Description

Palestine Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)

Summary for April 22 – 28, 2021
Israeli forces 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 that are mostly conducted after midnight and in the early morning hours. This week, the army and police repression against Palestinian muslim worshipers in Bab al-‘Amoud (Damascus Gate), which leads to al-Aqsa Mosque, was the most prominent event as dozens were wounded and arrested. Settler-attacks witnessed a rise this week too on Palestinian civilians and their properties across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Also, this week, occupation authorities closed the Gaza sea and banned fishing in violation of Palestinian fishermen’s social and economic rights and their right to work as per Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented 214 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:

181 Palestinians sustained wounds, including 4 journalists and 3 children, as a result of the Israeli forces’ excessive use of force against civilians in the West Bank: 177, including 4 journalists, in the largest army repression campaigns against Palestinians in recent month, centered in Bab al-‘Amoud are in occupied East Jerusalem. Dozens of others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation, and others were wounded in various assaults by Israeli forces on protests in solidarity with Jerusalemites across the West Bank.

In the Gaza Strip, a fisherman was wounded, and a fishing boat damaged in 5 shootings on fishing boats in the Gaza sea. Also, Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, 3 of them targeted agricultural lands in eastern Rafah and Khan Younis. Additionally, 5 shooting incidents were reported on agricultural lands and protests in eastern Gaza.

Israeli forces’ incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians:

Israeli forces carried out 139 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, 150 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 children, two journalists, a writer, and a paramedic. Most of the arrests and raids occurred during the clashes in occupied East Jerusalem, as 114 were arrested in the city.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted a limited incursion into eastern Rafah and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 1 child, after they crossed the border fence. Two of them were later released.

Demolitions:

The occupation authorities ratified a decision to confiscate 147 dunams west of Bethlehem for settlement expansion purposes.
Settler-attacks:

PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented 8 attacks:

Salfit: shooting at Salfit entrance; 12 trees uprooted in Haris.

Bethlehem: Palestinian-owned lands planted in Teqoa

Hebron: farmers and vehicles assaulted in eastern Yatta, and others assaulted in Haret Jaber

Ramallah: assaults and roads blocked in eastern Umm Safa

East Jerusalem: 3 vehicles set ablaze in Beit Iksa

Nablus: vehicles vandalized

Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement:

On Monday, 26 April 2021, the Israeli occupation authorities closed the Gaza sea and banned all fishing or sailing activities in a manifestation of its collective punishment policy against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip that directly denies fishermen their sources of livelihood.

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. The United Nations confirmed that the Gaza conditions are worsening, with deteriorating health, power, and water services. The UN emphasized that the Gaza Strip requires immense efforts in the housing and education sectors and to create job opportunities.

Meanwhile, occupation authorities continue 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.

Read full report at PCHR News Source link.

Features