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Photo: Israeli forces disperse a peaceful demonstration against Israeli settlement activities in Hebron
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by PCHR-Gaza

In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 29 August- 04 September 2013, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that a Palestinian child died of wounds he had already sustained when Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp. In addition, a civilian was wounded, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip and 2 protesters, including a child, were wounded during a protest in Bil'in village.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

During the reporting period, a Palestinian child died of wounds he sustained when Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank, 2 weeks ago, while 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child were wounded during protests against the annexation wall.

On 31 August 2013, Palestinian medical sources at the Specialized Arab Hospital in Nablus declared that Karim Sobhi Saleh "Abu Sbeih" (17), from Jenin refugee camp, died of wounds that he had sustained on 20 August 2013, when Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp and clashes erupted between them and Palestinian children. During those clashes, a civilian was killed and 2 others, including the abovementioned child, sustained serious wounds. The child had been receiving medical treatment at the Arab Hospital, until he was pronounced dead on 31 August

Israeli forces conducted 42 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, abducting at least 33 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.

Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. 4 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

A Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces opened fire at him east of Jabalia, in the north of the Gaza Strip.

On 30 August 2013, Yusef Kamel Sa'd (20) sustained a bullet wound in his left thigh when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at him. Sa'd was about 500 meters away from the fence when he was targeted.

On 02 and 03 September 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that approached the border about 2 nautical miles off the shore. The fishermen were frightened and fled back to the shore fearing of being arrested or injured. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported in both incidents.

Israeli settlement activities:

Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 01 September 2013, under the protection of Israeli policemen and soldiers, officers from "Gush Etzion" settlement that stands on lands of southern Bethlehem confiscated vegetable stands belonging to Palestinians along bypass road (60), which links al-Arroub refugee camp and Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron.

On 02 September 2013, Israeli bulldozers demolished a house and a shed "barrack" belonging to Daif-Allah al-Rashayda and Jihad al-Rashayda in Fasayel al-Fouqa village, northwest of Jericho. The villagers tried to prevent Israeli forces from demolishing the house through making human shields, but Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them and dispersed forcibly.

During the demolition, Israeli forces attacked 5 women; 2 of whom were hit by gun butts. The women received first aid from the Palestine Red Crescent Society staff in the village and were taken then to Jericho Hospital.

Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:

During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

Following the Friday prayer, 30 August 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians from al-Ma'sarah village, south of Bethlehem, and a number of international activists and popular resistance activists organized a peaceful demonstration against the annexation wall and settlement activities called "In Support to the Syrian People." They gathered in front of al-Shomou' Cultural Centre in the centre of the village and made their way through the village streets. They raised Palestinian flags and portraits of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs. When they approached the annexation wall, Israeli soldiers dispersed the demonstrators with tear gas canisters.

Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil'in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators raised the Palestinian flag and made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields as far as the outskirts of the village. As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded, while dozens suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises. Moreover, due to firing the gas canisters, some olive trees were burnt. The wounded were two boys aged 19 and 8.
Also, following the Friday Prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organised a peaceful demonstration in Ni'lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and, when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli soldiers. The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased them across olive fields as far as the outskirts of the village. As a result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

Around the same time on Friday, dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israeli and international human rights activists gathered at the Martyrs Square in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. From the morning, Israeli forces had closed all entrances to the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration. Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them and civilian houses with waste water. As a result, dozens of Palestinians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises.

At approximately 12:30, on Friday, 30 August 2013, dozens of Palestinian civilians from Kofur Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilia, and international activists gathered and made their way through the eastern entrance of the village in protest at closing that entrance with an iron gate since al-Aqsa Intifada. Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters, sound bombs and live ammunition randomly. Eyewitnesses highlighted that bullets were fired at the lower part of the bodies, but they hit the ground and no casualties were reported. It should be noted that dozens of protestors suffered tear gas inhalation.

Recommendations to the international community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;

In addition, PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them.

For the full text of the report, click on the PCHR News Source Link.