Description

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territories continued during the reporting period (09 – 15 June 2016).

Shootings:

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 wounded 6 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. Five of them sustained metal bullet shrapnel wounds in occupied Jerusalem while the sixth was hit with a bullet at a checkpoint, north of the West Bank.

In the West Bank, on 10 June 2016, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Awerta checkpoint, southeast of Nablus, opened fire at Hasan al-Qadi (22) from ‘Awerta village. As a result, he was wounded to the abdomen with a live bullet. Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned civilian attempted to stab an Israeli soldier with a sharp tool. It should be mentioned that al-Qadi suffers from mental disorders and has medical reports proving his health status.

On 11 June 2016, 5 Palestinian civilians sustained metal bullet wounds when Israeli forces severely beat 5 Palestinian civilians with sticks and batons and pepper-sprayed their faces. The aforementioned civilians were near al-Ghawanmah Gate and were transferred to al-Maqased Hospital in Jerusalem, where their wounds were classified as minor.

On 15 June, Israeli forces moved into ‘Askar al-Qadeem refugee camp, northeast of Nablus, to carry out an arrest campaign. When they were on their way out, a number of Palestinian youngsters gathered in the vicinity of al-Ghawi Intersection and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli vehicles. An Israeli military jeep deliberately ran over Saleh abu al-‘Anad (21) from nearby Balatah refugee camp many times and left him on the ground. He was then taken to Rafidia Surgical Hospital in Nablus, and medical sources classified his wounds as very critical.

In the Gaza Strip, in the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 15 June 2016, Israeli forces stationed in the sea off al-Sheikh ‘Ejlin shore, opened fire at 4 Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 6 nautical miles. They surrounded those boats and forced 10 fishermen to jump into the water and swim towards a gunboat.. The Israeli navy officers arrested the 10 fishermen and confiscated the four boats with the fishing equipment. At approximately 20:00 on the same day, Israeli forces released 8 fishermen while kept 2 under arrest.

Moving to airstrikes, on 14 June 2016, Israeli warplanes launched one missile at a vacant land, east of Johr al-Deek, southeast of Gaza City. As a result, a hole was caused, but no casualties were reported.

See full report at PCHR News source link