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

 

 

·Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians,
including a child, and wounded 38 others in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

– The child was killed at a military checkpoint, east of
occupied Jerusalem.

– The second civilian was killed after he stabbed an
Israeli soldier, who stopped him at an electronic gate near the Ibrahimi Mosque
in Hebron.

– The third was shot while being in his farmland, west
of Jenin. He died of his wound hours later.

– 26 Palestinian civilians were wounded during clashes,
east of occupied Jerusalem.

– 2 children were wounded due to the explosion of an
object of the Israeli military remnants, south of Qalqilya.

 

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

– 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Nabi
Saleh and Kufor Qaddoum weekly protests.

– 4 protestors, including 2children, were wounded during
other protests.

 

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

– 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a
farmer, were wounded in the south and north of the Gaza Strip.

 

·Israeli forces conducted 43 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 11 others in East Jerusalem.

– 40 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and 8
women, were arrested.

– 30 of these civilians, including 6 children and the 8
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.

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

– 4 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints
west of Jenin and north of Hebron.

 

·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 residential barrack and 3
tin-roofed houses were demolished, north of Jericho.

– An uninhabited house was demolished in Nabi Saleh
village, northwest of Ramallah.

– A settler attacked a child in the old city of occupied
East Jerusalem.

– Settlers cut off 80 vines, north of Hebron.

 

Summary

 

Israeli violations of international law and international
humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (23 –
28 April 2015).

 

Shooting:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 3
Palestinian civilians, including a child, and wounded 39 others, including 4
children, in the West Bank, occupied Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. Two other
children were also wounded due to the explosion of an object of the Israeli
military remnants, south of Qalqilya. Two Palestinian civilians were killed in
2 separate incidents in Hebron and Jenin in the West Bank, while the third, who
was a child, was killed at a military checkpoint in occupied Jerusalem. In
occupied Jerusalem also, 26 Palestinian civilians, including 2 paramedics, were
wounded during protests that followed the killing of the child; 12 others,
including 3 children, were wounded during other protests in the West Bank and
the 4^th child was wounded in the Gaza Strip.

 

In the West Bank, on 25 April 2015, Israeli forces
killed a 20-year-old Palestinian civilian crossing via an electronic gate at
the entrance of the Ibrahimi mosque in the south of the old city in Hebron,
after he stabbed an Israeli soldier at the said gate.

 

On 27 April 2015, Israeli forces opened fire at
19-year-old civilian while he was in his farmland near the annexation wall in
the west of Arqa village, west of Jenin. As a result, he sustained a bullet
wound to the testicles due to which he suffered severe haemorrhage and died
hours later.

 

On 25 April 2015, two children from Azzoun Etmah
village, south of Qalqilya, were wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious
object of the Israeli military remnants.     

 

Israeli forces continued the use of excessive and
systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international solidarity activists against the construction of
the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 8
protestors, including a child, were wounded during Nabi Saleh and Kufor Qaddoum
weekly protests. The wounds of 2 of the wounded were serious.

 

In the same context, 4 Palestinians, including 2 children,
were wounded during other protests at the western entrance of Selwad village,
northeast of Ramallah, in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of
city, and at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of the
city.

 

In occupied Jerusalem, in excessive use of force, on 25
April 2015, Israeli forces killed a 17-year-old child at Za’im checkpoint, east
of occupied Jerusalem. They boy was fired at while crossing via the checkpoint
when he quarrelled and fought with Israeli soldiers at the said checkpoint.

 

In the Gaza Strip, as part of targeting border areas,
on 24 April 2015, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when
Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened sporadic fire at dozens
of civilians, who were present near the said fence, east of Khan Yunis in the
south of the Gaza Strip. A similar gunfire was reported on 23 April 2015,
southeast of Khan Yunis, but no casualties were reported. On 26 April 2015, a
37-year-old farmer was wounded when he was in his farmland 300 meters away from
the fence, east of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.

 

Moreover, Israeli forces fired flash bombs over the
sea off Khan Yunis shore in the south of the Gaza Strip. In conjunction,
Israeli gunboats stationed off the city shore opened sporadic fire at fishing
boats sailing within the allowed area, but no casualties were reported.

  

Incursions:

 

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 43 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
and 11 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested
at least 40 Palestinians, including 7 children. 
Thirty of these Palestinians, including 6 children and 8 women, were
arrested in 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. In many occasions lately, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian
patients and their companions and traders.

 

Efforts to create a Jewish

 

Shooting incidents and arrests:

 

On Thursday, 23 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and
searched a house belonging to Isma’il Abu Ghannam in al-Tour neighbourhood,
east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested the aforementioned person
and his son Emad (16) and took them to an unknown destination.

 

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested 5
civilians, including 3 girls, while entering al-Aqsa Mosque in the old city of
East Jerusalem.

 

At approximately 13:30, Israeli forces attacked
Mohammed Qanibi (16) after he went out of school in al-Tour village, east of the
old city in East Jerusalem.

 

At approximately 14:00 Israeli forces raided al-Somoud
building in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood in the north of the old city in East
Jerusalem, from which they arrested 4 civilians.

 

At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces arrested 2
civilians while walking in Hezma village, east of the old city in East
Jerusalem.

 

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-Ein area in Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. They
raided 2 celebrations of 2 released prisoners and confiscated Palestinian and
Fatah flags.

 

On Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and
searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ashayer in al-Tour neighbourhood in the
east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (17) and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

In excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian child on Saturday midnight, 25 April 2015, at Za’im checkpoint,
east of occupied Jerusalem.

