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<div class="header reader-header" style="display: block;"> <font
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<h1 class="reader-title">Report On Israeli Human Rights
Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (09 – 15
August 2018)</h1>
<div class="meta-data">
<div class="reader-estimated-time">August 16, 2018<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="content"><em><strong>Israeli forces continued with
systematic crimes, in the occupied Palestinian territory
(oPt), for the week of 09 – 15 August, 2018.</strong></em>
<div class="moz-reader-content line-height4" style="display:
block;">
<div id="readability-page-1" class="page">
<div id="post-90029">
<p><em>Israeli warplanes fired 60 missiles targeting many
areas in the Gaza Strip; a Pregnant woman and her baby
were killed, and 25 other civilians, including 4
children and 4 women, were wounded.</em></p>
<p><em>Israeli forces continued to use excessive force
against Palestinian protestors in the Gaza Strip. 3
Palestinian civilians, including a volunteer
paramedic, were killed, while a civilian succumbed to
his pervious wounds. 157 Palestinian civilians,
including 27 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 2
paramedics, were wounded; 11 of them sustained serious
wounds.</em></p>
<p><strong><u>Shooting:</u></strong></p>
<p>Israeli forces continued to use lethal force against
Palestinian civilians, who participated in peaceful
demonstrations organized within the activities of the
“Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” in the
Gaza Strip, which witnessed for the 20<sup>th</sup> week
in a row peaceful demonstrations along the eastern and
northern Gaza Strip border area. During the reporting
period in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces killed 5
Palestinian civilians, including a 9-month pregnant
woman, while another civilian succumbed to his previous
wounds. Moreover, the Israeli forces wounded 182
civilians, including 31 children, 6 women, 2
journalists, and 2 paramedics. Eleven of those wounded
sustained serious wounds. 157 of the wounded persons,
including 27 children, 2 women, 2 journalists, and 2
paramedics, were injured while participating in Return
and Breaking Siege March, while the rest of the wounded
persons were injured during launching airstrikes. In
the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 6 civilians,
including 2 children. All of those wounded sustained
wounds during the incursions.</p>
<p>In the Gaza Strip, Enas Suleiman Ahmed Abu Khammash
(23), a 9-month pregnant, and her child Bayan Mohammed
Kamel Abu Khammash (a year and a half) were killed after
a missile fell over thier house in Wadi al- Salqa
village in the center of the Gaza Strip. Enas’s husband
Mohamed Abu Khammash, who sustained shrapnel wounds
throughout his body, rented the house.</p>
<p>On 10 August 2018, Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian
civilians, including a paramedic, after opening fire at
thousands of Palestinian civilians participated in
Return and Breaking Siege March, east of al-Shawkah
village, east of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Two of
the above-mentioned civilians were killed on the same
day while the 3<sup>rd</sup> one succumbed to wounds he
sustained at next day dawn.</p>
<p>In the same context, medical sources announced the
death of Wesam Yusuf Abdullah Hejazi (30), from Khan
Younis, while he was at an ambulance in the Egyptian
side of Rafah crossing. Wesam succumbed to wounds he
sustained during his participation in the Return
demonstration, east of the city. Wesam was wounded on 14
May 2018, after being hit with a live bullet to the
head by the Israeli forces while targeting thousands of
participants, who were near the border fence with
Israel, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah village.</p>
<p>During the reporting period, while using the excessive
force against the peaceful protesters along the Gaza
Strip borders, the Israeli forces wounded 157
Palestinian civilians, including 27 children, 2 women, 2
journalists, and 4 paramedics. Eleven of those wounded
sustained serious wounds.</p>
<p><strong>Injuries in the Gaza Strip during this Week</strong></p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"><strong>Governorate</strong></td>
<td colspan="6">Injuries</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total</td>
<td>Children</td>
