Bethlehem
– an Israeli Checkpoint in the City.

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

 

(18 – 24 June 2015)

 

 

3 Palestinian civilians were wounded during peaceful
protests.

 

A boy sustained serious wounds in Jerusalem and a
child sustained wounds by settlers, east of al-Bireh.

 

Israeli forces opened fire at border areas along the
Gaza Strip.

3 civilians, including a child, were wounded in the south
of the Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli navy forces continued to open fire at
Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip sea, but no casualties were
reported.

 

Israeli warplanes targeted an area in the northern
Gaza Strip.

 

Israeli forces conducted 40 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.

2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli
forces’ gunfire, east of Nablus.

37 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and 6
women, were arrested.

20 of these civilians, including 11 children and 5
women, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

 

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

Many checkpoints were established in the West Bank.

12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were
arrested at checkpoints.

Israeli forces banned the Deputy Head of Palestinian Journalists
Syndicate from traveling via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.

 

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

Israeli
forces removed grocery and fruit stalls on Bethlehem-Hebron road and
confiscated their contents.

Settlers cut off 70 fruitful olive trees, south of
Nabuls, using chainsaws.

 

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and international
humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (18 – 24 June 2015).

 

Shooting:

Israeli forces continued to use force against
Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the oPt and against
civilians approaching the border fence along the Gaza Strip. They also
continued to chase and open fire at fishermen sailing within the allowed area
in the Gaza Strip sea. In addition, Israeli forces launched an air strike in
the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. During the reporting
period, Israeli forces wounded 9 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children,
in the West Bank, while a child was wounded as settlers fired at him in
al-Bireh.

 

In the West Bank, on 18 June 2015, 2 civilians were
wounded in Nablus when Israeli forces moved into the eastern area to protect
dozens of settlers, who went to Joseph Tomb to perform Talmudic rituals.

 

On 20 June 2015, a settler from “Psagot”
settlement, east of al-Bireh, opened fire at 15-year-old child from al-Tawil
Mount area near the aforementioned settlement. As a result, the child sustained
2 bullet wounds to the right leg.

 

Israeli forces continued to use excessive and
systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights activists in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank
and Israeli policies in the oPt. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded in Kufor
Qaddoum protest, northeast of Qalqilya. Moreover, Israeli officers maltreated a
Palestinian civilian suffering from epilepsy, from al-Jalazoun refugee camp
north of Ramallah.  

 

In occupied East Jerusalem, on 21 June 2015, a
Palestinian youngster from Sa’ir village, east of Hebron, sustained 6 bullet
wounds as he was fired at by an Israeli border guard officer from a close
range, after the youngster had stabbed another Israeli soldier in Bab al-Amoud
area in Jerusalem.

 

In the Gaza Strip, 3 civilians, including 2 children,
were wounded; wounds of one of whom were serious. On 19 June 2015, Israeli
forces stationed along the border fence opened fire at 3 civilians, who were
200 meters to the east of al-Fokhari area, southeast of Khan Yunis in the
southern Gaza Strip.

 

On 22 June 2015, 2 children were wounded in the east
of Khauza’a village, south of the Gaza Strip, when Israeli forces stationed
along the border fence opened fire at 4 children, who were present 30 meters
away from the said fence. As a result, 2 children were wounded; one of whom
sustained serious wounds.

 

Furthermore, on 23 June 2015, Israeli forces opened
fire at agricultural lands, east of Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis in the
south of the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. 

In
the context of targeting fishermen, on 23 June 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed
off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip,
opened fire sporadically around Palestinian fishing boats. As a result,
fishermen were frightened and sailed back to the shore, but no casualties were
reported.

 

On 24
June 2015, an Israeli drone fired a missile at an agricultural land belonging
to Hamdan family, east of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip, but
neither casualties were reported.

  

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 40 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and 5 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested
at least 37 Palestinians, including 11 children and 6 women.  Twenty of these Palestinians, including the
11 children and 5 women, were arrested in East Jerusalem.

