israeli violence against Palestinians will never end as a result of UN & US hypocrisy

Israeli violence against Palestinians will never end as a result of UN & US hypocrisy

The US is fine with “rebels” like Al-Qaeda “protesting” in Syria, but when genuinely unarmed Palestinians protest the occupiers who violently expelled them from their homes and land, they are “inciting violence.”

During peaceful protests on March 30 in eastern Gaza, an unarmed Palestinian man walked on farmland towards the fence built by his occupiers. Within minutes, he was shot by one of the 100 Israeli special forces snipers deployed along the fence precisely to quash dissent—by any means necessary—under the old pretext of “self-defense.”

On the same day, a Palestinian woman, armed solely with a flag, walked towards the fence which has imprisoned her for so many years. She, too, was targeted by one of the snipers.

Among the 17 killed that day was a 16-year-old girl and a 27-year-old farmer, the latter killed by Israeli tank fire.

Even the BBC, which is not generally known to report fairly on Palestine, noted: “The first to die was Omar Samour, 27 – a Palestinian farmer killed in Israeli shelling as he worked his land near Khan Younis early on Friday, before the protests began.”

Yet, according to Israel, this farmer was a “terrorist infiltrator,” the lexicon which Israel uses to whitewash its extrajudicial assassinations.

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Netanyahu says Turkey in no position to lecture ‘world’s most moral army’ over violent Gaza clashes

Sputnik reports that the Israeli Army spokesperson proudly tweeted they knew “where every bullet landed,” but later deleted the tweet, likely because it was clear these bullets landed in the bodies of unarmed protesters.

In my three years living in Gaza, I frequently accompanied such demonstrations, and also did so in countless demonstrations when I stayed as an activist for eight months in the West Bank. Having experienced these first hand, I’m acutely aware that Israel has zero moral authority on conduct.

In the tens of demonstrations in the West Bank and Gaza which I accompanied, “violence” always began with the Israelis shooting live ammunition, lead bullets covered with a thin rubber layer, and suffocating tear gas at unarmed Palestinians. That Palestinian youths chose to respond with slingshot-spun rocks is entirely within their rights. But in my experiences, it was always Israel which began, shooting to maim and kill, kidnapping and imprisoning unarmed protesters.

On Land Day in March 2010, I joined one of six demonstrations that were held in the Gaza Strip. It was in Khoza’a village, east of Khan Younis. The four young Palestinian men targeted by Israeli snipers all reported being shot with live ammunition without any prior warnings, including one man shot in his head.

And as with the March 2018 Land Day demonstrations, Israel deemed the 2010 assault acceptable: “an investigation showed ‘soldiers operated in accordance with accepted dispersal procedures,’ in regards to the IDF violence against unarmed protestors.”

The “accepted dispersal procedures” of Israel occur on a daily basis throughout occupied Palestine, whether against unarmed protesters in Bil’in village near Ramallah, or against unarmed farmers—from children to elderly—in Gaza.

READ MORE: Israeli defense minister threatens death to Palestinians coming to border

These procedures include firing on Palestinian civilians from remotely-controlled Israeli gun towers stationed along the fence enclosing Gaza. Israel also targets other civilians working in border regions, including children and youths collecting rubble and scrap metal for use in construction.

Western media is reporting that the 2018 attacks on Palestinian protesters was the single bloodiest day in Gaza since the 2014 “clashes.” The lexicon of “clashes” – used to refer to Israel’s brutal summer 2014 bombardment of Gaza, and also the recent Israeli assassinations of civilians in protests – is corporate media’s typical distortion of reality and of the balance of power. When unarmed protesters calling for human rights are literally gunned down, these are not “clashes,” these are assassinations.

Further, this negates the near-daily Israeli targeting of Palestinian farmers, fishers, and people working in the border regions. This including sniping at and shelling women, elderly, and children.

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Israeli defense minister describes calls for probe into IDF use of force ‘hypocritical’

In the farmer accompaniment work I did in Gaza, many Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition at and around myself and other volunteers, at close proximity, in an effort to aggress and frighten farmers off of their land. Israel’s policy of attacking Palestinian farmers and fishers is a part of their larger policy of rendering Palestinians utterly dependent on inadequate food aid and utterly, needlessly, impoverished.

In 2011, I wrote about the Israeli destruction of Palestinian agriculture in Gaza, noting:

“Around a decade ago, Palestinian farmers could still access land up to 50 metres from the border. The Israeli-deemed ‘no-go zone’ expanded over the years to 150 metres, then 300 metres, cutting Palestinian farmers from their orchards, crops and grazing land.

“A decade later, those orchards bulldozed by Israeli bulldozers, farmers now struggle to access land in some areas up to two kilometres along the 300 metre buffer zone violently rendered off-limits by the Israeli soldiers.

“Over 30 percent of Gaza’s agricultural land is not worked on because of the buffer zone. This is Gaza’s more fertile land, where olive, fruit, citrus and nut trees once flourished, along with wheat, barley, rye and other crops, providing much of Gaza’s needs.”

Two brutal Israeli bombardments of Gaza later, the percentage of workable agricultural land will have decreased still further.

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10 reported deaths in Turkish strikes on Afrin, wounded civilians rushed to hospital (GRAPHIC VIDEO)

Turkey and Israel compete for moral supremacy

Following Israel’s attacks on Palestinian protesters, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan bashed Israel, stating:

“I do not need to tell the world how cruel the Israeli Army is. We can see what this terror state is doing by looking at the situation in Gaza and Jerusalem. Israel has carried out a massacre in Gaza and Netanyahu is a terrorist.”

While I happen to agree with this statement, it is particularly ironic that it comes from the leader of a state that is warring on Syria, has given safe passage, and weapons, to terrorists to enter Syria, and has in recent months killed hundreds of civilians in northwestern Syria.

Since late January, Turkey has been bombing Afrin, northwestern Syria. The latest casualty count I have found was 222 civilians murdered and 700 injured as of March 10, 2018. A later report states, “more than 1000 civilians martyred and injured,” thousands displaced, by the Turkish bombings.

Then, of course, there is Israel’s direct support to terrorists in Syria, including treating terrorists from the FSA to Al-Qaeda in Israeli hospitals.

Thus, both Israel and Turkey have civilians’ blood on their hands, and neither has been held accountable.

No justice has ever come to those civilians maimed, murdered, imprisoned by Israel. Nor has any international body truly pushed for justice. Weak words, quickly forgotten, are not the pursuit of justice and accountability of the perpetrators of crimes.

Predictably weak UN reaction

Following Israel’s assassination of Palestinian protesters, the United Nations issued weak statements of concern, but no actual condemnation of Israel’s brutality.

Absent the outrage which UN bodies and representatives reserve almost exclusively for war propaganda and whitewashing terrorists in Syria, UN Secretary-General António Guterres blandly offered his “thoughts” to the families of those murdered by Israel. He called for “an independent and transparent investigation into these incidents.” Just who would do such an investigation? Israel? The UN?

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, known for his rabid anti-Palestinian statements, vetoed the call, stating, “There will be no commission of inquiry. We shall not cooperate with any commission of inquiry.”

Read more

Abduct, imprison, repeat: Israel systematically imprisons Palestinians on false or no charges

The UN assistant secretary-general, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, described the day of slaughter as having “devolved into violence at several locations across Gaza.” Seventeen unarmed Palestinians murdered by elite Israeli snipers is not “devolving into violence,” it is slaughter. Premeditated slaughter, at that.

We can expect precisely zero action or justice via the UN, when such a massacre is downplayed, and when prior Israeli massacres of Palestinians have never been held accountable by the UN or by the state which the UN routinely requests look into its own murdering.

At that same UNSC meeting, America’s UN delegate, Walter Miller, had the gall to put the blame on Palestinians. Miller described Palestinian civilians as: “Bad actors who use protests as a cover to incite violence [and] endanger innocent lives.”

America is fine with “rebels” like Al-Qaeda “protesting” in Syria, but when genuinely unarmed protesters in Palestine exercise their right under international law to protest the occupiers who violently expelled them from their homes and land, they are “inciting violence.” The hypocrisy of America and the UN never ends, and as a result, the violence of Israel will never end.

While Turkey cries crocodile tears for Palestinians, Israel pretends to be the most moral army in the world, and the UN turns endless blind eyes to Israel’s war crimes and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and Palestinians continue to bravely protest the crimes of Israel.

As Gareth Porter tweeted, “many 1000s of Gazans are ready to die as martyrs rather than submit to Israel’s policy of slow death; Israeli snipers will continue 2 kill Palestinian demonstrators in cold blood; US gov’t & news media have given Israel a green light.”

