A week in the life of a Palestinian child: Oct 3-9, 2019 (2 minute video)

A video showing some of Israel’s human rights violations during the week of October 3 – 9, 2019. The full list of Israeli abuses is below. (This video is also on YouTube.)

This was a typical week. See reports about previous weeks here and here.

More information:

Human rights reports on Israel-Palestine by numerous human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Red Cross, etc
Additional articles on Israeli violations of human rights.

Israeli violations of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory 03 – 09 October 2019

Reposted from PCHR Gaza

Great March of Return in Eastern Gaza Strip: A civilian was killed and 67 others injured, including 30 children, a woman, and a paramedic and a civilian previously injured succumbed to his wounds.

West Bank: 11 civilians injured, including 2 journalists and an Israeli activist, in the West Bank.

During 80 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem: 60 civilians arrested, including 2 children and a woman.

Israeli forces accompanied with police dogs raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem.

2 houses demolished in Hebron and Jenin, and farmers attacked by Israeli settlers in different areas in the West Bank while harvesting olive trees.

Hundreds of settlers raided al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City and closed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

4 shootings reported against Palestinian fishing boats off Gaza Strip Shore.

26 temporary checkpoints established in the West Bank, where 3 Palestinian civilians were arrested.

Complete closure imposed on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for Jewish holidays

Summary

During the reporting period, PCHR documented 138 violations of the international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory.

As part of the Israeli violations of the right to life and bodily integrity, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded 67 others, including 30 children, a woman, and a paramedic on 77^th Friday of the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, a civilian succumbed to wounds he sustained 8 months ago at the Great March of Return protests. Meanwhile in the West Bank, the Israeli forces wounded 11 Palestinian civilians, including 2 journalists and an Israeli activist; 3 of those wounded, including the activist, were wounded during the peaceful protests weekly organized on Friday against the occupation and settlement activity. While others, including the journalists, were wounded during Israeli forces raids to Palestinian cities, and an incident near the Annexation Wall in the West Bank.

As part of the Israeli incursions and house raids, Israel carried out 80 incursions into the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, and raided civilian houses, attacking and enticing fear among residents in addition to shooting in many incidents. As a result, 60 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 children and a woman. During this week, the Israeli forces raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem and searched the Oncology Department. They ransacked through the department and terrified patients with their police dogs.

As part of Israeli attacks against Palestinian fishermen in the Gaza Strip, 4 shootings were reported by the Israeli gunboats against the Palestinian fishing boats at sea within the allowed limited area for fishing while 2 shootings were reported against the agricultural lands in eastern Gaza Strip.

Under the settlement expansion activities in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, PCHR documented 2 house demolitions in Hebron and Jenin and 8 attacks by settlers, including throwing stones at vehicles and puncturing their tires; preventing farmers from entering their lands; cutting and burning olive trees; raiding al-Aqsa and al-Ibrahimi Mosques and closing the latter.

In terms of the Israeli closure policy, the Gaza Strip still suffers the worst closure in the History of the Israeli occupation of the oPt as it has entered the 14^th consecutive year, without any improvement to the movement of persons and goods and ongoing isolation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank and the rest of the world. Meanwhile, the West Bank is divided into separate cantons with key roads blocked by the Israeli occupation since the Second Intifada and with temporary and permanent checkpoints, where civilians’ movement is restricted and others are arrested.

Moreover, during the reporting period, Israel imposed a complete closure on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for Jewish Holidays. In the West Bank, Israel completely closed the King Hussein Bridge starting from 08:00 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, to Thursday, 10 October 2019, as announced by the General Administration of crossings and borders.

Violation of the right to life and to bodily integrity

Excessive Use of Force against the Great March of Return in the Gaza Strip

Israeli forces continued the excessive use of lethal force against “The Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege” (GMR) peaceful demonstrations in the Gaza Strip; as well as protests in the West Bank against settlement expansion activities.

This week’s protest in Gaza was titled “Reconciliation is the People’s Choice,” and witnessed large civilian participation, faced with excessive and lethal force by Israeli forces despite the peaceful nature of the demonstrations. At approximately 15:00 on 04 October 2019, protests started across the five GMR encampments until 19:00, and involved activities such as speeches and theatrical performances. Hundreds of civilians protested at varied distances from the border fence across the Gaza Strip, and threw stones, firecrackers and Molotov Cocktails at Israeli forces. As a result, a civilian was killed and 67 other were injured, including 30 children, a woman and a paramedic. Additionally, a previously wounded civilian at GMR succumbed to his wounds.

