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

(26 May – 01 June 2016)

 

 

• Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
• A Palestinian civilian was wounded in al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

• Israeli forces continued to open fire at the border area along the Gaza Strip borders, but no casualties were reported.

• Israeli warplanes raided a training site in the central Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

• Israeli forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 4 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.
• 99 civilians, including 19 children and a woman.
• 51 of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
• Israeli forces arrested a child who attempted to sneak into Israel, north of the Gaza Strip.

• Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
• Israeli forces arrested 5 fishermen, 2 of whom were wounded, and confiscated 2 fishing boats offshore in the central Gaza Strip.

• Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• A Palestinian civilian was obliged to self-demolish parts of his house in Silwan village.

• Israeli forces continued settlement activities in the West Bank.
• 160 dunums[1] from lands in Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit, were demolished.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9^th
• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 7 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

 

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (26 May 2016).

 

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 3 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Two of them were wounded in the Gaza Strip while the other was wounded in the West bank. Moreover, Israeli forces continued targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea and the farmers in the border area.

In the West Bank, in the context of Israeli forces using force against peaceful protests, a 19-year-old male was hit with a bullet to the head while participating in a protest at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. He was then taken to Palestine Medical Compound in the city for medical treatment.

In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 31 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed in the sea off Gaza Valley shore, west of the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. They chased 2 boats sailing within 5 nautical miles and manned by 5 fishermen all from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The Israeli navy officers arrested the 5 fishermen, confiscated the 2 boats and transported them to Ashdod seaport. After the fishermen were released in the evening, it was found out that 2 of them were already wounded by Israeli gunfire.

On 31 May 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed in the seas off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, but casualties were reported.

Concerning fire opened in the border area, on 310 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed in watchtowers established behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire sporadically at the border area, southeast of al-Zaitoun neighbourhood, southeast of Gaza City. No casualties were reported but the farmers fled fearing for their lives.

Moving to airstrikes, on 26 June 2016, Israeli warplanes raided a military training site for a Palestinian armed group, west of al-Nusairat refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, the site sustained material damage, but no casualties were reported.

 

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 57 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 9 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 99 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children and a woman.  Fifty-one of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 4 limited incursions. On 30 May 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters into the east of al-Fokhari village, southeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled and dug lands for hours, after which they withdrew.

On 31 May 2016, Israeli forces moved about 150 meters into the east of Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing, north of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. They levelled and combed lands while opening fire sporadically. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported. On the same day, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters near Sofa military crossing in al-Shouka village, southeast of Rafah. They levelled lands and established sand barriers.

On 01 June 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters to the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands for few hours and withdrew later.

 

Restrictions on movement:

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

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip.  The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people.  The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy.  They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

 

Jewish Majority:

Concerning house demolitions, on 28 May 2016, the Israeli municipality obliged Mohammed Yunis Aby Tayeh to self-demolish parts of his house located in Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of Jerusalem’s Old City. Abu Tayeh said that a week ago he started building a bathroom and a kitchen attached to his house. However, the municipality crews raided the houses and ordered him to demolish the parts he attached under the pretext of non-licensing.

 

Settlement activities:

On 27 May 2016, Israeli bulldozers continued levelling lands in Deir Ballout, west of Salfit, to expand “Leshem” settlement that is established on a mountain between Deir Ballout and Kufor al-Deek villages. They levelled over 160 dunums belonging to Edris Abdullah and Ahed Abdullah. It is expected that Israeli forces continue levelling 1,000 other dunums for the interest of the same settlement.

Concerning settlers’ attacks, on 17 May 2016, a group of settlers from “Emanuel” settlement, east of Qalqilya, gathered on Qana Valley road. They threw stones at the Palestinian vehicles on the road, as a result, a taxi belonging to Ouda Abu Yunis (26), from Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit, sustained material damage.

 

Details

 

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

 Thursday, 26 May 2016 

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Kobar village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Taimor Hisham Barghouti (30). At approximately 02:30, they arrested the abovementioned person and withdrew later.