 

On
Saturday, 25 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east
of the old city in East Jerusalem, and stationed around al-Zaitoun club near
the tent that was established to receive condolences for the killing of the
aforementioned Ali Mohammed Abu Ghannam (17). Dozens of Palestinian youngsters
gathered and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, who fired
rubber-coated metal bullets and gas bombs in response. As a result, 26 civilians
sustained bullet wounds to the upper parts of their bodies during clashes that
erupted in the neighborhood.

 

On
Saturday, 25 April 2015, clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian
civilians, who protested at the killing of a Palestinian child and Israeli
forces that moved into Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem.
The youngsters threw stones at Israeli police cars and settlers, while Israeli
soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs in response.

 

On
the same day, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east of the old
city in East Jerusalem, after a Palestinian young man ran down Israeli soldiers
in the neighborhood.

 

On
Sunday, 26 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to
Mohammed Shkairat in al-Mokaber Mount neighborhood, south of East
Jerusalem.  They arrested his child and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

On
Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Mokaber Mount neighborhood,
south of East Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses from which they
arrested 2 civilians.

 

At
approximately 05:00, Israeli forces raided a house belonging to Nader Hseimah
in Aqbet al-Saraya neighborhood, in the old city in East Jerusalem. They
arrested his son and took him to an unknown destination.

 

Around
the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of East
Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
4 Palestinian civilians, including a child.

 

At
approximately 07:30, Israeli forces arrested 28-year-old civilian, from
Bethlehem, while being in his work in East Jerusalem, under the pretext he had
no permit.

 

At
approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinian women while being
near al-Aqsa Mosque. They were taken to Beit Eliyahu facility to be questioned.

 

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 Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces accompanied
with a force from the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli
Civil Administration and backed by two bulldozers demolished a residential tent
and a barrack in addition to 3 tin-roofed houses in al-Makhrouq Abu ‘Ajjaj,
southwest and east of al-Jaftalak village, north Jericho.

 

On Tuesday, 28 April 2015, Israeli forces accompanied
with a force from the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli
Civil Administration and backed by a GCB bulldozer moved into southeast of
al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. 
They destroyed an uninhabited old house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud
Tamimi, who lives in Jordan.

 

On Thursday, 23 April 2015, a group of Israeli
settlers under the Israeli forces’ escort stormed the lands of Silet al-Thaher
village, south of Jenin, where the evacuated “Homish” settlement was
previously established.  The settlers
arrived at the area in buses and performed Talmudic rituals. They withdrew later.

 

On Thursday, 23 April 2015, an Israeli settler pushed
Radi Sa’id al-Dow (14) down from his bike on al-Wad Street in the Old City in
Eastern Jerusalem.  As a result, he fell
on the ground, and his head hit a big stone. 

 

On Monday
morning, 27 April 2015, a number of settlers from “Karmi Tsur” settlement between Halhoul and Beit
Ommar villages, north of Hebron, damaged and cut off 80 vines that were planted
on a farm 300 meters away from the said settlement.

 

Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(23 – 28 April 2015)

 

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

 

Thursday, 23 April 2015

 

· At approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jayous village, northwest of Qalqilya. 
They patrolled the streets when the village youngsters gathered to throw
stones and empty bottles at the Israeli vehicles.  The Israeli soldiers opened fire and fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the stone-throwers.  Israeli forces later withdrew and no arrests
were reported.

 

· At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence with Israel opened fire at the agricultural lands to the west of
the aforementioned fence in al-Fokhari area, southeast of Khan Younis.  No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed along
the annexation wall near Qalqilya fired tear gas canisters and sound bombs at a
group of children who were adjacent to the wall.  No casualties were reported.

 

· At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the annexation wall near Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin, fired tear gas
canisters and sound bombs at the village. 
No causalities were reported.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: the villages of al-Shajnah
valley and Deir Razah, south and east of Dura, southwest of Hebron; al-Shyoukh
village, north of Hebron; and Ramin village, northeast of Tulkarm.

 

Friday, 24 April 2015

 

· At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into
Maythalone village, south of Jenin.  They
patrolled the streets and then raided and searched a house belonging to Jihad No’man
‘Abdullah N’eirat (24).  They handed the
aforementioned civilian a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence in Salem
Camp, northwest of Jenin. 

 

· At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces stationed near
the tower established on the bypass road, southeast of Burin village, southeast
of Nablus, stopped 7 Palestinian civilians who were on their way to their
agricultural lands in the area.  The
Israeli soldiers severely beat Bashir Jebril Mahmoud Qadous (42) and also
attacked his wife and sisters who attempted to save him from the soldiers’
hands.  Qadous and his wife and sisters
were then taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, and the Israeli soldiers
arrested his nephew, Maher Salah al-Najjar (16).

 

· At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence with Israel opened fire and fired tear gas canisters
sporadically at dozens of civilians who gathered near the aforementioned fence,
east of al-Sunati area, east of ‘Abasan village to the east of Khan Younis in
the southern Gaza Strip.  The shooting
which continued for two hours resulted in the injury of Fadi Ibrahim Mohammed
Mesbeh (17) with a bullet and shrapnel to the hands and legs when he was only
150 meters away from the border fence. 
He was then taken to European Gaza Hospital in the city, and his
condition was described as moderate.

 

· At approximately 18:30, Israeli forces stationed in
the vicinity of the annexation wall established on the Palestinian lands of
Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin, arrested Ramah Saleh Hussein ‘Atatrah (19)
from Zabouba village, when he was in the agricultural lands adjacent to the
aforementioned wall, west of Zabouba village. 
Israeli forces later took him to an unknown destination.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: the villages of Marah
al-Baqar, Rabud and Beit ‘Awa, south and west od Dura, southwest of Hebron; and
Jalboun village, east of Jenin.