The incidents were as follows:

Northern Gaza Strip: Israeli shooting at the demonstrators resulted in the killing of ‘Ala’a Nizar ‘Ayesh Hamdan (28), from Beit Hanoun village, after being shot with a live bullet in the chest while he was about 50 – 100 meters west of the border fence. Hamdan was transferred via an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) to the medical point where medical crews tried to resuscitate him for half an hour, with no avail. At approximately 17:05, Hamdan was pronounced dead. Furthermore, 12 civilians injured, including 9 children: 5 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, including 3 children; 5 children were shot with rubber bullets; and 2 civilians, including a child, were directly hit with tear gas canisters. The wounded civilians were transferred via ambulances belonging to the Ministry of Health and the Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC) to the Indonesian and al-‘Awda Hospitals and their injuries were classified between minor and moderate.
Gaza City: Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrations, which continued from 16:00 until 18:30, resulted in the injury of 11 protestors, including 7 children: 6 shot with live bullets and their shrapnel; 2 with rubber bullets and 3 were hit with tear gas canisters.
Central Gaza Strip: Israeli shooting and teargasing at the demonstrators, which continued from 15:00 from 19:00, resulted in the injury of 16 protestors, including 4 children; 10 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 5 were shot with rubber bullets and 1civilians was hit with tear gas canister.
Khan Younis: Israeli shooting and teargasing at demonstrators resulted in the injury of 9 civilians, including 4 children and a paramedic; 3 of them were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 3 were shot with rubber bullets and 3 with tear gas canisters. The wounded volunteer paramedic, ‘Ali Abdul ‘Aziz Fuseifes (22), from Bani Suheilah, was hit with a tear gas canister in the head.
Rafah: Israeli shooting and teargasing resulted in the injury of 19 civilians, including 6 children: 5 were shot with live bullets and their shrapnel, 11 were shot with rubber bullets and 3 were hit with tear gas canisters.

Civilian Succumbed to his wounds in northern Gaza Strip:

At approximately 12:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip declared the death of Fadi Osama Ramadan Hejazi (20), from Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza Strip, after he succumbed to the wounds he sustained at GMR.

According to PCHR’s investigations, on 22 February 2019, Hejazi sustained serious wounds after he was shot with a live bullet in the thighs in eastern Jabalia, damaging his veins, tendons and arteries. He sustained additional wounds on 19 April 2019, as he was shot with a live bullet in the right knee in eastern al-Buraij camp protests in the central Gaza Strip. As a result, Hejazi suffered from another cut in the veins and arteries. Hejazi later suffered from blockage of arteries leading to a coma. At approximately 14:00 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Hejazi was taken to the Indonesian Hospital and doctors said that he suffered from clots. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at approximately 09:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019. Hejazi was transferred to the Forensic Medicine Department in al-Shifa Hospital to reveal the cause of death; the forensic report identified the complications of thrombosis in the blood vessels in the lower extremities as the cause of death. Therefore, the Palestinian Ministry of Health officially announced that Hejazi’s death was caused by his wounds.

Excessive use of force in the West Bank:

At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 October 2019, Palestinians from Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyah launched their weekly peaceful protest and headed towards the village’s eastern entrance that has been closed by Israeli forces for the past 16 years in favor of “Kedumim” settlement. The demonstrators chanted national slogans demanding end of the occupation and protested the Israeli forces’ crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The protestors threw stones at the Israeli soldiers stationed behind sand berms while the soldiers fired live and rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, 3 civilians, were injured injured, including an activist from the Israeli Youth Civic Leadership Institute (YCLI); a 26-year-old civilian was shot with a sponge-bullet in the foot, a 28-year-old civilian was shot with a rubber bullet in the hand, and a 26-year-old civilian was hit with a rubber bullet in the shoulder.
At approximately 13:30 on Friday, 04 October 2019, a group of Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful protest from the center of Kafer Thuluth village, northeast of Qalqiliyah, into ‘Arab Khuli area in the village where Israeli forces established a steel gate to ban farmers from entering their lands behind the gate. The protestors threw stones at Israeli forces stationed behind sand berms, while the soldiers responded with rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, many civilians sustained tear gas inhalation. On Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces opened the gate.