 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved into Nablus. They raided and searched many houses and arrested Ahmed ‘Adnan al-Samhan (27), from al-Ma’ajeen neighbourhood, west of the city.

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir Sharaf village, west of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses and arrested Mostafa Mohamed al-Wawi (30).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a training site belonging to one of the Palestinian armed groups, west of al-Nusairat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. However, no casualties were reported.

 

• In the afternoon, Israeli forces arrested Hadi Khadir Rajab al-Sayis (22), from Kafur Ni’mah village, west of Ramallah. They arrested the abovementioned person while he was in the Israeli Intelligence office (Shabak) in “Ofer” prison, southwest of the city, upon a summons sent to him earlier.

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Sirah village, southwest of Ramallah; Kherbitha Bani Hares village, northwest of the city; Yatta, Beit Tafouh and Beit Ola villaes and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron.

 

Friday, 27 May 2016

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Jum’a Saleh Hamed (52) and arrested him. Mahmoud was then taken to “Ofer” prison in Betoniya village, southwest of the city.

 

• At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of al-Sifaa area, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested Jihad Saleh Mohamed Ghabin (16), from al-Shimaa Street in Beit Lahia. Jihad was arrested while he was attempting to sneak through the fence and he is still in the Israeli custody. Nuha Ghabin, Jihad’s stepmother, confirmed that she contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They told her that Jihad is in “al-Majdal” prison in Israel.

 

• In the afternoon, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Riyad Mahmoud Radad (33), from Sida village, northeast of Tulkarm, while he was in the Israeli Liaison (D. C. O), southwest of the city, upon a summons sent to him earlier. It should be mentioned that the abovementioned person is a son of Riyaad Raddad, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Ummer, Sa’ir, Beit Olaa and Deir al-‘Asal villages in Hebron.

 

Saturday, 28 May 2016

 

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Katilah village in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Rami Hamdi Yunis Jundi (23) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved into Sida village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Basam Mohamed al-A’raj (25) and arrested him.

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Khadir village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched many houses and arrested Anas Isma’il Mousa (21). Moreover, they handed Dawoud Mohamed Salah (23) a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura and al-Daheriya villages in Hebron and Hewarah village, south of Nablus.

 

Sunday, 29 May 2016

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Quds Street in al-Bireh. They raided and searched a house belonging to Majid Farouq Hekmat (22) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 01:45, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mostafa Kamal Ameen Hendi Zaid (25) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Kobar village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Diyaa Heraish (25) and arrested him.

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched three houses belonging to Basem Jamil Abu Mariyah, Mohamed Abdul Hamid Abu Mariyah, and Ibrahim Mostafa ‘Awad. At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces withdrew and no arrests were reported.

 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces ‘Ain Yabroud village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Zahir Hatim Howaih (28) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fujar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested Mohamed Mansour Thawabtah (14), and Ahmed Samih Mohamed al-Shaikh (17). Moreover, they handed Saif Eyad Thawabtah (17) a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem.

 

• At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Zaytah village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Omran Ratib Abdul Kareem Mar’i (17) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces moved into Masliya village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house and workshop belonging to Raied Yehia Abdul Kareem ‘Alawnah (44). Israeli forces arrested the abovementioned person and his son Yehia (20) after confiscating 11 tractors from the workshop.

 Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Ethna village; Bani Na’im village; Bitonyia village, west of Ramallah; al-Mazra’a al-Qabaliya village, north of the city; and Kherbitha al-Mosbah village, south west of the city.

 

Monday, 30 May 2016

 

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem, and stationed in al-Saaf Street. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested Isaa Walid al-Hiramy (30) and Fadi Mohamed al-Hiramy.

