘Allami (18). They arrested the aforementioned person. At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu al-Touq area and raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed Mohammed al-‘Allami (35).
They arrested the aforementioned person as well and took the 2 detainees to an
unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Doura, southwest of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Ahmed As’ad Nassar (23). They arrested Nassar. Israeli forces moved at
approximately 03:00 into Amrish area, south of the city, and raided a house
belonging to the family of ‘Eid Adel al-Sha’rawi (30). They handed him a
summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion”
settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Awwa village, west of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately
08:00, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers at Beit Hanoun crossing,
northwest of Beit Hanoun village, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a
group of stone and gravel collectors, who were present in the destroyed
industrial zone near the border. As a result, Rami Hassan al-Sous (21), from
Beit Lahia, sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and was taken to Beit
Hanoun governmental hospital. His wound was described as moderate.    

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:00, Israeli forces moved into Jeet village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Marwan Samih ‘Atatrah (21). They questioned, verbally insulted, handcuffed
and pulled him outside the house. Israeli forces released him later and
withdrew. No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:00, Israeli forces moved into Ematin village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 22:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Ouja village, northeast of
Jericho. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately  23:45, Israeli forces
moved into Zebda village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets and
handed Hosam Yusef Berri (48) a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence
service in Salem detention facility, northwest of the city. Israeli forces
withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Monday, 14 April 2014

 

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces
moved into Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces
moved into Koful Hares village, north of Salfit. They patrolled the streets and
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Aziz Ayman Aziz Jaber
(20). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to “Ariel”
investigation facility and then to Hawwara detention facility, south of Nablus.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into the centre of Hebron. they raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Khalil Razina (29). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces
moved into Kherbatha al-Musbah village, southwest of Ramallah. They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces
moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into Beit ‘Awwa village, southwest of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Naser
Khalil Abu Drei’. Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces
moved into Beitonya village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved
into al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Islam Salim Abu al-Haija (20). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown desintation.

 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces
moved into Rummana village, northwest of Jenin. They raided a house belonging
to the family of Zohair Rashed Ahmed (19). They arrested the aforementioned
person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces
moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces
moved into ‘Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They deployed between the houses,
where a number of school students gathered after school and threw stones and
empty bottles at Israeli soldiers who fired sound bombs, tear gas canisters and
rubber-coated metal bullets in response. Clashes continued until 16:00, when
Israeli backups accompanied by a waste water vehicle arrived. They sprayed the
refugee camp with waste water. In the meantime, Israeli forces chased boys in
the camp and fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, a number of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and Mona Mohammed Qatamesh (46) died as
she suffered tear gas inhalation too. Qatamesh was taken by an ambulance to
Beit Jala governmental hospital, but she died on her way to the hospital.
Medical sources stated that she was suffering from chronic asthma and dyspnea,
due to which she died when she suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

Her daughter Iman Qatamesh (29) said to a PCHR
fieldworker that:

 

“My
mother is sick for years. She had chronic asthma, dyspnea and neurological
problems for years. She used to be always in bed at home using an oxygen mask. Our
house is about 15 meters away from the entrance of the refugee camp…. On
Monday 14 April 2014, at approximately 12:00, I was sitting with my mother at
home. We heard gunfire and gas started to get into the house. I put the oxygen
mask for my mother and closed the windows. Israeli forces fired many gas
canisters at the civilian houses. My uncle Hassan Qatamesh (48) went outside
and told the soldiers who were in the house front yard about my mother, but they
did not care. In the meantime, I saw my mother unable to talk, her eyes became
red and her face became blue. Gas was everywhere. I could do nothing and could
not move her because she gained a lot of weight since she became sick. I
started to scream. My uncle came into the room and called an ambulance. He
tried to help her breathe, but in vain. The ambulance arrived 15 minutes later,
because the camp was closed. Paramedics tried to revive her, but failed. They
called the Civil Defence to help them get her out. Some neighbours helped in
that. Once we reached the hospital, doctors pronounced her dead because of gas
inhalation.”

