Saturday 14 June 2014

Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against the State of Palestine

In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 5 – 11 June, 2014, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that, in a new crime of extra-judicial execution, Israeli forces killed a members of a Palestinian armed group and wounded 3 civilians, including a child, in the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian civilian died of his previous wounds in the Gaza Strip as well. Israeli forces wounded 9 civilians, including a child, in the West Bank. http://imemc.org/article/68090
Tulkarm- Israeli forces destroy a house belonging to a Palestinian family in Far’one village. (Reuters)
Tulkarm- Israeli forces destroy a house belonging to a Palestinian family in Far’one village. (Reuters)
Additionally, during the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 76 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 28 Palestinians, including 4 children and a woman.
Israeli attacks in the West Bank & Gaza:
Shootings:
In the Gaza Strip, in a new crime of Extra-judicial executions, on Wednesday, 11 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a member of a Palestinian armed group and wounded 3 civilians, including his brother.
The victim, who was riding his motorbike on the coastal road, southwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, was killed when an Israeli drone launched two missiles at him.
Following the execution, Israeli forces admitted committing it as the spokesman of Israeli forces claimed that the man was targeted as he was recently involved in firing rockets at Israeli towns.
His brother, ‘Ali Abdel Latif Ahmed al-‘Awour (10), was also wounded by shrapnel throughout his body causing him bleeding in the brain and entering into a coma. Another two civilians were wounded as well by shrapnel.
In the same context, the body of ‘Emad Shokri Yehia Salem (51) from Beit Lahia Housing Project was brought to Martyr Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip as his family transferred him to the hospital in an attempt to save his life after his condition suddenly deteriorated.
At approximately 15:00 on 26 May 2014, Salem, who was fishing then, was wounded by two bullets to the back and right hand when Israeli forces opened fire at him near the border, west of al-Sayafa area in the northwest of Beit Lahia.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 09 June 2014, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha Shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire in the vicinity of the Palestinian fishing boats sailing 3 nautical miles offshore. Neither injuries nor damages were reported.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 9 Palestinian civilians, including a child. Eight of whom were wounded during the peaceful demonstrations and the ninth one was wounded when Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron.
On 06 June 2014, a 22-year-old civilian was hit by a bullet to the right thigh when Israeli forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. A number of boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who chased them between the houses and fired indiscriminately at them.
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 demonstrators were injured in Bil’in and Ni’lin villages.
In addition, Palestinians organized several demonstrations in solidarity with administrative prisoners on hunger strike. Israeli forces opened fire on the demonstrators. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in a demonstration near Ofer prison, southwest of the Ramallah.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 76 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 28 Palestinians, including 4 children and a woman.
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 7 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 1.7 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.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
As part of using military checkpoints and border crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are wanted, Israeli forces arrested 4 Palestinian civilians, including a child, at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Settlement activities:
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, in a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Attacks carried out by Israeli forces
On 09 June 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by more than 10 military vehicles and a bulldozer moved into Far’one village, south of Tulkarm.
They surrounded a house belonging to the family of Falah Suleiman ‘Abdel Rahman ‘Ebeid (50) in al-Marj area, west of the village.
The Israeli bulldozer bulldozed the house, which is 120 meters away from the electronic fence of the annexation wall, under the pretext of the lack of a construction licenses and its closeness to the wall.
On the same day, Israeli accompanied by officers at the Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil Administration and a bulldozer bulldozed 4 grocery stalls built of tin.
The goods of the stalls, which are on Bypass Road (90) near Bardala village in the northern Jordan Valley, were taken by the Israeli soldiers.
Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 3 demonstrators were injured.
In addition, Palestinians have organized several demonstrations in solidarity with administrative prisoners on hunger strike.
Israeli forces opened fire on the demonstrators. As a result, 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in a demonstration near Ofer prison, southwest of the Ramallah.
(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded in fear of being arrested by the Israeli forces within its policy to oppress the peaceful protests and prevent Palestinian civilians from participating).
Demonstrations against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity
Following the Friday Prayer on Friday, 06 June 2014, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian flags and headed to the liberated territories near the annexation wall.
Early in the morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the city to prevent Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders from participating in the protests.
Protestors marched by the annexation wall and tried to cross the fence. Israeli soldiers stationed behind the wall, in the western area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and waste water at them and chased them into the olive fields.
As a result, two brothers were wounded and were taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah for treatment.
