January 14, 2016
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (07- 13 January 2016)
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (07- 13 January 2016)

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

(07 – 13 January 2016)

Israeli Forces Demolish Civilian and Commercial Facilities in Silwan and Beit Safafa Villages in Occupied Jerusalem

Israeli Forces Demolish Civilian and Commercial Facilities in Silwan and Beit Safafa Villages in Occupied Jerusalem

  • Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
  • 9 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed in the West Bank and a member of a Palestinian armed group.
  • 21 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
  • House demolitions on grounds of collective punishment.
  • A house belonging to al-Halabi family in Sarda village, north of Ramallah, was demolished.
  • Israeli forces conducted 72 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the southern Gaza Strip.
  • 64 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, were arrested.
  • 12 of them, including 4 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
  • Israeli forces raided Birzeit University and confiscated contents of student blocs’ offices and the Student Council.
  • Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.
  • Jewish majority efforts continued in occupied East Jerusalem.
  • 2 under-construction houses in Silwan village and parts of a restaurant in Sour Baher village were demolished.
  • Allocations (National Insurance) of a number of civilians were suspended as part of the collective punishment policy.
  • Settlement activities continued in the West Bank.
  • A plant nursery, south of Nablus, was demolished, and “Mevo Dotan” settlement’s checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, was expanded.
  • Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th
  • Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and other were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
  • 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints.

 Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (07 – 13 January 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. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed nine Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the West Bank and a member of a Palestinian armed group in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, they wounded 21 civilians, including four children; 14 of whom, including a child, were in the Gaza Strip and the remaining others were in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 17 civilians were hit with live bullets and shell shrapnel and four others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.

 

In the West Bank, killings committed by Israeli forces were as follows:

In two separate crimes of excessive use of force, on 07 January 2016, Israeli forces killed four civilians, including a child; all of whom are from Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. Israeli forces claimed that the four civilians attempted to stab Israeli soldiers.

According to PCHR’s investigations on the first crime, at approximately 20:00, on the abovementioned day, Israeli forces deployed around “Gosh Etzion” settlement compound, south of Bethlehem, shot dead three Palestinian civilians, from Sa’ir village. The killed civilians were identified as Ahmed Salem Abdul Majid Kawazbah (19), Alaa Abed Mohammed Kawazbah (19) and Mohammed Zeyad Kawazbah (18).

According to PCHR’s investigations on the other crime, at approximately 22:0, on the abovementioned day, Israeli forces deployed at the western entrance to Sa’ir village “Beit Aynoun”, east of Hebron, shot dead Khalil Mohammed Shalaldah (16).

Additionally, in excessive use of force, on 09 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at al-Hamrah checkpoint, southeast of Tubas, killed two Palestinian civilians claiming that one of them attempted to stab Israeli soldiers searching cars at the aforementioned checkpoint. The killed civilians were identified as Ali Mohammed Hajj Mohammed (21), from al-Jadidah village, southeast of Jenin, a third year student at al-Quds Open University; and Sa’id Jawdat Abu al-Wafa (38), from al-Zawiya village, south of Jenin.

On 12 January 2016, Israeli forces killed Srour Abu Srour (19), a student at al-Quds Open University, from Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers opened fire at dozens of Palestinian civilians after the former moved into Beit Jala. It should be noted that Srour was killed while going back home from university.

On the same day afternoon, Israeli forces stationed at the eastern entrance to Beit Aynoun village that has been closed for a month with an iron gate, killed Adnan Mashni (17), from al-Shyoukh village, east of Hebron, and Mohammed Kawazbah (23), from Sa’ir village, east of the city. Israeli forces claimed that one of the two aforementioned persons attempted to stab an Israeli soldier.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces a member of a Palestinian armed group and wounded 14 others, including two children and two members of an armed group. The aforementioned person was killed and three others were wounded, one of whom is civilian, when Israeli forces targeted members of an armed group, north of the Gaza Strip. The remaining others were wounded during peaceful protests near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

On 13 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the coastal border area, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, fired a shell at members of a Palestinian armed group that was carrying out a combat activity on the beach. As a result, one of them named Mousa Abu Z’aitar, from Jabalia refugee camp, was wounded with many shrapnel to the left side of the chest and was immediately killed. Moreover, two armed members sustained shrapnel wounds throughout their bodies and a fish trader sustained shrapnel wounds to the left side.

As part of Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians, on 11 January 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off the west of Beit Lahia village, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire around Palestinian fishing boats sailing within three nautical miles. They also chased some of them and pumped water over them to get them drowned. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

House demolitions on grounds of collective punishment

On 08 January 2016, Israeli forces demolished a house belonging to Shafiq Mohammed Halabi in al-Basateen neighbourhood, northwest of Sarda village, north of Rmallah. It should be noted that the son of the aforementioned person named Mohanned (20) carried out a stabbing attack against settlers in the Old City in East Jerusalem on Saturday, 03 October 2015.

 

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 72 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 ones in occupied East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 64 Palestinian civilians, including eight children. Twelve of these civilians, including four children, were arrested in East Jerusalem.

During the reporting period, on 11 January 2016, Israeli forces raided Birzeit University, north of Ramallah. They detained the university security officers and then raided the offices of the student blocs and Student Council, from which they confiscated their contents.

In the Gaza Strip, on 13 January 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters to the east of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands that were already levelled previously and withdrew later.

 

Efforts to create Jewish Majority

In the context of house demolitions and demolition notices issued on grounds of non-licensing construction works, on Thursday, 07 January 2016, bulldozers of the Israeli municipality demolished an under-construction house in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem, belonging to Nadia Abu Diab under the pretext of building without a licence. Abu Diab said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces demolished her house without a prior notice.

Israeli forces moved then into Karm al-Shaikh area in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood. They demolished another 2-storey under-construction house belonging to Suleiman Abu Diab. The building consisted of foundations and pillars for two unroofed floors.

