Hebron – Israeli forces
established military checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ommar village, north of
Hebron.

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

 

 

 

Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and
wounded four others, including a child, in Beit Ommar, north of Hebron.

 

A member of a Palestinian armed group died of wounds
he sustained during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.

 

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

Nine protestors, including three children, were
wounded in Kufor Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqilya.

Six protestors, including a child, were wounded during
other protests.

Four protestors, including two children, were arrested
in Bil’in and al-Nabi Saleh weekly protests.

 

Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas
in the Gaza Strip.

A Palestinian civilian was wounded, east of Khan Yunis
in the south of the Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces conducted 55 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank, seven ones in East Jerusalem and another in the
southern Gaza Strip.

69 Palestinian civilians, including four children and a
woman, were arrested.

13 of these civilians, including the four children,
were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

Israeli forces moved into Nablus and arrested 26
Palestinians, the majority of whom are members of Hamas movement.

 

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

Israeli
forces established a number of checkpoints in the West Bank.

A Palestinian civilian was arrested at al-Karama
crossing on the Jordanian border.

 

Israeli forces continued efforts to create Jewish
majority in occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli forces demolished a building bricks store and
confiscated two mobile houses in Hezma village, east of the city.

An under-construction residential building in Wad
al-Jouz area and a mobile house in Beit Hanina were demolished.

 

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and international
humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (09 –
15 April 2015).

 

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 20 others, including five children, in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. The killed the civilian and 19 wounded others,
including the five children, were in the West Bank, while a civilian was
wounded in the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces targeted
Palestinian fishermen and border areas along the Gaza Strip.  

In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 10
April 2015, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded four
others, including a child; the wound of one of whom was serious, at the
entrance of Beit Ommar village, north of Hebron.

Israeli forces continued the use of excessive and
systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international solidarity activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, nine
protestors, including three children, were wounded during Kufor Qaddoum weekly
protest, northeast of Qalqilya.

In the same context, six Palestinians, including a
child, were wounded during other protests in the vicinity of Ofer detention
facility, southwest of Ramallah; at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun
refugee camp, north of the city; and Sateh Marhaba area adjacent of
“Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh.

 

In the Gaza Strip, on 14 April 2015, a medical source
at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City pronounced a 22-year-old Palestinian from
al-Zaitoun neighbourhood dead from wounds he sustained earlier during the
latest Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip.

 

As part of targeting border areas, on 10 April 2015, a
Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border
fence opened fire at dozens of civilians who were present 10-100 meters to the
west of the said fence, east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip.

  

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 55 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and seven ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces
arrested at least 69 Palestinians, including four children and a woman.  Thirteen of these Palestinians, including the
four children, were arrested in Jerusalem.

 

Israeli forces carried out a wide-scale incursion in
Nablus on 15 April 2015 and arrested 25 civilians, the majority of whom are
members of Hamas movement.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces moved about 150
meters to the east of al-Fokhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis in the south
of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and withdrew
later. In the meantime, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened
fire at agricultural lands in Khuza’a village, but no casualties were reported.

 

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 8 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. In many occasions lately, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian
patients and their companions and traders.  
 

Efforts to create Jewish Majority

Home and civilian objects’ demolition

 

On Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Hezma village,
northeast of East Jerusalem. Israeli bulldozers demolished a number of
commercial facilities near the village’s northern entrance and confiscated their
contents.

 

On Tuesday, 14 April 2015, Israeli forces belonging to the Israeli
municipality in Jerusalem demolished an under-construction building in Wadi
al-Jouz neighborhood, east of the old city, on the pretext of non-licensing.

 

On the same day, Israeli municipal bulldozers demolished a mobile
home belonging to Mohammed Shwaiki in al-Ashqariya neighborhood, in Beit Hanina
village, north of East Jerusalem.

 

Incursions
and arrests:

 

On
Sunday, 12 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Beit Deqqo village, northwest
of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Habes Rayan and arrested his son.

 

On
Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of
East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they
arrested five civilians.

 

On the
same day, Israeli forces moved into Shu’fat neighbourhood, north of East
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
two children.

 

Israeli
forces moved into Silwan village, south of the old city of East Jerusalem. They
raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested two children.

 

Israeli
forces raided a house belonging to Ibrahim Khalafawi in Beer Ayoub
neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They
fired sound bombs in the house and harshly beat his two sons.

 

On
Tuesday, 14 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the
old city in East Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses from which they
arrested three civilians.

 

On
Tuesday, 14 May 2015, Israeli municipality officers raided a house belonging to
the family of Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi in al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan
village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem.

 

On
Wednesday, 15 April 2015, Alya al-Shaikh al-Abasi (50) surrendered to al-Ramleh
prison to serve 26-month sentence.

