HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS IN KASHMIR Human rights abuses have
been a part of a campaign by the Indian army against Muslim Kashmiris, particularly
since 1990. The abuse is manifested in the following types of violations: "disappearances,"
torture, and the rape and molestation of Muslim women. Below is a list of incidents
reported by Amnesty International, the Kashmir Quarterly (a publication of the
Kashmiri-Canadian Council), and the United States Department of State. DEATHS: "In its 1996-1997 report,
the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), stated that 1,375 armed forces
personnel had been killed and 2,237 injured in Jammu and Kashmir between January
1, 1988 and April 30, 1997. In 1997, the totals were
918 civilians, 189 security forces personnel and 1,114 militants, according
to reliable press reports." From the U.S. Department
of State's, India Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998. According to the Kashmiri-Canadian
Council, 47,455 Kashmiris have died since October 1989. EXECUTIONS: "General S. Padmanabhan
said that the (Indian) Ministry of Defense had issued orders to troops posted
in Jammu and Kashmir to shoot on sight any of the 300 "infiltrators"
it believed to be currently fighting in Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to some
1,000 Kashmiri as "hard core guerrillas", he said that if they renewed
their subversive activities, "we will eliminate them too." From an Amnesty International
press release, October 15, 1996. "The [Indian] government's
disregard for human rights in Jammu and Kashmir means in practice that some
200 people reportedly died in custody in Jammu and Kashmir last year and that
the whereabouts of some 500 to 600 "disappeared " persons continue
to be unknown. The arbitrary arrests of people suspected to sympathize with
armed opposition groups also continues to be reported." From an Amnesty International
press release, August 14, 1998. USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE
AND VIOLATIONS OF HUMANITARIAN LAW IN INTERNAL CONFLICTS: "Government forces
continue to commit serious violations of humanitarian law in the disputed state
of Jammu and Kashmir. Between 350,000 and 400,000 army and paramilitary forces
are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. The Muslim majority population
in the Kashmir Valley suffers from the repressive tactics of the security forces.
Under the Jammu and Kashmir
Disturbed Areas Act, and the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers
Act, both passed in July 1990, security forces personnel have extraordinary
powers, including authority to shoot suspected lawbreakers and those disturbing
the peace, and to destroy structures suspected of harboring militants or arms." From the U.S. Department
of State's, India Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1998. RAPE: According to the Kashmiri-Canadian
Council, 6,300 Kashmiri women have been raped. "Rape is used by the
Indian security forces to attack Kashmiri women suspected of sympathizing with
"militants." Through rape, the security forces are aiming to punish
and humiliate the entire community." From Human Rights Watch. "In Singhpur village,
occupation forces barged into the house of Abdul Ahad and forcibly took his
wife and daughter to a military camp where they were gang-raped." From Kashmir Quarterly,
November 8, 1997. "DISAPPEARANCES:" "Since 1990, some 700
to 800 people have "disappeared" after being arrested by police or
armed or paramilitary forces. The victims have included boys and men of all
ages and all professions, including businessmen, lawyers, laborers and many
teachers. Almost all of them appear to be ordinary citizens picked up at random,
without any connection to the armed struggle." From the Amnesty International
report, "If they are dead, tell us - Disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir,"
February 1999. "It is virtually impossible
for relatives of the 'disappeared' in India's troubled northern state to trace
their relatives or find redress from the institutions supposed to protect and
promote human rights, including police, security forces, the courts and statutory
human rights bodies," the report argues. From an Amnesty International
press release, February 22, 1999. TORTURE: "In the month of Ramadan,
besides being physically tortured, Kashmiris are prevented from taking their
early morning meal before starting their day of fast. They were also prevented
from participating in the late evening prayers. A reign of terror was let loose
in Srinagar where people were ordered out of their homes at morning mealtime." From the Kashmir Quarterly,
January 14, 1997. "Indian Forces killed
six citizens, torched two mosques, 15 shops and seven houses in various parts
of the valley. As a result, there were protest demonstrations in many cities.
Troops desecrated the central Srinagar mosque and tortured worshippers whom
they found inside." From the Kashmir Quarterly,
October 12, 1997. An excerpt from the Amnesty
International report: "India: the impunity must end in Jammu and Kashmir,"
23/04/2001:
On 27 March 1996, the
dead body of human rights lawyer Jalil Andrabi was found in the river Jhelum,
19 days after he had been seen taken away by military personnel. (1) His killers
remain free.
On 30 March 1996, 23
members of the faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front led by Amanullah
Khan were killed when police fired mortar shells at their office in Srinagar.(2)
Their killers remain free.
On 18 September 1997,
11 people, including women and children, were killed by mortar shelling at
Arin Bandipora. The killers remain free.
In January 1998, nine
people, including a woman and child, were killed in Kadrana village, Doda
district, when army soldiers opened fire on people protesting an earlier arrest.
The killers are free.
In July 1998, 40 people,
including women and children were killed in and near Surankote. The killers
remain free.
On 28 June 1999, fifteen
members of two Muslim families, including women and children, were shot dead
at Surankote, Poonch district, by unidentified gunmen wearing army uniforms
who shot two more women as they fled. The killers remain free.
On 20 March 2000, 36
Sikhs were shot dead in Chittisinghpora; on 25 March 2000, five men were unlawfully
killed who were implicated in the earlier killings. On 3 April 2000, seven
people demonstrating against the earlier two incidents were shot dead by police.
The killers of these 48 people remain free.
On the night of 1 August
2000, at least 105 people were shot dead in several different incidents. The
killers remain free.
On 15 February 2001,
six people were shot dead in Haigam during protests at an earlier death in
custody when security forces and/or police opened fire on them. The killers
remain free.
This list is by no means
exhaustive. Many more such incidents have come to Amnesty International's attention
and others must be assumed to go unnoticed and unreported. The unlawful killings
described above all involve a large number of victims. Almost daily, unlawful
killings of one or two individuals are reported in Jammu and Kashmir as well.
Amnesty International recorded 70 deaths in custody and extrajudicial killings
in the period January to August 2000 alone. The cease-fire in force since 28
November 2000 has not improved the human rights situation in the state as deaths
in custody, extrajudicial executions by state agents and unlawful killings by
armed groups continue unabated. Between the beginning of the cease-fire and
mid-February 2001, some 23 extrajudicial executions have been reported in the
media, in 15 of which the Special Operations Group have been implicated.(3) Common to all of these instances
is that the perpetrators of unlawful killings are free.... Many of the unlawful
killings in Jammu and Kashmir have been perpetrated by armed opposition groups
who have failed to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants and to
spare the physical integrity and lives of non-combatants as required by international
humanitarian standards. Amnesty International has repeatedly urged armed groups
in Jammu and Kashmir to act in consonance with minimum standards of humanitarian
law and today reiterates this appeal.(4) Other unlawful killings have been carried
out by agents of the state, including state police, central police force and
miliary or paramilitary forces. ...Impunity in Jammu and
Kashmir is not restricted to the commission of unlawful killings; rape, torture
and 'disappearance' in the custody of the state are also perpetrated with impunity.
This report, however, focuses on unlawful killings as Amnesty International
has observed an upsurge of custodial deaths and extrajudicial killings by agents
of the state as well as unlawful killings by armed groups in recent months and
believes that the impunity surrounding this particularly grave violation of
human rights needs to be urgently addressed by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
As part of “Lightening Gaza” Campaign, the Palestinian Center for
Human Rights (PCHR) organized on Tuesday morning, 15 March 2016, a panel
discussion to draft recommendations on the Campaign that started in
early 2016. This panel, which is the third of its kind, was attended by a
group of experts representing the concerned parties supervising the
electricity sector, electricity experts, representatives from CBOs and
journalists.
Mr. Khalil Shaheen, Director the PCHR’s Economic and Social Rights
Unit, started the panel discussion, explaining that individuals have the
right to enjoy basic services, including electricity’s, according to
the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights law. He added
that the Campaign aims to come up with solutions for the electricity
crisis that exacerbated in the past 10 years.
Engineer Fathi al-Shaikh Khalil, Deputy Director of the Energy
Authority and Chairman of Gaza Electricity Distribution Corporation
(GEDCo), said that GEDCo was willing to adopt the solutions or
suggestions that would contribute to solving the electricity crisis.
Al-Shaikh Khalil had remarks on the recommendations, pointing out that
putting an end to the electricity crisis as a whole requires a political
will in the first place.
Dr. Fadel al-Muzzaini, a researcher at PCHR’s Economic and Social
Rights Unit, reviewed a number of recommendations reached in the various
panel discussions and activities held by PCHR within the Campaign. He
pointed out that these recommendations can be discussed until
recommendations are finally concluded to ease the aggravating crisis and
improve the power-on hours.
Discussion was then allowed to put forward the recommendations. The
participants hoped that this will be a step towards strategic solutions
so the electricity service would return all over the Gaza Strip for 24
hours a day on the basis of civilian’s right to enjoy the basic
services, including electricity’s, in order to alleviate the suffering
resulting from the almost-complete power cut-off.
It should be mentioned that the recommendations they concluded will
be reviewed in a petition, which will be signed by organizations and
public figures in the Gaza Strip next week. After that, PCHR hopes that
this petition would be presented to the National Unity Government and
concerned parties supervising the electricity sector.
