Israeli Forces Arrest Boy Ahmed
al-Rajabi in Hebron on 17 February 2014

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

      

 

 An aggregate
collector was killed and another was wounded, east of Gaza City, in excessive
use of force.

 

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

16 civilians, including 4 children, in the northern
Gaza Strip, and a camel grazer in the southern Gaza Strip were wounded.

 

A Palestinian girl was wounded at a military
checkpoint in the northern West Bank.

 

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

2 Palestinian civilians were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum protest, northeast of
Qalqilia.

8 civilians were wounded in other protests in the West
Bank.

 

Israeli forces conducted 49 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 3 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.

At least 30 civilians, including 6 children, were
arrested.

 

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

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.

At least 7 Palestinian
civilians, including 4 children, were arrested at checkpoints.

The Israeli
special units maltreated a Palestinian journalist while doing his job.

 

Israeli navy forces continued targeting Palestinian
fishermen in the sea.

 

Israeli forces continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.

A residential tent, a tent to shelter livestock and 2
tin barracks were demolished in Yerza area in the northern Jordan Valley.

Settlers cut off 650 olive seedlings in the north of
Ramallah and al-Bireh.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and international
humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (13
– 19 February 2014).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 29 others, including 4 children and a girl, in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, a civilian was killed and 18
others, including 4 children, were wounded, while 11 civilians, including the
girl, were wounded in the West Bank.

                       

In the Gaza
Strip, on 13 February 2014, in an excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed
a Palestinian aggregate collector and wounded another, east of al-Zaitoun
neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, when they opened fire at them.

 

On the same
day, a camel grazer was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the eastern
borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at him, southeast of
al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.

 

On 14
February 2014, in an excessive use of force, Israeli forces wounded 16
civilians, including 4 children, when they opened fire at dozens of civilians
protesting against them, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip.      

 

On 16
February 2014, Israeli forces positioned along the border fence east of Khan
Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, fired sound and flare bombs and opened fire,
east of al-Qarara village, northeast of the city, but no casualties were
reported.

 

On 18 February
2014, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at agricultural lands, east of al-Qarara village.

 

On the same
day, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, north of Beit Lahia, in
the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at open areas.

 

In the
context of targeting fishermen, on 18, February 2014, Israeli navy forces
opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats northwest off Beit Lahia shore, in the
northern Gaza Strip.

 

In the West
Bank, 11 civilians, including an 18-year-old girl, were wounded; 10 of whom
were wounded in peaceful demonstrations and the girl was wounded in a shooting
incident at a checkpoint.

 

On 15
February 2014, Israeli soldiers positioned at a military checkpoint, southwest
of Nablus, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian vehicle. As a result, an
18-year-old girl was wounded by a bullet to the pelvis.

 

In the same
context, Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations
organised 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, 2 civilians were wounded during Kofur
Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilia.

 

In addition,
8 civilians were wounded during other demonstrations at the entrance of
al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah; and Selwad village, northeast of
the city.

 

On 15
February 2014, the Israeli policemen attacked a journalist from Nahalin village
in Bethlehem, while he was filming the experiences of Palestinian workers who
sneak into Israel for work through Wadi Fouqin village. As a result, the
journalist sustained bruises and scratches throughout of the body.

 

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 49 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 30 Palestinians, including 6
children.

 

During the reporting period, PCHR’s fieldworkers
documented how Israeli forces maltreated the family of Abdul Karim al-Khatib,
from Sarta village, northwest of Salfit.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 3 limited
incursions in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

  

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
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 7
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 1.7
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.

 

Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.

 

As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 2 civilians in the West Bank.

 

Settlement activities

 

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.

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

On 16 February 2014,
Israeli forces handed 2 civilians from Deir Samit village, southwest of Dura,
southwest of Hebron, 2 notices threatening them to demolish their houses.  They gave them only 7 days to return the
place as it was before.

The notices included
a 120-square-meter house belonging to Hazim Yousif al-Hroub (32); and a 160-square-meter
house belonging to Thaer ‘Odah al-Hroub (33).

 

On 17 February 2014,
Israeli forces accompanied by a vehicle from the Construction and Organization
Department in the Israeli Civil Administration destroyed barracks and uprooted
tents; sheep barns; two tin barracks and confiscated a tractor and 4 shaders in
Yezra area in the northern Valley, east of Tubas. 