 

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. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to
38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of
unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic
deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

 

Settlement activities

 

Israel has continued its settlement activities in the
oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers
have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

 

On 19 June
2015, a group of settlers from “Beit El” settlement threw stones at
Palestinian vehicles passing on Ramallah-Nablus road adjacent to the
aforementioned settlement. As a result, the glass of a vehicle was smashed.

 

On 21 June
2015, a group of settlers from “Tafouh” settlement between Jama’in
and Yasouf settlement, south of Nablus, cut off 70 olive trees with using chainsaws.

 

On 22 June
2015, Israeli forces confiscated and damaged grocery stalls that were
established by Beit Ommar residents, north of Hebron, to sell their products.

 

 

Details

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

 

Thursday, 18 June 2015

 

At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Kamel Basel Kamel Abu
Shanab (24) and arrested him.

 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Nablus to secure dozens of settlers who arrived at Joseph tomb to perform their
Talmudic prayers.  A number of
Palestinian children and boys gathered to throw stones, and the Israeli forces
in response fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at
the stone-throwers.  As a result, a
number of civilians sustained injuries and were taken to Rafidia Surgical
Hospital to receive medical treatment. 
Medical sources described as moderate. 
A 23-year-old civilian from Nablus was hit by a bullet to the left foot,
and a 24-year-old civilian from Balatah refugee camp was hit by a rubber-coated
metal bullet to the chest and another bullet to the right thigh.

 

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bita
village, southeast of Nablus.  They
raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested ‘Omer and
‘Alaa’ Ahmed ‘Awad Hamayel (24).  Israeli
forces withdrew later taking him to an unknown destination.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Sa’ir village, east of
Hebron; Yata, south of Hebron; al-Kom village, west of Dura, southwest of
Hebron; Bal’ah village, northeast of Tulkarm and Ya’bod village, southwest of
Jenin.

 

Friday, 19 June 2015

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abzie’ village, west of Ramallah.  They
deployed in the vicinities of houses, streets and agricultural lands.  Accompanied with tracker dogs, they raided
and searched a number of facilities and confiscated the digital video recorders
(DVRs) of the surveillance cameras.  Some
of those facilities were identified as Deir Abzigh petrol station; Deir Abzie’
Pharmacy; and a house belonging to Bader Mahmoud ‘Omer.  During the incursion, the Israeli soldiers
smashed and broke the door of the store adjacent to Deir Abzie’ pharmacy to
reach the camera.  They forced the
village residents not to go out or roam in the streets and detained some passing
civilians.  The incursion came after a
settler was killed and another one was injured in the afternoon near
“Dolif” settlement established on Palestinian lands until the early
morning next day.

At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence fired several bullets at 3 civilians who were only 200 meters
away from the aforementioned fence to the east of al-Fokhari area, southeast of
Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. 
As a result, Younis Zaher ‘Atiyah al-‘Amour (21) was hit by a bullet to the
left hand.  He was taken to the European Gaza
Hospital in the city 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: Jalboun village, east of Jenin; villages of
Ras Karkar; al-Janiyah and Kafr Ne’mah, west of Ramallah and the villages of
al-Zbeidat and Marj Na’jah, north of Jericho.

Saturday, 20 June 2015

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Deir
al-‘Asal village, al-Samou’a village, al-‘Aroub refugee camp, and Yata in
Hebron; Jayous village, northeast of Qalqilya; Bitounia village, west of
Ramallah; and al-‘Oja village, north of Jericho.

 

Sunday, 21 June 2015

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into
al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron. 
They stationed in the western area of the village and then raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Haytham Ismail al-Batat (33), who
was sentenced by Israeli courts to life imprisonment.

