Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

Israeli Violations of Palestinain Human Rights Continue Even During the Global Coronavirus Crisis, Besieged Gaza Strip Needs Urgent Healthcare Assistance

March 30, 2020 

Editor's Note:

While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of David, Solomon, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

More detailed news stories can be found at the following sources:

http://english.wafa.ps/, https://english.palinfo.com/, https://imemc.org/, https://paltoday.ps/ar/

 

Israeli occupation soldiers attack Palestinian protesters with tear gax bombs in the West Bank, March 28, 2020	Israeli occupation soldiers fire at Palestinian farmers in Gaza, file, March 28, 2020

 

The following news stories are from the Palestinian IMEMC News website: https://imemc.org/

 

PCHR Calls upon International Community to Assist Healthcare System in Gaza Strip to Fight Coronavirus

March 30, 2020 5:42 PM PCHR 

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is closely monitoring the health conditions in the Gaza Strip, and the healthcare system’s preparedness to combat the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and its possible outbreak. PCHR confirms that the healthcare system will not be able to deal with patients infected with the coronavirus if the number reaches a few dozen due to its compromised capacities necessary to treat these patients, especially since their treatment requires medical and laboratory equipment and special supplies and medications that are not available in hospitals and health centers in the Gaza Strip. This is in addition to the already fragile healthcare system in Gaza due to the Israeli closure policy and Palestinian internal division.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gaza Strip preparedness and capacity to face the Coronavirus at the present time is only sufficient for cases up to 100 or 150; however, if the cases increase, the fragile healthcare system would be incapable of responding to large numbers of patients. The situation requires the intervention of UN bodies, international and local organizations to exert all efforts and provide the necessary equipment, devices, supplies, medicine and medical crews.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in Gaza announced in its daily report on 28 March 2020, that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Gaza Strip is 9 while dozens of samples are so far under laboratory testing and their results will be published as soon as they are ready. According to the report, MOH follows up the health status of 1,719 of the people who had returned from abroad at quarantine centers across the Gaza Strip, including 983 patients who require direct healthcare in hotels, health centers and hospitals. MOH added that the quarantine will be extended from two weeks to three according to the recommendations of experts due to international reports showing the emergence of the disease after the 2-week quarantine period ends. MOH confirmed that it suffers from critical shortage of drugs, medical consumables, laboratory and blood banks supplies, and limited coronavirus testing materials, putting MOH before complicated and unpredictable challenges.

MOH officials in Gaza said to PCHR’s fieldworker that there is acute shortage in MOH’s needs to combat the coronavirus. Hani al-Weheidi, Director of Information System Unit at the Ministry said that the healthcare sector in Gaza has only 110 intensive care beds for adults, including 78 at the MOH hospitals (Shifa 36, European Gaza 17, al-Aqsa 10, Indonesian 9, Naser 6) while the NGOs has 12 beds (al-Quds 7, Public Services 5, and Military Medical Services 7 at Kamal Owdan Hospital). Moreover, the Private Sector has 13 beds: al-Hayah hospital (8) and al-Helo Hospital (5). According to the hospitals’ report, 72% of the intensive care beds are occupied at the MOH hospitals, i.e. if the coronavirus breaks out, only 22 out of 78 intensive care beds will be available in the MOH hospitals.

Ninety-three ventilators are available at intensive care units beds in the Gaza Strip, including 63 at MOH hospitals (al-Shifa 23; European 15; al-Aqsa 9; Indonesian 10; and Nasser 6) 9 at private hospitals (al-Quds 5; Public Aid 4). Additionally, blood gas analyzers are only available at 7 hospitals: al-Shifa, Nasser, al-Quds, Kamal Odwan, Public Aid, al-Helou and al-Hayat; and it is unavailable at 3 hospitals: Indonesian, European and al-Aqsa.

Accordingly, MOH – Gaza needs to urgently equip additional ICUs, ventilators, and testing kits; as well as, protective gear to protect personnel, medications and medical disposables to combat coronavirus. MOH – Gaza has announced its immediate need for:

• 28 types of medical disposables (emergency list A).[1]

• 9 types of medications specific for treating coronavirus (emergency list A)[2]

• 6 types of COVID-19 testing kits, and laboratory equipment (Immediate need list A)[3]

• Real Time PCR Systems Spectral Calibration Kit (Immediate need list B)[4]

• 6 laboratory testing devices to enhance laboratory capacity (Immediate need list C)[5]

In light of the extreme danger threatening the Gaza Strip’s health sector due to its limited capacities, especially in terms of diagnostic laboratory equipment, medications and medical disposables, PCHR:

• Reiterates that the primary responsibility for providing the Gaza Strip with medical supplies lies with Israel, and it should take all necessary and available preventive measures to combat the spread of infectious diseases and this pandemic, according to Articles 55 and 56 of the 4th Geneva Convention of 1949.