 

On 18 February 2014, Israeli forces handed Ashraf Bahjat
Abu Sarah al-‘Alami from Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron notice to halt construction
of the 4-square-meter rainwater harvesting pool.  The notice indicated the date 13 March 2013
to hold a session regarding the notice in the military court in “Beit Eil”
settlement.  They also handed another
civilian a notice to halt construction work in his land, which is around 3
dunums, for building retaining walls around the land.

Attacks
carried out by settlers

 

On 18 February 2014, a
group of settlers from “’Adi ‘Aad” outpost established on the eastern side of
Termes’ayah village lands, north of Ramallah, uprooted 650 olive seedlings in
al-Sader agricultural area, which is around 3 kilometers away from the
aforementioned settlement.  According to
information obtained by PCHR, the olive seedlings uprooted and stolen by
settlers were aged between 1 to 3 years. 
The land, which was attacked, is an area of 30 dunums.

Israeli Violations
Documented during the Reporting Period (13 – 19 February 2014)

 

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

Thursday, 13 February 2014

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beitin
village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched 3 houses from which
they arrested 3 civilians. They took them to Ofer detention facility, southwest
of Ramallah. The arrested were: Mohammed Nawaf Abdul Jabbar Jarab’a (19); Majed
Thalji Mousa Hamed (22) and Nasser Hassan Habbas Hamed (22).

 

At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Nezam village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and raided a
house belonging to the family of Mona Mahmoud Tamimi (45). Mona was pushed to
the ground by Israeli soldiers when she tried to prevent them from arresting
her cousin Obaida Nasser al-Deen Ya’qoub al-‘Araj (23). They took him to a
military watchtower near “Halamish” settlement and released him 4
hours later.

 

In an excessive use of force Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian aggregate collector and wounded another, east of al-Zaitoun
neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. According to investigations conducted by the
Palestinian Centre of Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 14:30 on Thursday
13 February 2014, Israeli forces positioned at the eastern borders between the
Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at a group of Palestinian civilians, who were
collecting aggregate near Malaka intersection, east of al-Zaitoun
neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, Ibrahim Suleiman Mansour (36),
from al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, east of the city, sustained a bullet wound to
the head while Rafiq Baker al-Herokli (21) sustained a bullet wound to the
right leg. The two wounded were taken to Shifa hospital in Gaza City for
medical treatment. Doctors failed to save the life of Mansour and he died few
minutes after his arrival at the hospital. Al-Herokli’s wound was described as
moderate. As a result of the Israeli illegal closure which causes high rates of
unemployment, hundreds of Palestinian workers are forced to collect aggregate
from the destroyed houses’ rubble which are then to be sold, treated and reused
in construction works. Israeli soldiers often fire at these workers.

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces stationed at
the eastern borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Hassan
Mousa al-Rabay’a (36) while he was grazing camels, southeast of al-Shouka
village, southeast of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, he
sustained a bullet wound to the right foot. He was taken to Abu Yusef al-Najjar
hospital in Rafah. Medical sources described his wound as moderate.

 

Friday, 14 February 2014

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Koum
village, south of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.   

 

 

At approximately
02:00, Israeli forces moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They patrolled
the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests
were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into the industrial zone in al-Bireh. They
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Hassanain Hamdi
Rumana (20). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Daheriya village, south of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into several neighbourhoods in the
centre of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in the vicinity of
Hebron university. They raided and searched 2 houses from which they arrested 2
civilians. The arrested were: Karam Akram al-Zgheer (24) and Ayman Mahmoud
al-Zgheer (18).

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp in Jenin.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Mouse Redwan (25). They arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.

