Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against the State of Palestine (30 March – 05 April 2017)

30 March – 05 April 2017 – Palestinian Center for Human Rights

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (30 March – 05 April 2017)

Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

(30 March – 05 April 2017)

• Israeli forces killed a Palestinian from Nablus in occupied Jerusalem
• 22 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a journalist, were wounded.

• Israeli forces continued to target the border areas in the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported

• Israeli forces conducted 57 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 11 incursions into occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs.
• 73 civilians, including 16 children, were arrested in the West Bank.
• 23 of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs.
• Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• Israeli forces demolished 16 residential apartments in al-Za’im village and forced 3 civilians to self-demolish their houses.
• 34 civilians were displaced, including 16 children.

• Israeli forces continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
• 20 dunums were demolished from Deir Balout lands, and 135 olive trees were uprooted from Deiristayah in Salfit.

• Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 10^th

• Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
• 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (30 March – 05 April 2017).

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child from Nablus in Jerusalem’s Old City.  Meanwhile, they wounded 22 other civilians, including 3 children and a photojournalist, in the West Bank.  In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to open fire at the farmers in the border areas.

In the West Bank, in a new crime of using excessive force, on 01 April 2017, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child, Ahmed Ghazal (17), from Nablus, after stabbing settlers on al-Wad Street in Jerusalem’s Old City.  They chased the abovmeentioned child, who fled towards the entry of a small building.  The Israeli forces then fired around 25 bullets at him from a close distance, so Ghazal immediately died.  Eyewitnesses emphasized that the shooting occurred immediately after they raided the building, so they could have arrested the child especially that the building is small and was completely surrounded.  Moreover, there was only one exit.

In the same context, on 30 March 2017, 16 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded when dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders organized a peaceful protest commemorating the Earth Day in Salman Mount, south of Nablus, and planted olive trees in a land threatened of confiscation.  Two of the wounded persons were hit with live bullets while the rest were hit with metal bullets.

On the same day, a 25-year-old civilian was hit with a bullet to the left thigh when Israeli forces moved into Tubas to carry out an arrest campaign.  Therefore, a number of civilians protested against them.

On 31 March 2017, a 14-year-old child was wounded when Israeli forces stationed at the southern entrance to Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, opened fire at him.  They then arrested the child and took him to a hospital in Israel.

On the same day, Israeli forces wounded 3 civilians, including a photojournalist in Palestine TV while participating in Kafr Qadoum protest, north of Qalqilya.

On 05 April 2017, Akram al-Atrash (23) was hit with 3 bullets to the shoulder, hand and chest when Israeli undercover units dressed like Palestinians “Mosta’arbeen” sneaked into al-Dheishah refugee camp, south of Bethlehem to carry out an arrest campaign.

In the Gaza Strip, as part of targeting the border areas, on 03 April 2017, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at the agricultural lands in al-Fokhari and Khuza’ah villages.  No casualties were reported.

On 04 April 2017, Israeli planes sprayed crop-killing pesticides on the agricultural lands to the west of the border fence between Israel and Gaza Strip, northeast of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. Farmers there emphasized that they saw small planes flying low in the area.  The farmers added that those planes started spraying pesticides over 300-400 meters of the lands to the west of the fence before moving to the north to the eastern side of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 57 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 11 ones into occupied Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 73 Palestinian civilians, including 16 children. Twenty-three of them, including 11 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

Creating Jewish Majority in Occupied East Jerusalem:

In the context of house demolitions, the Israeli Municipality vehicles demolished 3 residential facilities, walls and an agricultural room in Za’im village, east of the city, under the pretext of non-licensing.  Those facilities are comprised of 3 buildings, which include 16 apartments; two of which were inhabited, 8 were ready for housing and 6 were under construction.  Moreover, the bulldozers demolished an agricultural room and walls surrounding 3 plots of lands.  It should be mentioned that the two inhabited apartments used to shelter 11 persons.

In the same context, Hafez al-Rajabi self-demolished his house on the same day in Beit Hanina village, north of East occupied Jerusalem, upon a decision by the Israeli municipality, in order to avoid paying the demolition costs to the municipality staff.  The 120-square-meter house was built 15 years ago and sheltered a family of 7 members, including 4 children.

in the same context, Fayez and Soliman ‘Abdel Latif Ja’abis was forced to self-demolishe their houses in al-Mukaber Mount village, southeast of occupied Jerusalem, upon a decision by the Israeli municipality.  The two houses were built on an area of 150 square meters 3 years ago and sheltered two families of 16 members, including 12 children.

