16 may 2019
The Israeli army deployed its Iron Dome aerial defense system batteries throughout the country, on Thursday, as the Eurovision song contest kicked off earlier this week.
The Iron Dome batteries were deployed around Israel, specifically in southern Israel as Eurovision’s semi-finals kicked off on Tuesday May 14th and will hold its finals on Saturday May 18th.
The Hamas movement and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement warned Israel against any possible attacks during the Eurovision song contest.
According to Haaretz news outlet, Israeli army reservists have been activated to man the Iron Dome and will remain during Eurovision.
The Iron Dome batteries were deployed around Israel, specifically in southern Israel as Eurovision’s semi-finals kicked off on Tuesday May 14th and will hold its finals on Saturday May 18th.
The Hamas movement and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement warned Israel against any possible attacks during the Eurovision song contest.
According to Haaretz news outlet, Israeli army reservists have been activated to man the Iron Dome and will remain during Eurovision.
Israeli authorities have decided to drastically reduce the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast "until further notice," on Thursday.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, told Ma'an that Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone from 12 nautical miles to only five.
Bakr said that the Israeli naval forces prevented Palestinian fishermen from retrieving their fishing nets seven nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
Bakr also pointed out that the Israeli navy opened heavy fire at fishermen who attempted to pass the five nautical miles, forcing them to sail back to shore in fear for their lives.
Israeli practices undermined the fishermen’s ability to make a living at sea.
It is noteworthy that only six days ago, Israeli authorities allowed the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 nautical miles.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
Head of the Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza, Zakariya Bakr, told Ma'an that Israeli authorities reduced the permitted fishing zone from 12 nautical miles to only five.
Bakr said that the Israeli naval forces prevented Palestinian fishermen from retrieving their fishing nets seven nautical miles off Gaza’s coast.
Bakr also pointed out that the Israeli navy opened heavy fire at fishermen who attempted to pass the five nautical miles, forcing them to sail back to shore in fear for their lives.
Israeli practices undermined the fishermen’s ability to make a living at sea.
It is noteworthy that only six days ago, Israeli authorities allowed the expansion of the permitted fishing zone to 12 nautical miles.
Palestinian fishermen, who try to make a living off the shores of the blockaded coastal enclave face daily risks, including routine harassment from Israeli naval forces, confiscation of boats and materials, detention and live fire.
According to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in 1994, a permitted fishing range of 20 nautical miles was agreed on between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). In practice, Israel only allowed fishing up to 12 nautical miles until 2006, when the fishing zone was reduced to six and later to three.
15 may 2019
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR): During Protests In Commemoration of 71st Anniversary of Palestinian Nakba: Israeli Forces Wound 144 Palestinian Civilians, including 49 Children, 4 Women and 1 Paramedic:
On Wednesday, 15 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women, and 1 paramedic, in excessive use of force against the peaceful participants in the protests organized in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
Those protests- which were called for by the Supreme National Authority of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege under the name of “Millions for Land and Return” in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba- were preceded by the Israeli forces’ military reinforcements along the border fence with the Gaza Strip, indicating a deliberate intent to use excessive force against the protesters.
PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored the deployment of dozens of Palestinian police officers to control the situation and try to prevent the protesters from approaching the border fence. Meanwhile, the protesters acted in a fully peaceful manner as there were no attempts to burn tires.
However, in very limited incidents, some protesters approached the border fence and tried to throw stones at the fence.
According to PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces stationed in prone positions and in their military jeeps along the border fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters.
They fired live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters, wounding dozens of them without posing any imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ life.
The Israeli forces also used skunk water cannons against the protesters, particularly in Khan Younis and eastern al-Boreij, in addition to using drones that fire teargas canisters amid the protesters, who were hundreds of meters away from the border fence.
The incidents on 15 May 2019 were as follows:
At approximately 13:00, 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 and protested between 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.
The Israeli shooting, which continued until around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women and 1 paramedic, with live and rubber bullets and by being directly hit with teargas canisters.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, paramedics, journalists and PCHR’s fieldworkers suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps, riffles and drones in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following 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 2018:
Killed Wounded
Total 206 12559
Children 44 2492
Women 2 382
Journalists 2 202
Medical personnel 3 203
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 protesters, particularly in regard with lifting the closure that is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
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 involved in issuing or applying orders within the Israeli forces either at the security or 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 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.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
On Wednesday, 15 May 2019, Israeli forces wounded 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women, and 1 paramedic, in excessive use of force against the peaceful participants in the protests organized in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba.