 

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafr
Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya. 
They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of former
prisoner, Raslan ‘Alaa’ al-Deen ‘Abdel Ra’ouf Gom’ah (28) and handed him a
summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence. 
The aforementioned civilian said that he received a call from an Israeli
intelligence officer asking him after introducing himself as Captain Sabri to
head to the intelligence office for the interview.  He added that he refused to deal with the
phone call and made the caller feel that he is not coming.  Israeli forces withdrew later from the
village, and no further incidents were reported.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir
Abzie’ village, west of Ramallah.  They
raided and searched houses belonging to the Karajah family.  Accompanied with tracker dogs, they forced
the residents of the houses to get out and held them outside.  The Israeli soldiers then arrested 4
civilians, including 2 brothers, after beating them: ‘Esmat Mamoun Karajah
(57); Basel Salah Ma’amoun Karajah (24); Sa’ed ‘Isam Ma’moun Karajah (27); and
his brother, Samarah (25).

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ain
‘Areik village, west of Ramallah.  They
raided and searched al-Salamah shop and confiscated the cameras’ DVRs.  Israeli forces withdrew later, and no further
incidents were reported.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sa’ir
village, east of Hebron.  They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Yasin Mousa Tarwah (50).  Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests
were reported.  It should be mentioned
that the Israeli authorities raided the house a couple of hours after they had
arrested his child, Yaser (18) in Jerusalem as he was shot with several bullet
when he stabbed an Israeli police officer with a sharp tool.

 

Monday, 22 June 2015

At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into
Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. 
They raided and searched 3 houses, from which they arrested 3 civilians
were arrested: ‘Abdullah Isma’il Hamed (43); Sa’id ‘Issa Mershed Hammad (23);
and Mujahed ‘Ayed Yousif (23).

 

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces stationed at
the entrance of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, closed the shops at the village
entrance while civilians were participating in the funeral procession of a
civilians to the village cemetery adjacent to the bypass road (60).  Meanwhile, the Israeli soldiers fired sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at the civilians during the funeral
procession.  As a result, a number of
civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces stationed along
the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Younis in the
southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at 4 children who were only 30 meters away
from the aforementioned border to the east of Abu Reidah neighbourhood in the
east of Khuza’ah village.  As a result,
two children were wounded and taken to Gaza European Hospital in the city to
receive medical treatment.  Medical
sources described one of the conditions as serious and the other one as
moderate.  The wounded children were identified
as:

1. Ibrahim Jamal Ahmed Abu Reidah (17), seriously hit by a
bullet to the right leg that caused fractures in bones and ruptures in the
arteries; and

2. Islam Samir Tawfiq Abu Reidah (16) hit by a bullet to
the right leg.

 

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

 

Tuesday, 23 June 2015

At approximately 02:30, Israeli force moved into Deir
Abzie’ village, west of Ramallah.  Accompanied
by tracker dogs, they raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Mujahed Barakat Taher Mansour (24) after breaking the main door with a sharp tool.
They detained the family members in one room. 
Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned civilian and withdrew from
the house taking him to an unknown destination. 
Meanwhile, other Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of ‘Alaa’ Mofid Kamal Dar Ibrahim Karajah (32) after breaking the
main door with a sharp tool and forcing the house residents to stay out.  The Israeli soldiers attempted to strangle
his elder brother, ‘Issam, and hit him with a gun butt on his back when he was
trying to prevent them from searching because there were children asleep.  The Israeli soldiers arrested ‘Alaa’ and at
approximately 04:30, they withdrew from the house taking him to an unknown
destination.  When the Israeli soldiers
withdrew, the family lost USD 2,000 and two iPhone (6) mobile phones belonging
to his brother Joudah and an iPad belonging to the family.

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
‘Aydah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. 
They raided and searched a number of houses.  They arrested four civilians and took them to
an unknown destination: Mohammed Ayman Abu Ghosh (19); Hamzah Ibrahim Malash
(22); Ismail Ahmed Saqer (21); and Monjed Saleh Abu ‘Akar (22).  Israeli forces also handed Ashraf Mohammed
Kawazbah (42) and his two sons, Hasan (20) and Mohammed (22), summonses to
refer to the Israeli intelligence in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement bloc,
south of the city.