 

At
approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They
closed the village entrances under the pretext that a settler vehicle was fired
at on the nearby bypass road. They stopped Palestinian vehicles at the
entrances and checked the passengers IDs.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces closed the entrance of Beit Ommar village, north of
Hebron, and raided the village. They detained a number of civilians and checked
their IDs. Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into the centre of Yatta, south of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.            

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron. They
deployed between the houses and raided some of them. Some of the raided house
belong to the families of: Sofyan Kayed al-Tmaizi; Hassan al-Tmaizi; Ahmed
Mahmoud al-Tmaizi and Salah al-Tmaizi. In the meantime Israeli forces at the
centre of the village checked IDs of civilians on the main road. At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Nemer Abu Juhaisha (35)
and his brother Ahmed (30) while returning to the village from their work in
Israel. Israeli forces have imposed a security closure on the village so far
after a settler vehicle was fired at near the village.  

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Shyoukh village, east of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Oula village, west of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:55, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers at Beit Hanoun crossing,
northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of
stone and gravel collectors, who were present near the border. As a result,
Wasim Tayseer Abu ‘Ouda (21), from Beit Hanoun, sustained a bullet wound to the
left leg. He was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia village to receive
the necessary medical treatment. His wound was described as moderate.

 

At approximately
20:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya area, west of Jabalia, in the
northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4
nautical miles. They also fired flash bombs, due to which, the fishermen were
frightened and sailed back fearing of being wounded or arrested. Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

 

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ommar village, north of
Hebron. they patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem (47), coordinator of the Popular Committee against
Settlement Activities. They arrested his son Mohammed (18). In the meanwhile,
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ahmed
Rashid Sabarna. They kept the whole family outdoors and arrested his son Ali
(18). In addition, they arrested Yusef Sa’id Sabarna (19) after searching his
family’s house.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Awwa village, southwest of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house
belonging to the family of Hamza Ibrahim Masalma (19). They arrested the
aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Kahel, northwest of Hebron.
they patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested Sadeq Saqer Abu Maria (16), from
Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron, when he went to the Israeli intelligence
service interview in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.  

 

2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

 

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. The Israeli
forces arrested 5 demonstrators, including two women.

 

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded in fear of being
arrested by the Israeli forces within its policy to oppress the peaceful
protests and prevent Palestinian civilians from participating).

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

Following the Friday prayer, 11 April 2014, international and Israeli
human rights defenders and Palestinian civilians from Bil’in village organised
a peaceful demonstration in protest at the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities. Demonstrators moved in the streets raising the
Palestinian flag and they arrived at the area where the annexation wall is
established. Israeli forces closed all the entrances ofthe village to prevent
the Palestinian and international activists and journalists from joining the
demonstration. Demonstrators marched adjacent to
the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before Israeli forces that are
stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers
deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel
bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and chased them into the olive
fields. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Also,
following the Friday Prayer,
dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall.
Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and, when the demonstrators
attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli
soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded
with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, tear gas
canisters, and skunk water at them and
chased them across olive fields as far as the outskirts of the village. As a
result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Around the same time
on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human
rights activists gathered at the Martyrs Square in al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Protesters made their way in
the streets raising the Palestinian flags and chanting slogans against the
occupation.The protesters walked
towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby
“Halmish” settlement are trying to seize.  Since the morning, Israeli forces had closed
all entrances of the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists,
and journalists from joining the demonstration. 
Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the
demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste
water. As a result, many of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises. In addition, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of
the village and prevented the Palestinians from leaving or entering through the
checkpoint. Israeli forces arrested two activists who were taken to “Benjamin”
Israeli police station, southeast of Ramallah. The detainees were:

 

1-  Mariam Barghothi, 23, holder of an American
passport. She was taken to Hasharon prison; and

2-  Abeer Qotbi, 34, who was detained for two
hours.

