14 june 2019
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PCHR): On Friday, 14 June 2019, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 61st Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 92 Palestinian civilians, 28 of them were children and four were paramedics, including a female paramedic, in the eastern Gaza Strip. One of the wounded was a child, who was hit with a live bullet to the chest and sustained serious wound.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters by firing bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, dozens of the protesters were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
During this week, Israeli forces have escalated their attacks against the medical personnel in the field, wounding 4 members of them with rubber bullets and direct tear gas canisters in eastern Rafah. This indicates that there is an Israeli systematic policy to target the medical personnel and obstruct their humanitarian work that is guaranteed under the rules of the international humanitarian law.
On Friday, 14 June 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 16:30, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds of protesters, including children and women, gathered adjacent to the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and its vicinity tens and hundreds of meters away from the fence. The protesters chanted slogans, raised flags, and in very limited incidents attempted to approach the border fence and throw stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the protesters gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters. The Israeli attacks, which continued at around 19:30, resulted in the injury of 92 Palestinian civilians, 28 of them were children and four were paramedics, including a female paramedic.
sAmong those wounded, 25 were hit with live bullets and shrapnel, 52 were hit with rubber bullets and 15 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. One of the wounded was a child, who was hit with a live bullet to the chest and sustained serious wound.
In addition, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
table shows the number of civilian casualties due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March:
Killed Wounded
Total 207 12707
Children 44 2532
Women 2 385
Journalists 2 203
Medical personnel 4 209
Persons with disabilities 9 Undefined
Note: Among those wounded, 548 are in serious condition and 137 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 123 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, particularly lifting the closure which is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR reiterates the reported published in February by the UN Commission of Inquiry which emphasizes what came by PCHR and other Palestinian and international human rights organizations. The report at the time concluded that the Israeli violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters by firing bullets and tear gas canisters at them. As a result, dozens of the protesters were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
During this week, Israeli forces have escalated their attacks against the medical personnel in the field, wounding 4 members of them with rubber bullets and direct tear gas canisters in eastern Rafah. This indicates that there is an Israeli systematic policy to target the medical personnel and obstruct their humanitarian work that is guaranteed under the rules of the international humanitarian law.
On Friday, 14 June 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 16:30, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities.
Hundreds of protesters, including children and women, gathered adjacent to the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and its vicinity tens and hundreds of meters away from the fence. The protesters chanted slogans, raised flags, and in very limited incidents attempted to approach the border fence and throw stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the protesters gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters. The Israeli attacks, which continued at around 19:30, resulted in the injury of 92 Palestinian civilians, 28 of them were children and four were paramedics, including a female paramedic.
sAmong those wounded, 25 were hit with live bullets and shrapnel, 52 were hit with rubber bullets and 15 were directly hit with tear gas canisters. One of the wounded was a child, who was hit with a live bullet to the chest and sustained serious wound.
In addition, dozens of civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip.
table shows the number of civilian casualties due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March:
Killed Wounded
Total 207 12707
Children 44 2532
Women 2 385
Journalists 2 203
Medical personnel 4 209
Persons with disabilities 9 Undefined
Note: Among those wounded, 548 are in serious condition and 137 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 123 lower-limb amputations, 14 upper-limb amputations, and 25 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters, as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.PCHR reiterates Palestinians’ right to peaceful assembly to confront Israel and its forces’ denial of the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination, right to return and right to end the occupation of the Palestinian territory.
PCHR stresses that the Israeli forces should stop using excessive force and respond to the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, particularly lifting the closure which is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
PCHR reiterates the reported published in February by the UN Commission of Inquiry which emphasizes what came by PCHR and other Palestinian and international human rights organizations. The report at the time concluded that the Israeli violations may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Thus, PCHR reiterates its call upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR also emphasizes that the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention should fulfill their obligation under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Israeli soldiers injured, Friday, many nonviolent protesters in during the weekly procession against the illegal Annexation Wall and Colonies, in Ni’lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah.
The locals, accompanied by Israeli and international peace activists, marched from the center of the village and headed to the Palestinians orchards while chanting against the ongoing illegal occupation, the Annexation Wall and colonies, in addition to condemning the so-called “Deal of the Century.”