On the same day evening, Israeli forces accompanied by municipality bulldozers raided the Mediterranean Restaurant near Beit Safafa village, west of occupied East Jerusalem. They demolished parts of the Restaurant that were attached by its owner to the main building three months ago.

On Sunday, 10 January 2016, the Israeli municipality officers delivered an administrative demolition order issued against an under-construction residential building in al-Thawri neighbourhood, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem, belonging to Mousa Mohammed al-Abasi under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-Abasi said that the municipality officers handed over to him a demolition order against a 2-storey building. The first floor is a garage that was built four years ago, while the 230-square-meter second floor consists of two apartments.

As part of the punitive measures taken against the city residents, on 10 January 2016, a number of Palestinian civilians residing in East Jerusalem were surprised to find their National Insurance allocations suspended for no legal justification. It should be noted the persons, whose National Insurance was suspended, were arrested by Israeli forces from al-Aqsa Mosque and then deported upon decisions issued by the Israeli police and intelligence service. Israeli forces classified these persons as members of the “Morabetoun and Morabetat” banned organization upon an order from Moshe Yaalon, the Israeli Defence Minister.

 

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 (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. 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.

 

Settlement activities:

On 12 January 2016, Israeli forces expanded and fortified “Mevo Dotan” military checkpoint that is established on the bypass road between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm, southwest of Jenin, opposite to “Mevo Dotan” settlement. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli forces levelled lands around the checkpoint and established fortifications.

On Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Saweya village, south of Nablus. The Israeli bulldozers levelled 500 meters of a plant nursery and damaged the plants inside. The overall area of the plant nursery is a dunum[1] and a half.

On Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Israeli forces accompanied by Civil Administration vehicle and a bulldozer moved into Kherbet al-Rahwah, south of al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. The Civil Administration officers confiscated solar panels used in generating electricity, while the bulldozer demolished a 30-square-meter residential tent and a 50-saure-meter livestock barn belonging to Rajeh Farhan al-Samamrah (40).

 

Details

 

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

 Thursday, 07 January 2016 

  • At approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Bedia village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Abdel Rahim Mohammed ‘Aqel (24). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp adjacent to Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Fo’ad ‘Abdullah Mohammed Abu Sallam “Hweiti” (33) and arrested him.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses using tracker dogs. They arrested seven civilians, including two brothers; one of whom is a child. At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as Saleh Anwar Selim (22); Mohammed ‘Adnan (27); Hamzah ‘Abdel Majeed T’eimah (33); ‘Abdel Karim Taysir Hamed (24); ‘Emad ‘Ali Nassar (19); ‘Afif Mohammed ‘Ayyad (33) and his brother Khaled (16).

 

  • At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Dheishah refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested Mos’ab Mohammed al-Hamamdah (23) and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • In two separate crimes of using lethal force, Israeli forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child. All of them were from Sa’ir village, north of Hebron. The Israeli forces claimed that the four civilians attempted to carry out stab attacks against Israeli soldiers.

According to PCHR’s investigations about the first crime, at approximately 20:00 on the same day, Israeli forces deployed in the vicinity of “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement intersection, south of Bethlehem, shot dead 3 Palestinians from Sa’ir village. Israeli forces claimed that the 3 Palestinians attempted to carry out a stab attack. Their corpses were then taken by Magen David Adom (MDA) ambulances to an unknown destination. The three killed persons were identified as Ahmed Salem ‘Abdel Majeed Kawazbah (19); ‘Alaa’ ‘Abed Mohammed Kawazbah (19) and Mohammed Ziad Kawazbah (18).

According to PCHR’s investigations about the second crime, at approximately 22:00 on the same day, Israeli soldiers deployed at the western entrance to Sa’ir village “Beit ‘Aynoun”, east of Hebron, shot dead Khalil Mohammed Shalaldah (16) from the village. Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned child attempted to stab Israeli soldiers. His corpse was then taken by MDA ambulance to an unknown destination.

At approximately 20:00 on Friday, 08 January 2016, Israeli authorities handed the 4 corpses to the Palestinian side via Tarqoumia crossing, northwest of Hebron, and a PRCS ambulance transferred the corpses to be examined by doctors in al-Ahli Hospital in the city. At night, a medical staff headed by Dr Ashraf al-Qadi in presence of chief prosecutors in the city, Ashraf Mesh’al and ‘Alaa’ al-Tamimi, and a Palestinian police staff examined the corpses and found out that all injuries were mainly in the head and the upper part of the body. In addition, the shooting was from different ranges. At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, the four corpses were transferred to Sa’ir village for their burial. The Israeli forces closed all roads to the villages from all sides when the corpses arrived and denied civilians access to the village.

 

Friday, 08 January 2016

 

  • At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Rantis village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family Qatibah Mofid ‘Abdel Jalil Balout (22), a senior student in Birzeit University. Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to ‘Ofer detention facility, west of the city.

 

  • At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Haron Rashid Ibrahim Abu al-Hayjaa’ (22) and arrested him.

 

  • Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 4 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: Kafr al-Deek village, west of Salfit; Yata; al-Fawar refugee camp and Sair village in Hebron.

 Saturday, 09 January 2016 

  • At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Hebron and then stationed in Dweirban area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mousa ‘Abdel Mo’ez Jamil (26). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and handed 3 civilians summonses to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city. The summoned persons were identified as Khalil Qassem al-Sheikh (36); Mahmoud Hammad Taqatqah (54) and Fadi Mahmoud Hammad Taqtqah (27).

