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<h1 class="article-title">PCHR Weekly Report: 29 civilians wounded, 41
abducted by Israeli forces this week</h1>
<div class="article-subtitledetails">
<span class="article-details"><span class="article-detail"><img
class="icon" src="cid:part1.00010008.03030809@freedomarchives.org"
alt="author"> Thursday February 27, 2014 23:39</span><span
class="article-detail"><img class="icon"
src="cid:part2.01090101.02040006@freedomarchives.org" alt="author"> by
PCHR-Gaza</span></span><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.imemc.org/article/67124">http://www.imemc.org/article/67124</a><br>
<br>
</div>
In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories, for the week of 20 - 26 February, 2014, the
Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that, during the past
week, Israeli forces wounded 29 Palestinian civilians, sixteen of whom
were wounded in the Gaza Strip and 13 who were wounded in the West
Bank. Of the wounded were 5 children, 3 journalists, a human rights
activist, a paramedic and a member of the Gaza Interior Ministry.
<p class="article"> In addition, Israeli forces conducted 4 shooting
incidents along the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and
2 shooting incidents against fishermen in the sea. <br>
<br>
<b>Israeli attacks in the West Bank:</b><br>
<br>
Israeli forces conducted 59 incursions into Palestinian communities in
the West Bank this week. 3 civilians were wounded. 41 civilians,
including 6 children were abducted. Of the abducted were 4 employees
from International Tadamun (Solidarity) for Human Rights in Nablus,
including a woman.<br>
<br>
In the West Bank, 13 civilians, including 2 children, a paramedic, a
journalist and a human rights activist, were wounded; 10 of whom were
wounded in peaceful demonstrations and the 3 others were wounded during
an Israeli incursion in Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and
Taqou' village, southeast of Bethlehem.<br>
<br>
In one example of this week’s 59 incursions, on Monday February 24th,
at approximately 01:30 AM, Israeli forces moved into the west of Deir
Estya, northwest of Salfit. They stopped Sharaf Dawood Mohammed 'Ebeid
(22), attacked him to take a photo of him. In addition, they detained
his friend Ra'fat Emad Abdul Majid Diab (18) and released both of them
later. At approximately 01:50, Israeli forces withdrew, neither house
raids nor arrests were reported. Ra'fat Diab said to PCHR's fieldworker:<br>
"At approximately 01:30 on Monday, 24 February, 2014, I was sitting
with some friends near a supermarket on the main streets of Deir Estya
village. I set up the fire as usual and was sitting together with my
friends. One of our friends decided to go home, so I went with my
friend Sharaf Ebeid to get him home. When we returned, we heard some
people but saw nobody because it was dark. We kept walking. Suddenly,
an Israeli soldier appeared out of the dark and caught us while we were
walking in front of the supermarket. They detained me, obliged me to
put my hands up and turn my face against the wall. After a while, they
ordered me to go home, but started beating up my friend Sharaf with gun
butts. They detained him for some time, took a photo of him and
released him later. On the following day, Sharaf told me that he felt
pain in the back. Israeli forces withdrew at 01:50, as shown in the <a
style=""
href="http://skimlinks.pgpartner.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fskimlinks.pgpartner.com%2Fsearch.php%2Fform_keyword%3Dsurveillance%2Bcamera"
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title="Shopping Link Added by SkimWords">surveillance camera</a><span
style="position: absolute;"></span><span style="position: absolute;"></span>
of the supermarket."<br>
<br>
On 25 February, 2014, Israeli forces abducted 4 employees from the
International Tadamun (Solidarity) for Human Rights in Nablus. They
searched their houses and the organizations office and confiscated 6
computers and some documents.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
As part of using military checkpoints and border crossings as traps to
abduct Palestinian civilians, under the pretext they are wanted,
Israeli forces abducted at least 2 civilians in the West Bank.<br>
<br>
Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank. At
least 9 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were abducted at
checkpoints.<br>
<br>
<b>Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:</b><br>
<br>
Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas in the Gaza
Strip. 16 civilians were wounded in separate shooting incidents. The
wounded included 2 children, 2 journalists and a member of the Interior
Ministry.<br>
<br>
In the Gaza Strip, on 21 February, 2014, 12 civilians, including 2
children and a journalist, were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire
at dozens of Palestinian civilians, east of Jabalia, in the northern
Gaza Strip.<br>
<br>
On the same day, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence near
Sofa crossing, northeast of al-Shouka village, northeast of Rafah in
the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at 2 members of the Interior
Ministry, who were about 300 meters away from the said fence.<br>
<br>
On 22 February, 2014, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli
forces moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah.<br>
<br>
On 24 February, 2014, a Palestinian civilian was wounded in Taqou'
village, southeast of Bethlehem, when Israeli forces moved into the
village.<br>
<br>
On 24 February, 2014, Israeli forces positioned along the border fence,
east of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, opened fire at
agricultural lands, east of al-Qarara village, northeast of the city,
but no casualties were reported.<br>
<br>
On 25 February, 2014, 2 civilians, including a journalist, were wounded
during a demonstration organized by the Intifada Coalition in the
vicinity of Nahal Oz crossing, east of al-Shuja'iya neighbourhood, east
of Gaza City. A number of demonstrators threw stones at Israeli
soldiers, who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters in response. <br>
<br>
In the context of targeting fishermen, on 20 February, 2014, Israeli
navy forces opened fire at Palestinian <a style=""
href="http://rd.bizrate.com/rd?t=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrs.com%2Fproduct%2F16402%2Fnrs-clearwater-drifter-boat%3Futm_campaign%3Dshop_comp%26utm_source%3Dshopzilla%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_term%3Dsz_NRS_Clearwater_Drifter_Boat-16402&mid=163623&cat_id=12180101&atom=10471&prod_id=&oid=4659760968&pos=1&b_id=18&bid_type=0&bamt=a5fedf14fd8fec0d&cobrand=1&ppr=140ff0c709b66bd6&rf=af1&af_assettype_id=10&af_creative_id=6&af_id=6784"
class="skimwords-link" target="_blank" data-skimwords-id="1851513"
data-skimwords-word="fishing%20boats" data-group-id="0"
data-skim-creative="300007" data-skim-product="1851513"
title="Shopping Link Added by SkimWords">fishing boats</a><span
style="position: absolute;"></span><span style="position: absolute;"></span>
off Rafah shore, south of the Gaza Strip. Two missiles landed on a site
belonging to the Palestinian National Security service, along the
border fence between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. No casualties were
reported. The site sustained minor damage.<br>
<br>
On the same day, Israeli gunboats stationed off the shore northwest of
Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at <a style=""
href="http://rd.bizrate.com/rd?t=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrs.com%2Fproduct%2F16402%2Fnrs-clearwater-drifter-boat%3Futm_campaign%3Dshop_comp%26utm_source%3Dshopzilla%26utm_medium%3Dcpc%26utm_term%3Dsz_NRS_Clearwater_Drifter_Boat-16402&mid=163623&cat_id=12180101&atom=10471&prod_id=&oid=4659760968&pos=1&b_id=18&bid_type=0&bamt=a5fedf14fd8fec0d&cobrand=1&ppr=140ff0c709b66bd6&rf=af1&af_assettype_id=10&af_creative_id=6&af_id=6784"
class="skimwords-link" target="_blank" data-skimwords-id="1851513"
data-skimwords-word="fishing%20boats" data-group-id="0"
data-skim-creative="300007" data-skim-product="1851513"
title="Shopping Link Added by SkimWords">fishing boats</a><span
style="position: absolute;"></span><span style="position: absolute;"></span>
sailing within a nautical mile. <br>
<br>
3 Palestinian civilians were abducted at the border fence between the
Gaza Strip and Israel. On Thursday evening, 20 February, 2014, Israeli
forces stationed at the borderline with Israel, in the northern Gaza
Strip, abducted the 3 Palestinian civilians while they were trying to
pass the border in order to enter into Israel to work there. The 18, 19
and 20-year-old are all from Block 5 in Jabalia refugee camp. According
to Yousif Fayyad, he lost his son ‘Atta and his nephew Mohammed on the
aforementioned Thursday, and they did not come back home. They left in
the early morning, and none knew where they were till he received a
call on his cell phone from the Israeli police telling him that his son
