Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (14 20 January 2016)
Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(21 –27 January 2016)
Hebron – Group of Palestinian Civilians at Israeli Checkpoint.
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt 3 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were killed in theWest Bank. 22 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued to open fire at areas along the Gaza Strip borders, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli warplanes conducted 2 airstrikes in the central and southern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces conducted 73incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 47 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children, were arrested. 11 of them, including 4 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Among the arrested were the PLC member Hatem Qafisha and former Minister Essa al Ja’bari.
Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea. 4 fishermen, including a child, were arrested and their fishing boat was confiscated.
Jewish majority efforts continued in occupied East Jerusalem. A family selfdemolished its house in Sour Baher village and more demolition notices were issued against houses in Silwan. The Israeli municipality demolished an underconstruction house in alMukaber Mount. A house in Shu’fat village was demolished in favour of establishing Road 21.
Settlement activities continued in the West Bank. An agricultural room and a well in Beit Oula village, west of Hebron, were demolished.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians. 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were arrested at military checkpoints.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in theoPt continued during the reporting period (21 – 27 January 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. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, in the West Bank. Moreover, they wounded 22 civilians, including three children; 12 of whom, including a child, were wounded in the Gaza Strip while the remaining others were wounded in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 11 civilians were hit with live bullets and 11 others were hit with rubbercoated metal bullets.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed three Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounded 11 others, including two children also. Five of the wounded persons were hit with live bullets and five others were hit with rubbercoated metal bullets.
In the West Bank, killings committed by Israeli forces were as follows:
In one of the most heinous crimes committed by Israeli settlers, on 23 January 2016, a security guard of”Anatot” settlement, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, killed Ruqaya Abu Tabeekh (13), from Anata village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. Israeli forces claimed that the girl had fought with her family and went out of the house with a knife in her hand to carry out a stabbing and put end to her life. However, her family said that the Israeli forces killed the girl in cold blood, as she was not holding a knife and had never thought about carrying out any attacks in spite of the fight they had with her soon before she was killed.
On 25 January 2016, security officers shot dead two persons who carried outa stabbing in “Beit Horon” settlement in Beit Our alFouqa village, southwest of Ramallah. The two persons were identified as Ibrahim Allan (23), from Beit Our alTahta, southwest of Ramallah, and Hussein Abu Ghosh (17), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, who participated in peaceful protests near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. Six of them were hit with live bullets and the six others were hit with rubbercoated metal bullets.
As part of Israeli attacks along the border area in the Gaza Strip, on 24 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at agricultural lands, east of alFokhari and Khuza’a villages to the west of the said fence. However, no casualties were reported.
Concerning Israeli airstrikes, on 25 January 2016, Israeli warplanes fired two missiles at areas of evacuated settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. Moreover, a warplane fired a missile at a military training site of Palestinian armed groups, southwest of Deir alBalah, in the central Gaza Strip. The missiles rocked the targeted area causing material damage, but no casualties were reported.
In the context of Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 27 January 2016, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off alWaha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. A gunboat approached a fishing boat that was sailing 1.5 nautical miles off the shore and boarded by four fishermen. Israeli naval forces arrested the four fishermen and confiscated the boat. At approximately 21:00, on the same day, Israeli forces released the fishermen while kept the boat in their custody.
Incursions:
During the reporting period,Israeli forces conducted at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and four ones in occupied East Jerusalem.During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 47Palestinian civilians, including seven children. Elevenof these civilians, including four children,were arrested in East Jerusalem.
Among the arrested were Hatem Qafisha (56), PLC member representing the Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas movement, and engineer Essa alJa’bari (49), a leader in Hamas movement and former Minister in the 10th Palestinian Government. Both of them were arrested from their houses in Hebron.
Efforts to create Jewish Majority
In the context of house demolitions and demolition notices issued on grounds of non licensing construction works, on 22 January 2016, Dabash family was obliged to selfdemolish their house in sour Baher village, southwest of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of non licensing. They selfdemolished the house to avoid paying the fine demolition costs to the Israeli municipality. It should be noted that the 80squaremeter house was built 20 years ago. The Israeli forces imposed fines on the family several times for building without a license, but a final decision was taken to the Israeli court to oblige the family selfdemolish the house on 24 January 2016.