 

Following the Friday Prayer on 11April 2014, Palestinian
civilians and international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the
centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the
eastern entrance of the village. They protested against the ongoing closure of
the entrance with an iron gate, since the beginning of Al-Aqsa Intifada.
Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound
bombs, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated metal bullets towards Palestinian
civilians to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a result,
dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises
as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. Moreover, Israeli soldiers arrested
some civilians after ambushing the demonstrators: Ghalib Helmi Eshtiwi,22,
Ibrahim Adnan Jomaa 19.  They were taken
to an unknown destination

 

Other Demonstrations

 

At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 11 April 2014,
hundreds of Palestinian young men and human rights defenders gathered near the
mosque of Qaryot village, south east of Nablus. They organized the
demonstration to open the southern road of the village leading to
Nablus-Ramallah Street near “Shilo” and “Rahil”
settlements. The demonstrators roamed the streets of the village, then they
headed to the aforementioned street. A number of them performed the Friday
prayer near the street. After the prayer, clashes erupted between the
demonstrators and the Israeli soldiers who were there in the street before the
demonstration reached the place. Israeli forces then fired sound bombs and tear
gas canisters towards the protestors to disperse them. As a result, dozens of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten
up by Israeli soldiers. They received medical treatment on the spot. In
addition, one of the soldiers punched a Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Dheeb
Abdel Jawad (29), in the nose causing him bleeding.

 

On the same day, at approximately 13:00, dozens of
Palestinian young men headed to Al-Rajabi building to denounce the decision
that was issued by an Israeli court to let the settlers seize the
aforementioned building under the pretext of having title deeds of the building.  The Israeli forces gathered on the road
leading to the building and prevented the Palestinian civilians and
international activists from reaching the aforementioned building. A number of
the Israeli soldiers attacked the demonstrators and arrested four of the
international activists. They were taken to the “Kiryat Araba” police station,
east of the city. It should be mentioned that a group of settlers started
maintenance works inside the seized building under the protection of the
Israeli forces to move into that building.

 

Following
the Friday prayer, dozens of international human rights defenders and Palestinian
civilians from Salem village, east of Nablus, gathered in front of the mosque
of the village to organize a demonstration in protest at the seizure of
Palestinian lands. The demonstrators moved in the streets of the village and
headed to the lands to be seized by the Israeli forces, east of the village,
near the eastern entrance of the village on the bypass road leading to “Elon
Morah” settlement. Israeli forces started firing tear gas canisters and
sound bombs in attempt to disperse them. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered
tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.

 

At
approximately 16:00 on Monday, 14 April 2014,
Israeli and international human rights activists and dozens of Palestinian
civilians gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah,
to organize a peaceful protest to end the closure imposed by Israeli forces on
the village for three days, as they declared the village a “closed military
zone.”Protesters made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian
flags and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the inalienable
rights and resistance against the Israeli occupation. The
protesters headed to the main entrance of the village which was closed by an
iron gate. Israeli forces had closed all entrances of the village to prevent
Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the
demonstration.  Upon their arrival at the
area, Israeli forces prevented the demonstrators from entering the village and deployed
in the area. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets,
sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village
and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste water. As a result, many
Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they
were beaten up by the Israeli soldiers. In addition, Israeli forces detained Murad
Abdel-Hafiz Tamimi, 45, at “Halmish” settlement for three hours.

 

 

3. 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.

 

The
total closure of al-Mentar (“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has
seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip. Following this closure, all
economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut
off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the
Gaza Strip, in terms of its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports.
The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of
decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the
Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza
City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza
Strip, in the beginning of 2010.

 

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.

 

The
cooking gas crisis has fluctuated for 9 months due to the closure of Karm Abu
Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities
only allow an average of 98 tonnes of cooking gas into Gaza per day.  This limited quantity is less than half of
the daily needs, which is 200 tonnes per day of the civilian population in the
Gaza Strip during winter.  The crisis has
unprecedentedly aggravated for around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption
in addition to the power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances
of electricity.  The lack of diesel and
benzine led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas
cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzine to run generators.  As a result, the demand for gas further increased.

 

For almost 6 consecutive years,
Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials
to the Gaza Strip. Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of
limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations
in the Gaza Strip.  On 17 September 2013,
they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the
private sector.  However, on 13 October
2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing
tunnels.  Last week, Israeli forces
allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP
projects.  As a result, construction
works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and
an increase in unemployment levels.

 

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.

