Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (24 – 30 November 2016)
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Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (24 – 30 November 2016) Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) (24 – 30 November 2016) Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in northern side of occupied Jerusalem. Israeli forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and one in the southern Gaza Strip. 68 civilians, including 19 children, were arrested. Twenty of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Dr ‘Azzam Sahlab, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC),was among the arrested civilians. Israeli forces arrested a civilian who sneaked via the northern borders of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea. Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. Israeli forces demolished parts of a residential house in Silwan and levelled another in alMukaber Mount. Settlement activities continued in the West Bank. Israeli forces issued more demolition notices. 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 reestablished to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians. 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints. Summary Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (24 – 30 November 2016). Shooting: Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in Sho’fat refugee camp, north of occupied Jerusalem. In occupied Jerusalem, in excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces stationed at Sho’fat checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem killed a Palestinian child. Israeli forces claimed that he attempted to stab an Israeli security officer with a knife he hid under his clothes. However, PCHR’s investigations refuted this claim. In the Gaza Strip, in context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 26 November 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off alWaha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and chased them. The shooting recurred on the dame day afternoon in the same area. It should be noted the fishing boats were sailing within 4 nautical miles and no casualties were reported. Moreover, similar attacks recurred on 27 and 28 November 2016 while fishing boats were sailing within 3 nautical miles. However, neither casualties nor damages to the boats were reported Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 57 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 others in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 68 Palestinian civilians, including 19 children. Twentyone of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Among those arrest, Israeli forces arrested Dr ‘Azzam No’aman ‘Abdel Rahman Salhab (60), a PLC Member from the Change and Reform bloc affiliated with Hamas, and Anas Hatem Qafishah, who is the son of another PLC Member and arrested from his family house in Hebron . In the Gaza Strip on 29 November 2016, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion in alShokah village, east of Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip. They levelled and combed the area in addition to establishing sand barriers in the area. They later redeployed along the border. Creating Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem: In the context of house demolitions, on 29 November 2016, Israeli municipality demolished with hand tools two rooms and 35squaremeter balcony located in the “Central neighbourhood” in the area in Silwan village, south of occupied Jerusalem’s Old City. The two rooms are part of a house belonging to alShyoukhi family that is comprised of 10 members. The house was built ten years ago. On the same day, the Israeli municipality demolished a house in alMukaber Mount neighbourhood, southeast of the city, under the pretext of building without a license. The 110squaremeter house, which belongs to ‘Issam Khalaylah family, shelters 9 members, including 6 children. Settlement activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property: On 20 November 2016, Israeli forces distributed 12 notices to halt construction works for Palestinian families in Kherbet Um alKhair, southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, under the pretext of building without a license from the Israeli authorities. 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 2 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 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons. Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians. Details 1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Thursday, 24 November 2016 At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ezzat Hassan Abdul Karim Deriyah (50) and arrested him. At approximately 02:50, Israeli forces moved into Nablus and stationed in alMa’ajin neighborhood, west of the city. The soldiers surrounded building no. (9) in Najah National University housing. They raided and searched an apartment belonging to professor Esam Rashed Hasan alAshaqer (58), a physics lecturer in the abovementioned university, and questioned him on the spot. They then arrested him and confiscated his car. It should be noted that Esam suffered a stroke in addition to many diseases such as kidney impairment, high blood pressure and liver disorder. At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anin village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses. At approximately 04:30, they arrested Abdul Naser Mohammed Yasin (42) and at approximately 04:30 withdrew taking him to an unknown destination. At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into Betin village, east of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sayel Mohammed Darwish Jarab’ah (55) and then arrested him. It should be noted that the arrested person is father of Saji Jarab’ah, who was killed in March 2014 after a settler shot him near his house. It should be mentioned that the house is adjacent to Bypass Road (60), east of the village. Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura, Yatta, Tarqumiyah and Taffouh villages in Hebron. Friday, 25 November 2016 At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Malek Naser Hamamrah (10) and then arrested him. Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Kafer Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilyah, alAroub refugee camp and al Kum village in Saturday, 26 November 2016 At approximately 00:15, Israeli forces moved into ‘Oyuon Qana Valley, northwest of Salfit. They arrested ‘Abdullah Mahmud Ahmed alKhuli (32) from ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah. It should be noted that ‘Abdullah and his family live in the abovementioned area in a farm that is threatened to be confiscated by the Israeli authorities. The abovementioned civilian was arrested before his arrival to a barrack inside the farm as he was coming from Azzoun village. At approximately 09:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off alWahah shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. At approximately 16:00, the shooting towards the Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles recurred. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee for fear of being arrested or wounded, so no casualties were reported. Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Kafer alDeek village, west of Salfit, Dura, alKum and Beit Oula village in Hebron.