Terrorist Israeli violations of international & humanitarian law (27 June – 03 July 2013)

Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a 19-year-old Palestinian and wounded 8 others; 5 civilians were wounded during Israeli incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, including the nephew of the victim, while 3 other civilians were wounded in peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities.

In the West Bank, on 02 July 2013, Israeli forces killed 19-year-old Moutaz Edris Abdel-Fatah Sharawna after being hit by a sound bomb then being stepped on by Israeli soldiers. His nephew, Bahaa (22) sustained a bullet wound while trying to rescue his uncle in Doura, southwest of Hebron. This took place when Israeli soldiers, who had moved into the town, fired live ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at a group of youngsters.

On 28 June 2013, 4 Palestinian civilians sustained bullet and shrapnel wounds after Israeli forces engaged in clashes with Palestinians during an incursion into Qalandia refugee camp.

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 Bank. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded: a 23-year-old male was hit in the right thigh by a tear gas canister; a 35-year-old male sustained a bullet wound in the back; and a 24-year-old male sustained a bullet to the shoulder. Also, dozens of civilians suffered due to tear gas inhalation and others sustained wounds.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to pursue fishermen at sea. On 03 June 2013, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Soudanya area, northwest of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats that were around 6 nautical miles offshore. The shooting was focused on a fishing boat boarding 7 Palestinian fishers causing fear among them. As a result, while Sharif Hussein Khalil ‘Arafat(29), son-in-law of the owner of the boat, from al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, was trying to hide from the shooting, his right leg stuck in the fishing spinner and wrapped around it causing the leg to bleed.

Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 65 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 64 Palestinians, including 6 children and a Jerusalemite PLC member from the Change and Reform bloc representing Hamas, Mohammed Mahmoud Hassan Abu-Tair (60), who was formerly expelled to Ramallah.

Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions into the Gaza Strip. The first incursion was conducted on 02 July 2013 in the east of al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Younis. They started digging and levelling the area along the border fence with Israel before redeploying behind the boarder. The second incursion was conducted on 03 July 2013 in the border fence area in the east of Deir al-Balah, during which they levelled area of land that were formerly bulldozed.

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 illegal closure has not only caused a humanitarian crisis, but also a human rights crisis and the erosion of human dignity for the people of the Gaza Strip. Recently-declared measures to ease the closure are vague, purely cosmetic, and fail to deal with the root causes of the crisis. The root causes can only be addressed by an immediate and complete lifting of the closure, including lifting the travel ban into and out of the Gaza Strip and the ban on exports. Palestinians in Gaza may no longer suffer from the same shortage of goods but, as long as the closure is allowed to continue, they will remain economically dependent on Israel, unable to care for themselves, and socially, culturally, and academically isolated from the rest of the world.

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.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces completely closed the commercial border crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel. They closed Karm Abu Salem crossing for 4 consecutive days because of Jewish holidays. This closure negatively affected the entry of goods, construction materials and medical consignments in the Gaza Strip. It also has a detrimental impact on the living conditions of Palestinian civilians. As a result, thousands of Palestinian workers were denied access to their work in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem. Moreover, Palestinian traders were denied access to Israel and/or travel via the border crossings between the Gaza Strip and 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.

Violations committed by Israeli forces: On Thursday, 27 June 2013, Israeli forces moved into Susya village, in the southeast of Yatta, south of Hebron, and distributed 34 notices to halt construction work in various establishment, and 1 demolition notice that held number (392286). The notices ordering to halt construction work were given to tents, barns, water wells and solar panels.

Violations committed by settlers: On Thursday, 27 June 2013, a group of settlers from “Ramat Yishai” settlement outpost, which is established on Palestinians’ lands in Tal al-Remida neighborhood, in the center of Hebron, destroyed the metal fence surrounding the playground of Cordoba Primary School, which is located between Tal al-Remida neighborhood and Martyrs street.

On Sunday, 30 June 2013, a settler attacked ‘Omar Mokhtar Hussain Abdel-Qader (23), a Palestinian civilian from Kuffor Laqef village, east of Qalqilya, while he was driving on the main Nablus-Qalqilya road. The settler stopped his car and held him near the entrance of Azzoun village at gunpoint.