Ref: 61/2021

Date: 15 May 2021

Time: 12:30 GMT

Yesterday, 14 May 2021, 11 Palestinian civilians were killed while 209 others were wounded, including 25 in critical condition when Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and settlers opened fire at them in the West Bank. During suppression of peaceful protests against the Israeli offensive on Gaza and occupied Jerusalem, 9 civilians were killed. Moreover, a civilian was killed after IOF targeted his vehicle at an Israeli checkpoint, claiming that the driver attempted to carry out a run-over attack though he did not pose any threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers. Additionally, Israeli settlers killed a civilian and wounded another in Hebron.

According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 12:00 on Friday, 14 May 2021, peaceful protests organized against the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and occupied Jerusalem made their way to the city centers of the West Bank and Palestinian villages and headed to the Israeli seam zones and checkpoints. Meanwhile, IOF intervened to suppress the protests by using excessive force amid clashes that continued until the evening.  As a result, 10 Palestinian civilians were killed by IOF, and one by the Israeli settlers in Hebron.

Below are the details of incidents:

Ramallah:

At approximately 12:00 on Friday, IOF stationed at a checkpoint on “Ofra” settlement, established on the Palestinian lands of eastern Ramallah, opened fire at a Palestinian car.  As a result, the driver was killed after several live bullets hit the upper part of his body. Meanwhile, an Israeli ambulance arrived and took the driver to an unknown destination. Later, the killed civilian was identified as Mohammed Rawhi Abdul Halim Hammad (30), from Silwad, northeast of Ramallah. IOF claimed that the driver attempted to carry out a run-over attack at the checkpoint.

Moreover, 17 civilians were wounded; including 11 with live bullets and 6 with rubber-coated bullets.  One of the injuries is in critical condition during peaceful protests at the northern entrance to al-Bireh, near “Beit El” settlement, Nabi Salih village, near the Israeli military watchtower, at the entrance to Deir Nidham village, and the entrance to Sinjil village.

Jericho:

At approximately 13:00, a number of civilians gathered at the southern entrance to Jericho, south of Jericho, closed the main streets with stones and tires and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the abovementioned checkpoint, where IOF in response fired sound and gas bombs, live and rubber bullets. The clashes continued for 5 hours and resulted in injury of Mohammed Adel Shuqair (20), from al-Khedeiwi neighborhood in Jericho, with a live bullet that hit the left side of his chest and penetrated his heart. Instantaneously, an ambulance belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) arrived and took him to Jericho Governmental Hospital in Jericho, and he was in a critical condition. Shuqair was declared dead at the hospital’s Emergency Department. Furthermore, 2 civilians, from Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, south of the city, were wounded.

Jenin:

At approximately 15:00, IOF stationed at “Mevo Dotan” settlement established at the entrance of Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin, killed Yousef Mahdi Nawasra (26), from Fahma village, southwest of Jenin. Nawasra was killed with a live bullet which cut the main artery of his left thigh, during the clashes at the entrance. Furthermore, 18 civilians were wounded, mostly with live bullets, including 2 in critical condition, during the clashes at “Mevo Dotan” checkpoint, al-Jalamah checkpoint and Salem checkpoint, west of Jenin.

Nablus:

At approximately 15:30, IOF shot dead Nidal Sayel Musatfa al-Safadi (28) with 3 bullets in the chest and back after clashes broke out between a group of civilians who gathered to confront IOF and settlers’ attacks on the eastern outskirts of ‘Orif village, southeast of Nablus.  Moreover, 4 civilians were wounded; 2 of them in serious condition.  All of them were taken to hospitals in Nablus.

At approximately 16:20, IOF shot dead ‘Issa Soliman Borhom Dawoud (38), a Prosecutor in Salfit Court, after he was hit with a bullet in the chest during clashes that broke out on Sbeih Mountain, southeast of Bita village, southeast of Nablus in the settlement outpost which was established 2 weeks ago.  Moreover, four civilians were wounded, including a child and 2 in a serious condition.  All of them were taken to the hospitals in Nablus.

At approximately 19:15, IOF shot dead Malek Mesbah As’ad Hamdan (21) with a bullet in the chest during clashes with IOF that moved into Salem village, northeast of Nablus. Moreover, 2 other civilians were wounded and taken to the hospitals in Nablus.