 

In excessive
use of force, Israeli forces wounded 16 civilians, including four children,
when the soldiers opened fire at dozens of civilians organizing a
demonstration, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip. According to
investigations conducted by PCHR around the other incident, at approximately
13:00 on Friday 14 February 2014, Israeli forces positioned along the border
fence, east of al-Shuhada’ cemetery, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza
Strip, opened fire at a group of boys and young men who approached the fence in
an attempt to throw stones at Israeli soldiers. As a result, 16 civilians,
including four children, were wounded. Nine of whom, including a child and two
brothers, were wounded by live ammunition; a civilian was wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet and the six others were hit by gas canisters. The
wounded were taken by PRCS ambulances to Martyr Kamal Odwan hospital in Beit
Lahia. Wounds of nine of them were moderate, while wounds of the rest of them
were minor. The wounded were:

 

1. Mahmoud Nafez Rajab Joha (20), from al-Sha’af
neighbourhood in Gaza City. He sustained a bullet wound to the right leg;

2. Arafat al-Abed Mohammed Shalash (18), from Jabalia. He
sustained a bullet wound to the right thigh;

3. Mahmoud Fawaz Kamel Weshah (18), from Jabalia. He
sustained a bullet wound to the right leg;

4. Mohammed Nizar Ayesh Hamdan (24), from Beit Hanoun. He
sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;

5. Mohammed Ra’ed Zaki JadAllah (17), from Jabalia. He
sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;

6. Sa’id al-Abed Mohammed Shalash (28), from Jabalia. He
sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;

7. Mohammed Tayseer Rumlut (24), from al-Shuja’iya
refugee camp in Gaza City. He sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;

8. Mohammed Yusef Ibrahim Khella (24), from Sheikh Redwan
neighbourhood in Gaza City. He sustained a bullet wound to the left leg;

9. Ramez Mahmoud Amin Abu Ghaben (18), from Beit Lahia.
He sustained a bullet wound to the right leg;

10. ‘Ayed ‘Eram Helles (21), from al-Shuja’iya
neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. He sustained a bullet wound to left hand;

11. Belal Abdul Bari al-Abed Abu Foul (25). He was hit by
a gas canister to the right leg;

12. Tareq Abdul Rahim Abu Ghanima (24), from al-Shuja’iya
refugee camp in Gaza City. He was hit by a gas canister to the right leg;

13. Mohanned Mo’een Sa’id Abdul Nabi (17), from Jabalia.
He sustained bruises in the buttocks as he was hit by gas canister;

14. Ziad Ahmed al-Natour (17), from Jabalia. He was hit by
a gas canister to the left thigh;

15. Bakri Atiya Awad Jarada (33), from al-Shuja’iya
refugee camp in Gaza City. He was hit by a gas canister to the left thigh; and

16. Tamer Ra’ed Mohammed Weshah (16), from Jabalia. He was
hit by a gas canister to the right leg.

 

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Bab al-Zawiya area, in the
centre of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, where a number of boys gathered
and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs
and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number of boys suffered tear
gas inhalation.

 

At
approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Mothallath al-Aqaba area, south
of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, where a number of
boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and
tear gas canisters. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation. In the meantime, Israeli soldiers erected a checkpoint on the road
connecting Doura and its southern villages. They searched Palestinian vehicles
and later removed the checkpoint. No arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into Burqin village, west of Salfit.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported. 

 

Saturday, 15
February 2014

 

At
approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem. They patrolled the
streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Ammar Mohammed al-Khatib
(27). They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in
“Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of the city.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Awwa village, southwest of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Kherbatha al-Musbah village, southwest of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Halhoul town, north of Hebron. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Abdullah Sa’id Awad (30). They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Rima village, northwest of Ramallah.
They raided 3 houses and handed summons to 3 civilians to refer to the Israeli
intelligence service. The summoned were: Tareq Abdul Ra’ouf Rimawi (20);
Haitham Morad Thabet Rimawi (18) and Alaa Ouda Abed Barghouthi (31). Israeli
forces withdrew later, but no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Ramallah.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beitonya, west of Ramallah. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:00, Israeli forces stationed at Jeet checkpoint leading to
“Yitzhar” settlement, southwest of Nablus, opened fire at a
Palestinian civilian vehicle. As a result, Nihad Kamal Dawood Aqel (18), from
Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, was wounded by shrapnel to the
pelvis. The aforementioned girl was taken to Rafidya hospital in Nablus. She
underwent an urgent surgery and it was scheduled that she undergoes another
surgery. Medical sources described her injury as serious but stable.

 

According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, the girl was heading from her village to
Nablus with her fiancé Hassan Mahmoud Abdul Ghafer Ouda (24), from Hebla village,
and her nephew Aqel Ramzi Aqel (14). They were in a grey Skoda. The girl was
sitting in the back seat. Two soldiers at the checkpoint had been searching a
vehicle with an Israeli registration plate. The Skoda overran the Israeli
vehicle. Around 20 meters away from the checkpoint, Israeli soldiers opened
fire at the vehicle, as a result, the girl was wounded by a bullet.    

