• Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against unarmed civilians and peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. 
• 9 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were killed; 7 of them, including 2 children, were killed on Friday.
• 307 civilians, including 47 children, 5 women, 4 journalists and a paramedic, were wounded.
• 22 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 4 journalists, were wounded in the West Bank

• Israeli forces continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip.
• A Palestinian elderly was killed in eastern Maghazi refugee camp.

• Israeli forces conducted 62 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and 3 limited incursions into occupied Jerusalem.
• 67 civilians, including 18 children, were arrested in the West Bank.
• 24 of them, including 6 children, were arrested in Jerusalem.

• Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Hundreds of settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque and attacked the Palestinian civilians and their property.

• Israeli forces continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
• A barrack built of tin plates was confiscated in Masafer Yata, south of Hebron.

• 5 Shooting incidents were reported against the Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Sea, but no casualties were reported.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 11^th consecutive year.
• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 4 civilians, including a child, were arrested at the military checkpoints in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (27 September – 03 October 2018).

Shooting:

Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized within the activities of the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed for the 27^th week in a row peaceful demonstrations along the eastern and northern Gaza Strip border area. During the reporting period, the Israeli forces killed 8 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, and wounded 307 civilians, including 47 children, 5 women, 4 journalists, and a paramedic.  Meanwhile, a Palestinian elderly was killed in the central Gaza Strip after Israeli forces opened fire from the eastern borders at the area to the west of the border fence with Israel.  In the West Bank, 22 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 4 journalists, were wounded; one of those wounded is in serious condition.

In the Gaza Strip, on 28 September 2018, which coincided the 27^th Friday of the Return and Breaking the Siege protests, in new use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.  Three of them were killed in eastern Malakah intersection in eastern al-Zaytoun neighborhood in eastern Gaza City and were identified as Eyad al-Sha’er (18); Mohammed Shakhsah (24), both from al-Shija’iyah; and Mohammed Haniyah (33) from al-Sheikh Redwan neighborhood.  In the central Gaza Strip, Mohammed al-Home (14) and Mohammed al-‘Awawdah (25), both from al-Bureij, were killed in addition to Naser Musabeh (12) from ‘Abasan al-Kabirah and Mohammed Anshasi (18) from Khan Younis refugee camp.  Three of those killed were hit with bullets in the heads, 2 were hit with bullets to the chest, 1 in the back and another in the abdomen.

On 03 October 2018, Israeli forces stationed inside the watchtowers at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, killed Ahmed Abu Jabal (15) from Beit Lahia after being hit with a tear gas canister that penetrated his head front, causing a fracture to the skull and parts of his head got out.  The child in question was with dozens of other civilians on the asphalt road leading to the vehicles gate at the crossing when the Israeli forces opened fire and heavily fired tear gas canisters at them.

As part of the ongoing shooting from the eastern borders with Israel at civilians’ houses and property, Ibrahim al-‘Arouqi (74) from al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip was killed on 01 October 2018 after being hit with a bullet to the back when he was 2000 meters away in the vicinity of the area he lived in, west of the border fence.  the Ministry of Health declared in a statement that: “Following the competent authorities’ procedures, it was confirmed that the above-mentioned was wounded in an area near the borders as the competent authorities initiated an investigation to confirm he was wounded by the Israeli forces’ fire.”

As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, pointing out to the ongoing Israeli policy of targeting their livelihoods.  During the reporting period, the Israeli forces opened fire 5 times at the fishermen; 2 incidents in the north-western Beit Lahia and 3 others in the Western Soudaniyah area, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, the Israeli forces during the reporting period wounded 22 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and 4 journalists; one of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 62 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 9 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 33 Palestinians, including 12 children, in the West Bank.  Meanwhile, 24 other civilians, including 6 children, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs.