This joint campaign comes as a part of “Promoting Human Rights and Freedom of Access to Information in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)” project that is funded by the European Union EU.
Dr Aafia Siddiqui is a Pakistani mother of three , a brilliant scholar, PhD doctor of cognitive neuroscience
Majoring in learning and imitation , improving efficacy of learning in children,
An educationist with a dream a dream to revolutionise the educational system in Pakistan,
one that would create a generation Of enlightened and intellectual youth in a country that needed it more than others.
Dr. Aafia earned her bachelor’s degree from MIT and earned her doctorate from Brandeis University.
Her doctoral thesis was “Learning through Imitation” in which she
included her research on improving learning techniques for children.
She was totally dedicated to her children and her academic studies revolved around how children learn.
Unfortunately, Dr. Aafia became a victim of domestic violence during her marriage.
In 2002, Dr. Aafia’s husband moved the family to Pakistan and soon
divorced her while she was pregnant with the couple’s third child.
In 2003, Dr Aafia became a victim of a rendition operation was kidnapped along with her little kids.
Dr. Aafia is now 43 years old, a mother of three children (2 are US
citizens), and is a Pakistani citizen. With no other citizenship
Currently languishing in a US jail at FMC Carswell military base where her life is in constant threat.
Circumstances Surrounding the Case
Briefly, here are some of the basic circumstances of Dr. Aafia’s case:
In March 2003, Dr. Aafia and her three children, Ahmad (boy), six
years old and an American citizen, Maryum (girl), four years old and
also an American citizen, and baby Suleman (boy), six months old,
kidnapped by unknown authorities in Karachi, Pakistan.
On March 31, 2003 it was reported by the Pakistani media that Dr.
Aafia had been arrested and turned over to representatives of the United
States. In early April, this was confirmed on NBC Nightly News, among
other media outlets.
There was communication to the mother of Dr. Aafia from purported
“agencies” that the family members should be quiet if they want to see
Aafia returned alive.
By the year 2008, many believed that after five years of being
disappeared Dr. Aafia and her three children were most likely dead as
was the case with thousands
That were sold and victims of rendition operations by a dictator ruling Pakistan (his biography "in the line of fire")
Then, in July of 2008, three events occurred:
1. British human-rights reporter, Yvonne Ridley and former Bagram detainee and British citizen, Moazem Begg,
publicly spoke about a woman in Bagram screaming, a woman whom they named the “Grey Lady of Bagram”
2. A petition for habeas corpus was filed with the Pakistan High Court in Islamabad requesting that the court order
the Pakistani government to free Dr. Aafia or to even admit that they were then detaining her.
3. A wave of International out rage emerged as evidence of illegal detainees in bagram and other secret detention centres
Began piling up. A request from the House of Lords in UK to inspect the Bagram facility and a meeting
With prisoner 650 was sent by various human rights activists world wide echoed.
It was in the midst of this whole scenario that a disoriented Aafia is found in Afghanistan and shot a sinister
Plot that makes one shudder.
What Evidence , Investigation has uncovered?
That Dr. Aafia was (and is) an innocent person who was abducted for
money or based on false allegations or false conclusions derived from an
unknown source.
That, unfortunately, all evidence required for her defense and
establishing legal proof of her detention would require full cooperation
by the U.S. and Pakistani governments, and intelligence agencies, a
cooperation that seems impossible. However the Person who kidnapped her
has finally come forward
And confessed to the heinous crime on the behest of her ex husband
and the regime that stripped pakistan Off its dignity by selling its own
citizens.
That documents incriminating Dr. Aafia are either false documents or produced under torture or threat of harm to her children.
That the Afghan police were looking for Dr. Aafia and her son based
on a description given by an anonymous tip with a shoot on
sight Order on the day she was detained in Ghazni.
That had Dr. Aafia been shot on sight on suspicion of being suicide
bombers, this would have led to a convenient closure of the case of
Aafia Siddiqui at a time when a massive outcry from international
community and a petition for habeas corpus was pending in the High Court
of Pakistan in Islamabad.
Note that this court had been asked to order then-President Musharraf and the Pakistani government
(which would include anyone working with them) to release her or to reveal her whereabouts.
That Dr. Aafia, who spoke no local language in Ghazni, was dressed so
conspicuously in a manner to be easily identified and shoot on sight as
a (falsely-accused) suicide bomber as a part of someone else’s plan.
The forensic and scientific evidence presented during the trial in
New York proved that Dr. Aafia could not have committed the crimes for
which she was charged, still the the judges closing arguments jury
disregarded the evidence and chose to agree with the prosecution due to
fear and prejudice.
What Dr. Aafia’s detractors want?
We are asked to believe that Dr. Aafia, a respectable Pakistani woman
in all ways, has links to terrorists from Pakistan; (NO terrorism
charges against her)was voluntarily hiding under cover with three
children acting as a terror field operative while at the same time
leaving her family to believe for five years that she and her three
children were dead.
We are asked to believe that Dr. Aafia arranged this just after her
father died, after finding out her husband cheating on her marriage was
disintegrating, and after leaving her widowed mother alone in Pakistan.
It is absolutely not plausible and does not even fit the traditional
profile by law enforcement of female or male terrorists from that part
of the world.
Current Situation
In February, 2010, Dr. Aafia was tried and convicted in a US Federal
court on charges of attempted murder and assaulting US servicemen in
Ghazni, Afghanistan. The official charges against Dr. Aafia were that
she assaulted U.S. soldiers in Ghazni, Afghanistan, with one of
the servicemen’s own rifles, while she was in their custody, waiting to
be interrogated by them.
No US personnel were hurt but Dr. Aafia was shot and suffered serious
injuries including brain damage. Dr Aafia categorically denies these
charges. The forensic and physical evidence denies those charges
There were NO terrorism charges against Dr. Aafia.
According to several legal observers, the trial of Dr. Aafia was
littered with many inconsistencies and defects, chief among them being
1.No jurisdiction to try the case in the US. This was a result of a rendition operation.
2. Many rulings by the judge that strongly favored the prosecution and prejudiced the case against the defense.
3.These ranged from allowing much hearsay evidence and jury instructions that favored the prosecution.
4. In addition, Dr. Aafia was not represented by lawyers of her
choosing and faced constant innuendos of terrorism when she was not
charged with any such offence.
5. As a result of Judge Richard Berman’s framing of the case in a
negative light, Dr Aafia was convicted despite ALL physical and forensic
evidence that showed that she could not have committed the acts she was
charged with.
6. On September 23, 2010, Dr. Aafia was sentenced to 86 years in
prison by Judge Richard Berman who overruled the jury’s determination
that there was any pre-meditation. The judge also added enhancements
that were not part of either the charges against Dr. Aafia nor part of
the conviction.
After her sentencing, Dr. Aafia aasked that people not take any
revenge or get emotional. She asked that those who have wronged her be
forgiven as she forgave Judge Berman. Dr. Aafia remains imprisoned, now
at the notorious Federal Medical Center (FMC) in Carswell, Fort Worth,
Texas where she is kept in the Special housing unit (SHU) which is the
most severe confinement category. She is still not allowed communication
with anyone she trusts, including family members.
7. Being a Muslim her religious book the Quran is desecrated, her
clothes stripped, food urinated Upon and what could be a worse form of
human coercion than tearing away little children from their mother And
then threaten the mother of her children's safety ?
Dr. Aafia’s Children
Dr. Aafia’s oldest son, Ahmed, who is a U.S. citizen by birth, was
found in an American detention Centre , Afghanistan after public
pressure and, in late 2008, was reunited with Dr.Aafia’s sister in
Karachi, Pakistan.
Dr. Aafia’s daughter, Maryum, also a US citizen by birth, was
recovered in April 2010 and dropped off in Karachi after being missing
for 7 íyears. She was traumatized and spoke only American accented
English.
Dr. Aafia’s youngest child, Suleman, a boy who would now be about 12 years old, remains missing; and is feared dead.
What Supporters and Family Seek?
Dr. Aafia, an MIT and Brandeis laureate, is now a broken and mere shell of her former self. Under these circumstances,
Family and supporters are asking the U.S. government to repatriate Dr. Aafia back to her home in Pakistan.
The Pakistani government has formally made this request as this
matter has become a major public issue and has support across Pakistani
political and social spectrums. Supporters and people of conscience
should press government officials to get Dr. Aafia reunited with her
family as soon as possible.
Aafia and her family seek no revenge as their faith is in vengeance
is mine saith The Lord . Aafia's case Has become a glaring example Of
thousands suffering from rendition operations, illegal detentions, false
a Accusations and torture tactics that put barbarism to shame.
Dr Aafia’s family and supporters still have hope in fair minded
peoples commitment to mercy and justice to raise their voices with
theirs so it be heard in the corridors of power. To help end the
violations of basic human rights and let freedom ring. Justice for the
past, for all Dr. Aafia has suffered, is hard to imagine.All that is
asked for the future is for some measure of correction. If Dr. Aafia is
repatriated, perhaps she can pick up some fragments of life with her
family.
Closing
We ask people to look into this case themselves, and to do so with an open mind.
There is a lot of information out there on the Internet, and in the
media. Many of the stories demonize Aafia, while some raise her to
sainthood. Aafia is neither demon nor saint.
