Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (08– 21 September 2016)
September 22, 2016
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Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(08 – 21 September 2016)
- Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
- 8 civilians were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Among the killed was a Jordanian person, who was killed in occupied Jerusalem, and 5 children.
- 13 civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
- Israeli warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, due to which 2 agricultural rooms and a water well were destroyed.
- Israeli forces targeted the border area along in the northern Gaza Strip and wounded a farmer.
- Israeli forces conducted 116 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones in the southern Gaza Strip.
- 110 civilians, including 31 children and a woman, were arrested.
- 33 of them, including 12 children and the woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
- Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
- A Palestinian civilian was obliged to self-demolish his house while another house was demolished in Beit Hanina neighbourhood.
- A house was vacated for the interest of a settlement organization in the Old City.
- Israeli forces continued settlement activities in the West Bank.
- Settlers set fire to 13 olive trees, east of Qalqilya.
- Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
- A fisherman was wounded and his boat sustained material damage in the northern Gaza Strip.
- 6 fishermen were arrested off Deir al-Balah shore and their boat was confiscated.
- Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th
- Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
- 4 Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints.
- A businessman was arrested at Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (08 – 21 September 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 8 civilians, including 5 children and a Jordanian person, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. They also wounded 15 others, including 4 children. Eleven of them were in the West Bank, including 2 girls, while the 4 others were in the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen and chase them in the sea, while Israeli land troops continued to target the border area. In addition, Israeli warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes in Gaza.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and a Jordanian person, and wounded 11 civilians, including 2 girls. The killings were as follows:
On 16 September 2016, Israeli forces killed a Jordanian civilian while walking in al-Amoud Gate area in East Jerusalem’s Old City under the pretext that he attempted to stab an Israeli soldier. It should be noted the killed used to work in the Jordanian Water Authority and he was in a visit to Jerusalem along with a tourist group that entered the Palestinian territory via al-Karamah crossing one day before he was killed.
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of “Givat Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron, opened fire at a vehicle under the pretext of a run-over attack. As a result, the driver named Feras al-Khdour (17) was killed and his relative Raghad (16) was wounded. They are both from Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. The aforementioned girl was transported to Hadassa Hospital in Jerusalem by an Israeli military ambulance while the corpse of Feras was kept in custody.
On the same day also, Israeli forces stationed at Gilbert military checkpoint, north of Tal al-Rumaida neighbourhood, in the centre of Hebron, opened fire at Mohammed Thalji Rajabi (15) and killed him. Israeli forces claimed that Mohammed attempted to carry out a stabbing. The forces summoned the killed person’s father to military checkpoint (160), south of the city, where he was informed of the death of his son.
On 17 September 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the closed area between al-Rahma Mount and Tal al-Rumaida neighbourhood, in the centre of Hebron, opened fire at Hatem al-Shaloudi (25), whose house is only 20 meters away from the scene. As a result, he was killed and his corpse was kept in custody for 2 hours until a military vehicle transported him to an unknown destination. Afterwards, Israeli media published a video clip of the aforementioned person attacking an Israeli soldier with a sharp tool.
On 19 September 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers stationed in a surveillance and search room in Ein al-Hamrah area, south of the Ibrahimi mosque, south of Hebron’s Old City, opened fire at Amir Rajabi (17) and Mohammed Rajabi (22). As a result, the child was killed and the other civilians was seriously wounded. The wounded person was transported half an hour later by an ambulance, but he was pronounced dead an hour following his injury. Israeli forces claimed that the 2 aforementioned persons attempted to carry out a stabbing.
On 20 September 2016, Israeli forces that established a temporary checkpoint at the entrance to Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron, opened fire at Essa Tarayra (16), from the said village, while walking towards the checkpoint. Israeli soldiers opened fire at him from a range of 30 meters and left him bleeding for about half an hour. He was then transported by an ambulance but he was pronounced dead later. Israeli forces claimed that Tarayra was holding a knife and attempted to carry out a stabbing. No eyewitnesses were there to confirm or reject the Israeli story.
Shootings that resulted in the injury of Palestinians were as follows:
On 12 September 2016, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians when former moved into al-Wa’ar area, east of Asirah village, southeast of Nablus.
On 18 September 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at Baha’ al-Deen Ouda (20) under the pretext that he attempted to stab an Israeli officer at the entrance to “Efrat” settlement, south of Bethlehem. As a result, Ouda sustained several bullet wounds and was then transported to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba to receive the necessary medical treatment.
