Description

Two of Nizar Al-Wan's sons look on as he recovers in his home in the Gaza village of Jabalya the day after being shot by Israeli forces near the northern border, May 12, 2014. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Palestinian workers salvage building materials near Erez Crossing at Gaza’s northern border, Beit Hanoun, May 11, 2014. Human rights organizations have documented dozens of cases of Israeli army gunfire at persons who posed no threat and were well outside the 300-meter so-called “no-go zone” imposed by the Israeli military inside Gaza’s borders. In many cases, no warning was given before soldiers opened fire. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Nizar Al-Wan recovers in his home in the Gaza village of Jabalya the day after being shot by Israeli forces near the northern border, May 12, 2014. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
_____

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Israeli troops shot and injured a Palestinian man in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, locals and an army spokeswoman said.

The man was collecting small stones used to make concrete on the outskirts of Beit Hanoun near Erez crossing when Israeli forces opened fire at him, locals said.

He was taken to Kamal Udwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya for treatment.

Many Gazans collect pebbles in order to make concrete as the Israeli economic blockade has prevented the import of civilian construction material, including concrete, since 2007.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said there were "a few suspects in the area" near Erez crossing who were "tampering with the ground."

The Palestinians were in a "buffer zone" area forbidden to Palestinians, she said.

After using "riot dispersal means" to no avail, Israeli soldiers fired at the Palestinians' lower extremities, "identifying a hit."

Asked if the Palestinians were threatening the soldiers in any way, the spokeswoman said: "The threat is trying to enter Israel."

She added that there was also the concern of explosive devices being planted in the area.

Israeli forces frequently shoot at farmers and other civilians inside the Gaza Strip if they approach large swathes of land near the border that the Israeli military has deemed off-limits to Palestinians.

The "security buffer zone" extends between 500 meters and 1500 meters into the Strip, effectively turning local farms into no-go zones.

According to UNOCHA, 17 percent of Gaza's total land area and 35 percent of its agricultural land were within the buffer zone as of 2010, directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of more than 100,000 Gazans.

The Gaza Strip has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by the State of Israel since 2006.

The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.

___

Israeli forces shoot a Palestinian worker near Gaza’s northern border in just the latest of many incidents of live fire against civilians posing no security threat.

Text and photos by: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org

Two of Nizar Al-Wan's sons look on as he recovers in his home in the Gaza village of Jabalya the day after being shot by Israeli forces near the northern border, May 12, 2014. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

On Monday morning, Israeli forces shot and injured Palestinian Nizar Abdallah Al-Wan as he and six companions began salvaging building materials near Gaza’s northern border. Al-Wan was shot in the foot, and had to be taken by donkey cart to an area accessible by ambulance. He was treated in a Beit Lahiya hospital, and because the bullet passed through his foot without causing serious damage, he was released the same day to recover at home.

Al-Wan had worked in a garment factory until the Israeli siege forced its closure in 2006. Since then he was worked as a manual laborer to support his family of a wife and four children.

Al-Wan’s shooting is only the most recent incident in the Israeli military’s continuing pattern of shooting Palestinians who approach ill-defined “no-go zones” along Gaza’s borders with Israel. Ma’an News cited statements by a military spokesperson that “a few suspects in the area” near Erez crossing who were “tampering with the ground.” After using “riot dispersal means,” Israeli soldiers fired at the Palestinians’ lower extremities, “identifying a hit.”

As is often the case, the military version is almost completely at odds with the victims’ testimony. In this case, Al-Wan says that he was shot without warning after working for only 10 minutes in an area 500-600 meters from the wall.

B’Tselem reports that it and other organizations have documented “dozens of cases of army gunfire at persons who posed no threat and were much more than 300 meters from the fence (up to 1,500 meters). In many cases, no attempt was made to arrest the persons, and no warning was given before soldiers opened fire.”

After the fatal shooting of a Palestinian worker, B’Tselem reported earlier this year:

After Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012), the media reported the restrictions on access would be somewhat eased. Yet, three months later, the Military Spokesperson informed Israeli human rights organization Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement that Palestinians may not come nearer than 300 meters from the fence – the same as the previously authorized distance…. Moreover, if there must be an off-limits buffer zone between Israel and Gaza, the military must establish it in Israeli territory. Until it does so, the military must make it absolutely clear to residents of Gaza which areas are off-limits, and must not use live ammunition to keep civilians out of these areas. It is Israel’s right and duty to protect its borders and to prevent hostile activity. Yet it must do so within the parameters of the law, and at all times avoid injury to people who do not pose a security risk and not harm these individuals’ livelihood.