They also carried Palestinian flags, and chanted against the American attempts to void the legitimate, internationally guaranteed Palestinian rights of liberation, independence and sovereignty.
The Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Ni’lin, said the soldiers fired many live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
The locals, accompanied by Israeli and international peace activists, marched from the center of the village and headed to the Palestinians orchards while chanting against the ongoing illegal occupation, the Annexation Wall and colonies, in addition to condemning the so-called “Deal of the Century.”
They also carried Palestinian flags, and chanted against the American attempts to void the legitimate, internationally guaranteed Palestinian rights of liberation, independence and sovereignty.
The Popular Committee against the Annexation Wall and Colonies in Ni’lin, said the soldiers fired many live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation.
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, a weekly procession in Azmout village, east of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, causing many Palestinians to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the residents marched to their lands to protest the Israeli decision to illegally annex 20 Dunams of Palestinian orchards and farmlands located in Azmout and Deir al-Hatab villages.
He added that the army confiscated the Palestinian lands to pave a new military road, and to annex them to the illegal Elon Moreh colony.
During the procession, the soldiers fired a barrage of gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to causing fire in surrounding lands.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors Israel’s illegal colonialist activities in northern West Bank, said the residents marched to their lands to protest the Israeli decision to illegally annex 20 Dunams of Palestinian orchards and farmlands located in Azmout and Deir al-Hatab villages.
He added that the army confiscated the Palestinian lands to pave a new military road, and to annex them to the illegal Elon Moreh colony.
During the procession, the soldiers fired a barrage of gas bombs and concussion grenades, causing many to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to causing fire in surrounding lands.
Israeli warplanes at dawn Friday bombed two sites in the besieged Gaza Strip, with no reported casualties.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that a warplane fired at least three missiles at a resistance post in the east of al-Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Another barrage of air-to-surface missiles targeted the new Gaza seaport in the south.
Explosions heard during the airstrikes, amid intensive overflights.
The Israeli occupation army claimed its aerial attacks came after a rocket fired from Gaza hit a building in Sderot settlement, north of Gaza.
A reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) said that a warplane fired at least three missiles at a resistance post in the east of al-Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City.
Another barrage of air-to-surface missiles targeted the new Gaza seaport in the south.
Explosions heard during the airstrikes, amid intensive overflights.
The Israeli occupation army claimed its aerial attacks came after a rocket fired from Gaza hit a building in Sderot settlement, north of Gaza.
13 june 2019
Israeli soldiers fired, on Thursday at dawn, several missiles into Palestinian lands in Gaza city, and Rafah in the southern part of the coastal region, causing damage to nearby homes and buildings.
Media sources said the Israeli missiles did not lead to casualties, but caused damage to some homes and structures near the targeted areas.
They added that the soldiers also fired two artillery shells into farmlands, east of Khan Rafah, causing damage,
Israel also ordered Gaza coastal waters shut until further notice, preventing the residents, including the fishermen, from entering Palestinian waters, “in response to flammable balloons and kites flown from Gaza into nearby Israeli area.”
The Israeli army said a shell was fired from Gaza, during late night hours Wednesday, before the Iron Dome missile interception system managed to detonate it.
Media sources said the Israeli missiles did not lead to casualties, but caused damage to some homes and structures near the targeted areas.
They added that the soldiers also fired two artillery shells into farmlands, east of Khan Rafah, causing damage,
Israel also ordered Gaza coastal waters shut until further notice, preventing the residents, including the fishermen, from entering Palestinian waters, “in response to flammable balloons and kites flown from Gaza into nearby Israeli area.”
The Israeli army said a shell was fired from Gaza, during late night hours Wednesday, before the Iron Dome missile interception system managed to detonate it.
Palestinian Government Spokesman, Ibrahim Melhem said that the attack on the Palestinian Preventive Security headquarters, in the city of Nablus, represents a dangerous escalation aimed at undermining the most important pillars of the establishment of a Palestinian state, and endangering internal security.
PNN reports that Melhem, in a statement on Tuesday, said the seriousness of this attack is doubled as it comes after the invitation the US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said that Israel should “at least” annex parts of the West Bank to it.