On 23 January 2016, Israeli forces accompanied by special forces and police officers moved into a number of neighbourhoods in Silwan village, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem. They distributed notices to owners of a number of residential buildings and commercial facilities to refer to the municipality.
On 27 January 2016, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished an underconstruction house in al Sal’ah neighbourhood in alMukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem. The house belongs to Mousa Surri, who was finishing the house to move in along with his family within the coming weeks. The house cost him NIS 130,000.
On the same day, Israeli municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to the family of Kefaya alResheq, north of occupied Jerusalem. The house sheltering 19 family members was demolished in favour of establishing Road 21 that has been planned for since the 90s.
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.
Settlement activities:
On 21 January 2016, Israeli forces demolished an agricultural room, a wells and pillars to establish a livestock barrack, west of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. The demolition was carried out under that no permit was obtained from the competent authorities in the Israeli Civil Administration and the abovementioned utilities are located in area (C).
On 22 January 2016, Israeli forces informed the residents of Karma village, east of Doura, southwest of Hebron, of levelling a road under the pretext that it was located in area (C). It should be noted that the abovementioned road was the only way out of the village for Palestinian vehicles after Israeli forces had closed the main entrance to the village for years.
Details
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 21 January 2016
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Surif village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in the centre of the village. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Ali alQadi (22). They withdrew later taking alQadi to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Dura, southwest of Hebron. They stationed in Sood valley neighbourhood and then raided and searched a house belonging to Amir Sami Abriyoush (25). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and then withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into the southern area of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Akram Faisal Badawi (35) and arrested him. They withdrew later taking him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into alShyoukh village, northeast of Hebron. They stationed in the center of the village and then raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yousef Warasna (24). They arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’eim village, east of Hebron. They stationed in the center of the village and then raided the Palestinian Fire Station. Moreover, they arrested one of the fire fighters claiming that he was wanted by the Israeli forces. The aforementioned person was identified as Mahmoud Jawad alZama’ra (29), from Halhoul village, north of Hebron. He was then taken to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tal village, southwest of Nablus. A number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers that fired live bullets, rubbercoated metal bullets and sound bombs at the protesters. As a result, a 17yearold male was hit with a Two Two bullet to the lower abdomen, while another 21yearold male was hit with a Two Two bullet to the upper thigh. Both of them were then taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus to receive medical treatment. Israeli forces raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested Taysir As’ad Yameen (41) and withdrew later.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into alJalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched three houses from which they arrested threecivilians. The arrested persons were identified as Mosbah Marwan alKans (32); Yazan Mohammed Nakhlah (20); and Ziyad Abed alGhani Qatash (22).
At approximately 14:30, Israeli forces moved into Toubas. A number of young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers that fired live bullets, rubbercoated metal bullets and sound bombs at the protesters. As a result, three civilians were hit with rubbercoated metal bullets and were treated on the spot. Israeli forces raided and searched many houses and arrested Ali Ahmed Ali Masa’eid (21). They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balatah refugee camp, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Amjad Mahmoud Hashash (25) and arrested him. They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin and stationed in the eastern neighborhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ahmed Rahal (30) and arrested him.
At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces moved into Thnaba suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested three civilians accused of opening fire at Israeli soldiers and wounding one of them on 20 January 2016, during an Israeli incursion in the abovementioned suburb. They later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The aforementioned persons were identified as ‘Ammar Jamal Ahmed ‘Anbas (26); Samer Salah Mohammed Abed alHaq (29); and ‘Alaa Khalil Isma’il Barqawi (31). It should be noted that Barqawi isa Palestinian General Intelligence Service officer, who hid a Karlo pistol that was used in opening fire at the Israeli soldiers according to the Israeli media.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 8 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: Tarqomia village; alDaheriya village; Ethna village; Tafouh village; Imrish village; Abu al‘Asaja village; Kharsa village in Hebron; and ‘Ain Qinya village, west of Ramallah.