Shooting and other violations of the right to life and bodily integrity

At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces moved into Ramallah and stationed in al-Tirah neighborhood, west of the city. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Walid Hanatshah and then arrested him. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian young men and children gathered and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli soldiers in military vehicles. The soldiers fired rubber bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, photojournalist Mohammed Radi was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot. On 16 August 2017, photojournalist Radi was shot with a rubber bullet in the face while covering the demolition of a house by the Israeli forces along with Palestine TV Channel crews.
At approximately 08:30 on the same Thursday, Israeli gunboats stationed off al-Sudaniyah shore, west of Jabalia in northern Gaza Strip, sporadically opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats sailing between 3 to 5 nautical miles and chased them. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 07:35 on Friday, 04 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 08:25 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli gunboats stationed in northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, heavily opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. The shooting recurred at approximately 08:55 on the same day. As a result, fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; no casualties were reported.
On Saturday evening, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall, fired rubber bullets at Lo’ai Mohammed Abu Rmelah, from Ya’bud village, southwest of Jenin. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the leg while attempting to sneak into Israel through the Gate established on lands of Qifin village, north of Tulkarm. Rmelah was transferred to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Governmental Hospital in Jenin for treatment.
Also on Saturday evening, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Suheib ‘Ammar ‘Amer (26), from ‘Alar village in Tulkarm. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city.
At approximately 10:00 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall, fired rubber bullets at Khalid Mahmoud Tawfiq Ja’arah (25), from ‘Alar village, north of Tulkarm, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established at lands of Zeta village. As a result, Ja’arah was shot with a rubber bullet to the foot.
At approximately 23:00 on the same Sunday, Israeli forces moved into Nablus through its eastern and southern entrances and stationed in the eastern area of the city to secure the entry of dozens of buses carrying settlers to the abovementioned area in order to perform their religious rituals and Talmudic prayers in “Joseph’s Tomb” in Balatat al-Balad village. Meanwhile, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and set tires on fire, put barricades on streets and threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli vehicles in the city. Israeli forces fired rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at them to disperse them. As a result, a number of civilians suffocated due to tear gas inhalation and they received medical treatment on the spot. Journalist Mo’tasem Samir Saqf al-Hait (31) was shot with a rubber bullet in the abdomen. Emad Edden Yaseen Taha Hamzah (18) was shot with rubber bullet in the left hand, causing a fracture to it. Hamzah was transferred to Rafidiya Hospital to receive medical treatment. Israeli sources mentioned that Israeli forces moved into Nablus to secure the entry of 17 buses carrying 1100 settlers to “Joseph’s Tomb”. They added that “Eli Cohen”, Israeli Minister of Economy, “Yossi Dagan”, Head of the Shomron Regional Council, and “Moshe Arbel”, a member of the Knesset, were along with the settlers.
At approximately 07:30 on Monday, 07 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Ahmed Mustafa Tawfiq Sa’abnah (23), from Fahmah village, south of Jenin, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the Gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the foot.
On Monday evening, 07 October 2019, Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall fired rubber bullets at Abdul Salam Khalil Katanah (25), from Nazlet ‘Essa village, north of Tulkarm, while attempting to sneak into Israel through the gate established on lands of Zeta village, north of the city. As a result, he was shot with a rubber bullet in the leg. Israeli forces detained Katana at Barta’a checkpoint, southwest of Jenin for questioning him and then handed him to the Palestinian Military Liaison. The ambulance officer said that Katana was transferred to Dr. Thabet Governmental Hospital in Tulkarm for medical treatment. It should be noted that Katana is the fifth civilian, who was wounded by Israeli forces assigned to guard the annexation wall this week.
At approximately 07:20 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces stationed northwest of Beit Lahia in northern Gaza Strip, opened fire and chased Palestinian fishing boats sailing within 3 nautical miles. As a result, the fishermen were forced to flee fearing for their lives; neither casualties nor material damage was reported.
At approximately 08:00 on the same Tuesday, Israeli soldiers stationed in eastern al-Shoka village, east of Rafah opened fire at agricultural lands; no casualties were reported.
At approximately 07:30 on Wednesday, 09 October 2019, Israeli soldiers stationed east of Khan Younis opened fire at agricultural lands in the west of the border fence; no casualties were reported.