Aafia is simply a mother, daughter and sister with a dream, trapped in an extraordinary nightmare.
What is happening to Aafia and thousands others in the aftermath of 911 and the
resulting "terror war" not happen to other innocents anymore.
Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(03 – 09 March 2016)
Jerusalem: Construction Works Continue in the Settlement of Abu Ghunaim Mount
Israeli forces continued to use excessive force in the oPt
6 Palestinian civilians, including a child and 2 women, were killed in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
8 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued to target the border areas along the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian civilian was wounded in the east of al-Maghazi refugee camp, in the central Gaza Strip.
4 Palestinian civilians were wounded during peaceful protests organized near the border fence.
Israeli forces conducted 85 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 12 ones in occupied Jerusalem.
80 Palestinian civilians, including 25 children and 2 women, were
arrested. Thirty of them, including 16 children and a woman were
arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
Among the arrested were a photojournalist and a doctor.
Israeli forces raided Beit Ommar Orphanage.
Israeli forces continued their efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israeli forces issued administrative demolition decisions against a number of houses and commercial stores in Silwan village.
Settlement activities continued in the West Bank.
10 dunums in Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit, were levelled.
A livestock barrack in Halhoul town, north of Hebron, was demolished.
Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip Sea.
Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 9th
Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank
and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian
civilians.
6 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were arrested at military checkpoints.
Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient while coming back to the Gaza Strip.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international
humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (03 –
09 March 2016).
Shooting:
Israeli forces have continued to commit crimes, inflicting civilian
casualties. They have also continued to use excessive force against
Palestinian civilians participating in peaceful protests in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, the majority of whom were youngsters. During the
reporting period, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians in the
West Bank and Jerusalem, including 2 women and a child. Moreover, they
wounded 8 civilians, including 2 children, 3 of whom, including a child,
were in the West Bank while the 5 others were in the Gaza Strip.
Concerning the nature of the injuries, 7 civilians were hit with live
bullets and a civilian was hit with a tear gas canister to the head
In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians and
wounded 3 others, including a child. All of them were hit with live
bullets.
Killings committed by Israeli forces in the West Bank were as follows:
On 04 March 2016, in employment of lethal force, Israeli forces
killed Amani Sebateen (34), from Hosan village, west of Bethlehem. They
claimed that she ran over an Israeli soldier at “Gosh Etzion”
settlement, south of the city, and caused him minor wounds. It should be
noted that Amani is a mother of 4 children.
In a similar crime, on 08 March 2016, Israeli Border Guard officers
opened fire at Fadwa Abu Tair (50) from point blank range, claiming that
she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the Iron Gate, one of the
al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City of East Jerusalem. As a result,
she sustained 3 bullet wounds and was left bleeding to death for over
half an hour.
In another crime committed on the same day, Israeli forces opened
fire at Fo’ad Abu Rajab “al-Tamimi” (21) while he was on Saladin Street
in occupied Jerusalem, as he opened fire at Israeli soldiers near the
office of Jerusalem Electricity Company in the Old City. As a result, 2
Israeli police officers were wounded and the Palestinian young man was
killed by several bullets, one of which, penetrated the head.
On 09 March 2016, Israeli forces opened fire at Abdul Malek Saleh Abu
Kharoub (19) and Mohammed Jamal al-Kalouti (21), both from Jerusalem,
near the New Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in the Old City,
following an armed clash after 2-hour chasing. As a result, one of the 2
Palestinians was shot dead while the other died upon arrival to Hadassa
– Har HaTsofim Hospital in West Jerusalem.
Also on the same day, Israeli forces erecting a checkpoint under
al-Zawiyah village’s bridge, west of Nablus, fired 20 bullets at Ahmed
Yusef Isma’il Amer (17), from Mas’ha village, west of Salfit, after he
stepped out of a vehicle and headed towards the Israeli soldiers. As a
result, he was shot dead.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces wounded 4 Palestinian civilians,
including a child. Two of them, including the child, were wounded during
their participation in protests organized adjacent to the border fence
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, north of the
Gaza Strip. In addition, the 2 others were wounded during protests
organized near the border fence, east of al-Shuja’iya neighbourhood,
east of Gaza City. Three of them were hit with live bullets and the
fourth was hit by a sound bomb to the head.
In the context of targeting border areas along the Gaza Strip, on 07
March 2016, Israeli forces stationed at the said fence, east of
al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire at a
Palestinian civilian (29) while he was only 10 meters away from the
fence. As a result, he sustained a bullet wound to the right leg (the
bullet entered and exited), after which, he was transported to al-Aqsa
Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive the necessary medical
treatment.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 85
military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 12
ones in occupied East Jerusalem and its suburbs. During these
incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 80 Palestinian civilians,
including 52 children and 2 women. Thirty of them, including 16
children and a woman, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces raided Beit Ommar
Orphanage after breaking the doors with special equipment. They also
raided and searched the Orphanage’s kindergarten and school, in addition
to the administration building. Israeli soldiers also confiscated some
orphans’ files and 4 hard disks from the place.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tight closure of the oPt, imposing
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has been steadily
tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the
humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli
authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including
the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and
industrial products to be exported. For 9 consecutive years, Israel has
tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the
West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the
world. This resulted in grave violations of the economic, social and
cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 million
people. The Israeli authorities have established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem
Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to
exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy. They also aim at
imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports. The Israeli closure
raised the rate of poverty to 38.8%, 21.1% of which suffer from extreme
poverty. Moreover, the rate of unemployment increased up to 44%, which
reflects the unprecedented economic deterioration in the Gaza Strip.
Jewish Majority:
On 04 March 2016, Israeli forces and municipality officers moved into
al-Bustan, Beer Ayoub and Ein al-Louza neighbourhoods in Silwan
village, south of the Old City in East Jerusalem. They photographed a
number of residential and commercial buildings and some streets. In
addition, they distributed administrative demolition notices on 4
Palestinians from al-Bustan and Ein al-Louza neighbourhoods under the
pretext of non-licensing. The notices were issued against a commercial
store and 3 houses.
Settlement activities:
On 04 March 2016, Israeli forces levelled 10 dunums of agricultural
and in al-Zeyaq area, east of Deir Ballout village, west of Salfit, to
be annexed to “Leshem” settlement, east of the village. Israeli forces
levelled the lands although the Israeli Supreme Court issued a decision
to stop construction works. Moreover, Israeli forces demolished a big
part of Deir Sam’an archaeological site in Kufor al-Deek village to be
annexed to the settlement. It should be noted that the levelled lands
belong to Tayseer Abdullah and his brothers.
On 07 March 2016, Israeli forces moved into al-Jomjoma area,
northeast of Halhoul, north of Hebron. They demolished a
200-square-meter barrack belonging to Abdul Karim Mer’eb (77).
Details
Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 03 March 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Iraq Burin
village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses, from
which, they arrested 3 civilians and then took them to an unknown
destination. The three civilians were identified as Na’el Dahshat Qadous
(20), Malek Fateh Qadous (19) and Sa’d Husam Faqih (20).
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bourin village,
south of Nablus. They raided and searched several houses and then
arrested Islam Naser As’ous (22). They took the aforementioned person to
an unknown destination.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun village,
east of Qalqilia. They raided and searched several houses, from which,
they arrested two civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The
two arrested persons were identified as Qusai Zakaria I’qab Idwan (18)
and Ghalib Hijazi Saleh Shbetah (24).
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm City. They
stationed in the southern neighbourhood of the city and raided and
searched a house belonging to Mohammed Rashid Hasan al-Safareni (31).
They then arrested the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown
destination
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Abu Kteilah
neighbourhood in Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to
Fadi Abdul Hafeez Al-Tamemi (23) and arrested him.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin City. They
raided and searched several houses, from which, they arrested 3
civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The three persons
were identified as Yazan Husni Mohammed Irqawi (21), Imad Ahmed Jameel
Saba’na (19) and Mahmoud Isam Ali al-Sa’di (21). Israeli forces then
raided a house belonging to Ahmed Mohammed Irqawi, questioned him on the
spot, locked all his family members inside the house bathroom and
heavily beaten him up during investigation. As a result, the
aforementioned person was transported to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in
Jenin to receive medical treatment.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (9) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: Kharabatha al-Mesbah village, southwest of Ramallah; Betein
and Deir Dabwan villages, northeast of Ramallah; Dora, Kharas, Bani
Na’em, al-Karmel and Shoukh al-Aroob villages in Hebron; and Zeita
village, north of Tulkarm.
Friday, 04 March 2016
In the morning, in a new crime of using lethal force, Israeli forces
killed a Palestinian woman from Husan village, west of Bethlehem. They
claimed that the woman ran over an Israeli soldier on the crossroad of
“Gosh Etzion” settlement complex, south of the city, due to which, the
soldier sustained minor wounds.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at around 07:00 on the
abovementioned day, Israeli forces excessively opened fire towards the
windscreen and side window of a vehicle driven by Amani Husni Jawad
Sebateen (34), from Husan village, west of Bethlehem city. They opened
fire after the aforementioned vehicle with an Israeli registration plate
deviated towards a number of soldiers stationed around “Gosh Etzion”
crossroad, south of the city. As a result, the woman was wounded with 30
live bullets and was left bleeding to death behind the steering wheel.