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Foreek village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses. At approximately 05:00, they arrested Shadi Ali Ahmed Malitat (30) and his wife Mais Mahmoud Saleh Malitat (25).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir Hatab village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested Ma’zouz Ahmed Rawajba (55), Mahmoud Abdul Hafiz Abu Eisha (45), Ma’rouf Sadeq Dwaikat (31) and Walid Salim Rawajba (45).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Deir Hatab village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses from which they arrested Amjad (27) and Majed Mahmoud Jaber Oudah (30).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sureef village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Duhor neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Abdul Hamid Abu Farah and arrested his son Ahmed (23).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They readied and searched 2 houses from which they arrested Belal Hammad (16) and Amr Jamal Zaid (17).

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Anwar Abdul Qadir Taqatqah and arrested his son Mohamed (17).

 

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mo’min Isaam Abdul Rahman Nasharty (22) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Dahisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalid Sha’fout and arrested his son Mahmoud (20).

 

• At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles and bulldozers moved about 100 meters into the area near Sofa military site in al-Shokah village, southeast of Rafah. Israeli vehicles patrolled the area and established sand barriers. Two hours later, Israeli vehicles withdrew from the area towards al-Fukhari neighbourhood, southeast of Khan Yunis, near al-Shokah village.

 

• At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved 300 meters into al-Fukhari neighborhood, southeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli vehicles patrolled the area and levelled lands for few hours along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They then headed to the northwards to the east of Khoza’a village.

 

• At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces stationed in the military watchtowers establishes behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, near Maleka training site, southeast of al-Zayton neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, sporadically opened fire at the border area. No casualties were reported.

 Note

: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit ‘Awaa village; al-Majd village, al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron; and Burqeen village, west of Salfit.

 

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

 

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Ayoub Abdul Qadir ‘Awad (35) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, and stationed in al-Karmel area. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Awad Hatim Qar’oush (23) and arrested him.

 

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched two houses from which they arrested Basem Talib Mohamed al-Badan (20) and Diyaa Hasan Hamidah (16).

 

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Danaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hani Banan Mohamed Sawan (21) and arrested him. After that, they raided a house belonging to Mo’min Ahmed Hussain Abdullah “Ermilat” (20) and arrested him as well.

 

• At approximately 06:50, Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea off Gaza valley, west of the central Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats. Israeli gunboats approached a fishing boat sailing within 5 nautical miles, which was manned by Hasan Mohamed Ibrahim Miqdad (31) and his brother Mohamed; and Mohamed Bashir Sha’ban Abu Riyalah (21). Israeli forces then approached another boat that was manned by Rajab Khalid Rajab Abu Riyalah (29) and his brother Khalid (21). All of the abovementioned fishermen are from al-Shati’ camp, west of the Gaza City. Israeli soldiers forced the fishermen to take off their clothes, swim towards the rubber boats and then took them to Ashdod Seaport for interrogating.

 

• At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Israeli forces released Khalid Rajab Abu Riyalah via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, who was wounded with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken by a PRCS ambulance to al-Shifa Hospital. During Khaled’s detention period and in spite of transferring him to an Israeli hospital, it turned out that the bullet was still into his knee. At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces released the other four fishermen, who were arrested previously, while their fishing boats are still in custody. It turned out that Khalid Khalid Abu Riyalah was hit with a rubber coated metal bullet to the abdomen.

 

• At approximately 13:00, Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire heavily at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 1 nautical mile and chased them.

 

• Around the same time, Israeli forces accompanied with dozens of military vehicles moved 150 meters into the north of the agricultural school, east of Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, north of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces patrolled the area, levelled lands and sporadically opened fire. At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces withdrew and no casualties were reported.

 

 Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Samou’a village, al-‘Aroub refugee camp, Ethna village, and al-Hadib village in Hebron; Qalqiliya and Kafur Qaddom, northeast of the city.

 

Wednesday, 01 June 2016

 

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces accompanied with dozens of military vehicles and special forces moved into Qalqiliya and stationed in Kafur Saba neighborhood. They raided and searched houses belonging to Naseem Mohamed Dowikat (23), Mohamed Ghasan Dieb Sa’sa’ (25) and Firas Ghasan Dieb Sa’sa’ (26), and arrested all of them. At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces released all of the abovementioned persons. Moreover, Israeli forces raided and searched houses belonging to Amar Yousef Dowikat (30), ‘Awad Abed Dowikat (22) and Ihab Amin Zaid (21) and arrested all of them too. During which, Israeli forces fired heavily tear gas canisters at the civilians. As a result, Maha Eyad Ji’adi (33) suffered tear gas inhalation and was taken to the UNRWA medical center in the city.

