Gaza, Palestine, (The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights):
Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory [oPt] (05 – 11 April 2018):
Israeli forces continued to directly target peaceful protests along the Gaza Strip borders without posing any threat to the Israeli soldiers’ life.
8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist, were killed, and 3 others succumbed to previous wounds.
608 Palestinian civilians, including 80 children, 8 women, 4 journalists and 6 paramedics, were wounded in the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian civilian was shot dead by Israeli settlers and a Palestinian prisoner succumbed to his wounds in the West Bank.
7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in the West Bank.
Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 limited ones in the Gaza Strip.
52 civilians, including 10 children and a woman, were arrested.
22 of them, including 6 children, were arrested in Jerusalem.
Israeli forces continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jeruaasalem
Elad Settlement Foundation took over 3 houses belonging to Rweidi Family in Silwan village.
Israeli forces continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
Buildings of a school in Kherbet Zanoutah were dismantled in southern Hebron.
An under-construction house was demolished in Jibiyah village, northwest of Ramallah.
4 Shooting incidents were reported against the Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Sea, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 11th consecutive year.
Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Israeli forces imposes a complete closure on the oPt due to the Jewish Passover Holiday until Sunday morning.
2 Palestinian civilians were arrested at the military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Shooting:
Israeli forces excessively used lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized on the 42nd anniversary of the Earth Day, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed peaceful demonstrations along the eastern Gaza Strip border area, where ten thousands of defenseless Palestinian young men, women, children, and elderlies participated.
On 06 April 2018, the Gaza Strip witnessed another bloody day since the beginning of the Great March of Return and Break Siege activities as 9 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, were killed while 3 other civilians succumbed to their wounds they sustained on the first Friday of the Return March.
Moreover, 608 others, including 80 children, 8 women, 4 journalists and 6 paramedics, sustained wounds, mostly classified as serious.
The protesters’ activities continued during the reporting period and the Israeli forces continued to daily target them along the Gaza Strip border area. Since the beginning of the March, the death toll has amounted to 27, including 3 children and a journalist.
In the West Bank, a Palestinian civilian from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, was shot dead by an Israeli settler near “Mishor Adumim” settlement, east of occupied East Jerusalem while a Palestinian prisoner succumbed to wounds he sustained last week when officers of an Israeli security company working for the Israeli forces opened fire at him. Moreover, the Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, sustained various wounds.
This high number of casualties in the Gaza Strip proves that the Israeli forces continue to commit crimes and use excessive force against Palestinian civilians in disregard for their lives and upon an official political decision.
PCHR indicates that according to Israeli forces’ spokesperson on his Facebook page, the Israeli forces prefigured the demonstrations, whose organizers previously declared they would be peaceful, sending threatening messages to intimidate the organizers and Gaza Strip residents and deploying Israeli snipers along the border fence.
In addition to those killed mentioned above, on 05 April 2018, medical sources at the Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis declared the death of Shadi al-Kashef (34), who is deaf-mute from al-Shokah village, east of Rafah, succumbing to wounds he sustained on 30 March 2018 during his participation in the Great March of Return and Break the Siege” in al-Shokah village.
On 06 April 2018, medical sources at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared the death of Thaer Rab’ah (30) from Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip after succumbing to wounds he sustained on 30 March 2018 during his participation in the Great March of Return and Break the Siege” in Eastern Jabalia.
On 09 April 2018, medical sources at the Gaza European Hospital declared the death of Merwan Qudeih (45) from Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis, succumbing to wounds he sustained on 30 March 2018 when the Israeli forces targeted the demonstrators in the vicinity of the sit-in spot. it should be mentioned that Qudeih was married and father of 7 children.
According to investigations and field observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers:
The Israeli forces stationed 30-70 meters away from the border fence and the closest point the protesters reached did not exceed 50 meters to the west of the border fence. Thus, the distance between the Israeli soldiers and protesters cannot in any way pose any threat to the Israeli soldiers’ life, especially the demonstrators were unarmed.
PCHR confirms that the Israeli forces directly targeted a number of field activists, who usually exist along the border fence in any peaceful protest, as 3 of them were killed in the northern Gaza Strip.
PCHR’s investigations indicate that all those killed were shot to the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. One of them was hit to the back of the head. This proves that the Israeli forces deliberately caused disabilities to the demonstrators as most injuries were in the knee.
Through dealing with those wounded, Medical sources at the Gaza Strip hospitals stated that most of those wounded with live bullets suffered serious tissue laceration and large holes in the wounded part, proving that the Israeli forces used explosive bullets.
As part of targeting the border areas, in the central Gaza Strip on 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11 April 2018, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at the agrictural areas and shepherds 10 times. The targeted areas included eastern areas of Deir al-Balah, al-Maghazi, al-Bureij, Gaza Valley village (Johr al-Deek) and in the vicinity of the Landfill. Howoever, no casualties were reported.
On 11 April 2018, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between Israeli and the Gaza Strip in al-Ahmar Area, east of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at the border area, forcing the farmers to leave fearing for their life. Neither causalities nor damage to property was reported.
On 31 March 2018, Israeli forces fired an artillery shell at an agricultural land in Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek). Few hours, the Israeli forces fired another artillery shell at the abovementioned agricultural land, and no casualties were reported.
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired several artillery shells at the agricultural areas, east of al-Zaytoun and al-Shuja’iyah neighbourhoods, east of Gaza City. No casualties were reported.
