In December 2024, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) and Israeli settlers continued their crimes and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law against Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem. These crimes have included willful killings, destruction of public and private property, arrests, threats, among others.
The Following is part of the violations documented by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR):
Killings and violation of the right to life and bodily integrity:
The IOF and settlers’ attacks during the reporting period in the West Bank have resulted in the killing of 37 Palestinians, including 12 civilians; amongst them 2 children and 3 women, while a Palestinian detainee died in the Israeli prisons. Additionally, 84 Palestinians, including 28 children and 3 women, were injured.
According to PCHR researchers’ monitoring, the killings occurred in various contexts, whether by shooting during protests, clashes, raids, and military attacks, or by drone strikes, or through executions carried out by Israeli special units.
On 01 December 2024, four Palestiniasn were killed in an Israeli airstrike after Israeli Special Units had surrounded them in Jabaliyah area near Sir village, southeast of Jenin. The bodies of the four Palestinians are kept under IOF’s custody as the latter claim they were allegedly affiliated with Palestinian armed groups. They were identified as: ‘Abed al-Salam Nabeeh Abu al-Rub (23), Montaser Jala ‘Aziz Nu’aim (35), ‘Abdullah Mahmoud Hamdan Rasheed (22), and Wael Ahmed Hasan Lahlouh (31), all residents of Jenin.
On 03 December 2024, two Palestinians were killed, and another was injured in an extrajudicial execution crime committed by an Israeli drone strike on a Nitro SUV in al-Wad area, north of Aqqaba village, northwest of Nablus. The Palestinians killed were identified as: Karam Hatim Mohammed Abu ‘Arrah (38) and Mohammed Sameeh Kamel Ghannam (31), both were members of Palestinian armed groups. The condition of the injured has been deemed serious as he was taken to the Specialized Arab Hospital in Nablus. The next day, Israeli special units infiltrated the hospital and arrested him.
On 04 December 2024, Omar Husam Ya’qoub Showaiki (15) was killed after IOF shot him with two bullets in his legs while he was near a mountain area with large forests in Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of throwing stones at vehicles. The IOF kept Showaiki’s body for two hours after being identified. His parents were summoned while his body was handed to an ambulance crew belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).
Moreover, a detainee namely Mohammed Waleed Hussain ‘Ali (45), from Nur Shams refugee camp in eastern Tulkarm, died in the Israeli prisons. Mohammed had been detained since 28 November 2024 and spent about 20 years in the Israeli prisons. The detainee was transferred to “Rambam” Hospital, where he died under suspicions of being tortured.
On 06 December 2024, Mostafa Ahmed Mostafa Mashah (22), a member of Palestinian armed groups, was killed during clashes with the IOF after the latter moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.
On 07 December 2024, the IOF stationed at Qalandia military checkpoint, north of occupied East Jerusalem, shot dead Tareq Amjad Mousa Ghazawna (27), from al-Ram village. Ghazawna was directly shot in his head by the IOF after he entered the vehicle lane and fired fireworks at the soldiers.
On 09 December 2024, during an IOF’s incursion into Tubas which lasted for 12 hours, two Palestinians were killed in a drone strike near al-Taj family house in northern Safeh neighborhood, north of the city. The IOF detained the bodies of the two Palestinians, who were identified as: Khalil Majdi Hekmat al-Masri (26) and ‘Odai Redwan Mostafa Daraghmah (32).
On 12 December 2024, Jehad Yousef Majd Abu Saleem (25), a member of Palestinian armed groups, was killed, and a child was injured during clashes with the IOF after the latter moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, and surrounded a house.
On 13 December 2024, Mohammed Ahmed al-Swaiti (24) was killed after being shot in his back with a bullet that exited his chest during an IOF’s incursion into Beit Awwa village, west of Hebron. The incident occurred after the IOF raided a tinplate barrack used as a furniture manufacturing workshop and opened fire at those inside from a distance of 5 meters. As a result, al-Swaiti was seriously injured and succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
On 15 December 2024, in an extrajudicial execution (assassination), an Israeli special unit killed Mohammed ‘Abed al-Kareem Khaled Barahma (25) after opening fire at a vehicle he was driving in Qalqilya, and then kept his body. It is worth noting that Barahma, a resident of Nablus, was allegedly affiliated with Palestinian armed groups.
On 16 December 2024, IOF killed Mohammed Yaser Omar Abu Kushok (18) after opening fire and injuring him with a live bullet in his chest. This occurred when IOF targeted a group of young men, who were throwing homemade grenades at the IOF on the bypass road between Askar al-Jadeed and al-Qadeem refugee camps, east of Nablus. It is worth noting that the IOF arrested Abu Kushok after being injured and handed him after 15 minutes as a dead body. Additionally, a Palestinian child was injured in his foot at the entrance to Askar al-Qadeen refugee camp.
