Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (13 - 19 June 2013) Thursday, 20 June 2013 00:00
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Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (13 - 19 June 2013) Thursday, 20 June 2013 00:00 An Israeli soldiers checks a Palestinian civilian at a checkpoint near Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip border area. A Palestinian farmer was wounded in the east of the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank. 2 protesters were wounded during a peaceful protest in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. A civilian was wounded and 3 vehicles were burnt during the protest of “returning to the destroyed villages” in Ramallah. Israeli forces conducted 82 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. 32 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were arrested. 4 civilians were arrested in the Gaza Strip while attempting to cross the border into Israel. Israeli forces harassed a family from al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and severely attacked a mentally disabled young man. Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 6 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank. Israeli forces tortured a young man from al-Aroub refugee camp and dumped him at Kfar Etzion intersection, south of Bethlehem. Israeli navy forces have continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea. Israeli navy forces opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats off Deir al-Balah shore in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. About 300 olive trees were burnt in Fara'ta and Imatin villages, east of Qalqilia. The settlers continued their systematic attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property. Summary Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period 13 – 19 June 2013. Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians. 3 civilians were wounded in the West Bank while the fourth one was wounded in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded during a peaceful protest in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah. On 15 June 2013, hundreds of Palestinians and international activists organized peaceful protests titled "Bridge of Return," heading to al-Latroun evacuated villages (Amwas, Beit Nouba and Yalou) that were destroyed by the Israeli forces in 1967. Israeli forces used force to deny the protestors access to these villages. As a result, a 20-year-old civilian was wounded by a bullet to the chest and a bus and 2 other civilian vehicles were burnt. In the Gaza Strip, on 14 June 2013, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers along the border fence, southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a farmer and wounded him in the thigh. In the same context, on 13 June 2013, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers along the border fence, east of Abassan village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at al-Sanati area, northeast of the village. As a result, partial damage was caused to a house belonging to Mohammed Hussein Abu Salah. As part of the Israeli navy forces' attacks on Palestinian fishermen, on 18 June 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing within the 6 nautical mile limit. As a result, fishermen were forced to sail backwards fearing of arrest or injury. Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 82 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 32 Palestinians, including 3 children. On 19 June 2013, Israeli forces harassed a family in al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided their house and attacked them, especially a mentally disabled member of the family. In the Gaza Strip, on 16 June 2013, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in "Kissufim", east of al-Salqa valley in the central Gaza Strip, arrested 4 civilians who attempted to cross the border into Israel. Restrictions on movement: Israel continued to impose a tightened 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 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 7 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 a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people. The Israeli authorities has 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 that has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem. Settlement activities: Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. On Saturday, 15 June 2013, a group of settlers, coming from "Havat Gilad" settlement, which is established on Palestinians' lands in Fara'ta and Imatin villages, northeast of Qalqilia, set fire to 50 dunums of olive trees. As a result, 300 olive trees were damaged. On Sunday, 16 June 2013, a group of settlers from "Carmiel" settlement, which is established on Palestinian civilians' lands east of Yatta, South of Hebron, moved into lands in the area surrounding Kherbat Um al-Khair area and patrolled them. A number of the settlers started planting olive trees in the lands of the Hathaleen family as a prelude to seize it. On Tuesday, 18 June 2013, a group of settlers from "Susya" settlement, established on Palestinians' lands in the east of Yatta, south of Hebron, let huge dogs attack farmers and shepherds from Ghaith family while they were working on their lands in between Yatta and al-Samou' villages. Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period 13– 19 June 2013 1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Thursday, 13 June 2013 At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Awarta village, southeast of Nablus. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which they arrested 4 civilians, including 2 brothers: 1. Mohammed Fawwaz Awwad (22); 2. Omar Yusef Awwad (21); 3. His brother Lo'ay (23); and 4. Mohammed Walid Qawariq (21). Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Doura, southwest of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the family of Hussein Mostafa Amr (60) and arrested him. Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided a house belonging to the family of Ra'ed Ahmed Adi (40) and arrested him. At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Daheriya village, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and deployed between the houses. They also damaged the doors of 2 stores belonging to Khalil Reba' anf Yusef al-Battat. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces deployed between the houses and raided 2 houses belonging to the families of Saif Hashem Qaisiya and Mohammed Ayed Abu Sharekh. At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Kharsa village to the south of Doura, west of Hebron. They patrolled the streets and raided 2 houses from which they arrested Omar Yassir Atbeish (21) and Suhaib Ibrahim al-Sabbar (23). A number of boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired sound bombs, and tear gas canisters. As a result, a barbershop belonging to Wesam Hantash was burnt as a bomb fell inside. Moreover, a number of boys suffered tear gas inhalation. Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Budrus village, west of Ramallah. They patrolled the streets and raided a number of houses, from which they arrested Mos'ab Sami Awad (21) and Yusef Mohammed Shaheen (20). In addition, 7 civilians were summoned by the Israeli intelligence service at Ofer detention facility, southwest of the city. The summoned were: 1. Mohammed Ahmed Morrar (53); 2. Asem Mohammed Morrar (24); 3.