Incursions and Arrests

Thursday, 03 October 2019:

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Abu Mesh’al, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Yousef Zahran and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Kobar village, north of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Obeid Wajdi al-Barghouthi and then arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Nablus, and stationed at al-Makhfeya neighborhood, north of Nablus. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Anwar Fawzi Hamami (25) and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Janeya village, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mamdouh Jamal Omaira and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into southern Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Yousef Abu Hussain (33) and Basheer Khaled al-Rajabi (31) and then arrested them.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Qalqelya. They raided and searched a house belonging to Omar Mohammed Khadraj (25) and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:15, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ali Bassam Sabri ‘Atyani (27) and then arrested him.

In the afternoon hours, Israeli forces moved into Kober village, north of Ramallah for the second time in a few hours. They raided and searched a house belonging to Abdulsalam al-Barghouthi, and then arrested his three sons; Qasam, Nasim, and Aseel.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Dar Hotel at al-Shaikh Jarrah neighborhood, north of the old city of occupied East Jerusalem. They banned an event organized by the Higher Islamic Commission titled as “Jerusalem Cultural Landscape”, claiming that it is sponsored by Hamas Movement. Eyewitnesses said that the Israeli police and intelligence services stormed the hotel while Shaikh Najeh Bkirat, Director of Islamic Education in the Department of Islamic Endowments, was giving his speech. Suddenly, they stopped him and interrupted the event claiming that Hamas Movement sponsored it. The order was signed by Doron Yedid, the Jerusalem District Israeli Police Commander stating that: “By the power vested in me, according to Article 69 of the Anti-Terror Law 2016, I am convinced that today, at al-Dar Hotel, a cultural seminar sponsored by Hamas (terrorist organization) will be held, so I ordered to ban this event in the above-mentioned place or any place inside the State of Israel at this or any other date“. Furthermore, they detained all the attendees at al-Dar Hotel, checked their IDs, and confiscated a video camera belonging to Palestine TV. They also arrested Shaikh Najeh Dawoud Bkairat (65) and the academic researcher Aziz al-‘Asa (63), then they were taken to investigation center number (4) which is belonging to Israeli police office in West Jerusalem.

Israeli forces carried out (7) incursions in Jifna, north of Ramallah; Kafr Romman village, east of Tulkarm; Kafl Hares city and Hares village, in Salfit; Dora, Samoua’, and al-Shoyoukh villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Friday, 04 September 2019:

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Laith Tariq Darweesh (19) and then arrested him after they hit him. It should be noted that a video published on shows the Israeli soldiers beaten Darweesh using batons, then taken him by force into a military vehicle.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces established a temporary military checkpoint at the main street leading to Qalqilya. They checked Palestinian civilians’ ID cards and then arrested, then they arrested Said Belal Swailem (30), form Qalqilya, and took him to an unknown destination.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bait Kahel village, northwest of Hebron. They raided and searched three houses belonging to Mohammed Ali ‘Asafra (33), Yousef Izzat ‘Asafra (43), and sabri Aqil ‘Asafra, and no arrests were reported.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Kafr Jamal village, south of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hasan Abdulatif Mohammed Tuba, and confiscated (15,000) NIS. The above-mentioned civilian said to PCHR’s fieldworker:

“At approximately 02:00, on Friday down, 04 October 2019, Israeli forces stormed my house. Suddenly, the Israeli police officer ordered me to give him the money I have. I replied: which money? He answered the money that you withdrew from the bank today. I refused and said I do not have money because I could not bear the idea of having my money taken unlawfully. They searched my house upside down with no avail, so the police officer ordered a female soldier to search my wife’s clothes and then confiscated my money that I took in compensation for my work as a construction worker. At the end, they confiscate 15,000 NIS, and handed me a warrant with the confiscated amount. I headed to the Israeli military liaison and Ariel settlement police station, but with no avail. And now I am banned from working in Israel because I do not have security clearance and I have a martyr son“.

At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, and stationed in al-‘Ain neighborhood, they closed the street leading to Israeli military watch tower at the entrance of the village. Dozens of protestors approached and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. The Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber bullets and tear gas canisters at the participants and chased them until they arrived to the city center. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and they arrested Mohammed Mofeed Mohammed Ekhlaliel (18). The Israeli forces claimed that they stormed the village because they found explosives near the abovementioned tower.

Israeli forces carried out (6) incursions in Tel village, southwest of Nablus; Kafr Jamal village, south of Tulkarm; Kafr Qadoum village, northeast of Qalqelya; Yasouf village, east of Salfit; Yata; and Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Saturday, 05 October 2019:

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Issa village, in western Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mahmoud Abdulaziz al-Jamal (39) and then arrested him.

Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Ahmed Rafea’ al-Salibi (23) and Kareem Ibrahim Abu Maria (24), and then arrested them. Furthermore, Israeli forces stormed two stores belonging to Yousef Ahmed Abdullah Ekhlaiel and Ahmed Mohammed Ali Ekhlaiel, and then confiscated their digital video recorder device. Also, they stormed a house belonging to Sami Hasan Jaber al-Allami and got onto the roof of his house looking for surveillance cameras.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Deir Samit, southwest of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Khader al-Haroub (34) and then arrested him.
Around the same time, Israeli forces moved into al-Burj village, south of Dura, southwest of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Kayed Mohammed ‘Amaira (44) and then arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. They raided and searched two houses belonging to Yousef Fareed Obaid (21) and Nadeem Harbi Obaid (24), and then arrested them.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli forces stationed at King Hussein Bridge Crossing, arrested Islam Asri Fayyad (24) anbd Na’em Abdulrahim Jaradat (23), from Jenin refugee camp, west of Jenin, while they were back from Jordan to oPt; they were led to an unknown destination.

At approximately 17:50, Israeli forces arrested Basel Aziz Obaid (21), while he was near his house in al-Issaweya village, northeast of old East Jerusalem. He was taken to an investigation center in Israel.

At approximately 19:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azoun village, east of Qalqilya, amidst firing sound bombs and teargas canisters at the participants. As a result, dozens of civilians suffocated due to teargas inhalation, and Dr. Mohammed Othman Mattar’s house sustained damage. Israeli forces threw a teargas canister at Mattar’s window, which burnt the sofas, curtains, and carpets. After that, the civil defense units came and put the fire out.

Sunday, 06 October 2019

At approximately 00:00, Israeli forces moved into Bab Hattah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Ayham Khaill Sharifah (18) and amjad Mohammed Abu Suneinah (23) and then arrested them

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Silwan village, south of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Emad Eden Kahlil al-‘Abasi (32) and then handed him a summons to refer to al- Maskobiya detention center in West Jerusalem.

At approximately 01:15, Israeli forces moved into Nazlet ‘Essa village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mosa’ab Abdul Qader Abu al-Shawareb (14) and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Qifin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hadi Saleh Tawfiq Harshah (23) and then arrested him.

At approximately 03:30, Israeli forces moved into ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliya. They raided and searched several houses and the arrested Samer Sa’ed Redwan (22), ‘Ala’a ‘Asem Mansour (24) and Mo’ath Islam Redwan (17).

At approximately 11:00, Israeli forces arrested Mo’men Abdullah Hashimah (19) in Bab Hattah neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem and took him to a detention center.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli raided Augusta Victoria Hospital in al-Tour neighborhood, east of occupied East Jerusalem. They searched the medical departments claiming to search for weapons. Eyewitness that officers from the police and Israeli Intelligence Service along with police dogs and deployed inside the rooms of “Oncology Department” and carried out a wide-scale search process for weapons. As a result, patients in the hospital panicked.

Israeli forces carried out (3) incursions in Deir Samet village, al-Fawar refugee camp and Dura in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Monday, 07 October 2019:

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Duheishah refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging Majd Khalid Mohammed al-Ja’fari (21) and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Bethlehem and stationed in Wad Ma’ali area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Saleh Hasan Salahat (38) and then arrested him.

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Safa village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched Hanthalah Cultural Centre (HCC) after breaking the main door. They confiscated files and other office contents. Hanthalah was established in 1998 and organize festivals and activities relevant to the Palestinian heritage that aim at developing individual skills.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-Mazra’ah al-Ghrabiyah village, northwest of Ramallah. They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to Bader Eden Feras Soboh (18) and Abdullah Abu Fraih (19) and then arrested them.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anza village, south of Jenin. They raided and searched a house belonging to Karam Mohammed Sadaqa (21) and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into ‘Atil village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched a house belonging to Hammam ‘Atef Mohammed Nassar (24) and the arrested him.

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ahmed Mesleh Shehadah (21) and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Hares village, northwest of Salfit. They raided and searched a house belonging to Na’el Ahmed Mesleh Shehadah Kalib (18) and then arrested him.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli forces moved into ‘Anabta village, north of Tulkarm. They raided and searched several houses after which they arrested Reda Majdi ‘Ozati (22), Yusuf Islam Abu Raya (21) and ‘Amr Khalid Husein Foqaha’a (20).