Indeed, the UN, corporate media and world leadership may, and do, ignore or vilify them, but Palestinians keep standing up to the most immoral military and government in the region.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

#Skripal: The “Russian Poisoning” Farce: Knobs and Knockers

The “Russian Poisoning” Farce: Knobs and Knockers

By Craig Murray, former British intelligence officer, former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, and Rector (i.e. Chancellor) of the University of Dundee. Originally published at CraigMurray.org.uk.

What is left of the government’s definitive identification of Russia as the culprit in the Salisbury attack? It is a simple truth that Russia is not the only state that could have made the nerve agent: dozens of them could. It could also have been made by many non-state actors.

Motorola sales agent Gary Aitkenhead – inexplicably since January, Chief Executive of Porton Down chemical weapons establishment – said in his Sky interview that “probably” only a state actor could create the nerve agent. That is to admit the possibility that a non state actor could. David Collum, Professor of Organo-Chemistry at Cornell University, infinitely more qualified than a Motorola salesman, has stated that his senior students could do it. Professor Collum tweeted me this morning.

The key point in his tweet is, of course “if asked”. The state and corporate media has not asked Prof. Collum nor any of the Professors of Organic Chemistry in the UK. There simply is no basic investigative journalism happening around this case.

So given that the weapon itself is not firm evidence it was Russia that did it, what is Boris Johnson’s evidence? It turns out that the British government’s evidence is no more than the technique of smearing nerve agent on the door handle. All of the UK media have been briefed by “security sources” that the UK has a copy of a secret Russian assassin training manual detailing how to put nerve agent on door handles, and that given the nerve agent was found on the Skripals door handle, this is the clinching evidence which convinced NATO allies of Russia’s guilt.

As the Daily Mirror reported in direct quotes of the “security source”

“It amounts to Russia’s tradecraft manual on applying poison to door handles. It’s the smoking gun. It is strong proof that in the last ten years Russia has researched methods to apply poisons, including by using door handles. The significant detail is that these were the facts that helped persuade allies it could only be Russia that did this.”

Precisely the same government briefing is published by the Daily Mail in a bigger splash here, and reflected in numerous other mainstream propaganda outlets.

Two questions arise. How credible is the British government’s possession of a Russian secret training manual for using novichok agents, and how credible is it that the Skripals were poisoned by their doorknob.

To take the second question first, I see major problems with the notion that the Skripals were poisoned by their doorknob.

The first is this. After what Dame Sally Davis, Chief Medical officer for England, called “rigorous scientific analysis” of the substance used on the Skripals, the government advised those who may have been in contact to wash their clothes and wipe surfaces with warm water and wet wipes. Suspect locations were hosed down by the fire brigade.

But if the substance was in a form that could be washed away, why was it placed on an external door knob? It was in point of fact raining heavily in Salisbury that day, and indeed had been for some time.

Can somebody explain to me the scenario in which two people both touch the exterior door handle in exiting and closing the door? And if it transferred from one to the other, why did it not also transfer to the doctor who gave extensive aid that brought her in close bodily contact, including with fluids?

The second problem is that the Novichok family of nerve agents are instant acting. There is no such thing as a delayed reaction nerve agent. Remember we have been specifically told by Theresa May that this nerve agent is up to ten times more powerful than VX, the Porton Down developed nerve agent that killed Kim’s brother in 15 minutes.

But if it was on the doorknob, the last contact they could possibly have had with the nerve agent was a full three hours before it took effect. Not only that, they were well enough to drive, to walk around a shopping centre, visit a pub, and then – and this is the truly unbelievable bit – their central nervous systems felt in such good fettle, and their digestive systems so in balance, they were able to sit down and eat a full restaurant meal. Only after all that were they – both at precisely the same time despite their substantially different weights – suddenly struck down by the nerve agent, which went from no effects at all, to deadly, on an alarm clock basis.

This narrative simply is not remotely credible. Nerve agents – above all “military grade nerve agents” – were designed as battlefield weapons. They do not leave opponents fighting fit for hours. There is no description in the scientific literature of a nerve agent having this extraordinary time bomb effect. Here another genuine Professor describes their fast action in Scientific American:

Unlike traditional poisons, nerve agents don’t need to be added to food and drink to be effective. They are quite volatile, colourless liquids (except VX, said to resemble engine oil). The concentration in the vapour at room temperature is lethal. The symptoms of poisoning come on quickly, and include chest tightening, difficulty in breathing, and very likely asphyxiation. Associated symptoms include vomiting and massive incontinence. Victims of the Tokyo subway attack were reported to be bringing up blood. Kim Jong-nam died in less than 20 minutes. Eventually, you die either through asphyxiation or cardiac arrest.

If the nerve agent was on the door handle and they touched it, the onset of these symptoms would have occurred before they reached the car. They would certainly have not felt like sitting down to a good lunch two hours later. And they would have been dead three weeks ago. We all pray that Sergei also recovers.

The second part of the extraordinarily happy coincidence of the nerve agent being on the door handle, and the British government having a Russian manual on applying nerve agent to door handles, is whether the manual is real. It strikes me this is improbable – it rings far too much of the kind of intel they had on Iraqi WMD. It also allegedly dates from the last ten years, so Putin’s Russia, not the period of chaos, and the FSB is a pretty tight organisation in this period. MI6 penetration is just not that good.

A key question is of course how long the UK has had this manual, and what was its provenance. Another key question is why Britain failed to produce it to the OPCW – and indeed why it does not publish it now, with any identifying marks of the particular copy excluded, given it has widely publicised its existence and possession of it. If Boris Johnson wants to be believed by us, publish the Russian manual.

We also have to consider whether the FSB really publishes its secret assassination techniques in a manual. I attended, as other senior FCO staff, a number of MI6 training courses. One on explosives handling was at Fort Monckton, not too far from Salisbury. One in a very nondescript London office block was on bugging techniques. I recall seeing rigs set up to drill minute holes in walls, turning very slowly indeed. Many hours to get through the wall but almost no noise or vibration. It was where I learnt the government can listen to you through activating the microphone in your mobile phone, even when your phone is switched off. I recall javelin like directional microphones suspended from ceilings to point at distant targets, and a listening device that worked through a beam of infra-red light, but the target could foil by closing the curtains.

The point is that there were of course no manuals for this stuff, no manuals for any other secret MI6 techniques, and these things are not lightly written down.

I would add to this explanation that I lost all faith in the police investigation when it was taken out of the hands of the local police force and given to the highly politicised Metropolitan Police anti-terror squad. I suspect the explanation of the remarkably convenient (but physically impossible) evidence of the door handle method that precisely fits the “Russian manual” may lie there.

These are some of the problems I have with the official account of events. Boris lied about the certainty of the provenance of the nerve agent, and his fall back evidence is at present highly unconvincing. None of which proves it was not the Russian state that was responsible. But there is no convincing proof that it was, and there are several other possibilities. Eventually the glaring problems with the official narrative might be resolved, but what is plain is that Johnson and May have been premature and grossly irresponsible.

I shall post this evening on Johnson’s final claim, that only the Russians had motive

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

15th Anniversary of American (& British) (illegal) Invasion of Iraq – A Lesson Unlearnt

15th Anniversary of American Invasion of Iraq – A Lesson Unlearnt 

Some 15 years ago the American-British campaign aimed at discrediting Iraq reached its apogee. Washington used every trick in the book to persuade the world that the then ruler of Iraq Saddam Hussein was in possession of weapons of mass destruction, while possessing a desire to unleash it deadly force upon the world. People of the world were being prepared for yet another illegal armed aggression, with Iraq and its people found themselves staring down the barrel of a gun. But to pull out something like this crime, the West had to accuse Hussein of all the sins it could come up with

The main goal of the US invasion was to show the world who was the ultimate alpha dog. After the tragic events of 9/11 a great many countries had their doubts about this. The calculation was that since Iraq was a major oil producer the revenue from taking over its natural resources would cover the costs of the military adventure Washington was about to embark on.

Anti-Iraqi hysteria reached enormous proportions when the former US Secretary of State Colin Powell demonstrated test tubes of unknown origin at the meeting of the UN Security Council that were allegedly containing dangerous chemical substances. Today pretty much the whole world knows that this was nothing but a con. The invasion of Iraq would result in 4,500 dead American servicemen, with nearly 600,000 more reported as “gravely injured” after military campaigns against Iraq and Afghanistan. However, most Western media sources don’t not believe that it’s worth reporting that Iraq suffered a death toll of over a million people as a result of American invasion. Yet, for the sake of objectivity, one should note that a popular American general medicine journal The Lanset published a study that stated that by 2006 some 655,000 Iraqis were killed in the course the Western aggression.