In the Gaza Strip, on 27 September 2018, Israeli forces moved 100 meters into the southern coastal border fence off Zikim Military Base, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.  On the same day, the Israeli forces moved 70 meters into eastern Fokhari village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

On 02 October 2018, Israeli forces moved 100 meters into al-Shawkah village in eastern Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip.  The vehicles placed barbed wires, west of the main border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

Israeli Forces continued to create a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem:

As part of Israeli settlers’ attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property, on 27 September 2018, 1135 settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Magharbah Gate on the Fourth Day of Sukkot “a Jewish holiday.”  Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police attacked Palestinian worshippers in al-Selseleh Gate area by beating and pushing them in addition to arresting a young man and taking him away.

On 30 September 2018, groups of Israeli settlers attacked shops in al-Musrarah neighbourhood and beat the owners under the protection of the Israeli forces, wounding 3 civilians.  Eyewitnesses said that the settlers attacked the Palestinian vehicles parked in the neighbourhood and damaged them.

Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities, and the settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property

As part of house and civil object demolitions, on 02 October 2018, the Israeli forces confiscated a barrack from al-Halawah area within the area Masafer Yata, south of Hebron.  The barrack is 40 square meters and belongs to Ahmed Abu ‘Aram.

Details

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

Thursday, 27 September 2018

• At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus to secure the entry of settlers into Joseph’s Tomb to perform their Talmudic prayers and religious rituals. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered, set fire to tires and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, 8 civilians, including a child and 2 journalists, were hit with rubber bullets. The 2 wounded journalists were Identified as:

1. ‘Omeir Jamal Stetah (25), a photojournalist at An-Najah NBC from Nablus, was hit with a rubber bullet to the left leg.
2. Mahmoud Fawzi Mahmoud Abdul Ghani (33), a photojournalist at Trans Media Palestine and Zen Media Agency, was hit with 2 rubber bullets to the face and left leg.

At the same time, Israeli forces raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Lawyer Ayman Emad Nayef al-Shakhshir (35) and Samer Sobhi al-Shanteer (36) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asirah northern village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Qais (27) and Amir Netham ‘Abbas Hamadnah (26).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asirah al-Qabliyah village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Azzam Hamdan (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mo’ath Bashir ‘Amawi (21) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Samou’a village, south of Hebron and stationed in the center of the village and at the main and western entrances of it. The soldiers stopped Palestinian vehicles and checked the passengers ID cards while an infantry unit deployed at the vicinity of “al-Burj” archaeological area and many vehicles carrying the settlers arrived at the area. The settlers performed religious rituals under the protection of the Israeli soldiers, who banned Palestinian vehicles from moving on the street. The archaeological site is located in the center of the village. The soldiers heavily fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at school students, banned them from movement in the road and forced them to walk through far roads to reach their school. The Israeli forces stayed at the village until approximately 09:00, but no further incidents were reported.

• At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved about 70 meters in the east of al-Fukhari village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled lands along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and then headed to the east of Khuza’ah village. Few hours later, the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence.

• Around the same time, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Sudaniyah area, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

• At approximately 09:45, Israeli forces accompanied with 3 bulldozers and a tank moved about 10 meters into the south of the border fence (adjacent to Zikim Military Base), northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. They leveled and combed lands that were previously leveled amidst sporadic shooting. At approximately 11:00 on the same day, the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence, and no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 12:15, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ainabous village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched ‘Ainabous School for Boys claiming that one of the students threw stones at Israeli vehicles. The soldiers attempted to arrest some of the students who were in the classrooms, but the teaching staff and a number of parents, who rushed to the school, confronted them. The Israeli forces withdrew later from the school and no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 20:00, Israeli forced moved into Qalqiliyah. They raided lands planted with citrus and guava trees after which they arrested 3 children, who are always in their parents’ lands. The arrestees were identified as ‘Obiadah Saber Fayouni (17), Mohammed Bilal Hajjar (17) ad Ahmed Mo’atasem Qashou’a (17).   

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (8) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Halhoul, al-Mawreq, Surif and Beit Ummer villages in Hebron; Zeta, ‘Atil, Deir al-Ghusoun, Nazlet Abu al-Nar villages in Tulkarm. 