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces stationed at al-Aroub refugee camp, north
of Hebron. They patrolled the streets, where 
a number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli
soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a
result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces
withdrew later.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Mazra’a al-Qibliya, south of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.    

 

  Sunday, 16
February 2014

In the early
morning, Israeli forces moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the family
of Ali Zaki Ali Abu Diab (43). They arrested the aforementioned person and took
him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tabaqa village, south of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched
a house belonging to the family of Nazir Mohammed Salem al-Hreibat (19). They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.     

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Silet al-Harithiya village, north of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Fo’ad Abdul Rahman Jaradat (29). They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 13:45, Israeli forces moved into Jinsafout village, east of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Abu al-Asja village, south of
Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 16:20, Israeli forces moved into Rafat village, west of Salfit.
They patrolled the streets and took some photos of houses, a mosque and a
school in the centre of the village. Israeli forces withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 17:30, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets firing  sound and flare bombs.
Israeli forces withdrew later, but neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses, where a
number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers.
As a result, Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in
response. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Israeli forces withdrew later, but neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.   

 

Monday, 17 February 2014

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Birzait village, north of
Ramallah. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Rantis village, west of Ramallah. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 00:45, Israeli forces moved into Sarta village, northwest of
Salfit. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Abdul Karim Ahmed al-Khatib. They searched the house and damaged its
contents. They withdrew later, but no arrests were reported.

Abdul Karim
al-Khatib said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

 

“At
approximately 01:30 on Monday, 17 February 2014, while I was sleeping, I heard
hard knocking on the door. I got up and heard someone saying ‘We are the
Israeli army, open the door or we will break the door. I opened the door, so
they raided the house. I do not know how many soldiers there were, but they
were many. The soldiers detained me and my family in a room and started
searching the house. They damaged the furniture under the pretext of looking
for my son Mohammed (25), who was not home then. They even used a knife to
damage the chairs. The house has become nothing but a mess. We live in a
3-storey house. Everything was damaged in 2 hours of searching and
damaging.”

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Awarta village, southeast of
Nablus. They patrolled the streets for some time and raided a number of houses.
They arrested Shadi Mohammed Awad (30) and took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Shyoukh village, north of Hebron. they
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Daheriya village, south of
Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family
of Jalal Rashad al-Hawareen (29). They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination.  

 

At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Omra village, southwest of
Yatta, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of Jenin. They
patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of Adnan
Yassin Hamarsha (46). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to
an unknown destination. It should be noted that Hamarsha’s wife had been
arrested a day earlier at al-Karama crossing while she was coming from Jordan.

 

At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Yunis neighbourhood,
east of Halhoul, in the north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some
time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 06:30, Israeli forces moved about 200 meters into the destroyed
industrial zone to the west of Beit Hanoun crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
They combed lands along the border fence. As a result, farmers in the area left
their lands out of fear of being wounded. Israeli forces withdrew at
approximately 13:00. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Mothallath al-Aqaba area, south
of Doura, southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and stationed in
Oyoun Abu Saif area. A group of boys gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers,
who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, a number
of boys suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces withdrew later,
but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 15:00, an Israeli infantry unit moved into the south of Hebron. They
deployed in the area, where a group of boys gathered and threw stones at
Israeli soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As
a result, a number of boys suffered tear gas inhalation. Israeli soldiers
chased the boys, arrested 2 of them and took them to Ja’bara police stationed
near the Ibrahimi mosque. The arrested were: Ahmed Tareq Tawfiq al-Rajabi (17)
and Mahmoud Ali Abu Snaina (15).

 

Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into lands adjacent to “Karmi Tsour”
settlement, south of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. They arrested 3 children
while they were working in their lands. The arrested were: Nasim Taha Mohammed
Abu Maria (16), Mohammed Yusef Ikhdeir Awad (17) and Mohanned Zuhair Mahmoud
al-‘Alami (16).