and his nephew were under arrest, after passing the northern borders of
the Gaza Strip. He added that they were being held in Eshkol prison,
and that they needed legal assistance. The family of al’Ajrami said
that they received a call from the Israeli police telling them that
their son is abducted by Israeli authorities and he is now in Eshkol
prison, so they have to hire a lawyer for him.<br>
<br>
Israel continued to impose a total closure on the Occupied Palestinian
Territories and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. The
illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since
June of 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 has resulted in grave violations of the economic, social
and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7
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.<br>
<br>
<b>Israeli settlement activities:</b><br>
<br>
Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West
Bank, and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians
and property.<br>
<br>
Lands were demolished in Kofur al-Deek, west of Salfit, to expand a
settlement outpost. Israeli forces continued issuing house demolition
notices in area (C). Some settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in the
north and south of the West Bank.<br>
<br>
On 20 February, 2014, Israeli forces served civilians from Ezna
village, west of Hebron, with 3 notices to halt construction work in
their own structures, under the pretext of having no construction
permit, in the areas classified as “C” according to the 1993 Oslo
Agreement. The notices included an under-construction house and 4
barracks used for collecting scrap.<br>
<br>
On 22 February, 2014, a number of settlers from “Beit ‘Ein” settlement,
established on the Palestinian lands confiscated from the west of Beit
Ummar village, north of Hebron, threw stones at and insulted Mohammed
‘Abdel Hamid al-Sleibi (78) and his sons while they were working on
their land in Abu al-Rish area, west of the village. As a result, they
were forced to flee fearing for their lives.<br>
<br>
On the same day, a group of settlers from “Jel’aad” settlement attacked
the residents of Jeet village, northeast of Qalqilya, after the
residents planted olive seedlings in their lands adjacent to the
aforementioned settlement. According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, when farmers finished planting the seedlings, around 100 settlers
attacked the farmers and chased them into the village. They smashed the
windows of a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Yousif
al-Sakhen, and the windows of a vehicle belonging to ‘Awni Nassar. They
also attacked a vehicle belonging to Nasim ‘Abdel Qader al-Sedah and
smashed its windows. They then raided a house belonging to the family
of Sami Ahmed ‘Erman, attacking his family members with sticks who as a
result escaped from the house. <br>
<br>
At approximately 14:00 on the same day, a group of settlers under
intensive protection of Israeli forces stormed the old city markets of
central Hebron. The settlers threw stones at shops and verbally abused
at the civilians. The old city in Hebron has recently witnessed
increasing violations by settlers living in the outposts of “Beit
Romamo” and “Beit Hadasa”, in front of Israeli forces and police.<br>
<br>
On 23 February, 2014, a group of settlers headed by Baroukh Marzel from
“Ramat Yishai” outpost established on the lands confiscated from Tal
al-Ramidah neighborhood, in central Hebron, stormed the old city
markets under heavy guard of Israeli forces. The settlers gathered near
the intersection of al-Sahlah Street and attempted to stop the
Palestinian workers from carrying out rehabilitation works in one of
the shops belonging to Ghassan ‘Ezz al-Deen Abu Hadid.<br>
<br>
On 25 February, 2014, Israeli forces accompanied by an officer from the
Construction and Organization Department in the Israeli Civil
Administration served Rami Shehadah ‘Asi (26) from Beit Loqaya village,
southwest of Ramallah, with a notice bearing number 160428 to halt
construction works in a 200-square-meter barrack built of bricks and
shaders and roofed with tin. The barrack is used as a popular café.<br>
<br>
On 26 February, 2014, Israeli forces leveled Palestinian lands
belonging to Mesleh Nayef Soliman al-Deek in Kafr Deek village, of the
Deir Abu Sam’aan area, west of Salfit, in order to establish a road to
the “Lishim” outpost. Civilians managed to force Israeli bulldozers to
stop temporarily working, after skirmishing with the Israeli forces.
