Israeli forces continue systematic attacks

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

•Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.

- 4 protestors, including 2 children, were wounded in Bil'in and Ni'lin weekly protests.

- 5 protestors, including a child, were wounded during other protests.

- 2 children were arrested during a protest around Ofer detention facility in Ramallah.

•Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas in the Gaza Strip.

- 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded, east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip.

- Israeli navy forces opened fire 4 times at Palestinian fishing boats in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.

- Fishing nets and a fishing boat sustained damage.

•Israeli forces conducted 62 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank, 5 ones in East Jerusalem and 2 others in the Gaza Strip.

- 37 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman, were arrested.

- 10 of these civilians, including 2 children, were arrested in occupied Jerusalem.

•Israel continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

- Israeli forces established a number of checkpoints in the West Bank.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (16 – 22 April 2015).

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 14 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nine of these civilians, including 3 children, were wounded during peaceful protests in the West Bank, a civilian was wounded in East Jerusalem and the 3 others, including a child, were wounded in the Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip too, Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian fishing boats and open fire at border areas along the Gaza Strip.

In the West Bank, Israeli forces continued the use of excessive and systematic force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international solidarity activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 4 protestors, including 2 children, were wounded during Bil'in and Ni'lin weekly protests, west of Ramallah.

In the same context, 5 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded during other protests in the vicinity of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah; at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of the city; and the western entrance of Selwad village, northeast of Ramallah.

In occupied Jerusalem, on 16 April 2015, a Palestinian civilian sustained a bullet wound when clashes were taking place in al-Eisawiya village.

In the Gaza Strip, as part of targeting border areas, on 17 April 2015, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence opened sporadic fire at dozens of civilians, who were present near the said fence, east of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip. On 20 April 2015 afternoon and evening, Israeli forces opened fire at al-Fokhari and Abasan villages, east of Khan Yunis, but no casualties were reported. A similar gunfire incident was reported in the east of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli navy forces opened fire 3 times at Palestinian fishing boats sailing off the shores in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. As a result, fishing nets were torn and a fishing boat was damaged.

Incursions:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 62 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 5 ones in East Jerusalem. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 37 Palestinians, including 7 children and a woman. Ten of these Palestinians, including 2 children, were arrested in Jerusalem.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted 2 limited incursions on 21 April 2015.

Restrictions on movement:

Israel continued to impose a tight 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 been 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 8 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 grave violations of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.8 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. In many occasions lately, Israeli forces arrested Palestinian patients and their companions and traders.

The full report is available online at:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10980:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-16--22-april-2015&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183

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