 

 

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(09 – 15 March 2015)

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

Thursday, 09 April 2015

At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into
Qaryout village, southeast of Nablus. 
They patrolled the streets and randomly fired sound bombs.  They then stopped Eithar Samer ‘Abdel Majeed
Mousa (13), who was walking in the street, and started kicking and hitting him
with gun butt.  Then Israeli soldiers did
not stop their attack until four women from the village gathered and rescued
him from their hands.

Eithar Samer ‘Abdel Majeed Mousa said to a PCHR
fieldworker:

“At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 09 April
2015, I went out from the house of my aunt’s husband, Ra’ed Mahmoud Mousa, on
al’Ein Road, southeast of my village Qaryout, heading to my house. When I
walked 20 meters away from the aforementioned house, I saw an Israeli military
jeep that stopped in front of me.  An
Israeli soldier stepped out of the jeep and asked me: ‘Why do you throw stones
at the soldiers?’  I told him that I did
not throw stones at you.  Once I finished
this sentence, he beat me and knocked me down right on my side.  He started hitting me with his hands and the
gun butt, and another Israeli soldier then stepped out of the same jeep and
started kicking me on my back.  I was
crying and screaming when four women, including two ones I know, got out of
their houses in the area and quarrelled with the soldiers.  They pulled me from their hands and wiped my
tears.  They did not leave me until they
were sure that the Israeli soldiers withdrew, and I came back home”.

 

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed at
the observation point established at the entrance of al-‘Aroub refugee camp,
north of Hebron, moved into the vicinity of the residential houses in the
aforementioned camp.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to Majed Abu Khayzran.  Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests
were reported.  Meanwhile, Palestinian
youngsters gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers,
who in response fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the stone-throwers
and houses.  As a result, a number of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Dura, southwest of Hebron;
Senjel village, north of Ramallah; Bitello village, northwest of the city;
‘Ezbet Shofa, southeast of Tulkarm; ‘Arrabah village, southwest of Jenin.

 

Friday, 10 April 2015

In a new excessive force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian
civilian and wounded four others, including a child, at the entrance of Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron. The injury of one of the wounded persons was
serious.  This happened when the Israeli
soldiers opened fire from an ambush they set inside a broke vehicle next to the
street at a number of Palestinian civilians in a funeral procession of Ja’afar
Ibrahim Yousif ‘Abdel Qader ‘Awad (23) to the village cemetery adjacent to
Bypass Road (60).  ‘Awad died in al-Mizan
Speciality Hospital in Hebron after months of treatment due to the medical negligence
practiced against him when he was arrested in the Israeli prisons for 15
months.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR and
eyewitnesses’ accounts, at approximately 13:30 on the aforementioned day,
thousands of mourners from the centre of Beit Ummar village were proceeding the
funeral of Ja’afar ‘Awad to the village cemetery adjacent to Bypass Road
(60).  When the mourners arrived at the
entrance of the village, where the Israeli soldiers established a military
tower, angry Palestinian youngsters threw stones at the tower, and the
procession continued to the cemetery. 
Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers stationed in the tower fired tear gas
canisters heavily at the mourners, who threw stones again at the military tower
and a broke bus next to the sub-road leading to Kherbet Abu al-Toq, south of
the main entrance of the village, after discovering a number of Israeli
soldiers inside it.  Around minutes
later, the Israeli soldiers indiscriminately and heavily opened fire at the
participants from a distance of around 50 meters from inside the bus and the
military tower. As a result, Ziyad ‘Omer Mesleh ‘Awad (28) was hit by a bullet
that penetrated his right side and went out from the left side of his neck
causing laceration in the inner parts of his body and killing him
immediately.  Four other civilians,
including a child and a serious condition, were wounded.  A 17-year-old child was hit with a bullet
that penetrated his left knee; and a 46-year-old man sustained bullet shrapnel
wounds in the centre back of his neck and left upper shoulder causing three
fractures.  Moreover, a 43-year-old man
was hit with a bullet to the left upper side of the head, and another
21-year-old man was hit with a bullet that penetrated the neck from the left
side.  The latter’s condition was
described as serious.

The Israeli forces also admitted that they targeted four
“rioters” in Beit Ummar with a “Roger” rifle supported with
a 22-inch bullet called “Toto” after claiming that the Israeli
soldiers were in real danger. It should be mentioned that the “Roger”
riffle fires three bullets in each time consecutively.  Moreover, the bullet’s entry and exit from
the body is very small and it disintegrates and spreads.  Therefore, the bullet is lethal when it hits
any part of the body.  This was revealed
in an eyewitness’s account about the killing of Ziyad ‘Awad about
the entry and exit of the bullet and how fast he died.