 

At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces stationed off
al-Wahah shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire sporadically in the
vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats sailing within two nautical miles and
chased them.  The shooting, which
continued for 20 minutes, caused fear among fishermen who were forced to flee.  No causalities were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at the
agricultural lands, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the
southern Gaza Strip.  The shooting
continued sporadically for around half an hour. 
No casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: al-Jaftalak and
al-Nowei’amah villages, north of Jericho; and Tafouh village, west of Hebron.

 

Wednesday, 24 June 2015

 

At approximately 03:00, an Israeli drone launched a
missile at an agricultural land belonging to the family of Hamdan in the centre
of al-Qerman Street, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.  Neither causalities nor damages were
reported.  The missile caused a heavy explosion
that rocked the area.  As a result, the
residents of the area, especially children and women, were terrified. 

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Tulkarm; and al-Shyoukh
village al-‘Aroub refugee camp and al-Sour village in Hebron

 

 

 

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, 3 civilians were wounded in Kufor Qaddoum protest,
northeast of Qalqilya.

 

(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
19 June 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 beat up.  

 

Also following the Friday prayer, 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 protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises as they were beat up by Israeli soldiers.

 

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, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises as they beat up by Israeli soldiers.

 

Also following the Friday prayer, there was the weekly protest
against the closure of the eastern entrance of Kufor Qaddoum village, which was
closed by Israeli forces since the Intifada. Once the protestors approached the
closed entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas
canisters and sound bombs. They also sprayed skunk water over the protestors.
As a result, 3 civilians were wounded. An 18-year-old civilian sustained 2
bullet wounds to the right leg, a 23-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound
to the right thigh and a 30-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.

  

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

 

 

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

 

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

  

 

Movement at Karm Abu Salem
(Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, according to the Ministry of
Economy and General Petroleum Corporation 

 

Exports:

 

On Sunday, 14 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
102 tons of tomatoes, 11.17 tons of eggplants and 24 tons of furniture.

On Monday, 15 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
40 tons of stationery.

On Tuesday, 16 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 0.6 tons of fish.

On Wednesday, 17 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 25.4 tons of tomatoes.

On Thursday, 18 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 79.7 tons of tomatoes, 8 tons of eggplants and 26 tons of furniture.

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
36 tons of stationary.

On Monday, 22 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
25 tons of tomatoes, 0.37 tons of garlic, 0.18 tons of mints, 10 tons of
clothes and 24 tons of furniture.

 

 

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

17 – 22 June 2015

 

 

Notes:

On Wednesday, 17 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed 2 international
workers to renew their permits and allowed one person on the same day and
another one who working in the Civil Affairs Department to attend a meeting in
Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing.

 

On Friday, 19 June 2015, Israeli forces allowed 480 persons to
perform payers in al-Aqsa Mosque.

 

Israeli forces banned Deputy Head of the Journalists Syndicate
from traveling through Beit Hanoun crossing

 

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, Israeli forces prevented Dr. Tahseen
Abdel-Hamid Mohammed al-Astal (34), Deputy Head of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate
and Managing Editor at Al-Hayat Al-Jadida newspaper published in Ramallah, from
traveling to the West Bank through Beit Hanoun crossing, north of the Gaza
Strip, although he was  informed earlier
that his permit was issued.

 

Al-Astal, from Khan Younis, said to a PCHR fieldworker that he along
with 6 other members of the Journalists Syndicate applied through the civil
liaison to get permits to the West Bank to participate in a conference in
Bethlehem to discuss issues related to the Journalists Syndicate in the head
office in Ramallah. On 20 June 2015, he and 4 other members were informed that
they got permits while the other 2 ones were rejected because they were below
35. The allowed ones were asked to head to Beit Hanoun crossing on the
following morning. He added that on Sunday morning, 21 June 2015, they arrived to
Beit Hanoun crossing. When they reached gate no. (5), where the Palestinian
liaison office is located, the 4 other members were allowed to pass while al-Astal
was denied traveling although he obtained a permit earlier under alleged
security reasons. He also said that he called the civil liaison again and he
was told that Israeli forces retreated in regards to his permit although he
traveled via the same crossing a few months ago.