At approximately 19:25, IOF shot dead Hussam Wael Mousa ‘Asayrah (18) with a bullet in the chest during clashes that broke out after IOF and settlers moved into the eastern outskirts of ’Asira al-Qibliya village, southeast of Nablus.

Moreover, 62 civilians, including 12 children, were wounded with live bullets; 15 of them are in a serious condition while 4 were wounded with rubber-coated bullets and one was hit with a sound bomb in the face.  All of those civilians were wounded during clashes in eastern Beit Dajan

village, eastern ‘Azmout villag, in the lands under threat of confiscation, at Beit Furik checkpoint, Huwara checkpoint and at the entrances to Osarin,   Aqraba and Qasra villages,

Hebron:

At approximately 16:00, a group of settlers from “Beit Hagai” settlement, south of Hebron, moved into the Palestinian lands of Ar-Rihiya village adjacent to the settlement and attempted to burn the trees and crops.  A group of outraged young men from the village rushed to the area and threw stones at the settlers in an attempt to force them to leave, so the settlers started shooting at the young men.  As a result, 2 civilians were wounded and one of them was identified as Jamal Isma’il Hasan al-Tubasi (32), who was hit with a bullet in the head and taken to Abu al-Hasan al-Qasem Hospital in Yatta.  The doctors declared him dead after succumbing to his serious wounds.

Moreover, clashes broke out after protests had been organized in solidarity with Gaza and Jerusalem at the western entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp, at the northern entrance to Yata and ‘Asida area in Beit Ummar village.  During the clashes, IOF used excessive force to suppress the protests.  As a result, 10 civilians were wounded with bullets.

Tubas:

Following Friday Prayer, violent clashes broke out at Tayasir checkpoint and in ‘Atouf Prairie in Tubas; during which IOF used live bullets against the protesters, wounding four of them.

Jerusalem:

Following the Friday Prayer, IOF used excessive force to disperse the protesters in different clashes in the vicinity of occupied Jerusalem, al-Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, Beit Hanina, Silwan, Beit Safafa, Abu Dis, at the intersection of Ma’ale Adumim settlement in al-Eizariya, in the vicinity of Qalendia checkpoint, the Bridge area, on ‘Anata Street and at the entrance to Hizma village.  As a result, 19 civilians were wounded; 2 with live bullets; 15 with rubber-coated bullets and 2 with sound bombs.

Bethlehem:

Following the Friday Prayer, IOF used excessive force to disperse the protesters in various clashes in Bethlehem; most prominently at the northern entrance and in al-Khader, Dar Salah, Teqoa, Beit Fajjar villages and on Jerusalem-Hebron Street.  As a result, 6 civilians were wounded; one sustained serious wound.

Salfit:

At approximately 16:00, IOF killed ‘Awad Ahmed Harb (23) from Iskaka village with a live bullet in the abdomen during clashes in the village following Friday Prayer.

At approximately 16:10, IOF killed Sherif Khaled Suliman (38), from Marda village, north of Salfit, with a live bullet in the thigh when he was at his front door at Marda’s western entrance. He was taken to Yasser ‘Arafat Hospital.

Moreover, 7 other civilians sustained various wounds in clashes with IOF across Salfit.

Tulkarm:

At approximately 22:00, IOF killed Nizar Riyad Marouf Abu Zeina (22) with a live bullet in the chest during clashes near the Annexation Wall, northern Tulkarm. Abu Zeina’s initial wounds were serious and he was transported to Darwish Nazzal Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Immediately as news of his death broke out, outraged protests took off in Tulkarm, Anabta, Ramin, Shwiaka, Beit Lid, Qaffin and Zeita.  As a result, 39 Palestinians sustained wounds.

Qalqilya:

Following Friday Prayer, IOF used excessive force to disperse protesters during clashes across Qalqilya. As a result, 24 Palestinians sustained varied wounds.

PCHR strongly condemns IOF’s crime of using excessive force which killed Palestinian civilians.  PCHR also condemns the murder committed by the armed settlers, who recently escalated their attacks under IOF’s protection.

PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate action in order to stop IOF’s crimes and reiterates its call on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e. to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances.  PCHR emphasizes that the international community’s conspiracy of silence encourages Israel to commit further violations of the international human Rights law and international humanitarian law.