Those protests- which were called for by the Supreme National Authority of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege under the name of “Millions for Land and Return” in commemoration of the 71st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba- were preceded by the Israeli forces’ military reinforcements along the border fence with the Gaza Strip, indicating a deliberate intent to use excessive force against the protesters.
PCHR’s fieldworkers monitored the deployment of dozens of Palestinian police officers to control the situation and try to prevent the protesters from approaching the border fence. Meanwhile, the protesters acted in a fully peaceful manner as there were no attempts to burn tires.
However, in very limited incidents, some protesters approached the border fence and tried to throw stones at the fence.
According to PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces stationed in prone positions and in their military jeeps along the border fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the protesters.
They fired live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters, wounding dozens of them without posing any imminent threat or danger to the soldiers’ life.
The Israeli forces also used skunk water cannons against the protesters, particularly in Khan Younis and eastern al-Boreij, in addition to using drones that fire teargas canisters amid the protesters, who were hundreds of meters away from the border fence.
The incidents on 15 May 2019 were as follows:
At approximately 13:00, 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 and protested between 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.
The Israeli shooting, which continued until around 18:00, resulted in the injury of 144 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 4 women and 1 paramedic, with live and rubber bullets and by being directly hit with teargas canisters.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters, paramedics, journalists and PCHR’s fieldworkers suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps, riffles and drones in the eastern Gaza Strip.
The following 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 2018:
Killed Wounded
Total 206 12559
Children 44 2492
Women 2 382
Journalists 2 202
Medical personnel 3 203
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 protesters, particularly in regard with lifting the closure that is the real solution to end the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
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 involved in issuing or applying orders within the Israeli forces either at the security or 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 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.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) at dawn Wednesday kidnapped 19 Palestinian citizens during home raids in the West Bank.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested a Palestinian minor after shooting him at the northern entrance to al-Bireh city.
The IOF raided a number of Palestinian homes in Ramallah, Jericho, Salfit, Nablus, al-Khalil, and Jerusalem, and arrested 18 Palestinians, including children.
The IOF further handed two Palestinian youths in al-Isawiya town in Jerusalem orders to appear before the Israel Intelligence Service for interrogation.
Local sources said that the IOF arrested a Palestinian minor after shooting him at the northern entrance to al-Bireh city.
The IOF raided a number of Palestinian homes in Ramallah, Jericho, Salfit, Nablus, al-Khalil, and Jerusalem, and arrested 18 Palestinians, including children.
The IOF further handed two Palestinian youths in al-Isawiya town in Jerusalem orders to appear before the Israel Intelligence Service for interrogation.
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At least 30 Palestinian protesters were shot and injured with Israeli live ammunition, on Wednesday, during mass protests commemorating the 71st anniversary of Nakba Day or "catastrophe" near the return camps along the eastern borders of the besieged Gaza Strip.
Local sources confirmed that thousands of Palestinian protesters in Gaza, which has suffered from a 12-year-long Israeli siege, arrived to the eastern borders via buses to demand their right of return as refugees to their original homelands, now in present-day Israel. Sources said that Israeli forces opened heavy fire and fired tear-gas bombs towards the protests. Medical sources confirmed that 30 Palestinians were shot and injured with |
live ammunition, while dozens of others suffered from severe tear-gas suffocation.
Sources added that Israeli forces and snipers were deployed across the borders.
May 15th 1948, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
It is noteworthy that Palestinians in Gaza have been participating for over a year in "The Great March of Return" protests along Gaza's borders, which began on March 30th 2018, during which Israeli forces killed at least 305 Palestinians, including 59 children, 10 women, and one elderly, and injured 17,335 others.
Sources added that Israeli forces and snipers were deployed across the borders.
May 15th 1948, known as the Nakba or “catastrophe,” re-focuses the world’s attention on the 750,000 Palestinians displaced during and after the establishment of the state of Israel, and the more than five million Palestinians who remain refugees as they wait to return to their lands in Israel.
It is noteworthy that Palestinians in Gaza have been participating for over a year in "The Great March of Return" protests along Gaza's borders, which began on March 30th 2018, during which Israeli forces killed at least 305 Palestinians, including 59 children, 10 women, and one elderly, and injured 17,335 others.
A Palestinian fisherman was shot and injured by Israeli naval forces while working off Gaza’s coast, on Wednesday.
The Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza told Ma'an that Mourad al-Hasi, 22, was shot and injured with a rubber-coated steel bullet fired by Israeli naval forces.
The union confirmed that the Israeli navy repeatedly opened heavy fire towards Palestinian fishermen within the permitted fishing zone of 12 nautical miles.
The fisherman's medical condition remained unknown.
It is noteworthy that last week Israeli authorities decided to expand the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast to 12 nautical miles after the Israeli escalation during which the zone was drastically reduced.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95% of fishermen living below the poverty line.
The Palestinian Fishermen Union in Gaza told Ma'an that Mourad al-Hasi, 22, was shot and injured with a rubber-coated steel bullet fired by Israeli naval forces.
The union confirmed that the Israeli navy repeatedly opened heavy fire towards Palestinian fishermen within the permitted fishing zone of 12 nautical miles.
The fisherman's medical condition remained unknown.
It is noteworthy that last week Israeli authorities decided to expand the permitted fishing zone off Gaza’s coast to 12 nautical miles after the Israeli escalation during which the zone was drastically reduced.
As part of Israel's blockade of the coastal enclave since 2007, the Israeli army, citing security concerns, requires Palestinian fishermen to work within a limited "designated fishing zone," the exact limits of which are decided by the Israeli authorities and have historically fluctuated.
The Israeli army regularly detains and opens fire on unarmed Palestinian fishermen, shepherds, and farmers along the border areas if they approach the unilaterally declared buffer zone.
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem recently concluded that Israel's Gaza closure and "harassment of fishermen" have been "destroying Gaza's fishing sector," with 95% of fishermen living below the poverty line.
Large areas of Palestinian grazing lands were burnt, Tuesday, after the Israeli army conducted military drills in the West Bank’s Northern Plains.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency said the soldiers carried out military training, including the use of explosives, in the al-Boqei’a ash-Sharqiya and Hamsa areas in the Northern Plains of the occupied West Bank.
Human Rights activist Aref Daraghma, told WAFA that the military training led to burning vast areas of grazing lands used by the Palestinian shepherds in the Jordan Valley.
He added that the locals, along with several firefighting trucks, started extinguishing the fire to prevent it from spreading to more lands.
On Sunday, the soldiers detained seven Palestinian journalists and one human rights worker, in the Northern Plains as they were documenting the army while displacing families to conduct military training.
The Israeli military drills are frequently carried out in the occupied West Bank, and the near Bedouin communities in the Negev, resulting in displacing the families in addition to the dozens of casualties, including fatalities, due to explosives dropped by the army during training.
The WAFA Palestinian News Agency said the soldiers carried out military training, including the use of explosives, in the al-Boqei’a ash-Sharqiya and Hamsa areas in the Northern Plains of the occupied West Bank.
Human Rights activist Aref Daraghma, told WAFA that the military training led to burning vast areas of grazing lands used by the Palestinian shepherds in the Jordan Valley.
He added that the locals, along with several firefighting trucks, started extinguishing the fire to prevent it from spreading to more lands.
On Sunday, the soldiers detained seven Palestinian journalists and one human rights worker, in the Northern Plains as they were documenting the army while displacing families to conduct military training.
The Israeli military drills are frequently carried out in the occupied West Bank, and the near Bedouin communities in the Negev, resulting in displacing the families in addition to the dozens of casualties, including fatalities, due to explosives dropped by the army during training.
Israeli soldiers assaulted, on Tuesday evening, a young Palestinian man at a military roadblock near his home in Hebron city, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, causing cuts and bruises, and detained him for several hours.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers assaulted Amin Nafeth Salayma, 25, while trying to reach his home in Jaber neighborhood.
They added that the soldiers assaulted Salayma at the permanent military roadblock leading to his home.
His mother, a journalist identified as Ikram Tamimi, said the soldiers took her son to an unknown destination where they repeatedly assaulted him, and released him a few hours later.
She added that the soldiers never told Amin the reasons for abducting and assaulting him, and stated that her son has lacerations and bruises all over his body.
Media sources in Hebron said the soldiers assaulted Amin Nafeth Salayma, 25, while trying to reach his home in Jaber neighborhood.
They added that the soldiers assaulted Salayma at the permanent military roadblock leading to his home.
His mother, a journalist identified as Ikram Tamimi, said the soldiers took her son to an unknown destination where they repeatedly assaulted him, and released him a few hours later.
She added that the soldiers never told Amin the reasons for abducting and assaulting him, and stated that her son has lacerations and bruises all over his body.
