Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against civilians

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.

- Four protestors, including a child, were wounded in protests in Kufor Qaddoum, al-Jalazoun refugee camp, Selwad village and around Ofer detention facility.

•Israeli forces continued to open fire at border areas in the Gaza Strip and chase fishermen in the sea.

- Several shooting incidents in the east of Rafah and Jabalia in the south and north of the Gaza Strip respectively.

- Several shooting incidents at fishermen off the northern and southern shores of the Gaza Strip.

- Six civilians, including five children, were arrested by Israeli forces at the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, Rafah and Johr al-Deek.

•Israeli forces conducted 61 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 10 others in East Jerusalem.

- 65 Palestinian civilians, including five children, were arrested.

- 18 of these civilians, including six 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.

- A Palestinian civilian was arrested at the Container checkpoint, north of Bethlehem.

•Israeli forces continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

- Stone barriers, a greenhouse and 20 dunums[1], west of Hebron, were demolished.

Summary

Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (29 April – 06 May 2015).

Shooting:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 5 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank and Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen and open fire at farmers 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, four protestors, including a child, were wounded.

In Jerusalem, on 04 May 2015, a 35-year-old Palestinian was wounded when the light rail guards opened fire at him in the French Hill area, north of the old city in East Jerusalem. He was taken to Hadasa Hospital in Israel to receive medical treatment.

In the Gaza Strip, as part of targeting border areas, on 01 May 2015, Israeli forces stationed along the border area opened fire at agricultural lands in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported. A similar shooting incident occurred on 02 May 2015 at lands to the east of al-Shuhada cemetery in the north of the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported too.

In the context of targeting fishermen, on 02 May 2015, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, chased and opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats. As a result, fishermen sailed back to the beach fearing for their lives. Similar incidents occurred 3 times in the north of the Gaza Strip, while on 06 May 2015, a shooting incident occurred off Khan Yunis shore in the south of the Gaza Strip.

On 02 May 2015, Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian civilian while attempting to infiltrate into Israel via the border fence, east of Khan Yunis. On the following day, Israeli forces arrested two children at Johr al-Deek area, east of Gaza, but released them the day after. On 04 May 2015, three children were arrested while sneaking into Israel in al-Shouka village, east of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip.

The full report is available online at:

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11007:weekly-report-on-israeli-human-rights-violations-in-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-29-april--06-may-2015&catid=84:weekly-2009&Itemid=183

ENDS

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