The spokesman of Israeli forces, Avijaa Adraei, claimed in a
statement that “A Palestinian woman carried out a run-over attack
against a soldier on the crossroad of “Gosh Etzion” settlement. As a
result, the soldier sustained minor injuries and the attacker was
killed. While searching the vehicle, a knife was found inside”. The
spokesman of Megan David Adom (MDA) said in a statement published by
Israeli media that “At approximately 07:19, the MDA medical crew in
Jerusalem received a call about a wounded passer-by after he was
deliberately run over near the crossroad of “Gosh Etzion” settlement.
The crew rushed to the place and offered first aid to a young man (20)
who sustained minor wounds. Moreover, the attacker was neutralised”. It
should be mentioned that Amani Sebateen is a mother for four children,
the eldest is (16) and the youngest is (6).
At approximately 16:00, Israeli forces moved into Husan village,
west of Bethlehem. They patrolled in the streets, and then arrested
Safwan Yusif Hmaid Hamamra (21), who was standing in front of his house
in al-Mutena, and took him to an unknown destination.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (13) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: Beit Leqia village, southwest of Ramallah; Betunia village,
west of the city; al-Mazra’a village, north of the city; Halhoul, Yatta,
Sa’er, Beit Awwa, Beit ‘Oula, Ethna, Kherbet Raq’aa and Deir Samit
villages in Hebron; Tulkarm city and Izebt Shofa, south of the city.
Saturday, 05 March 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Hosan village,
west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses, from
which, they arrested 2 civilians, including a child. The arrested
persons were identified as Mohammed Ibrahim Sebateen (21) and Essa Abdul
Fattah Nasim Shosha (13).
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Ayda refugee camp,
north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses, arrested
two civilians, including a child, and took them to an unknown
destination. The two arrested persons were identified as Amjad Saleh Abu
A’kr (20) and Sadam Aqel Dar al-Haj (21).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Khader village,
south of Bethlehem. They raided several houses and then arrested Ahmed
Yassir Salhab (19).
At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Shawawra
village, east of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses and
then arrested Ahmed Isa’a Hamdan (29).
At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bod village,
southwest of Jenin. They stationed in Abu al-Kharoub neighbourhood, west
of the village. They raided and searched a house belonging to Yahia
Khaled Tawfiq Abu Shammalah (41). The Israeli forces withdrew later and
no arrests were reported.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Qaddoum
village, northeast of Qalqilia. They raided and searched several houses,
and then arrested Mohammed Nedal Joma’a (17) Mohammed Raed Burhom (17)
and took them to an unknown destination.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (5) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: Beit Ommar village, al-Aroob refugee camp, Beit Kahel village
and al-Surra village in Hebron; and Deir Ballout village, west of
Salfit.
Sunday, 06 March 2016
At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Ghasana
village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house
belonging to Mohammed Yosif Dawoud (35), and then handed him a summons
to refer to the Israeli intelligence service to be questioned.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into the southern area
of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Shadi Yasin
al-Rajabi (20). They then arrested him and took him to an unknown
destination.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ommar
village, north of Hebron They raided and searched several houses,
arrested three children and took them to an unknown destination. The
arrested children were identified as Mo’taz Nuhail Khaled Bahar (17) and
the twins Mahmoud and Jamal Mahmoud Alqam (17). The Israeli forces also
handed two summonses to Shadi Ibrahim Bahar (25) and Laith Anwar
Mahmoud al-Alami (20) to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in
“Gosh Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar
village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and then handed summonses to Jalal Yassin al-Hreimi (40) and Ali Khaled
Taqatqa (21) to refer to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh
Etzion” settlement complex, south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Samou’ village,
south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Sami
Fadel al-Da’our (28), football player at al-Samou’ Sport Club, who is
originally from Gaza City. They then arrested the aforementioned person
and took him to an unknown destination.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (6) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: Qalqilia city; Sa’er, al-Dhaheria, Beit Marsam , Beit Awa and
al-Semia villages in Hebron.
Monday, 07 March 2016
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into al-Aroob refugee
camp, north of Hebron. They stationed near an UNRWA distribution centre.
They raided and searched two houses, from which, they arrested two
children and took them to an unknown destination. The two arrested
children were identified as Hamza Amjad al-Tete (15) and Mohammed Yosif
al-Muzain (15).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Kufor Ne’mah village, west of Ramallah. They deployed
between houses and agricultural lands. They then raided and searched a
house belonging to Mahdi Abdullah Deik (23), who was arrested and taken
to an unknown destination.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Jala village
and stationed in al-Jadawil area. They raided and searched a house
belonging to Islam Imad Jawarish (41) and handed him a summons to refer
to the Israeli intelligence service in “Gosh Etzion” settlement complex,
south of Bethlehem.
At approximately 05:45, Israeli forces moved into ‘Araba village,
southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses, from which,
they arrested Mohammed Abd al-Latif Mohammed Shebani (41) and Mohammed
Abd al-Fattah Abd al-Khaleq (22) and took them to an unknown
destination.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kufor Ra’i,
southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Jamal
Mohammed Moneeb al-Sayed (31), arrested him and took him to an unknown
destination.
Also around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Sanor village,
south of Jenin. They patrolled in the streets, where a group of
youngsters gathered and threw stones at Israeli soldiers, who fired
sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. Israeli forces then
raided a house belonging to Khaled Jamal Jameel al-Sanouri (51), head of
the village council, and questioned him on the spot. Moreover, they
raided a house belonging to Mohammed Bassam Mostafa Habaibah (30),
opposite to Tho al-Norein Mosque. They then handed him a summons to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service at Salem military camp,
northwest of Jenin.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli forces stationed at the border fence
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, in the centre of the Gaza Strip,
opened fire at a Palestinian civilian (29), who was just 10 meters away
from the aforementioned border fence. As a result, the young man was
wounded with a bullet that entered and exited the left leg. He was then
transported to al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital in Deir al-Balah to receive
medical treatment. His injury was classified as moderate. Israeli forces
claimed that they were exposed to gunfire, due to which, they fired
back.
At approximately 23:20, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ommar
village, north of Hebron. They stationed in al-Baiyada neighbourhood and
then raided Beit Ommar Orphanage. Israeli soldiers broke the internal
and external doors with special equipment. They also raided and searched
the Orphanage’s kindergarten and school, in addition to the
administration building. Furthermore, the search continued for two
hours. The Israeli forces confiscated a number of orphans’ files and
four hard desks form the PCs of the accounting and secretary offices.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (7) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin; Meslia village, south
of the city; Yatta, al-Fawar refugee camp, and al-Hadab and Beit Kahel
villages in Hebron.
Tuesday, 08 March 2016
At approximately 00:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into al-Muhawel area, east of Hebron. They patrolled in the
streets and stationed in the vicinity of a 4-storey building belonging
to Sameer Ibrahim Sukafi and locked the family in the first floor. They
then started demolishing the walls of a 130-square-meter apartment in
the third floor claimed by the Israeli forces to be for his son Ibrahim
(22), who was killed on 04 November 2015 at the northern entrance of
Halhoul (al-Hawawra), alleging that he carried out a run-over attack
against a number of soldiers. The apartment doors were closed with metal
bars. It should be noted that Israeli forces had raided and searched
the house and apartment several times since 04 November 2015 after the
engineering unit put signs for the demolition on the interior walls. The
Israeli court refused an petition filed by the Centre for the Defence
of the Individual “HaMoked” to stop the demolition.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into the southern area of the City. They deployed between
houses and then patrolled the streets, causing fear for the residents
and their children. Israeli forces then raided and searched a house
belonging to the former prisoner Qasem Hijazi Abu Sunainah and
confiscated the mobile phones of the aforementioned family. However, no
arrests were reported and Israeli forces withdrew. In the meantime,
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Ramadan
Abu Romuz (25). They arrested the aforementioned civilian and took him
to an unknown destination. At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces
withdrew from the area.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Iraq Burin village, southeast of Nablus. They patrolled
in the streets, raided and searched several houses. They then arrested
Jaser Fateh (25) and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Fajjar
village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched several houses,
from which they arrested two civilians, including a child. The two
arrested civilians, who were taken to an unknown destination, were
identified as Mahmoud Abdulah Taqatqa (18) and ‘Awni Ahmed Taqatqa (13).
Around the same time, Israeli forces accompanied with military jeeps
moved into al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They patrolled
in the streets and agricultural lands. They then raided and searched a
house belonging to Manal Abd al-Hafiz Tamimi (40 and then locked the
family in one room. Israeli forces then arrested the aforementioned
woman and took her to an unknown destination. It should be noted that
the arrested woman is an activist at Popular Committee against the Wall
and Settlements in al-Nabi Saleh village.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They patrolled in the
streets, stationed at centre of the City, and then deployed between
houses, causing fear among the residents and their children. Moreover,
Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging to Fadi Khalil
al-Shamusti (28), who was arrested and taken to an unknown destination.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli forces moved into Jenin city and
Jenin refugee camp, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched a house
belonging to Tareq Mahmoud Yehya Balalou (22), after which, they
arrested him and took him to an unknown destination.