 

• At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved 100 meters into the east of al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli vehicles patrolled the area for few hours before re-deploying along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

 

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

 West Bank: 

• Following the Friday prayer, on 27 May 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys, 300 meters away from the fence of “Beit Eil” settlement, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the oPt. The demonstrators threw stones at the settlement fence. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and then chased them into the camp. As a result, a 19-year-old male was hit with a rubber-coated metal bullet to the head and was then taken to Palestine Medical Compound to receive medical treatment.

 

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized protests against the Israeli policies in the oPt at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. The protesters set fire to rubber tires and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, who immediately fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response and chased them into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

 

Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities

 

• Following the Friday prayer, 27 May 2016, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city, and Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilyia. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

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

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, is designated for the movement of goods

 

Date	Imports
	Category	Amount
		Tons	Number		Liters
16 Monday	Various goods	5157.1
	Humanitarian aid	9560
	Cooking gas	298,360
	Benzene Benzene for UNRWA				258,982 38,000
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				729,277 36,950
	Industrial fuel				263,010
	Construction aggregates	9640
	Cement	1040
	Construction steel	270
17 Tuesday	Various goods	4820,88
	Humanitarian aid	11432
	Cooking gas	297,930
	Benzene				143,002
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				289,985 77.050
	Industrial fuel				298,000
	Construction aggregates	9680
	Cement	1040
	Construction steel	570
18 Wednesday	Various goods	5390.9
	Humanitarian aid	9404
	Cooking gas	279,640
	Benzene				143,002
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				387.032 38,000
	Industrial fuel				380,010
	Construction aggregates	7080
	Cement	1800
	Construction steel	60
19 Thursday	Various goods	5207
	Humanitarian aid	6470
	Cooking gas	278,300
	Benzene				218,996
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				397,999 76,000
	Industrial fuel				341,986
	Construction aggregates	5920
	Cement	520
	Construction steel	30
22 Sunday	Various goods	4568
	Humanitarian aid	13410
	Cooking gas	277,320
	Benzene				150,958
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				550,954 38.000
	Construction aggregates	11280
	Cement	1320
	Construction steel	660
23 Monday	Various goods	4456
	Humanitarian aid	14658
	Cooking gas	280,440
	Benzene				249,990
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA				717,996 38.000
	Industrial fuel				302,997
	Construction aggregates	9960
	Cement	3720
	Construction steel	90
24 Tuesday	Various goods	4965
	Humanitarian aid	15133
	Cooking gas	281,640
	Benzene			180,993
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA			579,031 76,000
	Industrial fuel			303,959
	Construction aggregates	10760
	Cement	3920
25 Wednesday	Various goods	4695
	Humanitarian aid	14405
	Cooking gas	285,710
	Benzene			184,007
	Diesel			666,977
	Diesel for UNRWA			67,000
	Industrial fuel			481,998
	Construction aggregates	10880
	Cement	2440
	Construction steel	90
26 Thursday	Various goods	5439
	Humanitarian aid	13880
	Cooking gas	282,340
	Benzene	260,034
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA			773,986 76,000
	Industrial fuel			376,289
	Construction aggregates	10120
	Cement	3640
	Various goods	4613
	Humanitarian aid	17554
	Cooking gas	181420
	Benzene			298,053
	Diesel Diesel for UNRWA			738,001 76,000
	Industrial fuel			256,988
	Construction aggregates	12800
	Cement	4120
30 Monday	Various goods	4415
	Humanitarian aid	12354
	Cooking gas	278,050
	Benzene			295,041
	Diesel			728,982
	Industrial fuel			300,986
	Construction aggregates	10800
	Cement	720
	Construction steel	90

 

Exports:

 