Friday, 28 September 2018:

• At approximately 09:05, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Sudaniyah area, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

• At approximately 14:15,  Israeli forced moved on al-Quds Street, east of Nablus. They chased 4 children aged between 12 and 14 years and arrested and beat them. the Israeli forces then released 2 of them near Howarah checkpoint while kept 2 of them under arrest. The 2 arrested children were identified as ‘Essam Bilal ‘Essa and Ahmed Ibrahim Hashash and the  2 released children were identified as Ahmed Bilal ‘Essa  and Zuhdi al-Qor’an.

• At approximately 20:00, an Israeli force moved into Ghaith neighborhood, adjacent to the Ibrahimi Mosque yard in the center of the Hebron’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Na’el al-Fakhuri (41) claiming that the soldiers stationed at “Mafia” checkpoint were stoned. After argument with the soldiers, the family members were forced to enter the house and close the door while their father was left outside the house with the soldiers. The soldiers then fired 2 tear gas canisters in the vicinity of the house and a sound bomb at a window. As a result, the family members suffered tear gas inhalation. Meanwhile, Na’el fought with the soldiers and then was taken to the Governmental Hospital in the city after suffering from tear gas inhalation. Na’el’s family is comprised of 10 members, including 8 children (the eldest is 17 years old and the youngest is 3 years old). It should be noted that the Israeli authorities surrounded the neighborhood with 1-meter high cement wall, established a high wire fence and closed the entrance with an electronic gate that is only opened in limited hours since a year and half. As a result, the resident had to take a bumpy road between demolished houses to reach their jobs or the city center.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Yatta and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron; Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus; Zeta, Beit Led, Ramin, Shufa and Safarin villages in Tulkarm.

Saturday, 29 September 2018:

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sa’ir, al-Majd, Hebronl al-Fawar refugee camp and ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah.

Sunday, 30 September 2018

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Barqin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nidal Mohammed Shalamish (29) and then arrested him.

• In the evening hours, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Shakarnah amidst intensive opening  fire. As a result, Mohammed’s son Nour Eden (20) was hit with a live bullet to the waist  and then was transferred to Beit Jala Governmental Hospital to receive medical treatment. Mohammed’s family said to PCHR’s fieldworker that an Israeli force and members of special forces raided and searched large number of houses twice; the first of which was at approximately 02:00 when the soldiers raided and the house searched the house, but no arrests were reported, while the second on was at approximately 05:30 when the soldiers violently raided and searched the house after blowing up the main entrance. The family added that a number of soldiers randomly opened fire at those who were inside the house. As a result, Nour Eden was hit with a live bullet to the waist while his father and brother were hit with shrapnel of tear gas canister. Nour was transferred to Beit Jala Hospital and doctors classified his injury as serious. The Israeli forces then raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested ‘Ali Khalid Najajrah (16) and Saif Eden Ahmed Najajrah (17) after attacking the family members.

• At approximately 02:30,  Israeli forces moved into Halhoul, north of Hebron and stationed in al-Tharwah neighborhood. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Baha’a ‘Essa Zama’rah (23) and ‘Odai Husein ‘Ata Zama’rah (22) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 08:35, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Waha former Resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishermen sailing within 3 nautical miles. the shooting recurred in the abovementioned area at approximately 13:35. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

• At approximately 16:30, Israeli forces moved into Ramallah to carry out arrest campaigns in the city and stationed in “Batn al-Hawa” neighborhood. A number of Palestinian youngster and young men gathered and threw stones  and empty bottles at Israeli forces. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets to disperse them. as a result, Mohamed Turkman (29), a photojournalist at REUTERS News Agency, was hit with a rubber bullet to the right foot. The soldiers raided and searched several houses and then arrested Hadil Ayoub al-Wahsh (24) and Lo’ai ‘Ali Daifullah (26). The Israeli forces then withdrew at approximately 18:30.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-Shuyoukh village, Hebron, the eastern neighborhoods in Yatta and Beit ‘Omrah village.

Monday, 02 October  2018:

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ala’a Khalil al-‘Ezzah (25) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:00, large numbers of Israeli forces backed up by masked members of special forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Saleh Mahmoud Shakarnah (16) and Abdul Karim Mohammed Shakarnah (20).

