zionists’ violations of international & humanitarian law (05 – 11 December 2013)

Shooting: During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah, and wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued opening fire at border areas, but no casualties were reported

In the West Bank, in excessive use of lethal force, on 07 December 2013, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian child in al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. Israeli soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who gathered and threw stones at them near “Beit Eil” settlement.

On 06 December 2013, Israeli forces wounded a 17-year-old civilian by a bullet that entered his right shoulder and exited the right side when Israeli forces moved into Bab al-Zawiya area, in the centre of Hebron.

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, 3 civilians and an international journalist were wounded. Two of whom were wounded during a protest in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia, and the third one was wounded during a protest in al-Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, while the international journalist was wounded during a protest in Bil’in village, west of Ramallah.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at agricultural lands 4 times on 06, 08, 09 and 10 December 2013. No casualties were reported.

Incursions: During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 56 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 27 Palestinians.

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 8 civilians, including 3 children, 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 10 December 2013, Israeli forces demolished a house made of wood and plastic and 3 livestock barns in Samadi area, southeast of al-Jiftlek village, north of Jericho.

On the same day, Israeli forces accompanied by an officer from the Civil Administration and backed with 2 bulldozers demolished houses and livestock barns in Yerza, Ein al-Helwa and al-Faresiya area, in the Jordan Valley.