“The government strongly condemns this attack and commends the courage of security members of the Preventive Security Forces in their response to the attack,” Melhem added.
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that the provocative assault was an extension of the open war launched by the Israeli occupation authorities, against the Palestinian people, cities, villages, towns and camps with the aim of perpetuating the occupation and settlements. It also considered the attack as a way to create a state of chaos in order to pass the so-called “Deal of the Century.”
On Tuesday, early morning, a group of Israeli soldiers surrounded the building and blockaded it while opening fire from three sides before they withdrew from the area. In the overnight attack, one Palestinian security guard was wounded in the hand.
“This is not the first time and will not be the last that the occupation army harms our people, but the dangerous part in this incident is that a Palestinian military headquarters was targeted,” Governor of Nablus Ibrahim Ramadan said.
The Israeli military, on the other hand, claimed that the overnight attack was a case of apparent mistaken identity, and Israeli media has reported on the incident as being a “firefight” despite Palestinian sources saying there was no retaliatory fire exchanged.
PNN reports that Melhem, in a statement on Tuesday, said the seriousness of this attack is doubled as it comes after the invitation the US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said that Israel should “at least” annex parts of the West Bank to it.
“The government strongly condemns this attack and commends the courage of security members of the Preventive Security Forces in their response to the attack,” Melhem added.
For its part, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said that the provocative assault was an extension of the open war launched by the Israeli occupation authorities, against the Palestinian people, cities, villages, towns and camps with the aim of perpetuating the occupation and settlements. It also considered the attack as a way to create a state of chaos in order to pass the so-called “Deal of the Century.”
On Tuesday, early morning, a group of Israeli soldiers surrounded the building and blockaded it while opening fire from three sides before they withdrew from the area. In the overnight attack, one Palestinian security guard was wounded in the hand.
“This is not the first time and will not be the last that the occupation army harms our people, but the dangerous part in this incident is that a Palestinian military headquarters was targeted,” Governor of Nablus Ibrahim Ramadan said.
The Israeli military, on the other hand, claimed that the overnight attack was a case of apparent mistaken identity, and Israeli media has reported on the incident as being a “firefight” despite Palestinian sources saying there was no retaliatory fire exchanged.
12 june 2019
Israeli soldiers invaded, Wednesday, a Palestinian area near the Qalandia Terminal, north of occupied East Jerusalem, and demolished a residential building, in addition to commercial sheds, and injured many Palestinians.
The soldiers attacked many Palestinians during the invasion and demolitions, and fired gas bombs, causing dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to shooting one Palestinian with a gas bomb in his back.
The army claims that the buildings were constructed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office,” the administrative branch of its illegal occupation of the West Bank.
Media sources in Qalandia said dozens of soldiers invaded the area, while more troops were deployed around the terminal, and its surroundings, before stopping and searching dozens of Palestinians and cars.
They added that the army also delivered demolition orders targeting many residential buildings, including four apartment buildings in al-Matar Street and the main Jerusalem-Ramallah Road, as part of a plan to widen it and impose its full military control over the entire area.
The soldiers attacked many Palestinians during the invasion and demolitions, and fired gas bombs, causing dozens to suffer the effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to shooting one Palestinian with a gas bomb in his back.
The army claims that the buildings were constructed without a permit from the Israeli “Civil Administration Office,” the administrative branch of its illegal occupation of the West Bank.
Media sources in Qalandia said dozens of soldiers invaded the area, while more troops were deployed around the terminal, and its surroundings, before stopping and searching dozens of Palestinians and cars.
They added that the army also delivered demolition orders targeting many residential buildings, including four apartment buildings in al-Matar Street and the main Jerusalem-Ramallah Road, as part of a plan to widen it and impose its full military control over the entire area.
Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded, Wednesday, Jenin refugee camp, in the northern West Bank governorate of Jenin, searched homes and abducted two Palestinians, including a former political prisoner.
Media sources said the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Ezzeddin Ahmad Hardan, in addition to Mahmoud ad-Dab’ey.
Several Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the soldiers who fired rubber-coated steel bullets and concussion grenades.
Media sources said the soldiers abducted a former political prisoner, identified as Ezzeddin Ahmad Hardan, in addition to Mahmoud ad-Dab’ey.