<td>Women</td>
<td>Journalists</td>
<td>Paramedics</td>
<td>Critical Injuries</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Northern Gaza Strip</strong></td>
<td>35</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Gaza City</strong></td>
<td>50</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Central Gaza Strip</strong></td>
<td>13</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Khan Younis</strong></td>
<td>36</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Rafah</strong></td>
<td>23</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total</strong></td>
<td>157</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>11</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>As part of targeting the border areas</strong>,
on 10 August 2018, Israeli forces stationed along the
border fence between Israel and the Gaza strip fired an
artillery shell at a residential house, southeast of
al-Buraij, in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, the
house was partially damaged, but no casualties were
reported.</p>
<p>On 15 August 2018, Israeli soldiers stationed behind
the border fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east
of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, opened fire
at Palestinian farmers while they were working in their
lands. As a result, the farmers were forced to leave
their lands fearing for their lives, but no casualties
were reported.</p>
<p><strong>As part of</strong> <strong>the airstrikes,</strong> on
04 August 2018, Israeli warplanes launched dozens of
airstrikes at military sites belonging to the
Palestinian resistance groups, civilian targets and open
lands, in which 60 missiles were fired. As a result, 25
Palestinian civilians, including 4 children and 4 women,
sustained shrapnel wounds, in addition to the injury of
dozens of civilians due to scattering the glasses. The
Israeli bombing resulted in the destruction of the Sa’ed
al-Mishal Cultural Centre located on ‘Aydiyia Street in
Southern al-Rimal neighborhood, west of Gaza City. The
400-sqaure-meter building was comprised of 5 floors,
which includes the Egyptian community’s office. The
Israeli warplanes directly launched 3 airstrikes at the
abovementioned building, causing material damage to
nearby houses and shops.</p>
<p>As part of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza
Sea, the Israeli forces continued to escalate their
attacks against the Palestinian fishermen, pointing out
to the ongoing Israeli policy of targeting their
livelihoods. During the reporting period, PCHR
documented 5 shooting incidents at the fishermen,
including 4 in the northern Gaza Strip and 1 in the
centre of the Gaza Strip. During these attacks, Israeli
naval forces arrested 5 fishermen from the same family.</p>
<p>In the West Bank, Israeli forces wounded 6 civilians,
including 2 children. All of them were wounded during
the incursions.</p>
<p><strong><u>Incursions:</u></strong></p>
<p>During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted
at least 73 military incursions into Palestinian
communities in the West Bank and 4 similar ones into
Jerusalem and its suburbs. During those incursions,
Israeli forces arrested at least 53 Palestinians,
including 3 children and 2 women, in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, 18 other civilians, including 10 women, were
arrested in Jerusalem and its suburbs. Among those
arrested were a journalist ‘Ali Dar ‘Ali (35), who works
as a reporter at Palestine Channel. ‘Ali was arrested
from his house in Barham village, northwest of Ramallah.</p>
<p><strong><u>Israeli Forces Continued their Measures to
Create a Jewish Majority in occupied East Jerusalem</u></strong></p>
<p>As part of demolishing houses and civilian facilities,
on 15 August 2018, the Israeli Municipality demolished a
residential building comprised of 2 under-construction
apartments belonging to Nader Nsaer Abu Riyalah in
al-‘Issawiyia village, northeast of occupied East
Jerusalem, under the pretext of non-licensing. The
Israeli Municipality fixed a demolition order to the
building 2 weeks ago, so his lawyer headed to the
municipality to freeze the order and license the
building. The Israeli bulldozers suddenly demolished the
building.</p>
<p>As part of confiscating lands in favor of settlement
projects, Israeli Municipality staff moved into Silwan
village, south of Occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City.
