Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

(19– 25 May 2016)

• Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
• A Palestinian girl child was killed at a military checkpoint, northwest of occupied Jerusalem.
• 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

• Israeli forces conducted 56incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 others in occupied Jerusalem.
• 54civilians, including 16 children, were arrested.
• 13 of them, including 8 children,were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

• Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
• Israeli forces arrested 10 fishermenafter wounding 3 of them, including a child, and confiscated 5 fishing boats.

• Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• An Islamic oratory was demolished in al-Mesrarah area, east of the city.
• The Israeli court issued a ruling to confiscate a property in al-ShaikhJarrah neighbourhood.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9^th
• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 5Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

 Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in theoPt continued during the reporting period (19 – 25 May 2016).

 

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forceskilleda Palestinian girl child, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, and wounded 8 others, including 2 children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Three of them were wounded in the West Bank and the 5 others were in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 23 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at BeitEksa checkpoint, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, killed Sawsan Ali Dawood Mansour (17), from the nearby Beddou village. Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned child approached the checkpoint and attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. Israeli forces opened fire at her in response, due to which she sustained serious wounds. Israeli forces arrested her, but she died later. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces denied medical crews access to the scene and left her bleeding for about an hour.

In the context of Israeli forces using force against peaceful protests, a Palestinian civilianwas hit during KuforQaddoum weekly protests, northeast ofQalqilya, with a tear gas canister to the neck, while a 17-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right knee while participating in a peaceful protests at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

On 23 May 2016, a Palestinian civilian was hit with a bullet to the thigh when Israeli ofrces moved into Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of Jerusalem’s Old City. In the meantime, a number of youngsters gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers that fired sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets in response.

In the Gaza Strip, concerning the use of force against peaceful protests, 2 Palestinian civilians sustained bullet wounds while participating in a protest near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp.

In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 22 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed in the seas to the northwest of al-Waha beach, northwest of BeitLahia, north of the Gaza Strip, escalated their attacks against Palestinian fishermen. As a result, 10 fishermen, including a child, were arrested and 5 fishing boats were confiscated. After the 10 fishermen were released at night, it was found out that 3 of them, including the child, were wounded.

 

 

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 54 Palestinian civilians, including 16 children.  Thirteenofthem, including 8 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

 

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 been 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 9 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 1.8 million people.  The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (KeremShaloum) 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. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

 

Jewish Majority:

Concerning house demolitions, on 23 May 2016, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished an Islamic rotary in al-Mesrarah area in occupied East Jerusalem.

In a similar context, the Israeli Magistrates Court in East Jerusalem issued a decision to vacate a property in al-ShaikhJarrah neighbourhood belonging to al-Kiswani family under the pretext that it belongs to the Public Property Guardian.

 

Details

 

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

 Thursday, 19 May 2016

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ateel village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalid Abdul Latif Abu Khaznah (22) and arrested him.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Shabtin village, northwest of Ramallah; Beit ‘Ur al-Tahtah village, southwest of the city; Dura, Yatta, BeitKahel, and Sufeerf villages, and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron; Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm; and Hares village, north of Salfit.

 

Friday, 20 May 2016

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported:Senjil village, north of Ramallah; Samou’a, al-Dahiriya, al-Majd, andDeir al-‘Asal al-Tahta villages in Hebron.

 

Saturday, 21 May 2016

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces accompanied with 3 military trucks, two military vehicles and two civil vehicles moved into Jeet village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and stationed near the old mosque in the center of the village. They raided and searched a house belonging to SameehYousef Ibrahim Yamin, which is located near the house belonging to Khadir Ahmed Sondek, after blowing up the door.It should be mentioned that Yamin was heading to the main door to open it, but Israeli soldiers hit him with gun butts to the chest, so he sustained bruises. Yamin was then handcuffed and taken to the roof. After that, Israeli forces shouted via loudspeakers at Sameeh’s neighbor, Ahmed KhadirSondek (20), to surrender to them. Ahmed’s father opened the doors to avoid the Israeli soldiers’ attacks or bombings. They then immediately raided the house and intentionally destroyed its content. Furthermore, they confiscated all the PC sets and 4 cell phones belonging to the family and then withdrew.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched many houses and arrested AnasKhadirSondek (24) from the university students’ accommodation in al-Ma’ajeen neighborhood, northwest of the city. It should be mentioned that Anas is Ahmed Sondek’s brother mentioned above.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ier village, east of Hebron, and stationed in al-‘Aroud area. They raided a house belonging to Bashar Ziyad al-Froukh(30) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. It should be mentioned that the abovementioned person has been arrested by Israeli forces since 4 years.

Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Halhoul, Beit Ola and Beit ‘Awaa villages in Hebron.

 

Sunday, 22 May 2016

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into many neighbourhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Ahmed Shareef Hassan (34) and RafiqTawfiq Abu ‘Afifah (39).

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Kherbit Abu Falah village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Rami FawazHamayel (28), and Mohamed Hamed Abu Morra (24).

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Mazra’a al-Qabaliya village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ihssan Jamal Abu Rabee’ (24) and arrested him.

• At approximately 05:40, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of BeitLahia, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. Two Israeli gunboats approached two Palestinian fishing boats sailing within one nautical mile. One of the fishing boats belonging to Ishaq Mohamed MohamedZayid (54) was manned by his sonsRasem (29) and Mohamed (19). While the second boat belongingto YunisDiabMousaZayid (53) was manned by his sonsSaqer (20) and Ayman (18). Israeli forces ordered all of them to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboats. They then arrested all of the abovementioned fishermen and then took them to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats approached two Palestinian fishing boats sailing 300 meters off the shore, and heavily opened fire at them. One of the fishing boats belonging to As’ad Mohamed al-Sultan (52) was manned by Khalid Mahmoud Ahmed al-Sultan (21), while the second boat belonging to Mahmoud Ahmed Abdullah al-Sultan (47) was manned by his sons Mohamed (23) and Ayman (15).Israeli forces ordered all of them to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboats.They then arrested all of the abovementioned fishermen and then took them to an unknown destination.

• At approximately 08:10, two Israeli gunboats approached a Palestinian fishing boat sailing within one nautical mile and heavily opened fire at it. The fishing boat belonging to KamelDeib Mahmoud al-Anqah (64) was manned by Ahmed Mohamed MohamedZayid (32) and his brother Ibrahim (21).Israeli forces ordered all of them to take off their clothes, jump into the water and swim towards the gunboats.They then arrested all of the abovementioned fishermen and then took them to an unknown destination. At approximately 20:45 on the same day, Israeli forces released the abovementioned fishermen via BeitHanoun “Erez” crossing after interrogating them. When the fishermen arrived at the Gaza Strip, they found that three of them were wounded with live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets by the Israeli navy forces. The wounded persons were identified as:

 

1. RasemIshaq Mohamed Zayid (29). He was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left leg;
2. As’ad Mohamed Mohamed al-Sultan (52). He was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left knee; and
3. Ayman Mahmoud Ahmed al-Sultan (15). He was hit with two rubber-coated metal bullets to the legs.

 

• At approximately 10:20, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of BeitLahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within one nautical mile and chased them, so the fishermen were forced to flee to the shore. No arrests were reported.

 Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Shayoukh, Ethna, Sa’ier and al-Hadb villages and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron.

 

Monday, 23 May 2016

 

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘EzbitShofah village, southeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested MoradFathiRasheedMousa (43), EmadFathiShehada (43), and ‘Odi Mohamed KamelSaleh (24).

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aroura village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Salama al-‘Arori (22). At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces arrested the abovementioned person and then withdrew.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mash’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdul RaheemJum’aZahran (22). At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces arrested the above-mentioned person and then withdrew.

 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bahaa Fayiz Hamdan Salatnah (25) and arrested him. After that, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Qusai Hasan Mohamed ‘Odah (26)and arrested him too.

 

• In the evening, Israeli forces arrested Mohamed Ribhi Abdul Ghani Suliman (20), from Bal’a village, east of Tulkarm, while he was present in the Israeli military Liaison (D.C.O), southwest of Tulkarm. Mohammed was arrested upon a summons previously handed to him.

 Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (8) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Taqou’, Janatah and Za’tara villages, east of Bethlehem; MarahRabah and BeitFajar villages, south of the city; Sa’ir and BaniNa’iem villages, east of Hebron; and Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.

 

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

 

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aiydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mostafa Khalil Kan’an (49) and arrested him and his son Khalil (18).

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested five children. The arrested children were identified as Jihad MosbahBataniji (18); Mohamed Wajdi Safi (16); OsaidMuradNakhlah (16); Mujahid Salah ‘Elian (16); Jihad Nidal ‘Elian (16) and Ahmed Hisham ‘Elian (17).

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported:KafurKaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya.

