Israeli Forces Arrest Young Man from Selwan
December 19, 2013
Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians
and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and
wounded 6 others in Jenin refugee camp in the north of the West Bank.
A Palestinian civilian died of previous wounds in
Bethlehem.
Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the
border areas in the Gaza Strip.
3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were
wounded in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force
against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.
Many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
Israeli forces conducted 21 incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank.
At
least 12 Palestinians were arrested.
Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the
oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in
the West Bank.
At least 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested at
checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli navy forces have continued targeting
Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
Israeli naval forces opened fire twice at Palestinian
fishing boats, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement
activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack
Palestinian civilians and property.
Israeli forces confiscated 10 dunums of land in Qasra village near Nablus and denied
farmers access to other 500-dunum lands.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and
international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period
(12 – 18 December 2013).
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a
Palestinian civilian and wounded 6 others in Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin
in the northern West Bank. Moreover, medical sources pronounced a Palestinian
civilian from al-Dheisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem, dead due to
wounds he had sustained during the al-Aqsa Intifada. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli
forces wounded 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, while Israeli naval
forces continued opening fire at the Palestinian fishing boats.
In the West Bank, on Wednesday evening, 18 December
2013, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian
civilian and wounded 6 others in Jenin refugee camp in Jenin.
In the same context, Medical sources at al-Maqased
Charitable Hospital in East Jerusalem pronounced Mo'een Mohammed al-Atrash (28),
from al-Dheisha refugee camp southwest of Bethlehem, dead of wounds he had sustained
in 2004.
Moreover, Israeli forces continued the systematic use
of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli
and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and
settlement activities in the West. As a result, many protestors
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten
up by Israeli soldiers.
In the Gaza Strip, 3 Palestinian civilians, including
a child and 2 farmers, were wounded. On 14 December 2013, a Palestinian
civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence
opened fire at him while he was about 200 meters to the east of al-Najjar
neighbourhood in Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis.
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed on the
northern borders between the Gaza Strip and Israel fired a number of artillery
shells at open area, north of Um al-Nasser Bedouin village, and northwest of
al-Nada housing project, but no casualties were reported.
On 15 December 2013, a farmer from Ezbet Beit Hanoun
was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, northeast of
Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of framers who
were 500 meters away from the said fence.
On 16 December 2013, another farmer, from Jabalia, was
wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Jabalia,
in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of farmers who were about
600 meters away from the said fence.
On 17 and 18 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed
in watchtowers, east of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at
a number of farmers, shepherds and bird hunters in the east of Beit Hanoun. As
a result, they all fled away fearing of being wounded.
In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on
16 and 17 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest
of Beit Lahia, opened sporadic fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were
sailing about 3 nautical miles off the shore. However, neither casualties nor
material damage were reported.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 21 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During
these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 12 Palestinians, including Ali
al-Sa'di (25) from Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank, who had been
wounded.
PCHR points that its fieldworkers in the West Bank,
especially in Hebron, Bethlehem and Nablus, could not move due to the blizzard
that hit Palestine last week.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tightened 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
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 7
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 a grave violation of the economic,
social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
million people. The Israeli authorities
has 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 that
has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on
the Gaza Strip’s exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank,
including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
As part of using military checkpoints and border
crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are
wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 3 civilians in the West Bank.
Settlement activities
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.
On
17 December 2013, Israeli forces issued a decision to confiscate 10 dunums of land
in Qasrah village, southeast of Nablus.
These confiscated lands are in "al-Wa’ar" area, which has always been
attacked by settlers from "Yish Kodish" settlement established on the
aforementioned village’s lands.
Israeli Violations Documented during the Reporting Period
(12 – 18 December 2013)
1. Incursions into Palestinian Areas, and Attacks
on Palestinian Civilians and Property in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
Thursday, 12 December 2013
At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into
Beita village, south of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses
from which they arrested Shadi Khaled 'Edeili (18); Khobab Jehad Hamayel (18)
and Hamada Emad Hamayel (19).