They fixed notices to confiscate dozens of dunums in
Wadi al-Rababah and al-‘Abbassya neighborhoods and
attached numbered maps with them showing the parts that
are meant to be confiscated under the pretext of
“gardening free lands”. Wadi Hilweh information center
in Silwan issued a statement refuting the Israeli
Municipality’s claims. The statement said that the
notices, which were fixed by the Israeli Municipality
staff, threaten dozens of dunums of Silwan village in
Wadi Rababahb, Wadi Hilweh, Be’r Ayoub and al-Nabi
Dawood neighborhoods. All the lands belong to the
inhabitants of Silwan, who have all documents and
ownership papers, and some other lands belong to the
Greek Orthodox Church. Wadi Hilweh information center
refuted the Israeli Municipality’s claim that those
plots of lands are empty.</p>
<p><strong>As part of Settlement activities and attacks by
settlers against Palestinian civilians and property</strong></p>
<p>As part of demolishing crimes, on 09 August 2018,
Israeli forces demolished a shop belonging to ‘Ali
al-Shaiekh Khalil (45) in Marj Na’jah village, north of
Jericho. ‘Ali said that he was shocked by the Israeli
forces raiding his shop and then demolishing it without
allowing him to vacate its contents. It should be noted
that the shop was built on an area of 40 square meters
and used for selling foodstuffs.</p>
<p>On the same day, engineers and surveyors belonging to
the Israeli authorities started to place signs and
markers for a number of places in Khelet al-Daliya in
the center of Nahaleen village, west of Bethlehem, in
order to link the area with the settlement street No.
(60). This street is wrapped around ‘Arqoub 4 villages
to reach “Betar Illit” settlemen, which is established
on Khelet al-Daliya lands. The four villages that have
border links with each other are part of the so-called
Arqoub villages, with a total population of 20,000.</p>
<p>On 14 August 2018, Israeli forces demolished an
under-construction-house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ali
al-Dabwani (35) in Dir Dabwan village, east of Ramallah.
The house was completely demolished without any warning
under the pretext of non-licensing.The 2-story-house was
built on an area of 250 square meters 5 months ago and
was overlooking at “Migron” settlement, which was
established on the lands of Barqa village, adjacent to
Deir Dabwan village.</p>
<p><strong><u>Use of Force against Demonstrations in
Protest against the U.S. President’s Decision to
Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel:</u></strong></p>
<p>Israeli forces continued its excessive use of lethal
force for the 20<sup>th</sup> consecutive Friday against
peaceful demonstration organized by Palestinian
civilians in in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The
demonstrations were named as “The Great March of Return
and Breaking Siege.” The demonstrations were also in
protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump’s
declaration to move the U.S. Embassy to it. The
demonstrations were as follows during the reporting
period:</p>
<p><strong><u>Gaza Strip:</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 16:00 on Friday 10 August 2018,
thousands of civilians swarmed to the Return
encampment established by the Supreme National
Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking
Siege, east of al-Shawkah village, east of Rafah in
the southern Gaza Strip. A number of young men
approached the border fence between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, flew kites, set fire to tires, and threw
stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border
fence. The Israeli soldiers fired live bullets at
them. Two tanks stationed adjacent to the
demonstrators’ gatherings and heavily opened fire and
fired tear gas canisters at them every now and then at
the demonstrators and around them. the clashes
continued until approximately 20:00. As a result,
Abdullah Sabri ‘Atiyah al-Qutati (22), a volunteer
paramedic at the Pulse of Life Youth Team, was
killed. At approximately 18:00, al-Qutati was hit with
a live bullet that entered the back and exited the
chest. Al-Qutati was on duty along with his
colleagues, who were present among the demonstrators,
to rescue the wounded civilians. It should be noted
that the paramedics, who were wearing the distinctive
uniforms that emphasizes the nature of their work,
work with a distance of 30 meters away from the border
fence. Al-Qutati immediately died after his arrival at
Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis, at
approximately 19:00 on the same day. Paramedic Ra’ed
al-Sharif said to PCHR’s fieldworker that he was
standing next to Abdullah al-Qutati on a distance of
15 meters away from the barbed wire, which is about
50-100 meters into the west of the main border fence.