At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces moved into Far’ata village, northeast of Qalqiliyah. They raided and searched a house belonging to Na’el ahmed Rafiq Shana’ah (18) and then arrested him.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces stationed at Jeet military checkpoint between Nablus and Qaliliyah, arrested 5 civilians from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus and they were identified as: Mohammed Lutfi Hasan Marshoud (28), Mohammed Mahmoud Suleiman Marshoud (27), Mohammed Maimoun ‘Anab (25), Namer Husein Abu Mustafa (38) and his wife, Shurouq Mohammed Hasan Abu Mustafa (29).

Tuesday, 08 October 2019:

At approximately 01:30, Israeli forces moved into Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah. They raided and searched several houses and the arrested 3 civilians namely: Mahmoud ‘Awad Hamed , Mustafa Abdul Ra’ouf Hamed and Mohammed Saleh Dar Saleh.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Issawiyah village, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem. They raided and searched a house belonging to Ayman Mohammed Sharif (24) and then arrested him.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Nasser Eden and then arrestd his sons ‘Ezz Eden (23) and Yahiya (19).

At approximately 02:30, Israeli forces moved into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed ‘Atiyah Banat (44) and the arrested him and his son Jamal (20).

At approximately 11:00, Israeli police officers stationed at Bab Hatta, which is one of al-Aqsa Mosque gates in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, handed summonses to journalists Misa’a Mahmoud Abu Ghazala (34) and Sondos Abdul Rahman Abu Baker ‘Ouwais (23) to refer to al-Qashla police center in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City. When both journalists arrived at the abovementioned police center, they were interrogated on claims of “disturbing public order” through recording settlers, who entered al-Aqsa Mosque. Both journalists were later released.

Israeli forces carried out (13) incursions in ‘Aboud, al-Nabi Saleh and Kafer Ne’mah villages in Ramalah and al-Birah Jenin and ‘Azzoun village, east of Qalqiliyah; Shuweikah Suburb, east of Tulkarm; Beit Ummer, Sa’ir, Ethna, al-Koum, Kherbat Mosafer and Yatta villages in Hebron. No arrests were reported.

Wednesday, 09 October 2019:

At approximately 01:00, Israeli forces moved into Hebron and stationed in Farsh al-Hawa area. They raided and searched a house belonging to Badran Bader Jaber (72) and then arrested him.

At the same time, Israeli forces moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to Mohammed Abdul Karim Abu Daya (16) and then arrested him.

Collective Punishment:

On Sunday evening, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces informed Abu Hmaid family, al-Am’ari refugee camp residents, in al-Birah by phone to demolish their house. Lutfiyah Naji Abu Hmaid said that an Israeli officer phone called her and informed her of the demolition decision. The officer told Lutfiyah that she can appeal against the decision within a week, but she confirmed that she would not appeal before, what she called, moot courts. Lutfiyah added that she is currently reconstructing the house, which was blown up, and now building the third floor. Lutfiyah also said that the demolition of the house was on grounds of being built on a confiscated land and Israeli forces ban construction of any demolished house for 5 years.

This decision is part of the collective punishment policy adopted by the Israeli forces against families of Palestinian individuals accused of carrying out attacks against Israeli forces and/or settlers. Israeli forces blew up Abu Hmaid family on Saturday, 15 December 2018 as a punishment for her after her son Islam threw a stone at the head of a soldier on 06 June 2018 leading to his death. Before its demolition, their residence was a 4-story house built on an area of 150 square meters. It should be noted that Israeli forces demolished Abu Hmaid family for the third time as they demolished it before in 1994 and in 2003. Moreover, Abu Hmaid’s family has 6 prisoners, who serve their sentences in the Israeli prisons; the last one of them was Islam, who was arrested on 13 June 2018.