 

At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Emreish village, south of Doura,
southwest of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew
later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

Tuesday, 18 February 2014

 

At
approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They
patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses. They arrested Ramzi Abu
Se’da (30), from his house in Ras al-Ein neighbourhood and took him to an
unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 01:45, Israeli forces moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest
of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they
arrested 5 civilians, including a child. They also confiscated a group of
murals belonging to Tamimi press office on Israeli violations against the
village residents. The arrested were: Mohammed AttAllah Tamim Tamimi (25),
Mahmoud Wajih Mohammed Tamimi (19), Rami Hussein Yusef Ayoub (36), Jihad
Mohammed Roshdi Tamimi (23) and Basel Abdul Elah Mohammed Ayoub (16).

 

At
approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north
of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and raided 3 houses from which they
arrested 3 civilians: Ahmed Yusef Ibrahim Zaid (28), Ahmed Mohammed Khalil
al-Bayed (20) and Abdul Karim Nasser Hosni Samad’a (20).

 

At
approximately 06:10, Israeli forces moved about 150 meters into the east of
Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They levelled lands and fired smoke bombs
while Israeli warplanes were hovering. They later withdrew.

 

At
approximately 08:00, an Israeli gunboat stationed northwest of Beit Lahia, in
the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at fishing boats that were sailing within
2 nautical miles. The fishermen were frightened and sailed back out of fear of
being wounded or arrested. However, neither casualties nor material damage were
reported.

 

At
approximately 08:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence east of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at open areas to the west of the fence. Farmers in the
area left their lands out of fear of being wounded, but neither casualties nor
material damage were reported.

 

At
approximately 13:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Snaini neighbourhood, south
of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging
to the family of Mohammed Zain Abu Sbaih (22). They arrested the aforementioned
person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At
approximately 14:00, Israeli forces moved into Kherbet Zanouta, west of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets, chased a number of shepherds and prevented them
from being present in those lands as they belong to a settler. Israeli soldiers
arrested Nabil Khaled Samamra (22) under the pretext of not listening to the
Israeli soldiers’ orders. Samamra was taken to “Kiryat Arba” police
station, east of Hebron.

At
approximately 15:00, Israeli forces moved into Tafouh village, west of Hebron.
They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses. They withdrew later
but neither house raids nor arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 21:30, Israeli forces moved about 200 meters into the east of
al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They levelled and combed lands for
hours and withdrew later.

 

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 organised 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, 2 protestors were wounded during Kofur Qaddoum protest, northeast
of Qalqilia.

 

In the same context, 8 civilians were wounded during
protests organized at the entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah, and Selwad village, northeast of the city.

    

 

(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded).

 

Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity

 

Following the Friday Prayer, 14 February 2014, dozens
of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at
the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. Demonstrators
took the streets raising Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories
near the annexation wall. Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the
village since the morning in order to prevent Palestinian and international
activists and journalists from participating in the demonstration.
Demonstrators marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence
before Israeli forces that are 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 steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water at them and
chased them into the olive fields. As a result, dozens of demonstrators
suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises as they were beaten
up by Israeli soldiers.

 

On the same day, 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. 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. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and
bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians and
international activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor
Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern entrance
of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the entrance with an
iron gate, since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada (2000). Clashes erupted
between the demonstrators and Israeli forces that fired sound bombs and tear
gas canisters to prevent them from reaching the aforementioned gate. As a
result, 2 civilians were wounded. A 41-year-old male sustained a bullet wound
to the neck and a 22 year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg.

 

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian
civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a
peaceful demonstration in Ma’assara village, in protest at the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstration started in
front of the Candles Cultural Centre in the centre of the village.
Demonstrators moved in the streets raising the Palestinian flag. When they
reached the wall, Israeli forces dispersed them. 

 

Other demonstrations:

 

On Friday, 14 February 
2014, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern entrance
of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah to protest at the killing of
Mohammed Mubarak on 29 January 2014. 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, 7 civilians were wounded, 6 of whom sustained bullet
wounds to the lower limbs while the 7^th was hit by a gas canister.
In addition, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. The wounded were
taken to Palestine medical complex in Ramallah for medical treatment. Their
wounds ranged between moderate and minor. An 18-year-old male was hit by a gas
canister to the back of the head, a 23-year-old male sustained a bullet wound
to the left knee, a 20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right
thigh, a 26-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left thigh, a
24-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left knee, a 19-year-old male
sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and a 23-year-old male sustained a
bullet wound to the left leg.  

