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Photo:
Maher al-Akhras, 50. Published by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
Oct 16, 2020

Summary of Israeli Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory for October 8–14, 2020

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multifaceted 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 attacks rendered 18 Palestinian civilians wounded in excessive use of force, including 2 children, in the West Bank. Settler-attacks and confiscation of Palestinians’ properties continued, under the pretext of working without permits.

To date, Maher al-Akhras, 50-year-old administrative detainee, hunger strike enters his 81st consecutive day, in protest of his arrest with no charge or trial under administrative detention despite the deterioration of his health condition. Al-Akhras entered into a hunger strike from the first day of his detention on 27 July 2020.

This week, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 220 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory (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 life and bodily integrity: 18 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded in IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank; 10 were wounded in IOF incursion into Am’ari camp; 2 wounded near the annexation wall in Jenin; 4 wounded in IOF suppression of a peaceful protest in Kufur Qaddoum village in Qalqilia; and 2 others in Rafat village in occupied East Jerusalem. Also, sporadic shooting incidents were reported during IOF incursions into the West Bank. Furthermore, passengers escaped after their car sustained live bullets fired by IOF while passing through a military checkpoint in Jenin.

In the Gaza Strip, 4 IOF shootings were reported at agricultural lands and 5 others at fishing boats eastern and western Gaza Strip.

IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 127 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, 106 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 children and 2 women.

Demolitions:

PCHR documented 7 violations, including:

Jericho: an agricultural tractor and a water tank confiscated;
Tubas: a bulldozer confiscated;
Bethlehem: a demolition notice distributed to a house; lands in ‘Arab al-Ta’amrah village seized after amending their boundaries; and cease-construction notices distributed to 4 agricultural rooms;
Ramallah: a semi-trailer truck confiscated;
Salfit: a bulldozer confiscated.

Settler-attacks: PCHR fieldworkers documented 4 attacks: throwing stones 2 times at Palestinians’ houses in Burin village in Nablus; stealing olive crop and breaking the twigs of 60 olive trees in Salfit; and cutting 300 olive trees in Bethlehem.

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

The Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the history of the Israeli occupation of the occupied Palestinian territory 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. Violation of the Right to Life and to Bodily Integrity

At approximately 05:40 on Thursday, 08 October 2020, IOF stationed at Mafi Dutan temporary military checkpoint, southwest of Jenin, opened fire at a Palestinian vehicle belonging to Alaa’ Jamal Mahmoud Atatera (40). Alaa’s brother, Baha’ (36) was driving and heading to their work in Baqa al-Sharqiya, southwest of Jenin, along with Alaa’, and their brothers Mohammed (24), Ameen (38), their nephew and Alaa’s son in law, Waleed Jamal Abd Rabbo (20), all from Ya’bad, southwest of Jenin except Waleed, from Qusin, west of Nablus. As a result, the vehicle was shot with 5 live bullets that penetrated the car’s back. Alaa’ al-Atatera said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli soldiers opened fire at them after passing 10 meters away from the checkpoint and without any justification.

At approximately 18:30, IOF stationed along the border fence with Israel, west of al-Shawka village in eastern Rafah, near a military site, opened fire at agricultural lands, and no injuries were reported.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, and in al-Waha area, northwest of Beit Lahia, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles, opened heavy fire at them and fired a number of flare bombs in the sky, causing fear and panic among the Palestinian fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 08:25 on Friday, 09 October 2020, IOF stationed in the annexation wall near al-Jalama village, northeast of Jenin, north of the West Bank, fired a barrage of sound bombs and tear gas canisters at a number of Palestinians while passing through a hole in the annexation wall to work inside Israel. As a result, a 44-year-old civilian from the above-mentioned village sustained shrapnel wounds in his hand, and he was taken to Dr. Suliman Governmental Hospital in Jenin for treatment.

At approximately 21:10, IOF stationed along the border fence with Israel, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at agricultural lands east of Khuza’a, and no injuries were reported.
At approximately 11:00, the residents of Beit Dajn village, northeast of Nablus, along with the representatives of the National Action Factions in Nablus organized a peaceful protest, which started from Beit Dajn village towards lands threatened to be confiscated on the eastern side of the village, where a caravan was placed by settlers two days ago. The protestors raised the Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against IOF, settlers, annexation and the Deal of the Century. When the protestors arrived at the area, they found a large number of the Israeli soldiers are waiting for them. IOF suppressed the protest and fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, many civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation and received treatment on the spot.

At approximately 12:30, IOF stationed at the northern entrance established on Kufur Qaddoum village lands, north of Qalqilia, suppressed a protest organized by dozens of Palestinian civilians. IOF chased the young men gathered in the area, and clashes erupted between them. During which, IOF fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, four civilians were shot, two in their waist and back and two in their lower limbs.

