Thursday, 17 December 2015 00:00
|
(10 – 16 December 2015)
Israeli forces escalated the use of excessive force in the oPt
5 Palestinian civilians were killed and a girl child succumbed to her injuries in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
96 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 5 journalists, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued to target the border area along the Gaza Strip.
5 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the southern Gaza Strip in 3 separate attacks.
Israeli forces conducted 106 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank
107 Palestinian civilians, including 28 children, were arrested.
20 of them, including 14 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
A number of houses belonging to families of Palestinians, who carried out stabbing and run-over attacks, were raided. Moreover, measures of the houses were taken for house demolitions.
Israeli gunboats continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea, but no casualties were reported.
Jewish majority efforts continued in occupied East Jerusalem.
A house in al-Shaikh Jarrah neighbourhood was demolished and demolition notices were issued.
Settlement activities continued in the West Bank.
30 dunums
[1] in the northern West Bank were confiscated.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th year.
Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and other were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
8 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 4 brothers, were arrested at military checkpoints.
A Palestinian civilian was arrested at Beit Hanoun "Erez" crossing, north of the Gaza Strip.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (10 – 16 December 2015).
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. Occupied East Jerusalem witnessed similar attacks. During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians, while a child girl succumbed to her wounds. Moreover, 101 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children and 5 journalists, were wounded. Thirty-nine of whom, including 5 children, were wounded in the Gaza Strip and the others were wounded in the West Bank. Concerning the nature of injuries, 84 civilians were hit with live bullets, 11 ones were hit with rubber bullets and 6 others were hit with shrapnel and tear gas canisters.
In the West Bank, killings committed by Israeli forces were as follows:
On 11 December 2015, Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint established at a checkpoint stationed at a checkpoint established 20 days ago on Sa'ir Main Road, east of Hebron, killed 'Issa Hroub (56) from Deir Samit village, southwest of Hebron. The aforementioned civilian was killed when Israeli forces opened fire at his car. The aforementioned was on his way back from al-Shyoukh village via Sa'ir road. The Israeli soldiers claimed that Hroub intended to carry out a run over attack.
On the same day, Israeli forced opened fire at 'Oday Irshayed (24) from al-Salam Street in Hebron. As a result, he was hit with two bullets from to his chest and neck. The aforementioned civilian was participating in a protest following the Friday Prayers in Ras al-Jorah Intersection, north of the city. It should be mentioned that 'Oday is the brother of Dania Irshayed (16), who was killed by Israeli soldiers at the entrance of al-Ibrahimi Mosque on 25 October 2015 under the pretext of attempting to carry out a stab attack.
In two separate incidents, Israeli forces killed two Palestinian civilians during a predawn military incursion into Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem, under the pretext of carrying out two run over attacks against Israeli soldiers, who raided and searched shops and houses.
On the same day, medical sources declared that Samah 'Abdel Mo'men 'Abdullah (18) from ';Amoriah village, southeast of Nablus, succumbed to her wounds. The aforementioned girl was wounded on 23 November 2015 when Israeli soldiers stationed at Howarah checkpoint, south of Nablus shot dead 'Alaa' Hashah (16) from 'Askar al-Jadid refugee camp, northeast of the city. Meanwhile, she was hit with a bullet to the head and taken to Bensolon Hospital in Israel. She stayed there until her death was declared.
During this week, 62 Palestinians, including 9 children and 4 journalists, were wounded.
The Palestinian civilians wounded in the West Bank were distributed as follows:
In peaceful protests against Israeli policies: 39 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children and 3 journalists, were wounded. Thirty-one of them were hit with live bullets; and the eight others were hit with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In peaceful protests against Israeli incursion: 12 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded with live bullets.
At the checkpoints and public roads: 2 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were hit with live bullets.
In peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities: nine Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist, were wounded. Six of whom were hit with live bullets; two civilians with rubber-coated metal bullets and one with a sponge-tipped bullet.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 39 civilians, including 5 children and a journalist. Thirty-three of them were hit with live bullets, one with rubber-coated metal bullets, and 5 with shrapnel and tear gas canisters. Thirty-four of them were wounded during protests. Meanwhile, the five others were wounded during shooting incidents in the border areas in the southern Gaza Strip.
On 11 December 2015, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces shot dead Sami Madi (4!) from Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip when he was participating in a protest organized by hundreds of Palestinian civilians adjacent to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, he was hit with a bullet to the chest.
The Palestinian civilians wounded in the Gaza Strip were distributed as follows:
North of the Gaza Strip: 12 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded; 8 of whom sustained a live bullet wound, one was hit with rubber-coated bullets, and the 3 others were hit with tear gas canisters.
Gaza City: 3 Palestinian civilians were hit with live bullets.