At approximately 18:00, Israeli forces moved into Azzoun
village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and
withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Saturday, 14 December 2013
At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces stationed along
the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire
at Naji Rajab al-Qassas (22), from Khan Yunis, while he was about 200 meters
away from the above-mentioned fence. As a result, al-Qassas was wounded by 3
bullets to the right leg. He crawled about 200 meters under fire, and when a
civilian saw him, he took him by his motorbike to al-Najjar neighbourhood in
Khuza'a village. An ambulance arrived and took him to the European Gaza Hospital,
where doctors found that he was wounded by a bullet to the right knee and 2
bullet shrapnel to the same leg.
At
approximately 23:00, Israeli forces stationed along the northern border fence
fired a number of artillery shells at open areas in the north of Um al-Nasser
Bedouin village and around al-Nada housing project, west of Beit Hanoun. Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.
Sunday, 15 December
2013
At approximately 08:30, Israeli forces
stationed along the border fence, northeast of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza
Strip, opened fire at a group of farmers in a farmland belonging to Nafez Abu
Shammas that is about 500 meters away from the border fence, northeast of Beit
Lahia. As a result, Mohammed Rafiq al-Shenbari (17), from Ezbet Beit Hanoun,
was wounded by a bullet (entered and exited) to his left leg. The other farmers
carried him about 70 meters away from the scene and put him on a tractor that
drove him to an ambulance of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. The ambulance
took him then to Kamal Odwan Hospital, where doctors found fractures in his
left leg.
Farmer Ali Khaled Abu Ouda, Mohammed's
brother-in-law, said that he has worked in harvesting and collecting vegetables
for a week, while Mohammed has worked on this field for over a month. On
Sunday, they headed to Abu Shammas land, northeast of Boret Abu Samra. They
started work at 07:00 and the area was calm. Suddenly, they heard gunfire by
Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border fence. A few moments later,
Mohammed al-Shenbari was wounded by a bullet to the left leg, so he fell onto
the ground and screamed out of severe pain. Some farmers ran towards him and
found blood on his leg. They carried him and ran about 70 meters away. They
then put him on a tractor belonging to a farmer and drove him to an ambulance
of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS). The ambulance took the wounded
person to Kamal Odwan Hospital to receive the necessary medical treatment.
At approximately 10:25, Israeli forces
moved into Jinsafout village, east of Qalqilia. They raided a house belonging
to the family of Mahmoud Yusef al-Hajj Ali (22) and handed him a summons to
refer to the Israeli intelligence service. Israeli forces withdrew later and no
arrests were reported.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces
moved into Baqet al-Hatab village, north of Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli forces
moved into Zabouba village, northwest of Jenin. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. No arrests were reported.
At approximately 16:35, Israeli forces
moved into Azzoun village, east of Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for
some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were reported.
Monday, 16 December 2013
In the early
morning, Israeli forces moved into Jaba' village, south of Jenin. They raided
and searched a house belonging to the family of Ibrahim As'ad Badad (37), and
another house belonging to the family of Morad Walid Malaysha (23), and
arrested both of them.
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Jayous village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets and raided a number of houses from which they arrested Jamal Abdul
Fattah Yassin (33) and his uncle, Bassam Ibrahim Yassin (43).
At
approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Hejja village, east of Qalqilia.
They patrolled the streets and raided and searched a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Aref Ahmed (22). They arrested the aforementioned person and
took him to an unknown destination. It should be noted that Mohammed is a
student at Palestine Technical University (al-Khadouri) in Tulkarm.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli undercover units sneaked into the southern
neighbourhood of Tulkarm by a minibus with a Palestinian registration plate.