 

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 denied permission to access
hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

The Egyptian authorities allow the
population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which
connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. 
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients,
students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years,
females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign
nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian
delegations.  Supposedly the crossing
opens seven days a week.  Nowadays, the
crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side,
particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travelers’ movement in both
directions.

 

 

 

Note: 
On 06 April 2014, Israeli authorities started to work on a computerized
system at Karm Abu Salem Crossing, and there has been no data about the
movement on the crossing since then.

 

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

09
– 15 April 2014

 

 

Israel has imposed a tightened
closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed
additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:

 

Hebron: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 07:30 on Thursday, 10
April 2014, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Thaheriyah village, south
of Hebron.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 10:00, they closed several dirt entrances leading to
the agricultural lands in ‘Erq Safi; Khelet Kamouneh and Brikot, east of Beit
Ummar, north of Hebron.  They placed
boards of concrete on the side of the road which is linked with Bypass Road
(60) preventing civilians from reaching their lands.

 

At
approximately 08:30 on Friday, 11 April 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the northern entrance of Hebron.  The
checkpoint was removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 11 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Yata, south of the city.  At approximately 09:30, they established
another checkpoint at the entrance of Ezna village, west of the city.  The two checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Yata, south of the city.  At approximately 07:30, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.  At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of al-al-Tabaqah village, southwest of Dura, southwest
of the city.  All checkpoints were
removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:00 on Monday, 14 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, east of Hebron.  At approximately 16:30, they established two
similar checkpoints; the first one was at the northern entrance of Halhoul,
north of the city and the second one was at Beit ‘Aynoun village, east of the
city.  At approximately 17:30, Israeli
forces established several checkpoints at the entrances of the following
villages: al-Kom, Beit ‘Awwa and Deir Samit. 
At approximately 18:00, another checkpoint was established at the
entrance of Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.  All checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 15 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Shyoukh village, east of Hebron.  Around the same time, another checkpoint was
established at the eastern entrance of Hebron “al-Nabi Younis entrance”.  The two checkpoints were removed later, and
no arrests were reported.

 

On Wednesday, 16
April 2014, Israeli forces increased checkpoints at the entrances of the city’s
villages in order to facilitate the settlers’ passage to the city to celebrate
the Jewish Holiday of Passover.  At
approximately 13:00, they closed Bab al-Zawiyah area and Beersheba Street in
central Hebron with metal barricades to facilitate the settlers’ passage via
al-Shuadaa’ Street through Bab al-Zawiyah area in order to visit a Jewish grave
in Beersheba Street according to the claims of settlers.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern
entrance of Halhoul, north of the city. 
At approximately 16:00, a similar checkpoint was established at the
entrance of Ezna village, west of Hebron. 
At approximately 19:00, they established another checkpoint at the
village entrances of: Beit Kahel, al-Shyoukh, Beit ‘Aynoun, al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, Beit Ummar and Sa’ir.  All
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Ramallah: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 18:00 on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Tibah village, northeast of
Ramallah.  The checkpoint was removed
later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:30 on Friday, 11 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 15:30,
another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa
village, southwest of the city.  The two
checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 12 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sanjel village, north of the city.  At approximately 10:00, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Kafr ‘Ein village, northwest of the
city.  At approximately 13:30, Israeli
forces closed the eastern entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northeast of
Ramallah, with the iron gate established at the aforementioned entrance.  They prevented civilians from leaving or
entering through the checkpoint and declared the village as a closed military
zone imposing a tightened cordon on it.

 