 

Saturday, 25 April 2015

 

· At approximately 16:00, Wisam ‘Abdel Rahim Soliman
al-sheikh (11) and Neser Faris Nemer Nemer (9), both from ‘Azoun ‘Etmah
village, south of Qalqilya, were wounded due to the explosion of a suspicious
object. According to PCHR’s investigations, while the aforementioned children
were playing with an object, south of the village, near an Israeli checkpoint,
the object exploded and injured both of them. 
They were then taken to Darwish Governmental Hospital in Qalqilya to
receive medical treatment where their condition was described as moderate.

 

· Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian while
passing the electronic gate established at the al-Ibrahimi Mosque entrance,
south of the Old City in central Hebron, after stabbing an Israeli soldier.

 

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
16:30 on the aforementioned day, Israeli soldiers from the border guard police
stationed at the electronic gate established at the al-Ibrahimi Mosque
entrance, south of the Old City in central Hebron, stopped Mahmoud Yehia Younis
Abu Jheishah (20) from Ethna village, west of Hebron, when he was passing via
the aforementioned gate.  The Israeli
soldiers had a conversation with the aforementioned civilian and asked for his
ID card.  The aforementioned civilian
took a knife from his clothes and stabbed a soldier.  Another soldier immediately fired 4 bullets
at him from a distance of 5 meters wounding him in the left side of his body.  He fell on the ground, and an Israeli
ambulance took him to an Israeli hospital where his death was later declared.  At approximately 22:00, they handed his body
to the Palestinian Red Crescent.  The
Israeli forces declared that the Israeli soldiers opened fire at the
Palestinian young and shot him dead after stabbing an Israeli soldier injuring
him.

· At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed at
the closed eastern entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village fired sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at a group of children who were near the aforementioned
entrance.  No injuries were reported.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Bir Zeit
village, north of Ramallah and Kherbtha al-Mesbah village, southwest of
Ramallah.

 

Sunday, 26 April 2015

 

· At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
Thannabah Suburb, east of Tulkarm.  They
patrolled the streets while a number of Israeli soldiers deployed in the
vicinity of an artesian well.  A
specialized team from the Israeli Civil Administration examined the water level
in the well and took photos for it. 
Israeli forces withdrew later, and neither arrests nor house raids were
reported.

 

· At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets and then stationed in Abu Rishah Valley area in the west
of the village.  The Israeli soldiers
deployed between the houses causing fear among children and residents.  The Israeli soldiers then raided and searched
a house belonging to Yehia Younis Abu Jheishah, whose son was killed by the
Israeli border guards in the al-Ibrahimi Mosque on the aforementioned day.  The Israeli soldiers raided and searched the
houses of Yehia’s brothers.  They
confiscated stuffs belonging to Yehia and handed his brothers, Salem (30) and
Mohammed (19), summonses to refer to the Israeli intelligence in “Gosh
‘Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. 
Israeli forces withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 12:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence with Israel opened fire at a group of civilians and farmers in
Abu Safiyah area, east of Jabalia.  As a
result, Rami Salim Matter (37) from Beit Lahia Housing Project was hit with a
bullet to the left leg when he was in his field, which is only 200 meters away
from the aforementioned fence.  The
wounded person was taken to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, and his
condition was described as moderate.

 

· At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces arrested Ashraf
Mahmoud Abu al-Sheikh (27) from ‘Aydah refugee camp in Bethlehem when he was driving
his public vehicle in Bethlehem streets and took him to “Ataroat”
interrogation centre.

 

· At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces stationed at
the closed eastern entrance of Kafr Qaddoum village fired sound bombs and tear
gas canisters at a group of children who were near the aforementioned
entrance.  No injuries were
reported.  In the same context, the
Israeli soldiers stationed in the aforementioned area detained Ihab ‘Adnan
‘Abdel Mahdi ‘Ali (37) from the village for some time and released later him in
coordination with the Palestinian Military Liaison.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Bir Zeit
village, north of Ramallah; Beit ‘Awa village; al-Shyoukh village in the centre
of Hahoul; al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron; Khrebtha al-Mesbah, southwest of
Ramallah; and Ras Karkar, northwest of Ramallah.

 

Monday, 27 April 2015

 

· At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and
then raided and searched the houses of former prisoners Hamzah Sam Mahmoud
Qa’aqour (36) and his brother Anas (29). 
The Israeli soldiers questioned the residents and threatened them not to
practice any political activity. 

 

· At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
Ethna village, west of Hebron.  They
patrolled the streets for some time and later stationed in ‘Aziz Valley area,
west of the village.  They deployed
between the houses causing fear among children and residents.  They raided and searched a house belonging to
‘Emad ‘Abdel ‘Aziz ‘Abdullah al-Butran (40). 
Israeli forces arrested the aforementioned civilian and withdrew later taking
him to an unknown destination.

 

· Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aydah
refugee camp, west of Bethlehem.  They
raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Munir J’aarah and broke the
doors.  They detained him for minutes and
then released him.  They also raided and
searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Jawarish. 
They further raided al-Atlal Company for renting cars and damaged the
furniture and doors.  Israeli forces
withdrew later, and no arrests were reported.

 

· At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into
Jenin.  They patrolled the streets and
then raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Bassam ‘Abdullah Abu
‘Abeid (23) and arrested him. 