 

  • At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into the southern area of Hebron. They stationed in Abu Sneinah neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Naser Mohammed Abu Sneinah (24). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • In a new crime of excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians at al-Hamra checkpoint, southeast of Tubas in the northern West Bank.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 06:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian, who stepped out of a bus for transporting farmers before crossing the checkpoint and quickly ran towards the soldiers, who were searching the cars crossing via the checkpoint. The Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned civilian attempted to stab the Israeli soldiers who were searching the cars at the aforementioned checkpoint. The killed person was later identified as ‘Ali Mohammed ‘Aqab Haj Mohammed (21), who is a 3rd-year student in al-Quds Open University from al-Jadidah village, southeast of Jenin, and worked in farming on vacation. The shooting as well resulted in the killing of Sa’id Jawdat Abu al-Wafa (38), a foodstuffs trader from al-Zawiyah village, south of Jenin. The aforementioned civilian was killed when the Israeli soldier were searching him and his white 410 Mercedes bus. Abu al-Wafa used to go every Saturday to Jericho to sell foodstuffs. In the beginning, the Israeli soldiers refused to hand their bodies to a PRCS ambulance, which arrived at the checkpoint after being informed that there were wounded persons in the area. The two bodies were kept in custody at the aforementioned checkpoint until 09:00 when they were handed to the PRCS ambulance to take them to the Turkish Hospital in Tubas. After x-raying the dead bodies and according to information obtained by a PCHR fieldworker from Mohammed Samarah, Director of the hospital, Haj Mohammed was hit with an explosive bullet that penetrated the back of the head and exited from the left eye. He also sustained shrapnel wounds to the shoulder and back while Abu al-Wafa was hit with a bullet to the jaw, 3 others to the chest and one to the knee.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 4 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: villages of al-Shyoukh; Bani Na’im; Ethna and al-Mowareq in Hebron.

 

Sunday, 10 January 2016

 

  • At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron and then stationed in Ezone area to the east of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mos’ab Shawar al-Tamimi (27). They handed the aforementioned civilian a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

 

  • At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm and then stationed in the eastern area of it. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sami ‘Abdel Rahman Akhras (62) and arrested his two sons Mohammed (23) and Ibrahim (21). They then raided and searched a house belonging to Ayman Jihad Mohammed Jazmawi (26) and arrested him as well.

 

  • At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, from which Nassar ‘Aqel Najajrah (21); Ahmed Mahmoud Najajrah (22) were arrested. Israeli forces later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination.

 Note:

During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 11 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: al-Naqourah village, northwest of Nablus; villages of Sa’ir, Tafouh Beit Oula, al-Karmel, Hadab al-‘Aqlah and al-Tabaqah in Hebron; villages of al-Jaftalak and Marj Na’ajah, north of Jericho; Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, southwest of Ramallah and Deir Debwan, northeast of the city.

 

Monday, 11 January 2016

 

  • At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mohammed Na’im ‘Enaya (24) and Mashhour Salim. Israeli forces arrested Hamzah Mohammed Na’im ‘Enaya (24) and ‘Abdel ‘Aziz Mashhour Salim (16) and later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces raided Birzeit University, north of Ramallah. They detained the university guards and then raided offices of the student blocs and Student Council after breaking the inside doors. They confiscated flags; 4 computer sets belonging to the Student Council and books, papers, cut-out models, banners and 3 cupboards belonging to the Islamic bloc female students (Hamas’s student wing). At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces withdrew from the university, and no arrests were reported.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bitounia village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Osayd Hashash (22), Head of the university’s fields committee. They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tal village, southwest of Nablus, and stationed in the western neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Fadi Eyad ‘Abdel Karim Khouli (29) and arrested him. The Israeli soldiers redeployed in the southern area of the city and then raided and searched a house belonging to Tariq Thaer ‘Abdel Rahim Diab (26) near al-Salam Intersection. They took the aforementioned civilian to Saraya Shireen Group for Wedding Planning belonging to his family in the same building he lives in. They asked him to open the office door and confiscated the surveillance cameras’ D. V. R and then withdrew from the city. At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Diab received a call from someone who introduced himself as Captain Abu Tamer from the Israeli forces. The Captain asked Diab to refer to the Israeli Liaison office “DCO” and told him that he wanted to talk with him for 10 minutes. The aforementioned civilian headed to the DCO and half an hour later called his family to tell them that the Israeli forces arrested him.

 

  • At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethleghem. They raided and searched a number of houses, from which 8 civilians were arrested. Israeli forces later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The arrested civilians were identified as Hamzah ‘Amer Yousif Taqatqah (15); Mohammed Taha Taqatqah (20); Eyad Sami Taqatqah (21); Nabil Ibrahim Thawabtah (22); Rami Mousa Thawabtah (22); ‘Abdullah Salem Thawabtah (29); Naser Mohammed Nayef Thawabtah (23) and ‘Aziz ‘Ali Jaber Deiriyah (30).

 

  • At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into Marah Rabah village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud al-Sheikh. They arrested his son Ahmed (18) and later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 09:30, Israeli forces stationed at Harmish Settlement checkpoint established on the main bypass road which connects Jenin with the northern villages of Tulkarm, southwest of Jenin opened fire at Zaid Maher Mohammed al-Ashqar (18) from Sayda village, north of Tulkarm. As a result, he was hit with several bullets to the abdomen and fell on the ground. Large Israeli forces rushed to the area and closed it. They blocked traffic in both directions and denied a PRCS ambulance access to check on the wounded civilian. The Israeli forces claimed that al-Ashqar attempted to stab one of the Israeli soldiers stationed at the checkpoint, so the other soldiers opened fire at him wounding him to the abdomen. The father of the wounded young man said that his son’s health condition is stable and now receives medical treatment in an Israeli hospital.

 

  • At approximately 22:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off the Equestrian Club, west of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and fired shells in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The gunboats also chased and pumped water at the boats in an attempt to sink them. The shooting which continued for 30 minutes caused fear among fishermen who were forced to flee. Neither casualties nor damages were reported.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 4 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: Shaqba village, northwest of Ramallah; Beit Rima village, northwest of the city and villages of al-‘Oja and al-Nwei’mah, north of Jericho.

