NOVANEWS
- The Israeli forces continued to open fire at the Palestinian civilians in the border area of the Gaza Strip
– 2 gravel collectors were wounded in the northern Gaza Strip.
- 5 Palestinians, including a child, were wounded in different shooting incidents in the West Bank.
- The Israeli forces conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and 2 limited incursions in the north and south of the Gaza Strip.
– At least 38 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children, were arrested in the West Bank.
– 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were arrested in the central Gaza Strip when they attempted to cross the borders into Israel looking for work.
- The Israeli forces continued to attack Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
– 2 Palestinian fishermen, including a child, were wounded and 2 others were arrested off al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City.
- The Israeli forces continued to use excessive force against peaceful protests in the West Bank.
– 9 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children and a woman, were wounded in protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities.
– 21 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were wounded in solidarity demonstrations supporting the Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails.
- Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
– The Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.
– At least 14 Palestinian civilians, including 3 women, were arrested at checkpoints.
- Israeli has continued efforts to create Jewish majority in occupied East Jerusalem
– A house in Beit Hanina village, north of East Jerusalem, was demolished and 12 persons became homeless.
- The Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
– The Israeli forces issued more demolition notices for houses in the area under the Israeli control.
– The settlers continued their attacks on the Palestinian civilians and their property.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (14– 20 February 2013):
Shooting:
During the reporting period, the Israeli forces wounded 39 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children and a woman, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; 35 of whom, including 7 children and a woman were wounded in the West Bank, while the 4 others, including a child, were wounded in the Gaza Strip.
In the West Bank, 35 Palestinian civilians, including 7 children and a woman were wounded; 9 of whom, including 2 children and a woman, were wounded in peaceful protests against the annexation wall and settlement activities, while the 21 others, including 4 children, were wounded in solidarity demonstration supporting the Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike in the Israeli jails. Moreover, 2 civilians were wounded during the Israeli incursions, a civilian was wounded at military checkpoints and 2 other civilians were wounded when Palestinian civilians protested against the Israeli bulldozing of lands.
During the reporting period, the Israeli forces continued to systematically use excessive force against peaceful protests organized by Palestinians and Israeli and international activists protesting against the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West Bank. As a result, 9 protestors, including 2 children and a woman, were wounded. 4 of whom, including a woman and a child, were wounded in al-Nabi Saleh weekly protest; a child was wounded in Budrus protest in Ramallah; 4 others were wounded in Kofur Qaddoum protest and a person was wounded in Jayous protest in Qalqilia. They were all wounded on Friday, 15 February 2013.
In the same context, the Palestinians organized a number of peaceful protests in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners, particularly those on a hunger strike in the Israeli jails. The Israeli forces used excessive force against these protests, as a result, 21 civilians, including 4 children, were wounded. On 15 February 2013, 17 of the wounded, including 4 children, were wounded during the protest that was organized in front of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah. Moreover, on 19 February 2013, 4 protestors were wounded during a peaceful protest that was organized in front of Ofer detention facility, southwest of Ramallah upon the call of Birzeit University students.
As a part of shooting policy at military checkpoints, on 14 February 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when the Israeli forces stationed near the intersection of Kofur Laqef village, east of Qalqilia, opened fire at a civilian vehicle that passed over an Israeli checkpoint on Qalqilia – Nablus road. As a result, a person was wounded and then arrested, while the other was arrested and transported to Kofur Qaddoum detention camp.
On 18 February 2013, a Palestinian child was wounded when the Israeli forces raided al-Aroub refugee camp, north o Hebron. Some boys gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at the Israeli soldiers, but the Israeli soldiers opened fire randomly in return. As a result, a child was wounded by a bullet to the right leg.
On 20 February 2013, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when the Israeli forces moved into Qasra village, southeast of Nablus. The Israeli forces bulldozed the electricity network in the village, as a result, the residents of the area protested against the Israeli practices. The Israeli forces opened fire in response and wounded 2 civilians.
On Wednesday, 20 February 2013, a Palestinian civilian from Bruqin village, southwest of Jenin, was wounded when the Israeli forces opened fire at him once he stepped out of his brother’s house in the said village.
In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli forces continued to open fire at the Palestinians near the border fence. On 14 February 2013, the Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of al-Douh valley, northeast of Beit Hanoun, opened fire at a group of scrap and rubble collectors. As a result, 2 persons were wounded. It should be noted that they were 300 meters away from the border fence.
In the context of targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea, on 18 February 2013, the Israeli gunboats attacked a Palestinian fishing boat boarded by 5 fishermen, while they were sailing off al-Sudaniya shore, north of Gaza City. The Israeli navy forces opened fire at the boat that was 10 meters away from them. As a result, 2 fishermen, including a child, were wounded. It is worth saying that the fishing boat was 3 nautical miles off the shore that means it was in the area allowed for Palestinian fishermen to sail and fish, which reached 6 nautical miles according to the cease fire agreement between the Palestinian resistance groups and Israel on 22 November 2012.
On 19 February 2013, the Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, arrested 2 fishermen and confiscated their fishing boat. According to the Fishermen Union, the Palestinian boat was sailing about 1400 meters off the shore.
The full report is available online at:
http://www.pchrgaza.org/