The military adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan has resulted in Washington wasting at least 2 trillion dollars in total on killing people that had no intension of harming America, which has been reported by a handful of US media sources. This monstrous Anglo-Saxon act has had catastrophic consequences. For instance, Al-Jazeera would describe at as the greatest sin of the 21st century. And even though American and British politicians were well aware of the fact that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction, they still used those weapons as a pretext for the invasion. A few years later, a special commission of the British Parliament would condemn UK’s participation in this military adventure, but without allocating any responsibility on political figures like Tony Blair, who was British Prime Minister at the time of the invasion. Neither he nor US President George W. Bush were declared war criminals, in spite of the repeated demands to bring them to justice voiced by various international and national organizations.

The invasion of Iraq resulted in a number of terrorist organization raising their heads deep within its territory, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, with the latter declaring the creation of an Islamic Caliphate to be its ultimate goal. American aggression against Iraq has given a powerful impulse to the growth of extremist sentiments across the region, with the world still struggling to recover from this impulse. At the same time, we cannot forget that innocent people across the globe are still suffering from the consequences of this ill-convinced invasion.

Among the consequences of this despicable act one can mention a new wave of migration, which has taken its toll on the EU and a great many of other countries of the world.

Finally, all of these events have led to a radical change in the balance of forces in the Persian Gulf, along with the aggravation and emergence of new ethnic conflicts both within the region and across the globe.

As a result, Iraq has been turned into a festering wound that is plagued by constant never-ending fighting that leads to further misery and destruction.

Today the results of this thieving act of aggression are well-known:

• Iraq is a torn country that cannot recover from all the death and destruction unleashed upon it.
• Washington has handed over all power to the Shia majority, which led to a sharp increase in Iran’s influence, the country that Washington despises the most.
• The invasion of Iraq has led to an abrupt increase in radical sentiments which, in turn, resulted in the establishment of ISSI Caliphate that would control territories populated by almost 9 million people for years. But for Russia’s interference in the military conflict in Syria in 2015, this Caliphate would have been controlling the better part of the Arab world by now.
• The so-called War on Terror has led to a colossal spike in the number of terrorist attacks all across the globe.

It should be noted that during his time in office George W. Bush would repeat repeatedly that his task was the people of Iraq with all the freedom they could get, noting that America was entering Iraq to ensure that the hungry were fed, everyone who required medical attention may receive it, and so that the young may be properly educated. Time and time again American officials would ensure the world that Iraq is going to become a model of democracy after the American invasion and serve as a “beacon of the Middle East.” Yet, the world has seen nothing but miser, death and destruction so far.

The Foreign Affairs has recently published article noting that today’s instability in the region has nothing to do with Tehran’s regional aspirations, since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 tipped the scales of the regional balance, allowing chaos to spread across the region. As Iran found itself at the forefront of the struggle against Sunni terrorism, it was inevitable that it would enjoy more influence once it succeeds.

The world is still unable to overcome the consequences of this terrible gamble. However, the West does not want to admit its responsibility, choosing to employ double speak in a bid to push the blame on somebody’s else shoulders.

Veniamin Popov, Director of the Center for Partnership of Civilizations at MGIMO (Moscow State Institute of International Relations) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, exclusively for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook.”
https://journal-neo.org/2018/04/06/15th-anniversary-of-american-invasion-of-iraq/

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Blog!

Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against Palestinians (29 March- 04 April 2018)

Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory 

(29 March- 04 April 2018)

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

The Bloodiest Week After 2014 Offensive on the Gaza Strip

(29 March- 04 April 2018)

• Israeli forces continued to directly target peaceful protests along the Gaza Strip borders without pose any threat to the Israeli soldiers’ life.
• 14 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, and 1142 others, including 218 children and 40 women, were wounded.
• 26 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded in the West Bank.

• Israeli forces conducted 48 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 similar ones in Jerusalem.
• 64 civilians, including 15 children, were arrested.
• Thirty-three of them, including 10 children, were arrested in Jerusalem.

• Israeli forces continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip.
• A Palestinian farmer was killed and another one sustained wounds, east of Khan Yunis.

• Israeli Forces continued their settlement activities in the West Bank.
• Israeli settlers continued their attacks against Palestinian civilians’ property during the Jewish Holidays.

• 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 11^th 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 Imposed a complete closure on the oPt due to the Jewish Passover Holiday.
• Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, at the military checkpoints in the West Bank.
• Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (29 March- 04 April 2018).

Shooting:

Israeli forces used excessive lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized on the 42nd anniversary of the Earth Day in the Gaza Strip. This day witnessed organizing peaceful demonstrations along the Gaza Strip eastern borders, where ten thousands of Palestinian young men, women, children, and elderlies participated in those demonstrations. On 30 March 2018, the Gaza Strip witnessed the bloodiest day after 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip, as 13 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed on the same day, while 1067 others, including 208 children and 40 women, sustained wounds, which were mostly classified as serious.  The protesters’ activities continued during this week and the Israeli forces continued to daily target them along the Gaza Strip borders. During the reporting period, the number of the killed persons amounted to 15, including a child, while the number of the wounded persons amounted to 1143, including 218 children and 40 women, in the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 26 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children.

This high number of casualties in the Gaza Strip, prove that Israeli forces continue their systematic crimes and indiscriminate use of excessive force against Palestinian civilians in disregard for their lives. PCHR indicates that the Israeli forces, by its spokesperson, Avijaa Adraei, sent threatening messages to the Great March of Return’s organizers and to the Gaza Strip population, in addition to deploying Israeli snipers along the border fence.

According to 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 can not in any way pose any threat to the Israeli soldiers’ life, especially the demonstrators were unarmed.

• PCHR confirmed that the Israeli forces directly targeted a number of activists, who usually demonstrate along the border fence in any peaceful protests, in which they killed 3 of them in the northern Gaza Strip.

• PCHR’s investigations indicate that all the killed persons were hit to the head, neck, chest, and abdomen. One of them was hit to the back of the head. This proves that there is an official decision to kill and cause bodily harm to the demonstrators, in which most injuries were in the knee.

• Medical sources at the Gaza Strip hospitals stated that most of the wounded persons, who were hit with live bullets, suffered serious tissue laceration and deep wounds, which proves that the Israeli forces used explosive bullets.

Further to what was mentioned above, on 30 March 2018, in new crime of extra-judicial execution committed by Israeli forces without any justification and without the latter posing threat or danger to life of the Israeli soldiers, the Israeli forces killed  a Palestinian farmer while he was collecting parcel and wounded another after targeting them with 2 artillery shells while the farmers were in their land around 1000 meters away from the border fence with Israel, east of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

As part of targeting the border areas, on 29 March 2018, Israeli forces fired 3 artillery shells at an open area, east of al-Amal neighbourhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, and no casualties were reported.

On 30 March 2018, Israeli forces fired an artillery shell at an agricultural land in Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek).

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.

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.  PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored 4 shooting incidents; 3 in north-western Beit Lahia and another one in Western Soudaniyah, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, on 31 March 2018, a Palestinian civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right knee when an Israeli officer opened fire him. The wounded person was driving an illegal vehicle at the eastern entrance to Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus. His vehicle hit an Israeli police car that was in the area, so ‘Oudah left the car and attempted to flee.

On 01 April 2018, 6 Palestinian civilians were wounded while participating in demonstrations against the Israeli forces, who moved into Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. The Israeli forces stationed near the al-Quds Abu Dis University campus.

On 02 April 2018, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab military checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, opened fire at Mohamed Subhi ‘Anbar (46), from Tulkarm Refugee Camp, claiming that he attempted to carry out a stabbing attack. The Israeli forces then arrested Mohamed.

On 03 April 2018, 2 Palestinian civilians, from Sabstiyia village, northwest of Nablus, were wounded when the Israeli forces moved into the village and stationed in al-Athar area. The Israeli forces moved into the village to protect hundreds of Israeli settlers. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian young men gathered to confront them.

On 04 April 2018, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when hundreds of Israeli settlers, under the Israeli forces’ protection, organized a large demonstration in Bita village, south of Nablus. The Israeli settlers then performed their religious rituals and Talmudic prayers on the occasion of the Jewish Holidays. Meanwhile, a group of Palestinian young men gathered and confronted the Israeli forces and settlers. As a result, the Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters and rubber coated at them.

Further to the abovementioned injuries, during the reporting period 14 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were directly hit with live bullets and tear gas canisters while participating in a peaceful demonstration. The protesters threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed at the entrances to the Palestinian communities in the West Bank. These demonstrations came in the light of protests organized by Palestinian civilians in protest at the Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, continuing the Israeli forces’ settlement crimes, confiscating Palestinian lands, and due to the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of the Earth Day.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 48 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 41 Palestinians, including 5 children, in the West Bank.  23 civilians, including 10 children, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs.

Settlement Activities, Demolitions, and Settlers’ Attacks against Palestinian civilians and their Property:

On 29 March 2018, Israeli forces handed 2 Palestinian civilians in Saf area, north of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, 2 notices to stop construction under the pretext of non-licesning in area C.

As part of the Israeli settlers’ attacks against the Palestinian civilians and their property, on 30 March 2018, Sami Hafiz al-Hraini (21), from Tawanah village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, sustained fractures to the right leg after he was deliberately subjected to a run over attack by an Israeli settler.

On 01 April 2018, two Israeli settlers from “Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, flood Palestinian civilians’ lands with wastewater in Wad Shakheet area, east of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron.

On the same day, a group of Israeli settlers threw stones at Palestinians civilians’ vehicles on bypass road adjacent to “Beit Hagai” settlement, south of Hebron.

On 04 April 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Hafat Gilead” settlement, attacked 5 vehicles belonging to civilians from Fer’itah village, northeast of Qalqiliyia. The Israeli settlers wrote racist slogans on the vehicles and punctured their tires.

Details

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

Thursday, 29 March 2018

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into several neighbourhoods in Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 4 civilians, including a child, namely Yazan ‘Ata’a ‘Essa al-Rajbi (17), Redwan Mohammed Zeyadah (20), Monther Malek Qafishah (21) and Mo’en ‘Ali al-Joulani (19).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces accompanied with 3 military vehicles moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron and stationed near the industrial Area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Osama Fadel ‘Ayed ‘Asafrah (23) and then arrested him.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Salem village, northeast of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Mohsen Husein ‘Essa (27), Anas ‘Akef Eshtieh (23) and Malek Mesbah Hamdan (18).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Diya’a Yusuf al-Moghrabi (21).

• At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces moved into Kuber village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Faisal Sa’ed Daras (32) and then arrested him and took him to “Ofer” prison established on lands of Betunia village, southwest of the city.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Aws Mahmoud ‘Ajawi (25).

• At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired 3 artillery shells at an open area, east of al-Amal neighbourhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The targeted area is about 500 meters into the west of the abovementioned border fence. Ambulances rushed to the area, but there were no casualties.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (3) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: al-‘Aroub refugee camp; al-Thaheriyah and Sa’ir villages in Hebron.

Friday, 30March 2018

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces accompanied with 3 military vehicles moved into Jawhar Mount neighbourhood in the southern area in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abdul Hamid al-Rajbi (48) and then arrested him and his son Osama (22).

• In new crime of extra-judicial execution committed by Israeli forces without any justification and without the posing threat or danger to life of the Israeli soldiers, the Israeli forces killed on the dawn a Palestinian farmer while he was collecting parcel and wounded another after targeting them with 2 artillery shells while they were in their land around 1000 meters away from the border fence with Israel, east of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to PCHR’s fieldworkers, at approximately 04:10 on the same day morning, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Khan Yunis, fired 2 artillery shells at 2 civilians who were collecting parcel from an agricultural land around 1200 meters away from the border fence with Israel, east of al-Qararah, east of Khan Yunis.  As a result, one of them, namely ‘Omer Wahid Nasrallah Abu Sammour (27), was killed arrived pieces at the Gaza European Hospital while the other namely Ahmed Selm Salim al-Shami (23), from al-Qararah, sustained shrapnel throughout his body and his injury was classified as  moderate. Both civilians stayed  in the area for 30 minutes until the medical crews were able to reach them. they were then  transfer them to Gaza European Hospital. According to observations of PCHR’s fieldworker in the area where the shelling happened, the 2 shells fell on a land that is planted with parcel, 20 meters into the north of the farmers Abu Sammour and al-Shami, knowing that the area can be clearly seen from the border fence, which is adjacent to the land from the east and north and the land is planted with vegetables that do not hinder the vision from the Israeli sites established  along the border fence.

• At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, fired 2 artillery shells at 2 checkpoints belonging to Palestinian armed groups in Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek), but no casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Ethna, Beit Ummer, Bani Na’im and al-Majd villages in Hebron.

Saturday, 31 March 2017

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Mahmoud Yusuf Madi (14) and Ahmed Amjad Jawabrah (19) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 01:20, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at an agricultural land in Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek), but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at an agricultural land in Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek), but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 10:30, civilian Mo’atasem Marmar Mahmoud ‘Oudah (20) was driving an illegal vehicle at the eastern entrance to Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus adjacent to “Magdolim” His vehicle hit an Israeli police car that was in the area, so ‘Oudah left the car and attempted to flee. A police member opened fire at him. As a result, ‘Oudah was hit with a live bullet to the right knee and a shrapnel to the right foot. He was transferred by a civil car to Rafidiya Hospital in Nablus to receive medical treatment.

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

Sunday, 01 April 2018:

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem and stationed in Um Rukbah neighborhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud al-Wahsh and then arrested his sons Mohanned (18) and Hamzah (16). Activist Ahmed Salah said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the soldiers ruined the house contents and maltreated the inhabitants and caused fear among children and women.

• At approximately 07:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura and Beit Marsam village in Hebron; Bethlehem and ‘Aydah refugee camp, north of the city.

Monday, 02 April 2018

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafer Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested ‘Ezzat Ghazi ‘Obaid (20).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Mohammed Thawabtah (25) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Mohammed Mahrous Kawni (20), Khalid al-Taweel (20), both are students at An-Najah National University, and Hamzah Ja’far Khuweirah (19).

• Around the same day, Israeli forces moved into Kafer Dan village, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Mohammed Ahmed Abu Salah (25).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdul Rahman Maher Bani Fadel, who carried out a stab attack in Jerusalem on 18 March 2018. The Israeli forces handed the family a decision signed by the Israeli forces’ commander in the West Bank to confiscate and demolish a part of the house. Due to the confiscation and demolition decision, Abdul Rahman carried out the attack.

• At approximately 04:25, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm. They raided and a house belonging to Aws Mohammed Khader Husari (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 06:30, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Wahah shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. The shooting recurred at approximately 07:30 and continued until approximately 10:00 on the same day. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties nor material damage was reported.

• At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces stationed at al-Teen Valley checkpoint (‘Inab Checkpoint), east of Tulkarm, opened fire at Mohammed Sobhi ‘Anbar (46), from Tulkarm refugee camp, claiming he attempted to carry out a stab attack. Israeli sources said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces transferred Mohammed to an Israeli hospital in Israel after they opened fire at him wounding him to the waist claiming that he ran towards Israeli soldiers stationed at the abovementioned checkpoint. Karim ‘Ajwah, lawyer at the Commission of Detainees and ex-Detainees Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, that Mohammed is at “Meir” Medical Center in “Kfar Saba”. Mohammed underwent a surgery and still Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under the respiratory device.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Hebron, Beit Kahel and  Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus; and Salfit.

Tuesday, 03 April 2018

• At approximately 01:00, an Israeli infantry unit moved into the eastern neighborhood in al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, which is adjacent to the Bypass Road (60). They raided and searched a house belonging to Yusuf Isma’il Madi (48). He soldiers locked the family members in one room and attacked them. The soldiers then arrested Yusuf’s son Khader (22) and confiscated a cell phone from his sister. The Israeli forces took Khader to the detention center in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities raided the abovementioned house on 01 April 2018. They arrested Yusuf’s son Mahmoud (14), who underwent investigation and beating by the soldiers. He was released him one day later.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Ahmed Fawzi Sa’ed Sawaftah (26), and Mowafaq Samir Abu al-Hassan (23). At approximately 05:00, the Israeli forces withdrew from the city.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Qabatiyah village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Aysam ‘Emad Zakarneh (21), Mahmoud Riyad Zakarneh (15) and Mandoub Bassem Kamil (17).

• At approximately 03:20, Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to ‘Omeir ‘Ammar Mar’ie (21) and Rateb Abdul Karim Abdul ‘Aziz Mar’ie (21), a student at Palestine Polytechnic University, and then arrested them.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Malek village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ibrahim Saleh Ba’irat (19) and Khalid Hasan Ba’irat (22) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Barqa village, southeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bassem Hasan Mo’tan (40) and then arrested him.

• In the morning hours, Israeli forces moved into Sebastia village, northwest of Nablus and stationed in al-Athar area to protect hundreds of Israeli settlers, who raided the area travelling by dozens of buses to hold celebrations for Jewish holidays. The Israeli forces closed the surrounding area and denied Palestinian civilians access to it. At approximately 12:30, the Israeli forces expanded the closed area to the center of the village and stationed there. After that, school students were leaving, so clashes erupted. The young men threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli forces. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets at them. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded. One of them was hit with a rubber bullet to the buttocks while the other was hit with a live bullet to the right knee.

• At approximately 16:00, Hakam Ahmed Foqaha (22) surrendered to the Israeli forces stationed at Tayasir checkpoint, east of Tubas. The Israeli forces raided and searched the house on the dawn searching for him and then handed the family an order to turn their son into them.

• At approximately 17:45, Israeli forces moved into ‘Eraq Burin village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of hoses and then arrested Jamal Mo’atasem Qadous (21), a student at Hisham Hijjawi College, and Ahmed Husam ‘Ahed al-Faqih (20), a car driver. At approximately 20:00 on the same day, the Israeli forces withdrew from the village.

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

Wednesday, 04 April 2018

• At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Aqabet Jaber refugee camp, southwest of Jericho. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Osamam ‘Essa Hadib (20), Khalid Safi (21) and Saleh Mohammed Abu Sharar (28).

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Rushdi Mahmoud al-Qayem (21) from his house on al-Basha Street in Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood, south of the city. At approximately 05:30 on the same day, the Israeli forces withdrew from the city.
• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Hasan ‘Eliyan (23) and then arrested him.
• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Fathi Hamadallah ‘Arar (22).
• At approximately 08:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 4 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but neither casualties not material damage was reported.

Use of Force against Demonstrations in Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:

Upon calls for demonstrations protesting against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s Presidential Decree to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the U.S. Embassy to it, Palestinian civilians organized protests against the decision throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Moreover, they also organized peaceful demonstrations in which ten thousands of civilians participated on the 42nd Anniversary of the Land Day in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The demonstrations were named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege.” The demonstrations were as follows:

Gaza Strip:

• At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 29 March 2017, dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of the al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. They set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, a civilian  was hit with a live bullet to the lower limbs.

• At approximately 15:30 on the same Thursday, dozens of Palestinian children and young men made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of the Gaza Strip in preparation for the Land Day activity known as: “The Great March of Return and Breaking Siege”. The children and young men gathered near the security fence in Abu Safia area, east of Jabalia. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 28-year-old civilian from Khan Yunis was hit with a live bullet to the left leg. He was taken via an ambulance belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors classified his injury as moderate.

• At approximately 16:30 on the same Thursday, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered about 250 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north to the yard, which is designated for the Great March of Return” demonstration on Land Day, east of Khuza’ah and ‘Abasan villages, east of Khan Yunis, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of them attempted to approach the security fence to throw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind sand barriers that are 100 meters away from the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them for 3 hours. As a result, 3 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. One of them was hit with a live bullet while the 2 others were directly hit with tear gas canisters.

• In the evening hours, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the vicinity of al-Sheja’eya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, and then headed to Malakah Intersection area, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were wounded.

• At approximately 06:30, on Friday, 30 March 2017, thousands of Palestinian civilians started swarming to camps established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege” on Land Day. They were about 700 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. A number of them approached the border fence, set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors. The clashes, which continued for hours, resulted in killing 2 civilians namely ‘Abdel Qader Mardi Soliman al-Hawajri (42) from al-Nussairat was hit with a bullet to the abdomen, and Naji ‘Abdullah Shehdah Abu Hujeir (25) from al-Bureij was hit with a bullet to the abdomen and he died in the evening hours. Moreover, 166 protestors, including 30 children and 4 women, were wounded. The injuries of 7 of them were classified as serious. They were taken by PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Fifteen of the wounded civilians were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza to receive the needed medical treatment.

• At approximately 08:00 on the same Friday, ten thousands of civilians, including women and children, within entire families participated in peaceful demonstrations in commemoration of the 42an Anniversary of the Land Day within the Return March upon invitations by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege. Three camps were established about 500 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza City. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets early in the morning in addition to tear gas canisters fired by drones hovering over the protestors. At approximately 13:00, the shooting intensified into the east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun in Gaza City. As a result, 4 civilians were killed and they were identified as:

1. Ahmed Ibrahim ‘Ashour ‘Odah (19) from al-Shati’ Refugee Camp was hit with a bullet to the head, east of Gaza.
2. Mahmoud Sa’di Younis Rohmi (34) from Gaza City was hit with a bullet to the chest, east of Gaza.
3. Mohammed Na’im Mohammed Abu ‘Omer (25) from al-Shija’iyah was hit with a bullet to the abdomen, east of Gaza.
4. Jihad Ahmed Freinah (35) from Gaza was hit with a bullet to the head, east of Gaza.

The total number of the wounded civilians was 337 civilians. Al-Shifa Hospital received 284 wounded civilians, including 70 children and 11 women. One hundred and fifty of them were hit with live bullets and 118 were hit with rubber bullets. Doctors classified the injury of 10 civilians, including 3 children, as serious. Moreover, 53 wounded civilians, who sustained live bullet wounds, were transferred to al-Quds Hospital.

• Around the same time, thousands of Palestinians of different ages within entire families started swarming to a camp established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah. At approximately 10:00, a number of the participants attempted to approach the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the eastern Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers about 150 meters away from the border fence sporadically and directly fire live bullets at protestors and prevented them from approaching the border fence. The Israeli forces continued firing live and rubber bullets at the protestors until approximately 20:00. As a result, Amin Mahmoud Mansour Mo’amar (26) was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen. Mo’amar died after he underwent a surgery in Gaza European Hospital. Moreover, Ibrahim Salah Ibrahim Abu Sha’er (17), immediately died after being hit with a live bullet to the neck. As a result, 118 civilians, including 27 children and 3 women, were wounded. Doctors classified the injury of 8 civilians as serious.

• At approximately 09:30 on the same Friday, hundreds of Palestinian protestors made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip. They were about 50 to 150 meters into the west of the border fence. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind a sand barriers that is 100 meters away from the abovementioned border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians were killed and 228 civilians, including 53 children and 8 women, were wounded. Two Hundred and fifteen of them, including 46 children and 7 women, were hit with live bullets;  12 others, including 7 children and a woman, were hit with tear gas canisters and one civilian was hit with a rubber bullet. The wounded civilians were transferred vi ambulances belonging to PRCS,  Medical Services, Union of Health Work Committees and the Ministry of Health to the Indonesian, al-‘Awdah, and Kamal ‘Edwan Hospitals. Medical sources classified the injuries of 10 civilians as serious. The killed civilians were identified as:

1. Mohammed Kamal al-Najjar (25) was hit with a bullet to the abdomen;
2. ‘Abdel Fattah Bahjat ‘Abdel Nabi (18) was hit with a bullet to the head; and

Bader Fayeq Ibrahim al-Sabbagh (19) was hit with a bullet to the head.

• Around the same time, thousands of civilians, including women, children and elderlies, started swarming to camps established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, on an area of 20 dunums, which include 20 camps within the “Great March of Return” Activity in the anniversary of the Land Day. Dozens of participants gathered outside the yard and to the north of the sand barriers surrounding it around 200 to 300 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The participants were waving Palestinian flags and some of them attempted to reach border fence where dozens of Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that are around 30 meters away from the border fence. According to field observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, dozens of Israeli snipers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence sporadically and deliberately opened fire at the participants in the peaceful assemblies causing a number of injuries. After the Friday prayers, the number of participants increased after thousands of busses carrying passengers and people walking on foot arrived at the area. The number of participants was estimated at 30,000 persons. The Israeli forces continued firing live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors despite the peaceful atmosphere in the demonstration and the presence of women and children as the protestors did not pose any threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers. The observations of PCHR’s fieldworkers revealed that the Israeli snipers stationed behind sand barriers sporadically and deliberately opened fire at the participants in the in addition to firing tear gas canisters in the middle of the peaceful assembly that included large numbers of women and children. the Israeli forces also focused on targeting the participants in the back rows of the demonstration as they were falling one by one around 300 meters away from the border fence in addition to others who attempted in a few numbers to approach the fence. The shooting continued until approximately 20:00. As a result,  Jihad Zuhair Abu Jamous (30) from Khan Yunis was killed after being hit with a bullet to the head at approximately 16:30. He was transferred to Gaza European hospital where his death was announced after 3 hours. Moreover, 234 civilians, including 34 children, 18 women and a journalist, were wounded. One hundred and ninety three of them, including 24 children and 13 women, were hit with live bullets while the others were hit with tear gas canisters and rubber bullets. The wounded civilians were transferred to Nasser, Gaza European and Algerian Hospitals in Gaza. Doctors classified the injury of 24 civilians as serious. At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 02 April 2018, medical sources in Gaza European Hospital announced the death of Fares Mahmoud Mohammed al-Raqab (26) from Bani Suhailah after he sustained a live bullet to the abdomen.

• At approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 31 march 2018, dozens of Palestinian protestors gathered near the border fence between the Gaza strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. They set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes continued until the evening hours on the same day. As a result, 11 civilians, including a child and a journalist, were wounded. They were transferred via PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors classified the injury of a civilian as serious while the others’ injuries as moderate.

• At approximately 13:00 on the same Saturday, dozens of Palestinians made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip and then gathered into the east of Abu Safia Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip at a distance ranging from 50 to 150 meters into the west of the border fence. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that is around 100 meters away from the border fence. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets at them. The clashes continued until the evening hours on the same day. As a result, 11 civilians, including 2 children, were wounded. Eight of them were hit with live bullets to their lower limbs and 3 civilians were hit with tear gas canisters.

• Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the vicinity of al-Sheja’eya neighborhood, east of Gaza city and the headed to Malakah intersection area, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood. They threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel from far distances. The soldiers fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at them. as a result, 17 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded.

• At approximately 14:00, hundreds of Palestinians participating in the Great March demonstrations gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of them raised the Palestinian flags and attempted to approach the border fence to throw stones at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers sporadically fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them until approximately 19:00 on the same day. As a result, 6 civilians, including a child, sustained wounds to the lower limbs. They were transferred to Abu Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. Doctors classified their injuries as moderate.

• At approximately 16:00 on the same Saturday, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered about 250 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of “Return Camp” established into the east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of them attempted to approach the border to throw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that were about 30 meters away from border fence. the soldiers sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors for 3 hours. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with a tear gas canister to the head. They were transferred to Gaza European Hospital in Khan Yunis and doctors classified their injuries as moderate.

• At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 01 April 2018, dozens of Palestinian protestors made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip. They gathered in the east of Abu Safia Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, 50- 150 meters away from the border fence. They set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that were 100 meters away from the abovementioned border fence. The soldier fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 5 civilians were hit with live bullets to their lower limbs. Doctors classified the injury of a civilians as serious.

• Around the same time, dozens of protestors gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip, within the “Great March of Return” activities. They protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 2 civilians were hit with tear gas canisters.

• At approximately 15:00 on the same Sunday, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered 200-250 into the west of border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of the “Great March of Return” camp established into the east of Khuza’ah villages, east of Khan Yunis. A number of them attempted to approach the border fence to set fire to tire and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that are about 30 meters away from the border fence. The soldiers sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at them. At approximately 15:23, Tahreer Mahmoud Sa’ed Wahbah (18,) from Ma’an in Khan Yunis, was hit with a live bullet to the head. He was transferred to Gaza European Hospital and his injury was classified as serious. Wahbah’s relatives said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he suffers from speech disorder. The Israeli forces further continued firing live bullets and tear gas canisters in the area. According to PCH’s observations, a tear gas canister targeted the camp’s yard causing tear gas inhalation to a hundreds of civilians who were in the place, including women and children and entire families.

• At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, 02 April 2018, dozens of Palestinian protestors made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip and gathered near Abu Safia Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, 50-150 into the west of the border fence. They set fire to tires and threw stones at the Israeli forces stationed behind sand barriers that were 100 meters into the west of the border fence. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded. One of them was hit with a live bullet and the other was hit with a rubber bullet.

• Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian protestors gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza strip within the “Great March of Return” activities upon an invitations sent by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in the Gaza Strip. The protestors threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers along the border fence. The soldiers fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded. One of them was hit with a live bullet to the lower limb and the other was hit with a tear gas canister to the right hand.

• At approximately 13:30, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the vicinity of al-Sheja’eya neighborhood intersection, east of Gaza City and then headed to Malakah intersection area, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel from far distances. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded.

• At approximately 15:00 on the same Monday, dozens of Palestinian civilians participating in the “Great March of Return” gathered near the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. A number of them raised the Palestinian flags and attempted to approach the border fence. Israeli soldiers sporadically fired live bullets and tear gas canisters until approximately 19:00 on the same day. As a result, a civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.

• At approximately 18:25, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of the demonstration yard, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at a group of Palestinian protestors who were in the area. The protestors set fire to tires, attempted to approach the border fence and threw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind sand barriers that were about 30 meters away from the border fence. As a result, a civilian was hit with a live bullet to the lower limbs.

• At approximately 16:10 on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence killed Ahmed Omer Mohammed ‘Arafah (25) from Deir al-Balah within the “Great March of Return” activities established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in the Gaza Strip. The soldiers opened fire at t a number of Palestinian civilians who approached the border fence. As a result, ‘Arafah was hit with 2 live bullets to the back that penetrated the chest and to the left hand. He was transferred to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors announced ‘Arafah’s death immediately after his arrival to the hospital.

• At approximately 16:00 on the same Tuesday, dozens of Palestinian protestors made their way to the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel in the northern Gaza Strip and then gathered into the east of Abu Safia hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, 50-150 meters into the west of the border fence. The protestors set fire to tires and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers that were about 100 meters into the east of the border fence. the soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 3 civilians were hit with tear gas canisters.

• At approximately 1:15 on Wednesday, 04 April 2018, dozens of Palestinian civilians gathered in the vicinity of al-Sheja’eya neighborhood intersection, east of Gaza City and then headed to Malakah intersection area, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israeli form close distances. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a civilian was hit with a live bullet to the right leg.

Note: Israeli forces daily continued to fire live bullets and tear gas canisters at the protestors and the areas where they gathered throughout the Gaza Strip. PCHR did not document the shooting incidents that didn’t result in injuries among the protestors. PCHR emphasized that hundreds of civilians sustained tear gas inhalation, and dozens were either wounded or hurt.

West Bank:

• Following the Friday prayer on 30 March 2018, dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered at the northern entrance to al-Birah. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed at “al-Mahkamah” checkpoint near “Beit Eil” settlement, north of the city. The Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, a 19-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the right thigh, a 26-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the left foot, a 20-year-old civilian was hit with a Two-Two bullet to the foot and thigh, a 27-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the right hand, and a 25-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet to the foot. The wounded civilians were transferred via PRCS ambulances to Palestine Medical Complex to receive medical treatment. Doctors classified their injuries as moderate.

• Dozens of Palestinian civilians organized protests in al-Mazr’ah al-Gharbiyah villages, northwest of the Ramallah. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed at the village entrance. The Israeli fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, 4 civilians, including a child, were wounded. They were transferred by Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulances to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. Doctors classified his injury as moderate. The soldiers also arrested Mohammed Sa’ed Abu Qare’a (30).

• At approximately 12:45, dozens of Palestinians and international activists organized a protest from the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah and headed to the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed at the abovementioned entrance. The Israeli soldiers fired live rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protestors. As a result, 4 civilians, including 2 children and Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Enaya (28), a photojournalist at Palestine TV Channel, were wounded.

‘Enayah, who was hit with a rubber bullet to the right shoulder, said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

• Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians, international human rights defenders and Israelis organized protests in Ni’lin, Bil’in, and Budrus villages west of Ramallah, al-Nabi Saleh and al-Mazr’ah al-Gharbiyah villages, northwest of the city. The Israeli forces used force to disperse the protestors by firing live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result, a 25-year-old civilian from al-Mazr’ah al-Gharbiyah village was hit with a tear gas canister to the abdomen. A PRCS ambulance crew offered medical treatment to him on the spot.

• Following the same Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in al-Laban al-Shaqriqiyah village, south of Nablus. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed in the entrance to Ramallah-Nablus Street. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 19-year-old civilian was hit with a live bullet to the leg. He was transferred to Arafat hospital in Salfit to receive medical treatment.

• On Friday afternoon , dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a protest in Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque area (Rachel’s Tomb) near the northern entrance to Bethlehem on the 42an anniversary of the Land Day. They put stone barricades and tires on fire near the military Checkpoint (300) between East Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers chased the protestors amidst opening fire. The soldiers raided a restaurant located in the main street near al-‘Ezzah refugee camp and then arrested Amjad al-Qarbi (16). Clashes erupted in the vicinity of ‘Aydah refugee camp adjacent to the abovementioned checkpoint. The soldiers then moved into the camp and chased a number of the children and youngsters. They arrested 3 children after heavily beating them. The arrestees were identified as Ahmed Hatem (13), Ahmed Na’im and Mohammed Atallah (13).

• At approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 31 March 2018, Palestinian civilians and International activists organized a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah near the eastern entrance to the village. They threw stones at Israeli forces stationed at the abovementioned entrance. The Israeli forces fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 2 children were hit with rubber bullets.

• At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 01 April 2018, a group Palestinians organized a protest from the center of Deir Balout village, west of Salfit with the participation of Salfit Mayor, the Civil Defense, Director of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee and other civil organizations into Kherbat Beit Ta’mur, which is adjacent to the border fence and threatened to be confiscated by the Israeli forces. The participant planted  olive seedlings. The Israeli forces fired rubber  bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the. As a result, Fares Ibrahim Mohammed Nasser (56), Head of the Labor Department in the Wall and Settlement Resistance Committee, from Deir Qaddis  village, west of Ramallah,  was hit with a rubber bullet to the right hand.

• At approximately 18:30 on Monday, 02 April 2018, dozens of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. The protestors threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers stationed at the village entrance. The soldiers fired live and metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 civilians were hit with live bullets. Three of them were transferred via PRCS ambulances to Yasser Arafat Hospital in Salfit to receive medical treatment and doctors classified their injuries as moderate. Moreover, Nehad Amin al-Barghuthi (19) via a Magen David Adom’s (MDA) ambulance to a hospital in Israel. Nehad was hit with a live bullet wound to the right side of the neck and doctors classified his injury as serious.

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.

Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, is designated for the movement of goods

Note: Due to technical reasons, we could not obtain the official statistics from the department responsible for issuing the statistics.

• Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing, in the north of the Gaza Strip, is designated for the movement of individuals, and links the Gaza Strip with the West Bank.

Movement at Beit Hanoun (“Erez”) crossing

(28 March- 03 April 2018)

Category	28 March	29 March	30 March	31 March	01 April	02 April	03 April
Patients	44	21	–	–	39	27	16
Companions	38	21	–	–	34	31	16
Personal needs	35	33	2	–	2	–	4
Familiesof prisoners	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Arabs fromIsrael	5	12	–	–	3	1	20
Diplomats	23	–	–	–	–	–	–
International journalists	2	–	–	–	–	–	–
International workers	38	57	–	–	6	7	13
TravelersAbroad	–	12	–	–	–	–	–
Business people	202	150	–	–	9	–	2
Business meetings	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Security interviews	1	1	–	–	–	–	–
VIPs	3	3	–	–	–	–	–
Ambulances to Israel	5	6	1	–	2	1	7
Patients’ Companions	3	4	–	–	2	1	9

Note:

• On Wednesday, 28 March 2018, Israeli forces allowed one person to return to the West Bank.
• On Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces allowed 14 Christian persons; on Monday, 02 April 2018, 9 Christian persons; and on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, 3 Christian persons to travel to the West Bank.
• During the reporting period, the movement at Erez Crossing was not active  due to the Jewish Holidays, in which the crossing working hours were as follows:
• On Friday, 30 March 2018, exit the Gaza Strip was from 07:30 to 13:00 for humanitarian cases, and return to the Gaza Strip was until 15:00 for Palestinian civilians, while the vehicles crossing was closed, except the emergency relief cases, were allowed to cross.
• On Saturday, 31 March 2018, the crossing was closed and all categories, except emergency relief cases, were prevented from travelling.
• On Sunday, 01 April 2018, and on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, exit the Gaza Strip was from 07:30 to 13:00 for humanitarian cases and Christian persons, return to the Gaza Strip was until 17:00 for Palestinian civilians, while until 13:00 for Israeli and foreigner travelers.
• The vehicles crossing works was from 08:00 to 13:00 (exit and enter).

• Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank. During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:

• Hebron: Israeli forces established (26) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 29 March 2018, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Yatta and at the entrances to  Sa’ir, al-Shayyoukh and Beit ‘Awaa villages.

On Friday, 30 March 2018, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Hebron and at the entrance to Samou’a village.

On Saturday, 31 March 2018, 3 similar checkpoints were established at the western entrance to Hebron and at the entrances to al-Dahiryia and Ethna villages.

On Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the northern entrance to Halhoul village, at the western entrance to Hebron, at the entrances to Beit Ummer and Samou’a villages, and on Sureef-Beit Ummer Road.

On Monday, 02 April 2018, 5 similar checkpoints were established at the northern and western entrances to Halhoul village, at the entrances to Samou’a and Beit ‘Awaa villages, and on Khelit al-Maiyah Road.

On Tuesday, 03 April 2018, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Fawar and al-‘Aroub Refugee Camps, and at the entrances to Sa’ir and Samou’a villages.

On Wednesday, 04 April 2018, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Dura village, at the southern entrance to Hebron, and at the northern entrance to Halhoul village.

• Qalqiliyia: Israeli forces established (10) checkpoints all over the city.

At approximately 11:50 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the main entrance to Qalqiliyia. At approximately 09:05 on Friday, 30 March 2018, and at approximately 02:00 on Saturday, 31 March 2018, , the Israeli forces re-established the abovementioned checkpoint.

At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near al-Nabi Iyyas village (on the main street between Qalqiliya and Tulkarm).

At approximately 13:15, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to Jinasafout village, east of Qalqiliyia.

On Monday, 02 April 2018, Israeli forces established 5 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia, at the entrance to ‘Azoun village, at the entrance to Baqet Hatab village, between ‘Azoun and Kafur Thulth villages, and between Jayyous and Kafur Jamal villages, north of the city.

• Tulkarm:

At approximately 22:00 on Friday, 30 March 2018, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab military checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, tightened their arbitrary measures against Palestinian civilians and obstructed their movement for few hours before re-opening the checkpoint.

• Salfit:

At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 02 April 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Qarawet Bani Hassan village, northwest of Salfit.

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

• On Friday, 30 March 2018, Israeli forces deployed in the vicinity of “Karmiel “ settlement established om Palestinian civilians’ lands in Kherbit Um al-Khair, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, arrested Yaser ‘Eid Ameen al-Hathaleen (45), while breeding sheep near the settlement fence. In the evening, Yaser was released.

• At approximately 15:00 on Saturday, 31 March 2018, Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint arrested Basheer Jawad al-Showiki (16), and then took him via a military vehicle to an investigation center in “Kiryat Arba“ settlement, east of Hebron. The Israeli forces claimed that Basheer had a knife.

• At approximately 19:00 on Saturday, Israeli forces arrested Rebhi Mohamed Sider (25), from Hebron, after stopping him at a military checkpoint, southeast of Hebron.

• At Approximately 08:50 on Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia. They stopped Palestinian civilians’’ vehicles, checked the passengers’ IDs, and then arrested Mohamed ‘Ali Mohamed Swilem (21).

• At approximately 13:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces arrested ‘Emad Mohamed Salibi (22) after stopping his vehicle at a military checkpoint established at the entrance to Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron.

• At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces deployed at the entrance to al-‘Aroub technical college, north of Hebron, arrested Mohamed Ahmed Naser Allah (22), from al-‘Aroub Refugee Camp, while leaving his college. The Israeli forces claimed that he threw stones at the soldiers.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Jayyous village, northeast of Qaliliyia. They stopped Palestinian civilians’’ vehicles, checked the passengers’ IDs, and then arrested Bilal Bassam al-Barghouthi (20), from Dir Ghassanh village.

• At approximately 16:00 on Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces arrested Loai Hani Suktan (17) while he was in Bab al-Zawiyia area, where clashes erupted between the Israeli soldiers and stone throwers.

• At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on Jenin- Haifa Road. They stopped Palestinian civilians’’ vehicles, checked the passengers’ IDs, and then arrested Kareem Ahmed Najeeb ‘Amour (26).

• Efforts to Create A Jewish majority

Israeli forces escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians and their property. They have also continued their raids on al-Aqsa Mosque and denied the Palestinians access to it:

• Shooting Incidents:

• On Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dis village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They stationed on schools road near al-Quds University campus. A group of Palestinian young men gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, who heavily fired live bullets, rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, and sound bombs at them. Eyewitnesses said to PCHR’s fieldworker that the youngsters managed to makea crater on the annexation wall near the university, so the Israeli forces raided the university campus and heavily fired tear gas canisters. The clashes, which extended to Ras Kabsah intersection, continued few hours. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that its crews treated around 98 wounded persons on the spot during clashes erupted between the Israeli soldiers and youngsters in front of al-Quds University (Abu Dis). The PRCS clarified in a statement that the injuries were classified as:
• A person was hit with live bullets to the leg.
• Five persons were hit with rubber bullets, one of them was hit to the chest and 2 others were hit to the head.
• Eighty-seven persons were hit with tear gas canisters, 7 of them suffered tear gas inhalation and 5 others sustained burns throughout the body.

• Arrests and Incursions:

• At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Mohamed Majdi ‘Atiyia (13), Mohamed Zakaria ‘Elian (17), Mohamed Abed al-Raouf Mahmoud (18), Ahmed Khaled Abu Shamalah (21), and ‘Ali Muhassin (20).

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ayoub Nu’man ‘Afana (23) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anata village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They stationed at the village intersection and attempted to arrest one of Palestinian civilians, whose name is unknown, but he fled. After the operation failure, the Israeli forces heavily opened fire at a vehicle near the Petrol Station in the village. Eyewitnesses said that a group of undercover units accompanied with Israeli forces opened fire at a vehicle near Abu Khalil Petrol Station, at ‘Anata village intersection, after they could not arrest the targeted person. The Eyewitnesses added that the Palestinian civilian fled and they did not know if he wounded or not due to the heavily shooting. PRCS stated that its crews arrived at ‘Anata village and did not find the vehicle while a large number of Israeli soldiers were in the vicinity of the vehicle. The Israeli forces confiscated the surveillance cameras from the Petrol Station after the incident.

• At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Ram village, north occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Bahaa Kan’an and then arrested him.
• At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, Israeli forces moved into Beit Haninah village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Abu Rmilah and then arrested his 2 sons Ameer (8) and Hatem (10).

• At approximately 02:00 on Sunday, 02 April 2018, a large force of Israeli soldiers moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched dozens houses from which they arrested 9 civilians, including 6 children. PCHR keeps the names of the arrested persons.

• At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Basel Raied Muhasin, Ma’moun Ahmed ‘Obaid, and Mohamed Abdul Hafiz ‘Atiyah.

• At approximately 06:00 on Tuesday, Israeli forces moved into Bab Hatah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Mo’min al-Hasheem (19) and Saleem Hamouda (18).

• Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

 Israeli forces’ attacks

• At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 29 March 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with 2 military vehicles and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Saf area, north of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. The Israeli Civil Administration staff hanged 2 notices on the house to stop construction, under the pretext of non-licensing in area C. The two notices included:
• A 120-square-meter under-construction house comprised of 2 floor and belongs to Sami Ahmed Mostafa Ikhlayil.
• A 70-square-meter house comprised of one floor and belongs to Jamal Ghnimaat.

• At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 03 April 2018, Israeli forces notified Ahmed and Mahmoud Yunis Abu Aiyash to seize their plot of land, which is adjacent to a military watchtower established at the eastern entrance to Beit Ummer villag, north of Hebron, and use it for military purposes. The Israeli authorities claimed that they intend to supply the military watchtower with a power line from a plot of land established in Seder al-Zaytoun area in the village.

 Israeli settlers’ attacks

• At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 30 March 2018, Sami Hafiz al-Hraini (21), from Tawanah village, east of Yatta, south of Hebron, sustained fractures to the right leg after he was deliberately subjected to a run over attack by an Israeli settler while he was in his relative’s plot of land in Sarourah area. Sami was then taken to Hebron Governmental Hospital. Sami said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:
  “ I was along with my 2 cousins and foreigner volunteers in our plot of land in Sarourah area, east of Tawanah village, which is a kilo meter away from “Havat Ma’on” settlement. At approximately 15:00, we saw an Israeli settler diving a motorcycle. He approached us, cursed us and then left the area. After that, 2 Israeli settlers driving a quad bike approached us and they had a bucket, which was full of stones. They then threw all the stones at us and one of them attacked me. As a result, I sustained wounds to my right leg, felt a severe pain, and then fell on the ground. The Israeli settlers then drove the quad bike and left the area heading to the settlement. Meanwhile, my relatives arrived at the area while the ambulance arrived 45 minutes later along with an Israeli police vehicle. It should be noted that the Israeli police vehicle did not intervene. I was then taken to the Hebron Governmental Hospital, where doctors decided to conduct a surgery to place a platinum rod in my leg. In the next day, the foreigner volunteers along with my relative headed to the Israeli police to submit a complaint, but they refused to receive them under the pretext of Jewish holidays.”

• On Sunday, 01 April 2018, Israeli settlers from” Gush Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem, flood Palestinian civilians’ lands with wastewater in Wad Shakheet area, east of Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. The abovementioned lands belong to Bahar and Sabarnah families. As a result, the Palestinian farmers endured heavy material losses.

• At approximately 18:00, Israeli settles threw stones at Palestinian civilians’ vehicles parked on the bypass road adjacent to “Beit Hajjai” settlement, which is established in Palestinian civilians’ lands, south of Hebron. No causalities were reported.

• At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 04 April 2018, a group of Israeli settlers from “Hafat Gilead” settlement, attacked 5 vehicles belonging to civilians from Fer’itah village, northeast of Qalqiliyia. The Israeli settlers wrote racist slogans on the vehicles and punctured their tires. The vehicles belong to Rebhi Sadeq Ahmed Taweel, Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud Suliman, Abed al-Rahman Mahmoud Suilman, and Hitham Saleh Mahmoud Suliman.  Abed al-Min’iem Shana’ah, Head of Fer’itah Village Council, said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:  “At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 04 April 2018, Israeli settlers came to Fer’itah village, where they wrote racist slogans on five vehicles and punctured their tires. The slogans included: (we as Israeli settlers do what we want without being afraid of the Israeli police or forces ). The vehicles were parking on the main road sides that leads to “Hafat Gilead” settlement.”

• At approximately 12:30 on Wednesday, 04 April 2018, hundreds of Israeli settlers, under the Israeli forces’ protections, organized a large demonstration in Bita village, south of Nablus. The Israeli settlers station in ‘Ain Rojan area, east of Bita village. They then performed their religious rituals and Talmudic prayers on the occasion of the Jewish Holidays. A group of Palestinian young men gathered and confronted the Israeli forces and settlers and threw stones at the settlers. The Israeli forces immediately fired tear gas canisters and rubber bullets at the protesters and then chased them. The Israeli settlers attacked Zahran Hasan Hussain Hamayil (24), so he sustained fractures to the right hand and was then taken to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus. The shooting led to the wounding of 2 protesters, who were then taken to Ibn Sina center in Hawarah village to receive medical treatment.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR welcomes the UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since 1967.  PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005.  PCHR emphasizes that there is international recognition of Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law.  Israel is bound to apply international human rights law and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.

1. PCHR calls upon the international community to respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal with settlements as if they were part of Israel.
2. PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the oPt.
3. PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all international bodies to boycott settlements and ban working and investing in them in application of their obligations according to international human rights law and international humanitarian law considering settlements as a war crime.
4. PCHR calls upon the international community 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.
5. PCHR calls upon the international community and United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding Palestine from its original inhabitants through deportations and house demolitions as a collective punishment, which violates international humanitarian law, amounting to a crime against humanity.
6. PCHR calls upon the international community to condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel to stop them.
7. PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war criminals accountable.
8. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for the Conventions under all circumstances, and under articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute those responsible for committing grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli judiciary.
9. PCHR calls upon the international community to speed up the reconstruction process necessary because of the destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
10. PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million civilians that experience unprecedented economic, social, political and cultural hardships due to collective punishment policies and retaliatory action against civilians.
11. PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association Agreement and to respect its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with Israel.
12. PCHR calls upon the international community, especially states that import Israeli weapons and military services, to meet their moral and legal responsibility not to allow Israel to use the offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept training services based on the field experience in Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and military tactics.
13. PCHR calls upon the parties to international human rights instruments, especially the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.
14. PCHR calls upon the EU and international human rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and farmers, mainly in the border area.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian   

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