Moreover, ‘Ali Sa’ed ‘Ali al-‘Aloul (55) was killed
after being hit with a live bullet that penetrated his
chest at approximately 17:50. Al-‘Aloul died after an
hour and half of his arrival at Gaza European
Hospital. The clashes further resulted in the injury
of 23 civilians, including 9 children and 2
journalists with live bullets and its shrapnel. The
wounded journalists were identified as:</li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>Mahmoud Bassam Ahmed al-Jamal (24), a freelance
journalist, was hit with a live bullet shrapnel to the
left ear</li>
<li>‘Ala’a Abdul Fattah Ibrahim al-Namlah (35), a
reporter at al-Quds Network, was hit with a live
bullet to the right leg.</li>
</ol>
<p>The wounded civilians were taken to the medical point
in the Return demonstrations and then transferred Abu
Yusuf al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah and Gaza European
Hospital in Khan Younis. Doctors classified 3 civilians’
injuries as serious. In addition, dozens of civilians
suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures after tear gas
canisters were heavily fired by the soldiers stationed
along the border fence and by drones hovering over the
protesters. An ambulance also was hit with a live bullet
to the left door, which led to breaking its window. At
approximately 03:30 on Saturday, 11 August 2018, medical
sources at Gaza European Hospital in khan Younis
announced the death of Ahmed Jamal Suleiman Abu Louli
(31) succumbing to his wounds after being hit with 3
live bullets to the pelvis. Ahmed underwent a surgery
that continued for 5 hours as he received 30 blood
units. Ahmed then stayed at the ICU until his death was
announced.</p>
<ul>
<li>Around the same time, hundreds of civilians swarmed
to the Return encampments established by the Supreme
National Authority for the Great March of Return and
Breaking Siege, east of Malakah intersection, east of
al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of Gaza City in the 20<sup>th</sup> consecutive
Friday titled “Freedom and Live.” The activities
included raising flags, chanting national slogans,
setting fire to tires and flying kites. Though the
demonstrations were fully peaceful, Israeli forces
stationed behind the border fence between the Gaza
Strip and Israel deliberately and randomly fired live
and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As
a result, 48 civilians, including 2 children, were
wounded. Thirty eight of them were hit with live
bullets and its shrapnel, 10 were hit with tear gas
canisters.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Around the same time, hundreds of civilians swarmed
to the Return encampments established by the Supreme
National Authority for the Great March of Return and
Breaking Siege, 400 meters away from the border fence
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of al-Buraij
in the central Gaza Strip. Dozens of them approached
the border fence, set fire to tires and threw stones
at Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand barriers
along the border fence. The Israeli forces fired live
bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants.
The clashes continued until approximately 20:30 on the
same day. As a result,13 civilians, including 2
children, were wounded. Eleven of them were hit with
live bullets and 2 were hit with tear gas canisters.
The wounded civilians were taken via ambulances
belonging to Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to
al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Doctors classified
their injuries between minor and moderate.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Around the same time, thousands of civilians swarmed
to the Return encampment, east of Khuza’ah village,
east of Khan Younis, to participate in the
demonstrations established by the Supreme National
Authority for “the Great March of Return and Breaking
Siege”. They chanted national slogans and flew kites
and balloons as hundreds of them, including women and
children, approached the border fence between the Gaza
Strip and Israel and set fire. A number of them
attempted to throw stones at Israeli forces. The
Israeli tanks stationed adjacent to the demonstrators’
gathering and heavily opened fire every now and then
at the participants in order to disperse them. The
Israeli snipers further deliberately and selectively
targeted the participants in the back rows, who were
about 200 meters away from the border fence The
shooting continued until 20:00 on the evening. They
also fired tear gas canisters at them. he clashes
continued until approximately 20:00 on the same day.