At approximately 00:00 on Saturday, 10 October 2020, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, north of the occupied East Jerusalem. IOF established checkpoints at the entrances of the village, stopped and searched the Palestinian vehicles and checked their ID cards before allowing them to pass through the checkpoint. A group of young men gathered at the entrance to Obaid neighborhood, and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli soldiers, who indiscriminately responded with rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters. The clashes continued for 2 hours. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation. In addition, Hisham Mohammed al-Bashiti (19) and Malek Jawdat Abu Sneina (23) were arrested.

At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, and in al-Waha area, northwest of Beit Lahia, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and opened fire at them until approximately 09:50, causing fear and panic among the Palestinian fishermen and forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.
At approximately 17:30, IOF suppressed a festival for Fatah Movement, where hundreds of Rafat village residents participated. IOF fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at the participants, claiming that they threw stones at them. As a result, 2 civilians were shot and injured with rubber bullets and 13 others, including children and elderlies, suffocated due to teargas inhalation. The wounded civilians were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive treatment. Saad al-Yaqin, leader in Fatah Movement, said that IOF suppressed the festival, organized by the Fatah Movement in Rafat village in solidarity with prisoners, and to condemn normalization between Arab countries and the occupation state of Israel. He added that IOF fired rubber bullets and teargas canisters at more than 2 thousand civilians who responded with throwing stones. The clashes continued for an hour, where the Israeli soldiers used the rubber bullets and live bullets.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli infantry units moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and stationed in the center of the city. A group of young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who indiscriminately responded with sound bombs and tear-gas canisters. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered teargas inhalation, no arrests or incursions were reported.

At approximately 06:00 on Sunday, 11 October 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, west of Jabalia in the northern besieged Gaza Strip, and in al-Waha, northwest of Beit Lahia, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles, opened fire at them and fired a number of flare bombs in the sky, causing fear and panic among the Palestinian fishermen forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 11:00, IOF infantry unit moved into al-Am’ari refugee camp, southeast of Ramallah. They surrounded Ayman Ahmed Abu Arab’s (48) house to arrest him, but he was not in the house. IOF invaded some Palestinian homes to utilize the roof. Few minutes later, several military vehicles moved into the camp. Meanwhile, a group of young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who responded with live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters. The clashes continued for 3 hours. As a result, 10 Palestinian civilians, including two children, were shot with live bullets; one of them was shot with 3 lives bullets in his abdomen while the rest were shot in their lower limbs. All of them were taken to Palestine Medical Complex, where their injures were described between moderate and minor. Also, dozens of them suffocated due to teargas inhalation and received treatment on the spot. Before the withdrawal, IOF arrested Ayman’s brothers, Mohammed (40), Rajab (38) and his wife, Sana’ (43), in an attempt to force Ayman to surrender himself.

At approximately 19:50 on Monday, 12 October 2020, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip and in al-Waha area, northwest of Beit Lahia, chased and shoot at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles, firing a number of flare bombs in the sky, causing fear and panic among the fishermen forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 00:11 on Tuesday, 13 October 2020, IOF moved into al-Issawiya village, northeast the occupied East Jerusalem. They were deployed between civilians’ houses and established checkpoints at the village’s entrances and closed the village. IOF searched the vehicles and ID cards of Palestinians before allowing them to leave. Meanwhile, a group of young men gathered at the entrance of Obaid village, north of the village, and threw stones, fireworks and Molotov cocktails at the Israeli soldiers and their vehicles. As a result, a military SUV set ablaze. After that, a large Israeli force moved into the neighborhood, fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and teargas canisters at the Palestinian civilians. The clashes continued until the down hours. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and 7 civilians were arrested including 3 children. The arrestees are: Mohammed Ramzi Muhaisen (16), Mahmoud Shadi Naser (15), Obey Mahmoud Dirbas (16), Naseem Amjad Muhaisen (21), Mohammed Younis Abu Sayma (21), Saleh Bader Abu Asab (19), and Abdulfattah Younis Abu Sayma (19).

At approximately 08:20 on Wednesday, 14 October 2020, IOF stationed along the border fence with Israel, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at agricultural lands east of Khuza’a, and al-Fukhari villages, and no injuries were reported.

At approximately 14:30, IOF stationed at the annexation wall in the northern side of al-Jalama village, northeast of Jenin, fired a sound bomb at 27-year-old Palestinian civilian while passing through a hole in the annexation wall to work inside Israel. As a result, he sustained shrapnel wounds in his legs, and he was taken to Dr. Suliman Governmental Hospital in Jenin for treatment.

At approximately 16:55, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, and in al-Waha area, northwest of Beit Lahia, chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles and sporadically opened fire around them, causing fear and panic among the Palestinian fishermen forcing them to flee. No casualties were reported.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli infantry units stormed al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron and stationed near the UNRWA distribution center. A group of young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who chased the stone-throwers and responded with sound bombs and teargas canisters. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and no arrests or incursions were reported.

I. Arrests and Incursions

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Read full report here.

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