 

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

 

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces accompanied with large number of military vehicles, moved into Kafur al-Deek village, west of Salfit. Israeli military vehicles patrolled the area, while hundreds of infantry Israeli soldiers surrounded the villages in order to raid many houses. They then carried out a raiding campaign against dozens of houses and destroyed their contents. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested 9 civilians, including a child. The arrested persons were identified as:

 

1. ‘Amid Ahmed Abdul Kareem al-Deek (23),
2. Ahmed Rashid Nimer Ali Ahmed (35),
3. Hasan Abdul Kareem Hasan Ali Ahmed (40),
4. ‘EzatSaleh Ali (23),
5. Nabil Mohamed Ahmed al-Deek (23),
6. DiaaSalehYousef ‘Aqil (31),
7. YousefMuslehNaif al-Deek (23),
8. Yousef Abdul Wahab Omar al-Deek (50), and
9. Mohammed Ibrahim Abdul RahamYunis (17).

 

In addition, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to MahfouzKamel Mahfouz Ali Ahmed (35) and did not find him in the house.

 

 

MunyaIsaa Salman al-Deek (52), the mother of Nabil Mohamed al-Deek, said to PCHR’s fieldworker,

“At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 25 May 2016, my daughter and I heard Israeli forces’ sounds near the village entrance, where our house is located on the main street. After that, Israeli forces raided our house and they wanted to destroy the door, so I opened the door for them and told them that there is no need for any destroying the house content. They then raided my son’s (Nabil)room while he was asleep, and woke him up. They asked him about his name while he was almost awake. They handcuffed him and then went upstairs, where my two married sons live, and interrogated them. After that, they arrested my 3 sons and took them to an unknown destination.”

 

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron, and stationed in Ruq’a area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed YousefBarbarawy (24) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ratib ‘Ayish al-Badan, and arrested his son Mohanad (21).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into BeitFajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Abdul Qader Sultan Abdul QaderTaqatqah (14) and Isam Mohamed Hasan Abed al-JameelTaqatqah (14) and arrested them.

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested Bayan Khalid al-Badawi (27) and Ali Jaber al-Titi (22). Moreover, they handed Bilal IsaaJawabrah (20) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

• At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested HamzaMamounJi’arah (22), from al-Shamali Mount, who is a student in al-Najah University, and confiscated his laptop and cell phone. They arrested also Abdul RahmanSabtiDowikat (21), from al-Dahiya neighborhood, southeast of the city, who is a student in al-Najah University as well.

 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron, and stationed in the vicinity of UNRWA schools. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Yousef al-Tobasi (22) and arrested him.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Halhoul, Krisah and al-Burj villages in Hebron.

 

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

 West Bank: 

• Following the Friday prayer, on 20 May 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys, 300 meters away from the fence of “BeitEil” settlement, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the oPt. The demonstrators threw stones at the settlement fence. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and then chased them into the camp. As a result, a 17-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Medical sources classified his injuries as moderate.

 

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized protests against the Israeli policies in the oPt at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, and in the vicinity of “Ofer” prison,southwest of the city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protestors by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

 

Gaza Strip:

 

• At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 20 May 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border area between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the center of the Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed along the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at the protesters. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with live bullets and were then taken by PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive medical treatment. Medical sources classified their injuries as moderate. The wounded persons were identified as :

 

1. Ahmed Mohamed al-‘Aisawy (25). He was hit with a live bullet to the left arm and shrapnel to the face; and
2. Mohamed KhadirJaser (23). He was hit with a live bullet to the left thigh.

 

Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities

 

• At approximately 13:00, on Friday, 20 May 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of KuforQaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance to the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a 46-year-old male was hit with a tear gas canister to the neck.

 

• Around the same time,Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Dersityia village, north of Salfit, and then made their way to the bypass road (Abu Naser valley), west of the city, in protest against closing it with metal checkpoints. The demonstrators expressed their protest viaknocking on the checkpoints. Israeli forces immediately fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah and al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

 Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations. Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethal if they hit the head of victim from a close range. 

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.

 

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 BeitHanoun (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 BeitHanoun 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.

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, is designated for the movement of goods

 

Note: PCHR was not able to obtain the data relevant to the movement of goods and exports for this week, but will publish it in the next weekly report.

 

BeitHanoun (“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 BeitHanoun (“Erez”) crossing

18 May 2015 – 24 May 2016

 

Category	18 May	19 May	20 May	21 May	22 May	23 May	24 May
Patients	74	67	4	–	94	62	47
Companions	67	59	3	–	82	66	68
Personal needs	49	83	36	–	53	32	31
Families of prisoners	–	–	–	–	–	42	–
Arabs from Israel	1	4	4	–	10	3	3
Diplomats	8	10	–	–	–	–	–
International journalists	–	–	–	–	–	–
International workers	54	54	8	–	12	21	34
Travelers abroad	–	1	2	–	1	49	6
Business people	362	355	6	2	479	351	332
Business meetings	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Security interviews	8	5	–	–	3	5	3
VIPs	1	–	1	–	–	2	1
Ambulances to Israel	1	3	–	–	5	2	1
Patients’ Companions	2	3	–	–	5	2	1

 Notes: 

• On Friday, 20 May 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 246 civilians from the Gaza Strip to perform prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
• On Tuesday,22 May 2016, Israeli authorities allowed7 persons to renew his permit while 1 other was allowed to attend a meeting for the Civil Affairs Department at BeitHanoun “Erez” crossing.