Friday, 22 January 2016
At approximately 15:15, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They stationed in alNaqar neighbourhood, west of Qalqilia. Dozens of young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers that immediately fired rubbercoated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. As a result, a 21yearold male was hit with a rubbercoated metal bullet to the eye, due to which, his eyeball was knocked out.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 13 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: Jayyous village, northeast of Qalqilia; Biteen village; Termas’iya village; Ras Karkar village; Beit ‘Our village in Ramallah and alBireh; Samou’a village; Beit Oula village; alShayoukh village; al‘Aroub refugee camp; Dura; al Moreq village; Deir al‘Asal village; and Deir Samet village in Hebron.
Saturday, 23 January 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Taqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided a house belonging to Ibrahim al‘Amor and handed his sons Mohammed (23) and Ahmed (21) summonses to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out five incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: alNabi Saleh village; Burham village; Qebia village; Deir Debwan village; and Kherbatha Bani Hareth village in Ramallah and alBireh.
Sunday, 24 January 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved intoalHariya valley neighborhood, south of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to Hatem Rabah Rashid Qfisha (56), member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) representing the Change and Reform Bloc of Hamas Movement and arrested him. They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination without searching the house. At approximately 00:20, masked persons set fire to Qafisha’s Mitsubishi Pajero jeep that was parking in the house yard. The perpetrators have not been identified yet. In the meantime, another force of Israeli soldiers raided alShayoukh village and arrested Wesam ‘Azam alQawasma (28); and Ibrahim Jamal Hassan (30). The arrested persons were then taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nemrah neighbourhood, east of Hebron, and arrested Engineer Essa Khairi Essa alJa’bari (49), a leader in Hamas movement and former Minister of Local Government in the 10th Palestinian Government, from his house. The Israeli soldiers blew up the main gate of a building and raided alJa’bari’s apartment, which is located on the second floor of the aforementioned building. They then arrested al Ja’bari and took him to an unknown destination. It should be mentioned that alJa’bari is a former prisoner who served 10 years in Israeli jails, including 7 years in administrative detention.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Halhoul village, north of Hebron, and stationed in alKamb area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Malek Mostafa alSa’da (16). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into alDahisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided a number of houses and handed summonses over to 4 civilians to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city. The arrested persons were identified as Abed alKareem al‘Ajouri (52) and his son Suliman (22); Nidal Jaber alHasanat (24); and Fahmi Saleh Qawar (44).
At approximately 09:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israeli, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the agricultural fields, east of alFokhary and Khoza’a villages, west of the border fence. No casualties were reported.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 9 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: al‘Aroub refugee camp; alFawar refugee camp; Sureef village; Bani Na’eim village; Ethna village; alKum village; Kufor alDeek village; Qarawat Bani Hassan village; west of Salfit; and Marda village, north of the city.
Monday, 25 January 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They raided and searched a number of houses. They then seized two PC sets and digging tools belonging to Nidal Mohammed alShobaki. They also arrested 3 civilians and then withdrew taking them to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as ‘Alaa Nidal Shobaki (25); Bahaa Nidal Mohammed Shobaki (21); and Mohammed Abdullah alAfghani (21).
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses and arrested ‘Alaa Hafiz ‘Awees (23). They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into a housing project in Roujeeb village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched many houses and arrested Riyad Feras Abu alHassan (22). They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 02:15, Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles towards evacuated settlements, northwest of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. The two missiles exploded causing a large crater and material damage in the area. It should be mentioned that no causalities were reported.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli warplanes launched a missile at military training site of Palestinian armed groups, southwest of Deir alBalah in the center of the Gaza Strip. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched many houses. They arrested 4 civilians who were identified as Rami Salem Huda alSa’di (22); Karam Fayiz Abdullah Abu ‘Atiah (23); ‘Imad Omar Sa’eid Abu al Haijaa (22); and Majd alDeen ‘Adnan Ibrahim Naghnigha (19). They later withdrew taking then to an unknown destination.