On 19 September 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at Ayman al-Kurd (20) after he stabbed 2 Israeli soldiers at al-Sahera Gate in East Jerusalem. As a result, he sustained several bullet wounds and was then transported to Hadassa Hospital.
On 20 September 2016, 3 civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem.
On 21 September 2016, Israeli forces stationed at Jaljulia military checkpoint opened fire at Bara’a Owaisi (13), from Qalqilya. As a result, she sustained a bullet wound to the leg and was immediately arrested. The wounded girl was walking without listening to the soldiers’ shouts ordering her to stop. Israeli media confirmed that the girl did not attempt to carry out a stabbing, however, she was only moving forwards.
In the Gaza Strip, on 09 September 2016, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed Abdul Rahman al-Dabagh (16) when they opened fire at dozens of youngsters, who headed to the border fence, southeast of al-Bureij refugee camp, and started throwing stones at Israeli soldiers. An Israeli soldier fired a flare bomb that directly hit the child, who was about 10-15 meters away from the fence. The bomb hit him right to his forehead, due to which he fell to the ground with his head on fire. The child was transported to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, but few minutes after he was admitted to the hospital, the doctors pronounced him dead. On 16 September 2016, 2 Palestinian children were wounded in the same place and circumstances.
In the context of Israeli forces targeting the border area, Israeli forces stationed at the border area, northeast of Jabalia, wounded a Palestinian farmer when they opened fire at a bird hunter and other farmers. It should be noted that the wounded farmer was about 400 meters to the west of the border fence.
Concerning airstrikes, on 15 September 2016, Israeli warplanes carried out 3 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. As a result, 2 agricultural rooms and a water well in al-Sayafa area were completely destroyed.
In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 17 September 2016, Israeli forces stationed in the northern Gaza Strip offshore opened fire at fishermen sailing within 2 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen sailed back. Similar shooting was carried out in the same area at approximately 23:20 on Tuesday, 20 September 2016.
On 19 September 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishermen sailing in the area. As a result, Ahmed Zayed (32), from al-Salateen area in Beit Lahia village, sustained a bullet wound to the belly and his boat sustained damage.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 116 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 11 ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 110 Palestinian civilians, including 31 children and a woman. Thirty-three of them, including 12 children and the woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, on 14 September 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters to the east of al-Fukhari area, southeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands for few hours after which they redeployed.
On 20 September 2016, Israeli forces moved about 100 meters to the east of Khuza’a village, southeast of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip. They levelled lands also and then redeployed.
Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:
Concerning house demolitions, on 16 September 2016, Murad Ja’abees self-demolished his own house in al-Sal’a neighbourhood in al-Mukaber Mount, southeast of East Jerusalem, in implementation of the Israeli municipality’s decision under the pretext of building without a license.
On 20 September 2016, the Israeli municipality demolished a house belonging to the family of Hassan Alqam in Beit Hanina neighbourhood, north of occupied Jerusalem, under the pretext of building without a license as well. In the same context, Israeli forces demolished on the same day, agricultural facilities and barracks, south of the Old City, belonging to Nidal Mohammed Dabash.
Regarding vacating Palestinian houses in favour of settlement organizations, on 15 September 2016, the Israeli authorities ordered the family of Mazen Qersh to leave their house in the Old City under the pretext the family is an “unprotected tenant” and it lost the protection because it is from the “fourth generation“. It should be noted that the family has lived in the house since 1936 according to a rental contract from a Palestinian family that owned the house before that family sold it to the settlers in 1986.
Settlement activities
On 10 September 2016, a group of settlers from ” Immanuel ” settlement set fire to lands of Palestinians in Jinsafout village, east of Qalqilya. The Civil Defence crews could not put fire out. As a result, 13 olive trees were burnt.
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.
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Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections, in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law – to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
- PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations to 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;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
- PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
- PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the concerned committees;
- PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
- PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war criminals;
- PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
- PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the Rome Statute;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be built on the expense of human rights;
- PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to compel it to remove them;
- PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian infrastructure;
- PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express a clear position towards the annexation wall following the international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
- PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations and crimes against Palestinian civilians;
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Public Document
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http://pchrgaza.org/en/?p=8394