 

 

West Bank

 

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 established (17) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints at the entrances toYatta, Tafouh, Beit Awa and Sa’ir villages.

 

On Friday, 20 May 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints at the entrances to al-Aroub refugee camp, Raboud, al-Kume and BaniNaim villages.On Saturday, 21 May 2016, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the southern entrances to Hebron and al-Jaljel village.

 

On Sunday, 22 May 2016, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the northern entrances to Halhoul and Sa’ir villages. On Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoint at the northern entrances to Yatta, Sa’ir and a-Samou’ villages. On Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the southern entrances to Yatta, Sa’ir and al-Samou’ villages. On Wednesday, 25 May 2016, Israeli forces established two checkpoints at the northern entrances to Yatta and al-Burj villages.

 

• Ramallah and al-Bireh: Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city.

 

On Thursday, 19May 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the entrances to Deir Abu Mesha’al village, northwest of Ramallah, Sanjal village, north of the city, and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city. At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 20 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to al-NabiSaleh village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 18:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Kharbatha al-Mesbah village, southwest of the city.

 

• Jericho: at approximately 09:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the entrance to Fasayel village, north of Jericho. At approximately 20:00, they established a checkpoint near al-Zubaidat village, north of the city.

 

• Tulkarm: At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed atEnab military checkpoint established in the main road linking between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, tightened its arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, and at approximately 20:30 on Monday, 23 May 2016, the same measures were applied.

 

• Jenin: At approximately 11:00, on Thursday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the crossroads of Enzah village, southwest of Jenin. At approximately 11:30 on Friday, 20 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint to the crossroads of al-Zawiyah village, south of Jenin.

 

• Qalqilia: Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city. At approximately 00:00 on Saturday, 21 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Hablah village, at the southern entrance to Qalqiliyah. At approximately 16:20, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to KaferThulth village, east of the city. At approximately 09:45 on Sunday, 22 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to the city. At approximately 19:45 on Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilia. At approximately 20:25, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to KaferLaqef village, east of the city.

 

• Salfit:Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city. At approximately10:30 on Saturday, 21 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to QarawetBani Hassan village, west of Salfit. On Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints as follows: al-Zawiyah and Rafat villages west of Salfit; the entrance to DeirBalout village, west of the city, and under the bridge of Eskaka village, east of the city.

 Arrests at military checkpoints 

• At approximately 06:00, on Thursday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at “Metar”checkpoint, south of al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron, arrested WeamManasrah (50) from BaniNaim village, east of the city. Weam was going to visit her son Salam Abdullah al-Sallal who is detained in Ramoun prison serving his sentence of 17 years of in prison.

 

• At approximately 17:00 on Friday, 20 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near YabrudBridge at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They searched vehicles and then arrested Rashad Yusuf Ayad (22).

 

• At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 22 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road linking between Jenin and Nablus. They obstructed the traffic between the two cities and checked the passengers’ IDs. Moreover, they arrested Mohammed Ahmed Abu Tame’ (35), from Jenin.

 

• On Sunday evening, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karama (Allenby) crossing between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Mahdi JameelTaherArouq (24) when he was on his way back from Jordan. Mahdi’s brother said that while his brother was crossing the Jordanian lands and finishing paperwork, the Israeli forces arrested him.

 

• At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the eastern entrance to BeitOmmar village, north of Hebron, arrested Zaid Ahmed Za’aqiq (21) from the village after they forced him to stop and get off his vehicle. Moreover, they transported Zaid to a detention center in”Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem and confiscated his car.

 

4. Efforts to Create 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:  Shooting incidents: 

• In a new crime of excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces stationed at RasBadou checkpoint leading to BeitEksa village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, killed a 17-year-old Palestinian. They claimed that she tried to stab an Israeli soldier with a knife.