On 25 January 2016,an Israeli security guard opened fire at 2 civilians claiming that they carried out a stabbing attack in “Beit Horon” settlement established on the lands of Beit ‘Our alFoqa village, southwest of Ramallah. The abovementioned persons were identified as Ibrahim Osama Yousef ‘Alaan (23), from Beit ‘Our alTahtah village, southwest of Ramallah; and Hussain Mohammed Abu Ghoush (17), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. Both of them were immediately killed. Israeli police claimed that the two aforementioned civilians carried out a stabbing attack that resulted in wounding 2 female settlers. The first one sustained serious wounds, while the second one sustained moderate wounds. Luba alSamri, theIsraeli police spokesperson,stated that one of the wounded settlerssuccumbed to her severe injuries.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 3 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: Hija and Jeet villages, northeast of Qalqila; and Kufol Hares village, north of Salfit.
Tuesday, 26 January 2016
At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Thoulth village, east of Qalqilia. They raided and searched many houses and then arrested Hamdallah Basam Abed al Qader (20). They later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilia. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested Yassien Mohammed ‘Anaiya (18) and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 03:15, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samet village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abed alBasit Mohammed alHaroub (48) and arrested his sons ‘Oda (12) and ‘Isaa (14). They later withdrew taking them to an unknown destination.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces carried out 5 incursions in the following areas without reporting any arrests: alDahiriya village; Ethna village; alKoum village; alMoreq village; and Deir al‘Asal village in Hebron.
Wednesday, 27 January 2016
At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Our alTahtah village, southwest of Ramallah, and stationed in front of a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim Osama Yousef ‘Alaan (23). Ibrahim was shot dead, along with Hussain Abu ‘Oush (12), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, in “Beit Horon” settlement on Monday, 25 January 2016. They raided and searched Ibrahim’s house and kept all the family members in one room. An Israeli officer questioned the family members about Ibrahim on the spot. In the meanwhile, explosives engineering team took the measurements of the house, after which, they withdrew and no arrest were reported.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Qabatia village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yaser Ali Mostafa Abu Mou’ala (28) and arrested him. In the meantime, they raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ziyad Tawfiq Kmail (27) and arrested him as well. After that, they stationed in the western neighbourhood of Qabatia village, and raided a house belonging to Mohammed Rasem Tawfiq Khazimiya (30). They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Salem” settlement, northwest of Jenin.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bood village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Majd Hassan Abed alRahman Abu Shamla (23), inflicting heavy damage to the house. They arrested the aforementioned civilian.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli naval forces positioned off AlWaha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. An Israeli gunboat approached a fishing boat sailing within 1.5 nautical miles. The Israeli naval officers arrested 4 fishermen on board. They then confiscated their boat and took them to Ashdod Seaport. At approximately 21:00 on the same day, Israeli forces released the arrested fishermen at Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, northern Gaza Strip, while their boat was kept in custody. The arrested fishermen were identified as Fahed Ziyad Baker (4); Mohammed Saber Baker (22); Na’eim Fahed Baker (19); and Tareq ‘Alaa Baker (17).
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 22 January 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered and organized demonstrations at the western entrance of Selwad, northeast of Ramallah; the southern entrance of alJalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah; and in the vicinity of Ofer prison, southwest of Ramallah. The protesters threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers that fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, sound bombs and rubber coated metal bullets in response. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Gaza Strip:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 08 January 2016, dozens of young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of alShuja’iyah, east of Gaza City, to participate in activities supporting Jerusalem and denouncing the Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians. A number of protesters approached the fence, set fire to rubber tires and threw stones at the Israeli forces that sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, ten civilians, including a child, were wounded. Four of them were hit with live bullets, while the six others were hit with rubbercoated metal bullets.
At approximately 14:00 on Friday, dozens of youngsters headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of alFaraheen area in ‘Abasan village and east of ‘Abasan village, south of the Gaza Strip. A number of protesters approached the border fence, set fire to rubber tires and threw stones at the soldiers that sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, Maqboul Mousa Abu Deeb (19) was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen and sustained moderate wounds. He was then taken to Gaza European Hospital to receive medical treatment.