• Calls upon the international community and the World Health Organization to pressure Israel to force it to abide by its duties and to allow the entry of the Gaza Strip’s medical needs, especially medical equipment and devices necessary for COVID-19 medical examination.

• Calls upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to provide aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip’s health sector and to endeavor to supply the needed medical equipment to Gaza hospitals to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Israeli Navy Shoots, Injures Palestinian Fisherman off Gaza Coast

March 29, 2020 6:50 PM Ali Salam

One Palestinian fisherman was wounded by Israeli forces on Sunday, while fishing off the coast of the northern besieged Gaza Strip, according to local sources.

Sources told Quds News Network (QNN) that the fisherman was in his boat fishing, when Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire at him, wounding him with a rubber-coated metal round. The man was transferred to the Shifa’ hospital where his condition was described as moderate.

Palestinian fishermen have been subjected to repeated assaults by the Israeli occupation, by restricting Gaza’s fishing zone and targeting fishermen by shooting them, arresting them or confiscating their boats and other fishing equipment.

Many Palestinians in Gaza make a living by selling the fish they catch, however their incomes suffer due to the limits and obstacles imposed on them by the occupation state.

Israeli Occupation Police in Occupied East Jerusalem Invade a Number of Palestinian Neighborhoods, Abduct One

March 29, 2020 6:38 PM Rami Almeghari

Israeli occupation forces, at dawn Sunday, invaded the occupied city of East Jerusalem, storming a number of Palestinian neighborhoods, according to local sources.

Palestinian sources and witnesses said that Israeli police forces invaded through out Saturday night and early on Sunday, al-‘Isawiya village and stormed a number of neighborhoods.

Sources added that upon their invasion, crowds of Palestinian residents took to the streets, in protest, as Israeli police fired tear-gas canisters and sound grenades, to disperse them.

It was noted that the police forces broke into several Palestinian homes in the village, which is located in northeastern Jerusalem, and abducted one Palestinian, identified as Ayham Dary, 32.

Along with the abduction of Dary, the police stormed the homes of Palestinian youth, who have been ordered by the Israeli authorities to remain under house arrest.

Witnesses told media outlets that dozens of local youths protested the Israeli police invasion by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails as a means of resistance. No injuries were reported.

For many years now, Israeli police in the occupied city of East Jerusalem, have frequently invaded Arab-Palestinian localities, conducting inspections of homes and abducted Palestinian men, women and children.

Over the past couple of months, such Israeli practices have been reportedly increased, since the US Trump administration announced, it’s so-called vision for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, known as ‘the deal of the century’.

Palestinians, at both the official and popular levels, have rejected this vision vehemently, as it was a one sided deal, for the benefit of the occupation state of Israel .

PCHR Condemns Israeli Occupation Regime Discriminatory Treatment of Palestinian Workers Suspected with Coronavirus

March 29, 2020 5:29 AM PCHR

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns the Israeli occupation regime's discriminatory and unethical treatment towards Palestinian workers in Israel, by dumping workers suspected with coronavirus symptoms in the West Bank at checkpoints and seam points within the Annexation Wall that separates Israel and the West Bank without providing them with proper medical help or checkup and without coordination with the concerned Palestinian authorities in order to allow the latter to attend to them as per the medical protocol put in place by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the West Bank.

According to PCHR follow-up, since the early morning hours on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, Israeli authorities threw out thousands of Palestinians who work in Israel into West Bank cities via checkpoints and seam points at the Annexation Wall.

The workers were left at Hizma checkpoint, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem; checkpoint (300), southeast of occupied East Jerusalem; Tarqumiyia checkpoint, northwest of Hebron; Metar Crossing, south of Hebron; Beit Sira checkpoint in Ramallah; Ariel checkpoint, north of Salfit; Hawarah checkpoint, southeast of Nablus; Jabara checkpoint, south of Tulkarem; Barta’a checkpoint, southwest of Jenin; and al-Jamla checkpoint, north of Jenin.

Several workers gave their testimonies to PCHR and indicated that they went to their workplace after their employers had promised to guarantee them shelter for 2 months, a safe work environment and to not have them sent back to the West Bank due to the restrictions on movement enforced by the state of emergency.

They added that upon their arrival to their workplaces they were kept in inadequate and unsanitary housing conditions amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in Israel and in areas where a high number of COVID-19 cases were reported.

After some workers showed signs of illness and coronavirus symptoms, Israeli employers informed the Israeli authorities who deported the workers to the West Bank.

Ibrahim Melhem, Spokesman for the Palestinian government, announced in a statement on 26 March 2020, that 16 persons from Bidou village, northwest of Jerusalem, tested positive for COVID-19, including an elderly woman who died.