An eyewitness
said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

“I was
participating in the funeral and Ziyad ‘Awad was standing in front of me.  During the stone throwing at the tower, the
Israeli soldiers heavily and indiscriminately fired bullets; most of which were
not heard.  I then saw Ziyad falling on the ground and hitting with his hand three
times on the ground.  I with a group of
civilians rushed towards him and took him to the nearest ambulance.  He was then a dead body, and minutes later
al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron declared his death.”

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire and fired tear gas
canisters sporadically at dozens of Palestinian civilians, who gathered on a
distance between 10-100 meters away from the aforementioned border, east of
‘Abasan village to the east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.  The shooting which continued for two hours
resulted in the injury of Mohammed Ahmed Shehdah Abu Teir (19) with bullet
shrapnel to the testicles.  He was then
taken to Naser Hospital in Khan Younis to receive medical treatment, and his
condition was described as moderate.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilya; Hejah village, east of the city; N’ilin village, west of Ramallah;
Beit ‘Aor al-Tahta, southwest of the city; and the villages of Fasayel, Marj
Na’ajah and al-Dyouk, north of Jericho.

Saturday, 11 April 2015

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Awarta
village, southeast of Nablus.  They
stationed in ‘Ein al-Ghoutah area in the southern side of the village, and then
raided and searched five houses.  They
wrote down personal data of the residents and then took photos for the
corridors of the house from the outside and inside.  When Yaser As’ad ‘Abdel Karim Lolah attempted
to stop them from entering his kids’ room, the Israeli soldiers beat him
up.  Those houses belong to the following
civilians: Yasser As’ad ‘Abdel Karim Lolah and his brother ‘Abdel Naser; Qasem
Fawzi ‘Awad; Ibrahim Yousif Qawariq and Murad Hussein Darawshah.  Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Zawata village, northwest of Nablus. 
They raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested
‘Abdullah Yousif Farid Saleh (22) and Islam Mohammd Ghaleb Lolah (23).  Israeli forces withdrew later taking him to
an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Islam Mahmoud Salim Yamin (22) in
al-Sheikh Hamed Moutain area near the observation point established on the
aforementioned mountain near Til High School for Boys, southwest of
Nablus.  Israeli forces arrested the
aforementioned civilian and withdrew later taking him to an unknown
destination.  Israeli forces claimed that
Palestinian boys threw stones at the observation point.

 

At approximately 23:50, Israeli forces moved into
Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Wajdi
Hussein Hamdan Beidah (32) and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence
in the Israeli Military Liaison office in the city.  At approximately 02:40, Israeli forces
withdrew, and no arrests were reported.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: al-Samou’a
and Ethna villages; Karaza village; al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron; and
‘Azoun ‘Etmah village, southeast of Qalqilya.

 

Sunday, 12 April 2015

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abu Mesh’al, northwest of Ramallah.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed ‘Omer Zahran (32) and handed him
a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence after deliberately throwing a
sound bomb near the main door of the house

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Bitello village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to Nour Shafiq Saleh Bazzaz
(19) after detaining family members in one room.  Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided a house
belonging to Amjad Akram Saleh Rewan (20). 
Israeli forces arrested the two civilians and took them to Ofer prison,
southwest of Ramallah.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported:
al-Jaftalak village, north of Jericho; Ethna village, west of Hebron; Deir
al-‘Asal village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron.

 

Monday, 13 April 2015

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
Mohammed Jamal Mohammed ‘Abahrah (22). 
They arrested the aforementioned civilian and withdrew later taking him
to an unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Samit, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. 
They raided and searched Hasan ‘Ali al-Hroub (22).  They arrested the aforementioned civilian and
withdrew later taking him to an unknown destination. 

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Selwad village, northeast of
Ramallah.  They stationed in the centre
of the village and then raided and searched a number of houses after breaking
the doors of some of them.  Meanwhile, a
number of Palestinian young men threw stones at the military vehicles, and the
Israeli soldiers fired in response sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
stone throwers.  As a result, a number of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. 
The Israeli soldiers arrested No’aman Saleh Hamdan (19); Amir Da”ass
Hammad (22); and Ahmed Abu Zeinah (34), and handed Yehia ahmed Mahmoud Hamed
(19); Waleed Dawoud Hammad (20); and Hamzah Mahmoud Hamed (25) summonses to
refer to the Israeli intelligence. 
Israeli forces later withdrew taking the three detainees to an unknown
destination.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Kafr
Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya; Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron;
‘Aqbet Jaber refugee camp, southwest of Jericho; ‘Anzah village, south of
Jenin; and Fahmah village, southwest of the city.

 

Tuesday, 14 April 2015

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm refugee camp adjacent to Tulkarm. 
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Sa’ed Nader
Ahmed Abu Zgheib (41) and arrested him. 