• On Monday, 16, May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 17 tons of lemons and 180 tons of scraps.
• On Tuesday, 17 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 63.66 tons of tomatoes, 18.5 tons of sweet peppers, 10.5 tons of lemons, 0.375 tons of garlics and 0.3 ton of mints.
• On Wednesday, 18 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 19.9 tons of lemons, 210 tons of iron scraps and 15 tons of furniture.
• On Thursday, 19 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 53. 9 tons of tomatoes and 10.2 tons of sweet peppers.
• On Sunday, 22 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 138.97 tons of tomatoes, 7 tons of lemons, 7.28 tons of sweet potatoes and 14.4 tons of sweet peppers.
• On Monday, 23 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 7 tons of lemons and 185 tons of scraps.
• On Tuesday, 24 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 51 tons of tomatoes, 12.5 tons of sweet peppers and 6 tons of cucumbers.
• On Wednesday, 25 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 0.75 tons of garlics, 228 tons of scraps, 60 tons of leather and 0.3 tons of mints.
• On Thursday, 26 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 32.88 tons of tomatoes, 6.8 tons of sweet peppers, 17.92 tons of cucumbers, 14 tons of furniture, 26 tons of stationary, 1.2 tons of eggplants and 14.2 tons of sweet peppers.
• On Sunday, 29 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 7 tons of clothes, 7 truckloads of vegetables, a truckload of tomatoes and two truckloads of lemons.
• On Monday, 30 May 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 180 tons of scraps, a truckload of tomatoes and a truckload of lemons.

 

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

25 – 31 May 2016

 

Category	25 May	26 May	27 May	28 May	29 May	30 May	31 May
Patients	61	62	4	–	89	75	61
Companions	58	53	4	–	82	74	59
Personal needs	49	81	32	–	93	79	33
Families of prisoners	–	–	–	–	–	45	–
Arabs from Israel	10	4	17	–	16	9	5
Diplomats	4	–	–	–	–	–	4
International journalists	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
International workers	33	63	11	–	15	31	26
Travelers abroad	–	2	–	–	–	58	–
Business people	366	379	5	2	557	408	306
Business meetings	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Security interviews	10	6	–	–	7	5	9
VIPs	–	1	2	–	4	–	1
Ambulances to Israel	5	7	4	–	6	4	4
Patients’ Companions	5	6	4	–	6	4	4

 Notes:

• On Thursday, 26 May 2016, Israeli authorities allowed a person from the Civil Affairs Department to attend a meeting at the crossing.
• On Monday, 30 May 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 2 persons from the Civil Affairs Department to attend a meeting at the crossing.
• On Monday, 30 May 2016, Israeli authorities allowed a person to accompany a corpse.

 

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 (14) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 26 May 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the northern entrances to al-Fawar refugee camp and Hebron.

On Friday, 27 May 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Kom village, Wad Abu Reshah road, Ethna and al-Jab’ah villages. On Saturday, 28 May 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Kahel, Ras al-Aroud, Sa’ir and al-Mawriq villages.

On Sunday, 29 May 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Samou’ village, Wad al-Jawz road in Bani Naim village and al-Mosafer road, east of Yatta. On Monday, 30 May 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the al-Aroub refugee camp and Sa’ir village. On Tuesday, 31 May 2016, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the southern entrances to Beit Ommar and Halhoul villages.

 

• Ramallah and al-Bireh: Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city.

On Friday, 27 May 2016, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints as follows: at the entrances to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah; the northern entrance to Ein Senia village; the entrance to Turmus’aya village, north of the city and under the bridge of Yabrud village, northeast of the city. At approximately 10:00 On Saturday, 28 May 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint under the bridge of Kharbatha al-Mesbah village, southwest of Ramallah.

 

Arrests at military checkpoints

 

• At approximately 10:00, on Thursday, 26 May 2016, Israeli forces deployed in the yard of the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron’s Old City, arrested Alaa’ Abdul Ra’uf Abu Shkhaidem (26) claiming that he had a knife. Alaa’ was transported to Ja’barah Police station in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of the city.