At Approximately 05:00, Israeli forces moved into Ya’bud village,
southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched several houses, from which,
they arrested three civilians, including two children. The three
arrested persons, who were taken to an unknown destination, were
identified as Mahmoud Bassam Ahmed Hamarsha (16), Amjad Ibrahim Jaber
Hamarsha (24) and Fadel Mahmoud Nayef Torkman (17).
At Approximately 14:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. They patrolled in
the streets, stationed at the centre of the City, and then deployed
between houses, causing fear for residents and their children. They
raided and searched a house belonging to Ayesh Khalil Abu Hashem (46).
Later, they withdrew and no arrests were reported. Moreover, Israeli
forces patrolled to Sha’ab al-Ser area, opposite to “Karmi Tsur”
settlement established on Palestinian lands confiscated from the south
of the City. Later, Israeli forces raided and searched a house belonging
to Jehad Ra’ed Muqbel (18), who was arrested and taken to an unknown
destination.
Note: During the aforementioned day, Israeli forces
conducted (4) incursions in the following areas and no arrests were
reported: Beit Oula, Tafouh, Halhoul town and al-Majd village.
Wednesday, 09 March 2016
At Approximately 01:40, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Azoun village, east of Qalqiliya. They patrolled in the
streets and then raided and searched a house belonging to Yosif Zahran
Suweidan (18). They arrested the aforementioned civilian was arrested
and taken to an unknown destination.
At Approximately 02:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into al-Dheishah refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They
raided and searched a number of houses, from which they arrested 3
civilians and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested
civilians were identified as Ahmed ‘Aref Sar’awi (23), Mohammed As’ad
Dawoud (23) and Qusai Abu Zeina.
Around the same time, Israeli forces accompanied with military jeeps
moved into al-Salateen refugee camp, north of Jericho. They deployed
between the houses and then raided and searched a house belonging to
Khaled Abd al-Azez Safi (50). They locked the family in one room,
causing fear among women and children. The Israeli forces then arrested
the aforementioned person and took him to an unknown destination.
At Approximately 02:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Tulkarm . They patrolled in the streets and stationed
in al-Suwana neighbourhood, east of the City. They then raided and
searched a house belonging to al-M’otasem Bellah Abdullah Rashed
al-Jaroushi (29), a dentist. They arrested the aforementioned civilian
and took him to an unknown destination. Later, Israeli forces stationed
in al-Ma’bar Street, east of Ertah Suburb. They raided and searched a
house belonging to Sami Sa’ed Abd al-Sa’ie (37), a journalist in a local
TV channel. They also confiscated his mobile phone.
At Approximately 02:30, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Hija village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled in the
streets of the village. They then raided and searched a house belonging
to Mohammed Abd al-Qader Masalhah (22), father of Bashar (22) who was
killed after carrying out a stabbing attack in Jaffa, north of Israel.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces withdrew.
In the morning, in a new crime of using lethal force, Israeli forces
killed a child from Mashah village, west of Salfit, claiming that he
attempted to carry out a stabbing attack. According to PCHR’s
investigations, at approximately 10:00, Israeli forces deployed at a
checkpoint under the bridge of al-Zawiyah village, west of the
aforementioned city and obstructed the movement of vehicles. Ahmed Yosif
Ismail ‘Amer (17) from Mashah village, west of Salfit, stepped out of
the vehicle and approached the soldiers who fired in response about 20
live bullets at throughout the child’s body. As a result, he was
immediately killed.
Israeli forces claimed that the aforementioned child attempted to
carry out a stabbing attack, and his corps was later transferred to
Yasir Arafats’ Hospital in Salfit.
At Approximately 03:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into al-Doyouk village, north of Jericho. They patrolled
between houses, raided a house belonging to Jebreel Ibrahim Kharabesh
(30) and locked the family in one room, causing fear among women and
children. They then arrested the aforementioned person and took him to
an unknown destination.
At Approximately 04:00, Israeli forces accompanied with military
jeeps moved into Jenin. They patrolled in the streets and stationed in
the eastern neighbourhood of the City. Later, the Israeli forces raided
and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Nasri Mostafa Ibrahim (31). They
arrested the aforementioned civilians and took him to an unknown
destination.
Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations
protesting settlement activities and the construction of the annexation
wall
West Bank:
Following the Friday prayer, on 04 March 2016, dozens of Palestinian
young men gathered at the southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee
camp, north of Ramallah, near an UNRWA school for boys to organize a
peaceful demonstration in protest against the Israeli attacks in the
oPt. The protesters threw stones at the soldiers stationed along the
border fence of “Beit Eil” settlement. Israeli forces fired live
bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters
at the protesters in response. As a result, a 23-year-old male was hit
with a live bullet to the right knee and was then taken to Palestine
Medical Complex to receive medical treatment.
Following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
organized demonstrations in protest at the Israeli polices in the oPt,
at the western entrance to Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah,
al-Taweel Mount, near “Psagot” settlement, east of al-Bireh, and at the
southern entrance to al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
Israeli soldiers used force to disperse the protesters by firing live
bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs
at them. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas canisters and
sustained bruises as Israeli soldiers beat them up.
Gaza Strip:
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 March 2016, dozens of
Palestinian young men headed to the border fence between the Gaza Strip
and Israel, east of al-Shuja’iya neighborhood, east of the Gaza Strip,
and threw stones at the soldiers stationed in the area. Israeli soldiers
stationed behind sand barriers opened fire at them in response. As a
result, 2 civilians were wounded with live bullets.
At approximately 14:30 on Friday, Israeli forces stationed at Beit
Hanoun (Erez) crossing, northwest of Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza
Strip, fired live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas
canisters at dozens of young men, who were on the road between the
Palestinian and Israeli sides of the crossing. The protesters threw
stones at the soldiers in protest at the Israeli attacks against the
Palestinian civilians in Jerusalem and the West Bank. As a result of the
clashes which continued until 18:00, two civilians, including a child,
were wounded. The wounded persons were identified as:
Mahmoud Hussain ‘Aqel Saleh (16), from Jabalia refugee camp, was hit
with a live bullet that entered and exited the left leg, which resulted
in fracturing his leg and cutting a tendon off.
‘Alaa Abdul-Rahman Musbah Ghareeb (28), from Jabalia refugee camp,
was hit with a tear gas canister to the head, which resulted in
fracturing his skull.
Both of the abovementioned civilians were taken by a PRCS ambulance
to the Indonesian Hospital in Jabalia refugee camp, where Salah’s
injuries were classified as moderate, while Ghareeb’s injuries were
classified as serious, which led to take him to al-Shifa Hospital in
Gaza City.
Demonstrations against the annexation wall and settlement activities
At approximately 12:00 on Friday, 04 March 2016, Palestinian
civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized
a protest in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqiliya, and then made their way to the eastern entrance of the
village in protest against closing that entrance since the beginning of
al-Aqsa Intifada with an iron gate. When the protesters approached the
entrance, Israeli forces fired live bullets at them. As a result, 2
civilians, including a child, were wounded. The child, who was
identified as Khalid Murad Ishtawi (9), was hit with a live bullet to
the right thigh, while another civilian in his thirties was hit with a
live bullet to the left thigh.
Also following the Friday prayer, dozens of Palestinian civilians
and Israeli and international human rights defenders organized protests
in Bil’in and Nil’in villages, west of Ramallah; and al-Nabi Saleh
village, northwest of Ramallah. Israeli forces used force to disperse
the protesters by firing live bullets, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear
gas canisters and sound bombs at them. As a result, many civilians
suffered teas gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as Israeli
soldiers beat them up.
Note: PCHR keeps the names of the injured persons in the aforementioned demonstrations.
Rubber-coated metal bullets are lethally if they hit the head of victim from a close range.
Continued closure of the oPt
Israel continued to impose a tight closure on the oPt, imposing
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces continuously tighten the closure of the Gaza Strip and
close all commercial crossings, making the Karm Abu Salem crossing the
sole commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, although it is not suitable
for commercial purposes in terms of its operational capacity and
distance from markets.
Israeli forces have continued to apply the policy, which is aimed to
tighten the closure on all commercial crossings, by imposing total
control over the flow of imports and exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose a total ban on the delivery
of raw materials to the Gaza Strip, except for very limited items and
quantities. The limited quantities of raw materials allowed into Gaza do
not meet the minimal needs of the civilian population of the Gaza
Strip.
Israeli forces also continued to impose an almost total ban on the
Gaza Strip exports, including agricultural and industrial products,
except for light-weighted products such as flowers, strawberries, and
spices. However, they lately allowed the exportation of some vegetables
such as cucumber and tomatoes, furniture and fish.
Israel has continued to close the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing for the
majority of Palestinian citizens from the Gaza Strip. Israel only
allows the movement of a limited number of groups, with many hours of
waiting in the majority of cases. Israel has continued to adopt a policy
aimed at reducing the number of Palestinian patients allowed to move
via the Beit Hanoun crossing to receive medical treatment in hospitals
in Israel or in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel also continued
applying the policy of making certain civilian traveling via the
crossing interviewed by the Israeli intelligence service to be
questioned, blackmailed or arrested.