Israeli forces have been leveling the area for four years. However, in
the evening of the aforementioned day, Israeli bulldozers leveled this
land in order to annex it to the aforementioned outpost. The owners of
the targeted lands in that area previously headed to the Israeli courts
to submit the papers proving their ownership; no decision has been
issued in this regard.<br>
<br>
<b> Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:</b><br>
<br>
Israeli forces used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations
organised by Palestinian civilians, international and Israeli human
rights defenders in protest against the construction of the annexation
wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 2
civilians, including a paramedic, were wounded during Bil'in weekly
protest. Moreover, a number of demonstrators suffered tear gas
inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by
Israeli forces.<br>
<br>
In the same context, 8 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, a
journalist and a human rights activist, were wounded during peaceful
demonstrations organized at the entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp,
north of Ramallah; Selwad village, northeast of the city; and the
centre of Hebron.<br>
<br>
Following the Friday Prayer, 21 February, 2014, dozens of Palestinian
civilians, with international and Israeli human rights defenders
organised a peaceful demonstration in Bil’in, west of Ramallah, in
protest of the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. Demonstrators took the streets raising the Palestinian
flags, heading to the liberated territories near the annexation wall.
Israeli forces had closed all the entrances of the village since the
morning, in order to prevent Palestinian and international activists
and journalists from participating in the demonstration. Demonstrators
marched adjacent to the cement wall and tried to cross the fence before
Israeli forces which are stationed behind the wall, in the western
area, and a large number of soldiers deployed along it, fired live
bullets, tear gas canisters, rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs
and skunk water at them, chasing them into the olive fields. As a
result, dozens of demonstrators suffered tear gas inhalation, and
others sustained bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers. In
addition, 2 civilians, including a paramedic, were wounded. Paramedic
Mohammed Ahmed Yassin (24) was hit by a gas canister to the belly and a
20-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the right side of the head.<br>
<br>
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian civilians organised a peaceful
demonstration in the centre of Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, in
protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement
activities. Demonstrators took the streets and headed to the annexation
wall. Israeli forces closed the gates of the wall with barbed wire and
prevented the demonstrators from crossing to the land behind it, before
they responded by throwing stones. As a result, many civilians suffered
tear gas inhalation and bruises as they were beaten by Israeli soldiers.<br>
<br>
Around the same time, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and
international human rights defenders organised a peaceful
demonstration, in protest of the construction of the annexation wall
and settlement activities in Nabi Saleh village, southwest of Ramallah.
Demonstrators took to the streets raising Palestinian flags and
chanting slogans against the occupation and in support of the
Palestinian unity resistance, and then headed to the lands that the
settlers are trying to gain by force near “Halamish” settlement.
