FULL REPORT
An old Palestinian man died due to tear gas inhalation in Kofur Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilia.
An old Palestinian man died as Israeli forces hindered his passage at a military checkpoint at the entrance of Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin.
Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.
8 demonstrators were wounded in Bil'in, an-Nabi Saleh and Selwad weekly protests in Ramallah.
Of the wounded were 3 children, 2 women and 2 photojournalists.
A child was wounded in Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces launched 2 airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces conducted 53 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
At least 40 Palestinians, including 18 children, were arrested.
Contents of a house in the old town of Hebron were completely burnt as a tear gas canister fell inside.
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.
At least 16 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.
Israeli navy forces have continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip, but no casualties were reported.
Israeli forces have continued to support settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
3 dunums<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]--> of agricultural lands were levelled and 450 guava, lemon and pomegranate trees were uprooted, south of Qalqilia.
A child from Deir Istiya village, northwest of Salfit, was run down by a settler's vehicle.
Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (26 December 2013 – 01 January 2014).
Shooting:
During the reporting period, an old Palestinian man from Kofur Qaddoum, northeast of Qalqilia, died due to tear gas inhalation when Israeli forces moved into the village and fired tear gas canisters. In addition, another elderly passed away in Jenin when Israeli forces stationed at a military checkpoint at the entrance of Ya'bad village, southwest of Jenin, hindered his passage to a hospital in the city. Also during the reporting period, Israeli forces wounded 9 Palestinian civilians, including 4 children, 2 women and 2 photojournalists, 8 of whom were wounded during peaceful protests, while the 9th was wounded during a protest organized at the northern entrance of Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, but he did not participate in the protest. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched 2 airstrikes, opened fire at the east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, and opened fire also at Palestinian fishing boats, but no casualties were reported at all.
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. As a result, 8 protestors, including 3 children, 2 women and 2 photojournalists, were wounded.
On 31 December 2013, a 14-year-old child from Ayda refugee camp, north of Bethlehem, was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the right leg while he was playing around. He was taken to Beit Jala Hospital, where his wound was described as moderate.
Incursions:
During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 53 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces arrested at least 40 Palestinians, including 18 children.
On 26 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed on top of a building around the Ibrahimi Mosque fired 2 tear gas canisters at a house belonging to "Mohammed Jaber" Abdul Salam al-Karaki (67) in Qaitoun neighbourhood. As a result, contents of the house were burnt and 4 members of the family suffered severe tear gas inhalation. It should be noted that no clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians were reported in the meantime.
Restrictions on movement:
Israel continued to impose a tightened closure of the oPt, imposing severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.
The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip, which has steadily tightened since June 2007 has had a disastrous impact on the humanitarian and economic situation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli authorities impose measures to undermine the freedom of trade, including the basic needs for the Gaza Strip population and the agricultural and industrial products to be exported. For 7 consecutive years, Israel has tightened the land and naval closure to isolate the Gaza Strip from the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, and other countries around the world. This resulted in a grave violation of the economic, social and cultural rights and a deterioration of living conditions for 1.7 million people. The Israeli authorities has established Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shaloum) as the sole crossing for imports and exports in order to exercise its control over the Gaza Strip’s economy that has been aggravating for years due to the shortage of imports. They also aim at imposing a complete ban on the Gaza Strip’s exports.
Israeli forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians throughout the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem. Thousands of Palestinian civilians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue to be denied access to Jerusalem.
As part of using military checkpoints and border crossings as traps to arrest Palestinian civilians under the pretext they are wanted, Israeli forces arrested at least 16 civilians, including 4 children, in the West Bank.
Settlement activities
Israel has continued its settlement activities in the oPt, a direct violation of international humanitarian law, and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
Attacks Launched by Israeli forces:
On 26 December 2013, Israeli forces levelled lands in Ras ‘Attiyah village, south of Qalqilya.
On the same day, Israeli forces, backed with 3 military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Israeli Civil Administration (the construction and organization department), handed 4 notices to halt construction works near 4 water collection wells under the pretext of not obtaining a construction license.
On 27 December 2013, an Israeli Infantry force moved into the farmlands surrounding Um al-Kheir area, east of Yatta and adjacent to “Avigal” settlement established on al-Hathaline family lands. They deployed in the area and denied civilians access to their lands and prevented them to approach the water wells used by civilians in the area to provide them with water by attacking some of them.
On the same day, Israeli forces, backed with two military vehicles and accompanied with a vehicle belonging to the Israeli Civil Administration (the construction and organization department), moved into Um al-Kheir area, east of Yatta, south of Hebron. They deployed between the houses. The Civil Administration officer informed civilians not to approach the taboon oven and light it up under the claim that its smoke affects the settlers’ houses in “Kermaeil” settlement near the civilian houses.
On 30 December 2013, Israeli forces, backed with military vehicles and bulldozers, moved into Dotan camp, which was previously evacuated, southwest of Jenin. They levelled the camp lands without stating the reasons.
Attacks by Settlers
On 26 December 2013, while a settler was driving near the intersection of Deir Istiya village, northwest of Salfit, he ran down Ibrahim Yaser Yaser Hatem Abu Zaid (7) from Deir Istiya village. As a result, he was seriously injured.
On 27 December 2013, a number of settlers from “Havat Jal” settlement outpost established on Palestinian lands, east of Hebron, cut down 12 olive trees, which is older than 30 years, by a chainsaw and smashed branches of another 30 trees belonging to Rashid al-Zaro al-Tamimi (56).
On 28 December 2013, a group of settlers from “Karmi Tsour” settlement established on Palestinian lands, east of Hebron in Haskah area, east of Halhoul. They performed religious rituals near water springs in the area under the Israeli forces’ heavy guard.