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by IMEMC News

In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 19 – 25 May 2016, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces this week continued their systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territories. A Palestinian girl was killed at a military checkpoint, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, while 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition, 54 civilians, including at least 16 children, were abducted by Israeli troops this week.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank this week, and 7 others in occupied Jerusalem. 54 civilians, including 16 children, were abducted. 13 of them, including 8 children,were abducted in occupied Jerusalem.

Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians. 5 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, were abducted at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 23 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at BeitEksa checkpoint, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, killed Sawsan Ali Dawood Mansour (17), from the nearby Beddou village. Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned child approached the checkpoint and attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. Israeli forces opened fire at her in response, due to which she sustained serious wounds. Israeli forces abducted her, but she died later. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli forces denied medical crews access to the scene and left her bleeding for about an hour.

In the context of Israeli forces using force against peaceful protests, a Palestinian civilianwas hit during KuforQaddoum weekly protests, northeast ofQalqilya, with a tear gas canister to the neck, while a 17-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right knee while participating in a peaceful protests at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.

On 23 May 2016, a Palestinian civilian was hit with a bullet to the thigh when Israeli ofrces moved into Ein al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of Jerusalem’s Old City. In the meantime, a number of youngsters gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers that fired sound bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets in response.

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea. Israeli forces abducted 10 fishermen after wounding 3 of them, including a child, and confiscated 5 fishing boats.

In the Gaza Strip, 2 Palestinian civilians sustained bullet wounds while participating in a protest near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij refugee camp.

In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 22 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed in the seas to the northwest of al-Waha beach, northwest of BeitLahia, north of the Gaza Strip, escalated their attacks against Palestinian fishermen. As a result, 10 fishermen, including a child, were abducted and 5 fishing boats were confiscated. After the 10 fishermen were released at night, it was found out that 3 of them, including the child, were wounded.

Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:

Israeli forces this week continued to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters.

Following the Friday prayer, on 20 May 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys, 300 meters away from the fence of “BeitEil” settlement, to organize a peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The demonstrators threw stones at the settlement fence. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters and then chased them into the camp. As a result, a 17-year-old male was hit with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Medical sources classified his injuries as moderate.

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized protests against the Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories at the western entrance to Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, and in the vicinity of “Ofer” prison,southwest of the city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protestors by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 20 May 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border area between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the center of the Gaza Strip. The protesters threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed along the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at the protesters. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with live bullets and were then taken by PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive medical treatment. Medical sources classified their injuries as moderate.

At approximately 13:00, on Friday, 20 May 2016, Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of KuforQaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance to the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, a 46-year-old male was hit with a tear gas canister to the neck.

Around the same time,Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized a protest in the centre of Dersityia village, north of Salfit, and then made their way to the bypass road (Abu Naser valley), west of the city, in protest against closing it with metal checkpoints. The demonstrators expressed their protest viaknocking on the checkpoints. Israeli forces immediately fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organised protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah and al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of city. Israeli forces used force to disperse the protesters by firing live bullets, metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs and chased the protesters into the olive fields and between houses. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.

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 the international community and the United Nations use all available means to allow the Palestinian people to enjoy their right to self-determination, through the establishment of the Palestinian State, which was recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast majority, using all international legal mechanisms, including sanctions to end the occupation of the State of Palestine.

Click here for the full text of the report.