• At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ein al-Sultan refugee camp, west of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. as a result, a 17-year-old  child was hit with a live bullet to the thigh. 

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Madama and Kufor Qalil village in Nablus; al-‘Aroub refugee camp and the southern area in Hebron. 

Tuesday, 25 September  2018:

• At approximately 01:35, Israeli forces moved into Maithaloun village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Ahmed Rebhi Ahmed Na’irat (25) and Yusuf Jamal Abdul Halim Abu Zenah (27). 

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jalqamous village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mo’awiyah Taher Mahmoud al-Qarem (25) and then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Rami Samir Abu Samrah  and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:10, Israeli forces moved into Deir al-Ghusoun village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Adham Mohammed Khaliliyah (30) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ashraf Salah and then handed his son Ghaleb (17) a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city. When Ghaleb referred to the Israeli Intelligence Service, he was arrested.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yasser ‘Adel Za’aqiq 926) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asakrah village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hamzah Dawoud ‘Asakrah (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 04:20, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Sudaniyah area, west of Jabalia  in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

• At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles and bulldozers moved about 100 meters  from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel into al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. They established barbed wires 100 meters into the west of the border fence and then redeployed along the border fence.

• At approximately 17:10, Ibrahim Ahmed Nassar al-‘Arouqi (74) from al-Magazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, arrived dead at al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah after being hit with a live bullet to the back. Al-‘Arouqi was put in the mortuary at the hospital. At approximately 08:20 on Wednesday, 03 October 2018, al-‘Arouqi’s dead body was transferred to the Forensic Medicine. Examination by the Forensic Medicine indicated that al-‘Arouqi was hit with a live bullet that penetrated the back and settled in the chest. PCHR’s fieldworker documented a shooting at approximately 16:57 on Tuesday, 02 October 2018 by the Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of al-Maghazi. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced in a statement that:” after completing the measures of the competent authorities, it turned out that al-‘Arouqi was hit from an area of 2000 meters from the border fence with Israel as the competent authorities began investigation  until they made sure that al-‘Arouqi was injured by Israeli forces.”

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: ‘Anzah and Faqou’ah villages in Jenin; al-Fawar refugee camp and Yatta

Wednesday,03 October 2018:

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Rajeh Hasan ‘Essa (21) and then arrested him.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Selah al-Harithiyah village, west of Jenin; Halhoul, Beit Kahel, al-Samou’a and al-Rayhiyah village in Hebron.

Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:

Israeli forces continued its excessive use of lethal force against peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian civilians in in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and it was named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege.” The demonstration was in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration to move the U.S. Embassy to it. According to PCHR fieldworkers’ observations, the border area witnessed large participation by Palestinian civilians as the Israeli forces continued to use upon highest military and political echelons excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators, though the demonstration were fully peaceful. The demonstration was as follows during the reporting period:

Gaza Strip:

• At approximately 22:30 on Tuesday, 27 September 2018, 2 civilians were wounded during their participation in March of Return activities established in the east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City.

• In the evening hours, 2 other civilians were wounded during their participation in the March of Return activities established  in the east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

• In the evening hours on the same Tuesday, a 24-year-old civilian from al-Zawaidah was hit with a shrapnel to the back during his participation in the March of Return activities, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip.

Note: On the same Tuesday, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at Palestinian protestors, east of al-Na’iamah Street, east of Beit Hanoun, north of Buret Abu Samrah, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.

• On Friday, 28 September 2018, Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians and wounded 104 others, including 4 children, 2 women and 4 journalists. Eighty three of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel, one civilian was hit with a rubber bullet and 20 were hit with tear gas canisters during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Those who were killed were identified as:

1. Eyad Khalil Ahmed al-Sha’er (18), from al-Sheja’eya neighborhood, was hit with a live bullet to the chest;
2. Mohammed Walid Mustafa Haniyah (33), from Sheikh Redwan neighborhood, was hit with a live bullet to the head; and
3. Mohammed Bassam Mohammed Shakhsah (24), from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood, was hit with a live bullet to the head.