 

On the same day, dozens of Palestinian young men
gathered at the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah on
the road between Selwad village and Yabrod village near Street (60). They threw
stones at the aforementioned street.  As
a result, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them and
chased them to the village.  As a result,
a 20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left cheek. Moreover, a
number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

3. Continued closure of the oPt

 

Israel has 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 for 9 months 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 tonnes of
cooking gas into Gaza per day.  This
limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tonnes per
day, of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter.  The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated during
the winter period due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the
power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of
electricity.  The lack of diesel and benzine
led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for
cars or as an alternative for benzine to run generators.  As a result, the demand for gas  further increased.

 

For almost 6 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.  Last week, 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

The Egyptian authorities allow the
population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which
connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world. 
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients,
students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years,
females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign
nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian
delegations.  It should be mentioned that
the crossing opens seven days a week.  Nowadays,
the crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian
side, particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to
Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travellers’ movement in
both directions.

 

 

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shalom) crossing

11 – 17 February 2014

 

 

Exports:

 

On
Sunday, 16 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation 5.5 tonnes of
cherry tomatoes.

On
Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 230
kilograms of garlic leaves and 180 kilograms of mint.

 

Other Imports:

 

 

 

On
Tuesday, 11 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,120 tonnes of
construction aggregate and 348 tonnes of cement for the UNRWA; and 630 tonnes
of construction aggregate for the UNDP. 
They also allowed the entry of 780 tonnes of fodders and 702 tonnes of
wheat.

On
Wednesday, 12 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 741 tonnes of
fodders and 741 tonnes of wheat.

On
Thursday, 13 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 1,610 tonnes of
construction aggregate, 80 tonnes of cement and 55 tonnes of construction steel
for the UNRWA.  They also allowed the
entry of 1,053 tonnes of fodders and 468 tonnes of wheat.

On
Sunday, 16 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 819 tonnes of
fodders and 507 tonnes of wheat.

On
Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed the entry of 222 tonnes of
cement, 770 tonnes of construction aggregate, and 64 tonnes of construction
steel for the UNRWA.  They also allowed
the entry of 1,082 tonnes of fodders and 546 tonnes of wheat

 

 

 

 

Empty Plastic
Containers Returned to Israel via Karm Abu Salem

 

 

 

On
Tuesday, 11 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed 10 truckloads of empty
plastic containers and 2 truckloads of cartons of wood to be returned via Karm
Abu Salem.

On
Wednesday, 12 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed 8 truckloads of empty
plastic containers and a truckload of oxygen tubes to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

On
Thursday, 13 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty
plastic containers and a truckload of oxygen tubes to be returned via Karm Abu
Salem.

On
Sunday, 16 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed 5 truckloads of empty plastic
containers and a truckload of cartons of wood to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

On
Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces allowed 4 truckloads of empty plastic
containers to be returned via Karm Abu Salem.

 

 

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

 

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”)
crossing

 

12 – 18 February 2014

 

 

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 07:30 on Friday, 14 February
2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Halhoul, as
this entrance is connected with Bypass Road (60) in al-Hawawer area, north of
Hebron.  At approximately 08:00, they
established another checkpoint on the road between al-Samou’a village and Yatta,
south of the city.  At approximately
10:00, another checkpoint was established on Tarousa Road between Dura and its
western villages, southwest of the city. 
All checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.  At approximately 14:00, Israeli forces closed
the entrance of Abu al-Toq area, southeast of Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron, by Cement cubes and sand barriers. 
As a result, 200 civilians living in the area were isolated from their
village.