As a result, 36 civilians, including 4 children and 3
paramedics, were wounded. Twenty three of them were
hit with live bullets and 7 others were hit with tear
gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred
to Gaza European and Algerian Hospitals in Khan
Younis. Doctors classified 3 civilians’ injuries as
serious.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 16:30, hundreds of Palestinian
swarmed to the Return encampments established by the
Supreme National Authority for the Great March of
Return, east of Abu Safiyah Hill, northeast of Jabalia
in the northern Gaza Strip. The protestors raised
Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans and set
fire to tires. Dozens of them approached the border
fence between the Gaza Strip and Israel and threw
stones at Israeli soldiers stationed behind the border
fence. The Israeli forces deliberately and randomly
fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters
at them. The clashes continued until approximately
20:30 on the same day. As a result, 33 civilians,
including 9 children, 2 women, and a paramedic, were
wounded. Twenty nine of them were hit with live
bullets and its shrapnel and 4 were hit with tear gas
canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via
ambulances belonging to PRCS, Medical Services, and
the Ministry of Health to the Indonesian and al-‘Awda
Hospitals. Doctors classified 4 civilians’ injuries as
serious. The wounded paramedic identified as Khalid
Hasan Ibrahim Ayoub (56), a paramedic at the Civil
Defense from Beit Lahia, was hit with a tear gas
canister to the back.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 11 August 2018,
Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Malakah
intersection, east of al-Zaytoun neighborhood, east of
Gaza City, opened fire at a group of civilians
participating in the March of Return and Breaking
Siege activities. As a result, 2 civilians were hit
with live bullets to the lower limbs.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 16:25 on Sunday, 12 August 2018,
Israeli forces stationed behind the border fence
between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Abu Safiyah
Hill, northeast of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip,
opened fire at a number of civilians participating in
the March of Return and Breaking Siege activities. As
a result, 2 civilians, including a child, were
wounded.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><u>Civilian Succumbed to his Wounds:</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 22:30 on Sunday, 12 August 2018,
medical sources announced the death of Wesam Yusuf
Abdullah Hejazi (30), from Khan Younis, while he was
in an ambulance in the Egyptian side of Rafah
crossing. Wesam succumbed to wounds he sustained
during his participation in the Return demonstration,
east of the city. According to PCHR’s fieldworker,
Wesam died at an ambulance in the Egyptian side of
Rafah crossing. Wesam returned to the Gaza Strip after
a failed attempt to send him to Turkey for medical
treatment. Wesam’s family said to PCHR’s fieldworker
that Wesam, who is married and has a child, was
wounded on 14 May 2018, after being hit with a live
bullet to the head by the Israeli forces while
targeting thousands of participants, who were near the
border fence with Israel, east of ‘Abasan al-Kabirah
village. During the demonstrations that were organized
on 14 May 2018, tents were established for one day.
Israeli forces used excessive lethal force killing 16
civilians and causing injuries to dozens of civilians.
Many civilians sustained serious injuries, including
Hejazi, who was hit with a live bullet to the head.
Doctors classified his injury as serious and he
entered into a comma in the ICU section at Gaza
European Hospital. Wesam also underwent several
surgeries, during which he stayed unconscious. The
family mentioned that on 01 August 2018, Wesam
obtained a medical referral to travel to Nasser
Institute For Research and Treatment in Egypt, so that
he would then be transferred to Turkey due to prior
coordination. However, hospitals in Egypt refused to
receive Wesam for his serious health condition. The
family was then forced to admit him to Al-Sefarat
Hospital in Cairo, which is a special hospital, until
the travel procedures complete in Turkey. However,
Wesam could not travel due to the refusal of the
Egyptian Airline to transfer him. Therefore, the
family was forced to bring Wesam Back to the Gaza
Strip. He arrived at approximately 17:00 on Saturday,
at the Egyptian Hall and stayed there until
approximately 22:30 on the same day and his death was
announced inside the crossing.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><u>West Bank:</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 13:40 on Friday, 10 August 2018, a
group of Palestinian civilians moved from Kufor
Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, to the