• On the same Friday, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, and wounded 27 others, including 4 children. Twenty four of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and 3 others were hit with tear gas canisters during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. doctors classified 2 civilians’ injuries as serious. Those killed civilians were identified as:

1. Nasser ‘Azmi Mohammed Mesbeh (12), from ‘Abasan al-Kabirah, east of Khan Younis, was hit with a live bullet to the head.
2. Mohammed ‘Ali Mohammed Enshasi (18), from Khan Younis, was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen.

• On Friday evening, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Nayef Yusuf al-Houm (14), from al-Buraij, after being hit with a live bullet that penetrated the back and exited the chest and Mohammed Ashraf Mohammed al-‘Awawdah (25) from al-Buraij, after he sustained a live bullet to the chest, during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. moreover, 12 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded. Eleven of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and one civilian was hit with a tear gas canister.

• On the same Friday, 18 civilians, including 3 children and a woman, were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Doctors classified 2 civilians’ injuries as serious.

• On the same day, 39 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children and a woman, were wounded during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

• At approximately 21:00 on Sunday, 30 September 2018, an 18-year-old civilian was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen during his participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

• On Sunday evening, 3 civilians were hit with live bullets to the lower and upper limbs during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of al-Buraij in the southern Gaza Strip.

• On Monday evening, 01 October 2018, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, and the Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, opened fire at dozens of Palestinian civilians, who were in the Return encampment at the coastline between the Gaza Strip and Israel, adjacent to “Zikim Military Base”, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, towards the tenth time for Palestinian boats to sail for Breaking the Siege. As a result, 39 civilians, including 7 children and a paramedic, were wounded. Twenty of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and 19 were hit with tear gas canisters. doctors classified 2 civilians’ injury as serious. The wounded paramedic identified as Hani Mahmoud Husein Wadi (33), a volunteer paramedics at PRCS from Beit Lahia Housing Project, was hit with a tear gas canister to the abdomen.

• On Monday evening, a 15-year-old child from al-Nuseirat was hit with a live bullet to the left leg during his participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip.

• On Tuesday, evening, 02 October 2018, 4 civilians, including 2 children, during their participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

• On the same Tuesday evening, a 29-year0old civilians was hit with a live bullet to the lower limbs during his participation in the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip.

• On Tuesday evening, 5 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded adjacent to the Return encampment, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia. Moreover, 4 other civilians, including 2 children, were wounded, east of al-Na’aimah Street, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

• At approximately 17:00 on Wednesday, 03 October 2018, Israeli forces stationed in military watchtowers at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, killed Ahmed Samir Harb Abu Habel (15), from Beit Lahia, who was hit with a tear gas canister that penetrated his head, causing a fracture to the skull and parts of the head went out. Ahmed and dozens of civilians were on the Asphalt road leading to the vehicles gate at the crossing in addition to the sand area adjacent to the road from the western side when the Israeli forces heavily opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 22 civilians, including 10 children and a woman, were wounded. Three of them were hit with live bullets and their shrapnel and 19 others were hit with tear gas canisters.

West Bank:

• At approximately 13:40 on the same Friday, 28 September 2018, a group of Palestinian civilians moved from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, to the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years. The protestors chanted national slogans demanding end of occupation, condemning the Israeli decisions to demolish Khan al-Ahmer Bedouin Community deporting its residents and condemning the Israeli forces’ crimes against Palestinian protestors at the eastern border in the Gaza Strip within the Marcg of Return and Breaking Siege activities. Several representatives of national factions and representatives of National Action Factions in the north of the West Bank and a number of foreign and Israeli activists participated in the demonstration. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 22- year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the thigh and a 17-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the right leg.

• At approximately 13:30 on Monday, 01 October 2018, dozens of Palestinian youngsters and young men gathered at the northern entrance to al-Birah. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed at “al-Mahkamah” checkpoint established near Beit Eil settlement, north of the city. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, Shadi Hatem (26), a photojournalist at Raya News Network, was hit with a rubber bullet to the foot.