Settlement Activities and settlers’ attacks against Palestinian civilians and their property:

On 30 March 2017, Israeli forces levelled Palestinian lands belonging to the Deir Balout Municpality, west of Salfit.  Local sources said that the Israeli municipality bulldozers levelled so far 20 dunums out of 72 dunums intended to be levelled.  those lands belong to the families of Samarah, ‘Abdel Rahman and ‘Abdullah and were levelled for the interest of expanding “Arayel” settlement and its industrial area.

On 03 April 2017, Israeli forces uprooted 135 olive trees from Qana Valley lands belonging to the Deiristiya Municipality, northwest of Salfit, under the pretext that “they are obstacles in the Natural Reserve.” A 35-meter retaining wall was also demolished under the pretext of changing the area.

In the same context, on 27 March 2017, a group of settlers from Gel’ad settlement established on the Palestinian lands of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya, attacked farmers from the abovementioned village while ploughing their land there.

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 2 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 65%. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 47% and youth constitutes 65% of the unemployed persons.  Moreover, 80% of the Gaza Strip population depends on international aid to secure their minimum daily needs. These rates indicate the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued to suffocate the Palestinian cities and village by imposing military checkpoints around and/or between them. This created “cantons” isolated from each other that hinders the movement of civilians. Moreover, the Palestinian civilians suffering aggravated because of the annexation wall and checkpoints erected on daily basis to catch Palestinians.

Details

1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip

Thursday, 30 March 2017

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Far’ah refugee camp, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Fathi Mansour (25) and then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses belonging to Sabri ‘Awad, Malik Sabri ‘Awad, Yusuf Sabri ‘Awad, Sa’id Mahmoud ‘Awad and Mohammed Mahmoud Ekhleil. They then arrested Ekhleil’s son Raed (23).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Surif village, west of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mousa Amin Ghunaimat (30). Israeli forces later withdrew, but no arrests were reported.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They patrolled in the neighborhoods amidst firing of sound bombs. A number of civilians gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who fired live bullets at them in response. As a result, a 25-year-old civilian sustained live bullet wound to the left thigh. He was transferred to Tubas Turkish Hospital to receive medical treatment. Following that, the Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to Husam Salah ‘Essa Abu ‘Amrou (29) and then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ein Yabrud village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Zahi (22) and ‘A’laa’ Hatem Huwaih (19) an then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mousa al-Khdour and then arrested him.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus; Beit Furiq  and Beit dagan villages, east of the city; Qalqiliyah, al-‘Aroub refugee camp, Beit Oula, Taffouf, al-Thaheriyah and Abu al-‘Asja village in Hebron.

Friday, 31 March 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abdul Hakim Sebatin (27) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then burst the doors. They arrested 4 civilians, including 2 children, namely Mohammed Husam Hamed (16), Abdul Qader Sa’ed Hammad (16), Mohammed Abdul Majid Hammad (32), who is a former prisoner, and Abul Jawad Wasef Hamed (26).

• At approximately 04:50, Israeli forces moved into Der Estia village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Tareq Nafeth Mansour (27) and then arrested him.

• In the evening, Israeli forces stationed at the south eastern entrance to Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, opened fire at ‘Atabah Jeyad Husain ‘Amirah (14). As a result, he sustained a live bullet wound to the foot. An ambulance of the Red Crescent Society (PRCS)  arrived at the place  to take ‘Atabah to the hospital, but the Israeli forces prevented to do so. The Israeli forces them called for an Israeli ambulance of Magen David Adom and transferred him to an Israeli hospital.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Sebastia village, Jeni and its camp, Ya’bud, south of the city; al-Samou’i and Ethna villages, south of Hebron.

Saturday, 01 April 2017

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hebron, Taffouh, Hawarah villages, south of Nablus.