Settlement Expansion and settler violence in the West Bank including occupied East Jerusalem

Demolition and Confiscation of Civilian Property for Settlement Expansion Activities

At approximately 09:00 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, an Israeli force backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with 2 excavators and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron. They stationed in Wad al-Shaiekh area in the eastern part of the village and demolished an under-construction house under the pretext of non-licensing. The 150-sqaure-meter house belongs to ‘Ali Mohamed ‘Ali al-‘Alami. It should be noted that the Israeli authorities handed al-‘Alami a notice based on a military order No. (1797), which was issued in 2018. Al-‘Alami was given 96 hours to implement the demolition or the Israeli authorities will demolish it.
At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, an Israeli force backed by military construction vehicles and accompanied with a bulldozer and a vehicle of the Israeli Civil Administration moved into al-Taiba village in western Jenin. They stationed in al-Qars neighborhood, where the bulldozer demolished an under-construction house belonging to Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed Jabareen, under the pretext of non-licensing in Area C. The houses was built on an area of 240 square meters and its cost was estimated at NIS 1000.000.

Israeli Settler Violence

At approximately 02:25 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, a group of Israeli settlers moved into Qirah village, north of Salfit, and punctured the tires of 11 vehicles. They wrote slogans on the vehicles and the walls of 3 houses. ‘Aisha Khalil Nimer, Head of the village’s council, said that surveillance cameras recordings fixed in al-Qibali neighborhood showed the settlers’ attack. She added that “when official authorities came to document the assault, the Israeli liaison officer confirmed that the attackers were the same ones who attacked Askaka village in afternoon”. The affected vehicles belong to: Saher ‘Abed al-Fattah ‘Arabasi, Raied Saleh Saleh, Hekmat Majed Dalelni, Yaseen ‘Abood Abu Shamma, Naseem ‘Abood Abu Shamma, ‘Abood Yaseen Abu Shamma, Jaser Kareem ‘Arbasi, Mohamed Hatem Dalelni, Akram Hatem Dalelni, and Rami Rashid Dalelni. The affected houses belong to: Wael Majed Dalelni, Mahmoud ‘Abed al-Fattah ‘Arbasi and ‘Abed al-Jabbar Abu Shamma.

At approximately 08:00 on Sunday, Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers from harvesting olive trees in the eastern side of Kafur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqiliyia. ‘Akef ‘Abed al-Raouf ‘Abdullaj Jum’a and his family headed to their lands and an Israeli force expelled them. On the next day, Israeli forces expelled Jum’a and other international solidarity groups from his land. Jum’a said that: “on Sunday morning, 06 October 2019, my wife, grandsons and I headed to Hariqat ‘Ali Hijlah area in eastern Kafur Qaddoum village to harvest olive trees. When we began harvesting the trees, the guard of Kedumim settlement, who was armed, came and attempted to expel us. We refused to leave and continue our work. The guard then left the area and an Israeli force came and expelled us. On the next day, international solidarity groups and I headed to my plot of land and the settlement’s guard followed us along with an Israeli force. The Israeli soldiers decided to expel me while the international solidarity groups stayed in the land. The Israeli force came again to inform us that the area is a “closed military zone” and we should leave it. On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, I headed alone to my land and picked up some olive trees while the settlement’s guard was there and shouting at me all the time.”
Early on Monday morning, 07 October 2019, the residents of Bureen village in southern Nablus wake up and found that Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, attacked Bab Khelet al-Ghoul area. The settlers cut 36 olive trees with automatic saws. This attack came in the olive harvest season to deprive the residents of reaping crop. The trees belong to Naser Isma’il Ibrahim Qadous and Ahmed Mahmoud al-Najjar.
At approximately 10:30 on the same day, a group of Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, attacked the mixed Bureen School in the eastern entrance to the village, under the Israeli forces’ protection. The School administration evacuate all students for fear of their lives.

On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, hundreds of Israeli settlers, including the Israeli Minister of Agriculture, Uri Ariel, and right wing MP Yehuda Glick, moved into al-Aqsa Mosque’s yards in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, amid tight Israeli security measures. They imposed restrictions on Palestinian worshipers and denied their access to the mosque, coinciding with Yom Kippur Holiday. The Islamic Endowment (Awqaf) Department stated that hundreds of Israeli setters raided al-Aqsa Mosque as groups via al-Maghareba Gate under Israeli forces and intelligence officers’ protection. It should be noted that many Palestinians were threatened with arrest and banned from entering the mosque by Israeli forces if they head to Bab al-Rahma Mosque. The Israeli forces also detained the worshipers’ IDs. It should be noted that groups of Temple Mount Movement have called via media and social networking sites for collective raids of al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holidays, with assurances of full protection by the Israeli police.