At
approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  Around the same time, another
checkpoint was established under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah village,
southwest of Ramallah.  At approximately
18:00, a similar checkpoint was established near the eastern entrance of
al-Tibah village, northeast of Ramallah. 
At approximately 20:00, they established another checkpoint near the
intersection of “‘Ofrah” settlement, northeast of the city.  All checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Monday, 14 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 11:30,
another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Shaqba village, west of
the city.  The two checkpoints were
removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Jericho: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 11 April
2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on al-Mo’arjat Road between
Jericho and Ramallah.  At approximately
18:00, another checkpoint was established at the southern entrance of the city.  The two checkpoints were removed later, and
no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 12 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  The checkpoint was removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Tulkarm: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately
14:00 on Saturday, 12 April 2014, Israeli forces established on the main road
between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Bazariah village, east of
Tulkarm.  The checkpoint was removed
later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Jenin: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:00 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the road between al-Zabadah village and the American Arab
University Campus, southeast of Jenin. 
The checkpoint was removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 17:55 on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint between the villages of ‘Azoun and Kafr Tholoth, east of Qalqilya.  The
checkpoint was removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 11:45 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.  At approximately 20:30, another checkpoint
was established at the northern entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  The two checkpoints were
removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 12:25 on Monday, 14 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 14:45, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of ‘Ezbet al-Tabib village, east of the city.  The two checkpoints were removed later, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 12:50 on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sartah village, northwest of Salfit.  At approximately 15:05, another checkpoint was
established between the villages of Broqin and Qarawet Bani Zaid, west of the
city.  The two checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 12 April 2014,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Broqin
village, west of Salfit.  At
approximately 18:10, another checkpoint was established at al-Zawiyah village,
west of the city.  At approximately
18:30, another checkpoint was established between the villages of Kafl Haris
and Haris village, northwest of the city. 
All checkpoints were removed later, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests near the Borderline between
Israel and the Gaza Strip

 

At approximately 19:40 on Saturday, 12 April 2014, Israeli forces
arrested 3 Palestinian children who tried to infiltrate through the borderline
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Salqa Valley village, east of
Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. 
Israeli forces stationed along the borderline fired flash bombs and then
arrested and took them to an unknown destination.  The detainees were identified as: Mohammed
‘Atef ‘Ayesh al-Zer (16); Ahmed Yousif Salamah Abu Mgheiseb (14) both from
Selqa Valley village; and Mohammed Salim Hussein al-Zrei’ei (17) from Deir
al-Balah.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces stationed
on the borderline between the Gaza strip and Israel, north of Um al-Naser
village (the Bedouin village) in the northern Gaza Strip, arrested Basam Faisal
Jom’aah Abu Hashish (20) from Um al-Naser village while he was attempting to
cross the borderline in order to infiltrate to Israel to work there.  His father said that two civilians saw his
son heading to the aforementioned borderline and told him so.  They heard the sound of shooting and he was
then arrested by Israeli forces.  He
added that he knows nothing about his son till this moment and is not sure if
he is injured or not.

 

At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 14 April 2014, Israeli forces arrested
Nedal Rae’d Mustafa al-Loh (16) from al-Msadar village in central Gaza Strip,
while he was attempting to cross the borderline between the Gaza strip and
Israel, east of Deir al-Balah in order to work in Israel.  The Israeli soldiers opened fire and fired
smoke bombs at them.  They arrested him
and took him to one of the military sites along the borderline.  They questioned him and released him an hour
later via Beit Hanoun Crossing.  They
tied his hands behind his back and blindfolded him with his blouse.  They put a cell phone at his ear and the
speaker interrogated him.  The speaker
asked him about his name, the reason behind his infiltration and his
residency.  He also asked him if he knows
anything about the tunnels or knows someone from Hamas.  They then forced him to get into the jeep and
took him in a tour for 30 minutes as they left him at a military site and
untied him.  They again asked him the
same questions for 15 minutes and then handcuffed him leaving him in front of
the interrogation room for an hour under the sun.  They then forced him to get into the jeep and
took him to Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, where they untied him and released
him.  When he arrived at the Palestinian
side, the internal security service questioned him about the reason behind his
infiltration and what happened with. 
They then took his family phone number and released him.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at Military
Checkpoints in the West Bank

At approximately
16:00 on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron.  The Israeli soldiers arrested 3 civilians
after detaining their vehicle and took them to an unknown destination.  The detainees were identified as: Mahmoud
As’ad Abu As’ad (25); Yousif ‘Abdel Halim Abu As’ad (23) and his brother
Mohammed (24).

 

At approximately
16:00 on Saturday, 11 April 2014, Israeli forces arrested ‘Abdel Qader Abu
Farah (23) and Yosuif Samir al-hor (21) while being on the agricultural lands
near the annexation wall, west of Sorif village, northwest of Hebron.