At
approximately 07:00 on Saturday, 15 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, another checkpoint
was established at the northern entrance of Hebron.  The two checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 16 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on the road between Ezna village and Deir Samit village, south of
Dura, southwest of Hebron.  At
approximately 08:30, another checkpoint was established at the southern
entrance of Hebron (al-Harayeq).  The two
checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Hebron. 
At approximately 07:30, they established another checkpoint at the
entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of the city.  At approximately 16:00, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Kharsa village, south of Dura, southwest of the
city.  All checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 07:00 on Tuesday, 18 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Awwa village, south of Dura, southwest of
Hebron.  At approximately 07:30, another
checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of Halhoul.  At approximately 08:00, they established a
similar checkpoint at entrance of al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Ramallah: Israeli forces have continued to
impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 13
February 2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance
of Birzeit, north of Ramallah.  At
approximately 21:00, they established another checkpoint at the main entrance
of Beit Loqaya, southwest of Ramallah. 
The two checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 08:30 on Friday, 14 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa village, southwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 09:30, a
similar checkpoint was established another checkpoint at the entrance of
al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city.  
At approximately 11:00, they re-established at the entrance of Ni’lin
village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 12:00, another checkpoint was established at the northern
entrance of the aforementioned village. 
All checkpoints were later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 15 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, southwest of
Ramallah.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Qalqilya: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 18:15 on Thursday, 13 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya.  At approximately 18:50, another checkpoint
was established at the entrance of Jeet village, northeast of the city.  At approximately 18:55, they established a
similar checkpoint at the entrance of Amatin village, northeast of the city.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 14:40 on Friday, 14 February 2014, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on Qalqilya-Nablus road near Tahsin Gas Station.  At approximately 14:50, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of the
city.  The two checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 17:10 on Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance of ‘Azoun village, east of
Qalqilya.  The checkpoint was later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Salfit: 
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians.  At
approximately 08:00 on Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint at the northern entrance of Salfit. 
At approximately 14:10, another checkpoint was established at the
western entrance of Kufor al-Deek, west of Salfit.  The two 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 11:00 on Friday, 14 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint on al-Mo’arjat Road between Jericho and Ramallah.  At approximately 18:00, they established a
checkpoint near the southern entrance of Jericho.   The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At
approximately 10:30 on Saturday, 15 February 2014, Israeli forces established a
checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of Jericho.  The checkpoint was later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

Israeli Special Forces Maltreat a
Palestinian Journalist while on Duty

 

At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 15 February 2014, Israeli Special
Forces maltreated Yousif ‘Abdullah Yasser Shakarnah (24), a freelance
journalist for local and foreign news agency from Nahalin village, west of
Bethlehem, when he was preparing a report on the Palestinian workers’
experience when entering Israel from the area of Wad Foqin woodland, which is a
border area in the west of the city used by workers who do not have permits to
enter Israel.

 

Shakarnah said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

 

“At approximately 17:00 on Saturday, 15 February 2014, I was with 6
workers in the area of Wad Foqin woodland, west of Bethlehem, to prepare a
report on the Palestinian workers’ suffering when entering Israel.  The workers attempted to pass the main road
in the area, and then we saw a white Toyota car driving quickly from the right
side.  It stopped by us and 4 persons
dressed in the Israeli police uniform got out of the car.  They chased us and then beat me.  They took me to a distant area, where I
stayed.  A Palestinian person saw me and
gave me first aid.  I headed to
al-Yamamah Hospital in Bethlehem to receive medical treatment after conducting
medical tests.  It was concluded that I
sustained a rupture in the tissues of the left foot, dislocated shoulder, deep
injuries, which needed stitches to the upper side of the right eye and chin,
bruises throughout the body and a broken tooth.”

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at military
checkpoints

 

At approximately 10:00
on Friday, 14 February 2014, Israeli
forces deployed in the agricultural lands Qawawis area adjacent to “Mitsbi
Ya’ir” settlement established on the confiscated Palestinian lands, southeast
of Yata, south of Hebron, arrested Na’el Khalil Abu ‘Aram (18) when he was
grazing sheep in the area.  He was then
taken to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Saturday, 15 February
2014, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of Bani Na’im
village, east of Hebron.  They arrested
Belal Sa’id Mohammed al-‘Aweiwi (25) when he was on his way to his work in the
village.  They later removed the checkpoint
taking him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately
08:00 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces stationed at “al-Container”
checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem arrested Mahmoud Ra’ed al-Shalalfah (19)
from Tarqomya, west of Hebron, and took him to an unknown destination. 

 

At approximately 15:00 on the same Saturday,
Israeli forces deployed in the old city neighborhoods in central Hebron
arrested Mohammed Hisham Idris (18) claiming that he refused to obey the orders
of the Israeli forces.  They took him to
“Ja’abrah” police station near the Ibrahimi Mosque in the centre of the old
city.

