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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)

Israeli forces continued with systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) for the week of 18-24 May, 2017.

Soldiers killed a Palestinian child while a girl succumbed to her wounds in Bethlehem. A Palestinian civilian was killed and a photojournalist was wounded by a settler in Howarah village, south of Nablus, and 46 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and 2 women, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child at the Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, while a girl from Beit Fajjar, south of the city, succumbed to her wounds. Moreover, a civilian was killed and a photojournalist was wounded by a settler during a peaceful protest in Howarah village, south of Nablus. They also wounded 46 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and 3 women. Thirty-three of them, including 10 children, were wounded in the West Bank while 13 others, including 2 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli naval forces continued to chase and open fire at the Palestinian fishermen in the sea. Israeli forces also continued to open fire at farmers in the border areas.

In the West Bank, in excessive use of force, on 18 May 2017, a settler killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded a photojournalist. The aforementioned civilian was wounded when the settler opened fire at Palestinian protesters crossing Nabus-Ramallah Street in Howarah village, south of Nablus.

In another crimes of excessive use of force, on 22 May 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the Container checkpoint on al-Nar road, northeast of Bethlehem, killed a Palestinian child and claimed that he attempted to carry out a stab attack. It should be noted that the West Bank cities witnessed on the abovementioned day a strike in all aspects of life, therefore, there was no eyewitness to approve or disprove the Israeli claim.

On 20 May 2017, Fatima Taqatqa (16), from Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem, succumbed to her wounds according to Palestinian medical sources. The girl was wounded on 15 March 2017 with a bullet to the head when Israeli forces opened fire at her at “Gosh Etzion” settlement intersection, south of the city.

In the same context, the majority of the West Bank cities witnessed protests in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in the Israeli jails. Israeli forces used force against these protests and other protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities. As a result, 46 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children were wounded. Twenty-three of them sustained live bullet wounds and the 23 others sustained metal bullet wounds, in addition to the photojournalist that was wounded as a settler opened fire at him as mentioned above. The injuries were as follows:

Protests in solidarity with the prisoners: 40 civilians were wounded, including 10 children. Twenty two of them were wounded with live bullets, 18 others were wounded with metal bullets. Twenty seven of them, including 8 children, were wounded in the West Bank while 13 others, including 2 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip.
Weekly protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities: 5 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded with metal bullets.
At military checkpoints: a young woman was wounded and then arrested.

Israeli forces directly targeted ambulances and press crews. As a result, a Palestinian Medical Relief ambulance sustained damage at the western entrance to Beit Foreek village, east of Nablus.

In the Gaza Strip, concerning Israeli attacks on fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 21 May 2017, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City, opened fire at the Palestinian fishermen sailing within 4 nautical miles. No casualties were reported.

On 22 May 2017, Israeli gunboats stationed off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at fishing boats (twice) and chased them. no casualties were reported as well.

Concerning attacks on the border area, on 24 May 2017, Israeli forces stationed in watchtowers, east of al-Zaitoun area, southeast of Gaza City, opened fire sporadically at the lands adjacent to the border area. neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

Read full report at PCHR News Source Link.