eastern entrance to the village, which has been closed
for 15 years in favor of the entrance to <em>“Kedumim”</em> The
protestors chanted national slogans demanding to end
the occupation, condemning the decisions to demolish
Khan al-Ahmer Bedouin Community and deporting the
inhabitants, and condemning the Israeli forces’ crimes
against Palestinian protestors along the eastern
border of the Gaza Strip within “The Great March of
Return and Breaking the Siege” activities. Several
representatives of national factions in the northern
West bank and a number of foreign and Israeli
activists participated in the demonstration. The
Israeli forces dispersed the demonstrators by firing
live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas
canisters at them. As a result, a 50-year-old civilian
was hit with a rubber bullet to the chest. The Israeli
forces also detained a PRCS ambulance in addition to
other vehicles near the demonstration area. The
soldiers used these vehicles as shields to hide behind
them. they also prevented journalist Ja’far Ishtiyah
from recording the incidents.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><u>House Demolitions and Notices:</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>On Wednesday, 15 August 2018, the Israeli
Municipality demolished a residential building
comprised of 2 under-construction apartments belonging
to Nader Nsaer Abu Riyalah in al-‘Issawiyia village,
northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, under the
pretext of non-licensing. Mohamed Abu al-Humus, Member
of the Follow-up Committee in al- ‘Issawiyia village,
said that Israeli forces accompanied with bulldozers
and Israeli Municipality staff moved into al-
‘Issawiyia village and completely surrounded the
schools’ street. After that, the Israeli forces
demolished the building, which was comprised of 2
apartments and belongs to Nader Abu Riyalah and his
mother. He added that the building was built a year
ago and it was sheltering his family, which includes
many persons with disabilities. He pointed out that
the Israeli Municipality fixed a demolition order to
the building 2 weeks ago, so his lawyer headed to the
municipality to freeze the order and license the
building. The Israeli bulldozers suddenly demolished
the building.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><u>Confiscating Lands in Favor of Settlement
Projects</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>On Saturday morning, 11 August 2018, Israeli
Municipality staff moved into Silwan village, south of
Occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They fixed notices
to confiscate dozens of dunums in Wadi al-Rababah and
al-‘Abbassya neighborhoods and attached numbered maps
with them showing the parts that are meant to be
confiscated under the pretext of “gardening free
lands”. The notices that were fixed included: “the
Israeli Municipality chief wants to use his powers
according to paragraph (2) of the law of local
authorities (temporary use of an empty plot of land)
in 1987. The Israeli Municipality claimed that the
gardening activities include ” planting trees,
installing a network and irrigation channel, making
geotechnical strips, developing landscapes, arranging
roads for walking, and Installing seating areas.”</li>
</ul>
<p>Wadi Hilweh information center in Silwan issued a
statement refuting the Israeli Municipality’s claims.
The statement said that the notices, which were fixed by
the Israeli Municipality staff, threaten dozens of
dunums of Silwan village in Wadi Rababahb, Wadi Hilweh,
Be’r Ayoub and al-Nabi Dawood neighborhoods. All the
lands belong to the inhabitants of Silwan, who have all
documents and ownership papers, and some other lands
belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. Wadi Hilweh
information center refuted the Israeli Municipality’s
claim that those plots of lands are empty and explained
that all the lands are planted with olive trees, fig and
berries for decades. The statement pointed out that the
Israeli authorities have prevented the residents from
planting new trees for years, in addition to arresting
and threatening them by the “Nature Authority” when they
work to improve the infrastructure in their lands.
Israeli bulldozers also level lands and demolish the
facilities established on the lands, especially in the
areas of Wadi al-Rababah, where the authorities consider
them as “public parks”.</p>
<p>Wadi Hilweh information center added in its statement
that the Israeli Municipality claims that the
confiscation order for gardening purposes will be
temporary, for 5 years. The center explained that the
Israeli authorities, whether the Municipality, or the
Nature Authority, or the Antiquities Authority, seize
the lands of Silwan village in various ways, especially
that the lands included in the notices are considered as
the most targeted lands in the village in favor