• At approximately 15:00 on the same Monday, dozens of Palestinian young men and youngsters gathered at the northern entrance to al-Quds (the vicinity of Qalandiya military checkpoint), coinciding with the general national strike in protest against the extremist Jewish nationalism decision and in protest against the confiscation decision of Khan al-Ahmer lands. The protestors threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 5 protestors were wounded. One of them was hit with a live bullet to the back while the 4 others were hit with rubber bullets. 

•  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 Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

(26 September- 02 October 2018)

Category	26 September	27 September	28 September	29   September	30 September	01 October	02 October
Patients	98	46	5	–	48	–	99
Companions	82	39	4	–	35	–	92
Personal needs	13	4	1	–	2	–	33
Families of prisoners	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Arabs from Israel	13	7	13	–	8	–	6
Diplomats	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Meetings in Erez	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
International workers	33	52	8	–	7	–	29
Travelers Abroad	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Business people	1	2	1	–	1	–	507
Business meetings	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Security interviews	–	–	–	–	–	–	1
VIPs	1	–	–	–	–	–	–
Ambulances to Israel	2	8	–	–	3	–	3
Patients’ Companions	2	8	–	–	3	–	3

Note:

• On Wednesday, 26 September 2018, the Israeli authorities allowed 2 persons; on Thursday, 27 September 2018, 2 persons; and on Tuesday, 02 October 2018, 11 persons to return to the West Bank.
• On Monday, 01 October 2018, the crossing was closed, except for humanitarian cases, under the pretext of Jewish holidays. 

Table of temporary and permanent checkpoints and arrests at them in the West Bank During the reporting period:

Governorate	Permanent checkpoints	Temporary checkpoints	Closed Roads	Arrested persons
Jerusalem	13	0	0	0
Nablus	10	2	2	1
Jenin	5	2	0	0
Ramallah	11	14	1	1
Tulkarm	7	4	0	0
Tubas	2	0	1	0
Salfit	2	5	0	0
Qalqiliyia	4	9	1	0
Hebron	31	19	2	2
Bethlehem	11	5	2	0
Jericho	5	2	0	0
Total	101	62	9	4

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

• At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 27 September 2018, Israeli forces deployed in Hebron’s Old City, arrested Anas Shehdah al-Zorou (22), a person with disability, and then took him via a military vehicle to an investigation center in “Kiryat Arba “settlement, east of the city. Anas was later released and delivered to the Palestinian Liaison.
• On 27 September 2018, Israeli forces arrested Mujahed Basel al-Barghuthi (23), from ‘Aboud village, northwest of Ramallah, after attacking and searching his vehicle at a checkpoint established under ‘Atarah village’s bridge.
• At approximately 19:00 on Friday, 28 September 2018, Israeli forces arrested Ahmed Osama Sadeq al-Qawasmah (14) while he was in  al-‘Omian alleys in the center of Hebron, and then took him to al-Haram police center. The Israeli forces claimed that Ahmed threw stones at the soldiers deployed in the area. Ahmed was later released.
• At approximately 20:30 on Sunday, 01 October 2018, Israeli forces station in ‘Za’tarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Samer Samieh Sawaftah, from Tubas, while passing though the checkpoint.

• Efforts to Create A 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 20:00 on Thursday, 27 September 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-Wad neighborhood in occupied Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yaser Najeeb and then arrested his sons ‘Abdullah (20) and Ahmed (18).

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hasan Sajdiyia and then arrested his sons Mos’ab (27) and Ahmed (24).

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Tawfiq Ihab Najeeb (16), Hisham Mohamed Hisham al-Bashitiy (17) and Mostafa Anas Abu Isninah (17).

