Description

by PCHR (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights)

Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory

23 – 29 April 2020

IOF raids into oPt: a dangerous vulnerability in Palestinian preventive measures to combat the spread of coronavirus

3 Palestinian civilians sustained wounds in IOF suppression of protests in Kufur Qaddoum in Qalqilya, West Bank

12 shootings reported against agricultural lands and once at Palestinian fishing boats in eastern and western Gaza Strip

In 57 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem: 39 civilians arrested, including 5 children

Residential tent destroyed in Jericho, and 24 demolition and cease-construction notices distributed in Salfit and Bethlehem

Settlers attacks in the West Bank: trees cut in Nablus, lands razed in Salfit, and a settler-tent established in western Bethlehem;

IOF established 27 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank, roads closed and 2 civilians arrested at IOF checkpoints

Summary>b

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to violate Palestinians’ human rights and commit crimes against civilians and their properties, conducting raids into Palestinian cities without regard to the state of emergency declared across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) since 06 March 2020, in the efforts put forward to combat the spread of coronavirus. IOF raids are conducted without proper attention to prevention and safety standards to mitigate the risk of transmitting coronavirus to Palestinian territory, as the virus is widespread throughout Israel. PCHR’s concerns over Israeli raids still stand, as those raids undermine preventive measures adopted by the government. Meanwhile, settlers backed up by IOF continued to seize more civilian property and attack civilians and their property. Furthermore, PCHR expresses its concern over the Israeli occupation’s policy of banning any preventive measures by the Palestinian Authority in occupied East Jerusalem, especially that Israel has adopted lenient measures in the city despite its responsibility for it under international law as an occupying power.

This week, PCHR documented 111 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. The restrictions imposed under the state of emergency have hindered our fieldwork team’s ability to cover all incidents in the oPt and were forced to collect information via phone from trusted local sources. As such, this report is an incomprehensive record of Israeli violations of human rights against Palestinians in the oPt, as IOF continues its attacks against civilians despite the exceptional circumstances that have overcome the whole world in the face of a life-threatening viral pandemic.

IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: 3 Palestinian civilians were shot and wounded in IOF suppression of a protest in Kufur Qaddoum, Qalqilya, West Bank. Dozens of civilians suffocated due to inhalation of tear gas fired by IOF during its raids into Palestinian cities. IOF opened fire 9 times during raids into the West Bank; 12 shootings against the agricultural lands eastern Gaza Strip that resulted in killing a number of sheep in Deir al-Balah, and one shooting was reported against Palestinian fishing boats off the northern Gaza Strip shore.

IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 57 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 39 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 children.

Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks: IOF continued its settlement expansion operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 3 violations, including: dismantling and confiscation of a livestock barracks, demolition of a residential tent in Jericho, and 22 notices to cease construction were distributed at houses and facilities in Salfit, and 2-barracks in Bethlehem received a demolition notice. PCHR also documented 3 settler attacks: 33 olive trees sabotaged in Nablus, lands razed in Iskaka village, eastern Salfit, and a settler tent established in western Bethlehem.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

Israeli authorities declared that Commercial crossings in the West Bank will operate on Tuesday, 28 April 2020 until 13:00, and will resume its work as usual starting on Thursday, 30 April 2020. Israeli authorities declared the closure of Karem Abu Salem Crossing on Tuesday and Wednesday, 28-29 April 2020, and it will re-open on Thursday.

This comes in a time when the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Furthermore, IOF uses Erez Crossing that is designated for movement of individuals as an ambush to arrest Palestinians who obtain permits to exit via Israel.

Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted, and they are subject to arrest.

Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity

Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity
At approximately 00:40 on Thursday, 23 April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian shepherds. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:00 on the same Thursday, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands, east of Khuza’ah village, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 19:30 on the same Thursday, IOF moved into al-Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Obeid neighborhood, west of the village when the residents were eating at iftar time. Israeli soldiers indiscriminately fired tear gas canisters at houses though no clashes occurred in the area and streets were fully empty of people. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 21:00 on the same Thursday, IOF moved into Abu Tayeh neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of commercial shops and wrote fines to their owners, claiming that they violated the orders issued by the Israeli government in light of combating the spread of coronavirus. When Israeli soldiers confiscated the goods of a roving street vendor, a verbal altercation occurred between them and the vendor, in which the soldiers heavily fired tear gas canisters in the air. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 10:00 on Friday, 24 April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah, sporadically opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands for 15 minutes. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 13:00 on the same Friday, IOF stationed at the northern entrance established at lands of Kafer Qaddoum village, north of Qalqilya, suppressed a protest in which dozens of Palestinian civilians participated. IOF chased the young men who gathered in the area when clashes erupted, during which, IOF fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the young men. As a result, a 21-year-old young man was shot with a rubber bullet in his abdomen.
At approximately 16:30 on the same Friday, 24 April 2020, IOF searched al-Mahajer area in Azoun village, east of Qalqilya, and indiscriminately opened fire at the abovementioned area. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 16:40 on Saturday, 25 April 2020, IOF stationed at the northern entrance established at lands of Kuffor Qaddoum village, north of Qalqilya, suppressed a protest in which dozens of Palestinian civilians participated. IOF chased young men, who were in the area, clashed with them, and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 40-year-old man was shot with a rubber bullet in his neck and a 30-year-old man was shot with a rubber bullet in his face. IOF also fired live bullets at water tanks that were at houses roofs. As a result, 5 water tanks belonging to: Morad Mahmoud Eshtaiwi, Jihad Mahmoud Eshtaiwi,Mazen Basim Eshtaiwi, Abdullah Mousa Ali, and Riyad Mohammed Eshtaiwi.

At approximately 18:00 on the same Saturday, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, northeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire and fires tear gas canisters at agricultural lands for 15 minutes. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 18:40, IOF stationed adjacent to the border fence in Zeta village, north of Tulkarm, fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians, claiming they were stoned. As a result, a number of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 22:30, IOF moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah, fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians, claiming they were stoned when they patrolled the area. As a result, several civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 13:50 on Sunday, 26 April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canister at agricultural lands. The shooting continued sporadically until 17:00 on the same day. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 07:40 on Monday, 27 April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian shepherds. The shooting continued sporadically in the area for 3 hours. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:00 on the same Monday, Israeli soldiers stationed along hr border fence, northeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands. The shooting continued sporadically until 16:40 on the same day. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 20:00 on the same Monday, IOF moved into Obeid neighborhood in al-Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They surrounded a stadium that exists in the neighborhoods to prevent the people from performing prayers in it on alleged violation of orders issued by the Israeli governments. When the worshippers gathered in front of the stadium, IOF only allowed 20 of them to enter the stadium and banned the rest of the worshipers. In the meantime, dozens of young men gathered and threw stones, fireworks, and Molotov at Israeli soldiers and the latter responded with rubber bullets and sound bombs. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 13:00, IOF moved into al-Rihiyah village, south of Hebron, and patrolled the village streets. A number of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers chased the young men and indiscriminately fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. IOF withdrew later from the village; no raids were reported.

At approximately 07:40 on Tuesday, April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, northeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands. The shooting sporadically continued for 15 minutes; no casualties were reported.

At approximately 07:50 on the same Tuesday, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within the allowed fishing area (3 nautical miles). As a result, fishermen were panicked and sailed back to the shore fearing for their lives. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:45 on the same Tuesday, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, northeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands. The shooting sporadically continued for 30 minutes; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

At approximately 09:30 on the same Tuesday, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian shepherds. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 12:30 on the same Tuesday, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canister at Palestinian shepherds. The shooting continued for 30 minutes. As a result, a number of sheep and a donkey, owned by Ali Fraih Abu al-‘Ajin (25), Khalil Suleiman al-Tarabin (30), and Fares Hamed Abu Nasser (25) died. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:30 on Wednesday, 22 April 2020, Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza strip, opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at agricultural lands. The shooting continued sporadically until 16:30 on the same day. Neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

Incursions and arrests

See full report at PCHR News Source Link: https://www.pchrgaza.org/en/?p=14521

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