 

Tuesday, 12 January 2016

 

  • At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ezbet Shofah village, southeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and then confiscated the surveillance cameras’ DVRs. Israeli forces later withdrew, but neither further incidents nor arrests were reported. Some of the houses’ owners were identified as ‘Ali Khalil Ahmed ‘Awad (51) and Khaled Sadiq ‘Abdel Qader ‘Ali (57).

 

  • At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aqbet Jaber refugee camp, south of Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ayoub ‘Asi Demrah (35). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested 3 civilians, including a child, and later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as Tamer ‘Abdel Ra’ouf al-Bastami (28); Ahmed ‘Ammar Qandil (17) and Suhaib Mekawi al-Kharraz (22).

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Rojib village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses. Israeli forces arrested Dawoud Akram Rawajbah (27) and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Dan village, northwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested 3 civilians and later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as Wasif Mofid Rajeh ‘Abed (27); Mohammed Yousif Mohammed Salah (32) and Rakez Yousif Mohammed Salah (33).

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Awa village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Jebrin Salamh al-Sweiti (24). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin and then stationed in Harsh al-Sa’adah, south of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mojahed Mohammed Sa’id al-Sa’di (28), a correspondent in Palestine Today Channel, and arrested him as well.

 

  • At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Yata, south of Hebron, and then stationed in Roq’ah neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hothayfah ‘Awad al-Hreini (26). They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion “settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

 

  • At approximately 11:30, an unknown gunman opened fire from a speeding car near al-container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, and the car fled towards Bethlehem according to the Israeli authorities. Large Israeli forces combed the area to search for him and closed the checkpoint and many roads. They established checkpoints near al-Nashash and “Helwah Cemetery” areas and moved into the villages of al-‘Abidiyah and Dar Salah, east of the city.   They then raided and searched dozens of houses. Meanwhile, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Jala and stationed in the vicinity of “Normandy” Intersection. They raided and searched shops in the area and checked the DVRs. At approximately 13:00, the jeeps headed to al-Sahel area near al-Hussein Medical Complex in the city. Dozens of young men gathered to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired live bullets at them. As a result, Sorour Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Sorour (19) was hit with a bullet to the chest, and another 20-year-old civilian was hit with a bullet to the chest. The wounded persons were taken to al-Hussein Medical Complex, where minutes later doctors declared the dead of Abu Sorour while the other one’s condition is serious. Mohammed ‘Awwad, Director of the Emergency Department in PRCS in Bethlehem, said that another civilian sustained a bullet wound to the foot and 6 other civilians, who suffered tear gas inhalation, were treated on the spot. It should be mentioned that Abu Sorour, who is a student at al-Quds Open University- Beit Jala, was killed on his way back from university. Abu Sorour is from ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of the city, while the wounded person is from al-Dheishah refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem.

 

  • In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers stationed at the eastern entrance to Beit ‘Aynoun village that has been closed for a month with an iron gate shot dead two Palestinian civilians, including a child. The Israeli forces claimed that one of them attempted to carry out a stab attack against an Israeli soldier.

According to PCHR’s investigations at approximately 14:00 on the same day, a white Palestinian Ford-Transit car arrived near the iron gate, which closes the entrance to Beit ‘Aynoun village, to transport passengers from al-Shyoukh village. Mohammed al-Kawazbah then stepped out of the car and attacked a soldier with a knife. The Israeli forces in response opened fire at him, and he fell on the ground. Meanwhile, the car driver, Ghanem Farahat al-Ja’bari (21), quickly drove away from the checkpoint, and the Israeli soldiers opened fire at him. The aforementioned driver stopped 70 meters away from the soldiers, stepped out of his car and ran away after being shot with several bullets. A number of civilians approached the car to find ‘Adnan Halayqah (17) wounded and blood coming from his mouth and nose. They took him to a Palestinian car, which transferred him to al-Mizan Specialist Hospital in Hebron, where his death was declared due to sustaining a bullet wound to the chest. The Israeli soldiers kept Kawazbah’s corpse on the ground for around two hours and denied Palestinian ambulances access to him. In the afternoon, his corpse was handed to Palestinian Military Liaison. The Israeli forces then confiscated the car using a special truck to an unknown destination while they ordered its driver to hand himself in to the soldiers at the checkpoint. The driver was arrested and taken to an unknown destination. Two hours after the incident occurred, the soldiers arrested Majdi Ahmed al-Ja’abri (25), who transferred the killed child to al-Mizan Specialist Hospital, after summoning him by phone. However, he was released after being interrogated for 8 hours in “Karayat Arba’ah” settlement police station, east of Hebron.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 10 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: al-Dyouk village, north of Jericho; Kafr al-Deek village, west of Salfit; Halhoul; Dura and villages of al-Shyoukh, Sa’ir Ethna al-Kom, Deir Samit and al-Burj in Hebron.

 

Wednesday, 13 January 2016

 

  • At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into the southern area of Hebron and then stationed in Tarq Ben Ziyad Street. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Faris al-Rajabi (25). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir village, east of Hebron. They stationed in Hamzah neighbourhood area. Theyr aided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mos’ab Salah Shaladah (22). They arrested the aforementioned civilian nd later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bal’ah village, northeast of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ziyad Reda Ahmed Taher Mer’ie (22), who was arrested by the Israeli forces in Netanya under the claims of attempting to carry out a stab attack on 02 November 2015. They questioned the house residents and took measures of the house after orally informing them of their intention to demolish the house. The Israeli forces later withdrew from the village, but no further incidents were reported. It should be mentioned that this is the second time Israeli forces raid the house as they raided it before on 03 November 2015 and questioned the residents.