• At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 28 September 2018, Israeli forces moved into Badou village, northwest of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdullah Raied Badwan (21) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 01 October 2018, Israeli forces severely beat a group of Palestinian young men while they were in Bab al-Amoud (Damascus Gate) area. The Israeli forces also fired rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at them in order to disperse them and secure a demonstration for Israeli settlers. The demonstration started from al-Wad neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City towards Bab al-Amoud. The demonstration was organized to celebrate Jewish Holidays. Eyewitnesses said that a number of Palestinian young men were in Bab al-‘Amoud yard and on its stairs, where they performed afternoon prayer while the Israeli forces imposed a tight closure in the area. The Israeli forces attempted to disperse the Palestinian young men from the area by beating and pepper-spraying them. As a result, the Palestinian young men sustained facial burns and suffered from suffocation. The Israeli forces chased the youngsters in al-Mosrarah market adjacent to Bab al-‘Amoud and then forcibly evacuated the area after establishing steel barriers.  The shooting resulted in the injury of a 24-year-old civilian with a metal bullet to the back. Moreover, the Israeli forces arrested ‘Izz al-Deen ‘Abed al-Raheem Barbar (19) and Mostafa al-Hashlamoun (22) after violently beat them.

• At approximately 22:00 on Monday, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They deployed in the village’s neighborhoods and on its streets. They then raided and searched houses, during which, Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at them. The Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. After that, the Israeli soldiers arrested ‘Abed al-Fattah Jum’a Khanfar (16) after severely beating him.

• At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 02 October 2018, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Ali Mohamed ‘Ayyad (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, Israeli forces moved into Hizmah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They deployed in the village’s neighborhoods and on its streets. They then raided and searched houses, during which, Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at them. The Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. After that, the Israeli soldiers arrested Montaser Salah al-Deen (25) after severely beating him.

• At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 03 October 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested 8 civilians, including 2 children. The arrested civilians were identified as Waseem Eyad Dari (16), ‘Abed al-Fattah Abu Saymah (17), Ahmed Yousef ‘Obaid (19), Barra’ Wael Mahmoud (20), Khaked ‘Awni Abu Ghoush (19), Mohamed Zakaria ‘Eliyan (19), Ghasan ‘Azbaz ‘Eliyan (41), and Mohamed ‘Alaa Mahmoud (24).

• At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, Israeli forces moved into Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses, from which they arrested Ahmed Khaled Hoshieh (19), and Mohamed ‘Adnan Hoshieh (23).

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

Israeli forces’ attack:

• At approximately 15:00 on Tuesday, 02 October 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with 2 military vehicles, a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration and a mounted-crane truck moved into al-Halawa area, which is located in al-Masafer area, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron. The Israeli forces dismantled a 40-square-merter barrack built of tin plates under the pretext of non-licensing. The barrack belongs to Ahmed Isma’il Shehada Abu ‘Arram.

Israeli settlers’ attack:

• On Thursday, 27 September 2018, hundreds of Israeli settlers moved into occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City via al-Maghrabah Gate om the 4^th day of the Jewish Sukkot Holiday. The Islamic Endowment Department (Awqaf) said that the Israeli forces allowed hundreds settlers to raid al-Aqsa Mosque via al-Magharbah Gate and provided protection for them while restrictions were imposed on Palestinian worshipers flocking to the mosque.  The Islamic Endowment Department added that around 1135 settlers raided the mosque in the morning and afternoon. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police pushed and beat the worshipers in Bab al-Selselah area and then arrested one of them, who is so far unknown.

• At approximately 23:00 on Sunday, 30 September 2018, a group of Israeli settlers attacked commercial shops in al-Mosrarah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli settlers beat the shop’s owners under the Israeli forces’ protection. As a result, 3 civilians sustained various wounds. It should be noted that a demonstration for Israeli settlers started from Jerusalem’s streets, during which the Israeli police officers and special forces provide protection for the settlers by closing many streets and establishing steel barriers. When the demonstration arrived at Street No. “1”, which leads to al-Mosrarah neighborhood, the settlers dispersed towards shops and attacked their owners, causing material damage and causalities. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians’ vehicles parked in the neighborhood and then damaged them. Meanwhile, clashes erupted between the Israeli settlers and Palestinian young men before the intervention of the Israeli police, who fired sound bombs at the youngsters.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967.  PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005.  PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law.  Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

1. PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
2. PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
3. PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
4. PCHR calls upon the international community 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.
5. PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
6. PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
7. PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
8. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
9. PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
10. PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
11. PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
12. PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
13. PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
14. PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.

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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.