One of the brothers (25) sustained two bullet wounds to his ankle and right knee, while the other one (21) sustained several bullet wounds to his groins, back, right hand, and down the back of his neck. In addition, several demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in Nil’in village, west of Ramallah, in protest at the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities and in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.
The demonstrators made their way towards the annexation wall. Israeli forces closed the wall gate with barbwire and, when the demonstrators attempted to access the lands behind the barbwire, they were stopped by Israeli soldier.
The demonstrators threw stones at the Israeli soldier who responded with live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullet, sound bombs, tear gas canisters, and waste water at them and chased them into the village.
As a result, Raed Khalil abdul Haq Amira (40) sustained a bullet wound to his right leg and bruises to the left side of his head. Israeli forces held Amira for 3 hours before handing him to the Red Crescent ambulance standing at the military checkpoint near the village’s entrance.
In addition, several demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Among whom was Murad Khalil Abdul Haq Amira (39) who sustained bruises to the right side of his face after he was beaten by an Israeli soldier with a wireless device while giving the aforementioned Amira first aid before his detention.
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders gathered at the Martyrs Square in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to hold a weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activity and in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike as well as in commemoration of the Palestinian Nakba.
Protestors made their way in the streets raising the Palestinian flag and chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the inalienable rights and resistance against the Israeli occupation.
The protestors walked towards Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby Halmish settlement are trying to seize.
Since the morning, Israeli forces had closed all entrances of the village to prevent Palestinians, international activists, and journalists from joining the demonstration.
Upon their arrival in the area, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters, and chased the demonstrators into the village and sprayed them with waste water.
As a result, many demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 13:30 on the aforementioned day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international activists organized a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kafr Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest at the closure of the eastern entrance of the village with a metal gate since the second Intifada.
Protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired live bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, and sound bombs in response.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
Other Demonstrations
At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 5 June 2014, activists from national and Islamic forces in cooperation with Hebron residents gathered in the center of the Old city, in the center of Hebron near “Beit Hadasa” settlement outpost.
Demonstrators raised the Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against the occupation. Israeli soldiers moved into the area and deployed in order to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers arrested Fahmi Hmdi Ishaq Shaheen (53), member of the Palestinian People’s Party, and took him to the police station of Kiryat Arba settlement, east of the city.
After several hours of his detention, he was moved to the detention facility in “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, then he was moved to Soroka Medical Center, in Beersheba, in Israel, due to deterioration of his health condition.
On Friday afternoon, 6 June 2014, dozens of Palestinian young men from several areas in Ramallah and al-Bireh gathered near Ofer prison, south of Ramallah, to organize a demonstration in solidarity with the administrate detainees in Israeli prisons.
Israeli soldiers closed the prison’s gates and deployed in the area as demonstrators headed towards the prison.
The demonstrators set tires on fire and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. In response, Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them.
As a result, 5 Palestinians were injured, including a child, and then moved to Palestine Medical Complex for treatment. The injuries were as follows:
– The first (19) sustained wounds to his right leg;
– The second (18) sustained wounds to his left leg;
– The third (25) sustained wounds to his left leg;
– The fourth (19) sustained wounds to his right leg; and
– The fifth (17) sustained wounds to the upper side of his right thigh.
Israeli soldiers also arrested Maher Shaher Haroun (13) and took him to Ofer prison. Moreover, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Following the Friday prayer of the aforementioned day, dozens of Palestinian young men and women gathered at the western entrance of the Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road between Silwad and Yabroud villages near Bypass (60).
Demonstrators threw stones at the aforementioned road. In response, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators.
As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 13:00 on the aforementioned day, dozens of Palestinians gathered in front of the mosque of Beit Ummar town, north of Hebron.
Demonstrators raised Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against the occupation in solidarity with the administrative detainees in Israeli prisons.
Demonstrators headed towards the city’s entrance near Bypass (60), and a number of youngsters threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Extra Judicial Executions:
In a new crime of Extra-judicial executions, on Wednesday, 11 June 2014, Israeli forces killed a member of a Palestinian armed group and wounded 3 civilians, including his brother.
The victim, who was riding his motorbike on the coastal road, southwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, was killed when an Israeli drone launched two missiles at him.
Following the execution, Israeli forces admitted committing it as the spokesman of Israeli forces said that in cooperation with “Shin Bet” security services, the aforementioned person was targeted as he was recently involved in firing rockets at the Israeli towns.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:20 on the aforementioned day, Israeli drones launched two missiles at a motorbike travelling near the Palestinian Naval Service headquarters on the coastal road, southwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip.