He confirmed that the virus spread in the village via infected workers who returned from Israel, including the son (37) of the deceased elderly woman and her brother-in-law (57). In Bethlehem, and the elderly woman was diagnosed with COVID-19 and it is presumed that she caught the virus from her son, a worker at “Efrat” settlement.

Melhem asserted that Palestine had entered the pre-danger phase in terms of a coronavirus spread, demanding workers to take extreme caution, saying: “for your own sake, take extreme cautionary measures. Our vulnerability lies with the workers, and we can stifle this virus with at-home self-isolation.”

On Friday, 27 March 2020, 5 new coronavirus cases were recorded and 2 at Artas village, south of Bethlehem; raising the total of confirmed cases in Palestine to 91, including 17 recoveries and 1 death.

In light of the above, PCHR:

• Demands that the international community force Israeli occupation authorities to abide proper medical and humanitarian treatment with infected workers and those suspected with coronavirus symptoms, and respect their right to receive medical treatment;

• Demands that the PA enforce all necessary measures to protect the returning workers, including an expedited medical checkup and to admit them to medical quarantine to protect their lives and their families’ and for the sake of public safety; and

• Calls upon the workers who had returned from Israel to take the maximum cautionary measures and to abide by the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) guidelines, including undergoing the necessary medical examinations immediate upon return to their cities in the West Bank; refraining from socializing with others until examination results and to commit to self-isolation for the period decided by MOH.

Israeli Occupation Regime's Troops Open Fire on Palestinian Farmer in Southern Gaza

March 28, 2020 6:32 PM Rami Almeghari

Israeli occupation regime's troops opened fire at Palestinian farmers and shepherds, early on Saturday, near the border fence in eastern Khan Younis city, southern Gaza Strip, according to local sources.

Local Palestinian media sources and witnesses said that Israeli troops, stationed on the Israeli side of the border, opened their machine guns abruptly on local farmers and shepherds in the rural neighborhoods of Alfaraheen and Alsenati in the Abbassan Alkabeera town.

The sources added that no causalities were reported, however, all farmers were immediately forced to leave their workplaces.

In a similar incident in Khan Younis city, Israeli soldiers on the Israeli side of the border, were reportedly unleashed their ammunition on farmers in the Qarrara neighborhood. No causalities were reported, witnesses said farmers fled the scene,.

Over the past several years, Israeli troops have shot at Palestinian farmers, who cultivate farm lands, along the Israel-Gaza border line, in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Those farmers and their families lived in the region before the existence of the state of Israel, back in 1948.

Also of note is the fact that Israeli warplanes attacked some locations in the Gaza Strip, Friday night, in what the Israeli army claimed, was a retaliation to a so-called homemade shell that was allegedly fired from Gaza into nearby Israeli areas. 

Israeli Occupation Forces Suppress West Bank Demonstrations, Arrest Journalist, Injure One

March 28, 2020 6:14 AM Ali Salam

Israeli occupation forces, on Friday, attacked citizens during demonstrations in the occupied West Bank, including the cities of Ramallah, Tulkarem and Qalqilia, according to local sources.

Local sources told Palestinian Information Center that violent confrontations broke out between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian civilians in al-Mazra’a al-Gharbiya village, northeast of Ramallah City. They reported that a Palestinian journalist named Ahmad Abu Qare’ was detained during the clashes and transferred to an unknown destination.

For the fourth day in a row, Shweika village in Tulkarem witnessed conflict between Israeli forces and Palestinians protesting Israel’s illegal land seizure to make way for settlement expansion. Soldiers fired rubber-coated metal bullets and tear-gas canisters towards the protesters.

Meanwhile in Qalqilia, Israeli soldiers violently dispersed the weekly demonstration against the settlement in Kufur Qaddoum village, attacking Palestinian demonstrators with rubber-coated metal bullets and tear-gas canisters.

Morad Eshteiwi, coordinator of the popular resistance in the village of Kufur Qaddoum, told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that Israeli soldiers injured a 50-year-old man, who was treated on site, in addition to causing many cases of suffocation from gas inhalation.

~ Palestinian Information Center, WAFA

Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Seeks Protection of Palestinian Population

March 27, 2020 6:28 PM Rami Almeghari

The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday, called on the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people, amidst growing concerns over the widely-spread Coronavirus worldwide, including the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.

The call came in response to a recent series of attacks, carried out by colonial Israeli settlers, against Palestinian-owned property in different parts of the occupied West Bank.

In a statement, issued Friday, the ministry pointed out that such stepped up attacks are being carried out with full protection by the Israeli occupation army and other Israeli occupation regime's intelligence services.