 

West Bank

 

Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During
the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians:

 

· Hebron:
Israeli forces established 10 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 18
June 2015, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Beit
Kahel village, northwest of Hebron, and at the entrance of al-Deir Samit
village, west of Dura, southwest of Hebron.

 

On Saturday, 20 June 2015, Israeli forces established 2
checkpoints at the entrance of Beit ‘Awa village, south of Dura, southwest of
the city, and at the entrance of Rabud village, southeast of Dura.

 

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.

 

On Monday, 22 June 2015, Israeli forces established two
checkpoints at the northern entrance of Yata, south of the city and at the
entrance of Beit Kahel village, west of Hebron.

 

On Tuesday, 23 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance of al-Samou’a village, south of Hebron.

 

On Wednesday, 24 June 2015, Israeli forces established two
checkpoints at the southern entrance of Hebron and the entrance of Bani Na’im
village, east of the city.

 

· Ramallah:
Israeli forces established 12 checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 18
June 2015, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints under the bridge of Yabrud
village, northeast of the city; at the entrance of Deir Qeddis village,
northwest of the city; and on al-Mo’arajat road between Jericho and
Ramallah. 

                             

On Friday, 19 June 2015, Israeli forces established 8 checkpoints
at the northern entrance of Birzeir, at the eastern entrance of al-Nabi Saleh
village; the entrance of Ni’lin village; at the intersection of Beit ‘Oar
al-Foqa; Deir Abzigh village; on the road between the villages of Kafr Ne’amah
and Ras Karkar; on the road between the villages of Deir Abzigh and Ras Karkar
and at the entrance of ‘Aboud village. 

 

On Saturday, 20 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint
under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city

 

· Qalqilya:  Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints all over the city.  On Friday, 19 June 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya.

 

On Saturday, 20 June 2015, Israeli forces established 3
checkpoints at the entrance of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya; on the road
between ‘Azoun and Jayous villages, east of the city and at
the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.

 

On Tuesday, 22 June 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint
at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya.

 

· Jericho:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  On Friday, 19 June 2015, Israeli forces
established 2 checkpoints at the entrance of Fasayel village, north of the city,
and at the southern entrance of Jericho.

 

Note: all the aforementioned checkpoints were later
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at Military Checkpoints

 

At approximately 15:30 on Thursday, 18 June 2015, Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at the entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilya.  They arrested 3 civilians from
Baqet al-Hatab village while passing via the checkpoint and took them to an
unknown destination.  The arrested
civilians were identified as Jom’ah Merwan Farid Barghouth (26); Mohammed Wasfi
Rashid Barghuth (25); and Suhaib Nael Zaki Barghutth (22).

 

On the same day afternoon, Israeli forces stationed at al-Taibah
crossing between Tulkarm and Israel arrested Ahmed Basem Jamil Soliman (26),
from Bal’ah village, north of the city and took him to an unknown
destination.  The aforementioned civilian
was arrested when he was on his way back from his work in Israel to his home in
Bal’ah village.

 

At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at
the entrance of Qalqilya.  They arrested
Bashar Mohammed Amin ‘Abdel Rahim Dawoud (25), from Qalqilya.  They later removed the checkpoint and took
him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 20 June 2015, Israeli forces
stationed at the western entrance of Tal al-Ramidah neighborhood in the center
of Hebron arrested Fadi Nader al-Natshah (15) and Mahmoud Sa’id al-Rajabi (18)
and took them to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 22:30 on the same day, Israeli forces established
a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Ein Ayoub area, west of Ras Karkar village,
northwest of Ramallah.  When Fayez
Hussein Sabri Anjas (25). from Kherbtha Bani Hareth village was passing via the
checkpoint, the Israeli soldiers arrested him. 
He was released on the following day.

 

On Monday afternoon, 22 June 2015, Israeli forces arrested Saddam
Shehadah Salim Dar Khalil (25), from al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah, when he was near Qalendia checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem.