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. 
They stationed in the centre of the camp and then raided and searched a
number houses.  They arrested five
civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown destination: ‘Abed
Soliman al-Teeti (18); Mousa ‘Eid al-Teeti (19); ‘Abed al-Rahman Taher Sweilem
(19); ‘Nadim Khalil al-Badawi (18); and Hazim Maher al-Ra’ie (15).

 

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into a
number of residential neighbourhoods in the centre of Dura, southwest of
Hebron.  They stationed in al-Namous
area, west of the city, and then raided and searched a house belonging to
Yousif ‘Abdel Hadi Masalmah (22).  They
arrested the aforementioned civilian and withdrew later taking him to an
unknown destination.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Qalqilya.  They raided and searched a
number of houses, from which they arrested Mousa ‘Abdel Rahim Nazzal (27);
‘Emad Jalal al-J’eidi (25) and Saleh Khaled Dawoud (25).  Israeli forces withdrew later taking them to
an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces arrested Beit
Rima village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They stationed in the centre of the village and then raided and searched
a number of houses.  Meanwhile, a number
of young men threw stones at the invaded vehicles, and the Israeli soldiers in
response fired sound bombs and gas canisters at the stone-throwers.  They also arrested seven civilians, including
brothers and withdrew later taking them to an unknown destination:

1. Mohammed Tamim Hussein Rimawi (20);

2. His brother Hussein Rimawi (25);

3. Majdi Muneer Harb Rimawi (21);

4. His brother, Humam (23);

5. Taha Jaber Mes’ed Rimawi (24);

6. ‘Abdel Qader ‘Abed Ismail Barghuthi (23); and

7. Jamal ‘Abdel Karim Rimawi (24).

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Atil
village, north of Tulkarm.  They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Qasem Nazmi Ahmed al-Ghawi
(24).  They arrested the aforementioned civilian
and withdrew later taking him to an unknown destination.

In the early morning, medical sources at Shifa Hospital
in Gaza City declared the death of ‘Eleiwah Nedal Hamed ‘Eleiwah (22) from
al-Zaytoun neighbourhood out of injuries he previously sustained during the
latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip. 
On 29 July 2014, ‘Eleiwah was wounded when Israeli warplanes targeted
Murtaja building near al-Shija’iyah market in the east of Gaza City, as he was
present near the building.  As a result,
he was wounded and taken to Shifa Hospital in Gaza, and due to his serious
injury he was transferred to Egypt. 
After long treatment, his health condition deteriorated and he went into
a coma.  Therefore, he was brought back to
Gaza and his condition deteriorated until his death was declared on the
aforementioned day.  It should be
mentioned that ‘Eleiwah is affiliated with Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the armed
wing of Hamas).

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: ‘Alar and Sayda villages,
northeast of Tulkarm; Yata; villages of Beit ‘Awwa and Beit Ummar in Hebron;
‘Atil village, north of Tulkarm; and Ya’bod village, southwest of Jenin.

 

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus; Balatah refugee camp, east of the city; ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp;
and Zawata village, northwest of the city. 
The Israeli forces raided and searched dozens of houses in various
neighbourhoods of the city and camp.  In
the morning, they arrested 25 civilians; most of them are affiliated with
Hamas.  The campaign included former
prisoners, journalists, engineers and lecturers in addition to the wife of a
former prisoner.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
Northern ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Tawfiq Sawalhah (42)
and arrested him.  Israeli forces later
withdrew taking him to the ‘Obour al-Mostaqbal Company for selling and
repairing computers in Palestine Street in the centre of Nablus.  Israeli forces opened the shop with sharp
tools and entered into the shop with Sawalhah. 
They confiscated five computers, a cash box, which includes checks and promissory
notes, and a surveillance camera recorder. 
Before withdrawing from Palestine Street, Israeli forces threw tear gas
canisters in Palestine Bakery next to the street.  As a result, Baraa’ Zheiman (18) fainted and
was taken in the National Hospital in the centre of the city. 

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into
al-Far’aah refugee camp, south of Jenin. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Baraa’
Mohammed ‘Abbas (22).  They arrested the
aforementioned civilian and withdrew later taking him to an unknown
destination.

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces moved 150
meters into the east of al-Fukhari, southeast of Khan Younis in the southern
Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces levelled
lands along the border fence before re-deploying after three hours.  Meanwhile, Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at the agricultural
lands, east of Abu Reidah neighbourhood in Khuza’ah village.  No casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Hebron and Sa’ir village,
east of the city.

 

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

 

During the reporting period,
Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organized
by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in
the West Bank. As a result, nine protestors, including three children, were
wounded in Kufor Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya.

 

In the same context, six Palestinians, including a child, were
wounded during other protests in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility,
southwest of Ramallah, at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee
camp,  north of the city, and in Sateh
Marhaba area adjacent to “Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh.