settlement projects. Excavation works were conducted on
Silwan village’s lands in order to establish a
pedestrian bridge, which will link al-Thawri
neighborhood and al-Nabi Dawood area, passing through
Wadi al-Rababah Valley. In addition, construction works
were conducted in the area to build a restaurant and
paths for settlers and tourists, in addition to
excavating and placing بavasts , in addition to
exavacaists , in addition to exavacating and placing
phantom graves fake graves. Moreover, the owner families
of the lands, threatened by confiscation, emphasized
that they deserve more than the Israeli authorities to
plant and lay chains and irrigation channels in their
lands but the Israeli authorities prevent and chase them
if they do any work in their lands, even if they clean
them.</p>
<p><strong><u>Settlement activities and attacks by
settlers against Palestinian civilians and property</u></strong></p>
<p><strong><u> Israeli forces’ attacks</u></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 9 August 2018,
Israeli forces accompanied with a force of the Israeli
Civil Administration and a military bulldozer moved
into Marj Na’ja village, north of Jericho. They
surrounded a commercial shop for selling foodstuffs
belonging to ‘Ali al-Shiekh Khalil (45) and demolished
it under the pretext of non-licensing. ‘Ali said to
PCHR’s fieldworker that the Israeli forces moved into
the village, closed the main entrance to the village,
imposed a siege on the area, and demolished his shop
without a prior warning. He added that he was shocked
by the Israeli forces raiding his shop and then
demolishing it without allowing him to vacate its
contents. It should be noted that the shop was built
on an area of 40 square meters and used for selling</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On Thursday morning, 9 August 2018, engineers and
surveyors belonging to the Israeli authorities started
to place signs and markers for a number of places in
Khelet al-Daliya in the center of Nahaleen village,
west of Bethlehem, in order to link the area with the
settlement street No. (60). This street is wrapped
around ‘Arqoub 4 villages to reach “Betar Illit”
settlemen, which is established on Khelet al-Daliya
lands. Hassan Braija, Representative of the Wall and
Settlement Committee, said that Israeli forces are
seeking to turn Bateer, Wadi Fukin, Nahaleen and
Housan villages, south of Bethlehem, into dwellings
under the Israeli control, isolated from Bethlehem.
The four villages that have border links with each
other are part of the so-called Arqoub villages, with
a total population of 20,000. It was mentioned above
that the Israeli forces placed signs and markers in
Khelet al-Daliya area in the center of Nahaleen
village, in order to link the area with the settlement
street No. (60), which is wrapped around ‘Arqoub’s 4
villages, to reach “Betar Illit” settlement. After
that, they will work to expand it to reach the road
between Nahalin and Housan, opening and closing it for
Israeli settlers only. In addition to that, expanding
this street to include the street that connects Bateer
and al-Khader villages together, after confiscating
large areas of the lands.</li>
</ul>
<p>Braija pointed out that there are at least 3 plans
announced by the Israeli forces and they started
implementing them at a cost of NIS 185 million. One of
those plans is to excavate a tunnel from Jerusalem
borders to reach “Beitar Illit” and “Eli Azar”
settlements and to make Beir ‘Ouna site a part of Beit
Jala city in the center of the road mentioned above.
Moreover, they are working to build a railway parallel
to that road to make the settlements established in the
west of Bethlehem, one of its targets and to be linked
with the railway between Haifa and Tal Aviv. In
addition, they are working to double the number of
Israeli settlers in the settlement of “Beitar Illit”
from 60,000 to 120,000 in the next five years.</p>
<ul>
<li>At approximately 17:00, on Tuesday 14 August 2018,
an Israeli force backed by a military vehicle and a
bulldozer and accompanied with a vehicle of the
Israeli Civil Administration moved into Deir Dabwan
village, east of Ramallah. They surrounded an
under-construction-house belonging to Mohammed ‘Ali
al-Dabwani (35) and completely demolished it without
any warning under the pretext of non-licensing.</li>
</ul>
<p>Mohammed al-Dabwani said to PCHR’s field worker that
the Israeli forces moved into the village on Monday
evening and stationed in the center of the village. They
surrounded his house from all directions and completely
demolished it under the pretext of non-licensing. He
added that he was surprised with a phone call from his
neighbor informing him about demolishing his house.
After that, he arrived to the area in which his house
was built. The Israeli forces did not allow him to
approach the house until they completely demolished it.