Movement at Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, southeast of Rafah, is designated for the movement of goods
Date
Imports
Category
Amount
Tons
Number
Liters
01 March
Various goods
4,028.45
Humanitarian aid
18,984
Cooking gas
235,060
Benzene
330,000
Diesel
Diesel for UNRWA
551,974
76, 000
Industrial fuel
437, 220
Construction aggregates
14,920
Cement
2,960
Construction steel
900
02 March
Various goods
3,503
Humanitarian aid
20,433
Cooking gas
238,130
Benzene
371,990
Diesel
Diesel for UNRWA
354,995
76,000
Industrial fuel
266,000
Construction aggregates
14,920
Cement
3,520
Construction steel
840
03 March
Various goods
4,001
Humanitarian aid
18,600
Cooking gas
237,830
Benzene
368,000
Diesel
Diesel for UNRWA
504,022
504,022
Industrial fuel
444,600
Construction aggregates
14,040
Cement
2,800
Construction steel
780
06 March
Various goods
3,306
Humanitarian aid
20,417
Cooking gas
235,920
Benzene
256,990
Diesel
Diesel for UNRWA
696,985
38,000
Industrial fuel
417,270
Construction aggregate
16,3440
Cement
2,560
Construction steel
450
07 March
Various goods
3,688.7
Humanitarian aid
18,285
Cooking gas
238,320
Benzene
183,980
Diesel
Diesel for UNRWA
628,011
76,000
Industrial fuel
443,918
Construction aggregates
14,080
Cement
2,480
Construction steel
510
Exports:
On Tuesday, 01 March 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of
1.68 tons of tomatoes; 53.92 tons of cucumbers; 16.4 tons of eggplants;
19.78 tons of peppers and 1.12 tons of zucchinis.
On Wednesday, 02 March 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of 16 tons of furniture and 15.36 tons of lemons.
On Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation
of 3.36 truckloads of tomatoes; 34.72 tons of cucumbers; 8 tons of
eggplants, 0.45 ton of garlic; 0.48 tons of mints; 6.44 tons of peppers;
3.2 tons of sweet peppers; 4.92 of strawberries; 14 tons of furniture; 8
tons of clothes and 0.05 ton of parsley.
On Monday, 07 March 2016, Israeli forces allowed the exportation of a truckload of lemons.
BeitHanoun (“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 02 – 08 March 2016
Category
02 March
03 March
04 March
05 March
06 March
07 March
08 March
Patients
48
40
2
–
74
76
51
Companions
49
37
2
–
65
64
44
Personal needs
56
108
43
–
115
72
74
Familiesof prisoners
–
–
–
–
–
90
–
Arabs from Israel
2
3
–
–
14
4
8
Diplomats
6
–
2
–
–
–
5
International journalists
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
International workers
53
61
29
–
5
12
45
Travelers abroad
7
13
–
–
11
6
1
Business people
341
341
7
–
547
391
351
Business meetings
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Security interviews
–
6
–
–
5
–
11
VIPs
–
–
1
–
–
3
1
Ambulances to Israel
4
5
2
–
1
3
2
Patients’ Companions
4
5
2
–
1
3
2
Notes:
On Friday, 04 March 2016, Israeli authorities allowed 182
Palestinians to travel via Beit Hanoun crossing to perform prayers in
al-Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli authorities allowed one person on Thursday, 03 March 2016,
and another person on Sunday, 06 March 2016, to renew their permits.
Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian patient while returning to the Gaza Strip
At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli forces at
Beit Hanoun crossing, north of the Gaza Strip, arrested Fadi Nemer
Mohammed al-Sharif (28) while returning to the Gaza Strip. According to
the statement of his brother Mohammed al-Sharif, Fadi traveled from the
Gaza Strip on 28 February 2016 to undergo a cruciate ligament operation
at al-Maqased Hospital in occupied Jerusalem, because he was injured in a
match (He is a footballer at al-Helal Sport Club). He was transferred
to al-Maqased Hospital upon a medical referral from the Palestinian
Ministry of Health and his father was his companion. Fadi underwent the
operation on 01 March 2016 and on 03 March 2016, he and his father left
the West Bank heading to the Gaza Strip. However, Israeli forces
stationed at Beit Hanoun crossing detained him from 15:00 to 23:00, and
then asked his father to go back to Gaza. They also told the father that
his son was under arrest.
West Bank Israel has imposed a tightened closure on the West Bank.
During the reporting period, Israeli forces imposed additional
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians:
Hebron: On Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli
forces established four checkpoints at the entrances to Ethna, Tafouh,
Beit Kahel and al-Moureq villages.
On Friday, 04 March 2016, Israeli forces established three
checkpoints at the entrances to Beit Ummer, Tarama, and al-Shajnah
valley villages.
On Saturday, 05 March 2016, Israeli forces established three
checkpoints at the entrances to Beit ‘Awaa, Deir al-‘Asal, and
al-Daheriya villages.
On Sunday, 06 March 2016, Israeli forces established two checkpoints
at the northern entrance to Halhoul village and at the entrance to Beit
‘Awaa village.
On Monday 07 March 2016, Israeli forces established four checkpoints
at the entrance to Jalajel, Beit ‘Awaa, Samou’a and Sa’ir villages.
On Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli forces established four
checkpoints at the entrances to Bani Na’eim, al-Tabaqah and Beit ‘Awaa
villages, and at the southern entrance to Halhoul village.
Ramallah and al-Bireh: On Thursday 03 March
2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints in the square of ‘Ain
Sina village on the main road between Ramallah and Nablus, at the
intersection of Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa village, southwest of Ramallah and
under the bridge of Kherbitha al-Musbah, southwest of Ramallah.
On Friday 04 March 2016, Israeli forces established three checkpoints
at the entrances to al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah,
Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, and at the eastern entrance to
al-Taiba village, northeast of Ramallah.
At approximately 12:30 on Saturday, 05 March 2016, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint under the bridge of Kherbitha al-Musbah
village, southwest of Ramallah.
At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 06 March 2016, Israeli forces
established a checkpoint at the intersection of Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa
village, southwest of Ramallah.
Qalqiliya: At approximately 19:00 on
Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the
eastern entrance to Qalqiliya.
At approximately 14:00 on Saturday, 05 March 2016, Israeli forces
established two checkpoints between Jayyos and ‘Azoun villages, east of
Qalqiliya.
Tulkarm: At approximately 21:30 on Thursday,
03 March 2016, Israeli forces stationed at ‘Inab checkpoint, which were
established on the main road between Tulkarm and Nablus, east of
Tulkarm, tightened their arbitrary measures against Palestinian
civilians and obstructed their movement. At approximately 08:00 on
Friday, 04 March, Israeli forces stressed again their arbitrary measures
in the abovementioned checkpoint.
Jenin: At approximately 15:30 on Saturday,
05 March 2016, Israeli forces established a checkpoint near al-Haddad
Tourist village, southeast of Jenin.
Salfit: On Saturday, 05 March 2016, Israeli
forces established seven checkpoints at the entrances to Yasouf village,
east of Salfit, Derasitiya village, northwest of Salfit, Burqeen, Kufor
al-Deik, Deir Balout, al-Zawiya and Rafaat village, west of Salfit.
Arrests at military checkpoints
At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli forces
arrested Hadiya Ibrahim Sulaiman ‘Arinat (15), from al-Jaraheed area,
north of Jericho. Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a
statement that while an Israeli soldier was regulating the traffic on
street No. 90 in the Palestinian ‘Ojah village, due to the falling of a
tree on the street, a Palestinian young woman headed to the
aforementioned Israeli soldier and stabbed his shoulder, so he sustained
minor wounds. It should be mentioned that Israeli soldiers arrested
Hadiya without opening fire at her and then referred her to
investigation.
At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 04 March 2016, Israeli forces
stationed at the northwestern entrance to Iraq Burin village, south of
Nablus, arrested Mostafa Khalid ‘Odah (23), from Tal village, south of
Nablus. Israeli forces chased Mostafa into the agricultural field while
he was walking there. Israeli forces claimed that the abovementioned
civilian was present in a military closed zone.
At approximately 11:30 on Saturday, 05 March 2015, Israeli forces
deployed at al-Ibrahimi Mosque entrances, in the center of the Old City
in Hebron, arrested Rami ‘Izaat Qandaji (19), from Ramallah, claiming
that he had a knife. Rami was then taken to a police station near
“Kiryat Arba” settlement in Hebron.
At approximately 15:00 on the same day, Israeli forces deployed
around Kherbit Janbah area, southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron,
arrested Baker Mahmoud Ali Najajrah (13) and ‘Abeer Yousef Makhamrah
(10), while they were grazing the sheep. Israeli forces then took them
to a military camp before delivering both of them to the Palestinian
Liaison.
At approximately 21:00 on the same day, Israeli forces stationed at
the Container checkpoint, northeast of Bethlehem, arrested Mahmoud Nasri
Salah (24), from al-Khadir village, south of the city. Mahmoud was
arrested from a vehicle, in which he was, while crossing the checkpoint.
Israeli forces questioned him on the spot.