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested three
civilians, including two children, in the weekly protests.

 

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

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activity

    

Following the Friday prayer, on
10 April 2015, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli
human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. The protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross
the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and
a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas
canisters, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and
chased them into the olive fields. As a result, a number of protestors suffered
tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by
Israeli soldiers. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested Samer Mohammed Nasim Bernat
(40) but handed him to the Palestinian liaison office in the evening.   

 

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the
annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and
prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they
responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up.

 

Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of
al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful
protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. They made their way towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers
from the nearby “Halmish” settlement are trying to seize. Israeli
soldiers closed all the village’s entrances to prevent the Palestinian and
international solidarity activists and journalists from participating in the
protest. As a result, many protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. Moreover, Israeli
soldiers arrested three Palestinians, including two children, and took them to
an unknown destination: Basel Thalji Taher Ya’coub (19); Osaid Hosam Faqih (16);
and Amir Samir Hjaiji (16).

 

At approximately 13:30, Palestinian civilians and international
solidarity activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum
village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance of the village
in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa
Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli soldiers,
who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, nine
Palestinians, including three children, were wounded. The wounded were
identified as:

 

1. Qaiser Jihad Mahmoud Rayan (10), sustained a bullet wound to the
chest;

2. Areej Khaldoun Abu Khaled (11), suffered a shock and had pain in
the ears because a gas canister was fired by Israeli forces in her house yard;

3. A 16-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the head;

4. A 26-year-old civilian was hit by a gas canister to the head too;

5. A 25-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the lower
belly;

6. A 45-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg;

7. A 19-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg
too;

8. A 24-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg;
and

9. A 59-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to the lower back.

 

Other protests:

   

Following the Friday prayer, 10 April 2015, dozens
of Palestinians gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad village,
northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and Yabroud villages, near
Bypass road (60), in protest at the Israeli policies. Protestors set fire to
tires and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the aforementioned road and
Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the protestors. As a result, dozens of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation
and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.  

 

On
Friday afternoon, dozens of youngsters gathered from different areas of
Ramallah and al-Bireh in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of
Ramallah. They headed towards the facility’s gate that was closed by Israeli
soldiers. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at the
soldiers. Israeli forces deployed around the detention facility and started
firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters. As a result, three civilians were
wounded and taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. A 26-year-old civilian,
a 19-year-old civilian and a 22-year-old civilian all sustained bullet wounds
to their right legs.

 

Also
following the Friday prayer, dozens of children and young men gathered at the
southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were
about 300 meters away from the fence of “Beit Eil” settlement.
Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal
bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a 14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the
left leg and was taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah to receive the
necessary medical treatment.

 

Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of
Palestinian youngsters gathered in Sateh Marhaba area adjacent to
“Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh. They threw stones at the settlement’s
fence. Israeli soldiers stationed there fired rubber-coated metal bullets, live
ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, two Palestinian civilians
were wounded and taken to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah; a 23-year-old
civilian sustained a bullet wound to the right leg and a 20-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet wound to the right leg.

 

3. Continued
closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated due to the closure of Karm
Abu Salem for security claims. According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli
authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza per
day.  This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is
200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter. 
The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result
of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzene to run
generators.  As a result, the demand for gas further increased.

 

For almost 8 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to
prevent the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip. Two years
ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction
materials for a number of international organizations in the Gaza Strip. 
On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited quantities of
construction materials for the private sector.  However, on 13 October
2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing
tunnels. Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials only
for UNRWA and UNDP projects.  As a result, construction works have
completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and an
increase in unemployment levels. During the 51-day Israeli offensive on the
Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, Israeli authorities did not allow the entry
of any construction materials. As a result, vital and infrastructure projects
have been obstructed so far.

 

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. 3 weeks ago, Israeli forces started to ban the entry of
wood  under the pretext is it used for constructing tunnels.

 

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing
for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only
allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting
in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at
reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun
crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access hospitals via the
crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.

 

 

Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza
Strip, is designated for the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip
with the West Bank.

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun
(“Erez”) crossing

07 – 13 April 2015

 

 

Notes:

 

· Israeli forces completely
closed Beit Hanoun crossing on Thursday, 09 April 2015, and Friday, 10 April
2015, except for humanitarian cases.

 

· On Tuesday, 07 April 2015;
Wednesday, 08 April 2015; Sunday, 12 April 2015; and Monday, 13 April 2015,
Israeli forces respectively allowed 30, 88, 80 and 108 Christians to travel to
Bethlehem via the crossing to attend their celebrations.

 

 

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

24 March – 08 April 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exports:

 

On Tuesday, 24 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 42.2 tons of eggplants; 24 tons of cucumbers; 15 tons of tomatoes; ton of squash;
4 tons of hot pepper and 24 tons of furniture.