On 17 December 2024, IOF killed Mohammed Zaki Dawoud Ashqar (32) and Diyaa Shareef Hasan Selmi (31) after opening fire and injuring them with several live bullets near the annexation wall in Sufeen neighborhood in Qalqilya while they were trying to work in Israel. (Details available in PCHR’s press release).
On 18 December 2024, Katson Sayel Rabhi Hassan (47) succumbed to injuries he sustained when the IOF opened fire at him, injuring him with a live bullet in his chest a day before while he was on his house roof in Qusra village, southeast of Nablus.
On 19 December 2024, Halima Saleh Hasan Abu Lail (80) and Qusai Hamed ‘Issa Masrouj (25) were killed by an Israeli special for during their incursion into Balata refugee camp in Nablus. Halima was shot with two live bullets in her chest and leg. Additionally, four civilians were injured; two were deemed in serious condition after being shot in their abdomen and back. The unit also arrested one of the injured, a shop owner, while a civilian car was evacuating him.( Details available in PCHR’s press release).
On the same day, as part of extrajudicial executions (assassinations), IOF have killed four Palestinians allegedly affiliated with Palestinian armed groups after Israeli warplanes targeted a vehicle they were traveling in, in the middle of a residential area inside Tulkarm refugee camp, east of Tulkarm city. Also, four civilians, including two children, were injured. (Details available in PCHR’s press release).
On 21 December 2024, Mohammed Yaser ‘Ali Rashaida (7) was killed in a landmine explosion suspected allegedly from the Israeli forces’ explosive remnants in the Rashaida area in Bethlehem. It is worth noting that the area where Rashaida was injured is a military training zone for the IOF.
Moreover, IOF killed Hussain ‘Abed al-Qader Khaddour (37), from Faqqua village, north of Jenin, after opening fire at him and injuring him in his chest near the annexation wall, north of the city.
On 24 December 2024, IOF, accompanied by drones, launched a ground invasion that lasted for 43 hours into Tulkarm city and Tulkarm and Nur Sham refugee camps. The military operation has claimed the lives of nine Palestinians, including two women while the rest were allegedly members of Palestinian armed groups. The two women were identified as: Khawla ‘Ali ‘Abdullah ‘Abdo (53) and Baraa’ Khaled Mohammed al-‘Attar (28). Also, 17 Palestinians, including 2 women and 3 children, sustained injuries.
On 25 December 2024, Rayan Husam Bani ‘Odah (18) was killed, and another was injured after an Israeli drone targeted a group of Palestinians, who were allegedly affiliated with Palestinian armed groups, during an IOF’s incursion into Tammun village, southeast of Nablus.
On 26 December 2024, IOF killed Zain ‘Ali Tawfiq ‘Atatra (18) after injuring him with a live bullet in his chest in a stone-throwing at IOF during their incursion into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin.
So far in 2024, IOF attacks have killed 522 Palestinians, including 92 children, 17 women, including an international activist, and 61officially reported dead in Israeli prisons. Also, Since the beginning of 2024, IOF attacks have injured (1,331) Palestinians, including (301) children, and (65) women.
Demolition and land-razing
During the reporting period, the IOF and Israeli settlers demolished 191 facilities, including 80 houses completely demolished, 13 partially demolished, 25 demolished under the pretext of construction without building permits, 8 self-demolished by the owners in occupied East Jerusalem, and 86 commercial facilities. Moreover, IOF leveled 60 dunums and uprooted 360 olive trees near the annexation wall in Jayyous village in Qalqilya and in Nahalin village in Bethlehem. They also razed 40 dunums planted with vegetables and destroyed a water network in al-Nowai’mah area in Jericho, under the pretext of being in an area classified as Area (C). Additionally, IOF completely demolished 45 houses, partially demolished 13 houses and burned 9 other houses during their miliary operation in Tulkarm as documented by our field researchers.
Moreover, during their incursions, IOF conducted extensive destruction to the cities and refugee camps in the West Bank, particularly to the infrastructure including water pipes, telephone and electricity lines in streets in Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps, east of Tulkarm city, as well as Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.
Raids and arrests
The IOF have conducted raids into Palestinian cities, refugee camps, and villages across the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and arrested hundreds of Palestinians. During their incursions, IOF confiscated 5 bulldozers, an agricultural tractor, 3 private vehicles, and agricultural fertilizers. They also confiscated a sum of money and financial assets worth 400,000 shekels from Gulf Exchange companies after surrounding them in Tubas, Nablus and Jericho. The IOF also closed three currency exchange offices in Ramallah.
On 02 December 2024, IOF raided Dura al-Qare’ School in Ramallah and Al-Bireh city and subjected its students to field interrogations, enticing fear among children.
On 03 December 2024, IOF raided the Turkish Tubas Government Hospital amid heavy gunfire inside the emergency and outpatient departments. They threw a grenade in the emergency department, among doctors, patients, and companions, detained two doctors, Mahmoud Ghannam and Atheer Shaheen, along with one patient, and interrogated them for more than an hour and a half.