The statement noted that all the locations, from which the colonial armed settlers unleash their attacks on the Palestinian population, are well-known to the Israeli military and the intelligence apparatus.

“The spread of Coronavirus, across Israel, has not helped the Israeli military establishment reconsider it’s preventive measures to prevent occurrence of settlers’ attacks on Palestinian residents and their properties”, the statement further read.

The ministry explained that at this time Israel should be making sure that their ‘illegal’ colonial settlers do not attack Palestinians, as the Palestinian Authority has been engaged recently in curbing the Coronavirus, with dozens of cases discovered in some Palestinian cities and towns that are adjacent to colonial Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Israel turns a blind eye to those attacks.

It also called on all concerned international bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to promptly send aid to the Palestinian people, in order to battle the Coronavirus.

A part of the appeal by the Foreign Ministry was to other legal international bodies, in a way that would curb provocative and harmful actions, carried out by illegal Israeli settlers.

Friday’s statement comes within the context of a series of attacks by colonial Israeli settlers, the latest of which were reported in the city of Tubas, where settlers attacked farmers, obstructing their daily works, while in Hebron, Israeli soldiers reportedly spit on Palestinian-owned vehicles.

Illegal Isareli Settlers Attack Palestinians, Injure One near Hebron

March 28, 2020 6:24 AM Ali Salam

Illegal Israeli settlers attacked, on Friday, Palestinian herders and other civilians in the village of Al-Tuwani, south of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, according to a local activist.

Fo’ad Amour, a local rights activist, told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that illegal colonial settlers, accompanied by attack dogs, assaulted herders in the village and injured one of them in his abdomen and hand. He was moved to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

It is important to note that illegal Israeli settlers attacked and injured 2 Palestinian farmers with sharp tools, on Tuesday, as they worked on their land in Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah.

300 Palestinian-owned Olive Trees Cut by Illegal Settlers near Bethlehem

March 28, 2020 6:20 PM Ali Salam

Illegal Israeli settlers, on Saturday, cut down 300 olive trees on Palestinian owned land in the southern occupied West Bank, according to a local official.

Hasan Breijieh, a member of the Anti-Wall, Anti-Settlements Commission, told Palestinian WAFA News Agency that the illegal colonial settlers cut the trees in an area close to an illegal settlement, between the Palestinian cities of Bethlehem and Hebron.

Breijieh said the settlers are taking full advantage of the lockdown imposed to stop the spread of on the Bethlehem governorate to cut trees in Palestinian lands.

In related news, illegal Israeli settlers damaged 40 grapevines and 10 olive trees belonging to Hisham Mohammad Sbeih, on Wednesday, in al-Khader town, south of Bethlehem city.

During the Coronavirus crisis, Israel confiscates tents designated for clinic in the Northern West Bank

March 27, 2020 11:02 AM B'Tselem

The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights In The Occupied Territories (B’Tselem): Communities Facing Expulsion: On Thursday, 26 March 2020, at around 7:30 am, officials from Israel’s Civil Administration in the West Bank arrived with a military jeep escort, a bulldozer and two flatbed trucks with cranes at the Palestinian community of Khirbet Ibziq in the northern Jordan Valley.

They confiscated poles and sheeting that were meant to form eight tents, two for a field clinic, and four for emergency housing for residents evacuated from their homes, and two as makeshift mosques. The force also confiscated a tin shack in place for more than two years, as well as a power generator and sacks of sand and cement. Four pallets of cinder blocks intended for the tent floors were taken away and four others demolished.

As the whole world battles an unprecedented and paralyzing healthcare crisis, Israel’s military is devoting time and resources to harassing the most vulnerable Palestinian communities in the West Bank, that Israel has attempted to drive out of the area for decades.

Shutting down a first-aid community initiative during a health crisis is an especially cruel example of the regular abuse inflicted on these communities, and it goes against basic human and humanitarian principles during an emergency. Unlike Israel’s policies, this pandemic does not discriminate based on nationality, ethnicity or religion.

It is high time the government and military acknowledged that now, of all times, Israel is responsible for the health and wellbeing of the five million Palestinians who live under its control in the Occupied Territories.

In addition to the shocking destruction of the clinic under construction, the Civil Administration is continuing its demolition routine. Today, it demolished three seasonal homes of farmers who are residents of Jerusalem, in the village of ‘Ein a-Duyuk a-Tahta west of Jericho.

Background on Palestinian communities facing expulsion:

Scores of farming-shepherding communities, home to thousands of Palestinians, dot the 60% of the West Bank designated as Area C. For decades, Israeli authorities have pursued a policy aimed at driving out these communities by making living conditions intolerable in an attempt to get residents to leave, ostensibly of their own volition.