Efforts to Create 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:
Incursions and arrests
At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 03 March 2016, Israeli forces
raided Silwan Preparatory School for Boys, south of the Old City in
Jerusalem. They raided and searched the school and arrested a student
from a classroom claiming that he threw stones at the Israeli soldiers
before entering the school. The arrested student, who is a 9th
grade student, was identified as Malek ‘Isaa al-‘Abasi (14). An
eyewitness said to a PCHR’s fieldworker that after Israeli soldiers
searched all the classrooms, they took the abovementioned student out of
the school. The school’s surveillance cameras revealed the falsity of
the Israeli allegations and showed that the aforementioned student
arrived at school before the time the Israeli forces mentioned about him
throwing stones at them. In the meantime, an Israeli soldier took
photos of the students, school building and its corridors. It should be
mentioned that around 550 students are studying in Silwan School from
the 7th to the 9th
At approximately 18:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into
al-‘Isawiyia area, northeast of the occupied East Jerusalem, and imposed
a cordon on its three entrances for 3 consecutive hours. They prevented
Palestinian civilians from entering and exiting the village as well as
searching the vehicles and detaining the young men. In addition, they
deployed in the village’s streets and topped the houses after burning a
military jeep with a Molotov cocktail by dozens of Palestinian young
men. Israeli forces fired live bullets and rubber-coated metal bullets
at the young men and raided many houses in order to find the stone and
Molotov cocktail throwers. Israeli forces arrested two civilians,
including a child, and took them to an unknown destination. The arrested
persons were identified as Yunis Ahmed ‘Aliyan (19) and Ali Dawoud
Muhasin (17).
At approximately 15:00 on Friday, 04 March 2016, Israeli forces
arrested two Palestinian civilians after the settlers attack on them
while the two Palestinians were walking in ‘Aqabet al-Khalidiya in the
Old City in the occupied East Jerusalem. The arrested persons were
identified as Dawoud Khaild al-Salaimah (24) and Ahmed Anas al-Baitony.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR’s fieldworker that Israeli forces moved
into ‘Aqabet al-Khalidiya neighbourhood and deployed on the roads and
closed them. Israeli forces arrested the abovementioned civilians after
they fought with a group of Israeli settlers, who attacked the civilians
while they were walking in the vicinity of their houses.
At approximately 16:00 on Friday, Israeli forces moved into
al-Thawri neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of the Old City of the
occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched many houses and
arrested Mousa Baker Showki (16) taking him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 19:00 on Friday, Israeli forces moved into Housh
Abu Tayieh in ‘Ain al-Louza neighbourhood in Silwan village, south of
the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem. They provocatively deployed in
the Housh neighbourhood, due to which, a number of Palestinian young men
gathered and threw stones at the soldiers. Israeli soldiers fired
rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at the
protesters in response. In addition, they forced the shops’ owners to
close their shops and then raided a house belonging to Ali Abu al-Hamam
(47) and arrested him. The family of Abu al-Hamam said that a large
number of Israeli soldiers raided their house, assaulted the women by
pushing and screaming at them and broke the windows with gun butts.
Israeli forces tried to get the women out of the house, and when the
young men approached the area, Israeli forces pepper-sprayed them. After
that, they received backup forces that fired tear gas canisters in the
area. Abu Hamam family added that Israeli forces accused one of the
family members of sprayed paints on them. Israeli forces also arrested
Ali Abu Hamam (47) after beating him up.
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday, 06 March 2016, Israeli forces
suppressed a peaceful demonstration started from the Old City of
occupied East Jerusalem and then headed to al-‘Amoud and al-Saherah
gates. A number of Palestinian women and elderly people participated in
the demonstration and chanted slogans calling for their right to enter
al-Aqsa Mosque after they were prevented from entering it because their
names were mentioned in the blacklist. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters at the protesters and arrested Hanadi al-Helwani. According to
an eyewitness, Israeli forces chased a group of Palestinian men and
women while they were chanting slogans calling for their right to access
al-Aqsa Mosque. Israeli forces prevented the abovementioned civilians
from being present in al-Asaq Mosque and organising a sit-in at
al-Majles gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates. As a result, Israeli forces
fired tear gas canisters at the protesters to disperse them and
arrested a woman at al-‘Amoud gate area. Israeli forces have been still
denying the civilians, whose names were listed in the blacklist, from
entering al-Aqsa Mosque for the 7th consecutive month.
At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 06 March 2016, Israeli forces
arrested 5 children while they were in al-Malhah Mall in West Jerusalem
applying for a driving licence. The arrested persons were identified as
twins Ahmed and Mahmoud al-Salaimah (17), Malek Badran (17), Ibrahim
Zagheer (17) and Ibrahim Sufian Zagheer (17), all from Kufor ‘Aqeb
village, north of the city. Awad al-Salayma, who is in charge of
Jerusalem’s holy sites file in Fatah movement, said that Israeli forces
arrested the 5 children on grounds of suspicion while they were present
in the Mall to apply for a driving license. During interrogation at
al-Maskoubya detention facility, the 5 children were beaten up to
confess about the reason for their presence in the Mall although they
had the driving license papers. After checking the cameras for about 6
hours, the boy were asked to log in their Facebook accounts. He added
that after checking the boys’ accounts, they were released, but Ibrahim
Zgheer was kept in the Israeli custody because Israeli soldiers found
some posts that were considered inciting.
At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 07 March 2016, Israeli forces
moved into Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. They
stationed around al-Maya’nah and Sarees neighbourhoods and raided and
searched many houses. They arrested four civilians who were identified
as Fadi Taher al-Shahwani (23), Mahmoud Na’iem Hamad (22) , Tareq Ziyad
al-A’raj (19) and Mahmoud Akram (22).
At approximately 03:00 on the same day, Israeli forces moved into
al-Mukaber Mount and Sour Baher villages, south of occupied East
Jerusalem. They raided dozens of houses and arrested six civilians. The
arrested persons were identifies as:
Karam Mohammed Zahaikah (13);
Shaheen ‘Abasi (14);
Anas Mihammed Zahaikah (15);
‘Obada Ameer Zahaikah (14);
Mo’az Mohammed Abed Rabbo (18); and
Sameer Mohammed Abed Rabbo (16).
In the morning, Israeli forces arrested Fouz Saladin Abu Mayala (45)
and her children Attallah (9) and Mahmoud (7) before they were able to
visit Fouz’s son namely Mo’ayed Abu Mayala, who was imprisoned in
Megiddo prison. After being questioned for hours at the police station,
she was unconditionally released. She explained, “Before the visit and
while I was passing through the electronic gate, the gate beeped. I was
talking to a female soldier when another one came and shouted asking me
to take my Jilbab off to be searched. I refused because we were in a
public place and asked her to search me in a closed room. However, she
refused and denied me the visit. She then threw my ID to the ground and
pushed me along with my children out of the place. I went down to the
waiting room, during which, an Israeli officer arrived and I told him
about what happened. He took my ID again and I thought that he would
allow me to visit my son, but I was surprised by a police car arriving
and taking me to the police station, where I was questioned about
pushing a female soldier and causing her an injury in a finger”.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli forces moved into Abu Dees village,
east of occupied Jerusalem. They raided and searched a number of houses,
from which, they arrested 3 civilians, including 2 brothers. The
arrested persons were identified as Ameer Khaled Jafal (24) and Ahmed
and Mahmoud Radi Oraiqat.
At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 09 March 2016, Israeli forces
moved into al-Eisawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem.
They raided and searched a number of houses and attacked their
residents. In addition, they arrested 7 civilians from the village,
including 3 children. The arrested persons were identified as Shadi
Maher Hamdan (14), Mo’men Basel Mahmoud (14) and his father Basel
Mahmoud (39), Yazan Mohammed Ayoub Abu Asab (14) and his bother Mo’tasem
(24), Nadeem Abdu (20) and Hamza Abu Ermaila (18). Mohammed Abu Asab
said that Israeli forces raided and searched his house in al-Eisawiya
village and damaged the house contents. Abu Asab added that his wife and
2 children Mo’tasem (24) and Yazan (14) were attacked and then arrested
by Israeli forces.
Shooting incidents
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli Border
Guard officers opened fire at a Palestinian woman from a point blank
range claiming that she attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the
Iron Gate, one of al-Aqsa Mosque Gates in East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a
result, she was hit with 3 bullets and left bleeding for more than half
an hour on the ground until she drew her last breath.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ accounts to the
fieldworker in the city, Fadwa Ahmed Mohammed Abu Teir (50) was walking
between the Cotton Merchants and the Iron Gates when the Israeli
soldiers shouted at her to stop. However, she did not respond and
continued to walk. They then ran towards Fadwa and opened fire at her.
As a result, she was hit with 3 bullets; one of which penetrated her
right eye and the two others penetrated her chest and abdomen. More
than one eyewitness confirmed that they saw no knife or sharp tool in
her hands. They added that the Israeli soldiers deliberately left Fadwa
on the ground bleeding for more than half an hour and prevented
Palestinians from approaching her or providing her the necessary first
aid.
Dr. Amin Abu Ghazaleh from the Red Crescent clinic in the Old City of
Jerusalem said that the Israeli soldiers prevented the Red Crescent
crews for around 10 minutes from reaching Fadwa until the Israeli
officers arrived and the medical crews were then allowed to check her.
He added that the ten minutes have been enough to save Fawda’s life.
It should be mentioned that the killed woman lived in Um Touba
neighbourhood, south of East Jerusalem, and was married with 5 children.