Around the same time, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of alBureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed behind sand barriers, due to which, the soldiers opened fire at them.As a result, Shadi Sa’d alDeen Abu ‘Aiyyash (18) was hit with a live bullet to the right leg. He was then taken to alAqsa Hospital in Deir alBalah to receive medical treatment.
Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities
At approximately 15:30 on Friday, 22 January 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of KuforQaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia. They made their way to the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of alAqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the protesters in response. As a result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded. The wounded child was identified as Ayaat Zahi Taher Ali (9), who was hit with a live bullet to the left shoulder.
Following the Friday prayer on 22 January 2016, in spite of the bad weather, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized demonstrations in protest at the Israeli settlement activities in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah; and alNabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. The Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, rubbercoated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. Moreover, they chased them into agricultural fields. 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.
Rubbercoated metal bullets are lethally 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 lightweighted 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
Imports Date Amount Category Tons Number Liters Various goods 2393 Humanitarian aid 26475 Cooking gas 43,120 Benzene 146,000 19 January Diesel 554,992 Industrial fuel 76,000 Construction aggregates 16520 Cement 8605 Construction steel 510 Various goods 4379 Humanitarian aid 21096 Cooking gas 36,660 Benzene 187,000
20 January Benzene for UNRWA 38,000
Diesel 428,966 Industrial fuel 412,000 Construction aggregates 10800 Cement 4400 Construction steel 420 Various goods 4159 Humanitarian aid 21408 Cooking gas 36,240 21 January Benzene 183,990 Diesel 283,014 Diesel for UNRWA 38,000 Industrial fuel 480,630 Construction aggregates 15,600 Cement 4400 Construction steel 510 22 January Cooking gas 133,240
Industrial fuel 190,000 Various goods 15008 Humanitarian aid 23035 Cooking gas 132,470 Benzene 224,013 24 January Diesel 292,610
Diesel for UNRWA 76,000
Industrial fuel 393,290 Construction aggregates 16320 Cement 5000 Construction steel 840
Exports:
On Tuesday, 19 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of a truckload of strawberries; and 18 truckloads of vegetables. On Wednesday, 20 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 160 tons of scrap and 20 tons of lemon. On Thursday, 21 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 5 truckloads of eggplants; truckload of spices; truckload of strawberry and 18 truckloads of vegetables. On Sunday, 24 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of a truckload of strawberry; 23 truckloads of vegetables; two truckloads of tomatoes and a truckload of clothes. Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 69 tons of lemon.
BeitHanoun (“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
20 – 26 January 2016
20 21 22 24 25 26 27 Category January January January January January January January Patients 62 31 1 – 111 79 78 Companions 60 21 1 – 98 75 71 Personal 120 148 71 – 155 55 68 needs Families – – – – – 38 – of prisoners
Arabs from 6 4 8 – 6 4 9 Israel
Diplomats 2 – – – – – – International – – – – – – – journalists International 35 57 8 – 8 15 25 workers Travelers 15 20 3 – 13 28 2 abroad
Business 349 414 3 – 384 234 180 people Business – – – – – – – meetings Security 15 8 – – 2 15 26 interviews VIPs – – – – – – – Ambulances 3 3 4 – 5 5 4 to Israel
Patients’ 3 1 2 – 4 5 4 Companions
Notes:
On Wednesday, 20 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 19 farmers and on Thursday, 21 January 2016, 47 farmers to attend an agricultural training course in Israel and a farmer to attend a meeting.\ On Wednesday, 20 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed five persons and on Sunday, 24 January 2016, 3 persons to renew their permits. On Wednesday, 20 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed five Christians to go to Bethlehem. On Friday, 22 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 177 civilians from the Gaza Strip to perform prayers in alAqsa Mosque in Occupied Jerusalem. On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, Israeli authorities allowed one person working in the Civil Affairs Department to attend a meeting in the crossing.