 

At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 23 June 2015, Israeli forces
stationed at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Hatem
Ibrahim ‘Abdel Majeed Shadid (24), from Kharsa village, south of Dura,
southwest of Hebron, and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, 25 June 2015, Israeli forces
arrested two Palestinian civilians from Bethlehem and took them to an unknown
destination as they were heading to occupied East Jerusalem to perform Tarawih
prayers in al-Aqsa Mosque.  The two
arrested civilians were identified as ‘Ali Mohammed Hammad (22) and ‘Omer
Ibrahim al-Badawnah (18).

 

5. Efforts to create Jewish majority

 

Shooting incidents

 

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, an Israeli border
guard officer opened fire at Yasser Yasin Tarwah (18), from Sa’ir village east
of Hebron, after the latter stabbed an Israeli soldier in Bab al-Amoud area in
East Jerusalem. As a result, Tarwah sustained 6 bullet wounds from a close
range, due to which he was taken to Hadasa Hospital in West Jerusalem to
receive the necessary medical treatment.

 

According to investigations conducted by
PCHR and the statement of an eyewitness, at approximately 11:10 on the
abovementioned day, Yasser Tarwah stabbed an Israeli border guard officer with
a sharp tool in the head and neck while another officer was in company with the
attacked officer in Bab al-Amoud area near al-Mesrara intersection. The other
officer immediately opened fire at Tarwah, due to which he sustained 6 bullet
wounds, 3 of which were in the chest, one in the side, one in the left thigh
and one in the right leg. Israeli forces surrounded the scene and fired tear
gas canisters to get those who tried to rescue Tarwah away. Israeli soldiers
prevented them from approaching the scene while Tarwa continued to bleed on the
ground until an ambulance arrived and transported him to Hadasa Ein Karem
Hospital. His health condition was serious. According to a medical source in
the Hospital, Tarwah underwent several operations that took hours and his
health condition ranged between serious and unstable.   

Incursions and house raids

 

At approximately 03:00 on Sunday, 21 June
2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem.
They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested 2
civilians: Adham Mahmoud Moheisen (21) and Atta Ebeid (21).

 

At approximately 21:00, on the same day,
Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of the old city in East
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
2 civilians, including a child: Mohammed Eyad Abdul Razeq (15) and Tawfiq Ahmed
Shweiki (19).

 

At approximately 22:00, on the same day, Israeli
forces moved into al-Mukaber Mount area, southeast of East Jerusalem. They
raided and searched a number of houses using sniffer dogs. Of the raided houses
were the house of Ashraf Ewisat and the house of Sa’id Abu Jamal. Ashraf
Eweisat said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli forces suddenly raided his
house. They took him and his family outdoors and started searching the house
thoroughly. He added that it took them about an hour to search the house,
pointing that Israeli forces told him that they were allegedly searching for
weapons and fireworks, but Eweisat completely denied it.

 

At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces
moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem, for the second time in
hours. They raided and searched the house of Wa’el Nathir Mahmoud (38). They
arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 10:00, on Monday, 22 June
2015, Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinian women while being al-Aqsa mosque
yards. The women were crying “Allah Akbar” when a number of settlers
stormed al-Aqsa mosque. The 5 women were taken to “Beit Elyahou”
police station to be questioned. The arrested women were identified as: Sana’
al-Rajabi, Samah Ghazawi, Amani al-Taweel, Nojood Abu Snaina and Fatina Hussein.

 

At approximately 22:00 on the same day,
Israeli forces moved into al-Sowana neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. They
stationed at the neighbourhood’s intersection and erected a military
checkpoint. Dozens of Palestinian youngsters gathered and threw stones and
fireworks at Israeli soldiers, who fired tear gas canisters in response and
chased them. In the meantime, Israeli forces arrested 3 children and took them
to an unknown destination: Mohammed Nader Shaheen (15), Mohammed Ra’ouf
al-Moghrabi (17) and Mousa Mohammed Abu al-Hawa (16).