Central Gaza Strip: 16 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist, were wounded with live bullets.
Khan Yunis: 3 Palestinian civilians sustained live bullet wounds.
In the context of shooting incidents at the border area, on 11 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at the border area. The shooting caused fear among farmers and bird hunters who were forced to flee from the area for fear of being wounded. No causalities were reported.
On 13 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip opened fire at shepherd Bashir Sabah (21), southeast of al-Shokah village. As a result, he was hit with bullet to the right knee.
On 16 December 2015, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Fokhari area, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at the border area. As a result, Yusef Mohammed Abu Aqel (20) was hit with a bullet that penetrated the belly and entered the hand. The aforementioned person was grazing his sheep near a landfill that is about 150 meters away from the border fence.
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, fired a number of shells at lands and areas to the west of the border fence following the explosion of an explosive device, east of al-Qararah village. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded; wounds of one of whom were classified as serious.
As part of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, on 14 December 2015, Israeli warplanes targeted a military training site belonging to al-Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas movement), southwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip. The site sustained serious material damage, but no casualties were reported. The explosion rocked the area, due to which, residents of that area were frightened.
As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen, on 10 December 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia, and off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire in the civinty Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting repeated on 13 December 2015, but no causalities were reported.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 106 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 7 ones in occupied East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 107 Palestinian civilians, including 28children and two women. Twenty of these civilians, including 14 children, were arrested in East Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces raided two offices belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Jenin and Tulkarm and confiscated the contents in addition to the office of Cultural Enlightenment Forum in Nablus and a Laboratories' Equipment Company in the center of Ramallah. Israeli forces also raided and searched houses belonging to families of Palestinians accused of carrying out run over and stab attacks against settlers and soldiers. They also threatened the families that they will demolish their houses.
House demolitions and demolition notices
On 13 December 2015, the Israeli Collection Department issued a notice to evacuate two residential buildings in "Batn al-Hawa" neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of East Jerusalem after the settlement organization “'Ateerat Cohanim” obtained it under the pretext of “settlers’ ownership of the land”. According to PCHR's investigation, the Israeli authorities handed an evacuation order to Yousef Basbous and his sons that was issued by the Israeli Collection Department in favour of the settlement organization “Ateerat Cohanim” claiming that the land is owned by settlers since the year 1881; they also imposed large sums of money on the family as “compensation for lawyers”.
On 15 December 2015, joint staffs from the Israeli Municipality and forces raided a building belonging to the family of Khail 'Alian in Jabal al-Mukkaber village, southeast of East Jerusalem, and handed the family an administrative demolition under the pretext of building without a license. 'Alian family said that the building belonging to Khalil 'Alian and his sons is comprised of 3 floors; in each of which there is a 130-square-meter apartment. The building shelters 25 members.
16 December 2015, Israeli musicality bulldozers demolished a house belonging to Ibrahim Diab in al-sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of East Jerusalem's old City under the pretext of building without a license. The house used to shelter a family of 7 members, including 5 children and was build years ago. The family rebuilt parts of the 85-square-meter house.
On 12 December 2015, activists from Peace Now organization revealed that the Israeli Civil Administration issued a military order, which declared about 30 dunums of Palestinian lands in Deiristiya village in Salfit and Jinsafut village in Qalqiliya, as “State Land”. The dunums to be confiscated are located between the settlements of "Karne Shamron" and "Ma'ale Shamron" established on the lands of the aforementioned villages.
On 10 December 2015, a group of settlers under the Israeli forces' protection backed by military vehicles moved into "al-Hafirah" area between 'Arabah and Markah villages, southwest of Jenin. On 13 December 2015, a group of settlers moved into the area of "Tarsalah settlement", which was evacuated in 2005, and also known as "Sanour Camp" established on Palestinian lands, south of Jenin. The settlers set their tents and stayed for some time in the area to perform Talmudic prayers. The settlers later withdrew as Israeli soldiers arrived at the area. No further incidents were reported.
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.
Settlement activities:
On 12 December 2015, activists from Peace Now organization revealed that the Israeli Civil Administration issued a military order, which declared about 30 dunums of Palestinian lands in Deiristiya village in Salfit and Jinsafut village in Qalqiliya, as “State Land”.
On 10 December 2015, a group of settlers under the Israeli forces' protection backed by military vehicles moved into "al-Hafirah" area between 'Arabah and Markah villages, southwest of Jenin. They performed religious rituals near an archaeological site. Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Samer Mohammed Ahmed Mousa (46) and turned it into a military observation point.
Uprooted Palestinian 
During a news conference after meeting with UN envoy Ismail Sheikh, he said that the delegation presented a protest paper to the United Nations for ignoring the cease-fire.