Sunday, 02 April 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into the southern area in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Mahmoud al-Natshah (22) and Mohammed ‘Ali Abu ‘Eker (18) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus through its all entrances and stationed in Ras al-‘Ein neighbourhood, south of the city. The soldiers surrounded al-Masri building and then raided and searched a house belonging to Zaher Fathi Ghazal in the abovementioned building and questioned his family and then left the house. It should be noted that Ghazal is the father of Ahmed (17), who was killed a day ago in Jerusalem. The Israeli forces claimed that Ahmed carried out a stab attack in Wadi al-Jawz neighbourhood in the city. Moreover, the Israeli forces raided and searched al-Bukhari Library adjacent to Najah National University, west of the city, and fixed a notice to close the library for 2 months. It should be noted that the abovementioned library, which has been closed since 27 October 2016 and whose contents were confiscated, belongs to prisoner ‘Alaa’ Taiseer Abdul Ghani Essa Salaam, who has been arrested since 03 October 2016. The closure came after the Israeli claims that the place contributes to incitement to carry out terrorist attacks.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fujjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad Mahmoud Taqatqa (22) and then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in Safa, al-Sha’ab and al-Bayadah neighbourhoods. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf Bader Ekhleil (35), confiscated clothes of his son ‘Ammar (7) and then arrested Yusuf. The soldiers also raided and searched a house belonging to Abdul Hamid Mhaisen ‘Awad (50) and then arrested his son Montser (21). They also arrested Ibrahim Khalil Abu Dayyah (24) after searching his house.

Later, Jacqueline Fararjeh, a lawyer at the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces attacked and investigated EKhleil and Abu Dayyah during their arrest. They also attacked Saber al-‘Amour from Taqqou’ village, southeast of Bethlehem. The Fararjeh’s statements came after she visited the three civilians in the detention center in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Zeta village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Ayham Roumal ‘Ali Abu Hamdi (17).

• At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces moved into Wad Abu Fariha area in al-‘abyat village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Anas Nabhan al-‘Amour (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al- Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron, and stationed in Shuweikah area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah ‘Ataa al-Hawarin (29) and later withdrew, but no arrests were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Beit Awa and Raboud villages in Hebron and Beta village, south of Nablus.

Monday, 03 April 2017

•  At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Karkafah area in the center of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Sabri Zahawrah (20) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Samou’i village, south of Hebron, and stationed in al-Semia area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Shebel Ahmed Daghamin (33) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to ‘Ataa Omer Nakhlah (33) and Mohammed Jalal Nakhlah (20) and then arrested them.

•  At approximately 07:30, Israeli undercover agents “Mosta’rebeen” dressed like Palestinian civilians moved into al-Masyoun neighbourhood, south of Ramallah. Eyewitnesses said to PCHR’s fieldworker that 7 persons were inside a furniture truck, and then raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Wael ‘Afanah (19). They attacked him and his family and then arrested him. It should be noted that ‘Afanah was a former prisoner.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza strip, opened fire at agricultural lands in Khuza’ah and al-Fukhari villages, west of the abovementioned border fence. The shooting continued sporadically for half an hour, but no casualties were reported.

Tuesday, 04 April 2017

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed on al-Saf Street in the centre of the city. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Mustafa Bassam Ahmed al-Shaikh (24) and Mohammed Maslat (26).

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses, after which they arrested Hamzah Abdullah Hasan Yusuf (22) and Momen Ahmed Abdul Qader ‘Obaid (23)

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, and stationed in al-Fouqa neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house Wadi’ Mohammed al-Badawi (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Omer ‘Adnan Yaseen Hamarshah (25).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Ethna village, west of Hebron and stationed in ‘Aziz neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Motasem Jebril al-Jayawi (27) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. A number of young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and sound bombs at the young men in response. In the meantime, the Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 3 civilians, including a child, namely Oseid Morad Nakhlah (18), Mohammed Neal ‘Elyan (17) and Sofian Mohammed ‘Ataa Sharakah (18).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Barta’ah village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Mohammed Hamdan Kansh (27) and Mohammed Jamal Mas’oud (22).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Yatta, south of Hebron, and stationed in Roq’ah neighbourhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdullah Essa al-‘Awouri (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Ezbet al-Jarad, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Khalid Bassam Abdul Fattah Hamshari (21).

• At approximately 07:00, Israeli planes sprayed crop-killing pesticides at agricultural lands that are around 300 to 400 meters away to the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Farmers in the area said to PCHR’s fieldworker that they saw small planes flying low over the abovementioned border fence, sprayed pesticides on an area of 300 – 400 square meters along the abovementioned border fence. The planes flied then to the north heading to east of Deir al-Balah. The spraying continued until 09:30. It should be noted that this is not the first time that Israeli forces spray pesticides on the area under the pretext of burn grass in the buffer zone, west of the border fence for security reasons. However, each time, the pesticides affect agricultural lands and damaged large areas of them.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Surif, Kharas villages, al-Fawar refugee camp and al-Reihiyah village.