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 (18) checkpoints all over the city. On Thursday, 21January 2016, Israeli forces established 6 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Hebron; the entrance to alFawar refugee camp, south of Hebron; the southern entrance to Halhoul connected to Bypass Road 60 and the entrances to Sa’ir and alThaheriyah villages, south of the city.
On Friday, 22January 2016, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the entrances to Sa’ir village, the southern entrance to Hebron and the northern entrance to Halhoul village, north of Hebron; northern entrance to Yata and entrance to Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.
On Sunday, 24 November 2016, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the entrance to al Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron; entrance to al‘Aroyb refugee camp, north of the city; entrances of Beit ‘Aynoun, alThaheriyah and Taramah villages.
On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, israeki forces established two checkpoints at the entrances to Ethna and alSamou’a villages.
Ramallah and alBireh: at approximately 17:30 on Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces established 2 a checkpoint near the intersection of Beit Ur alFoqa village, southwest of Ramallah, and prevented civilians from leaving or entering via the checkpoint, which is so far closed.
On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to alNabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah; under the bridge of Kherbet alMesbah village and under the bridge of Beit Sira village, southwest of Ramallah
Jenin: At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 24 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Jaba’a village, south of Jenin.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the bypass road between Jenin and the northern villages of Tulkarm near the entrance to “Harimish” settlement, southwest of Jenin.
At approximately 09:30 on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on the main road between Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus near the intersection of Jaba’a village, south of Jenin.
Jericho: Israeli forces established (5) checkpoints all over the city. At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 21 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between the villages of Jayous and ‘Azoun, north of Qalqilya.
Salfit:At approximately 16:45 on Friday, 22 January 2016, Israeli forces detained at a checkpoint near “Ariel” settlement, north of Salfit, a car transporting 5 civilians belonging tothe same family from ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya, and later released them. They were identified as Faris ‘Abdel Karim Shbeitah; Habes ‘Abdel Karim Shbeitah; Mustafa Shbeitah; Hussam ‘abdel Karim Shbeitah; Fadwa Hamdallah Shbeitah. At approximately 18:45, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Yasouf village, east of Salfit. At approximately 22:00, the checkpoint was removed, and no arrests were reported.
At approximately 12:00 on Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Marda village, north of Salfit.
Qalqilya:At approximately 19:30 on Thursday, 21 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint between the villages of Jayous and ‘Azoun, north of Qalqilya.
Tulkarm: At approximately 16:00 on Friday, 22 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab Checkpoint established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of Tulkarm tightened their arbitrary restrictions against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement at the aforementioned checkpoint. The tightening recurred at approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 24 January 2016, and at approximately 08:30 on Tuesday, 26 January 2016.
At approximately 19:00 on Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near the eastern entrance to Baqah village, north of Tulkarm. The checkpoint was later removed, but no arrests were reported.
At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Far’one village, south of Tulkarm. At approximately 18:00, another checkpoint was established in the same area on the main road between Tulkarm and Qalqilya near the entrance to Jbarah village, south of the city.
Arrests
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 21 January 2016, Israeli forces arrested 3 children from the eastern villages of Yata, south of Hebron, while the children were grazing sheep in an area considered by Israeli forces as a closed area. The three children were then taken to a police station in “Karyat Arba’a” settlement, east of Hebron. The arrested children were identified as Hasan Hmeid Hmeidat (12); Khalil Methqal Hmeidat (13) and his brother ‘Alaa’ (12).
At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance to Beit ‘Aynoun village, east of Hebron arrested Ja’afar Mahmoud Mousa Jabarin (22) from Sa’ir village, east of Hebron, under the pretext of having a knife. He was then taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 18:00 on Friday, 22 January 2016, Israeli forces stationed at eastern entrance to Qalqilya, arrested Sa’id ‘Emad Samarah from Siris village, southeast of Jenin. He was later taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 25 January 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Kafrit village, southwest of Jenin. The Israeli soldiers stationed at the checkpoint stopped the Palestinian vehicles that were leaving or entering into the village and checked the passengers’ IDs. When Haidar Mohammed Ibrahim Qabha (23) from Ya’bud village, southwest of the city, was crossing the checkpiunt, the Israeli soldiers arrested him and took him to an unknown destination.