 

· At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into
Tulkarm.  They patrolled the streets for
some time and later redeployed in Ezbet al-Jarad area, east of the city.  Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Ahmed Mahmoud Mahdawi (36) and arrested him. 

 

· In a new excessive force, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian when he was in his farmland near the annexation wall, west
of al-‘Arqah village, west of Jenin. 
They fired one bullet at him and after hours he died of his serious
injuries.

According to
PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 18:40 on the aforementioned day, when
Mohammed Murad Mohammed Saleh Yehia (19) from al-‘Arqah village, west of Jenin,
was in his farmland near the annexation wall, west of the aforementioned
village, he was shot by the Israeli forces designated to guard the annexation
wall.  As a result, he was wounded by a
bullet to the testicles causing him severe bleeding.  He was taken by a civilian car from the scene
and then by a PRCS ambulance from the village to Khalil Suleiman Governmental
Hospital in Jenin.  He was then
transferred due to his serious condition to Rafidia Governmental Hospital, but
the doctors’ efforts failed to save him. 
They declared his death early on the following day.

· At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit
Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem.  They
then raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested 4
children were: Amir Mohammed Salim Za’oul (16); Mos’ab Hasan Dawoud al-Sha’er
(15); ‘Abdullah Tariq Hasan Shoushah (15); and ‘Abdel ‘Aziz Basem Mohammed
Hamamrah (15).

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried
out incursions in the following areas, but no arrests were reported: al-‘Aroub
refugee camp, north of Hebron; Beit Kahel village, west of Hebron; Deir Qeddis
village, west of Ramallah; Jayous village, northwest of Qalqilya;  Seilet al-Harithiyah village, north of Jenin;
al-Zababdah village and Mothalath al-Shuhadaa’ area, south of the city; Raba
village, east of the city; Jalqamous village twice a day, southeast of the
city; and Ramin village, northeast of Tulkarm.

 

Tuesday, 28 April 2015

 

· At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into
‘Awerta village, southeast of Nablus. 
They patrolled the streets and then raided and searched a number of
houses.  They wrote down personal date of
the houses’ residents, the number of their family members; area and the number
of rooms in addition to taking photos for those rooms and drawing a map for
each house before leaving them.  This
also happened on 26 April 2015 for a number of houses that were raided twice or
three times, and each time the same data was collected.  At approximately 04:00 on the same day, they
left the village, and no arrests were reported.

Amal Mashhour Jaber ‘Awwad (25), who lives in one of
these houses, said to PCHR’s staff that:

 

“At
approximately 01:30 on Tuesday, 28 April 2015, when I was sleeping with my
husband and childreb, Bahaa’ (8) Mahmoud (7) and Rimas (3) in our house in
al-Balatniyah, west of ‘Awerta village, southeast of Nablus, Israeli forces knocked
on the main house door in the north western side of the house, which is
comprised of two levels.  We live on the
second floor.  When we heard knocking on
the door, my husband Issam Na’aam Reda ‘Awwad (39) immediately got up from bed
and went downstairs to open the door.  I
woke up as well to find 6 Israeli soldiers in the house, 2 of them were putting
masks with torches on their heads.  They
asked for our ID cards and wrote their numbers down on a paper.  They then asked us to write our phone numbers
on an Israeli soldier’s phone.  They also
asked about the number of the house residents and wrote down the data.  They drew a map for the house on the same
paper after entering each room and taking photos of them.  They then ascended to the roof and left two
soldiers to guard after completing the data. This is the second time they take
the same data since 26 April 2015.  They
stayed for 20 minutes in the house and withdrew later.  This is the third day they move into the
village and raid the houses.  The other
houses that were raided in the same night belong to the following:

 

1. Najeh Hasan ‘Awwad;

2. Hashim Hasan ‘Awwad;

3. Waddah Hasan ‘Awwad;

4. Sa’id ‘Ezzat ‘Awwad;

5. Na’im ‘Ezzat ‘Awwad;

6. Na’am Reda ‘Awwad;

7. Eyad Na’am ‘Awwad;

8. Rajab Mahmoud Darawshah;

9. Samer Salim Qawariq;

10. Ibrahim Salim Qawariq; and

11. Majdi Salim Qawariq.

 

Most of these houses were raided for 3 consecutive
days, and the Israeli soldiers did the same they did with us.  The others were raided twice.  No reasons were identified behind these night
incursions and disturbances although they happened in area B controlled by the
PA”.

 

· At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Ezzah refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. 
They raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested Ibrahim
Fo’aad ‘Ammarin (22).

 

· At approximately 13:00, Palestinian youngsters
gathered to throw at the Israeli soldiers stationed at Abu al-Rish Checkpoint
established at the southern entrance of the Old city in central Hebron.  They fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the youngsters randomly.  As a result,
a number of them suffered tear gas inhalation. 
It should be mentioned that the aforementioned checkpoint constitutes a
main barrier before the residents of al-Salaymah neighbourhood and the UNRWA
students, who are daily being detained while crossing the checkpoint.

 

· At approximately 21:00, Israeli warplanes fired flash
bombs off Khan Younis shore in the southern Gaza Strip, and Israeli gunboats
stationed in the sea opened fire sporadically in the vicinity of the
Palestinian fishing boats within the limited fishing area.  As a result, fishermen fled for fear of being
arrested or injured, but no causalities were reported.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out incursions in
the following areas, but no arrests were reported: Tulkarm; Zeita village,
north of the city; ‘Azoun village, southeast of Qalqilya; and Beer al-Mahjar
area, west of 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, 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Nabi
Saleh protest, northwest of Ramallah, and Kufor Qaddoum protest in Qalqilya.