This unlawful conduct is motivated by the political ambition, publicly stated by various officials, to establish facts on the ground and take over these areas in a de-facto annexation that would facilitate actual annexation to Israel as part of a final-status arrangement.

***

Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

(19 – 25 March 2020)

March 28, 2020 3:12 AM PCHR

Summary

Israeli occupation forces (IOF) continued to violate Palestinians’ human rights and commit crimes against civilians and their properties, conducting raids into Palestinian cities without regard to the state of emergency declared across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in the efforts put forward to combat the spread of Coronavirus, despite that 8 deaths by said virus were announced in Israel along with hundreds of reported cases. Meanwhile, settlers backed up by IOF continued to seize more Palestinian land and attack civilians and their property.

This week, PCHR documented 97 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by IOF and settlers in the oPt. As the state of emergency enters its 3rd week, as well as the extreme Israeli restrictions on movement of individuals, have hindered our fieldwork team’s ability to cover all incidents in the oPt and were forced to collect information via phone from trusted local sources. As such, this report is a comprehensive record of Israeli violations of human rights against Palestinians in the oPt, as IOF continues its attacks against civilians despite the exceptional circumstances that have overcome the whole world in the face of a life-threatening viral pandemic.

I. IOF shooting and violation of right to bodily integrity: in excessive use of force against protests in the West Bank, IOF shot and killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded another one on 22 March 2020, as IOF opened fire on their car by the Ni’lin village entrance, western Ramallah. IOF wounded 3 other Palestinian civilians, including two children while violently disrupting civilians and protests in Qalqilia and Ramallah; PCHR documented 8 other shooting incidents were IOF used live bullets and tear gas canisters during raids into several Palestinian cities, causing several cases of suffocation.

In the Gaza Strip, 2 shootings by IOF were reported against the agricultural lands in the southern and central Gaza Strip while 2 shootings were reported against Palestinian fishing boats off the northern Gaza Strip shore. No injuries were reported.

II. IOF incursions and arrests of Palestinian civilians: IOF carried out 59 incursions into the West Bank. Those incursions included raids of civilian houses and shootings, inducing fear among civilians, and attacking many of them. During this week’s incursions, 51 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 children. Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, IOF conducted a limited incursion into eastern Khan Younis.

III. Settlement expansion activities and settlers’ attacks: PCHR documented 4 IOF operations in the West Bank: razing in Salfit; 2 notices to halt construction at solar-cell plant; another notice to halt construction at a civilian house in the Northern Valley; and demolition of a wall in an agricultural land in Jenin.

PCHR also documented 13 settler attacks: 5 civilians assaulted, cutting trees and vandalizing Palestinian vehicles in Hebron; vandalizing and uprooting trees and vandalizing a water tank in Nablus; various properties vandalized across the West Bank mainly in the Northern Valley, Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron.

IV. Israeli closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement: Israeli authorities continued to impose restrictions on Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing and West Bank Crossings under the pretext of confronting the fast-spreading Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. These restrictions were declared on Wednesday, 11 March 2020, and still in effect, except for humanitarian cases. This comes at a time when the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst blockade in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons or goods, humanitarian conditions and bearing catastrophic consequences on all aspects of life. Furthermore, IOF uses Erez Crossing that is designated for movement of individuals as an ambush to arrest Palestinians who obtain permits to exit via Israel.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday and Wednesday, 23 and 24 March 2020, IOF threw out hundreds of Palestinians workers at checkpoints and points within the Annexation Wall without contact or coordination with the relevant Palestinian authorities. On 19 March 2020, thousands of Palestinian workers went into Israel on the promise employers granted that they would be given proper and healthy accommodation, who did not fulfill the commitments they made after the outbreak of Coronavirus in Israel. Unfortunately, it was discovered that the workers were kept in inadequate and unsanitary housing conditions amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in Israel. After some workers showed signs of illness and coronavirus symptoms, IOF left them at checkpoints between Israel and the northern West Bank without undergoing examinations in the Israeli or Palestinian hospitals. The Palestinian authorities called upon all workers to return home and quarantine themselves for 14 days.

Meanwhile, IOF continued to divide the West Bank into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilian movement is restricted and they are subject to arrest.

I. Violation of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity

a) Excessive Use of Force against Protests in the West Bank

At approximately 13:00 on Friday, 20 March 2020, IOF stationed at the northern entrance established at Kufur Qaddoum village’s land, north of Qalqilia, suppressed a protest in which dozens of Palestinian civilians participated. IOF chased the young men who gathered in the area. IOF clashed with the young men and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 63-year-old civilian was shot with a rubber bullet in the right leg and a16-year-old child was shot with a rubber bullet in the right hand.

b) Shooting and other Violations of the Right to Life and Bodily Integrity

At approximately 04:30 on Wednesday, 09 March 2020, IOF reinforced with military SUVs moved into Bethlehem via al-Nashash military checkpoint. They removed the cement cubes established by Palestinian security services in al-Khader village’s road, to isolate the city from other cities in light of the procedures taken by the Palestinian authority to put an end to Coronavirus. Large Israeli forces moved into al-Dheisha refugee camp, which is also isolated. They raided and searched 3 houses, blew up their doors, attacked the inhabitants and arrested 3 former prisoners, who were released few months ago. IOF cuffed the detainees’ hands and legs, and forced them to wear protective clothing and masks.