At approximately 13:30, Israeli settlers, from “Yatizhar” settlement, set fire to olive trees belonging to Palestinian civilians on “Yatizhar” Bypass Road in Um Brais and al-Tanour areas, south of the village. As a result, at least 100 fruitful olive trees were burned before the residents and Civil Defense managed
to extinguish the fire. The affected olive trees belong to Ahmed Mohamed Ya’qoub ‘Odah.

At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, Israeli settlers, who were driving a car on Ramallah-Nablus main street in ‘Oyoun Haramiyia area, threw stones at Ibrahim Suliman Mohamed al-Deek’s (31) vehicle, from al-Sawiyia village, south of Nablus. As a result, the vehicle’s windshield was broken. Al-Deek said to PCHR’s fieldworker that: “At approximately 17:30 on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, I was returning from my workplace in Ramallah and heading to al-Sawiyia village. When I arrived at ‘Oyoun Haramiyia area, north of Ramallah, there was a traffic jam. I was startled when a stone hit my windshield. The glass scattered on my face, body and inside my car. I closed my eyes and paused for a moment, then proceeded with caution.”

On Wednesday, 09 October 2019, Israeli forces closed al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the central of Hebron’s Old City. They ordered the Islamic Endowment officers to get out of the mosque and prevented worshipers from entering it. Hundreds of Israeli settlers raided al-Ibrahimi Mosque to perform prayers on Yom Kippur Holiday.

Closure policy and restrictions on freedom of movement of persons and goods

West Bank

In addition to permanent checkpoints and closed roads, this week witnessed the establishment of more temporary checkpoints that restrict the goods and individuals movement between villages and cities and deny civilians’ access to their work. Israeli forces established 26 temporary checkpoints and arrested a civilian. Furthermore, 2 civilians were arrested while travelling via King Hussein Crossing.

The military checkpoint were as follows:

Jerusalem:

Israeli forces closed the “Tunnel” and “300” military checkpoints, which separate occupied Jerusalem from Bethlehem, in addition to closing “al-Jeep” and “Hizmah” checkpoints on Monday and Tuesday midnight until Wednesday midnight, coinciding with Yom Kippur Holiday. Furthermore, Israeli forces closed all the entrance to Arab villages and neighborhoods with iron barriers and cement cubes, completely paralyzing traffic within the area.

Hebron:

On Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces established 2 checkpoints at the entrance to Sa’ir village and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.

On Friday, 04 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the eastern entrance to Dura, at the entrances to Tarama and Beit Ummer villages, and at the entrance to al-Fawar refugee camp.

On Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the entrances to al-Shayyoukh, al-Jalajel and al-Raboud villages, and at the entrance to al-‘Aroub refugee camp. In morning hours, the Israeli forces closed the entrance to Beit Ummer village, north of Hebron, with a metal detector gate and denied Palestinians’ access to their vehicles. As a result, they were forced to use a bypass road for entering and exiting the village.

On Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces established 4 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, at the entrance to Yatta, at the southern entrance to Hebron, and at the entrance to Beit Kahel village.

On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at the southern entrance to Halhoul village, at the eastern entrance to Dura village, and at the entrance to Beit Kahel village.

Nablus:

At approximately 20:00 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces stationed at the checkpoint of “Shavi Shamroun” settlement, on Nablus-Jenin Street, northwest of the city, obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles.

Israeli forces stationed at Beit Foreek checkpoint, at the eastern entrance to the village, obstructed the movement of Palestinian every day after 14:00.

At approximately 08:30 on Sunday, 06 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint in al-Fawar area, at the southeastern entrance to al-Tal village, southwest of the city.

At approximately 15:30, a similar checkpoint was established in al-Sarifi area on al-Bathan-Nablus road, at the northern entrance to the city.

On Tuesday, 08 October 2019, Israeli forces established 3 checkpoints at Tall-Madama villages’ intersections (at the southern entrance to Tall village), at the entrance to Homish settlement (Jenin-Nablus Road), and on ‘Asirah-Nablus Road (at the northern entrance to Nablus).

Salfit:

At approximately 08:50 on Saturday, 05 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to Dir Balout village, west of the city.

At approximately 09:50, a similar checkpoint was established at the northern entrance to the city.

Tulkarm:

At approximately 23:30 on Thursday, 03 October 2019, Israeli forces established a checkpoint at the entrance to ‘Izbit al-Tabeeb village, east of Tulkarm.

At approximately 19:00, a similar checkpoint was established on a road connecting between Jayyous and Kafur Jamal villages, south of the city.

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