 

In the same context, 4 Palestinians, including 2 children, were
wounded during other protests at the western entrance of Selwad village,
northeast of Ramallah, in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of
Ramallah, and at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp,  north of the city.

 

(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 24 April 2015,
dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights
defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in
protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The
protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli
soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of
soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated
metal bullets, sound bombs and wastewater at them and chased them into the
olive fields. As a result, a
number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation.  

 

· Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of
Ramallah, in protest at the construction
of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators took the streets and headed to the
annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbwires and
prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it before they
responded by throwing stones. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the
civilians, and chased them into the village. As a result, a number of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and
others sustained bruises as they were beaten 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, an 18-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet wound to the right side of the head, due to which he
suffered fracture in the skull and internal hemorrhage. He was taken to Yasser
Arafat hospital in Salfit and then referred to Palestine Medical Compound in
Ramallah. Furthermore, many protestors suffered tear gas inhalation and others
sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers
prevented journalists from covering the protest, kicked them, threw stones at
them verbally insulted them in Hebrew. Of the attacked journalists were the
Israeli journalist and human rights activist Haim (45) and Abbas Abdul Wahab
al-Momani (40), a photojournalist oft AFP.

 

· Also around the same time,
dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a protest at the eastern entrance of
Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, heading to the eastern entrance
of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of
al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. The demonstrators threw stones at Israeli
soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a
result, 7 protestors, including a child, sustained bullet wounds. The wound of
one of them (25) was described as serious as he was wounded in the eye. He was
taken to Rafidya Hospital.

 

Other protests:

   

· Following the Friday prayer, 24 April 2015, dozens
of Palestinians gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad village,
northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and Yabroud villages, near
Bypass road (60), in protest at the Israeli policies. The protestors set fire
to tires and threw stones and Molotov Cocktails at the aforementioned road and
Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired
live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at
the protestors. As a result, a 24-year-old civilian sustained a bullet wound to
the left thigh and a 17-year-old girl sustained shrapnel wounds as an Israeli
soldier fired at the window of the girl’s family house because she was filming
the clashes around her house. The wounded were taken to Palestine Medical
Compound in Ramallah. Furthermore, a number of protestors suffered tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli
soldiers.

 

· On Friday
afternoon, dozens of youngsters gathered from different areas of Ramallah and
al-Bireh in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah, in
protest at Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians and to mark the Palestinian
Prisoners Day. They headed towards the facility’s gate that was closed by
Israeli soldiers. They set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at
the soldiers. Israeli forces deployed around the detention facility and started
firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters. As a result, a number of protestors
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten
up by Israeli soldiers.

 

· Also following
the Friday prayer, dozens of children and young men gathered at the southern
entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They were about 300
meters away from the fence of “Beit Eil” settlement. Israeli forces
stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters. Israeli soldiers topped a house belonging to the
family of Mahmoud Dar Shaikha and opened fire at the youngsters. As a result, a
14-year-old child sustained a bullet wound to the left leg and a 24-year-old civilian
sustained a bullet wound to the right knee. They were taken to Palestine
Medical Compound in Ramallah. In addition, a number of protestors suffered tear
gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli
soldiers.

 

3. Continued
closure of the oPt

 

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

 

Gaza Strip

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the
Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for
light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices. However, they
lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes,
furniture and fish. 3 weeks ago, Israeli forces started to ban the entry of
wood  under the pretext is it used for constructing tunnels.

Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing
for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only
allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting
in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at
reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun
crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West
Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel denied permission to access hospitals via the
crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip. It should be noted
that in the past weeks Israeli forces arrested a number of Palestinian traders
heading to Israel after they got permits or were requested to meet with the
Israeli intelligence service at the crossing. During the reporting period, a
patient was arrested at the crossing.  

 

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

19 – 21 April 2015

 

 

Exports:

 

· On Sunday, 19 April 2015,
Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 9.7 tons of eggplants; 10.9 tons of
cucumbers; 0.4 ton of squash and 21 tons of hot peppers.

· On Monday, 20 April 2015,
Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 0.55 ton of garlic, 0.15 tons of
mints and 0.6 tons of fish.

 

Other imports:

 

· On Sunday, 19 April 2015,
Israeli forces allowed the entry of 2,960 tons of aggregate, 680 tons of cement
and 60 tons of construction steel for the UNRWA; 1,480 tons of aggregate, 1,280
tons of cement and 180 tons of steel for Gaza reconstruction; 560 tons of
aggregate for the Turkish project; and 80 tons of cement for USAID. They also
allowed the entry of 665 tons of fodders and 595 tons of wheat.

· On Monday, 20 March 2015,
Israeli forces allowed the entry of 2,680 tons of aggregate, 480 tons of cement
and 90 tons of steel for the UNRWA; 1,640 tons of aggregate, 1,320 tons of
cement and 90 tons of steel for Gaza reconstruction; 400 tons of cement for the
Qatari project; and 80 tons of cement for the Water Authority. They also
allowed the entry of 425 tons of fodders and 34 tons of wheat.

· On Tuesday, 21 April 2015,
Israeli forces allowed the entry of 2,440 tons of aggregate, 200 tons of cement
and 180 tons of steel for the UNRWA; 1,640 tons of aggregate, 1,280 tons of
cement and 300 tons of steel for Gaza reconstruction; 40 tons of cement for Turkish
project and 40 tons of cement for the Water Authority. They also allowed the
entry of 1,050 tons of fodders and 471 tons of wheat.

