Description

Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

01– 07 October 2020



Civilian shot dead by IOF near ‘Annab checkpoint in Tulkarm;
18 Palestinian civilians, including 2 childern, wounded in IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank;
15 were wounded in IOF suppression of two peaceful protests in Kafr Qaddum in Qalqilya; 2 others in Nablus and Jenin; and a child sustained critical wounds in occupied East Jerusalem.
4 shootings reported at agricultural lands and 4 others at fishing boats eastern and western Gaza Strip;
In 112 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 102 civilians arrested, including 15 children;
IOF conducts two incursions into the border areas central and southern Gaza Strip, where they sprayed agricultural lands with pesticides;
A bulldozer confiscated in Nablus; and 62 olive trees cut and burned by settlers in Salfit;
IOF established 68 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank and arrested 3 Palestinian civilians on said checkpoints.


Summary

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians. This week, IOF killed a civilian in Tulkarm, under the pretext of throwing Molotov Cocktails. Furthermore, IOF attacks rendered 18 Palestinian civilians wounded in excessive use of force, including 2 children, in the West Bank. In addition, settlers’ attacks and confiscation of Palestinians’ properties continued, under the pretext of working without permits.

This week, PCHR documented 197 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. It should be noted that the limitations due to the corona virus pandemic, has limited PCHR’s fieldworkers mobility and ability to conduct field documentation; therefore, the information contained in this report are only part of the continued IOF violations.

IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: on 05 October 2020, IOF killed Sameer Ahmed ‘Abed al-Jaleel Hamidy (24), from Beit Lid village in eastern Tulkarm, near ‘Annab military checkpoint in Tulkarm, and kept his corpse in custody. IOF claimed that they targeted a group of civilians who threw Molotov cocktails at them. Although there were no eyewitnesses present at the time of the incident to confirm or deny the Israeli account; IOF could have used less lethal force especially that the Israeli military sites are fortified, and there was no serious threat or danger even if the sites were targeted with Molotov cocktails.

Furthermore, 18 civilians, including 2 children, wounded in IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank; 15 were wounded in IOF suppression of two peaceful protests in Kafr Qaddum in Qalqilya; 2 others in Nablus and Jenin; and a child sustained serious wounds in occupied East Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, 4 IOF shootings were reported at agricultural lands and 4 others at fishing boats eastern and western Gaza Strip.



IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 112 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, 102 Palestinians were arrested, including 15 children.

In Gaza Strip, IOF conducted 2 incursions into eastern Bureij refugee camp and eastern Khan Yunis; during which, Israeli drone sprayed agricultural lands in border area with pesticides, east of Khan Yunis, and arrested a child who sneaked into Israel and released him later.

Demolitions:

PCHR documented one violation in Nablus, where IOF stopped working in an agricultural land and confiscated a bulldozer.

Settler-attacks: PCHR fieldworkers documented 2 attacks: 12 olive trees cut and 50 others burned in Salfit.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:



IOF declared closing the West Bank and Gaza Strip crossings on Friday, 02 October 2020, and Saturday, 03 October 2020, due to Jewish holiday of “Sukkot.”

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories said that West Bank crossings will be closed during the abovementioned days, except for the following crossings: Barta’a checkpoint, Nabi Ilyas checkpoint for residents in seam points, and Ni’lin checkpoint, which will be opened and operated as usual on Fridays. The Coordinator added that only humanitarian and life-saving cases will be allowed to travel through Beit Hanou “Erez” crossing, while Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) will be closed.

Meanwhile, 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.

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.

I. IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:

Read full report here.

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