Several Palestinians protested the invasion, and hurled stones at the soldiers who fired rubber-coated steel bullets and concussion grenades.
This picture shows the bomb-laden unmanned aerial vehicle, which Syrian government forces shot down over Tal Meleh village in the western-central province of Hama on June 11, 2019
Syrian air defense systems have intercepted a number of “hostile” missiles fired by the Israeli military, more than a week after government force foiled another Israeli act of aggression against the country.
Syria’s official SANA news agency cited unnamed military sources as saying early on Wednesday that air defense systems were activated around the strategic Tel al-Hara hill, which overlooks the occupied Golan Heights in the country’s southwestern province of Dara’a.
The attack did cause some material damage, though there were no immediate reports about casualties from the strikes.
On Tuesday evening, Syrian air defense systems intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle launched by members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
SANA reported that army forces shot down the drone loaded with bombs over Tal Meleh village in the western-central province of Hama.
On June 2, Syrian air defenses “confronted” and “downed hostile missiles” that were targeting positions in southwestern Damascus.
The aggression killed three Syrian soldiers and injured seven others, while causing some material damage.
A Syrian military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the missiles were coming from the direction of Syria’s Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
On May 17, Syrian army said its air defense units had brought down several projectiles fired from Israeli-occupied territories.
Some residents in the Syrian capital said several loud explosions were heard near Damascus.
SANA, quoting an unnamed military official, reported that the projectiles came from “the direction of” Syria’s southwestern province of Quneitra near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, adding that the air defense units had “countered” them.
Syrian air defense systems have intercepted a number of “hostile” missiles fired by the Israeli military, more than a week after government force foiled another Israeli act of aggression against the country.
Syria’s official SANA news agency cited unnamed military sources as saying early on Wednesday that air defense systems were activated around the strategic Tel al-Hara hill, which overlooks the occupied Golan Heights in the country’s southwestern province of Dara’a.
The attack did cause some material damage, though there were no immediate reports about casualties from the strikes.
On Tuesday evening, Syrian air defense systems intercepted and shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle launched by members of the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
SANA reported that army forces shot down the drone loaded with bombs over Tal Meleh village in the western-central province of Hama.
On June 2, Syrian air defenses “confronted” and “downed hostile missiles” that were targeting positions in southwestern Damascus.
The aggression killed three Syrian soldiers and injured seven others, while causing some material damage.
A Syrian military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the missiles were coming from the direction of Syria’s Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
On May 17, Syrian army said its air defense units had brought down several projectiles fired from Israeli-occupied territories.
Some residents in the Syrian capital said several loud explosions were heard near Damascus.
SANA, quoting an unnamed military official, reported that the projectiles came from “the direction of” Syria’s southwestern province of Quneitra near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, adding that the air defense units had “countered” them.
The Israeli occupation navy on Tuesday evening attacked Palestinian fishermen and reduced the permitted fishing range in Gaza waters.
According to the fishermen committees, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at fishermen, forced them to leave their nets and go back to six nautical miles.
On June 4, the Israeli army announced the expansion of the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles after reducing it to 10 miles.
Since last May, the army had expanded the offshore fishing limit imposed on Gaza six times before shrinking it each time under different pretexts.
A report released by the fishermen committees said the Israeli naval forces opened fire 32 times last May at Palestinian fishermen and their boats off the coast of Gaza, leading to the injury of two fishermen.
The Israeli navy also arrested five fishermen, caused others to lose their nets and confiscated several boats during the same month.
According to the fishermen committees, Israeli gunboats opened machinegun fire at fishermen, forced them to leave their nets and go back to six nautical miles.
On June 4, the Israeli army announced the expansion of the fishing zone to 15 nautical miles after reducing it to 10 miles.
Since last May, the army had expanded the offshore fishing limit imposed on Gaza six times before shrinking it each time under different pretexts.
A report released by the fishermen committees said the Israeli naval forces opened fire 32 times last May at Palestinian fishermen and their boats off the coast of Gaza, leading to the injury of two fishermen.
The Israeli navy also arrested five fishermen, caused others to lose their nets and confiscated several boats during the same month.