 

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 14:15, Israeli forces stationed at the military checkpoint established at the entrance to BeitEksa (RasBadou) village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, opened fire at Sawsan Ali Dawoud Mansour (17) from the nearby Badou village. As a result, Sawsan was hit with three live bullets. After that, the Israeli forces closed the checkpoint and prevented civilians from approaching Sawsan or even helping her. They also prevented the ambulance crews that arrived from offering her first aid. Nevertheless, they left her bleeding for about an hour before they transported her by an Israeli ambulance to an unknown destination, after which she was pronounced dead. Luba al-Somari, spokeswoman for the Israeli police, said that a Palestinian female moved towards the Israeli border guards stationed at RasBadou checkpoint, and she ignored their warnings and orders. Though they fired live bullets in the air, Sawsan continued walking in order to stab one of the Israeli soldiers with a knife. As a result, they fired lived bullets at her.

 

Residents of BeitEksa village near the checkpoint said that the Israeli soldiers attacked the medical crews who tried to reach Sawsan and forced them to leave the area leaving Sawsan on the ground for more than an hour. After that, the Israeli forces closed the village completely, surrounded the whole area and closed the checkpoint for hours. During which, they fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters towards anyone who tried to enter the checkpoint. It should be mentioned that the dead child was a secondary school student in.

 

Arrests and Incursions:

 

• At approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Arafat Obaidat (16) and then arrested him.

 

• At approximately 10:30 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into Hush Abu Tayeh in Ein al-Lawzah neighbourhood in Silwan, south of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Raed Abu Tayeh and arrested his son Khalil (17).

 

• At approximately 16:40, Israeli forces moved for the second time into Jabal al-Mukaber village,southeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Mashahrah (16) and arrested him.

 

• On Tuesday evening, Israeli forces arrested Mustafa Ahmed Abu al-Huwa (12) and Mohammed SamihElyan (10) from al-Tour village, east of occupied Jerusalem, and took them to Salah al-Din police station to interrogate them. SamihElyan said to PCHR’s fieldworker that his son Mohammed and his cousin Mustafa were walking on al-Tour street when the Israeli soldiers attacked and arrested them claiming that they threw stones at settlers’ bus. Samih added that the Israeli forces took them to Salah al-Din police station and interrogated them without a companion who was allowed to see them after an hour.

 

• At approximately 01:30 on Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Esawiyah village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Abu al-Hums and Adam Mahmoud and then arrested both of them.

 

• At approximately 15:00 on the same Monday, Israeli forces moved into Ein al-Lawzah neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Arafat Abu al-Hamam and arrested his sons Mohammed (17) and Shadi (19). After that, number of youngsters gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli soldiers who immediately fired sound bombs and metal bullets in response. As a result, Ali Abu al-Hamam (47) was wounded with a metal bullet to his thigh.

 

• At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 25 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Esawiyah village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses form which they arrested Mohammed Ashraf Abu al-Humus (19) and Mansour Amen Nasser (20).

 

• At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dese village, east of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched number of houses, after which they arrested Shadi Ibrahim Muhsen (34) and DawoudAyad (31).

 

House demolitions and demolition notices:

 

• The Israeli Magistrates Court in occupied East Jerusalem issued a decision to vacate a property in al-ShaikhJarah neighbourhood belonging to al-Kaswani family claiming that it belongs to the Public Property Guardian. According to the court’s decision, the Israeli forces claimed that this property was purchased by a Jewish family “Reka” that emigrated from Syria to Israel, but travelled from Israel in 1948.

 

Husain al-Kaswani, the property owner said to WadiHilweh Information Centre that his property is built on 250 square meters and consists of 3 houses as well as Omega EducationalCentre and a café. This vacation decision did not include all the property and did not have a specific date. The family had time until 10 July 2016 to apply this decision. According to the court, the Jewish family “Reka” transformed their property from the Custodian of Absentee Property in the early 90s and sold it in 2008 to ShabaliCompany owned by a Jewish investor.Although Palestinians were present in this property and were paying for the rental since 1967, the company kept since then demanding the property residents to vacate it under the pretext of termination of the contract signed by them.

 

 

• On Monday morning, 23 May 2016, Israeli municipality bulldozers destroyed an Islamic oratory in al-Mesrarah area in occupied Eastern Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses stated that the Israeli forces accompanied with municipality crews and a bulldozer raided the area and began dragging some of the vehicles that were in the place at that time. They then destroyed the above-mentioned oratory. It should be noted that the oratory,which is built of tin plates, was established few years ago inside a parking.

 

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

 

Settlers Attacks:

 

• At approximately 23:00 on Monday, 23 May 2016, dozens of Israeli armed settlers moved from the settlements, east of Hebron, into Jawhar Mount neighbourhood in the southern area with an Israeli intensive protection. They raided and searched several houses belonging to al-Sayed family although these houses are abandoned since the closure of the street.

 

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 latest 51-day offensive 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;

 

 

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Public Document

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