 

Plastic Containers returned by Israeli forces via Karm Abu Salem:

 

· On Sunday, 19 April 2015,
Israeli forces returned a truckload of empty containers.

· On Tuesday, 21 April 2015,
Israeli forces returned 10 truckloads of empty containers.

 

Note: Israeli forces closed the abovementioned
crossing on Wednesday, 23 April, and Thursday, 24 April.

 

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

14 – 20 April 2015

 

 

21 – 27 April 2015

 

 

Notes:

· On Friday, 17 April 2015, Israeli forces allowed 189 civilians to
cross through Erez in order to perform prayers in the al-Aqsa Mosque in East
Jerusalem.  On Tuesday, 14 April;
Wednesday, 15 April; Thursday, 16 April; Friday, 17 April; and Sunday, 19
April, Israeli forces allowed 22, 37, 45, 29 and 55 Christians respectively to
attend celebration in Bethlehem.

· On Tuesday, 14 April 2015, they also allowed 2 officers of the
Civil Affairs Department to meet with the Israeli side at the crossing.

· On Tuesday, 14 April 2015; Monday, 20 April 2015; and Sunday 26
April 2015, Israeli forces allowed respectively 13, 3 and 5 workers at
international organizations to renew their permits.

· Israeli forces completely closed the crossing on Wednesday, 22
April 2015, and Thursday, 23 April 2015 for Jewish holidays with the exception
of humanitarian cases.

 

West Bank

 

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

 

· Hebron:
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 23 April 2015,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance of
Hebron.  Around half an hour later, Israeli
forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south
of Hebron.  Later, both checkpoints were
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 07:30 on Sunday, 26 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron.  At approximately 17:00, another
checkpoint was established at the northern entrance of Halhoul, north of Hebron.  Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 08:00 on Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron.  Later, the checkpoint was removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

· Ramallah: Israeli
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. At approximately 17:30 on Thursday, 23 April 2015,
Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbtha al-Mesbah
village, west of Ramallah.  At
approximately 19:00, another checkpoint was established near the intersection
of “‘Ofrah” settlement, north of Ramallah.  Later, both checkpoints were removed and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:30 on Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of
Ramallah.  At approximately 12:00, another
checkpoint was established on the road between Termes’ayah and al-Moghir, north
of Ramallah.  Israeli forces later
withdrew, and no arrests were reported. 
At approximately 13:00, they re-established at ‘Atara checkpoint at the
northern entrance of Bir Zeit, north of the city.  They later withdrew, and no arrests were
reported.  Around the same time, another
checkpoint was established ‘Ein Sinia village, north of Ramallah.  All checkpoints were later removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Saturday, 25 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint near the intersection of ‘Ein Sinia village on the
road between Ramallah and Nablus.  At
approximately 09:40, a similar checkpoint was established near the entrance of
Deir Abu Mesh’al village, northwest of the city.  At approximately 16:30, another checkpoint
was established at the eastern entrance of al-Tibah village, northeast of
Ramallah.  Around the same time, another
checkpoint was established near the intersection of Beit ‘Aor al-Foqa village,
southwest of Ramallah.  All checkpoints
were later, and no arrests were reported.

 

· Qalqilya:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 23 April
2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Azoun
Village, southwest of Qalqilya.  Later, the
checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 23:30 on Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of Ras ‘Atiyah and
‘Ezbet Jal’oud, south of Qalqilya.  Later,
the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 26 April 2015, israeli forces
established  a checkpoint at the entrance
of ‘Azoun Village, southwest of Qalqilya.

 

At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint on the road between the villages of Hejah and
al-fondoq, east of Qalqilya.  At
approximately 19:00, another checkpoint was established at the eastern village
of Qalqilya.  All checkpoints were
removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

· Jenin:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.  At approximately 18:00 on
Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road
between Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus near ‘Arabah village intersection, south of
Jenin. The checkpoint was later removed, and no arrests were reported.

 

at approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 26 April 2015, israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of ‘Anzah village, southwest of
Jenin.  At approximately 23:00, another
checkpoint was established on the main road between Jenin,
Tulkarm and Nablus near ‘Arabah village intersection, south of Jenin.  Later, all checkpoints were later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

· Jericho:  Israeli forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.

 

At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint near the entrance of Fasayel village, north of the
city.  At approximately 18:30, a similar
checkpoint as established at the southern entrance of Jericho.  Later, both checkpoints were removed, and no
arrests were reported.

 

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 25 April 2015, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the entrance of al-Nwei’amah village, north of the
city.  The checkpoint was later removed,
and no arrests were reported.

 

Arrests and Maltreatment at
Military Checkpoints

 

· At approximately 19:30 on Sunday,
26 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the gate of the annexation wall
established at the entrance of Eastern Barta’ah, which is isolated from it
surroundings due to wall, west of Jenin, arrested Anas ‘Abdel Ra’ouf Dawoud
‘Abbadi (23) and Mohammed Mahmoud Mohammed Qabaha (34), both from Western Torah
village, west of Jenin when they were crossing the checkpoint. 

 

· At approximately 22:00 on Monday,
27 April 2015, Israeli forces stationed at Israeli forces stationed at the gate
of the annexation wall established at the entrance of Eastern Barta’ah, which
is isolated from its surroundings due to wall, west of Jenin, arrested Aseel
Malek Nayef ‘Abbadi (23) from Western Torah village, west of Jenin, when they
were crossing the checkpoint. 