 

  • At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Mohammed ‘Abdel Fattah Rasras (27). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and later withdrew taking him to where the military vehicles were stationed. Meanwhile, other Israeli forces raided and searched two houses belonging to Khaled Mahmoud Maharmah (55) and Yousif Rezeq al-Ra’ie (46), but no arrests were reported.

 

  • At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into tubas. They patrolled the streets when a number of Palestinian youngsters and children gathered to throw stones at them. The Israeli soldiers in response fired live ammunition. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian was hit with a bullet to the lower back and then taken to Tubas Turkish Hospital for medical treatment. His condition was moderate.

 

  • At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces stationed in the coastal border area, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip fired a shell at a group of Palestinian armed group as they were carrying out military acts around 450 meters away from the coastal border fence. As a result, Mousa As’ad Salman Abu Z’eiter (31) from Jabalia refugee camp sustained shrapnel wounds in the left side of the chest and immediately killed him. Moreover, two members of the group sustained shrapnel wounds throughout their bodies, while ‘Abdel Hafiz As’ad Mohammed al-Sultan (28) sustained shrapnel wounds to the left side of his waist. All of them were taken to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia, and their condition was moderate. It should be mentioned that al-Sultan is a fish trader and owns al-Sultan Fishery and restaurant near al-Twan intersection, west of Jabalia, and used to buy fish from fishermen. The shelling also led to the destruction of a fishing boat belonging to Anis Mohammed Ahmed al-Sultan that was near the group. When the incident occurred, fishermen started to flee from the area and called PRCS ambulances. They transferred the corpse and wounded persons. the Spokesperson of the Israeli forces declared that in cooperation with the Israeli General Security Service targeted a Palestinian group who were planning to attack the Israeli forces stationed along the border in the aforementioned area.

 

  • Around the same time, Israeli forces moved 100 meters into the east of al-Qararah village to the east of Kahn Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled lands, which were previously levelled. The incursion continued for hours and the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

 

  • At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anbta village, east of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets to the village. Clashes broke out between the village young men and the Israeli soldiers. The young men gathered to throw stones at the siraeli sldiers, who in response fired sound bombs and tear gas cansiters to disperse the stone-throwers. Meanwhile, the soldiers arrested Mohammed Taysir ‘Abdel Jabbar ‘Abdel Dayem (20) while walking in the main street in the village. They threw him to the ground and severely beat him with their feet and riffles’ butts. The Israeli forces later withdrew taking the aforementioned civilian to an unknown destination

 

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out four incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: villages of Bani Na’im, Sorif, Deir Razeh and Sekah in Hebron.

 

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

 The Gaza Strip

 

  • At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 08 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of the Gaza Strip. A number of protesters approached the fence, set fire to rubber tires and threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed along the fence. Due to this, the Israeli forces sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesters. As a result, five civilians were wounded. Two of them were hit with live bullets, while the three others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.

 

  • At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces stationed at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank. As a result of the clashes which continued until 17:30, three civilians, including a child, were wounded. Two of them were hit with live bullets to the lower limbs, while the third one was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head.

 

  • Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp, in the centre of the Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed behind the sand barriers along the fence, due to which, the Israeli soldiers opened fire at them. As a result, two civilians, including a child, were wounded with live bullets. They were then taken to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive medical treatment. Medical sources at the hospital classified the injury of the child as serious and identified the wounded as:
  1. Saif al-Deen Jihad al-Hour (16). He was hit with a live bullet to the lower back; and
  2. Jihad ‘Atia al-Qirnawi (22). He was hit with a live bullet to the left thigh.

 

  • At approximately 15:00, dozens of young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Farahin area, east of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.   A number of protesters approached the border fence, set fire to rubber tire, raised the Palestinian flags and threw stones at the soldiers stationed along the fence. Due to this, the Israeli soldiers sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protesters until the evening. As a result, Farid Shawqi Hussain Abu Ishaq (29), sustained minor wounds to the hand. He was then taken to the European Gaza Hospital to receive medical treatment.

 

Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities

 

  • Following the Friday prayer, on 08 January 2016, in spite of the bad weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a demonstration in protest at the Israeli settlement in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah. The Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters and chased them into agricultural fields. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

 

  • At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, and made their way to the eastern entrance of 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 at them. As a result, Maher Mahmoud Suliman (60) was hit with a live bullet to the thigh.

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

  1. Continued closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.

Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.

 

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah

 

Date Imports
Category Amount
Tons Number Liters
29

December 2015

Various goods 4087
Humanitarian aid 20889
Cooking gas 244,840
Benzene

 

114,003

 

Diesel

Industrial fuel

Diesel for UNRWA

330,010

378,000

76,030

Construction aggregates 15160
Cement 3760
Construction steel 660
30

December 2015

Various goods 4356
Humanitarian aid 21428
Cooking gas 137,140
Benzene 114,000
Diesel

Industrial fuel

190,005

408,002

 

Construction aggregates 16360
Cement 3560
Construction steel 600
03 January 2016

 

 

 

Various goods 3758
Humanitarian aid 19920
Cooking gas 83,240
Benzene 373,000
Diesel 963,005
Industrial fuel 301,023
Construction aggregates 15720
Cement 3080
Construction steel 360
 

 

 

04 January 2016

Various goods 2765
Humanitarian aid 22137
Cooking gas 42,540
Benzene 335,993
Diesel

Diesel for UNRWA

 

896,995

76,000

Industrial fuel 301,003
Construction aggregates 16120
Cement 4240
Construction steel 270
05 January 2016 Various goods 2931
Humanitarian aid 22349
Cooking gas 176,120
Benzene 260,000
Diesel

Diesel of UNRWA

Industrial fuel

1,069,993

38,000

225,013

 

Construction aggregates 15840
Cement 4400
Construction steel 360
06 January 2016 Various goods 3117
Humanitarian aid 22630
Cooking gas 196,960
Benzene 186,401
Diesel

