Israeli forces continue systematic crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)
(13 – 19 July 2017)
· Israeli forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
· 3 Palestinian civilians from Um al-Fahm were killed in an armed clash inside al-Aqsa Mosque yards.
· 35 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
· Israeli forces continued to target the Gaza Strip border areas with no casualties reported.
· Israeli forces conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 8 ones in Jerusalem.
– 57 civilians, including 5 children, 3 girls and a journalist, were arrested.
– 26 of them, including 2 children and the 3 girls, were arrested in Jerusalem.
– Ramasat and Palmedia offices in Hebron were raided.
· Israeli forces continued efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied Palestinian Jerusalem.
– The Islamic Call to Prayer (Adhan) was banned in al-Aqsa Mosque as an unprecedented measure.
– 58 Islamic Endowments’ (Awqaf) officers, including the current and former Grand Muftis of Jerusalem and Palestine.
· Israeli forces continued to target the Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.
– 2 fishermen were wounded off Khan Yuins shore, south of the Gaza Strip.
· Israeli forces turned the West Bank into cantons and continued to impose the illegal closure on the Gaza Strip for the 10th year.
– Dozens of temporary checkpoints were established in the West Bank and others were re-established to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians.
– 4 civilians were arrested at military checkpoints in the West Bank.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (13 – 19 July 2017).
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces killed 6 Palestinian civilians. Three of them were killed inside al-Aqsa Mosque yards in occupied Jerusalem, while the three others were killed in the central and southern West Bank. Moreover, Israeli forces wounded 37 Palestinian civilians, including a child, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Thirty two of them were in the West Bank and the 5 others, including a child, were in the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip continued to chase the Palestinian fishermen in the sea and to open fire at farmers in the border areas.
In the West Bank, on 14 July 2017, in excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed Bara’ Hamamda (18) and wounded 2 others during an Israeli incursion into al-Dheisha refugee camp, south of Bethlehem, for arrests.
On the same day, 3 Palestinian civilians from Um al-Fahm in Israel were killed when they entered al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and opened fire at the Israeli officers. They exchanged fire, due to which, the 3 Palestinians were killed immediately while 3 Israeli police officers were wounded. Two of the Israeli officers were pronounced dead later.
On 16 July 2017, Israeli officers killed Ammar Ahmed al-Tirawi (34), who is wanted to the Israeli forces, when they moved into Kufor Ein village, northwest of Ramallah. Gunfire was heard from a poultry farm in the eastern side of the village, after which the Israeli forces withdrew. The village residents hurried to the said area and saw blood in a greenhouse and in the main street, but found no corpse. Moreover, Israeli forces arrested the victim’s cousin and kept in the corpse in custody.
On 18 July 2017, Israeli forces killed Ra’fat Herbawi (29), from al-Karam valley neighbourhood, west of Hebron, after opening fire at his vehicle near Beit Aynoun intersection on bypass road (60). Israeli forces claimed that he attempted to deliberately run over a number of Israeli officers near the street. His corpse was taken by an Israeli military jeep to an unknown destination.
During the reporting period, in addition to the two wounded persons mentioned above, Israeli forces wounded 30 Palestinian civilians. Six of them sustained live bullet wounds, 17 sustained metal bullet wounds and 9 others were hit with sound bombs.
In the Gaza Strip, the border area witnessed peaceful protests against the illegal closure imposed on the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces used force against the protestors, as result, 3 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded. Two of them was hit with live bullets and one was hit with a tear gas canister.
The full report is available online at:
http://pchrgaza.org/en/?p=8965