Luba al-Somari, Spokesperson of the Israeli police, said in a
statement, “An Arab Jerusalemite woman from Um Touba neighbourhood
stepped towards Israeli Border Guard officers, who were as usual in the
area as part of the field readiness to maintain public safety. She
pulled out a knife attempting to stab the border officers who opened
fire after perceiving a “tangible threat”. They immediately neutralized
the woman, but no Israeli injuries were reported.”
At approximately 17:10 on Tuesday, 08 March 2016, Israeli forces
opened fire at a Palestinian armed young man, who opened fire at them
near the Jerusalem District Electricity Company in Salah al-Deen Street
in East Jerusalem’s Old City. As a result, two Israeli officers were
wounded while the Palestinian young man was hit with several bullets;
one of which penetrated his head. Therefore, he immediately died on the
scene.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies to
the fieldworker in Jerusalem, when Fo’ad Qathaf ‘Abdullah Abu Rajab
“al-Tamimi” (21) was in the parking of the electricity company in Salah
al-Deen Street in Jerusalem, he opened fire from a riffle at the Israeli
soldiers, who in response opened fire at him. The armed clash
continued for around 10 minutes. As a result, Fo’ad was killed and two
police officers were wounded; one of whom sustained a serious wound.
It should be mentioned that the Israeli forces accompanied with
Intelligence officers raided the Electricity Company and searched the
guard’s room. They pushed who were there and confiscated the
surveillance cameras. They also opened fire at the Company’s vehicles,
damaging their windows and the vehicles’ body. The Israeli forces also
completely closed Salah al-Deen Street and raided and searched “al-Dar
Mall” building. They dispersed those who were near the vicinity of the
scene and denied them access.
Around an hour later, large force of Israeli soldiers moved into
al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of Jerusalem, and surrounded a house
belonging to Fo’ad’s family. Amist Israeli firing of rubber bullets and
tear gas canisters to prevent anyone from approaching the house, the
Israeli forces raided and searched the house. They also took photos of
it from the inside and outside in addition to its measures. They also
asked Fo’ad’s mother questions while they summoned his father and uncle
for interrogation.
At approximately 08:40 on Wednesday, 09 March 2016, Israeli police
officers opened fire at two Palestinian young men near the New Gate, one
of the newest gates in the walls that surround Jerusalem’s Old City,
following an armed clash between both of them. After chasing them for
around 2 hours, one of the two young men was killed on the scene and the
other was later announced dead when he arrived at “Hadassa – Har
HaTsofim Hospital” in West Jerusalem.
According to Israeli forces, at approximately 07:10 on the
aforementioned day, ‘Abdel Malek Saleh Abu Kharoub (19) and Mohammed
Jamal al-Kaloti (21), both from Jerusalem, opened fire at an Israeli
“Egged Cooperative” bus at the Ramot Junction, west of West Jerusalem,
and drove a blue car away. The Israeli forces chased them and opened
heavy fire at the car. They established checkpoints on the way to
“Hatsnim” Street near the New Gate in Jerusalem, where the armed clash
erupted. As a result, Mohammed Jamal al-Kaloti immediately died while
‘Abdel Malek Abu Kharoub was transferred via an Israeli ambulance to
“Hadassa – Har HaTsofim Hospital”, where he succumbed to his wounds.
‘Emad Abu ‘Ali (56) sustained serious wounds in his head when he was
walking in the New Gate area where the armed clash happened. He was
taken to Hadassa al-‘Issawiya to receive medical treatment.
House demolitions, demolition notices and attempts to seize civilian houses:
On Friday 04 March 2016, joint staffs from the Israeli municipality
and forces moved into a number of neighborhoods in Silwan village, south
of East Jerusalem’s Old City. They distributed administrative
demolition orders to commercial and residential facilities under the
pretext of building without a permit.
An eyewitness said to a PCHR fieldworker that Israeli municipality
staffs moved into the neighborhoods of Al-Bustan, Beer Ayoub and Ein
Al-Lozeh in Silwan and took pictures of several commercial and
residential facilities as well as the neighborhoods’ streets. During the
raid, they handed four civilians from Al-Bustan and Ein Al-Lozeh
administrative demolition notices under the pretext of building without a
permit.
An eyewitness said that municipality crews handed the notices to a
commercial store in Ein Al-Lozeh; a house in Al-Bustan neighborhood and
two houses in Ein Al-Lozeh. All the aforementioned facilities were
built many years ago. Farhat Qaimari, one of the four affected
civilians, said that the municipality staffs accompanied with Israeli
forces raided his house in the neighborhood of Al-Bustan and handed him
an administrative demolition notice under the pretext of building
without a permit. He added that he has been living in the house for 10
years with his wife and four children.
Settlement activities and attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians and property
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct
violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Settlement activities
At approximately 14:30 on Thursday, 04 March 2016, Israeli
bulldozers levelled dozens dunums of agricultural lands in al-Zayaq
area, east of Deir Balut village, west of Salfit. The levelled lands
belong to Taysir Rushdi ‘Abdullah and his brothers to be annexed to
“Leshem” settlement established in the eastern side of the village
although a decision was issued by the Israeli Supreme Court to stop
construction works and not to level this area. They also levelled large
part of Deir Sam’an Archaeological Site in Kafr al-Deek village to
annex it to the same settlement.
At approximately 04:00 on Monday, 07 March 2016, Israeli forces
accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Construction and
Organization Department in the Israeli Administration and a bulldozer
moved into al-Jomjomah area, northeast of Halhoul, north of Hebron. The
military bulldozers levelled a 200-square-meter barrack used for grazing
sheep belonging to ‘Abdel Karim Mahmoud ‘Abdel Rahman Mer’eb (77).
The aforementioned civilian said to a PCHR fieldworker that the
Israeli authorities handed a notice to Mer’eb to stop construction works
on 20 February 2016, so he did all the necessary legal procedures
mentioned in the notice. He hired a lawyer to submit a petition.
However, the Civil Administration handed him a demolition notice on 20
February 2015. The Israeli bulldozer demolished the barrack without
allowing him to evacuate the fodders. The losses were estimated to NIS
60,000.
Recommendations to the International Community
PCHR emphasizes the international community’s position that the Gaza
Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are still under
Israeli occupation, in spite of Israeli military redeployment outside
the Gaza Strip in 2005. PCHR further confirms that Israeli forces
continued to impose collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip,
which have escalated since the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections,
in which Hamas won the majority of seats of the Palestinian Legislative
Council. PCHR stresses that there is international recognition of
Israel’s obligation to respect international human rights instruments
and the international humanitarian law, especially the Hague Regulations
concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land and the Geneva
Conventions. Israel is bound to apply the international human rights law
and the law of war sometime reciprocally and other times in parallel in
a way that achieves the best protection for civilians and remedy for
victims.
In light of continued arbitrary measures, land confiscation and
settlement activities in the West Bank, and the latest 51-day offensive
against civilians in the Gaza Strip, PCHR calls upon the international
community, especially the United Nations, the High Contracting Parties
to the Geneva Convention and the European Union – in the context of
their natural obligation to respect and enforce the international law –
to cooperate and act according to the following recommendations:
PCHR calls upon the international community and the United Nations
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;
PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide international
protection to Palestinians in the oPt, and to ensure the non-recurrence
of aggression against the oPt, especially the Gaza Strip;
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva
Conventions to compel Israel, as a High Contracting Party to the
Conventions, to apply the Conventions in the oPt;
PCHR calls upon the Parties to international human rights
instruments, especially the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to pressurize
Israel to comply with their provisions in the oPt, and to compel it to
incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt in its reports
submitted to the concerned committees;
PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva
Conventions to fulfil their obligation to ensure the application of the
Conventions, including extending the scope of their jurisdiction in
order to prosecute suspected war criminals, regardless of the
nationality of the perpetrator and the place of a crime, to pave the way
for prosecuting suspected Israeli war criminals and end the
longstanding impunity they have enjoyed;
PCHR calls on States that apply the principle of universal
jurisdiction not to surrender to Israeli pressure to limit universal
jurisdiction to perpetuate the impunity enjoyed by suspected Israeli war
criminals;
PCHR calls upon the international community to act in order to stop
all Israeli settlement expansion activities in the oPt through imposing
sanctions on Israeli settlements and criminalizing trading with them;
PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly to transfer the Goldstone
Report to the UN Security Council in order to refer it to the
International Criminal Court in accordance with Article 13(b) of the
Rome Statute;
PCHR calls upon the United Nations to confirm that holding war
criminals in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is a precondition to
achieve stability and peace in the regions, and that peace cannot be
built on the expense of human rights;
PCHR calls upon the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to
explicitly declare that the Israeli closure policy in Gaza and the
annexation wall in the West Bank are illegal, and accordingly refer the
two issues to the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel to
compel it to remove them;
PCHR calls upon the international community, in light of its failure
to the stop the aggression on the Palestinian people, to at least
fulfil its obligation to reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the series of
hostilities launched by Israel which directly targeted the civilian
infrastructure;
PCHR calls upon the United Nations and the European Union to express
a clear position towards the annexation wall following the
international recognition of the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders,
as the annexation wall seizes large parts of the State of Palestine;
PCHR calls upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the
EU-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that both sides must
respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between
the EU states and Israel, and the EU must not ignore Israeli violations
and crimes against Palestinian civilians;
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