 

• On Friday afternoon, 27 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karama Border Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Rami Sati Yaseen al-S’adi (24) from Jenin. It should be noted that Rami was travelling to Jordan.

 

• At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 28 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the Container Checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Mohammed Ghaleb Abdul Qader D’aise (21) from Bani Naim village, east of Hebron.

 

• On Monday afternoon, 30 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karama Border Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Baraa’ Farid Abu Thuhair from Nablus while returning to the West Bank.

 

• On Monday evening, Israeli forces stationed at al-Karama Border Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan arrested Reda Hatem Reda Jarrar (35) from Jenin while returning from Turkey.

 

• At approximately 18:00 on the same Monday, Israeli forces arrested Abeer Mousa al-Wahesh (37) from Za’tarah village, east of Bethlehem, while crossing a bypass road in the village.

 

• At approximately 17:00 on Tuesday evening, 31 May 2016, Israeli forces arrested Huthaifah Ali Mustafa Ghunaimat (23) from Surif village, northwest of Hebron, when he was grazing sheep near the security fence, west of Surif village.

 

4. Efforts to Create Jewish majority

 Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it: Arrests and Incursions: 

• At approximately 04:00 on Friday, 27 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Esawiyah village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Mahmoud Alaa’ Durbas (22) and then arrested him.

 

• At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, 28 May 2016, Israeli forces summoned Wael Abu Obaidah (30) to al-Asbat gate police station in the Old City in East Jerusalem to interrogate him but they arrested him. They then transported him to al-Maskoubiyah police station, west of East Jerusalem. It should be noted that Wael is an employee at the Islamic Endowments (Awqaf) Department and a fire fighter in al-Aqsa mosque.

 

• At approximately 19:00 on the same Saturday, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses, after which they handed summonses to three civilians to refer to “Salah Edin Street” police station. The summoned civilians were identified as Alaa’ Tawfiq Abu Tayeh (19), ‘Ahed Kareem Abasi (20) and Amir Nader Faroukh (17).

 

• At approximately 21:00 on the same Saturday, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Ali Abu Sbetan (66) in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. In the next day, Israeli forces handed him and his wife Mona Abu Sbetan (59) two summonses to refer to al-Maskoubiyah police station, west of Jerusalem.

Mona Abu Sbetan said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the investigation with her was about her daily presence in al-Aqsa mosque and about the teachers of the religious lectures and other details about Hanadi al-Hilwani who was arrested few days ago. She also said that she was released few hours later. Moreover, the Israeli interrogators told Mona and her husband that they are denied access to al-Aqsa mosque for two weeks claiming that they are members of the “Morabetoun and Morabetat” banned organization and if they violate this order, they will pay a fine of NIS 3,000. It should be mentioned that Mona was arrested in last February and forced to be denied access to al-Aqsa mosque for two weeks. However, after the denial period finished, Mona found out that her name is still on the list of persons denied access to al- Aqsa mosque.

 

• At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 29 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into Kafer Oqub village, north of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Talha Abdul Sattar and then arrested him. It should be mentioned that Talha is from Kuber village, northwest of Ramallah, and lives in Kafer Oqub village.

 

• At approximately 16:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces moved into Baten al-Hawa neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in occupied Eastern Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jalal al-Kharoubi and then arrested his son Fayez (13) on grounds of throwing stones.

 

• At approximately 19:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces moved into Ein Helwah neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City in Eastern Jerusalem, and fire sound bombs sporadically in between houses. Moreover, they arrested Mohammed Nasser Abu Nab (20) from a shop and took him to an unknown destination.

 

• At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 31 May 2016, Israeli forces moved into Badou village, northwest of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Essa Mansour. They then arrested his sons Mohammed (22) and Ibrahim (19).

 

• At approximately 01:00, on Wednesday, 01 May 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with intelligence agents moved into al-Suwaah neighbourhood, east of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses, after which they arrested 6 civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested civilians were identified as Amir Walid al-Balbesi (17), a high school student; Mousa Jameel al-Qadamani (21), Mohammed Riyad Abu Lafi (20), Mohammed Maher Sbetani (19), Nedal al-Sa’ou and Amir al-Qadamani.