On Wednesday, 25 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the
exportation of ton of fish and 20 tons of furniture.

On Thursday, 26 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 9.8 tons of eggplants, 55.7 tons of cucumbers; 32.5 tons of tomatoes; 2 tons
of squash; 5.1 tons of hot pepper.

On Sunday, 29 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 12 tons of eggplants; 38.2 tons of cucumbers; 44.5 tons of tomatoes; 0.33 tons
of squash; 2.3 tons of hot pepper; 13 tons of clothes; and 3.5 tons of cherry
tomatoes.

On Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 12.5 tons of eggplants; 1.5 tons of cucumbers; 8.6 tons of tomatoes; 6.3
tons of hot pepper; 29.5 tons of tomatoes; and 0.6 tons of fish.

On Sunday, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 7.3 tons of eggplants; 2 tons of cucumbers; 33.2 tons of tomatoes; 3.7 tons
of hot pepper; 18 tons of furniture; 0.15 tons of basil and 0.55 of garlic
leaves.

On Monday, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 0.6 of fish.

On Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
5.5 tons of eggplants; 2.7 tons of cucumbers; a28 tons of tomatoes; 2 tons of
hot pepper; and 1.3 tons of fish.

 

Other imports:

 

On Tuesday, 24 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 680
tons of cement, 3200 tons of aggregate and 40 tons of construction steel for
the UNRWA; 120 tons of aggregate; 400 tons of cement and 60 tons of
construction steel for the Gaza reconstruction. They also allowed the entry of
560 tons of fodders and 420 tons of wheat.

On Wednesday, 25 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of
2080 tons of aggregate and 240 tons of cement for the UNRWA; 160 tons of
aggregate and 560 tons of cement; and 1880 tons of aggregate for the Water
Authority; 40 tons of cement for the UNDP. 
They also allowed the entry of 665 tons of fodders and 245 tons of
wheat.

On Thursday, 26 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 3,200
tons of aggregate, 30 tons of white cement for the UNRWA; 1,080 tons of
aggregate and 760 tons of cement for the Gaza reconstruction; and 80 tons of
cement for the Water Authority. They also allowed the entry of 490 tons of
fodders and 490 tons of wheat.

On Sunday, 29 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,920
tons of aggregate, 520 tons of cement for the UNRWA; 520 tons of aggregate, 1,960
tons of cement and 234 tons of Limestone cement for the Gaza Reconstruction; 1,000
tons of aggregate for the UNDP; and 840 tons of aggregate for the Water
Authority. They also allowed the entry of 525 tons of fodders and 245 tons of
wheat.

On Monday, 30 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,960
tons of aggregate, 360 tons of cement and 60 tons of construction steel for the
UNRWA; 1,440 tons of aggregate, 1840 tons of cement, 108 tons of limestone
cement for the Gaza Reconstruction; and a ton of cement for the Water
Authority. They also allowed the entry of 665 tons of fodders and 385 tons of
wheat.

On Tuesday, 31 March 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 200
tons of aggregate, 360 tons of cement and 39 tons of construction steel for the
UNRWA.  They also allowed the entry of
560 tons of fodders and 322 tons of wheat.

On Wednesday, 01 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,840
tons of aggregate, 120 tons of cement, 30 tons of construction steel and 40
tons of white cement for the UNRWA; 1720 tons of aggregate and 1,520 tons of
cement for the Gaza Reconstruction; 1,200 tons of aggregate and 120 tons of
cement for the Turkish Project; and 840 tons of aggregate for the UNDP; and 360
tons of aggregate for the Water Authority. 
They also allowed the entry of 595 tons of fodders and 455 tons of wheat.

On Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,920
tons of aggregate for the UNRWA; 160 tons of aggregate, 1,280 tons of cement
and 120 tons of limestone cement for the Gaza Reconstruction.  They also allowed the entry of 980 tons of
fodders and 315 tons of wheat.

On Sunday, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 3,120
tons of aggregate and 560 tons of cement for the UNRWA; 480 tons of aggregate,
1,240 tons of aggregate and 660 tons of limestone cement for the Gaza Reconstruction;
and 280 tons of aggregate for the Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 595 tons of
fodders; and 350 tons of wheat.

On Monday, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 3,080
tons of aggregate, 160 tons of cement and 60 tons of construction steel for the
UNRWA; 2,000 tons of aggregate and 1,960 tons of cement for the Gaza
Reconstruction; 80 tons for the Water Authority.  They also allowed the entry of 770 tons of
fodders and 35 tons of wheat.

On Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces also allowed the entry
of 1920 tons of aggregate and 160 tons of cement for the UNRWA; 2,200 tons of
aggregate, 1,880 tons of cement and 150 tons of construction steel for the Gaza
Reconstruction; 680 tons of aggregate and 40 tons of cement for the Water
Authority; and 400 tons of cement for the Qatar Project.  They also allowed the entry of 665 fodders
and 70 tons of wheat.