He also said that he hasn’t received any construction
violation before. The 2-story-house was built on an area
of 250 square meters 5 months ago and was overlooking at
“Migron” settlement, which was established on the lands
of Barqa village, adjacent to Deir Dabwan village.</p>
<p><strong>Recommendations to the International Community</strong></p>
<p>PCHR warns of the escalating settlement construction in
the West Bank, the attempts to legitimize settlement
outposts established on Palestinian lands in the West
Bank and the continued summary executions of Palestinian
civilians under the pretext that they pose a security
threat to the Israeli forces. PCHR reminds the
international community that thousands of Palestinian
civilians have been rendered homeless and lived in
caravans under tragic circumstances due to the latest
Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip that has been under
a tight closure for almost 11 years. PCHR welcomes the
UN Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334, which states
that settlements are a blatant violation of the Geneva
Conventions and calls upon Israel to stop them and not
to recognize any demographic change in the oPt since
1967. PCHR hopes this resolution will pave the way for
eliminating the settlement crime and bring to justice
those responsible for it. PCHR further reiterates that
the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East
Jerusalem, are still under Israeli occupation in spite
of Israel’s unilateral disengagement plan of 2005. PCHR
emphasizes that there is international recognition of
Israel’s obligation to respect international human
rights instruments and international humanitarian law.
Israel is bound to apply international human rights law
and the law of war, sometimes reciprocally and other
times in parallel, in a way that achieves the best
protection for civilians and remedy for the victims.</p>
<ol>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community to
respect the Security Council’s Resolution No. 2334 and
to ensure that Israel respects it as well, in
particular point 5 which obliges Israel not to deal
with settlements as if they were part of Israel.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the ICC this year to open an
investigation into Israeli crimes committed in the
oPt, particularly the settlement crimes and the 2014
offensive on the Gaza Strip.</li>
<li>PCHR Calls upon the European Union (EU) and all
international bodies to boycott settlements and ban
working and investing in them in application of their
obligations according to international human rights
law and international humanitarian law considering
settlements as a war crime.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community to use
all available means to allow the Palestinian people to
enjoy their right to self-determination through the
establishment of the Palestinian State, which was
recognized by the UN General Assembly with a vast
majority, using all international legal mechanisms,
including sanctions to end the occupation of the State
of Palestine.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community and
United Nations to take all necessary measures to stop
Israeli policies aimed at creating a Jewish
demographic majority in Jerusalem and at voiding
Palestine from its original inhabitants through
deportations and house demolitions as a collective
punishment, which violates international humanitarian
law, amounting to a crime against humanity.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community to
condemn summary executions carried out by Israeli
forces against Palestinians and to pressurize Israel
to stop them.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the States Parties to the Rome
Statute of the ICC to work hard to hold Israeli war
criminals accountable.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the
Geneva Conventions to fulfill their obligations under
article (1) of the Convention to ensure respect for
the Conventions under all circumstances, and under
articles (146) and (147) to search for and prosecute
those responsible for committing grave breaches of the
Geneva Conventions to ensure justice and remedy for
Palestinian victims, especially in light of the almost
complete denial of justice for them before the Israeli
judiciary.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community to speed
up the reconstruction process necessary because of the
destruction inflicted by the Israeli offensive on
Gaza.</li>
<li>PCHR calls for a prompt intervention to compel the
Israeli authorities to lift the closure that obstructs
the freedom of movement of goods and 1.8 million
civilians that experience unprecedented economic,
social, political and cultural hardships due to
collective punishment policies and retaliatory action
against civilians.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the European Union to apply human
rights standards embedded in the EU-Israel Association
Agreement and to respect its obligations under the
European Convention on Human Rights when dealing with
Israel.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the international community,
especially states that import Israeli weapons and
military services, to meet their moral and legal
responsibility not to allow Israel to use the
offensive in Gaza to test new weapons and not accept
training services based on the field experience in
Gaza in order to avoid turning Palestinian civilians
in Gaza into testing objects for Israeli weapons and
military tactics.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the parties to international human
rights instruments, especially the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to pressurize Israel to
comply with its provisions in the oPt and to compel it
to incorporate the human rights situation in the oPt
in its reports submitted to the relevant committees.</li>
<li>PCHR calls upon the EU and international human
rights bodies to pressurize the Israeli forces to stop
their attacks against Palestinian fishermen and
farmers, mainly in the border area.</li>
</ol>
<p><em><a href="https://pchrgaza.org/en/?p=11248"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fully detailed
document available at the official website for the
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR).</a></em></p>
<p><em><strong><br>
</strong></em></p>
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