· At approximately 04:00 on
Tuesday, 28 April 2015, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance
of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. 
They then arrested Naser Mohammed Mousa Abu ‘Ayyash (50) after stopping
his vehicle and was taken to “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement police
station1 south of Bethlehem.  The
checkpoint was removed later.

 

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

 

Shooting incidents and
arrests:

 

· At approximately 04:00 on Thursday,
23 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Isma’il
Abu Ghannam in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the old city in East Jerusalem.
They arrested the aforementioned person and his son Emad (16) and took them to
an unknown destination.

 

· At approximately 11:00, Israeli
forces arrested 5 civilians, including 3 girls, while entering al-Aqsa Mosque in
the old city of East Jerusalem: Mohammed Hassan Ibrahim (24); Taher al-Shaikh
Khalil (24); Somaiya Sa’id Taha (19); Ayat Sa’id Taha (18); and Tasnim Ahmed
Ayashi (18).

 

· At approximately 13:30, Israeli
forces attacked Mohammed Qanibi (16) after he went out of school in al-Tour
village, east of the old city in East Jerusalem. They then arrested him and
took him to an unknown destination.

 

· At approximately 14:00 Israeli
forces raided al-Somoud building in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood, north of
the old city in East Jerusalem, from which they arrested 4 civilians: Hassan
Yusef Ghaith (42), Mohammed Nasser al-Resheq (29), Jawad Ahmed Barqan (30) and
Eyad Ahmed Barqan (28)

 

· At approximately 16:00, Israeli
forces arrested 2 civilians while walking in Hezma village, east of the old
city in East Jerusalem: Mohammed Abdullah Nassri (24); and Hussain Ali
al-Fakhri (23).

 

· At approximately 19:00, Israeli
forces moved into al-Ein area in Selwan village, south of the old city in East
Jerusalem. They raided 2 celebrations of 2 released prisoners: Adnan Gaith,
secretary of Fatah movement in Selwan, and Mohammed al-Qawasmi. They
confiscated the Palestinian and Fatah flags and ordered the attendees to lower
their voices and stop fireworks.

 

· At approximately 04:00 on
Friday, 24 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to
Mohammed Ashayer in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the old city in East
Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mohammed (17) and took him to an unknown
destination.

 

· In excessive use of force,
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child on Saturday midnight, 25 April 2015,
at Za’im checkpoint, east of occupied Jerusalem. According to information
collect by a PCHR fieldworker, at approximately 00:15 on Saturday, 25 April
2015, while Ali Mohammed Ali Sa’id Abu Ghannam (17) was crossing through Za’im
checkpoint between Za’im village and occupied Jerusalem, he quarreled with Israeli
soldiers at the said checkpoint. The quarrel developed to a fight, during which
an Israeli soldier fired directly at the boy. As a result, the boy fell down
and bled to death. Medical crews of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS)
from Jerusalem and from al-Eizariya village tried to approach the place to
transport the boy to hospital, but Israeli forces denied them access. Israeli
forces summoned the boy’s father two hours after the incident took place. The
father identified the corpse of his son that was referred to Abu Kabir Forensic
Institute. The father was detained and taken to al-Masqoubiya police station in
West Jerusalem, but was released in the morning. Israeli police claimed that
the victim attempted to stab an Israeli soldier at the abovementioned
checkpoint, so the soldiers at the checkpoint fired at him as he attempted to
flee.

 

· At approximately 16:00 on
Saturday, 25 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east
of the old city in East Jerusalem, and stationed around al-Zaitoun club near
the tent that was established to receive condolences for the killing of the
aforementioned Ali Mohammed Abu Ghannam (17). Dozens of Palestinian youngsters
gathered and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers, who fired rubber-coated
metal bullets and gas bombs in response. As a result, 26 civilians sustained
bullet wounds to the upper parts of their bodies during clashes that erupted in
the neighborhood. Of the wounded were 2 paramedics: Ahmed al-Shaloudi, who
sustained a bullet wound to the shoulder while being in the ambulance, and Fadi
Obaidi, who sustained a bullet wound to the leg. Moreover, dozens of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation, but were treated on the spot.

 

· At approximately 22:00 on
Saturday, 25 April 2015, clashes erupted between dozens of Palestinian
civilians, who protests at the killing of Abu Ghannam, and Israeli forces that
moved into Selwan village, south of the old city in East Jerusalem. The
youngsters threw stones at Israeli police cars and settlers, while Israeli
soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs in response. The clashes
continued until late night. Israeli forces raided a house belonging to No’man
Abu Snaina and smashed the windows and another house belonging to Morad Abu
Tayeh.

 

· At approximately 23:00, Israeli
forces, police and Border Guards moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east of the
old city in East Jerusalem, after a young Palestinian man run down 3 Israeli
soldiers in the neighborhood. Israeli forces deployed in the neighborhood and
raided a number of houses. They used live ammunition and rubber-coated metal
bullets while searching for the young man who fled and left the car he used.
Israeli forces kept looking for him until late night, during which they established
military checkpoints, searched cars and prevented anyone from approaching the
scene. They also threatened to use force against the area residents if they
approached. Hours later, Israeli forces arrested the young man, who was
identified as Fadi Saleh al-Jamzawi (24).

 

· At approximately 05:00 on
Sunday, 26 April 2015, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to
Mohammed Shkairat in al-Mokaber Mount neighborhood, south of East
Jerusalem.  They arrested his child Mousa
(16) and took him to an unknown destination.

 

· At approximately 02:00 on
Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces moved into al-Mokaber Mount neighborhood,
south of East Jerusalem. They raided a number of houses from which they
arrested Ahmed Wesam Ewaisat (21) and Mohammed Ali Atta Ewaisat (18).