They kidnapped Mo'tasem Hatem Khaled al-Iraqi (24), a former prisoner who was
released in the Gilad Shalit prisoners' swap deal. Al-Iraqi was in his
apartment in the said neighbourhood when he was kidnapped. Security sources
said to a PCHR fieldworker that undercover units entered the building and
headed to the apartment. When al-Iraqi's mother opened the door for them, they
asked about her son and she pointed to his bedroom thinking that they were a
delegation from the Ministry of Social Affairs. The soldiers attacked al-Iraqi
in his bed and searched his room in a few minutes. They kidnapped him and
nobody in the streets noticed that.
At
approximately 14:10, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest
of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire at Palestinian
fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles offshore. The fishermen
were frightened and fled back fearing of being arrested or wounded. However,
neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
At
approximately 16:20, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of
al-Shuhada' cemetery, east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire
at a group of farmers who were in a land belonging to Mohammed al-Herthani that is about 600 meters away from the border
fence. As a result, Yehia Amjad al-Herthani (19), from Jabalia, was wounded by
a bullet (entered and exited) to his left leg. Other farmers carried him to a
cart that took him to al-Karama Street. They waited for an ambulance of the
PRCS that took him to Kamal Odwan Hospital. Doctors examined his wound and
found no fractures. His wound was minor, so he was discharged from hospital at
approximately 18:30 on the same day. It should be noted that al-Herthani works
in his grandfather's land since he was a child.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
At
approximately 01:20, Israeli forces moved into Deir Estia village, north of
Salfit. They raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
Abdul Qader Anwar Mansour (21). They also handed Nasser Amir Mansour (20) a
summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service.
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Yamoun village, northwest of
Jenin. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. No arrests
were reported.
Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of
Qalqilia. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Tubas. They patrolled the
streets and raided and searched a number of houses from which they arrested
Rami Fawaz Daraghma (22), a student at the Arab American University in Jenin.
At
approximately 03:10, Israeli forces moved into Qalqilia. They patrolled the
streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor arrests were
reported.
At
approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into Qabatia village, south of Jenin.
They patrolled the streets and raided a house belonging to the family of
Mohammed Ahmed Saba'na (30), a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence
service. They handed him a summons to refer to the Israeli intelligence service
in Salem detention facility, northwest of Jenin. They then raided a house
belonging to the family of his brother Mohammed (19) and handed him a similar
summons. Israeli forces withdrew later and no arrests were reported.
At
approximately 06:00, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest
of Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened sporadic fire at Palestinian
fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles off the shore. The
fishermen were frightened and fled back fearing of being wounded or arrested. Neither
casualties nor material damage were reported.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli forces stationed in watchtowers, east of
Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a number of farmers,
shepherds and bird hunters who were in al-Douh valley, east of the city. As a
result, they fled fearing of being wounded. Neither casualties nor material
damage were reported.
At
approximately 10:30, Israeli forces moved into Zaita village, north of Tulkarm.
They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house
raids nor arrests were reported.
Around the
same time, Israeli forces moved into Etil village, north of Tulkarm. They
patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither house raids nor
arrests were reported.
At
approximately 15:30, Israeli forces moved into Beit Leed village, east of
Tulkarm. They patrolled the streets for some time and withdrew later. Neither
house raids nor arrests were reported.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus, Askar refugee camp,
northeast of the city, and Ein Beit al-Ma' refugee camp, west of the city. They
patrolled the streets and raided and searched a number of houses from which
they arrested 6 civilians:
1. Mohammed Saleh Hamdan (24), from Ein Beit al-Ma'
refugee camp;
2. Baker Abdul Latif Sharay'a (25), from Askar refugee
camp;
3. Yasser Manna' (22), a university student from Nablus;
4. Anas Raddad (23), from Saida village in Tulkarm;
5. Saleh al-'Amer (22), a university student from Kofur
Qalil village, south of Nablus; and
6. Sa'id Baker Sa'id Belal (49), from Nablus.
At approximately
02:00, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers, east of Beit Hanoun, in the
northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a number of farmers, shepherds and bird
hunters who were in al-Douh valley, east of the city. As a result, they fled
fearing of being wounded. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
In an
excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and
wounded 6 others in Jenin refugee camp in Jenin, in the northern West Bank.
