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by Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in theoPt continued during the reporting period (02 – 08 June 2016).

Shooting:

Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian casualties. They have also 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. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian civilians, including a woman, in the West Bank, and wounded 8 others, including a girl child and her sister.

In the West Bank, in a new crime of excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed Ansar Harsha (25), from Qufin village, north of Tulkarm, while she was present at Enab military checkpoint, east of the city, on 02 June 2016. Israeli websites claimed that the Palestinian woman had arrived at the checkpoint with a small knife in her hand. She attempted to stab someone, but the Israeli soldiers opened fire at her, due to which she sustained serious wounds and then died. It should be noted that the aforementioned woman did not pose any threat to the Israeli soldiers. Besides, she was a mother of 2 children and had left home on the above mentioned day heading to Nablus to apply for a job.

In another crimes of excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed Jamal Dweikat (20), from Balatah village, east of Nablus. According to PCHR’s investigations, on Thursday, 02 June 2016, Israeli forces moved into Balatah village in company of dozens of buses carrying settlers to Joseph Tomb. In the meanwhile, dozens of youngsters gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli vehicles, due to which, Israeli forces opened fire to disperse them. As a result, the aforementioned person sustained a bullet wound to the head. He was then taken to Rafidiya Hospital, as his wound was very critical. He was admitted to the operations room. On 04 June 2016, Dweikat was transferred to Tel HaShomer Hospital in Israel. On Monday, 06 June 2016, medical sources at the Palestinian Ministry of Health pronounced Dweikat dead. It should be noted that another child was wounded on that day too.

On 03 June 2016, a 21-year-old male was wounded by a bullet to the left leg when Israeli forces moved into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah.

In the context of using forces against peaceful protests, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded in 2 peaceful protests organized at the eastern entrance to Kufor Qaddoum village, east of Qalqilya on Friday and Saturday, 03 and 04 June 2016.

In the Gaza Strip, in the context of Israeli forces opening fire at peaceful protests, on 03 June 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at dozens of Palestinian youngsters who headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. They threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the border fence, as a result, a civilian was hit with a bullet to the right leg.

Concerning targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, Wafa’ al-Sha’er (17) sustained a superficial wound to the right buttock and her sister Eman (21) was hit with the same bullet that settled in her left leg. They were wounded by the random gunfire of Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip.

On 02 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniya shore, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles in the sea.

On 03 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats twice. No casualties were reported in both incidents.

On 07 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 6 nautical miles. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

On 08 June 2016, Israeli gunboats opened heavy fire at fishing boats sailing off al-Waha shore, north of the Gaza Strip. Two gunboats surrounded a fishing boat manned by 3 fishermen: Khalil (21), Shaher (19) and Mohammed Abu Riyala (18), from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The Israeli navy officers ordered them to take off their clothes and swim towards one of the gunboats. The 3 fishermen were taken to an unknown destination, while the boat was drowned due to the heavy gunfire.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 48 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 3 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 44 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children. Eleven of them, including 5 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, on 02 June 2016, Israeli forces moved about 150 meters into the east of al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. They levelled lands along the border fence and then headed northwards to Gaza valley, after which they redeployed behind the border fence.

On 07 June 2016, Israeli forces moved about 50 meters near Sofa military checkpoint in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah. They levelled and combed lands and established sand barriers in the area. The Israeli vehicles withdrew later.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority:

On 03 June 2016, the Israeli municipality crews closed health service units in al-Ghawanma Gate, one of al-Aqsa mosque gates in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem. It was scheduled that the Islamic Endowments Department opens the health units building (80 health units) on 1st Ramadan to offer services to worshippers in al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

West Bank:

On Friday, 03 June 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the western entrance to Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah; and at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of the city, to organize demonstrations in protest at the Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians. The protesters threw stones at Israeli forces, who fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs at them. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

Gaza Strip:

At approximately 14:30 on Friday, 03 June 2016, dozens of Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood, east of the Gaza City. The protesters threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed along the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at the protesters. As a result, a civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right leg and was then taken to al-Shifa Hospital, where his wound were classified as moderate.

See full report at PCHR News Source Link