NOVANEWS
- 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded during incursions in the West Bank.
- Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.
– 14 protesters, including 12 children, were wounded during peaceful protests at the entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
– Israeli forces used a new weapon against protesters under the pretext that it is less dangerous.
- Israeli forces conducted 65 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
– 32 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and 2 women, were arrested in the West Bank.
- Israel continued its efforts to create Jewish majority in the occupied East Jerusalem.
– Israeli forces demolished 8 houses, a man was obliged to demolish his own house and 84 civilians became homeless.
- Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
– Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.
– 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.
- Israeli navy forces continued to target Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip sea.
– 2 fishermen were arrested and their boat was confiscated in the north of the Gaza Strip.
– Fishermen were pursued and their fishing equipment was confiscated off Deir al-Balah shore.
- Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
– 40 dunums were levelled in ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus.
– 5 civilian facilities in eastern Barta’a village, west of Jenin, were demolished.
– Irrigation pipes were removed and confiscated in al-Baq’a area, east of Hebron.
– The settlers threw Molotov cocktails at Palestinian vehicles; a taxi was completely burnt.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period 16 – 22 May 2013.
Shooting:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 17 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children. 3 civilians were wounded during incursions in the Palestinian communities, while 14 others, including 12 children, were wounded in peaceful protests in al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah.
On 17 May 2012, 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded. The first one was wounded when Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, while the other two ones were wounded by the newly-employed Tutu bullets when Israeli forces moved into al-Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron, as Israeli forces have recently resumed using snipers to disperse Palestinian demonstrations using Tutu rifles, which are sniper rifles with a small barrel.
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, dozens of protesters suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were attacked by Israeli soldiers. Of the wounded was Rasila Mahmoud Awad (60), who fainted and was taken to Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah.
In the same context, the Palestinian civilians organized many peaceful protests in support with the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails, especially those on hunger strike. Israeli forces used excessive force to disperse these protests. As a result, 14 civilians, including 12 children, were wounded. On 17 May 2013, 9 civilians, including 8 children, were wounded in protests at the southern entrance of al-Jalazoun refugee camp, north of Ramallah. On 19 May 2013, 3 others, including 2 children, in protests in the same area. On 21 May 2013, 2 children were wounded during a peaceful protest in the abovementioned area. According to Maariv newspaper, the Israeli army has recently resumed using snipers to disperse Palestinian demonstrations; this technique was used at the end of last week near the settlement of Beit El in eastern Ramallah, using Tutu rifles, which are sniper rifles with a small barrel (0.22 inch caliber bullets).
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli navy forces continued to pursue the Palestinian fishermen in the sea. On 19 May 2013, Israeli forces arrested 2 fishermen and confiscated their fishing boat off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, in the north of the Gaza Strip. On 20 and 22 May 2013, Israeli gunboats opened fire at the Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing within the 6 nautical mile limit off al-Waha resort, in the north of the Gaza Strip. Neither casualties nor material damage were reported.
On 21 March 2013, the Israeli authorities allowed the Palestinian fishermen to sail up to 6 nautical miles instead of 3 as had been enforced since 21 March 2013 as a form punishment against the Palestinian civilians. This decrease constitutes a violation to the agreement between Hamas and the Israeli authorities following the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip.
The full report is available online at:
http://www.pchrgaza.org/