As part of the Israeli airstrikes, on 09 April 2018, Israeli warplanes carried out 2 airstrikes launching 4 missiles at two sites belonging to Hamas Movement in the northern Gaza Strip. Both sites sustained damage, but no casualties were reported. The explosion rocked all the area, causing civilians to panic, particularly women and children.
As part of targeting fishermen in the sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against fishermen in the Gaza Sea, indicating to the on-going Israeli policy of targeting their livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored 4 shooting incidents; 2 in north-western Beit Lahia and 2 in Western Soudaniyah, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, on 08 April 2018, a Palestinian civilian namely Mohammed ‘Anbar (46) from Tulkarm succumbed to wounds he sustained after officers of an Israeli security company opened fire at him at Jubarah checkpoint, south of Tulkarm, on 02 April 2018. Immediately after his injury, he was arrested by the Israeli forces and then taken to “Meir Hospital” in Kfar Saba City in Israel where he stayed until his death was announced.
On 09 April 2018, the Israeli authorities informed the family of Mohammed Marshud (31) from Baltah refugee camp, east of Nablus, that he succumbed to wounds he sustained after an Israeli settler opened fire at him near “Mishor Adumim” settlement in al-Khan al-Ahmar area, east of occupied East Jerusalem.
The settler opened fire at the abovementioned civilian when the latter the day before attempted to stab another settler with a tool he had with him.
However, no local eyewitness was available in the scene when the crime occurred. Thus, referring to the actual facts and two statements by the Israeli police, the settler could have used less deadly force, neutralized him and then handing him to the police for interrogation, particularly that Marshud was not armed and so it would be easy to control him.
On 09 April 2018, a child was seriously wounded when Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian children who protested against them following the Israeli incursion into Tal village, southwest of Nablus.
In addition to the abovementioned injury, during the reporting period, 6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded after Israeli forces opened fire at them and fire tear gas canisters directly during peaceful protests and stone-throwing at the Israeli soldiers stationed at the entrances to the Palestinian communities in the West Bank. Those demonstrations came in the light of demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians in protest at the Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Israeli forces’ ongoing settlement crimes and confiscation of Palestinian lands, and on the 42nd anniversary of the Earth Day.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 10 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs.
During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 30 Palestinians, including 4 children, in the West Bank. 22 civilians, including 6 children, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs.
In the Gaza Strip, on 11 April 2018, Israeli forces moved 50 meters into the eastern side of the Return camp established in eastern Khuza’ah village, southeast of Kahn Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
They leveled along the border fence and repaired the second fence along the Gaza Strip. On the same day, the Israeli forces moved 50 meters into eastern Zaitoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. They leveled lands in the border area and later redeployed along the border fence.
Efforts to Create a Jewish Majority in East Jerusalem:
As part of seizing Palestinian property for the interest of settlement associations, Elad settlement foundation, in twisted ways, took over 3 houses belonging to Reweidi Family on al-Ein Street in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
Eyewitnesses said to a PCHR’s fieldworker that dozens of Israeli soldiers accompanied with workers raided the houses and expelled the residents after evacuating all the houses’ contents.
The family emphasized that they did not receive any eviction order and that they have been trying for 2 years to prove their ownership of the houses before the courts.
The first house belonged to Khaled Rweidi and his brothers and rented by ‘Ata Rweidi; the second house ,where Rezeq Rweidi’s wife lived along with her sons and grandsons, belonged to heirs of ‘Atalah Soliman Rweidi; and the third one belonged to Feisal Rweidi and sheltered 13 individuals.
Settlement Activities, Demolitions, and Settlers’ Attacks against Palestinian civilians and their Property:
On 10 April 2018, Israeli forces backed by military vehicles, and accompanied with 3 vehicles of the Israeli Civil Administration and a mounted-crane truck moved into Kherbet Zanoutah, southwest of al-Dahiryia village, south of Hebron.
After that, Israeli workers, who accompanied the Israeli forces, dismantled and confiscated the contents of Somoud and Tahadi School established by the Kherba residents in cooperation with ACF.
The school was built on an area of 120 square meters and included 6 classrooms, an administration room, a kitchen and bathroom, and 2 water tanks.
The Israeli Civil Administration officers handed the school a notice to stop the construction works and a list of confiscated items before leaving.
It should be noted that Kherbit Zanoutah is located near “Shim’a” settlement and bypass road (60) that connects the Israeli settlements established on the southern lands of Hebron and northern West Bank. Kherbit Zanoutah is an agricultural community inhabited by 26 families, including 180 people. Kherbit Zanoutah is exposed to a fierce campaign by the Israeli authorities, including the destruction of its wells and barrack demolition notices many barracks.
On 10 April 2018, Israeli bulldozers demolished an under-construction residential house in al-Qastal al-Jabaliyia area in Jebiyia village, northwest of Ramallah, under the pretext of non-licensing.
The house belongs to Ghazi Mohamed ‘Ali Hejazi (58), from Kafur ‘Aqoub village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. Ghazi said that he started building his 250-square-meter house on 10 January 2018. He added that the house is surrounded by a fence built of bricks and he attempted to get a license from the Israeli authorities, but in vain. It should be noted that house was supposed to shelter 8 persons.
[Photo: Palestinian man receives treatment at al-Shifa hospital after he was wounded by Israeli soldiers gunfire during the “Great March of Return”, in Gaza City, Gaza on April 2, 2018. Photographer: Ali Jadallah/AA]