Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(29 September – 05 October 2016)
The Gaza Strip: Israeli Warplanes Raids Open Areas and Training Sites in the Gaza Strip.
- Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
- A Palestinian civilian was killed at Qalandia checkpoint, north of occupied Jerusalem.
- 7 civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip.
- A Palestinian armed group’s checkpoint in the northern Gaza Strip was shelled, but no casualties were reported.
- Israeli warplanes carried out a number of air raids on open lands and training sites in the Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.
- Israeli forces conducted 48 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 ones in Jerusalem and its suburbs.
- 46 civilians, including 7 children and a woman, were arrested.
- 29 of them, including 3 children and the woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
- Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
- The Israeli municipality obliged a Palestinian civilian to self-demolish structures attached to his house in al-Sa’diya neighbourhood in the Old City.
- Israeli forces continued settlement activities in the West Bank.
- 30 olive trees in Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, were burnt.
- A settler attacked a Palestinian vehicle in Qalqilya.
- 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.
- 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were arrested at military checkpoints.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (29 September – 05 October 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 civilian in the West Bank and wounded 7 others, including 4 children, in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed on 30 September 2016, Nasib Abu Maizer (28), from Kufor Aqeb village, north of occupied Jerusalem. The aforementioned person was killed when Israeli forces stationed at Qalandya military checkpoint, north of the city, opened fire at him, due to which he sustained 5 bullet wounds throughout his body. He was left bleeding for over an hour as the Israeli forces denied medical crews from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) access to the scene until he died. Israel forces then kept his corpse. They claimed that Abu Maizer had stabbed a soldier and caused him moderate wounds.
In the Gaza Strip, on 30 September 2016, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded when Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, opened fire at dozens of Palestinian youngsters who headed to Nahal Oz area, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood to participate in activities supporting Jerusalem.
On 30 September also, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed at the border fence, east of al-Bureij refugee camp, opened fire at dozens of youngsters who headed to that area supporting Jerusalem. The first was wounded by a bullet that entered and exited the left thigh while the other was hit by a gas canister to the chest. They were both taken to al-Aqsa hospital in Deir al-Balah, where their wounds were classified as moderate.
On the level of land attacks, on 05 October 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a checkpoint for al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas movement), north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the checkpoint sustained serious damage but no casualties were reported.
While concerning air raids, on 05 October 2016, Israeli warplanes carried out a number of air strikes on open area and training sites of Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip. The attacks resulted in material damage but no casualties were reported.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 48 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 6 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 46 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman. Twenty-nine of them, including 3 children and the woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:
Concerning house demolitions, on 03 October 2016, Samer Edkeidek (43) self-demolished part of his house in al-Sa’diya neighbourhood in Jerusalem’s Old City upon a decision from the Israeli municipality. The aforementioned person said that he built a second floor a year and a half ago, but the Israeli municipality crew raided his house in June and handed him over an administrative demolition notice under the pretext of non-licensing the structure.
Settlement activities
On 01 October 2016, fire broke out in Sharif valley, west of Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. Over 30 trees belonging to Mohammed Baker Hamed caught fire. Eyewitnesses said that they saw Israeli forces patrolling the aforementioned are had fired sound bombs in the place. As a result, the weeds caught fire that burnt the olive trees as well.
On 02 September 2016, Israeli forces handed Mohammed al-Azazma, from Khellet al-Hajar area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, a notice to halt construction works in his house under the pretext of non-licensing.
Concerning settler attacks against Palestinian civilians and property, on 02 October 2016, a settler from “Karnei Shomron” settlement attacked a vehicle belonging to Samih Nazzal, Police Chief of Qalqilya. It should be noted that Nazzal had parked his vehicle and went to his family that was reaping the olives. As a result of the attack, the windshield and tires were damaged. Nazzal estimated the damage at around NIS 1,000.
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.
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. During the reporting period, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, while passing through those checkpoints.
Details
- Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 29 September 2016
- At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit ‘Awaa village, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Qasem Shalash (24) and arrested him.
- At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Nour al-Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses. At approximately 04:00, they arrested ‘Ali Yousef Foudah (34) and later withdrew taking him to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ameen Saleh Hamad (60) and his son ‘Abed al-Hadi (30) and arrested both of them. Journalist Shaza Hamad said to PCHR’s fieldworker, Israeli forces violently raided the abovementioned houses and burst the main doors. They also locked all the family members in one room, while women were searched by female Israeli soldiers. Moreover, the house contents were damaged. Hamad said that the Israeli forces raided Abdullah Hamad’s house, brother of Ameen, after bursting the main doors and searching all the vehicles in the neighborhood. They then confiscated a vehicle belonging to the arrested ‘Abed al-Hadi, which was used to distribute gas cylinders. It should be noted that Ameen Hamad suffers from chronic diseases and a former prisoner, who served several years in the Israeli jails. Additionally, he is father of prisoner, Akram Hamad, who was sentenced to 17 years in Israeli prisons.
- Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Bireh. They raided and searched a house belonging to Majd Majed Hamad (23) and arrested him.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Foreek village, east of Nablus; and al-Shayyoukh, al-Soura villages and al-‘Aroub refugee camp in Hebron.
Friday, 30 September 2016
- Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilyia; Mardah village, west of Salfit; and al-Dahiriya, Bani Na’iem, and Dura villages in Hebron.