Industrial fuel

1,024,991

225,004

Construction aggregates 16320
Cement 4655
Construction steel 330
07

January 2016

Various goods 3442
Humanitarian aid 20905
Cooking gas 199,000
Benzene

 

295,000

 

Diesel 478,009

 

Industrial fuel 605,38
Construction aggregates 15640
Cement 4040
Construction steel 600
10 January 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Various goods 2841
Humanitarian aid 21802
Cooking gas 44,900
Benzene

Benzene for UNRWA

142,995

38,000

Diesel

Diesel of UNRWA

Industrial fuel

596,987

38,000

304,000

 

Construction aggregates 15280
Cement 4720
Construction steel 480
11 January 2016 Various goods 3518
Humanitarian aid 23649
Cooking gas 244,760
Benzene 180,995
Diesel

Diesel of UNRWA

Industrial fuel

554,010

76,000

221,394

Construction aggregates 16800
Cement 4720
Construction steel 480

 

Exports:

 

  • On Tuesday, 29 December 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of a truckload of furniture.
  • On Wednesday, 30 December 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 160 tons of scrap; a ton of fish and 7 tons of peppers.
  • On Sunday, 03 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 26.7 truckloads of eggplants; 33 tons of cucumbers; 4.8 tons of palms; 5.6 tons of peppers; 19.5 tons of cabbages; 7.3 tons of sweet peppers; 1.287 tons of strawberries; 6 tons of cherry tomatoes; 8.5 tons of squash; 5 tons of cauliflowers; 1.5 tons of sweet potatoes; 035 tons of pepper and 0.5 tons of mints.
  • On Monday, 04 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 160 tons of scrap.
  • On Tuesday, 05 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 17 tons of eggplants; 10.5 tons of cucumbers; a ton of palm; 3 tons of peppers; 15 tons of cabbages; 10 tons of sweet peppers; 1.655 tons of strawberries; 7 tons of tomatoes; 9.5 tons of squash; 0.8 tons of cauliflowers and 9.5 tons of sweet potatoes.
  • On Wednesday, 06 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 160 tons of scrap and a truckload of fish.
  • On Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation cabbages; 8 tons of sweet peppers; 2.168 tons of strawberries; 0.5 tons of tomatoes; 3 tons of squash; 2 tons of cauliflowers and 3 tons of sweet potatoes.
  • On Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 3 tons of eggplants; a truckload of strawberries and 12 truckloads of vegetables.
  • On Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of a truckload of cloths.

 Movement at BeitHanoun (Erez) crossing06-12 January 2016

 

Category 06 January 07 January 08 January 09 January 10 January 11 January 12 January
Patients 53 52 1 80 99 70
Companions 51 48 81 94 66
Personal needs 112 122 43 126 64 63
Families

of prisoners

83
Arabs from

Israel

2 5 20 4
Diplomats 4 1
International journalists
International workers 27 19 26 13 4 25
Travelers

abroad

18 29 2 4 30 2
Business people 379 369 11 508 451 389
Business meetings
Security interviews 20 18 11 13 11
VIPs
Ambulances

to Israel

2 3 2 3 5
Patients’ Companions 2 3 2 3 5

Notes: 

  • On Friday, 18 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 180 civilians from the Gaza Strip to perform prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem.
  • On Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed a person to renew his permit.
  • On Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed two persons to renew their permits.
  • On Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed a person to attend an agricultural training course in Israel.
  • On Wednesday, 06 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 75 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.
  • On Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 31 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.
  • On Friday, 08 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 19 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.
  • On Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 62 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.
  • On Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 11 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.
  • On Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 37 Christians to travel to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christmas.

 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 (26) checkpoints all over the city. On Friday, 08 January 2016, Israeli forces established five checkpoints at the entrances of Beit ‘Aynoun village; Sa’ir village; al-‘Aroub and al-Fawar refugee camps, north and south of Hebron and the southern entrance of Hebron.

On Saturday, 09 January 2016, Israeli forces established five checkpoints at the entrances of Sa’ir village; Ethna village; Beit Kahel village; al-Fawar refugee camp and the southern entrance of Halhoul village.

On Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints at entrances of Beit Ummer village; Sa’ir village; al-Fawar refugee camp and the northern entrance of Halhoul village.

On Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces established seven checkpoints at the entrances of Bani Na’iem village; Beit ‘Aynoun village; Sa’ir village; al-Shoyokh village; al-Fawar and al-‘Aroub refugee camps; north and south of Hebron and the southern entrance of Hebron.

On Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Israeli forces established five checkpoints at the entrances of Beit Kahel village; Sa’ir village; al-Fawar and al-‘Aroub refugee camps, north and south of Hebron and the southern entrance of Hebron.

 

  • Ramallah and al-Bireh: Israeli forces established (8) checkpoints all over the city of Ramallah. At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 08 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.

On Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the intersection of Beit ‘Our al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah; at the entrance of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah and the eastern entrance of al-Tayba village, northeast of the city.

On Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints at the intersection of ‘Ain Sinaa village on the road between Ramallah and Nablus; the intersection of Beit ‘Our al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah and under the bridge of Kherbit al-Mosbah village, south west of Ramallah.

At approximately 10:00 on Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the intersection of Beit ‘Our al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah.

 

  • Qalqilia: At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Rass ‘Atiya village, south of Qalqilia. At approximately 24:30 on Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli forces established a similar checkpoint at the eastern entrance of Qalqilia.

At approximately 14:40 on Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ezbit al-Tabib village, east of Qalqilia.

At approximately 22:20 on Monday, Israeli forces established a similar checkpoint at the entrance of Habla village, south of Qalqilia.

