Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
22 – 28 April 2021
IOF excessive use of force in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem: 181 Palestinians wounded, including 4 journalists and 3 children
177 injuries were reported in occupied East Jerusalem, including the 4 journalists
Five IOF shootings reported at agricultural areas (east) and six others on fishing boats in Gaza sea
Israeli occupation closes Gaza sea and bans fishing
1 fisherman wounded and fishing boat damaged in 5 shootings reported at fishing boats off the Gaza coast
In 139 IOF incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 150 civilians arrested, including 12 children, two journalists, a writer, and a paramedic
Limited IOF incursion into eastern Rafah and Khan Younis; 3 Palestinians arrested, including a child, after crossing the border fence
The occupation ratifies decision to confiscate 147 dunums west of Bethlehem for settlement expansion purposes
Wide-scale Settler-attacks: shootings and assaults on Palestinian civilians and trees uprooted across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem
IOF established 39 temporary military checkpoints in the West Bank and arrested 20 Palestinian civilians on said checkpoints
Summary
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to commit crimes and multi-layered violations against Palestinian civilians and their properties, including raids into Palestinian cities that are characterized with excessive use of force, assault, abuse and attacks on civilians that are mostly conducted after midnight and in the early morning hours. This week, IOF repression against Palestinian worshipers in Bab al-‘Amoud (Damascus Gate), which leads to al-Aqsa Mosque, was the most prominent event as dozens were wounded and arrested. Settler-attacks witnessed a rise this week too on Palestinian civilians and their properties across the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Also, this week, IOF closed the Gaza sea and banned fishing in violation of Palestinian fishermen’s social and economic rights and their right to work as per Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. PCHR documented 214 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt.
IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity:
181 Palestinians sustained wounds, including 4 journalists and 3 children, as a result of IOF excessive use of force against civilians in the West Bank: 177, including 4 journalists, in the largest IOF repression campaigns against Palestinians in recent month, centered in Bab al-‘Amoud are in occupied East Jerusalem. Dozens of others suffocated due to tear gas inhalation, and others were wounded in various IOF assaults on protests in solidarity with Jerusalemites across the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, a fisherman was wounded, and a fishing boat damaged in 5 IOF shootings on fishing boats in the Gaza sea. Also, Israeli warplanes launched several airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, 3 of them targeted agricultural lands in eastern Rafah and Khan Younis. Additionally, 5 IOF shootings were reported on agricultural lands and protests eastern Gaza.
IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 139 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, enticing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 150 Palestinians were arrested, including 12 children, two journalists, a writer, and a paramedic. Most of the arrests and raids occurred during the clashes in occupied East Jerusalem, as 114 were arrested in the city.
In the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into eastern Rafah and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 1 child, after they crossed the border fence. Two of them were later released.
Demolitions:
The occupation authorities ratified a decision to confiscate 147 dunums west of Bethlehem for settlement expansion purposes.
Settler-attacks: PCHR fieldworkers reported and documented 8 attacks:
- Salfit: shooting at Salfit entrance; 12 trees uprooted in Haris.
- Bethlehem: Palestinian-owned lands planted in Teqoa
- Hebron: farmers and vehicles assaulted in eastern Yatta, and others assaulted in Haret Jaber
- Ramallah: assaults and roads blocked in eastern Umm Safa
- East Jerusalem: 3 vehicles set ablaze in Beit Iksa
- Nablus: vehicles assaulted