Israeli undercover units carried out this crime.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR and statements of eyewitnesses, at
approximately 20:30, Israeli undercover units sneaked into al-Saha area, in the
centre of Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, using a minibus with a Palestinian
registration plate and the slogan of the "Palestine Telecommunications
Company" on it. The vehicle stopped in front of a house belonging to Jamal
Abdul Salam Abu al-Haija, a prisoner in an Israeli jail. Members in the "Palestine
Telecommunications Company" costume stepped out of the vehicle and opened
fire at a group of Palestinian young men, who were standing in front of a cafe
below the abovementioned house. As a result, Nafe' Jamil Nafe' al-Sa'di (23)
was shot dead, while 6 others were wounded, 2 of whom sustained serious wounds.
Moreover, Israeli forces arrested a wounded person whose wound has not been
identified yet. It should be noted that Israeli forces planned to target Abu
al-Haija's son namely Hamza (21), a member of Hamas movement, but he escaped
the arrest or extra-judicial execution. Israeli forces then moved into Jenin
refugee camp and topped some houses overlooking al-Saha area. They secured the
withdrawal of the undercover units by firing sound bombs and tear gas
canisters. In addition, they took the corpse of the killed Nafe' al-Sa'di and
arrested the wounded Ali al-Sa'di. The Palestinian military liaison office
received the corpse of al-Sa'di through al-Jalama crossing, north of Jenin,
while Ali al-Sa'di has been in custody so far.
The wounded were:
1. Mahmoud Hashem Mahmoud Abu Zaina (18) was wounded by 2
bullets to the thigh and abdomen. He underwent an operation in which he had
partial colectomy and autonephrectomy. Due to the seriousness of his wound, he
was transferred from Martyr Khalil Suleiman Hospital to the
Arab Union Hospital in Nablus;
2. Mahmoud Jaber Sa'id Shalabi (20) was wounded by a
bullet to the side (entered and exited). He underwent an urgent operation and
then transferred from Martyr Khalil Suleiman Hospital to al-Razi Hospital in
Jenin;
3. Mojahed Ahmed Salem Jamahna (23) was wounded by
shrapnel to the right shoulder;
4. Anad Fat'hi Raja Tawafsha (28) was wounded by shrapnel
to the left leg;
5. Mohammed Abdul Latif al-Shalabi (18) was wounded by
shrapnel to the head; and
6. Ali Qasem Ali al-Sa'di (25). His wound has not been
identified yet because he was arrested.
A
Palestinian Civilian Dies of Previous Wounds
At
approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 12 December 2013, medical sources at
al-Maqased Charitable Hospital in East Jerusalem pronounced Mo'een Mohammed
Hussein al-Atrash (28), from al-Dheisha refugee camp, southwest of Bethlehem,
dead of wounds that he sustained in 2004.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR then, following the extra-judicial execution
of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder of Hamas movement, by Israeli forces,
dozens of boys and young men gathered around Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque (Rachel
Tomb), north of Bethlehem. They threw stones at Israeli soldiers who were
positioned in the area. Israeli soldiers opened fire in response, wounding a
number of civilians, including al-Atrash. He sustained a wound to the neck
causing him serious haemorrhage. Al-Atrash's family said that he suffered from hemiplegia
due to his wound and has used a wheelchair since then. On 03 November 2013,
al-Atrash was transferred to al-Maqased Hospital because he suffered from blisters
and blood poisoning. His health condition deteriorated, due to which he had
renal, liver and lung failures. He stayed at the hospital until he was
pronounced dead on the abovementioned date.
2. Use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations protesting
settlement activities and the construction of the annexation wall
During the reporting period, Israeli soldiers used
excessive force against peaceful demonstrations organised by Palestinian
civilians, international and Israeli human rights defenders in protest at the
construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank.
As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.
(PCHR keeps the names of the wounded).
Demonstrations against the construction of the
annexation wall and settlement activity