 

At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 23 June
2015, undercover units arrested 7 Palestinian children when they got out of
Shouman Mosque in Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of East Jerusalem. They
attacked them with gun butts and took them to an interrogation facility. The children
were identified as: Mohammed Fo’ad Jaber (13), Morad Aziz Alqam (14), Nour
al-Din Omer Abu Hadwan (15), Omer Khaled al-Taweel (14), Omer Yasin (14),
Mohammed Tayeh (15) and Saleh Ishtaiya (15).

    

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

 

Israel has continued its settlement
activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law,
and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and
property.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 22
June 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a Civil Administration vehicle moved
into al-Jowaya area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They deployed between the
houses and handed Amir Mohammed Hammad al-Shamesti (40) a notice to halt
construction works in his one-storey house under the pretext of non-licensing.

 

At approximately 11:00 on the same
day, Israeli forces accompanied by a Civil Administration vehicle moved into
Kherbet al-Mafqara, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. They deployed between
the houses and handed notices to halt construction works in 2 residential tents
under the pretext of non-licensing. The notices included:

 

1. A 50-square-meter 
residential tent belonging to Qasem Mohammed Hamamra; and

2. A 50-sqaure-meter residential tent belonging to Yasser Salem
al-‘Adra.

 

At approximately 15:00 on the same
day, Israeli forces accompanied by 2 Civil Administration vehicles confiscated
and damaged grocery and fruit stalls established by residents of Beit Ommar
village, north of Hebron along bypass road (60) to sell their products. They
damaged 10 stalls, due to which Palestinians using these stalls to sell their
products sustained financial losses.

 

Ayman Sabarna (22), an owner of a
stall, said to a PCHR fieldworker that:

 

“Every year in the beginning of
summer, we establish stalls on the sides of bypass road (60) adjacent to Beit Ommar
village to sell fruits including plums, peaches and other fruits we grow.  We usually get vegetables and fruits from
traders to meet the needs of customers. In the beginning of this summer, specifically,
on Monday and Tuesday, 15 and 16 June 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by a GMC
vehicle and two Toyota vehicles  came to
the place where stalls were established. Israeli soldiers deployed in the place,
while the Civil Administration officers and “Etzion” Municipality
officers damaged some fruits and confiscated others to the vehicles. This included
dozens of stalls owned by a number of residents in the village. On the next
day, a bulldozer was brought to the place. It removed and confiscated the
stalls. On Monday, 22 June 2015, two military vehicles accompanied by two
Toyota vehicles arrived at the place. A number of workers confiscated
vegetables and fruits, took them to their vehicles and left. Every time this
happens, we sustain a financial loss estimated at NIS 1,000 for each stall,
which aggravates the living conditions of some families that depend entirely on
this season for living.”

 

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday,
23 June 2015, Israeli forces accompanied by Civil Administration vehicles moved
into Kherbet Menaizel, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They deployed between
the houses and handed civilians a notice to halt works in an under construction
water well that was being dug to collect rainwater to be used as potable water.
It should be noted that the well was funded by the USAID.

 

At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 19
June 2015, a group of settlers from “Beit El” settlement threw stones
at Palestinian vehicles on Ramallah-Nablus road near the said settlement. As a
result, glass of a vehicle was smashed. This attack occurred under the
protection and in presence of Israeli soldiers, who did not intervene.

 

At approximately 22:30 on Saturday,
20 June 2015, a settler from “Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh
City, opened fire at Bassam Taher Abdul Men’em Sarsour (15), from al-Taweel Mount
area. As a result, he sustained 2 bullet wounds to the right leg. He was taken
to Palestine Medical Compound in Ramallah. An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker
that 4 settlers were present by the settlement gate near the Palestinian
houses. He added that fire was opened at the child from the said place while
the boy was 60 meters away from the gate.

 

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, a group of
settlers from “Tafouh” settlement between Jama’in and Yasouf
villages, south of Nablus, cut off 70 olive trees with chainsaws. The land in
which the olive trees were planted belong to Mahmoud Zaidan Mahmoud Hajj Ali
from Jama’in village.     

 

 

 

 

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;

 

 

 

 

 

…………………………………………………………

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.