Wednesday, 05 April 2017

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Dawhah village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Baraa’ Jamil Abu ‘Alyah (21) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Nahalin village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses. They then arrested 4 civilians, including a child, namely ‘Adel Mohammed Ghayatha (16), Ibrahim Walid Najajrah (20), Abdul Karim Mohammed Shakarnah (20) and ‘Omran Yusuf Najajrah (21).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Fahmah village, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Loai Ahmed Sa’abnhah (35) and Sahfiq Mahmoud Sa’abnah (27).

• At approximately 03:30, a group of Israeli undercover agents dressed like Palestinian civilians used a truck and moved into al-Dheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Ahmed Essa Sarrar (22), Mo’tasem Mazen Raqban (23) and Ahmed al-Sar’awi (22). After that, a group of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the soldiers. The soldiers fired live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets at the young men in response. As a result, Akram al-Atrash (23) was hit with 3 live bullets to the shoulder, hand and chest. He was transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem to receive medical treatment.

• Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall

West Bank:

• At approximately 12:00, on Thursday, 30 March 2017, on Earth day, dozens of Palestinian civilians and human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration. They moved from Madama village council and made their way to al-Qa’dat area in Suleiman Mount, south of the village, which is threatened of confiscation, as they carried olive seedlings. The civilians were surprised with the Israeli forces stationed on the top of the abovementioned mount, which is about 500 meters away from the land they intended to plant. When the civilians began planting the olive seedlings, the Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets at them. As a result, 16 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. Two civilians were hit with live bullets while the others were hit with metal bullets. Among those wounded were Dr. Ghassan Hamdan (54), Director of Medical Relief in Palestine in Nablus, sustained a metal bullet wound to the back; Derar Mohammed Husain Abu Omer (53), working in the Palestinian Agricultural Relief, was hit with a metal bullet to the right leg; Khaled Hasan Mohammed Soboh (59), official in Agricultural Relief, was hit with a metal bullet to the left leg sustaining fracture, Amin Mohammed Amin Nassar (12) sustained a metal bullet wound to the left leg and Hafeth Mohammed Hafeth Nassar (12) was hit with a metal bullet to the leg.

• At approximately 13:00 on the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians, activists from the Hebron Defense Committee and International and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful protest to plant trees in Wad al-Husain area, east of Hebron, on which the Israeli authorities established “Kiryat Arba” The protest was organized to commemorate the 41^st anniversary of Earth Day. The protestors carried slogans titled “United against confiscation of lands in al-Jalil, al-Naqab and al-Muthalath”. The soldiers surrounded the area and attacked and beat the protesters, claiming that the abovementioned area was declared as a closed military zone. The Israeli soldiers then arrested 4 activists from the Popular Resistance and took them to a detention center in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem. The arrested activists were identified as ‘Anan Samir Maswadah, an activist in the Hebron Defense Committee; Bade’I Mohammed Adeeb Duwaik, Coordinator of the “human rights Defenders” Gathering; Younis Mohammed ‘Arar, Head of the Palestinian Committee against the Annexation Wall in Hebron and Eshaq Abdul Hamid al-Khatib. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities informed the lawyers of the arrested activists that they were arrested on charges of being in a closed military zone.

• At approximately 12:40 on Friday, 31 March 2017, Palestinian civilians and International activists organized a protest in Kufur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. They made their way towards the eastern entrance of the village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, 3 civilians were wounded, including Bashar Mahmoud Nazal Saleh (40), a photojournalist at Palestine TV Channel, sustained a metal bullet to the right leg. Moreover, several civilians suffered tear gas inhalation, and the Israeli bulldozers damaged the main water pipe of the village.

• Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized demonstrations in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah, and in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of the city, protesting against the annexation wall and settlement activities. Israeli forces forcibly dispersed the protestors, firing live and metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. They also chased the protesters into olive fields and between houses. As a result, many of the protesters suffered tear gas inhalation while others sustained bruises due to being beaten up by the Israeli soldiers.

2. 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.

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.

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. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.

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 also continued applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned, blackmailed or arrested.

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