The bike was ridden by Mohammed Ahmed ‘Abdel Latif al-‘Aawour (33), a member of an armed group from Beit Lahia Housing Project, who was immediately killed after the upper part of his body turned into pieces. His brother, ‘Ali Abdel Latif Ahmed al-‘Awour (10), was also wounded by shrapnel throughout his body causing a haemorrhage in the brain and entering into a come.
Hamadah Hussein Mohammed Naser (32), from Jabalia, was wounded as well by shrapnel in parts of his body as he was passing by with his Black Mercedes car.
Moreover, Monther Hasan al-Masr’ie, from Shati’ refugee camp, was wounded by shrapnel in different parts of his body as he was passing as well by the targeted area.
The body of the armed member and the three injured persons were taken to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia.
The injuries of the child and Naser were described as serious, and they were both transferred to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
The missiles caused two big holes of around 50 centimetres deep in the road. According to field investigations and inspection of the targeted place, large numbers of Palestinian civilians, including children and women, were on the beach of Beit Lahia and Jablia. As a result, they were terrified.
It should be mentioned that the victim was a police officer in Gaza and made a request to retire upon the formation of the Palestinian national consensus government on 02 June 2014.
He was as well a member of Hamas. When he was targeted, he was in al-Basmah Cafeteria owned by his brother ‘Abdulatif on the coastal road.
Continued closure of the oPt:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total control over the flow of imports and exports.
The total closure of al-Mentar (“Karni”) crossing since 02 March 2011 has seriously affected the economy of the Gaza Strip.
Following this closure, all economic and commercial establishments in the Gaza Commercial Zone were shut off. It should be noted that al-Mentar crossing is the biggest crossing in the Gaza Strip, in terms of its capacity to absorb the flow of imports and exports.
The decision to close al-Mentar crossing was the culmination of a series of decisions resulting in the complete closure of the Sofa crossing, east of the Gaza Strip in the beginning of 2009, and the Nahal Oz crossing, east of Gaza City, which were dedicated for the delivery of fuel and cooking gas to the Gaza Strip, in the beginning of 2010.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and quantities.
The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza Strip.
The cooking gas crisis has fluctuated for 9 months due to the closure of Karm Abu Salem for security claims.
According to PCHR’s follow-up, Israeli authorities only allow an average of 98 tons of cooking gas into Gaza per day.
This limited quantity is less than half of the daily needs, which is 200 tons per day of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip during winter.
The crisis has unprecedentedly aggravated for around six weeks due to cold weather and overconsumption in addition to the power outage and using gas as an alternative in many instances of electricity.
The lack of diesel and benzene led to the aggravation of the crisis as a result of using the gas cylinder for cars or as an alternative for benzene to run generators. As a result, the demand for gas further increased.
For almost 6 consecutive years, Israeli forces have continued to prevent the delivery of construction materials to the Gaza Strip.
Two years ago, Israeli forces approved the delivery of limited quantities of construction materials for a number of international organizations in the Gaza Strip.
On 17 September 2013, they allowed the entry of limited quantities of construction materials for the private sector.
However, on 13 October 2013, they re-banned it claiming that these materials are used for constructing tunnels.
Last week, Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials only for UNRWA and UNDP projects. As a result, construction works have completely stopped impacting all sectors related to construction and an increase in unemployment levels.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products, except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and spices.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing for the majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of waiting in the majority of cases.
Israel has continued to adopt a policy aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israel denied permission to access hospitals via the crossing for new categories of patients from the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptian authorities allow the population of the Gaza Strip to travel via Rafah International crossing, which connects the Gaza Strip with the outside world.
Only limited and specified categories are allowed, including patients, students, persons that hold residencies in Egypt or abroad, men over 40 years, females in all ages, children under 18, persons who hold Arab and foreign nationalities, and members of Arab and international humanitarian delegations.
Supposedly the crossing opens seven days a week. Nowadays, the crossing is overcrowded due to the prolonged procedures from the Egyptian side, particularly after closing it for several days over the past weeks due to Egypt’s security conditions, which has affected the travelers’ movement in both directions.
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 continued aggression 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:
1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. 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;
8. 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;
9. 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;
10. 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;
11. 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;
12. 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;
13. 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;
14. PCHR calls upon the Palestinian leadership to sign and accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Geneva Conventions, and calls upon the international community, especially the United Nations, to encourage the State of Palestine to accede to international human rights law and humanitarian law instruments.
Complete document, with charts and full report on Israeli patrols, in its entirety, at the PCHR official site, via link below.

Source

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   
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