On Wednesday, 08 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 2,000
tons of aggregate, 400 tons of cement and 30 tons of construction steel for the
UNRWA; 1,400 tons of cement, 120 tons of construction steel and 2000 tons of
aggregate for the Gaza Reconstruction; 160 tons of cement and 360 tons of
aggregate for Coastal Municipalities; and 30 tons of construction steel for the
UNDP.  They also allowed the entry of 700
tons of fodders and 70 tons of wheat.

 

Plastic Containers returned by Israeli forces via Karm Abu Salem:

 

On Tuesday, 24 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 11 truckloads
of empty containers.

On Wednesday, 25 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 10 truckloads
of empty containers and a truckload of empty oxygen cylinders.

On Thursday, 26 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 10 truckloads
of empty containers.

On Sunday, 29 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 16 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Monday, 30 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 9 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Tuesday, 31 March 2015, Israeli forces returned 9 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Wednesday, 01 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 6 truckloads
of empty containers.

On Thursday, 02 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 5 truckloads
of empty containers.

On Sunday, 05 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 9 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Monday, 06 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 12 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Tuesday, 07 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 7 truckloads of
empty containers.

On Wednesday, 08 April 2015, Israeli forces returned 8 truckloads
of empty containers and a truckload of empty oxygen cylinders.

 

Note: Israeli forces closed the crossing on Thursday, 09 April
2015, because of Jewish holidays.

   

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 have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 09 April 2015,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee
camp, south of Hebron.  At approximately
16:00, another checkpoint was established on Marah al-Baqar Road leading to the
villages of Beit al-Rewesh, Deir al-‘Awasal and al-Majd, southwest of dura, southwest
of the city.  Later, the two checkpoints
were removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 11 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Smou’a village, south of Hebron.  Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Kahel village, northwest of
Hebron.  Later, the checkpoint was
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

· Ramallah: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 09 April 2015,
Israeli forces established the intersection of ‘Ein Sinia village on the road
between Ramallah and Nablus.  At approximately
11:00, another checkpoint was established near the entrance of Deir Abu Mesh’al
village, northwest of the city. At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of al-Tibah village, southwest
of the city.  Around the same time,
another checkpoint was established at the entrance of Beit ‘Oar al-Foqa
village, southwest of the city.  Later,
all checkpoints were removed and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Friday, 10 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the
city.  At approximately 12:30, two
checkpoints were established at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah and at the entrance of ‘Ein Ayoub area, west of Ras Kar
Kar, northwest of the city. Later, all checkpoints were removed and no arrests
were reported.

 

At approximately 17:30 on Saturday, 11 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, west
of Ramallah.  At approximately 20:00,
another checkpoint was established near the intersection of “Ofrah” settlement,
northeast of the city. Later, both checkpoints were removed and no arrests were
reported.

 

· Jericho: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 11 April 2015, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of
the city.  At approximately 20:00, a similar
checkpoint as established at the southern entrance of Jericho.  Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00 on Sunday, 12 April 2015, another
checkpoint was established near the entrance of al-Nwei’mah village, north of
Jericho. Later, the checkpoint was removed and no arrests were reported.

 

· Qalqilya:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 09:40 on Saturday, 11 April
2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Iskaka
village, east of Salfit.  At
approximately 18:30, the checkpoint was re-established, and no arrests were
reported.

 

At approximately 08:45 on Sunday, 12 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint under the bridge of Iskaka village, east of
Salfit.  At approximately 23:00, another
checkpoint was established at the entrance of Kafl Haris village, north of
Salfit, and obstructed movement in both directions after closing the iron gate
established at the aforementioned entrance. 
At approximately 05:00 on the next day, the gate was re-opened.

 

 

· Tulkarm:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 09 April 2015,
Israeli forces stationed at ‘Annab military checkpoint which is established on
the road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of the city, tightened their
restrictions against civilians and obstructed their movement. Later that day,
the tightening ended and no arrests were reported.  The tightening renewed at approximately 11:00
on Friday, 10 April 2015; at approximately 16:30 on the same Friday; at
approximately 08:00 on Sunday, 12 April 2015, at approximately 08:30 on Monday,
13 April 2015 and 22:30 on the same Monday evening.

 

At approximately 13:30 on the same Thursday, Israeli forces stationed
at the gate of the annexation wall near Far’on village, south of Tulkarm,
closed the gate.  Local sources said to a
PCHR fieldworker that the Israeli forces closed the gate in front of the
permits holders for unknown reasons.  As
a resilt, a number of farmers were detained. 
The gate later was re-opened, and no further incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 12 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the road between ‘Ezbet Shofah and Shofah,
southeast of Tulkarm.  At approximately
09:00, Israeli forces established another checkpoint at Far’on village, south
of the city.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were removed.

