Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (07- 13 November 2013) Thursday, 14 November 2013 00:00 Jerusalem – A Palestinian family sitting near the debris of their home that was demolished by Israeli forces Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) · 2 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli forces at military checkpoints in the West Bank. · 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces in border areas in the Gaza Strip. · Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank. - 2 Palestinian children were wounded in Hebron and Ramallah. - Dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. · Israeli forces conducted 68 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the Gaza Strip. - At least 46 Palestinians, including 8 children, were arrested. - The detainees include a number of political leaders of Hamas. · 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. - At least 10 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and a woman, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank. · Israeli navy forces have continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea. - Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats, wounding a fishermen. - Israeli forces confiscated a fishing boat. - 2 fishermen were detained for one day. · Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property. - Israeli forces set fire to 2 cars in Hebron. · Israeli has continued to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem. - Israeli authorities forced a Palestinian civilian to demolish his house. Summary Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (07 – 13 November 2013). Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians and wounded 7 others, including 2 children, in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, in an excessive use of force, on 07 November 2013, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians at Za'tara checkpoint, south of Nablus, and the Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, in the West Bank. On 11 November 2013, a Palestinian child was wounded by Israeli forces during a demonstration organized in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, in commemoration of the 9th anniversary of President Yasser. On the same day, a child was also wounded in Hebron. During the reporting period, 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, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises. In the Gaza Strip, on 10 November 2013, a Palestinian fisherman was wounded by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip. On 13 November 2013, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli forces in border areas in the southern and central Gaza Strip. In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, Israeli gunboats stationed in the sea opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats 4 times, during which the abovementioned fisherman was wounded and fishing boat was confiscated. Israeli forces also detained 2 fishermen for one day. Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 68 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 46 Palestinians, including 8 children and number of political leaders of Hamas. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted an incursion into the central Gaza Strip on 13 November 2013, during which they levelled areas of Palestinian land. 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 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. As part of using military checkpoints and border crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 10 civilians, including 5 children and woman, in the West Bank. 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 07 November 2013, a number of Israeli settlers from “Havat Gal” settlement, east of Hebron, set fire to 2 cars belonging to Palestinian civilians in al-Jalajel village, east of Hebron. They also wrote “In solidarity with Beit Ain settlement” on walls of houses in the village. Losses in the 2 cars are estimated at 7,000 NIS (approximately US$ 2,000). On 08 November 2013, dozens of Israeli settlers living in settlement located near Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem, closed the western entrance of the village, claiming that stones and Molotov cocktails were thrown at a settler’s car. The settlers raised the Israeli flag and organized a march in the area. On 10 November 2013, dozens of Israeli settlers living in settlement located near Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem, closed the western entrance of the village. The settlers raised the Israeli flag and provoked Palestinian civilians. Later, Israeli forces blocked the road leading to Khirbat al-Deir area in the northwest of the village with sand barriers. Efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem During the reporting period, Israeli authorities forced Samer Mahmoud Za’tara to demolish his house in application of a decision by the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem, claiming that the house was built without a license. Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period (07 – 13 November 2013) 1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Thursday, 07 November 2013 At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Bal’a village, northeast of Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to the families of Waleed Tawfiq al-Wawi, 22, and Waleed Fayez al-Wawi, 21, and arrested both of them. At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. The patrolled the streets and at approximately 03:30, they raided a house belonging to the family of al-Mo’teassen Billah Abdullah Jaroushi, 26, in al-Sawana neighbourhood, and questioned him on the spot. They withdrew later and no arrests were reported. Also at approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Ihsan Ali Nassar, 30, and arrested him. Also at approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a Also at approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beita village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested Saleh Tayseer Kharyoush, 17. At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khalil Abu Hashem, 46. They broke the door and searched the house. Israeli soldiers attacked Abu Hashem and his wife when they protest this violent house raid. Israeli soldiers then forced the family out. Before leaving, Israeli soldiers arrested Abu Hashem’s son, 22-year-old Yousef, and notified his other son, 24-year-old Tha’er, to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. In the meantime, other Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to Hisham Khalil Abu Maria, 48, and delivered summonses to his two sons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gush Etzion” settlement.