4. Efforts to Create Jewish majority
Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on alAqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:
Shooting incidents
In one of the most heinous settlers’ crimes, an Israeli security guard of “‘Anatot” settlement, northeast of Jerusalem, killed a 13yearold Palestinian girl. The Israeli authorities claimed that the child had a knife and attempted to stab a security guard, whom they described as a civilian.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 08:00 on Saturday, 23 January 2016, a security guard in “‘Anatot” settlement near ‘Anata village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem shot dead Roqayah ‘Eid Mohammed ‘Issa Abu Tabikh (13) under the claims that she attempted to stab him. She was hit with several bullets from a close range and killed on the spot. Following this heinous crime, Luba alSomari, Spokesperson of the Israeli Police, said in a statement,
“At approximately 08:00 on Saturday, the 13yearold girl ran with a knife towards a civil security guard at the entrance of ‘Antout settlement. The guard in response opened fire at her and neutralized her. She sustained critical wounds and died on the spot.” AlSomari claimed in her statement, “according to the initial investigations, the attacker had been in a quarrel with members of her family before leaving home with a knife in order to carry out a stabbing attack. Her father looked for her and arrived at the scene shortly after the attack before being detained and taken to a police station in Maale Adumim for questioning.”
The girl’s family, who has temporarily been living for 10 years in a ‘Ezbah with their livestock near the intersection of ‘Anata village, said that the Israeli forces killed their child Roqayah in cold blood as she was not holding a knife. She also had never thought of carrying out an attack although she quarrelled with her family shortly before opening fire at her.
At approximately 11:00 on the aforementioned Saturday, Israeli soldiers moved into Batn al Hawa neighbourhood in Selwan village, south of the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem. When the Israeli soldiers stationed inside the alleys of the neighbourhood, clashes broke out between them and civilians. The Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and rubbercoated metal bullets at them. As a result, Yehia ‘Aneizat (30) was hit with a metal bullet, and his brother Anwar ‘Aneizat (25) was arrested after being severely beaten.
Incursions and arrests
At approximately 04:00 on Friday, 22 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into a number of neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a number of houses. They arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children, and took them to alQashlah police station to question them, the arrested were identified as Khader Mohammed ‘Ajlouni (15); Amjad Nour alDeen ‘Abdel Ghani (16) and Ahmed alMoghrabi (20).
At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, 26 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into al‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 civilians, including a child. They were later taken to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as Khalil Naser (14) Mahmoud ‘Awni ‘Atiyah (20) and Hamadah Mohammed Hreiz (19).
At approximately 13:00 on the aforementioned Tuesday, Israeli forces arrested Shadi ‘Abdullah Ghurrab (19) when he was in Bab al‘Amoud area in Jerusalem’s Old City. He was then taken to “alQashlah” police station for interrogation. At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 27 January 2016, Israeli forces moved into a house belonging to Mohammed Khalil in Ras alBustan neighbourhood in al‘Izariyah village, east of Jerusalem. They arrested his Tariq (24) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 22:00 on the same day, Israeli forces arrested ‘Obadah ‘Aziz Musatfa Abu Ras (18) after severely beating him under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing attack “Jaf’at Ze’if” settlement, north of Jerusalem. As a result, a settler sustained serious wounds. The Israeli media claimed that the aforementioned young man entered a restaurant in a petrol station near the entrance to the settlement and stabbed the settler. He then fled from the scene but was chased and arrested. It should be mentioned that Abu Ras from Birnabala village, northwest of the city was attacked by settlers before being arrested. As a result, he sustained wounds in the head and body and taken to Hadassah Hospital under the Israeli forces’ guardianship as the Israeli settlers denied ambulances access to the young man.
House demolitions and demolition notices:
At approximately 10:00 on Friday 22 January 2016, Dabash family selfdemolished their house in the village of Sur Baher, southwest of Jerusalem, to avoid paying a high fine as well as demolition costs to the occupation’s municipality.