The detainees were Identified as: Mustafa Atiyah al-Hasanat (22), Yazan Yusuf al-Bal’awi (22), and Ramez Yusuf al-Laham (22). In the meantime, dozens of young men gathered on the camp’s empty streets due to the PA’s directions and threw stones, Molotov Cocktail, and empty bottles at IOF soldiers and the latter responded with tear gas canisters. As a result, many civilians vomited and suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. At approximately 15:35, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Younis, opened fire at agricultural lands in eastern al-Qararah village, northeast of Khan Younis, adjacent to the border fence. No casualties were reported. At approximately 15:05 on Saturday, 21 March 2020, IOF stationed along the border fence, east of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire at the border area, adjacent to the border fence.

As a result, farmers whose lands are adjacent to the border area panicked. No casualties were reported. At approximately 04:10 on Sunday, 22 March 2020, IOF gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia, west of al-Sudaniya area, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 – 3 nautical miles. Israeli gunboats also fired artillery shells. As a result, the fishing nets that belong to a number of fishermen sustained damage. Fishermen also panicked and fled away. No casualties were reported. At approximately 16:20, on the same Sunday, IOF moved into Burin village, southeast of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles and the latter responded with tear gas canisters to disperse them. As a result, a number of children suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and they received medical treatment on the field. At approximately 17:00 on the same Sunday, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and deployed in the neighborhoods. They established checkpoints and searched civilians’ vehicles. In the meantime, a number of Palestinian young men protested in the vicinity of al-Araba’in Mosque and threw stones at IOF soldiers.

The soldiers fired tear gas canister at them. As a result, many civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. IOF arrested Qais Haitham Mustafa (13) and Dawoud ‘A’ed Atiyah (13). In new crime of excessive use of lethal force, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded another on Sunday, 22 March 2020, as IOF opened fire at their vehicle by the entrance to Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah. According to investigations conducted by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), at approximately 22:00 on Sunday, IOF stationed at the entrance to Ni’lin village, west of Ramallah, fired live bullets at a Palestinian vehicle carrying 2 civilians while coming from Ramallah. As a result, the driver was killed while the passenger was wounded. The wounded civilian managed to flee and go to the Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah. It turned out later that he sustained shrapnel wounds throughout his body.

IOF surrounded the vehicle for over half an hour while the driver was inside. Afterwards, an Israeli ambulance arrived and took the driver to an Israeli hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The civilian killed was later identified as Sufian Nawaf ‘Abed al-Haleem al-Khawaja (31), and the wounded was his cousin Mohamed Bader al-Khawaja (20). They were returning from the outskirts of Ramallah after buying foodstuffs for their families, in preparation to implement the Palestinian Authority decision to abide all citizens to their homes in a measure to combat the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

IOF claimed that they opened fire towards the suspects after they hurled a rock at them, but information obtained by PCHR’s fieldworker pointed out that when the two civilians arrived at Ni’lin village entrance, they saw an Israeli police vehicle and for fear of being stopped because their car was illegal, they turned their vehicle and made their way towards al-Mohalhel road. This road is designated to enter the village, despite that, IOF opened fire at their vehicle, killing one of them and wounding the other without any justification as they posed no threat or danger to the Israeli soldiers and police officers’ lives. It should be noted that IOF still holds Sufian al-Khawaja’s body.

At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 23 March 2020, IOF moved into Furik village, northeast of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles. IOF fired tear gas canisters at the m to disperse them. As a result, a number of children suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. They received medical treatment on the field. At approximately 16:20, IOF moved into Burin village, east of Nablus. A number of children gathered and threw stones at IOF vehicles and the latter fired tear gas canisters to disperse them. As a result, a number of children suffocated due to tear gas inhalation. They received medical treatment on the field. At approximately 00:00 on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, IOF moved into Deir Netham village, northwest of Ramallah and stationed in the vicinity of the village’s entrance.