 

At approximately 16:00 on the same day, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummar village, north of
Hebron.  They arrested Ahmed Ibrahim
Ahmed Abu ‘Ayyash (24) and took him to an unknown destination.  They later removed the checkpoint.

 

At approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 16 February 2014,
Israeli forces deployed in al-Ramidah Hill neighbourhood in central Hebron
arrested Saddam Hussein Abu Sneinah (20) near “Ramat YaShai” outpost
established on Palestinian lands in the area. 
He was then taken to “Ja’abrah”
police station near the Ibrahimi Mosque.

 

At approximately 17:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli
forces stationed at Za’atrah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Mohammed
Jamal Taher al-Nablusi (50) when he was on his way back to Ramallah with Naser
Jom’aah, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing Fatah
block.  Eyewitnesses said that the
soldiers deployed at the aforementioned checkpoint stopped MP Jom’aa’s car and
detained al-Nablusi.  Around an hour
later, they let the PLC Member go but kept al-Nabulsi under arrest.  They took him to an unknown destination.

 

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

 

Attacks carried out by Israeli forces

 

At approximately
11:00 on Sunday, 16 February 2014, Israeli forces backed by 2 military vehicles
and accompanied by a vehicle from the Construction and Organization Department
in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Deir Samit village, southwest of
Dura, southwest of Hebron.  They
stationed in al-Rahmah Mountain area, east of the village, and the Civil
Administration officer handed 2 civilians 2 notices threatening them to
demolish their houses.  They gave them
only 7 days to return the place as it was before.

The notices included:

1. A 120-square-meter
house belonging to Hazim Yousif al-Hroub (32); and

2. A 160-square-meter
house belonging to Thaer ‘Odah al-Hroub (33);

 

At approximately
06:30 on Monday, 17 February 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by a vehicle from
the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil
Administration destroyed barracks and uprooted tents and sheep barns in Yezra
area in the northern Valley, east of Tubas. 

They uprooted and destroyed the following:

1. A 60-square-meter residential tent belonging to Fayez
Hamed ‘Abdullah Daraghmah;

2. A 120-square-meter tin barrack for grazing cows
belonging to Methqal Hamed ‘Abdullah Daraghmah, whose tractor was also
confiscated;

3. A 60-square-meter tin barrack for grazing sheep
belonging to Samy Khaled Mahmoud Daraghmah;

4. A 60-square-meter tent for grazing sheep belonging to
Hasan Khaled Mahmoud Daraghmah; and

5. Four 80-square-meter tents of shader belonging to
Na’aimah Hafez Ahmed Masa’id.

 

At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 18 February 2014,
Israeli forces backed by 2 military vehicles and accompanied by a vehicle from the
Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration
moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron and stationed in al-Sheikh
Valley area, which is 400 meters away from Bypass Road (60) to the east side of
the village.  The Civil Administration
officer handed Ashraf Bahjat Abu Sarah al-‘Alami a notice to halt construction
in the 4-square-meter rainwater harvesting pool.  The notice selected 13 March 2013 to hold a
session regarding the notice in the military court in “Beit Eil”
settlement.  At approximately 11:30,
Israeli forces patrolled the streets to Joret Abu Salamah area, and the Civil
Administration officer handed Faisal Zidan Abu ‘Ayyash to halt construction in
his land, which is around 3 dunums, as the aforementioned civilian builds
retaining walls around the land.

 

Attacks carried out by settlers

 

On Tuesday, 18
February 2014, a group of settlers from “’Adi ‘Aad” outpost established on the
eastern side of Termes’ayah village lands, north of Ramallah, uprooted 650
olive seedlings in al-Sader agricultural area, which is around 3 kilometers
away from the aforementioned settlement. 
According to information obtained by PCHR, the olive seedlings uprooted
and stolen by settlers were aged between 1 to 3 years.  The land, which was attacked, is of an area
of 30 dunums and belong to each of the following civilians:

 

1. Mariam al-Haj Yousif,
100 olive seedlings;

2. Mahmoud Ahmed
al-A’araj, 300 olive seedlings; and

3. Rabah ‘Ali al-A’araj
(250) olive seedlings.

 

 

 

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 continued
aggression 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;

14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and
accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva
Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United
Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human
rights law and humanitarian law instruments.

 

 

 

 

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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.