Saturday, 01 October 2016
- At approximately 13:45, Israeli forces moved into Derstiyia village, northwest of Salfit. They raided a house belonging to Jihad Nihad al-Shayikh Abdullah and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service. No arrests were reported.
- Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Bita village, southeast of Nablus; and al-Dahiryia and al-Burj villages and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron.
Sunday, 02 October 2016
- At approximately 01:20, Israeli forces accompanied with 7 military vehicles moved into the southern neighborhood of ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilyia. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ziyad Mohamed Saleem (22) and arrested him.
- At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Maher Abed al-Majeed Shakarnah (48) and arrested him.
- At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested 3 civilians, including 2 children. The arrested persons were identified as Tamer Mahmoud Abu Salem (21); Tareq Abu Sarour (17) and Tareq Basam Abu ‘Aker (17).
- Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sabastyia village, northwest of Nablus; ‘Atayil village, north of Tulkarm; Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilyia; Mardah, Hares and Kaful Hares villages, north of Salfit; and Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.
Monday, 03 October 2016
- Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura and Ethna villages in Hebron; and Abu Shakhidim village, northwest of Ramallah.
- Tuesday, 04 October 2016
- At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Sabastyia village, northwest of Nablus and prevented civilians from entering al-Bayadir Yard to offer protection for Israeli settlers, who were performing Talmudic prayers in the archeological area. No more incidents were reported.
- Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus and Qaryout village, southeast of the city; Kafur al-Deek village, west of Salfit; Yatta, Beit Kahel and al-Burj villages in Hebron and al-Simah area, west of Samou’a village in Hebron.
Wednesday, 05 October 2016
- At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Sorif village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Matianah area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah Ghuneimat (60) and arrested his two sons Fadi (20) and Shadi (30).
- At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ayida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched houses and then arrested Dawoud Jamal Radi (27).
- Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in the center of the village. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ahmed Samir Abed al-Rahman Abu ‘Ayish (16) and Waseem Taha Abu Maryia (16) and arrested them.
- At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into Nablus and stationed in al-Ma’ajeen neighbourhood, northwest of the city. They raided al-Najah National University dorms and arrested ‘Alaa Salam al-Tirawi (41). At approximately 04:00, they withdrew taking the aforementioned civilian to an unknown destination.
- At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Tarqumyia village, northwest of Hebron, and stationed in al-Wad area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jum’a Zaki al-‘Atal (29) and arrested him.
- At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces stationed in the border area between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a checkpoint belonging to al-Qasam Brigades (armed wing of Hamas Movement) in al-Bourah area, northeast of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the checkpoint sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
- At approximately 14:58, an Israeli warplane launched one missile at al-Qadisyia military training site belonging to al-Qasam Brigades (armed wing of Hamas Movement), west of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the checkpoint sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
- Between 15:00 and 18:00, Israeli warplanes carried out several airstrikes at vacant agricultural fields and military training sites in various areas, east of Gaza City. The Israeli warplanes carried out over 25 airstrikes and specifically targeted with missiles al-Tofah area in the vicinity of al-Rayyes Mount, east of the city. Moreover, Israeli warplanes carried out 15 airstrikes against Malikah area in al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Among the targeted training sites were Tunis, Badir and al-Qadisyia sites. As a result, the above-mentioned sites sustained damage, but no casualties were reported.
- At approximately 15:30, Israeli warplanes launched two missiles at al-Wahah military site belonging to al-Qasam Brigades (armed wing of Hamas Movement), northwest of Beit Lahia, which is located around 2000 meters to the south of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. As a result, the above-mentioned site sustained damage, but no casualties were reported. Moreover, the bombing caused fear among civilians, especially women and children.
- Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
West Bank:
- Following the Friday prayer, 30 September 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages, west of Ramallah; al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city and Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protests, firing live and rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased protesters into olive fields and houses. As a result, some of the protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up. The coordinator of Nilin Nonviolent Resistance Committee, Mohamed Amirah said to PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces arrested an Israeli activist, but released him two hours later.
Gaza Strip
- At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 30 September 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya, east of Gaza City, fired live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinian young men, while they were on their way to Nahal ‘Oz area, east of al-Shuja’iya participating in activities held in solidarity with Jerusalem. The activities continued until 18:00. As a result, 5 civilians, including 4 children, were hit with live bullets. Among the wounded persons was Mohamed Osama Ziyad Helis (17), who was hit with a live bullet to the knee, and was then taken along with 2 others wounded to al-Shifa Hospital, where medical sources classified his wounds as serious and he is so far in the hospital. The wounds of the 2 other civilians were classified as moderate. Helis stated that he and a group of civilians headed to Nahal ‘Oz site, raising 2 flags and using secateurs to cut the barbed wires. They also threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who opened fire at them. (PCHR keeps the names of the wounded persons).
- Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, south of al-Burij refugee camp, to Support Jerusalem. They threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who fired live bullets and tear-gas canisters at them. As a result, Jihad ‘Atyia al-Qernawi (22) was hit with a live bullet to the left thigh (entered and exited), while Omar Khalid al-‘Aryian was hit with a tear gas canister to the chest. Both of them were taken to al-Aqsa Hospital, where their wounds were classified as moderate.
- 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 light-weighted 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
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