A number of Palestinian young men protested and threw stones and Molotov Cocktail at IOF and the latter chased the protestors and fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, a 16-year-old child, from Deir Abu Mash’al, was wounded. The child was transferred to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah to receive medical treatment. At approximately 08:50 on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, IOF gunboats stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, chased and heavily opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 2 nautical miles. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported. At approximately 17:50 on the same Wednesday, fishermen managed to remove a fishing boat belonging to Samer Husam Mohammed Baker (30), from al-Shati refugee camp, and took it to Gaza sea port. The boat’s engine was broken and its structure was targeted with several live bullets during the above mentioned attack. At approximately 2:00 on the same Monday, an Israeli infantry unit moved into al-Tabaqah village, south of Dura, south of Hebron. They patrolled the main road and fired a tear gas canister near a house before they withdrew from the village. No casualties were reported.

II. Incursions and Arrests

Thursday, 19 March 2020:

At approximately 00:00, IOF moved into Qalqilia. They raided and searched Khalil Majdi Abu Samra’s (25) house and arrested him. At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into ‘Arraba, southwest of Jenin. They raided and searched Ayham Abdulah Abu Salah’s (25) house and arrested him. Around the same time, IOF reinforced with several military vehicles, moved into southern Hebron. They raided and searched Mohammed Abdullah Abu Dawoud’s (19) house and arrested him. At approximately 03:00, IOF moved into Batn al-Hawa neighborhood in Solwan, south of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Ahmed Eyad al-Rajabi’s (17) house and arrested him. At approximately 17:00, IOF moved into Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Ra’fat Sameeh Najeeb’s (30) house and arrested him.

After a few hours, IOF released him on condition that banning his entry to al-Aqsa Mosque for a week. At approximately 18:00, IOF moved into Deir Abu Mish’al village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (5) civilians: Ibrahim Tayseer, Mousa Tabkh, Abdullah Abdul Naser, Yousef Abdul Jawad, and Mohammed Abdul Jawad. At at approximately 21:00, IOF moved into Ras al-‘Amoud neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Haitham Hisham al-‘Abbassi’s (29) house and handed him a summons to refer to al-Maskoubeya investigation center, west of the occupied city. IOF carried out (10) incursions in Azoun in Qalqilia, Seelat al-Thuhr, south of Jenin, Sebastia, Barqa, Marin, northwest of Nablus, Aseera al-Shamaleya and Yaseed villages, north of Nablus, al-Fawwar refugee camp, al-Samoua’, Yatta villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 20 March 2020:

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Falameya village, east of Qalqilia. They raided and searched several houses and arrested (5) civilians: Ahmed Taleb Abu Thaher (31), Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Thaher (27), Anas Ghassan Abu Thaher (24), Ahmed Hayad Abu Thaher (31), and Mohammed Rif’at Abu Thaher (34). At approximately 16:00, IOF severely beaten and arrested Yousef al-Shawish (15), while present around the entrance of Bab Hatta neighborhood, one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City’s neighborhoods.

Saturday, 21 March 2020:

At approximately 20:00, IOF moved into Wdi al-Jooz neighborhood, east of the occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched Mohammed Abu Shousha’s (24) house and arrested him. IOF carried out an incursion in Alar village in Tulkarem. No arrests were reported.

Sunday, 22 March 2020:

At approximately 16:00, IOF stationed at the entrance of al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of Hebron, arrested Oday Issa Younis (22), and released him after two hours. At approximately 18:30, IOF stopped and arrested Mahmoud Mohammed Fayez and Khamees Naser Khamees, on a temporary military checkpoint in the entrance of Aboud village. Both of them are from Abu Mish’al village, northwest of Ramallah. At approximately 21:30, IOF stationed at the entrance of al-Zaweya village, west of Salfit, arrested (3) civilians from the village. The arrestees are: Nour Ameen Abu Laila, Ibrahim Hasan Shuqair, and Mo’taz Mashhour Shuqair. IOF carried out (4) incursions in Azoun and Qalqilia, in Qalqilia governorate; Hares and Derastya in Salfit. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 23 March 2020:

At approximately 01:30, IOF moved into Azoun, east of Qalqilia. They raided and searched Mahmoud Mohammed Ghannawi’s (47) house and arrested him. At approximately 01:40, IOF moved into Snirya village, southeast of Qalqilia. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Mamdouh Ghaleb Barri (36) and Alaa Sadeq Omar (26) and arrested them. At approximately 14:00, IOF arrested (4) civilians while sanitizing Bab al-Asbat (Lion’s Gate) one of the occupied East Jerusalem’s gates, to prevent Corona Virus, and confiscated their equipment. IOF took them to al-Qishla investigation center and investigated with them for several hours before releasing them on condition that come to continue investigation on the next day. The arrestees are: Mohamed al-Dabbagh, Mahmoud al-Salayma, Zeyad Sharifa, and Ehab Abdul Latif. At approximately 19:00, IOF moved into al-‘Isawiya village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched Reda Mohammed Obaid’s (16) house and arrested him. IOF carried out an incursion in Kafr al-Deek in Salfit. No arrests were reported.

