Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(16 – 22 June 2016)
- Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
- A Palestinian child was killed while another civilian succumbed to his wounds in the West Bank.
- 6 civilians were wounded, including 3 children, in the West Bank.
- A civilian was wounded when he played with a suspicious object from the Israeli forces’ remnants, east of al-Zaytoun neighbourhood.
- Israeli forces conducted 56 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 in Jerusalem.
- 54 civilians, including 8 children and 3young women.
- 11 of them, including 8 children and 3 young women, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
- Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
- Israeli forces opened fire at 6 Palestinian fishing boats, south of Yata, but neither casualties nor arrests were reported.
- Israeli forces demolished houses on grounds of collective punishment
- A house was demolished in Hajjah illage, northeast of Qalqilya.
- Israeli forces continued settlement activities in the West Bank.
- Two houses were levelled in the southern side of Yata, and 19 civilians were displaced, including 12 children and 4 women.
- 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.
- 13 Palestinian civilians, including 2 women, were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
- Director of “World Vision” –Gaza Zonal office was arrested at Beit Hanoun Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (16 – 22 June 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 a Palestinian child while another civilian succumbed to his wounds in the West Bank. Moreover, Israeli forces wounded 6 other civilians, including 3 children, in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, a civilian sustained moderate wounds due to the explosion of a suspicious object he was playing with from the Israeli forces’ remnants. Moreover, Israeli forces continued targeting the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea and the farmers in the border area.
In the West Bank, in the context of Israeli forces using force against peaceful protests, on 21 June 2016, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child and wounded four other civilians, including 3 children; wounds of two of whom were classified as dangerous. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested two other children near Beit Sira village bridge and Beit ‘Or al-Tahta, southwest of Ramallah when Israeli forces opened fire at a car carrying 6 children and driven by ‘Ahd ‘Othman (21) on their way back home in Beit ‘Or al-Tahta village. Israeli forces claimed in the beginning that the Palestinian children threw stones at setters’ cars on Road 443. Only hours later, Israeli forces admitted that they mistakenly killed the child.
On 19 June 2016, Medical sources in al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron, declared that ‘Arif Shareef Jaradat (22), from Sa’ir village, east of Hebron, succumbed to his wounds. According to PCHR’s investigations, the aforementioned civilian was hit with a live bullet by Israeli forces on 04 May 2016 when the later moved into the village. He was transferred to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron and underwent then a surgery to remove part of the liver and Large intestine. He was later discharged from the hospital. On 17 June 2016, Jaradat was taken to al-Ahli Hospital in the City after his health status deteriorated. The doctors said that they found the large intestine closed, causing adhesions. As a result, his health status deteriorated and died. It should be mentioned that the aforementioned civilians suffered from “Down Syndrome”.
On 21 June, two Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian civilians and children gathered to throw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who in response fired live ammunition, gas canisters and sound bombs at the stone-throwers to disperse them. As a result, two civilians were wounded.
In the Gaza Strip, on 18 June 2016, Mohammed Qreiqe’a (23) from al-Shuja’iyah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City, was wounded after a suspicious object he played with exploded from the Israeli remnants. His left hand and hand-right finger were amputated and sustained shrapnel wounds throughout his body. He was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where his wounds were classified as moderate.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea, on 19 June 2016, Israeli forces stationed off al-Wahah shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats and chased them.
On 20 June 2016, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Soudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats and chased them as well.
On the same day, Israeli gunboats stationed off Khan Younis shore in the southern Gaza Strip heavily opened fire in the vicinity of Palestinian fishing boats. The shooting recurred in the area at approximately 19:00 and at approximately 07:30 on Tuesday, 21 June 2016.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 limited ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 54 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children and 3 women. Eleven of them, including 4 children and 3 women, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
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 (KeremShaloum) 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.
Collective Punishment Policy:
On 21 June 2016, Israeli forces accompanied with two military bulldoers moved into Hajjaah village, east of Qalqilya. They surrounded a hoise belonging to the family of Mohammed ‘Abdel Qader Masalahah, father of Bashar Masalhah who was killed on 08 March 2016 under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing attack in Yafa. They started demolishing the inside walls with a hand digger while they demolished the outside walls with a bulldozer.
Settlement activities:
On 19 June 2016, Israeli forces demolished with heavy vehicles two houses in Abu Jheishesh Valley area, south of Sousia village, south of Yata, south of Hebron.
Details
- Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 16 June 2016
- At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, and stationed in Roq’a area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hatem Mahmoud Hoshiya (67), whose son, Amjad (21), was killed by Israeli officers on 07 October 2015 in “Karyiay Jad” in Israel. Israeli forces claimed that Amjad tried to carry out a stabbing attack and steal a firearm from an Israeli soldier. A number of Israeli soldiers raided and searched houses belonging to Abdul Kareem Hoshaieh; Fou’ad al-Shamisty; Mohamed Ibrahim Hoshaieh; Mohamed Mahmoud Ed’ais; Bahaa Nasir Makhamrah; and Waleed Waheed Hoshaieh “al-Jundi” (22). Israeli forces arrested Waleed al-Jundi and later withdrew. In the meantime, Israeli forces moved into al-Karmel area, south of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Waleed Shratieh (21) and arrested him.
- At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military vehicles moved into Jericho. Israeli vehicles patrolled the streets. They then headed to the west and moved into ‘Ain al-Sultan refugee camp. They raided and searched three houses from which they arrested three civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested persons were identified as Yousef Omar Ali Wishah (20), Sultan Hamed Ibrahim (21), and Ahmed Mohamed Ali Wishah (20).
- At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into Kafur ‘Aboush village, east of Qalqiliya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hamza Adib Abdullah Khalaf (24) and arrested him.
- At approximately 20:45, Israeli forces moved into al-Zawiya village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nour al-Deen ‘Ezat Shoqair (60) and arrested him.
- At approximately 02:55, Israeli forces moved into Kafur al-Deek village, west of Salfit. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested 2 civilians, including a child. The arrested persons were identified as Mashhour Mohamed Naief al-Deek (30) and ‘Anan Ibrahim Ahmed al-Deek (17).
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura, Beit Oula, Samou’a and ‘Abda villages and al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!
No comments:
Post a Comment