On 05 December 2024, an Israeli special force, dressed in plain clothes and doctors’ uniforms, infiltrated the Specialized Arab Hospital in Rafidia neighborhood, west of Nablus. The unit broke into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), arrested the injured Ayman Najeh Saleh Ghannam (25), from Tubas, and forcibly seated him on a wheelchair before taking him with them. It is worth noting that Ghannam was injured the day before in an airstrike on a vehicle in Tubas.
On 07 December 2024, IOF raided a medical center in Silwad village, north of Ramallah, where they assaulted the patients and medical crew.
Land confiscations and settlement expansion
During the reporting period, the IOF and Israeli settlers continued their settlement expansion policy materialized in confiscating and razing Palestinian lands to establish settlement outposts and expand settlements.
On 01 December 2024, Israeli settlers set up a tent in eastern Qaryut village in Nablus to establish a new settlement outpost and have a firm grip on the mountain in the area.
On 02 December 2024, Israeli settlers set up a tent near an under-construction house on the outskirts of Jit village in Qalqilya as a prelude to seize it and establish a new settlement outpost.
On 06 December 2024, Israeli settlers fenced several lands with a barbed wire near ‘Ain al-Helwa area in northern Jordan valleys in an attempt to seize them. They also set up four tents in Silwad village’s lands near Route (60), north of Ramallah, and turned it into a pastoral outpost.
On 09 December 2024, IOF confiscated Palestinian-owned lands in Abu Dis area, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem, to expand “Ma’ale Adumim” and “Keida,” settlements built on Abu Dis lands.
On 10 December 2024, IOF confiscated 94 dunams of land in the Khallet Semaan area in Beit Jala village, northwest of Bethlehem behind the annexation wall for the establishment of a bus station. (Details available at PCHR’s press release.)
On 12 December 2024, IOF issued an order to confiscate 54.79 dunums of land in Qatanna and Bado villages behind the annexation wall in occupied East Jerusalem to expand “Har Adar” settlement.
On 16 December 2024, Israeli settlers set up several tents in al-Sayyed Mount in Burqa village in Ramallah as a prelude to establish a new settlement outpost. IOF also issued a military order to confiscate 47 dunums from Palestinian-owned lands between Qalqilya and Hableh village to expand the settlement road that serves “Alfei Menashe” settlement.
On 20 December 2024, Israeli settlers set up several caravans in al-Mo’arajat area, west of Jericho, as a prelude to establish a new settlement outpost.
On 23 December 2024, Israeli settlers placed a water tank and bales of straw and feed, brought 30 cattle into the Qaa’un area, west of Bardala village in northern Jordan Valley, and established a pastoral outpost in the area.
On 31 December 2024, Israeli settlers set up several tents in Khelet al-Ghazal area in Jamma’in village in Nablus, as a prelude to establish a new settlement outpost.
Settler violence
Israeli settlers conducted 54 attacks against Palestinian villages and cities across the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, the most violent of these attacks have targeted Palestinians and their properties. Their attacks injured 12 Palestinian, including a child, and caused severe material damage to properties. Also, settlers burnt 3 homes, a mosque, a grocery, 2 barracks, and 5 private vehicles and smashed the windows of 16 vehicles, including an ambulance in Ramallah during riots on the main streets. Additionally, the settlers burned 5 agricultural rooms and stole 66 cows, 60 beehives in the northern Jordan Valley, and 17 sheep in Nablus, along with feed for the sheep in Hebron. They uprooted 340 olive trees, burned hundreds of dunams of agricultural lands, and damaged a well in the West Bank. Additionally, armed settlers carried out two widescale attacks on two villages and set 4 vehicles, two houses, and a grocery ablaze.
IOF attacks in Jerusalem
IOF’s violations and Judaization attempts continued in occupied Jerusalem by approving the building of hundreds of new settlement units and entrenching their house demolition policy against Palestinians under various pretexts. IOF also continue to impose age-based access restrictions to Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially on Fridays, and enforce strict search procedures.
On 10 December 2024, Ateret Cohanim settlement organization, under the IOF’s protection, took control of a residential building in Batn al-Hawa area in occupied East Jerusalem, claiming its ownership of the land on which the building is established.
On 11 December 2024, a group of settlers seized a house in Batn al-Hawa area in occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext that the land on which the building is established is owned by the settlers.
Restrictions on freedom of movement and checkpoints
The IOF have established more military checkpoints in the West Bank and tightened restrictions on freedom of movement between the cities and villages, rendering them isolated and entrenching geographical fragmentation. During the reporting period, the IOF established hundreds of temporary checkpoints along the streets and between the villages. They also erected hundreds of permanent checkpoints aiming to restrict Palestinians’ freedom of movement by searching and arresting them. During the reporting period, IOF arrested 23 Palestinians, including a woman.
Palestinian civilians are subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment at checkpoints, hindering their movement and endangering their lives based on mere fallacious suspicions that have led to their killing or arrest allegedly for being “wanted”.
Moreover, IOF closed several streets with sand berms and cement cubes, and they were as follows:
