نصرالله المنتصر

2018

ناصر قنديل

– بدا السيد حسن نصرالله في كلمته كمن يطوي صفحة من التاريخ ليفتح صفحة جديدة. فهو يضع النقاط على حروف الحكومة اللبنانية والتفاصيل الأمنية والسياسية كمنهج عادل ومنصف مع الذين هزمهم على قاعدة مواصلة العيش معاً، شرط ألا يأكل الفاجر مال التاجر، وألا يُملي المهزوم على المنتصر شروطاً يترفّع المنتصر عن إملائها، ويؤدّي التزامه نحو العراق ومقاوميه بعرفان وإكبار وتقدير واستعداد للشراكة في قرار الردّ على المعتدي، ويتلفّت صوب اليمن فيعلن خجل الكبار وتواضع العظماء، بنداء «يا ليتنا كنا معكم»، فذلك فخر كبير وشرف عظيم.

أما في سورية فالنصر الذي بذلت لأجله التضحيات الجسام بات في مطال اليد وأن تنتزعه ألاعيب الحديث عن تسويات وانسحابات، فحيث يكون الجيش السوري نكون، ولو لم نكن.

– يستعدّ السيد لصفحة جديدة يتفرّغ فيها لفلسطين، فتلك معركته التي لأجلها يقبل التنازلات في لبنان، ويخوض الحرب في سورية، وتفتح على المقاومة لحسابها حرب اليمن، وتجري محاولات العبث بالعراق وتوازناته، ويجري تضييق الخناق على إيران، وحرب فلسطين مقبلة لا ريب فيها، في حساب السيد، والأميركي الذي يُدير محركات صفقة القرن بسرعة يعبّر عن حقيقتين حاول جهده لتجاهلهما: الأولى أنّ الحروب الجانبية لتضييع القضية الفلسطينية، وتكسير حلف المقاومة، فاشلة ومحكوم عليها بالمزيد من الفشل، وبالتالي فعلى الأميركي أن يخوض الحرب مباشرة وتحت عنوانها الكبير، فلسطين. أما الحقيقة الثانية، فهي أنّ حلفاءه الذين نجح لحين بتنصيبهم وكلاء على القضية الفلسطينية لا يستطيعون أن يكونوا معه ومع فلسطين، ولأنه بحاجة لهم معه ومع كيان الاحتلال فقد آن الأوان لينسحبوا من جبهة فلسطين التي تمركزوا فيها لتخريبها وتشويهها والتحكم بمساراتها، وبات انحيازهم القادم علناً وبصورة لا لبس فيها إلى جانب كيان الاحتلال بداية مرحلة الصراع النقي والنظيف حول مستقبل فلسطين، حيث على الجميع حسم خياراتهم، أن يكونوا معها أو مع كيان الاحتلال. ولا يهمّ العدد هنا فهو مجرد أرقام، لا عدد الدول، ولا عدد القيادات، ولا كمّ المال، ولا السلاح. المهم هو زمن الفرز المقبل حول فلسطين.

– يثق السيد أنّ إيران أقوى من الأعاصير التي يعدّونها لها، وأنّ العراق وسورية واليمن والكثير من الشعوب والقوى ستكون جزءاً من جبهة فلسطين، وأنّ العالم وليس المنطقة فقط، على موعد مع هذا الانقسام بين جبهتي فلسطين وكيان الاحتلال، وأنّ المقاومة التي تتصدّر جبهة فلسطين تستعدّ للتفرّغ لهذا الاستحقاق. وأنّ هذه الحرب المقدّسة التي نذرت المقاومة لها نفسها ووجودها ودماء قادتها وشهدائها، ستعيد صياغة معادلات العالم والمنطقة، قياساً بما فعلته بعض فصول هذه الحرب في الطريق إليها، من التحرير في العام 2000 إلى النصر في تموز 2006، والحروب في سورية واليمن والعراق، وقد استولدت كلّ منها معادلات إقليمية ودولية جديدة، فكيف بأمّ الحروب وأصلها وأساسها عندما تصير وجهاً لوجه بين المتحاربين، الذين سيتقابلون بلا حواجز، كلّ بعنوانه الصريح، وحيث لا مجال للتسويات، فمنتصر مطلق ومهزوم مطلق. وعندها لن تكون النتائج فلسطينية فقط، بل سيصل دويّها إلى كلّ مكان في العالم.

– ليست صفقة العصر ولا صفقة القرن هي، بل الخطوة الأولى نحو حرب العصر وحرب القرن، والمنتصر يُملي شروطه على المهزوم، والمقاومة على عهدها، ولّى زمن الهزائم وبدأ زمن الانتصارات.

– على موعد التاريخ مع نصرالله المنتصر.

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Preliminary Peace

The Saker

June 28, 2018

By Rostislav Ishchenko
Translated by Ollie Richardson and Angelina Siard

cross posted with: http://www.stalkerzone.org/ishchenko-preliminary-peace/
source: http://alternatio.org/articles/articles/item/60630-preliminarnyy-mir

The world press is being filled with noise about a meeting on the 15th of July between Putin and Trump in Vienna. The Kremlin neither confirms nor denies whether there is a meeting [at the time of writing this was true, however the Kremlin has since confirmed the there will be a meeting on July 16th – ed], and diplomats from both sides allegedly coordinate their positions.

July 15th is a date that is inconvenient for the Russian president. On this day, the closing of the FIFA World Cup is supposed to take place at 18:00, which the president of Russia will have to be present at. Of course, it is possible to fly early in the morning to Vienna, talk to Trump before midday, and to be already in Moscow by 18:00. But why makes things so tight? Especially as the Americans can deliberately try to prolong the meeting. Anyway, it is difficult to count on any arrangements. But if Putin is late for the closure of the 2018 World Cup because of a meeting with Trump, then this delay will emphasise the importance of the event for which all other major affairs were postponed.

But Trump manages to come to Vienna without hurrying after the NATO summit that has to take place on July 11th-12th in Brussels. He will even have the time for several bilateral meetings with allies after the summit.

If indeed the meeting has to take place in general, then in order not to give the impudent Yankees any excess tactical/information advantage it would be logical to move it to either the 14th or the July 16th [the 16th was later confirmed as the actual date of the meeting – ed]. After all, if the Americans can’t meet during these days, then Russia can still wait – there is no place to hurry to. The positions of Washington become weaker, so even if Russia will have to meet with the next US president, it will only be better for Moscow.

The entire course of the events preceding the current rumours about the emergency preparation of a meeting between the two leaders testifies that for the Americans the decision to hold a meeting between the two presidents was forced. It should be remembered that originally Trump stated that he is ready to accept Putin in Washington. Generally it is the newly elected head of State that usually makes a visit to their more experienced colleague. But the Americans got used to everyone considering it as an honor to come and bow before them. Indeed, if Putin came on a visit to Washington, the US could show at the symbolical level to their allies that their superiority in world politics doesn’t raise doubts. Even leaders that oppose them come to Washington to reach an agreement about peace.

Putin ignored Trump’s hints. After this Washington’s rhetoric sharply changed and US officials started claiming that there can’t be any meetings at the highest level until Russia makes concessions in Syria and in Ukraine. In the last month Washington again changed the narrative. Now it was found out that already for one and a half years Trump wakes up to the question: “When will my meeting with Putin take place?”. But the artful environment deceived the trustful President and boycotted his instructions. But, supposedly, Trump has now taken matters into his own hands and the meeting will take place very soon. Further, it was supported by semi-confirmed, at least not disproved, hearings about the preparation of a historical bilateral meeting in Vienna.

As a matter of fact Russia won a diplomatic campaign both already before the meeting and irrespective of the meeting. During one and a half years the US tried to impose a meeting from a position of force: in Washington and on preliminary conditions. Today it is about the preparation of a meeting on a neutral platform and without any conditions. Washington conceded on all points.

However, it doesn’t mean that the meeting will surely take place. Firstly, the Kremlin has no unambiguous conviction that it is worth agreeing to negotiations, foreknowing that there won’t be any compromise solutions, that the US all the same will push through their agenda, and that Washington will surely use the fact of the negotiations itself to strengthen their information positions. On the other hand Putin already repeatedly showed his ability to fascinate foreign leaders, which subsequently facilitated contact with them. Besides this, Russia can also use the meeting for information and propaganda purposes. Moreover, at present the position of the Kremlin is stronger because it is the US who pushed for compelled concessions and showed that this meeting is more needed by them.

The question consists in whether it is worth speaking with people who aren’t yet ready to make a constructive proposal. It is possible to suggest to them to go and think about it, but they can take offense and the general situation will worsen. It is possible to begin negotiations, recognising that in the course of communication it will be possible to come to a mutually acceptable compromise. Both options of behavior have their strengths and weaknesses. In recent years Russia preferred to be involved in negotiations… well, and then we’ll see – we will always have the time to quarrel, but we can reach an agreement anyway.

It is certainly clear that one shouldn’t expect a breakthrough in Vienna. Even if negotiations will be completed in the best way, the heads of States will only declare their intention to remove bilateral contradictions and to live in peace and friendship, while the process of reach a concrete agreement after this can last years and end with nothing.

Trump can’t make a compromise right now, because he’s just severely fallen out with practically all the civilised world, from China to Canada. He has a trade war and personal hostility towards everyone. If in these conditions he makes concessions to Russia, then it will mean that the US abandoned the fight for world leadership and tried to preserve a part of its former weight in the union with Russia. But then all their former allies competing in race each other to Moscow with offers of friendship, brotherhood, and eternal loyalty. And this will additionally weaken the positions of the US.

That’s why it is necessary for Trump at the NATO summit in Brussels to receive at least some unity (at least on minor questions) in order to speak with Putin in Vienna on behalf of the united West, which is still agrees with American primacy. So then his position will look at least in equilibrium with the position of Russia.

In turn Putin can’t concede to Trump in Ukraine or Syria, and he can’t refuse an informal, but very effective union with China. Each of these points is an important knot, connecting together the network of global coordination created in recent years by Russia for the purpose of ensuring security. The loss of one link in the chain will affect in the most fatal way the efficiency of the others. In the worst case scenario – the domino effect is possible, and in the best one – a considerable decrease in the effectiveness of the system and a disbalance in the actions of allies is possible.

But, taking into account the sharp weakening of the American global positions in the first half of 2018, Russia doesn’t see any sense in general in discussing the possibility of any concessions. Only a compromise solution of problems, assuming that the US will leave the foreign countries that closely border Russia, as an exclusive sphere of Russian interests in which they impudently intruded about 20 years ago. It is after this that it will be possible to discuss trade and economic interests of Washington. Finally, the balancing of the American budget is impossible without balancing trade and the termination of the expensive aggressive foreign policy is in the common interests of the whole world.

The world is interested in helping the US overcome the most severe crisis in which they herded themselves into and reform the American economy, but only in exchange for the abandonment of an active military policy, a sharp decrease in the military budget, a reduction in the number of mobile expedition forces – including aircraft carrier groups, the re-organisation of the structure of the American Armed Forces in favour of an exclusively defensive position that allows to reliably protect the US from an invasion, but doesn’t allow to perform large-scale overseas operations.

As we understand, today the US still hasn’t ripened for such radical compromises. That’s why a possible meeting in Vienna is only the first step. The US already agreed to speak on the conditions of others, but still doesn’t agree to form a constructive agenda. And they will come to this decision. The main thing is that it isn’t too late for the American economy.

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SYRIAN WAR REPORT – JUNE 29, 2018: TIGER FORCES LIBERATE MULTIPLE SETTLEMENTS IN SOUTHERN SYRIA

SYRIAN WAR REPORT

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA), the Tiger Forces and their allies have continued their successful operation against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) in the province of Daraa. They have liberated the town of al-Hirak, the villages of Rakham, al-Surah and Alma as well as the 49 Air Defense Brigade and some nearby points.

Additionally, government forces liberated Sad Ibta, Tell Hamad and the 271st Brigade north of the city of Daraa.

A humanitarian corridor allowing civilians to withdraw from the combat area was also opened near the town of Da’il.

All signals show that the SAA is set to continue its military operation in southern Syria in a full force.

On June 28, the SAA and its allies repelled an ISIS attack on their positions southwest of the border town of al-Bukamal. According to the SAA General Command, many ISIS fighters died and a vehicle was destroyed in the clashes.

On June 27, the Syrian military claimed that it had cleared 5,200km2 of the Deir Ezzor desert of ISIS cells. However, establishing securing along the entire border will require further efforts.

13 planes, 14 helicopters and 1,140 personnel have been withdrawn from Syria over the past few days, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the alumni of military academies at a reception on June 28 adding that the pullout of Russian forces from Syria began in December 2017.

Putin’s statement followed reports that some Russian Ka-52 attacks helicopters and their crews have withdrawn from Syria.

However, the withdrawal of some aircraft does not sign that Russia is going to cease support and assistance to the Syrian military on the ground and in the air. As it has already been before, this is just a sign of a new phase, likely with some additional focus on diplomatic efforts, of the Russian participation in the conflict.

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Sayyed Nasrallah Warns of ‘Deal of Century’: For Speedy Formation of Gov’t, Victory Scored in Southern Syria

Zeinab Essa

29-06-2018 | 22:49

Hezbollah Secretary General His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah delivered on Friday a televised speech in which he tackled the latest internal and regional developments.

Gov’t Formation

Starting with the internal front, Sayyed Nasrallah recalled that “since after the elections, we’re urging the expedite in the government’s formation.”

“We’re still calling for this,” he said, noting that “Hezbollah’s call is not linked to concerns over the regional situations.”

As His Eminence cautioned that the problem in forming the government is the absence of standards or criteria, he stressed that “there should be clear and unified standards for the formation of governments and these standards should apply to everyone.”

“There are those who bet on regional changes and they have to end this because the developments are in the interest of the axis of the resistance, whether in south Syria or Yemen, specifically its western coast, ” the Resistance Leader mentioned.

In addition, Sayyed Nasrallah called for taking the popularity and parliamentary sizes into consideration during the formation of the government. “We will be in front of unclear criterion.”

“Our call for expediting the formation process is based on national calculations and needs that are related to the social and economic situations and to preventing a power vacuum. It is far from any regional development,” he clarified.

According to Hezbollah Secretary General, “the governmental formats that are being circulated cannot be described as formats for a national unity government.”

Asking “why the Alawites and Syriacs are being excluded”, he viewed that “every side must be represented in a national unity government.”

He further reiterated the call for precise commitment to the sizes of the blocs that had resulted from the parliamentary elections.

Syrian Refugees’ Return

Moving to the file of Syrian refugees, Sayyed Nasrallah expressed his surprise about the recent discussions.

“Syrian refugees who want to return to Syria should be allowed to do so without restrictions,” he added, pointing out that “Hezbollah wants to benefit from its good relations with the Syrian leadership situation in order to help in this file.”

Revealing that Hezbollah has formed a file to facilitate the return of refugees, Sayyed Nasrallah announced that “ex-MP Nawwar al-Saheli was designated to head this file.”

“Hezbollah will also form popular committees in all regions to facilitate communication,” His Eminence confirmed, noting that “Hezbollah will communicate will announce a mechanism for the refugees’ applications so that lists in cooperation with Lebanon’s security agencies and Damascus are ready to make the largest number of refugees return safely and voluntarily to their country.”

Security, Citizenship

On another level, Sayyed Nasrallah accused some media outlets of exaggerating the security situation in Baalbek -Hermel district.

He further urged the Lebanese Army and security agencies to exert continuous efforts not to accept any cover to anyone breaching the law or security in Baalbek-Hermel.

Regarding the recent debate issuing a new citizenship, Sayyed Nasrallah announced that Hezbollah won’t declare its position through media outlets.

However, he wondered “What is the problem if there are people who deserve to obtain the Lebanese citizenship.”

“This could achieve certain national and economic benefits,” his Eminence predicted.

Deal of Century

Moving to the regional level, His Eminence warned that we have seriously entered the American and “Israeli” action to implement the so-called “deal of century”

“Everyone must shoulder his responsibilities in supporting the Palestinian people to face the executive steps of the “deal of century”,” he emphasized.

Syria’s New Victory

Meanwhile, Sayyed Nasrallah uncovered that the developments in southern Syria are very positive and they confirm the collapse of the terrorist groups.

“The entire region in southern Syria, whether in Daraa or elsewhere, is facing collapse among the terrorists,” the Resistance Leader elaborated, pointing out that “there are popular rallies in the Syrian south to return to the state and we are in front of a great victory and major change.”

In addition, Sayyed Nasrallah saluted the Iraqi brothers at the Syrian-Iraqi border.

“The Popular Mobilization Forces played an effective role in defeating the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq,” he went on to say.

To the people of the region in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, His Eminence said “Any attack on the resistance, must have an answer.”

Trump: The Monster

On another note, Sayyed Nasrallah viewed that US President Donald Trump’s policy showed his real image as a “wild monster” over the policy of separating children from their parents for migrants entering the US.

“Doesn’t the image of immigrant children separated from their fathers and mothers and put in isolated places clearly express the brutality of President Trump and his administration?” he wondered.

Yemen: The miracle

Moving to the field situation in Yemen, Sayyed Nasrallah rejected Saudi media fabrications that Hezbollah Resistance men have been killed there.

“But whether we’re there or not, I categorically deny that there are Hezbollah martyrs in Yemen-not in the last few days nor in recent years,” he said.

“Saudi and Emirati military forces, together with their regional and Western allies, have suffered serious losses in Yemen’s western port city of Al-Hudaydah,” he added, noting that “Fighting in Al-Hudaydah is happening in face of the most important weapons, aircraft, and capabilities.”

His Eminence also saluted Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad over his decision to pull his country’s troops out of the Saudi-led military coalition.

“Saudi forces and their allies must know the fact that they are fighting a nation that will never capitulate,” Sayyed Nasrallah said.

Moreover, His Eminence appealed to Sudan and its people to withdraw from the Saudi-led coalition.

“It is regrettable to see Sudan’s Army in this battle after it had a great respect in the conscience of the people of the region,” he stated, hoping that the experience of the West Coast battle be a lesson for Saudi Arabia and UAE.

Source: Al-Ahed

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israeli innovation is based on theft

Source

Israel is a settler-colonial state.

Maintaining its status as the “Jewish state” in a land whose population is mostly non-Jewish requires a regime of complete and utter brutality.

It requires the denial of basic human rights to the Palestinian people. First among those rights to be denied is the right to life, as seen in recent events in Gaza.

Israel has killed more than 130 Palestinians in Gaza since 30 March, when the Great March of Return began. More than 100 of those deaths occurred during the protests, and 15 of those were children.

Thousands more were injured – very deliberately – by Israeli army snipers aiming to maim and incapacitate.

The goal of the demonstrations illustrates the denial of another basic human right by Israel: the right of refugees to return to their homes after a war. For more than 70 years now, Israel has denied this right to millions of Palestinian refugees.

And it does so using an explicitly racist justification – that those refugees are not Jewish.

Meanwhile, anyone in the world with so much as a Jewish grandparent can “return” to that same land – even if (as is mostly the case) they or their ancestors have never lived in Palestine.

This is the brutal reality of a “Jewish state” in Palestine. Israeli leaders know this, and the more frank among their supporters admit as much.

Jeremy Corbyn: A devil in Israel, a hero to the Arabs

One of the more explicit of these was Haifa University demographer Arnon Soffer, once a key advisor to the late Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

In a notorious 2004 interview with the Jerusalem Post, Soffer predicted that when 2.5 million people live in a closed-off Gaza ,“it’s going to be a human catastrophe… if we want to remain alive, we will have to kill and kill and kill. All day, every day”.

These truths mean that it’s fundamentally difficult for Israel to maintain international support. And so it has resorted to various marketing and PR techniques, in an increasingly desperate manner.

One of these is the selling of Israel as a “high tech innovator”. There is an entire organisation devoted to it: Israel21c. Its website puts out puff pieces promoting Israel as a wonderful land of technological marvels and green innovation.

As well as the standard shady influence peddling tactics beloved of PR firms around the world (former New York Times Jerusalem bureau chief Jodi Rudoren’s final piece from Israel was basically a rewrite of one of their press releases), Israel21c has used more explicitly deceptive methods.

#LandGrab

As I reported in 2014, the group aimed to infiltrate its propaganda into social media using paid operatives – on the condition that they kept their links to Israel21c a secret.

This method of “tech-washing” is morally bankrupt at the most fundamental level.

Even if it were the case that Israel is the source of all the most wonderful technology in the world, it would in no way justify its decades of military occupation, institutionalised racism and slaughter of unarmed protesters, including children.

But as it turns out, Israel’s claims to be a tech innovator are often baseless, even on their own terms.

One of the Israeli arms industry’s most frequent boasts is that its weapons are “field tested” – in other words they have used Palestinians as guinea pigs.

But much of the very foundation of Israeli high technology was actually acquired from France and the United States – in some cases it was stolen.

A 1983 report by the US Government Accountability Office details the extent to which Israeli arms firms relied on foreign assistance to establish themselves.

“Israel’s technological exports are heavily dependent on foreign components”, it read (on page 43). “Israeli officials estimate that during 1981-1982, most of their exports contained an import component of about 36 per cent. In Israel’s fastest growing industry, the electronics field, about 35 per cent of the technical expertise is acquired from the United States in licensed production or technology transfer. Almost every Israeli arms production effort includes a US input.”

US President Donald Trump (L) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) in Tel Aviv on May 22, 2017 [Daniel Bar On/Anadolu Agency]

A secret 1979 CIA document profiling Israel’s intelligence agencies (which was “declassified” by the Iranian students who took over the US embassy in Tehran after the Islamic revolution) showed American high-tech firms were a priority target for Israeli spy agencies.

Priority number two (after spying on Arab states) was listed as collecting “information on secret US policy… concerning Israel”. The third top priority was “collection of scientific intelligence in the US and other developed countries”. Such spying was apparently considered a higher priority intelligence target than even the USSR.

Probably the most high-profile case of Israeli spying on the US was Jonathan Pollard – the US Naval Intelligence officer who turned traitor and sold top-level US secrets to Israel, apartheid South Africa and even the USSR.

He was caught in 1985 and received a life sentence but was released by former President Obama in 2015.

Pollard worked for LAKAM, the so-called “Bureau of Scientific Relations” which stole high-tech intelligence from government and industry sources around the world. LAKAM was wound up after Pollard was exposed, but its work no doubt passed on to other agencies.

According to journalists Alexander and Leslie Cockburn, Israel also stole blueprints for a fighter-jet engine from a French firm after de Gaulle embargoed any further military supplies to Israel in reaction to the 1967 war.

Innovative methods indeed.

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Weekly report on israel’s terrorism against Palestinians (21- 27 June 2018)

Source

(21– 27 June 2018)

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

(21- 27 June 2018)

• Israeli forces continued to use force against Palestinian peaceful protestors in the Gaza Strip.
• A Palestinian civilian was killed, and 84 others were wounded, including 11 children, 2 women and a paramedic, in the Gaza Strip.
• 19 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the West Bank.

• Israeli warplanes launched 13 missiles against many targets in the Gaza Strip.

• 3 civilians were lightly wounded; a car and motorbike were destroyed; and 8 house windows sustained damage.

• Israeli forces continued their collective punishment policy.
• The external and internal walls of an apartment were demolished in eastern Barta’ah village in Jenin in the northern West Bank.

• Israeli forces continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip.
• A shepherd was wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.

• Israeli forces conducted 61 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 limited incursions were conducted in the southern Gaza Strip.
• 83 civilians, including 4 children and 2 women, were arrested in the West Bank.
• 22 of them, including 2 children and a woman, were arrested in Jerusalem.

• Israeli authorities continued to create a Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
• 5 commercial facilities were demolished in Hizmah in addition to an iron fence in al-Tour and a parking in Silwan. Meanwhile, an agricultural land was levelled in al-‘Issawiyah.
• 3 families were forced to self-demolish their houses in Silwan and Sour Baher while a house was demolished in Beit Hanina.

• 3 shooting incidents were reported against the Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Sea, but no casualties were reported.
• 3 fishermen were arrested while their boat sustained severe damage.

• 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.
• 10 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were arrested 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 (21 – 27 June 2018).

Shooting:

Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful demonstrations organized within the activities of the “Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the Gaza Strip, which witnessed for the 12^th week in a row peaceful demonstrations along the eastern and northern Gaza Strip border area. During the reporting period in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 88 others, including 11 children, 2 women, a journalist and paramedic.  Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds.  In the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 19 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a woman.

In the Gaza Strip, on 22 June 2018, the Israeli forces killed Usamah Abu Khater (29) with a bullet to the chest during his participation in the protests organized in eastern Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.  After his injury, he was taken to the European Gaza Hospital in the city and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where he stayed until his death was declared on 24 June 2019.

During the reporting period, while using the excessive force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza Strip borders, the Israeli forces wounded 84 Palestinians, including 11 children, 2 women, a paramedic, and a journalist.  Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds.

Injuries in the Gaza Strip during this Week

Governorate	Injuries
	Total	Children	Women	Journalists	Paramedics	Critical Injuries
Northern Gaza Strip	21	4	0	0	0	6
Gaza City	20	2	1	1	0	0
Central Gaza Strip	14	3	0	0	0	3
Khan Younis	20	2	1	0	0	0
Rafah	9	0	0	0	1	1
Total	84	11	2	1	1	10

As part of the airstrikes, on 21 June 2018, the Israeli drones launched 2 missiles a group of civilians participating in the Great March of Return in eastern al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City.  However, no casualties were reported.

On 24 June 2018, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a Tuk Tuk “Rickshaw” travelled by 3 people near Malakah Square in eastern al-Zaytoun in eastern Gaza City.  As a result, they were lightly wounded.  The Israeli forces claimed that they had incendiary balloons.  On the same day, the Israeli drones launched 3 missiles at a site belonging to the Palestinian Armed Groups and a motorbike in eastern al-Bureij in the central Gaza Strip and 2 other missiles at a site belonging to the Palestinian armed groups in western al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

On 26 June 2018, in two separate airstrikes, the Israeli warplanes fired 2 missiles at a group of civilians near a juice factory in eastern al-Shuja’iyah neighbourhood and a motorbike belonging to those flying the kites in eastern al-Tufah neighbourhood, east of Gaza City.  However, no casualties were reported.

On the same day, the Israeli drones launched a missile at civilians traveling a motorbike ine astern al-Amal neighbourhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.  The Israeli forces issued a statement declaring target of “a Palestinian cell participating in causing fires due to launching flaming kites and balloons from the Gaza enclave to the settlements.”

On 27 June 2018, the Israeli warplanes launched 2 missiles at a jeep parked in front of the owner’s house in eastern al-Nussairtat in the central Gaza Strip.  As a result, the car caught fire and severely damaged in addition to causing damage to 8 house windows in the area.  However, no casualties were reported.

As part of targeting the border areas, on 23 June 2018, the Israeli forces along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired tear gas canisters at farmers and shepherds who were in the Palestinian agricultural lands adjacent to the border fence.  As a result, a shepherd was wounded after being hit with a canister to the right thigh.

On 26 June 2018, the Israeli vehicles stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a border control point belonging to the Palestinian armed groups, east of al-Shiuja’iyah in eastern Gaza City.  However, no casualties were reported.

On 27 June 2018, the Israeli forces opened fire and fired 2 artillery shells on an empty land around 800 meters away from al-Amal neighbourhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.  Neither casualties nor damage to the property were reported.

On the same day, the Israeli soldiers stationed along the border fence, east of al-Maghazi in eastern Gaza Valley village in the central Gaza Strip opened fire at the agricultural lands adjacent to the fence, but no casualties were reported.

As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, pointing out to the ongoing Israeli policy of targeting their livelihoods.  During the reporting period, PCHR documented 3 shooting incidents at the fishermen, including 1 in north-western Beit Lahia, 1 in the central Gaza Strip; and one in Rafah City in the southern Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, 3 fishermen were arrested and released after interrogation while their boat sustained damage.

In the West Bank, during the reporting period, the Israeli forces wounded 19 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a journalist.  On 21 June 2018, five Palestinians were wounded with bullets when the Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem, to carry out an arrest campaign and a number of youngsters protested.

On 22 June 2018, 8 civilians were wounded, including 2 children and a photojournalist, during their participation in Kafr Qaddoum weekly protest, northeast of Qalqiliya.

On 24 June 2018, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli soldiers stationed at al-Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, opened fire at him, claiming he approached the soldiers and did not obey their orders to stop.  He was then arrested.

On 25 June 2018, 5 civilians were wounded, and one of them was arrested when the Israeli soldiers moved into the eastern area of Nablus to guard hundreds of settlers who entered the area to perform prayers in Josef’s Tomb in Balatet al-Balad.  Three of them were wounded during their participation in the protest against the settlers.  Moreover, a father and his son were wounded when they were in their car heading to the central vegetable market in the city.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 61 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and8 similar ones into Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 61 Palestinians, including 2 children and a woman, in the West Bank.  Meanwhile, 22 other civilians, including 2 children and a child, were arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs.

In the Gaza Strip, on 26 June 2018, the Israeli forces twice conducted an incursion into Khan Younis.  The first was when they moved 80 meters into eastern al-Qararah village and the second was when they moved 70 meters into northern Return camp in Khuza’ah vill;age, east of the city.

Collective Punishment Measures:

As part of the collective punishment policy adopted by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian families of those accused of carrying out attacks against them and/or the settlers, on Thursday early morning, 21 June 2018, the Israeli forces demolished the external and internal walls of the apartment in Eastern Barta’ah village, southwest of Jenin, that is isolated behind the annexation wall.  The 140-square-meter apartment belongs to Ratib Qabha and is inhabited by his daughter (35) and her child.  It should be noted that the Israeli forces arrested the son of the abovementioned civilian, ‘Alaa’ (26), on 16 March 2018 after he was shot and wounded due to running over a number of soldiers stationed at the checkpoint near former “Mavo Dotan” camp, south of Jenin.

Israeli Forces Continued their Measures to Create a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem

As part of demolishing civilian facilities, on 25 June 2018, the Israeli municipality vehicles demolished 5 agricultural dunums belonging to 5 Palestinian civilians in Hizmah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They demolished 3 glasshouse nurseries and a store for selling sheds under the pretext of non-licensing. The losses were estimated at hundred thousands of shekels, which is the only source of income for the owners. It

In the same context, the Israeli Municipality forced al-Showaki Family to self-demolish their house in Was Yasoul neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City under the pretext of non-licensing.  Wael al-Showaiki said to PCHR’s fieldworker that his family and he were forced to demolished 2 under-construction houses to avoid paying NIS 90,000 as the municipality staff told them. Wael said that the 2 houses cost him around NIS 40.000.

In the same context, Ibrahim ‘Amirah self-demolished his house in Sur baher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. The house was built 2 years ago and comprised of 4 rooms, kitchen and bathroom sheltering 6 individuals, including 4 children. He said that when the demolition decision was issued, he immediately headed to the Israeli Courts, but unfortunately all courts decided to demolish the house. Thus, he was forced to self-demolish his house to avoid paying fines that may reach over NIS 90,000.

On Tuesday, 26 June 2018, the Israeli Municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to ‘Izzat ‘Abed al-Qader in Tal’et Hizmah area in Beit Huninah neighbourhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The 90-square-meter house was built near his family house in 2000 and was sheltering his wife and 1-year-old child.   In the same context, the Israeli Municipality vehicles levelled an iron fence in al-Hardoub area in al-Tour neighbourhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and a parking in Silwan, south of the city, in addition to an agricultural road in al-Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem.

Details

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

Thursday, 21 June 2018

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Howarah village, south of Nablus. They then raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested Khalid Abdul Jalil al-Sharidah and Nasser Medhat al-Shalkhati.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Laban eastern village, south of Nablu. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Jamil Ya’qoub ‘Ouweish and Ahmed Ghassan Daraghmah.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron and stationed in Beit Za’tarah area. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Karim Mahmoud Hamdi Abu Maria (19), who was released from the Israeli jails last April after he served few months in detention, and Mahdi Mohammed Hammad Abu Maria (19) and the arrested them.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in al-Karkafah neighborhood in the center of the city. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested 5 civilians, including a child, namely ‘Odai Makhlouf Zawahrah (21), Hamadah Fayez Salhab (20), Abdul Majid Zedan Salhab (18), Mohammed ‘Adel Zaboun (14) and his brother Mahmoud (19).

• At approximately 02:40, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, adjacent to al-Zawaidah shore in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles and chased them. As the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Na’im ‘Ali Taqatqah (24) and the arrested him and attacked his older brother.

• At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces accompanied with 10 more than military vehicles moved into al-Duheishah refugee camp, south of Bethlehem and stationed in al-Shuhada’a Suburb.  Dozens of young men and children gathered on the camp streets and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers heavily fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, a civilian was hit with 3 rubber bullets to the chest. He was transferred to a nearby hospital in Beit Jala to receive medical treatment. Meanwhile, the soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to Jamal Mohammed Shehadah (56). They detained him for a while and then released him. They also arrested ‘Odai ‘Adnan Mohammed Shehadah (21).

• At approximately 15:20, Israeli drones fired 2 missiles, with 10 minutes between each, at a group of civilians participating in the Great March of Return, east of al-Shawah village, east of Rafah. However, no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem under intensified measures and security backups. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 5 civilians, including a child, namely Mohammed Ahmed Taqatqah (23), Qassam Ahmed Thawabtah (23), Khalil Mohammed Thawabtah (28), Mohammed Eyad Thawabtah (16) and Mo’atasem Na’im Taqatqah (21). Meanwhile, dozens of young men and children gathered on the village street. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers heavily fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. As a result, 5 civilians were hit with live bullets. They were transferred to Beit Jalal hospitals for medical treatment.

• At approximately 20:00, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, west of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 6 nautical miles and pumped water at the engines and lights to damage them and then chased the boats. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives, but no casualties were reported.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm; Dura, Hebron and Sa’ir.

Friday, 22 June 2018

• At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Moghir village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Mohammed Hamad Abu ‘Alia (22) and Ahmed Mousa Abu ‘Alia (19).

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (13) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Tulkarm, Noor Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps and ‘Anabta village, east of the city;Far’oun village, south of the city; Qifin, Baqa al-Sharqiyah, Zeta, Nazlet ‘Essa and Nazlet Abu al-Nar villages, north of the city; ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqiliyah; Hebron and Ethna.

Saturday, 23 June 2018:

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forced raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Aref Mohammed Jaber (46) in Jaber neighborhood, east of Hebron’s Old City. They locked the family members outside the house while other soldiers thoroughly searched the house. They then arrested ‘Aref’s son Bara’a (19) and then withdrew from the house. It should be noted the Israeli soldiers attacked the house 2 weeks ago and attacked him and his wife and then arrested his son Mohammed. They released Mohammed on bail after they investigated with him in “Kiryat Arba” settlement police center. The soldiers claimed that the road, which is used by the settlers coming from the abovementioned settlement that passes by the family’s house was closed with rocks. At the same night, the Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and adjacent neighborhoods, but no arrests were reported. A number of the house’s owners were identified as Saleh Samer al-Ja’bari, Jawad Khader al-Ja’bari, Ahmed Rashid al-Zair and Mohanned al-Ja’bari.

• At approximately 09:30, Israeli gunboats stationed offshore, northwest of former al-Waha shore, northwest of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. The Israeli gunboats surrounded a fishing boat with a registration plate No. (532) belonging to Kamel Deeb Mahmoud al-Anqah (66) from al-Salateen neighborhood in Beit Lahia. The boat was manned by Kamel’s sons Haitham (28) and Ahmed (25) and fisherman Mohammed Mahmoud Ahmed al-Sultan (25). The boat was sailing within 2 nautical miles and was around1200 meters away from the northern Gaza Strip. The soldiers ordered the fishermen to take off their clothes, jump into water and swim towards the Israeli gunboats. The fisherman Haitham al-Anqah was able to flee from the Israeli soldiers after he jumped into the water while a group of fishermen could reach the boat and dragged it by their boats. The damage was clear on the boat due to the Israeli forces shooting. The boat and its engine were hit with a number of live bullets. The Israeli gunboats took the 3 fishermen Ahmed and Mahmoud al-Anqah and Mohammed al-Sultan to Ashdod Seaport in Israel where they detained and investigated the fishermen. The Israeli forces released them at approximately 19:30 on the same day via Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing in the northern Gaza Strip.

• At approximately 09:45, Israeli forces stationed behind a sand barrier along the border fence between the Gaza Strip, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired a number of tear gas canisters at Palestinian farmers who were in their lands adjacent to the border fence in addition to shepherds. As a result, shepherd Rami Saleem Ramadan Matar (40) from Jabalia was hit with a tear gas canister to the back side of his right thigh. Rami was grazing the sheep around 100 meters away from the west of the border fence. He was transferred to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors classified his injury as minor.

• At approximately 11:30 on Saturday, 23 June 2018, Israeli forces suppressed a group of Palestinian and foreign residents and activists while they were organizing a protest in a land that was under the control of Israeli settlers in Ras al-Hamra area in Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. The Israeli soldiers arrested 10 of the protestors and took them to a police station in “Kiryat Arba” settlement, east of Hebron. The Israeli authorities claimed that the area was a military closed zone and Palestinians are not allowed to be there. At approximately 19:00, the arrestees were released. A number of the arrestees were identified as Tha’er Mahmoud Ehdeeb, Mashhour al-Wahwah, who works as a reporter for Wafa News Agency; ‘Azmi Banat, a reporter at Palestine TV Channel, Younis ‘Arar, Head of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission in the south and Bassam Tarairah, Member of Bani Na’im Municipality Council. It should be noted that the land that was overtaken by the Israeli settlers is about 20 dunums. Tha’er Ehdeeb (38) said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“At approximately 11:00, I went to the abovementioned area where there was a number of local residents and lands’ owners form Khderat and Hamedat families, a number of foreign and Israeli activists and a crew of the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission as an Israeli settler was in the land adjacent to “Bani Hefer” settlement established on confiscated lands in al-Mosafer area established a tent for him. After minutes of our arrival, several Israeli patrols arrived at the area. The soldiers surrounded the area and prevented us from moving forward as more backups arrived at the area. The soldiers ordered us to leave without showing the military decision. Clashes suddenly erupted between the soldiers and residents after which the soldiers arrested me and 10 others, including the foreign activists and journalists. We were handcuffed and detained in the land. The soldiers then took us via the military vehicles to “Bani Hefer” settlement where we were detained handcuffed in a yard. After 2 hours, the soldiers forced us to sit on the ground. They then transferred us to an investigation center in “Kiryat Arba” settlement where we were informed of the military decision. We were released at approximately 19:00 after the soldiers threatened to arrest us if we came again to the area.”

• In the afternoon hours, Israeli soldiers stationed at the “Container” military checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested a Palestinian from Sa’ir village, northeast of Hebron, after shooting him and wounding him with a live bullet to the foot. The soldiers claimed that he came close to them and did not obey their orders for him to stop. According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ statements, at approximately 13:00 on the same day, Maher Abdul Rahim Thalgi Jaradat (34) stepped out of a taxi near the abovementioned checkpoint and walked towards the checkpoint designated to vehicles. After he did not follow the Israeli soldiers’ order for him to stop, the soldiers shot him in his legs, wounding him and left him bleeding on the ground for more than an hour as the soldiers prevented the Palestinian medial staffers from reaching him and offering first aid. The Israeli police said in a statement that: “Jaradat’s behabior and words raised suspicion as he was carrying a suspicious object and that’s why the soldiers decided to arrest him. The soldiers fired shots in the air and when Jaradat did not respond, the soldiers opened fire at his legs.”

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Qifin, Baqa al-Sharqiyah, Nazlet ‘Essa and Nazlet Abu al-Nar villages in Tulkarm.

Sunday, 24 June 2018

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed on al-Saf Street. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested 3 civilians namely ‘Ayad Jamal al-Haremi (24), Ramzi Mohammed al-Haremi (23) and Mohammed ‘Amar al-Shubaki (21). Following that, the Israeli forces moved into Ma’ali Valley area in the center of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khalil Jamal al-Haremi (22) and then arrested him. At approximately 02:30, the Israeli forces moved into al-Manarah Square in the center of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hussein Ashraf Kawazbah (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli Israeli forces moved into Halhoul. They raided and searched 3 houses and then handed summonses to 3 civilians namely Mamdouh Sami Abu ‘Osbah, Ayman ‘Ali al-Jabarat and Mohammed Khalil al-Baw to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service ice in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Noor refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Haitham Mar’ie Saleh Shehadah (35) and Mohammed Ahmed Abdul Rahman Foudah (22) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into Zeta village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Fares Mohammed Sharqiyah (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Abiyat area, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahdi Yasser al-‘Abiyat (22) and then handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gush Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Moghir village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Anwar Moneer Abu ‘Alia (26).

• At approximately 16:00, Israeli drones fired 3 missiles at a site belonging to Palestinian armed groups and a motorbike, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip. The airstrike caused damage to the site, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 17:00, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a site belonging to Palestinian armed groups, west of al-Buraij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. The airstrike caused damage to the site, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 18:35, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a Tuk Tuk travelled by 3 civilians near Malakah square, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City. As a result, the 3 civilians were lightly wounded and transferred to al-Shifa Hospital. The Israeli forces claimed that the 3 civilians had Incendiary balloons.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Tulkarm and Far’oun village, south of the  city; Baqet al-Hatab, east of the city; Yatta and Hebron.

Monday, 25 June 2018

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Qabatiyah village, southeast of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested 4 civilians namely Qutibah Ahmed Shalabi, Rabe’a Fadel Zakarneh, Ahmed Sa’ed Abu al-Rab and Basem Tazaz’ah.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Emad Abu al-Haija al-Tawil and then arrested.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They raided and searched several houses and then arrested Mohammed ‘Adnan Daraghmah and Kamal Jamal Daraghmah.

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tamoun village, south of Tubas. They raided and searched a house belonging to Tha’er Jamil Bani ‘Oudah and then arrested him.

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Barqah village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and then arrested Salah Fatin Salah (20), Mo’en Haris Heji (20).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested 3 civilians namely Kamal Mahmoud Abu ‘Arab (18), Ahmed Haitham Shalbanah (18) and Saleh ‘Ali Hashash (26).

• At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Shueikah Suburb, east of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a shop for selling computers and cell phones belonging to Jihad ‘Adnan Mustafa Edhiliyah. The soldiers confiscated many devices. They also raided and searched houses belonging to Khalid Raslan Hasan Na’alwah (38) and Jihad ‘Adnan Mustafa Na’alwah (28) and then arrested them.

• At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces moved into the eastern area in Nablus to secure hundreds of Israeli settlers’ entry in busses to perform Talmudic prayers in “Joseph’s Tomb” in Balatet al-Balad. Dozens of Palestinian children and young men gathered in Balatet al-Balad and the outskirts of Balata refugee camp and Old and New ‘Askar refugee camps. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. Meanwhile, Mohammed Abdullah Mar’ie (58) from Marj Na’jah village in the northern Valleys was driving his car heading to the main market along with his son Abdullah (20). As a result, Mohammed was hit with live bullet shrapnel to the right shoulder while his son was hit with live bullet shrapnel to the right hand. The shooting also caused the injury of 3 civilians, one of them was arrested namely Omer Mustafa Mousa Abu Lail (30) who was hit with a live bullet to the right foot. The Israeli forces also raided and searched a number of houses after which they arrested 3 civilians namely Mahran Hani Abu Tubbah (22), Sa’ed ‘Abed Majdalawi (20) and Sobhi Zuhai Jawabrah (23) from Balatah refugee camp.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Qalqiliyah and ‘Azzoun village, east of the city; Ektaba village, north of Tulkarm; Yatta and Hebron’s Old City.

Tuesday, 26 June 2018

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Qalil village, southeast of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Omer Farouq ‘Amer (25) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Thaheriyah village, south of Hebron and stationed in al-Deir neighborhood. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ibrahim Shehadah Abu Sharek (30) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved about 80 meters into the east of al-Qararah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled lands and repaired the border fence and then headed to the south. After few hours, the Israel forces redeployed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

• At approximately 15:00, Israeli forces accompanied with a number of military vehicles moved about 70 meters into the north of the Return camp in Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. They leveled lands and repaired the barbed wire fence after parts of it were removed last Friday. During the incursion, the Israeli forces opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at a group of young men who were near the Return camp. As a result, a number of them suffered tear gas inhalation. Few hours later, the Israeli forces redeployed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

• Around the same time, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a group of civilians while they were near the Juice factory, east of al-Sheja’eya neighborhood, east of al-Tuffah neighborhood, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 15:15, an Israeli warplane launched a missile at a motorbike for those flying flaming kites, east of al-Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza city, but no casualties were reported.

• At approximately 15:20, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired an artillery shell at a border control point belonging to Palestinian armed groups. The point is in al-Sheja’eiyah neighborhood, east of Gaza City, but no casualties were report.

• At approximately 20:00, an Israeli drone fired a missile at a group of civilians who were driving a motorbike, 800 meters into the west of the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Amal neighborhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. The Israeli forces then issued a statement declaring that “a Palestinian cell was targeted by the Israeli drones after participating in causing fires by flying flaming kites and balloons towards the settlements near the Gaza enclave.”

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Noor Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm; al-Samou’a, Ethna, al-Hejrah and Deir Samet villages in Hebron.

Wednesday, 27 June 2018

• At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Tawfiq Sawalha (25) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fujjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested Qais Mohamed Thawabtah (19) and Ameen ‘Ali Thawabtah (20).

• Around the same time, an Israeli drone fired 2 missiles at a jeep belonging to a civilian. The jeep was parked in front of his house in al-Nusirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip. The bombing resulted in setting fire to the car, damaged it completely, and damaged 8 windows of nearby houses. No casualties among civilians were reported, but the bombing caused fear among them, especially children.

• At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Khelit Khadour neighborhood in the southern area of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Isma’il Mohamed al-Hashlamoun (65) and his sons’ houses: Naseem (41), Hamza (38), Suhaib (30), and Mohamed (28). The Israeli forces locked the 5 families’ members in one house before searching all houses without allowing preventing any of them from accompanying the soldiers.  Two hours later, the Israeli forces withdrew and no arrests among the family members were reported. The family said that they lost NIS 25,000 and other papers and bank checks. The family also clarified that the Israeli forces did not leave a list of the confiscated items. Isma’il al-Hashlamoun said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“After raiding my house and my 4 sons’ houses and staying around 2 hours to search the houses, the Israeli soldiers withdrew and damaged the houses’ contents. My daughters-in-law checked their houses, and my sons Hamza and Mohamed were surprised that they cannot find NIS 25,000 and other checks that were in Mohamed’s wallet in addition to NIS 270 that were in his wife’s wallet. The Israeli soldiers did not allow us to accompany while brutally raiding our house, noting that they raided our house twice only during this month.”

• At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Shaiekh neighborhood in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Suliman Abu Shakhdam and handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli Intelligence Service in “Gosh ‘Etzion” settlement, south of Bethlehem. They also arrested his son Suhaib (23).

• At approximately 02:20, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Amal neighborhood, northeast of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire and fired 2 artillery shells, which fell on an empty land 800 meters away from the border fence. Neither causalities nor damage was reported.

• At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Mohamed Abu ‘Ayyash (27) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 05:45, Israeli forces moved into Barqah village, east of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Nizam ‘Ali Ma’ali (45) and then arrested his wife Najlaa Omar Ma’ali (40).

• Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Jalazoun Refugee Camp, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Naser Jamal Makhlouf (22) and then arrested him.

• At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Maghazi Camp in the Central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands adjacent to the fence. No casualties among civilians were reported, but farmers were forced to leave their lands fearing for their lives.

• At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Gaza Valley (Juhor al-Deek) in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at agricultural lands adjacent to the fence. No casualties among civilians were reported, but farmers were forced to leave their lands fearing for their lives.

Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were reported: Dura and Kharsa villages in Hebron; and Kufor al-Deek, west of Salfit.

Collective Punishment:

• As part of the collective punishment policy applied by the Israeli forces against the Palestinian families of those accused of carrying out attacks against the Israeli forces and/or settlers, on Thursday, 21 June 2018, the Israeli forces destroyed the interior and external walls of an apartment in Barta’ah village, southwest of Jenin. According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces accompanied with 20 vehicles moved into Barta’ah village that is isolated behind the annexation wall, southeast of Jenin. The Israeli forces stationed in the Market Street in the center of the village and then surrounded a residential building comprised of 4 floors belonging to Ratib ‘Abed al-Latif As’ad Qabha. The Israeli forces raided a 140-square-meter residential apartment in the 3^rd floor and then destroyed with hammers and a digger the interior walls. Before the Israeli soldiers’ withdrawal, they welded the main door with oxygen. It should be noted that on 16 March 2018, the Israeli forces arrested Ratib’s son ‘Alaa (26) after opening fire at him and wounding him due to carrying out a run over attack against a number of soldiers stationed at a military checkpoint near “Mevo Dotan” Camp, south of Jenin.

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

Continuing the demonstrations in protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration 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. They further organized peaceful demonstrations where ten thousands of civilians participated on the 42^nd Anniversary of the Land Day in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The demonstrations were named as “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege.” The demonstrations were as follows during the reporting period:

Gaza Strip:

• At approximately 10:30 on Thursday, 21 June 2018, dozens of Palestinians gathered in the eastern side of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City during their participation in the activities of the March of Return and Breaking Siege. The protestors 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. A 15-year-old child was hit with a live bullet to the right leg while a 22-year-old civilian was hit with a live bullet to the abdomen.

• At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 22 June 2018, hundreds of Palestinian swarmed to the Return camp, east of Khuza’ah village, east of Khan Younis to participate in the “Loyalty to the Wounded Friday ” established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege. The participants, including men, elderlies, women and children, inside and outside the camp. They raised the Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans and flew kites as dozens of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and set fire. A number of them attempted to throw stones at Israeli forces and remove the barbed wire fence established by those forces on the Palestinian lands 30-50 meters away from the main border fence. The Israeli forces stationed behind hills, sand barriers, military vehicles and their vicinity sporadically opened fire and fired tear gas canisters at the protestors and towards the camp yard. The shooting continued until approximately 20:00. As a result, 20 civilians, including 2 children and a woman, were hit with live bullets and tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were taken to the field hospital and then transferred to Nasser, Gaza European and Algerian Hospitals. According to observation of PCHR’s fieldworker, the shooting intensified between 18:30 and 19:30, causing most of the injuries. Doctors classified the injury of Osama Khalil Qasem Abu Khater (29), who was hit with a live bullet to the chest as serious. He was transferred to Gaza European Hospital where he was adimited to the ICU due to his serious injury and stayed at the hospital until his death was announced at approximately 01:30 on Sunday, 24 June 2018.

• At approximately 16:00 on the same Friday, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return camps established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege, east of Malakah intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the 12^th consecutive Friday known as “Millions March to Jerusalem”. The activity included raising flags, chanting national slogans, setting fire to tires and flying kites. Though the demonstrations were fully peaceful, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 18 civilians, including a child, woman and photojournalist, were hit with live bullets and tear gas canisters and their shrapnel. The photojournalist namely ‘Ali Hasan Mousa Jadallah (28), who works at Anadolu Agency, was hit with shrapnel to the right hand.

• At approximately 16:30 on the same day, dozens of civilians swarmed to the Return encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege in Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. the protestors raised Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans and set fire to tires. Hundreds of them approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. The soldiers deliberately and randomly fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants. As a result, 19 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded. Twelve of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 7 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Medical Services, General Union Committee and the Ministry of Health to the Indonesian, al-Awda and Kamal Edwan Hospitals. Doctors classified the injury of 6 civilians as serious while the others’ injury between minor and moderate.

• Around the same time, thousands of Palestinian protestors swarmed to the encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return, 400 meters away from the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij in the central Gaza Strip, hundreds 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 them. The clashes continued until the evening hours. As a result, 14 civilians, including 3 children, were wounded. Nine of them were hit with live bullets and 5 others were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via PRCS ambulances to al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors classified the injuries of 3 civilians as serious while the others’ between minor and moderate. The Israeli soldiers also targeted a gathering of civilians in the camps and the field hospital belonging to the Ministry of Health. As a result, the medical staffers and dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

• At approximately 17:00 on the same Friday, thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return encampment established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege. They were around 300 meters away from 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 young men approached the border fence, flew kites, 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 them. The clashes continued until approximately 20:00. As a result, 7 civilians were wounded. Three of them were hit with live bullets and its shrapnel and 4 others were directly hit with tear gas canisters, including paramedic Saqer Jihad Mustafa al-Jamal (24). The wounded civilians were taken to the field hospital in the Return camp and then transferred to Abu Yusuf al-Najjar in Rafah. Doctors classified their injuries as moderate.

• At approximately 17:30 on Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at dozens of civilians, who gathered in the Return camp near the border fence, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, a number of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

• At approximately 17:45 on Wednesday, 27 June 2018, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired live bullets at civilians who approached the border fence. As a result, Adam ‘Emad Dyab Salem (15) from al-Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City.  The Israeli soldiers crossed the border fence into the Palestinian lands and dragged the child into Israel. Later, the Israeli forces’ spokesperson stated that “the child is wounded and he is receiving medical treatment at Barzilai Medical Center.” He also said that: “the Israeli forces opened fire at a group of civilians who attempted to sneak and cross the border fence, causing wounded to a child and then the soldiers transferred him to the hospital to receive medical treatment.” The social media published photos and videos documenting the incident when the child was wounded. The videos shown that the Israeli soldiers reached the area that was around 10 meters into the west of the border fence and the child was a civilian who did not pose any threat to the lives of the Israeli soldiers. The child’s family said to PCHR’s fieldworker that they contacted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) who informed them that their son was hit with a live bullet to the legs. The family also said that their son is ill and suffers from Epileptic Seizures. The shooting continued by the Israeli soldiers against the civilians until approximately 19:00 on the same day. As a result, a 31-year-old civilian from Jabalia was hit with a live bullet shrapnel throughout his body. He was transferred to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors classified his injury as moderate.

• At approximately 19:50 on the same Wednesday, Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah, fired live bullets at 4 young men during their attempt to cut the barbed wire and sneak through the border fence. As a result, 2 civilians were wounded. One of them was hit with 2 live bullets to the abdomen and his injury was classified as serious while the other was hit with a live bullet shrapnel to the left leg and his injury was classified as moderate. The wounded civilians were transferred to Abu Yusuf al-Najjar hospital in Rafah.

West Bank:

• Following Friday prayer at approximately 13:30 on 22 June 2018, a group of Palestinian civilians moved from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, to the eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed for 15 years in favor of the entrance to “Kedumim” settlement established on the village lands. The protestors chanted national slogans demanding end of occupation, condemning the U.S President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital Israel and condemning the Israeli forces’ crimes against Palestinian protestors along the eastern border of the Gaza Strip within “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” activities. The protestors set fire to tires, threw stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers. They also carried unreal coffin with the “Century Deal” slogan on it and then burnt it. As a result, 8 civilians, including 2 children and a photojournalist were hit with rubber bullets. The photojournalist was identified as Naser Suleiman Eshtiah (50) from Salem village, east of Nablus, works at Associated Press, was hit with a rubber bullet to the right hand.

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.

• 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

(20-26 June 2018)

Category	20 June	21 June	22 June	23 June	24 June	25 June	26 June
Patients	68	33	1	–	127	57	87
Companions	58	29	3	–	107	52	76
Personal needs	235	77	12	–	42	33	33
Familiesof prisoners	–	–	–	–	–	43	–
Arabs fromIsrael	11	45	20	–	26	7	8
Diplomats	–	–	–	–	–	5	4
International journalists	14	–	–	–	–	–	–
International workers	45	56	8	–	35	25	34
TravelersAbroad	–	75	–	–	24	–	83
Business people	274	4	7	–	422	335	275
Business meetings	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Security interviews	3	1	–	–	2	4	3
VIPs	–	1	–	–	2	–	–
Ambulances to Israel	8	5	1	–	6	5	3
Patients’ Companions	8	5	1	–	6	5	3

Note:

• On Wednesday, 20 June 2018, Israeli authorities allowed 4 persons; and on Tuesday, 26 June 2018, one person who works at the General Authority of Civil Affairs (GACA) and internationals to renew their permits.
• On Wednesday, 20 June 2018, the Israeli authorities allowed 2 persons to travel via Erez Crossing on a trip organized by an international organization.
• On Friday, 22 June 2018, the Israeli authorities allowed 3 persons; and on Monday, 25 June 2018, 3 persons to return to the West Bank.
• On Sunday, 24 June 2018, the Israeli authorities allowed one person to travel via the crossing to give his testimony in the Israeli Courts.

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:

• Ramallah and al-Bireh: Israeli forces established (10) checkpoints all over the city.

At approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 21 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the main entrance to Ras Kakar village.

At approximately 12:15, a similar checkpoint was established at the entrance to Kherbitha al-Mosbah village, west of the city.

On Friday, 22 June 2018, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah; at the entrance to Silwad village; and at the entrance to ‘Ain Yabroud village, northeast of the city.

On Saturday, 23 June 2018, 2 similar checkpoints were established at the entrance to al-Nabi Saleh village and at the main entrance to ‘Ain Yabroud village.

On Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints in the main square of ‘Ain Sinah village; in ‘Atarah village’s bridge, north of Ramallah; and at the entrance to Silwad village, northeast of the city.

• Hebron: Israeli forces established (17) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 21 June 2018, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Ummer and al-Shayyoukh villages.

On Friday, 22 June 2018, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the western entrance to Hebron and at the entrances to Beit Kahel, Beit ‘Aynoun, and Samou’a villages.

On Saturday, 23 June 2018, 3 similar checkpoints were established at the northern entrance to Hebron, at the southern entrance to Hebron, and at the entrance to Karzah village.

On Sunday, 24 June 2018, 2 similar checkpoints were established at the entrances to Sa’ir and Samou’a villages.

On Monday, 25 June 2018, 3 similar checkpoints were established at the entrances to al-Dahiriyia and Bani Na’iem villages and at the southern entrance to Halhoul village.

On Wednesday, 27 June 2018, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the entrances to Beit ‘Awaa and Bani Na’iem villages and at the southern entrance to Halhoul village.

• Qalqiliyia: Israeli forces established (7) checkpoints all over the city.

On Thursday, 21 June 2018, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Qalqiliyia (was established 2 times) and at the entrance to ‘Aziun village, east of the city (was established 2 times).

At approximately 12:20 on Friday, 22 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Heblah village, south of Qalqiliyia.

At approximately 17:15 on Sunday, 24 June 2018, a similar checkpoint was established between Hijah and al-Fondouq villages, east of Qalqiliyia.

At approximately 18:15 on Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the southern entrance to Qalqiliyia village.

• Tulkarm:

At approximately 00:30 on Sunday, 24 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Beit Lid village, east of Tulkarm.

Arrests at Military Checkpoints:

• At approximately 14:20 on Sunday, 24 June 2018, Israeli forces stationed at Za’tarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested Naseem Mohamed Sal’ous (24), from Nablus.

• At approximately 18:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, east of Tulkarm, arrested 3 civilians, including a child. The arrested civilians were identified as Ahmed Hitham Shalbayia (17), Kamal Mahmoud Abu ‘Arab, and Saleh ‘Ali ‘Atallah Hashash. All of them are from Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus.

• At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the northern entrance to Yatta village “Zaif”. The Israeli forces stopped Palestinian civilians’ vehicles, checked the passengers’ ID, and then arrested Ra’fat Musalam ‘Ashour (31).

• On Monday, Israeli forces stationed at Za’tarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested 3 civilians, who were identified as Mo’tasem Mohamed Khatib (22), from Balatah refugee camp, east of Nablus; ‘Abed al-Fattah Dalabsha; and Tamer Jamal Makhlouf. ‘Abed al-Fattah and Tamer are from al-Jalazoun Refugee Camp, north of Ramallah.

• On Monday, 26 June 2018, Israeli forces established a checkpoint on Nablus- Qalqiliyia Road. They stopped Palestinian civilians’ vehicles, checked the passengers’ IDs and then arrested Majdi Sadeq al-Sholi (28), from ‘Asirah village, north of Nablus.

• At approximately 23:10 on Tuesday, 26 June 2018, Israeli forces stationed at Za’tarah checkpoint, south of Nablus, arrested ‘Anan Muhsen ‘Abed al-Rahman Jaber (24), from ‘Anbatah village, east of Tulkarm.