 

At approximately 18:30 on Sunday, 13 April 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of
Bazaria village, east of Tulkarm.  They
arrested ‘Omran Riyad Hasan Haron (19) while passing the checkpoint. 

 

At approximately
15:00 on Monday, 14 April 2014, Israeli forces arrested ‘Oday Fahmi al-‘Alami
(29) and confiscated his tractor after detaining him at the entrance of the
village near Bypass Road (60) while he was on his way back from his land and
took him to “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

4. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against
Palestinian civilians and property

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

At approximately
08:00 on Thursday, 10 April 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by a vehicle
belonging to the construction and organization department in the Israeli Civil
Administration moved the agricultural lands surrounding al-Khader village,
south of Bethlehem.  An officer from the construction
and organization department left a number of notices in the civilian lands to
confiscate the land under the pretext that they are part of the State
lands.  The area of the lands intended to
be confiscated is around 984 dunums as it extends from Bethlehem to the
agricultural lands, north of Beit Ummar north of Hebron.  In the same context, settlers accompanied by
Israeli soldiers roamed the agricultural lands in the areas of Khelet al-Fahem,
al-‘Absiyah and al-Zaytouna and fixed warning signs saying “State Lands” in the
vicinity of the agricultural lands.

 

Ahmed Salah,
spokesman of the Popular Committee against Settlements and Wall in al-Khader
village, said to a PCHR fieldworker that on Thursday, 10 April 2014, notices in
Hebrew and Arabic were found in addition to a map showing the lands that were
included in a decision signed by Yossi Segal, the officer in charge of Government
and Absentee Property in the Civil Administration.  This decision provides that these lands are area
(2), which includes Khelet Beit Sweir Site, Kherbet Beit Sweir and Brikot in
Beit Ummar lands; area (4), which includes part of Tor al-Batniyah Site and
al-No’man Valley Site; area (7), which includes Khelet Um al-Fahem Site,
Kherbet Beit Skaryah and al-Nabi Skaryah in the vicinity of Nahalin village and
its surroundings; and area (8), which includes part of al-Shifa Site, Teirah,
Zakandah, ‘Ein al-‘Asafir and ‘Ein al-Bayyar.

 

According to the
notices, which were distributed on the lands, since the date of distribution,
each owner of these lands has the right to object before the Miliatry
Objections Committee of the Ofer Military Court within 45 days.  Moreover, whoever needs to know further
details can head to the office of the officer in charge of the government
property in the military liaison in Bethlehem from 08:00 to 14:00.  The Israeli decision noted that the total of
dunums which were declared as military zone to be confiscated are 984.35 dunums
and the rest details are available at the office of the officer in charge of
the State Lands in the Coordination and Liaison Office at the “Gush Etzion”
settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 11 April 2014,
settlers from “Ma’oun” and “Havat Ma’oun” settlements established on the
Palestinian lands confiscated from the southern part of Yata, south of Hebron,
stormed the agricultural lands in al-Kharoubah and al’Arqoub areas, east of the
city, and denied farmers access into their lands. The settlers beat a number of
farmers causing 2 of them minor wounds: 
Jaber Ibrahim ‘Awad (26) and Salah Shehadah Salamah Makhamrah (20).

 

At approximately 15:00, dozens of settlers under the heavy guard of
Israeli forces stormed the agricultural lands in Kherbet Jamrein area,
southwest of Sorif village, northwest of Hebron, and performed religious
rituals.  No attacks against the
residents were reported.

 

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position
that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still
under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the
Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces  continued to impose collective punishment
measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian
parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the
Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international
recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights
instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations
concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply
the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and
other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for
civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land
confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the continued
aggression against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the
international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties
to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their
natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate
and act according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the
United Nations 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;

2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide
international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the
non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;

3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;

4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to
comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the
human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned
committees;

5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to
prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the
perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected
Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;

6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of
universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;

7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in
order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through
imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;

8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer
the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome
Statute;

9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that
holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on
the expense of human rights;

10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human
Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza
and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel
it to remove them;

11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light
of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at
least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian
infrastructure;

12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European
Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the
annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;

13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article
2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU
states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes
against Palestinian civilians;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

Public Document

For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by
email [email protected] or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.