III. Settlement Expansion and Settler Violence in the West Bank

a) Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities

On Monday, 23 March 2020, IOF backed by military construction vehicles moved into al-Khafafeesh area, southeast of Nablus. The military construction vehicles levelled area No. (13), to expand “ Shvut Rachel” settlement and connect it with “Shilo” settlement and other settlement outposts located in the eastern side. At approximately 13:20 on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, IOF moved into Kherbet al-Dir in northern Jordan Valley and handed 2 notices to stop construction works for a solar cells project donated by GVC institution, and for Mohamed al-Sawafta’s house. At approximately 14:00, IOF backed by military construction vehicles moved into Um al-Rayhan village, southwest of Jenin. The military construction vehicles demolished a 200m wall in Mohamed ‘Ali Zaid al-Kilani’s agricultural land, under the pretext of non-licensing and being in Area C.

b) Israeli Settler Violence 

• At approximately 05:30 on Thursday, 19 March 2020, Israeli settlers, from “Sosiya” settlement, which is established on the confiscated Palestinians lands, attacked Yatta city in southern Hebron. The settlers cut 3 olive trees belonging to al-Nawaj’a family and threw stones at Palestinians’ houses and tents, and no injuries were reported.

• At approximately 18:00, Israeli settlers, from “Kiryat ‘Arba’” settlement, east of Hebron, threw stones at Palestinians’ vehicles traveling on the Bypass road (60), causing fear among the vehicles’ drivers and passengers. Neither injuries nor damage were reported.

• At approximately 14:00 on Friday, 20 March 2020, Israeli settlers, from “Homish” settlement, attacked the northern outskirts of Barqah village, northwest of Nablus. The settlers uprooted forest trees funded by the Ministry of Agriculture. The settlers also damaged Mohanad Yaseen’s water tank. In the meantime, Palestinian young men gathered and confronted them.

• At approximately 15:30, Israeli settlers, from “Homish” settlement, attacked Mostafa Abu Za’bal, from al-Fandoqumiyia village, south of Jenin. Abu Za’bal was working in his plot of land on Nablus-Jenin Road. The settlers beat him and stole his horse.

• At approximately 13:30 on Sunday, 22 March 2020, Israeli settlers set up a number of tents and caravans near a settlement outpost established on Khelet Hamad area in northern Jordan Valley, in an attempt to expand the settlement outpost.

• At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 23 March 2020, Israeli settlers, from “Homish” settlement, on Nablus-Jenin Road, northwest of Nablus, attacked and threw stones at Palestinian vehicles traveling on the road. As a result, Hasan Nayif al-Qadi’s vehicle sustained damage and the rear window was broken. Hasan fled towards Silat al-Daher village and the settlers stole his vehicle. The Palestinian Liaison recovered the vehicle later.

• At approximately 17:00, Israeli settlers, from “Kawkab al-Sabbah” settlement, which is established in ‘Ain al-Samiyia area, east of Ramallah, attacked Arwa’ Mohamed al-Na’san (35), from al-Moghair village, northeast of the city. Al-Na’san was severely beaten and attacked with stones while present in his agricultural land located near the settlement. As a result, he sustained bruises throughout his body and received treatment at Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.

• At approximately 17:30, Israeli settlers, from ‘Ain al-Helwa area in northern Jordan Valley, attacked a farmer Moheeb Fathi ‘Eliyan Daraghmah (30) while breeding livestock. As a result, he sustained bruises throughout his body and received treatment at Tubas Turkish Government Hospital.

• At approximately 18:00, Israeli settlers, from “Price Tag group”, attacked the outskirt of Ma’dama village from the southern side. They threw stones at Palestinians houses. The residents confronted them and forced them to leave.

• At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, Israeli settlers moved into Um Safa village, northwest of Ramallah, and attacked Naji Mohamed Tanatra’s agricultural land. Tanatra was working in his land when the settlers beat him with a sharp tool. As a result, he sustained deep wounds in his back and received treatment at Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.

• At approximately 14:30 on Tuesday, 24 March 2020, Israeli settlers attacked the outskirt of Nablus from the northern side and threw stones at Mohanad Mohamed Hejjah’s house, causing material damage.

• At approximately 17:30, settlers, from “Price Tag group”, attacked the outskirt of ‘Ainabous village from the northern side. They threw stones at Palestinians houses. The residents confronted them and forced them to leave.

• At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 25 March 2020, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds while present near Metar Crossing, west of al-Dahiriyia village in southern Hebron, and forced them to leave. As a result, Sa’ied Mahmoud Khdirat (33) sustained bruises.

For the full report, visit PCHR.org 

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