 

  • Salfit: At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of Burqin village, west of Salfit. The Israeli soldiers searched the civilian vehicles and checked the passengers’ IDs. At approximately 16:00 the abovementioned checkpoint was removed and no arrest were reported.
  • Tulkarm: At approximately 16:30 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at Anab military checkpoint, on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm, imposed their arbitrary practices against Palestinian civilians and obstructed the civilians’ movement. At approximately 17:30 and 23:30 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, Israeli forces imposed the same arbitrary practices at the abovementioned checkpoint.

At approximately 23:30 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, near Beit Lid intersection, east of Tulkarm.

 

  • Jenin:

At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm, between Ya’bod and Qufin villages, southwest of Jenin. The soldiers stopped and searched the vehicles travelling in both directions and checked the passengers’ IDs. An eyewitness, a taxi driver, said to PCHR’s fieldworker, “At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, while I was carrying passengers from Tulkarm to Jenin, Israeli soldiers stopped me at a military checkpoint established between Qufin and Ya’bod villages. The soldiers searched the taxi and then allowed me to cross the checkpoint, after which, I stopped my taxi about 500 meters away from the checkpoint in order to search it. I then found some blades under the rear seat, so I threw these blades out of the taxi. After that, the passengers arrived to Jenin and then when I was on my way back to Tulkarm, the same soldiers stopped me at the same checkpoint and searched my taxi again, especially the rear seat, but did not find anything. They then laughed out loud.”

 

On Friday, 08 January 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints on the road between Jenin and Kufor Dan village; west of Jenin; on the road between Kufor Dan and al-Yamoun villages, north of Jenin, and on the road between Jenin and Silet al-Harithya village, north of Jenin.

 

Note: all the above-mentioned checkpoints were removed later and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests at military checkpoints

 

  • At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 10 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, arrested ‘Ayish Naser Ikhlail (20), from Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. The Israeli Intelligence summoned ‘Ayish for interrogation. They then took him to an unknown destination.
  • At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Enab checkpoint established at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, arrested Mohammed Jamil al-Khodour (22); and Mohammed Khalil al-‘Izza (19). Both of them are from al-Fawar refugee camp.

 

  • At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karantina checkpoint, south of the Old City in Jenin, arrested Manif Kamal Ahmed Amr (21) and then took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 21:40 on Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces arrested Mohammed Fadel Abed al-Rahim Salama (22), from Badia village, near the annexation wall adjacent to al-Zawia village, while trying to sneak into Israel to find work.

 

Demolition of houses on grounds of collective punishment

 

  • At approximately 23:00 on Friday, 2016, a large Israeli force accompanied by an infantry unit and three large bulldozers moved into al-Basateen neighbourhood, northwest of Sarda village, north of Ramallah. They implemented a demolition and confiscation order issued by the Israeli Home Front Command and approved by the Israeli Supreme Court against a house belonging to Shafiq Mohammed Shafiq Halabi.

Sohair Salim Halabi (41) said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces moved into the abovementioned neighbourhood. They closed all entrances leading to it and prevented journalists and civilians from approaching. They cordoned the whole area. At approximately 00:40, Israeli bulldozers demolished the house completely. Ms. Halabi added that Israeli forces rendered 6 family members homeless, including two children. The 420-square-meter house consists of two floors, a roof and a storehouse. It should be noted that Shafiq’s son named Mohanned (20) carried out a stabbing attack against settlers in the Old City in East Jerusalem, on Saturday, 03 October 2015.

 

  1. 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

 

  • At approximately 19:00 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, an Israeli Border Guard officer fired a live bullet at Ahmed Tawfiq Abu al-Hommos (12), from al-Eisawiya village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. As a result, he sustained a fracture in the head and brain haemorrhage, due to which, he was taken to Hadassa-Ein Karem Hospital for medical treatment. Ahmed’s brother said that his brother was walking on the main street, as he was coming from his sister’s house to his family house. In the meantime, the village witnessed confrontations between Israeli forces and Palestinian youngsters. The aforementioned boy was surprised to see Israeli soldiers in front of him. They fired a bullet wounding him in the head. Once he was admitted to the hospital, he underwent a 6-hour surgery to stop the brain haemorrhage. He stayed in the intensive care unit. Doctors said they could not say whether the surgery succeeded or not unless after 72 hours, but his health condition is stable.

 

  • At approximately 19:00 on Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Qusay Ra’ed Nemer (12) near Hezma village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. As a result, he sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, due to which, he was taken to Hadassa-Ein Karem Hospital for medical treatment and remained in the Israeli custody. Qusay’s uncle said that Qusay was in a visit to his grandmother in Hezma village. He was wounded while being present in front of a commercial store in the village, as an Israeli soldier accused him of participated in throwing stones at an Israeli bus, which was refuted by eyewitness from the village. Nemer said that Israeli forces informed the family that Qusay remained in the Israeli custody receiving medical treatment at Hadssa-Ein Karem Hospital in West Jerusalem, explaining that the boy is from Anata village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem.

 Incursions and arrests 

  • At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Samir Hamdan (34), from al-Mukaber Mountain village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Monzer Bassah, from al-Eizariya village, east of occupied Jerusalem. They arrested his son Zuhair (24) and took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 08 January 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ameen al-Louzi in Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. They arrested his son Ramzi and took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Abu Dheim in al-Mukaber Mountain village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. They arrested his son Malek (21) and took him to an unknown destination.

 

  • At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 09 January 2016, Israeli forces arrested Majd Aziz Obaid (8) and Ahmed Khaled Bader (10), who were walking on a street in al-Eisawiya village, northeast of Jerusalem, and took them to Saladin police station for interrogation. Mohammed Abu al-Hommos, member of the follow-up committee in al-Eisawiya village, said that Israeli forces arrested the two aforementioned children when they were walking on the main street in the village. However, they were released after over 4 hours of detention and interrogation on condition that they return to the police station on Sunday, 10 January 2016, for interrogation also. Abu al-Hommos added that Obaid was in the company of his aunt to the health centre, as he hurt his hand at home, but Israeli forces arrested him for no reason. Moreover, they arrested Ahmed, who was walking around, and punched him in the nose.