 

• At approximately 02:30 on the same Wednesday, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighbourhood, east of the Old City in occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched several houses. After that, they launched a wide-scale arrest campaign in which 38 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were arrested.

 

House demolitions and demolition notices:

 

On Saturday morning, 28 May 2016, Mohammed Yunis Abu Tayeh self-demolished parts of his house in Ein al-Lawzah neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli municipality’s order in the city. Abu Tayeh stated that he built a bathroom and a kitchen for his house and both are about 14-square-meter. He added that the municipality crews raided his house and handed him a demolition notice for parts of his house under the pretext of building without a permit. In the meanwhile, the municipality crews raided several buildings in Ein al-Lawzah neighbourhood and handed their owners demolition notices.

 

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

 

Israeli Forces Attacks:

 

• On Thursday, 27 May 2016, Israeli bulldozers continued levelling al-Ziaq area (Iraq Tutah) in Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit, in favour of the settlement of “Leshem” established on a mountain between Deir Ballout and Kafer al-Deek villages. They levelled about 160 dunums of lands of Deir Ballout village belonging to Edrees Jabarah Abdullah and ‘Ahed Mousa Abdullah. Moreover, the levelling is still continued and the Israeli bulldozers are expected to level more than 1000 dunums in favour of the abovementioned settlement. It should be mentioned that Israeli forces started this act in 2013 in Iraq al-Tutah area in which they established the settlement of “Leshem” and built an infrastructure, but stopped the work back then and now they continued.

 

Kamal Yusuf Mousa, head of Deir Ballout municipality, said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

 

“Israeli forces began adding barracks in Iraq al-Tutah area, east of the village, in 1988. At that time, two lawyers were assigned to stop working on the place and they did. However, Israeli forces began digging in the place in 1995 and took over the houses that were built there and turned them into training sites for the Israeli soldiers. Lawyers obtained a decision from the Israeli high court to stop the work. However, in 2013, the Israeli forces handed warnings to the lands’ owners to bring documents and lands’ survey in the eastern mountain (Iraq al-Tutah). The lands’ owners prepared all the needed papers and assigned two other lawyers. After that the Jerusalem Centre for Legal Aid who has perused the case, got a decision not to take over the lands in the abovementioned site, but it was useless.”

 

Settlers Attacks:

 

• At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 27 May 2016, a group of settlers gathered and moved from “Immanuel” settlement, east of Qalqiliyah, on Qana Valley road. They began throwing stones towards Palestinians vehicles. As a result, a vehicle belonging to Ouda Yunis Ouda Abdul Rahman Abu Yunis (26) from Deir Estia village, northwest of Salfit.

Ouda Abu Yunis said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“At approximately 21:00 on Friday, 27 May 2016, I was driving my car on Qana Valley road near Deir Estia village, where I was transporting some of the village residents to Jensafut village. When I returned and reached the crossroads of “Immanuel” settlement, I noticed glass on the ground, which I thought there was an accident in the place. Few minutes later, I saw a big stone in the middle of the street. I tried to keep my vehicle away from the stone, but then the Israeli settlers threw stones from everywhere towards me. Moreover, some of the settlers threw a big stone at the car’s door that buckled it. The damage is estimated at NIS 1000 to repair the door. It should be mentioned that there were two cars behind me and both were stoned, but I couldn’t know their owners because I tried to ran away and enter the village as fast as possible.”

 

 

Recommendations to the International Community

 

PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.

 

In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:

 

1. PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine;
2. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
3. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
4. PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
5. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
6. PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
7. PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
8. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
9. PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
10. PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;
11. PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
12. PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
13. PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;

 

 

 

 

 

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Public Document

For further information please visit our website www.pchrgaza.org or contact PCHR’s office in Gaza City, Gaza Strip by email [email protected] or telephone +972 08 282 4776 – 282 5893.

 

 

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