 

· At approximately 05:00, Israeli
forces raided a house belonging to Nader Hseimah in Aqbet al-Saraya
neighborhood, in the old city in East Jerusalem. They arrested his son Mo’men
(16) and took him to an unknown destination.

 

· Around the same time, Israeli
forces moved into al-Eisawiya village, north of East Jerusalem. They raided and
searched a number of houses from which they arrested 4 Palestinian civilians,
including a child: Mohammed Abdul Ra’ouf (21); Morad al-Shaloudi (19); Ali
Mohammed Mahmoud (19); and the child Mohammed Sharif Attiyah.

 

· At approximately 07:30, Israeli
forces arrested Nadim Adam Mahmoud Essa (28), from Bethlehem, while being in
his work in East Jerusalem, under the pretext he had no permit.

 

· At approximately 11:00, Israeli
forces arrested 5 Palestinian women while they were near al-Aqsa Mosque: Soha
Eid (32); Salwa Ghazzawi (28); Ekram Ghazzawi (26), So’ad Ebaidiya (26); and
Eman Abu Snaina (33).

 

5. 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 05:30 on
Monday, 27 April 2015, Israeli forces accompanied with a force from the
Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration
and backed by two bulldozers uprooted a residential tent and a barrack in
addition to 3 houses roofed with tin in al-Makhrouq Abu ‘Ajjaj, southwest and
east of al-Jaftalak village, north Jericho.

According to information obtained by PCHR from the local council,
at approximately 05:30 on the aforementioned day, Israeli forces moved into
al-Makhzouq Abu ‘Ajjaj, north of Jeircho, 
the Israeli forces declared it a military closed area and prevented
civilians and journalists from entering. 
The two bulldozers immediately started levelling, and at approximately
08:00, Israeli forces withdrew from the area. 
It should be mentioned that the Israeli forces distributed notices to
evacuate the aforementioned area under the pretext of construction in C areas
controlled by the Israeli authority according to Oslo Accords. They levelled
the following:

 

 

1. A 4-square-meter residential tent and a
70-square-meter house built of wood, plastic and tin, in which 5 individual
lived, belonging to Fathi ‘Abdullah Tariq.

2. A 100-square-meter house built of tin and resided
by a family of 10 members, belonging  to
Mahmoud Met’eb al-D’eis.

3. A 110-square-meter house built of tin and resided
by a family of 7 members, belonging to Mohammed Met’eb al-D’eis.

4. A 110-square-meter house built of tin and resided
by a family of 5 members, belonging to Ya’qoub Met’eb al-D’eis.

 

· At approximately 03:30 on
Tuesday, 28 April 2015, Israeli forces accompanied with a force from the
Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration
and backed by a GCB bulldozer moved into southeast of al-Nabi Saleh village,
northwest of Ramallah.  They destroyed an
uninhabited old house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud Tamimi, who lives in
Jordan.

According to information obtained by a PCHR fieldworker from the
Popular Committee against the Wall and settlement in al-Nabi Saleh village, Israeli
forces accompanied with a force from the Construction and Organization
Department in the Israeli Civil Administration and backed by a GCB bulldozer
moved into southeast of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.  They stationed in Bahaa’ al-Deen area and
imposed a security cordon on the area preventing civilians and journalists from
entering it.  The bulldozer immediately
levelled a 65-square-meter uninhabited house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Mahmoud Tamimi, who lives in Jordan. 
Dozens of Palestinian youngsters and children gathered to throw stones
and empty bottles at the Israeli forces, who in response fired live bullets and
gas canisters at the stone-throwers.  As
a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.  At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces
withdrew from the area after they completely levelled the house.  It should be mentioned that the Israeli forces
distributed on 01 July 2010 notices to demolish 12 houses in the aforementioned
area under the pretext of construction in “C” areas controlled by the
Israeli authorities according to the Oslo Accords.

 

· At approximately 05:00 on
Thursday, 23 April 2015, a group of Israeli settlers under the Israeli forces’ escort
stormed the lands of Silet al-Thaher village, south of Jenin, where the
evacuated “Homish” settlement was previously established.  The settlers arrived at the area in buses and
performed Talmudic rituals, and later withdrew. 
At approximately 11:00 on the same day, the settlers stormed the area
again and performed their prayers again. 
It should be mentioned that since the evacuation of the aforementioned
settlement in September 2005, settlers come back from time to time, especially
in the Jewish holidays to perform religious rituals under Israeli forces’
tightened protection.

 

· At approximately 18:00 on
Thursday, 23 April 2015, an Israeli settler pushed down Radi Sa’id al-Dow (14) from
his bike on al-Wad Street in the Old City in Eastern Jerusalem.  As a result, he fell on the ground, and his
head hit a big stone.  His mother said
that her son felt dizzy afterwards and was left on the ground until an
ambulance arrived at the scene to take him to al-Maqased Hospital.  He underwent the necessary examination tests,
and it was found out that he sustained various bruises.

· On Monday morning, 27 April
2015, a number of settlers from “Karmi Tsur” settlement between
Halhoul and Beit Ommar villages, north of Hebron, damaged and cut off 80 vines
that were planted on a farm 300 meters away from the said settlement. The land
belongs to Hassan Mahmoud Nour Aqel (44), from Halhoul, north of Hebron. This attack
was launched after Israeli forces demolished a tent established by settlers on the
land belonging to Anwar Ahmed al-Badawi as the Israeli court issued a decision
on that. It should be noted that settlers cut off 172 vines belonging to Aqel
family 2 years ago in the same area.

 

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;