 

  • At approximately 18:00 on Monday, 11 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They erected a checkpoint at the neighbourhood’s entrance and started searching the vehicles. In the meantime, they stopped a vehicle and arrested the driver Hani Tayseer al-Haymoni (31), from al-Sweih neighbourhood, east of the Old City. An eyewitness said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces arrested al-Haymoni and put him in the police car. They left his two children in the vehicle and did not care for their crying. Some young men took care of them until their mother arrived.

 

  • At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour village, east of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested four civilians, including two children. The arrested civilians were identified as Mohammed Khalil al-Hadrah (14), Mohammed Yunis al-Hadrah (19), Ibrahim al-Hadrah (19) and Emad Ahmed Abu Ghannam (16).

 House demolitions and demolition notices 

  • At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 07 January 2016, bulldozers of the Israeli municipality demolished an under-construction house in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem, belonging to Nadia Abu Diab under the pretext of building without a licence. Abu Diab said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces accompanied by Israeli municipality bulldozers moved into Ein al-Louzah neighbourhood in Silwan village. They demolished her house without a prior notice. She added that her 130-square-meter house was still under-construction. She started building it in September 2015, but stopped construction works following the issuance of a demolition order from the municipality court. She tried to obtain a construction license, but in vain.

 

  • Israeli forces accompanied by the municipality bulldozers moved then into Karm al-Shaikh area in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood. They demolished another 2-storey under-construction house belonging to Suleiman Abu Diab. The building consisted of foundations and pillars for two unroofed floors.

 

  • On the same day evening, Israeli forces accompanied by municipality bulldozers raided the Mediterranean Restaurant near Beit Safafa village, west of occupied East Jerusalem. They demolished parts of the Restaurant that were attached by its owner to the main building three months ago. Emad Barqan, the Restaurant’s owner, said that he attached 144-square-mter structure to the main building three months ago. In addition, this new structure cost him about NIS 400,000.

 

  • At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 10 January 2016, the Israeli municipality officers delivered an administrative demolition order issued against an under-construction residential building in al-Thawri neighbourhood, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem, belonging to Mousa Mohammed al-Abasi under the pretext of non-licensing. Al-Abasi said that the municipality officers handed over to him a demolition order against a 2-storey building. The first floor is a garage that was built four years ago, while the 230-square-meter second floor consists of two apartments. He added that before building the garage, and for prolonged years, he had been trying to obtain a construction license from the municipality and competent authorities, but in vain, as the municipality claimed it was planning to turn the place into a car park. He stressed that he bought the land eight years ago and has all the documents proving that. Al-Abasi explained that the Israeli municipality officers confiscated electrical building tools after they moved into the area under the pretext of building with no license. The tools were estimated at NIS 4,000.

 Punitive measures against the city residents  

  • On Sunday, 10 January 2016, a number of Palestinian civilians residing in East Jerusalem were surprised to find their National Insurance allocations suspended for no legal justification. It should be noted the persons, whose National Insurance was suspended, were arrested by Israeli forces from al-Aqsa Mosque and then deported upon decisions issued by the Israeli police and intelligence service. Israeli forces classified these persons as members of the “Morabetoun and Morabetat” banned organization upon an order from Moshe Yaalon, the Israeli Defence Minister. Khadija Khweis said that she went to receive medical treatment, but she was surprised to find that the health insurance covering her and her children was suspended for no legal justification, although she lives in Jerusalem and is committed to pay dues. She added that she was warned in advance, which proves that is part of the Israeli measures taken against men and women present in al-Aqsa Mosque.
  1. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

 

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.

 

  • On Tuesday morning, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces expanded and fortified “Mevo Dotan” military checkpoint that is established on the bypass road between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm, southwest of Jenin, opposite to “Mevo Dotan” settlement. According to PCHR’s investigations, Israeli forces levelled lands around the checkpoint and established fortifications. This measure was taken after Israeli forces had lately established a 900-meter long and 100-meter deep fence around the road no. 585 between Ya’bad and Emraihiya villages, southwest of Jenin, which was closed upon a military order from the Israeli forces.

 

  • At approximately 04:45 on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Saweya village, south of Nablus. The Israeli bulldozers levelled 500 meters of a plant nursery and damaged the plants inside. The overall area of the plant nursery is a dunum and a half. It is located near the main road between Nablus and Ramallah and belongs to Fahed Ouda Saleh.

 

  • At approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, Israeli forces accompanied by Civil Administration vehicle and a bulldozer moved into Kherbet al-Rahwah, south of al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. The Civil Administration officers confiscated Solar panels used in generating electricity, while the bulldozer demolished a 30-square-meter residential tent and a 50-saure-meter livestock barn belonging to Rajeh Farhan al-Samamrah (40). Israeli forces claimed that the demolition and confiscation were carried out against the aforementioned facilities, as they are built in area (C) according to Oslo Accords without a permit from the Israeli competent authorities.

 

  • At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 12 January 2016, Israeli forces delivered a number of demolition notices against poultry barracks and commercial facilities in Beit Luqia village, southeast of Ramallah and al-Bireh, under the pretext of non-licensing. According to PCHR’s investigations, an Israeli forces accompanied by Civil Administration officer handed over notices to four civilians to demolish a number of barracks as follows:
  1. A 400-square-meter barrack belonging to Mohammed Shehda Mafarjah;
  2. A 700-square-meter barrack belonging to Omer Abdul Fattah Assi;
  3. A 100-square-meter barrack belonging to Adel Abed Mohammed Assi used as a car workshop; and
  4. A 70-square-meter barrack belonging to Emad Hussein Assi used a puncture repair workshop.

 

 

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

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.

 

 

[1] A dunum equals 1,000 square meters.

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