Khalil Dabaash said to a PCHR’s fieldworker that the family selfdemolished their house under the pretext of no construction license noting that the house was built 20 years ago and belongs to his mother Jamilah. The Israeli Municipality imposed fines on the family several times for building without a permit. The family added that the municipality court issued a final decision and required the family to selfdemolish the house and gave them until Sunday, 24 January 2016, to apply the decision otherwise the municipality will demolish it and impose a fine and demolition costs on the family. Dabash explained that their house is 80 square meters and comprised of two rooms, a kitchen and bathroom. My sister used to live on her own in that house but was forced now to move out to a nearby house.
At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 23 January 2016, Israeli municipality staffs accompanied with Israeli Special Forces and police officers moved into Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem’s Old City. They handed owners of commercial facilities and residential buildings in ‘Ein alLozah neighborhood and Bir Ayoub. They handed its owners warnings to refer to the competent departments in the municipality to obtain construction licenses for their facilities.
At approximately 06:00 on Wednesday, 27 January 2016, Israeli municipality bulldozers leveled an underconstruction house belonging to Mousa Sorri in alSal’ah neighborhood in alMokaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of having no construction license. The aforementioned civilian said to a PCHR fieldworker that he was finishing his house to move to it in the next weeks with his 8member family (wife and 6 children). However, the municipality handed him a month ago a decision to stop construction work in the house. Over the last period, he attempted to obtain a construction license from the municipality, but the municipality staffs surprisingly demolished the house. Sorri added that the 60sqauremeter house cost him NIS 130,000 in addition to NIS 80,000 to build a fence around the land. He added that he started building the house at the end of last April.
On Wedesnday morning, Israeli municipality bulldozers demolished a house belonging to Kefayah alResheq in Sho’afat neighborhood, north of occupied Jerusalem, for the interest of Settlement Project “21”. The aforementioned civilian said that the Israeli forces accompanied with tracker dogs and municipality staffs raided her house in the early morning and forced the residents to leave the house despite the cold weather. They took some of the house contents out before proceeding the demolition process. She added that the house is 150 square meters and consists of 5 rooms, a kitchen and bathroom. The house was built 15 years ago and used to shelter 19 members, including children, (her 7 sons and their families). AlResheq said that she repeatedly attempted by legal meansto prevent the demolition of the house. However, she was met with procrastination and delay and paid more than NIS 75,000 in building violation fees in addition to paying taxes on their land but in vain. It should be mentioned that the Israeli authorities decided to demolish the house for the interest of establishing Settlement Road (21). The road was planned for since the nineties and Israeli forces started to establish it 3 years ago. The road is passing through the houses to connect the Israeli settlements, Pisgat Zi’ev and Nabi Yackov, with Ramat Shlomo settlement reaching the settlements of Atarot and Modi’in in the north. As a result, the agricultural and social fabric will be destroyed as the road will be a high way, annex hundreds of agricultural lands and separate the houses.
5. Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces’ attacks
At approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 21 January 2016, Israeli forces backed a digger and bulldozer and accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Organization and Construction in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into the western area of Beit Oula village, west of Hebron. They stationed in a land belonging to Mahmoud Rashid al‘Aqel and started levelling a 30squaremeter agricultural room; 100cubicmeter well and pillars that were founded to build a barrack for livestock on an area of half dunum. According to Israeli forces’ claims, this happened due to not obtaining construction licenses from the Civil Administration, and the land is located in Area “C” and was previously noticed.
At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 22January 2016, Israeli forces backed by 3 military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Organization and Construction in the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Karmah village, east of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They stationed on the road between the aforementioned village and Beit ‘Armah village, west of Yata, south of the city. The Civil Administration officers took photos of the road and placed a notice giving the village residents the chance to challenge it before removing it under the pretext of being in Area “C”. It should be mentioned that Road is the only one through which vehicles could get out of the village after the Israeli forces had closed the main entrance to the village.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51day 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 selfdetermination, 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 nonrecurrence 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 EUIsrael 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
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