 

 

· Jenin:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 23:00
on Friday, 10 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main
road between Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus near ‘Arabah village intersection, south
of Jenin. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints

 

· At
approximately 14:00 on Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at
al-Karamah crossing between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Mohammed ‘Abdel
Rahman Abu Sel (24) from al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  He was then taken to an unknown destination.

 

 

4. Efforts
to create Jewish demographic majority in occupied East Jerusalem

 

Home and civilian objects’ demolition

 

On Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Hezma village,
northeast of East Jerusalem. Israeli bulldozers demolished a number of
commercial facilities near the village’s northern entrance and confiscated their
contents. They also closed that entrance with cement cubes.

 

At approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, 14 April 2015, Israeli forces
belonging to the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem demolished an
under-construction building in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, east of the old city,
on the pretext of non-licensing. Akram Abu Shalbak, the building’s owner, said
to a PCHR fieldworker that an order from the Israeli municipality was issued in
the beginning of the year to halt construction works in the 4-storey building
consisting of three apartments and other under-construction floors. He added
that he started construction works in September 2014, but on 19 December 2014,
the Israeli municipality decided to demolish the building on the pretext of
non-licensing. Abu Shalbak was able to delay the demolition order several times
after resorting to the competent courts and tried to obtain a construction
license in the past months, but in vain.

 

At approximately 10:00, on the same day, Israeli municipal
bulldozers demolished a mobile home belonging to Mohammed Shwaiki in
al-Ashqariya neighborhood in Beit Hanina village, north of East Jerusalem.
Shwaiki said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces moved into the
abovementioned neighborhood and surrounded his mobile home but no one was
inside. He was able to take some of its contents out and then Israeli forces
demolished it. Shwaiki said that the 40-square-meter mobile home was resided by
his workers and was established two years ago.

 

Incursions
and arrests:

 

At approximately 01:00
on Sunday, 12 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Beit Deqqo village,
northwest of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Habes Rayan and arrested his son Asem (21).

 

At approximately 01:00
on Monday, 13 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north
of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they
arrested five civilians: Anas Ahmed Ebeid (21); Yazan Khalil Moheisen (22);
Mousa Nasser Ebeid (19); Mohammed Kayed Mahmoud (21); and Jawad Barqan (38).

 

At approximately
02:00, on the same day, Israeli forces moved into Shu’fat neighbourhood, north
of East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they
arrested two children: Mohammed Ahmed Abu Khdair (16); and Mohammed Nidal Abu
Khdair (16).

 

At approximately
04:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the old city of East
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
two children: Mohammed Ahmed al-Qaq (15); and Morad Mohanned al-Froukh (16).

 

At approximately
18:00, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to Ibrahim Khalafawi in Beer
Ayoub neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem.
They fired sound bombs in the house and harshly beat his two sons: Maher (19);
and Mostafa (21). As a result, they sustained bruises in the face. Israeli
soldiers smashed cameras fixed around the house that recorded the house raids
and withdrew later.

 

At approximately 03:00
on Tuesday, 14 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of
the old city in East Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses from which they
arrested three civilians: Abdullah Walid al-Salayma (22); Ali Dawood Da’na (21);
and Fo’ad Ahmed al-Qaq (21).

 

At approximately 11:00
on Tuesday, 14 May 2015, Israeli municipality officers raided a house belonging
to the family of Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi in al-Bustan neighbourhood in Silwan
village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. His mother said to a PCHR
fieldworker that the officers raided the house and photographed it. They
damaged its content. She added that the house was exploded on 19 November 2014,
and was not rebuilt. It should be noted that al-Shaloudi was killed on 22
October 2014, when an Israeli soldier opened fire at him in al-Shaikh Jarrah
neighbourhood in the north of East Jerusalem.

 

On Wednesday, 15 April
2015, Alya al-Shaikh al-Abasi (50) surrendered to al-Ramleh prison to serve a 26-month
sentence. Amjad Abu Asab, head of the committee of Jerusalemite prisoners’
families, said that al-Abasi, who was arrested on 02 January 2012 at Shu’fat
checkpoint, was released on 22 February 2012 and was transferred to house
arrest since then so far (38 months of house arrest). He added that Jerusalem
District Court issued a 40-month imprisonment sentence against Alya after she
was convicted of attempting to stab an Israeli soldier in 2012. The sentence
was reduced to 26 months after an appeal was filed. Abu Asab explained that
Alya is a mother of six children and a mother of Essa Dawood al-Abasi, a
Jerusalemite prisoner in Israeli prisons since 2010.           

 

 

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 pchr@pchrgaza.org or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.