zionist israeli violations of international & humanitarian law (19 – 25 December 2013)

Shooting: During the reporting period, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians, including a 3-year-old child, and wounded 12 others, including 3 children and a mother of 2 of them, in several aerial and land attacks in the Gaza Strip and other shooting incidents along the border fence. In the West bank, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) in Qalqilia amd wounded 8 civilians, including a child in Bil’in weekly protest, west of Ramallah. Moreover, a child was wounded in an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 December 2013, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while they were near the border fence, north of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces used excessive force as the crime was committed in the daylight and it was clear they were civilians collecting plastics and metals near the border fence.

On 24 December 2013, after an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper on the borders of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched several aerial and land attacks on civilian objects and on training sites of Palestinian armed groups. As a result, a child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded

On 20 December 2013, 2 civilians, including a child and a coal-supplier, were wounded when a group of civilians headed to the east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, and threw stones at Israeli soldiers positioned along the border fence. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the stone throwers, wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline.

On the same day, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands to the west of the border fence.

On 21 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands and streets to the south of the border fence

On 23 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by 3 bullets when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in Beit Lahia opened fire at him when he was at Beit Lahia beach.

On 24 December 2013, a worker was wounded by 2 bullets to the right hand and thigh when Israeli forces stationed on the northern borders of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting metals in al-Ghoul area, northwest of Beit Lahia, about 200 meters away from the fence.

In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 20 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire sporadically at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles offshore. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

In the West Bank, on 19 December 2013, Israeli forces killed a member of the GIS in the centre of Qalqilia, claiming that he was wanted and he opened fire at Israeli soldiers.

On 25 December 2013, a child was wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm and responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at stone throwers.

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, 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Bil’in weekly protest. In addition many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers in that protest and other protests in the West Bank.

Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 58 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 37 Palestinians, including a child.

Israeli forces maltreated the family of Ramzi Ahmed Abdullah Mohammed (26), from Qalandia refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. They blew up the main door of the house and released a sniffer dog inside.

On 24 December 2013, Israeli forces distributed leaflets threatening residents of al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, as the leaflets had portraits of fathers whose sons “were involved in violence acts against Israeli citizens.”

In the Gaza Strip, on 21 December 2013, Israeli forces conducted an incursion in the northern Gaza Strip. They tried to surround a number of Palestinian fishermen, who were throwing their nets in the sea, but those fishermen escaped fearing of being wounded or arrested.

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 5 civilians in the West Bank.