Israeli forces closed all the entrances of the village, since morning,
to prevent Palestinian and international activists and journalists from
participating in the demonstration. When they arrived on the land,
demonstrators were met by live bullets, tear gas canisters,
rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs and skunk water and were
chased into the village. As a result, many civilians suffered tear gas
inhalation and bruises due to being beaten up by Israeli soldiers.<br>
<br>
Following the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians and international
activists organised a peaceful demonstration in the centre of Kufor
Qaddoum village, northwest of Qalqilia, and headed towards the eastern
entrance of the village, in protest at the continued closure of the
entrance with an iron gate since the beginning of the Aqsa Intifada
(2000). Clashes erupted between the demonstrators and Israeli forces
who fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters to prevent them from
reaching the aforementioned gate. As a result, dozens of demonstrators
suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were
beaten by Israeli soldiers.<br>
<br>
On Friday, 21 February, 2014, dozens of children and young men gathered
at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of
Ramallah. They were about 300 meters away from the fence of "Beit Eil"
settlement. Israeli forces stationed in the area fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a
result, 3 civilians, including a child, were wounded. In addition,
dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation. A 21-year-old male
sustained a bullet wound to the right leg, a 20-year-old male sustained
a bullet wound to the right leg and a 16-year-old was hit by a gas
canister in his right hand.<br>
<br>
On the same day, dozens of Palestinian young men gathered at the
western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah, on the road
between Selwad village and Yabrod village near Street (60) to throw
stones at the aforementioned street. As a result, Israeli soldiers
stationed in the area fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal
bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them, chasing them to
the village. A 23-year-old male sustained 2 bullet wounds to the back
of the head and right side of the pelvis as a result.<br>
<br>
At noon, dozens of Palestinian civilians, activists of the Youth Forum
against Settlement Activity and other human rights activists gathered
in front of 'Ali al-Baka' mosque, in the center of Hebron, for a
demonstration calling for the opening of Shuhada Street, which has been
closed since 1994, following the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre of 1993,
committed by Israeli settler Baruch Goldstein against Muslim
worshipers. The demonstrators headed towards the entrance of Shuhada
Street. Israeli forces fired sound bombs and tear gas canisters and
abducted 2 demonstrators. <br>
<br>
In the meantime, a group of youngsters threw stones at Israeli soldiers
in the Tale't al-Zaheda and Bab al-Zawiya areas. In response, the
Israeli soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets, live-bullets, sound
bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 4 civilians were
wounded: Mousa Mahmoud Abu Hashhash (59), researcher at B'Tselem,
sustained a bullet wound to the head; Abdul Ghani al-Natcha (34),
journalist at Palmedia agency, sustained a bullet wound to the face; a
19-year-old male sustained 2 bullet wounds to the left leg and right
hand; and a 17-year-old male sustained a bullet wound to the left leg.
Al-Shuhada' street has been closed for 5,000 Palestinians since the
Ibrahim Mosque massacre in 1994.<br>
<br>
Journalist Abul Ghani al-Natcha said to PCHR's fieldworker: "I was
standing at the entrance of Beersheba street, opposite to al-Shuhada'
street. I fixed my camera on the tripod and put on a press vest, helmet
and a muzzle. At approximately 17:30, Israeli forces started firing gas
and smoke canisters in the area and withdrew towards a checkpoint
erected at the entrance of al-Shuhada' street. When the demonstration
ended, I took off the muzzle. In the meantime, Israeli soldiers were
present about 15 meters away from me. I heard a gunshot and something
hit me in the face, near my left eye. I was pushed 2 meters backwards,
as a result, and fell to the ground. I fainted and then woke up in
Hebron hospital. The doctors stitched the wound, but still I cannot see
with my left eye."<br>
<br>
Mousa Abu Hashhash, researcher at B'Tselem, said to PCHR's fieldworker:
"I was standing near clock square. I put on a long vest with B'Tselem
logo on it and held a camera. I tried to cross the street, heading to
the other side, but I heard a gunshot. I felt something had hit me in
the left side of my head. Blood was covering my head. I was taken to
Hebron hospital, where they examined me and stitched the wound."<br>
<br>
<b>Recommendations to the international community:</b><br>
<br>
Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this
week, the PCHR has made several recommendations to the international
community. Among these were a recommendation that the international
community and the United Nations 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.<br>
In addition, the PCHR calls upon the United Nations to provide
international protection to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, and to ensure the non-recurrence of aggression against the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially the Gaza Strip.<br>
<br>
<i>For the full text of the report, click on the link below:</i> </p>
<a sl-processed="1"
href="http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10149:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-20-26-february-2014-&catid=145:in-focus"
title="http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10149:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-20-26-february-2014-&catid=145:in-focus">http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_...focus</a></div>
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