• 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:

• Arrests and Incursions:

At approximately 00:00 on Thursday, 21 June 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-Mukaber Mount, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to j journalist Rasem ‘Enad ‘Obaidat (60) and then arrested him.  Rasem was taken to al-Maskobiyia Center for investigation. It should be noted that Rasem was arrested 3 days ago while participating in a ceremony to celebrate the National Day of Russia in Ambassador Hotel in al-Shaiekh Jarrah neighborhood. The Israeli forces released him after questioning him for few hours in al-Maskobiyia Center and then arrested him again on the same above-mentioned grounds.  Mofeed al-Haj,Lawyer of Palestinian Prisoner Club, said that on Monday 25 June 2018, the Magistrate Court in Jerusalem decided to release Rasem on one condition that it will impose a house arrest on him and a bail estimated at NIS 1500, in addition to a self-bail and a third party bail estimated at NIS 5000. The court also released him on conditions that he would not participate in meetings and protests for 30 days and never contact anyone interrogated with the same case for 40 days.

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to ‘Abdullah al-Kasawani, head of al-Zaytoun Mount Club and member in the Palestinian football team, and then arrested him.

At approximately 13:00 on Thursday, Israeli forces moved into al-Sa’diyia neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Mahdi Abu ‘Asab (13) and arrested him after severely beating him up. Mohamed was then taken to an investigation center for interrogation.

At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 24 June 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-Sawanah neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched a house belonging to Naser al-Hadami (49), Director of Jerusalem Authority against Judaization, and then arrested him.

At approximately 21:00 on Sunday, 24 June 2018, Israeli forces moved into Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohamed Nimer ‘Ashwah (17) and then arrested him.

At approximately 14:30 on Monday, 26 June 2018, Israeli forces severely beat Husam Mohamed al-Nabolsi (53) while he was in al-Wad Street in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, and then arrested him after taking him to an Israeli hospital to receive treatment. Rami Nabolsi, the wounded’s brother, said that he informed that the Israeli border guard officers attacked his brother Husam and severely beat him. He also said that he did not know why his brother was beaten and he knew from people in the area that his brother was taken to one of the Israeli hospitals. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli forces arrested al-Nabolsi in Bab al-Khalil in the Old City, but he fled after chasing him and arrested him again and severely beat him. As a result, he was taken to an Israeli hospital.

At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 25 June 2018, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Izariyia village, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched houses from which they arrested two siblings Nour (20) and Ghada.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Sho’fat Refugee Camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched dozens houses and then arrested 10 civilians. PCHR keeps the names of the arrested persons.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Ram village, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Shawabkah Family house, where they arrested Nayif al-Shawabkah (29) and ‘Alaa al-Shawabkah (26).

On Tuesday, the Israeli authorities handed the former prisoner ‘Odai Rebhi Sonnoqrot (27), from Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem, a military decision to deport him from Jerusalem for 6 months. The decision was issued after summoning ‘Odai to al-Maskobiyia Center for interrogation in West Jerusalem. Sonnuqrot said that he was summoned to al-Maskobiyia Center, where he was handed a military decision to deport him from Jerusalem for 6 months. He pointed out that he was released from the Israeli jails on Thursday 21 June 2018 after staying 32 days in al-Maskobiyia Center cells. He added that he was subjected to a house arrest instead of releasing him and prevented him from seeing his father for a week. The Israeli Court also forced him to pay NIS 10,000, in addition to a third party bail estimated at NIS 150,000. He clarified that this decision would keep him away from his wife and their 2 children, who live in their house in Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood.

House Demolitions and Notices:

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli vehicles demolished 5 agriculural dunums belonging to 5 Palestinian civilians in Hizmah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. The Hizmah village’s mayor Samar Salah al-Deen said that the Israeli Municipality staff accompanied with many Israeli forces and vehicles moved into the village in the morning. These forces closed all streets leading to ‘Anatah village and declared it as a closed military zone. Following that, the Israeli vehicles demolished 3 glasshouse nurseries and a shop for selling sheds established on an area of 5 dumuns  under the pretext of non-licensing. Those facilities belonged to Ibrahim Salem, Ghaleb Salem, Mohamed al-Sewari, Mohamed Fayiz, and Mohamed ‘Askar. The mayor said that the Israeli vehicles not only demolished but also intentionally damaged the glasshouse nurseries to prevent civilians from reusing them again. The losses of those facilties’ owners were estimated at thousands shekels, noting they are the only source of income for the owners. It should be noted that the Israeli forces previously demolished those facilities several times.

In the same context, the Israeli Municipality forced al-Showaki Family to self-demolish their house in Was Yasoul neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City under the pretext of non-licensing or the municipality “will impose fines on them and force them to pay the municipality demolition costs. Wael al-Showaki said to PCHR’s fieldworker that his family and he were forced to demolish 2 under-construction houses to avoid paying NIS 90,000 as told by the municipality staff while raiding their house twice during the past days. The municipality staff also handed him an administrative notice that allows the municipality to demolish the houses in anytime. The family said that they built the houses at the beginning of last May and when they were preparing for casting the concrete, the municipality staff raided the house and handed them the notice. On Friday, 22 June 2018, the municipality staff raided their house again, handed them another notice, and gave them 4 days to demolish what they built or they will pay a fine. Wael said that the 2 houses cost around NIS 40,000.

In the same context, Ibrahim ‘Omairah self-demolished his house in Surbaher village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. The house was built 2 years ago, and when Ibrahim’s family finished its construction and lived there, the Israeli Municipality issued a decision to demolish the house. During the past period, Ibrahim attempted to license the house, but in vain. He said to PCHR’s fieldworker that:

“I received a phone call from the police, informing me that the Israeli Municipality will demolish the house on Tuesday morning or I immediately self- demolish it. I then vacated my house contents and self-demolished it. The house was comprised of 4 rooms, a kitchen and bathroom, sheltering 6 members, including 4 children. When the demolition decision was issued, I immediately resorted to the Israeli Courts, including the Supreme Court, but unfortunately all courts decided to demolish the house. Additionally, the component authorities refused to license the house, rendering my family and me homeless. I self-demolished my house to avoid paying fines that may reach over NIS 90,000.”

On Tuesday, 26 June 2018, the Israeli Municipality vehicles demolished a house belonging to ‘Izzat ‘Abed al-Qader in Tal’et Hizmah area in Beit Huninah neighborhood, north of occupied East Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Izzat said that the Israeli forces surrounded his house and then completely demolished it. He also said that the municipality staff raided his house in the previous day and handed him a decision to vacate the house contents. The 90-square-meter house was built near his family house in 2000 and sheltering his wife and their child.

In the same context, the Israeli Municipality vehicles demolished a 100-meter steel fence in al-Hardoub area in al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. An eyewitness said that the plot of land belonging to Murad Abu Subitan and Hani al-Sayyad.

In Wadi Helwa neighborhood in Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, the Israeli Municipality demolished a parking belonging to Eyad Ramadan. Eyad said that the Israeli Municipality forced him in last April to self-demolish the parking roof and parts of its walls. On the same day, Eyad was surprised with raiding the parking and completely demolishing it.

In al-Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, the Israeli Municipality demolished agricultural roads in the eastern area of the village, noting that those lands were threatened of confiscation in favor of “National Parks” projects.

Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property

 Israeli forces’ attacks

At approximately 10:30 on Monday, 25 June 2018, Israeli forces accompanied with a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Kherbit al-Dirat, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. A Civil Administration officer took photos of many houses and handed their owners notices to stop construction works under the pretext of non-licensing. The notices were as follows:

• A 200-square-meter inhabited house built of concrete and 70-square-meter barrack. Both of them belong to ‘Isaa Mahmoud al-‘Adrah.
• An 80-square-meter inhabited house built of concrete and belongs to Mohamed Ahmed al-‘Adrah.
• An 80-square-meter inhabited house built of concrete and belongs to Jabreen Mahmoud al-‘Adrah.
• A 100-square-meter inhabited house built of concrete and belongs to Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim al-‘Adrah.
• A 443-meter road leading to al-Safa School.

On Tuesday, 26 June 2018, Israeli forces established a military watchtower in al-Bowairah area, east of Hebron, which is near Beit ‘Aynoun area on Palestinian lands belonging to al-‘Eidah Family. It should be noted that Israeli settlers established a settlement outpost on an area of 40 dunums on the Palestinian confiscated lands. On 05 March 2018, the Israeli settlers under the Israeli forces’ protection leveled the plot of land and placed the Israeli flags on it. They also brought a water tank and installed banners on them. In the afternoon, trucks brought 4 mobile homes from “Kriyat ‘Arba’” settlement and put them in the land. The Israeli forces denied Palestinian civilians and the lands’ owners’ access. The new settlement outpost is opposite to “Kiryat Arba” and “Kharsina” settlements.

Recommendations to the International Community

PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian civilians under the pretext that they pose a security threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the international community that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under a tight closure for almost 11 years. 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, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014 offensive on the Gaza Strip.
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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