Occupied Palestinian Territory (Including East Jerusalem)
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Reporting period: 11 - 17 August 2015 Weekly Highlights Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians, 21 and 22 years old, in two separate incidents on 15 and 17 August respectively, reportedly following the stabbing of Israeli soldiers near Beita village and at the Z’atara checkpoint, both in the Nablus governorate. A Palestinian woman died from wounds sustained the previous week, when unexploded ordnance (UXO) detonated in a house in Rafah, bringing to five the number of fatalities from the incident, and injuries to over 50, according to medical sources. Since the cease-fire of August 2014, 16 Palestinians, including one child, have been killed in UXO incidents, and over 170, including 22 children, injured. During the week, 27 Palestinians, including five children, were injured across the West Bank, during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian stone-throwers. The majority of injuries (21) took place during the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum (Qalqiliya) against the closure of the village’s main entrance. In one incident, a 52-year-old man and land owner participating in a demonstration against the construction of the Barrier in Beit Jala (Bethlehem) was hospitalized due to heart failure complications, following an altercation with an Israeli soldier. Israeli forces arrested 78 Palestinians across the oPt, the vast majority in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, one Palestinian was arrested as he arrived at Erez Crossing, after he had received a permit to travel into the West Bank. Four other Palestinians were arrested near the fence surrounding Gaza, after crossing into Israel without Israeli authorization. Three Israeli settler attacks resulting in injury to Palestinians and their property were recorded. These include the physical assault of two Palestinians, 16 and 18 years old, in ‘Azzun ‘Atma (Qalqiliya) and a 31-year-old Palestinian physically assaulted while working in the settlement of Pisgat Ze’ev located in the Jerusalem governorate; and an arson attack in the Bedouin community of ‘Ein Samiya (Ramallah), resulting in damage to a residential tent. Additionally (not included in the count), a ten-year-old child was injured when run over by an Israeli-plated vehicle near Yatma (Nablus); and clashes erupted between Palestinians and around 15 Israeli settlers after the latter raided the village of Awarta (Nablus), and reportedly attempted to kidnap two Palestinians. According to Israeli media, one Israeli settler was injured as a result of Palestinian stone-throwing at Israeli-plated vehicles near Beit Ummar (Hebron). The Israeli authorities demolished 35 Palestinian-owned structures, including six donor- funded and 16 residential structures across the West Bank, for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, displacing a total of 92 Palestinians, including 55 children, and otherwise affecting 81 Palestinians. Of the total, 78 Palestinians, including 49 children, were displaced in the communities of Az Za’ayyem Bedouin, Khan al Ahmar Abu Falah, Bir Miskoob and Wadi Sneysel on 17 August, the largest number of people displaced in the West Bank in a single day since October 2012. These are among the 46 Area C Bedouin communities in the central West Bank at risk of forcible transfer due to a plan advanced by the Israeli authorities to relocate the residents to one of three designated sites. The remaining 14 Palestinians were displaced in Al Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj community (Jericho governorate) in the Jordan Valley on 11 August. This is the 15th time the residents of Al Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj have experienced demolition incidents since 2014. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire towards civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea, on at least nine occasions. No casualties were reported. On four occasions Israeli forces entered and leveled land inside Gaza. Also in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians held 29 demonstrations, primarily in protest against a possible reduction in UNRWA services due to the Agency’s financial crisis, and in solidarity with Palestinians prisoners held in Israeli detention centers, namely, Mohammed Allan who has been on hunger strike for over 60 days in protest of his administrative detention without charge or trial since November 2014. The Egyptian authorities exceptionally opened the Rafah crossing on 17 August in both directions, for the first time since 25 June, allowing 949 Palestinians into Gaza, and 474 Palestinians, mainly patients, students and dual nationals to exit Gaza. The Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing has been continuously closed, including for humanitarian assistance, since 24 October 2014, except for 26 days of partial openings. Palestinian casualties in the occupied Palestinian territory (including East Jerusalem) Palestinian fatalities by Israeli forces in the oPt Palestinian injuries by Israeli forces in the oPt This Week 0 27 This Week Total 2015 (to Total 2014 date) Previous Week 4 21 Weekly Avg. 2015 2 36 0 2 53 Gaza West Bank 2 22 2257 Total in 2015 Total in 2014 56 5868 Gaza West Bank 10758 1197 Israeli civilian Casualties by Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel Israeli fatalities by Palestinians in the oPt and Israel Israeli injuries by Palestinians in the oPt and Israel This Week in 2015 (to Total 2014 date) This Week 0 1 0 0 10 Previous Week 0 2 3 77 Weekly Avg. 2015 0 2 Israel oPt Israel oPt Demolitions and related displacements Palestinian-owned structures demolished Palestinians displaced due to demolitions This Week 33 2 This Week 92 0 Weekly Avg. 2015 10 2 Weekly Avg. 2015 12 1 Weekly Avg. 2014 9 2 Weekly Avg. 2014 19 4 Area C East Jerusalem Area C East Jerusalem Total in 2015 (to date) Total in 2014 Total in 2015 (to date) Total in 2014 53 98 24 208 316 493 408 969 Settler-related violence in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) Total in 2015 (to date) Total in 2014 This Week 1 2 Weekly Avg. 2015 3 1 47 107 Weekly Avg. 2014 4 2 89 217 Property damage incidents Casualty incidents Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestinian territory (including East Jerusalem) Israeli military incursions into Gaza* Israeli military search and arrest operations into the West Bank * excluding the period of hostilities (7 July- 26 August 2014) This week In 2015 (to date) Total 2014 This Week 61 Weekly Avg. 2015 80 4 28 21 Weekly Avg. 2014 75 Movements of goods into and out of Gaza through Kerem Shalom Crossing Truckloads leaving Gaza Truckloads entering Gaza This Week * 12 11 This Week * 1,077 1,032 Weekly Avg. 2015 11 7 Weekly Avg. 2015 667 734 Weekly Avg. 2014 2 1 Weekly Avg. 2014 233 887 West Bank Elsewhere Construction materials Other * This week figure is not available at the moment * This week figure is not available at the moment 240 2807 Jan-May 2007 weekly average (before the blockade) Jan-May 2007 weekly average(before the blockade) Movement of People via Rafah crossing 949 This Week 474 194 Weekly Avg. 2015 205 923 Weekly Avg. 2014 955 Into Gaza Out of Gaza Please note that the figures in this report are subject to changes upon the receipt of additional information. For more information, please contact us at [email protected] For more information, please contact us at [email protected] PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS WEEKLY REPORT REPORTING PERIOD: 11 - 17 AUGUST 2015.