OCHA Protection of Civilians Weekly Report May 12-18 2015

by Middle East and Europe | published on May 21, 2015

The United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Protection of Civilians report covering the period between May 12-18, 2015 is now available. To view the complete version of the report, including a series of charts with the main indicators, please click here.

Highlights:

87 Palestinians, including 18 children as young as five years old, and three women, were injured by Israeli forces in clashes across the West Bank. 29 of these injuries were caused by live ammunition.The majority of injuries occurred in the context of an Israeli march towards the Old City of East Jerusalem to mark what Israelis refer to as “Jerusalem Day”. Additional clashes resulting in injuries erupted during a visit of around 4,000 Israelis to Joseph Tomb in Nablus city, as well as in demonstrations commemorating the 67th anniversary of what Palestinians refer as “Nakba Day”.
In the Gaza Strip, 74 members of the Palestinian security forces were injured in an attempt to diffuse unexploded ordnance (UXO) west of Beit Lahia, while two civilians were injured in another UXO incident southeast of Gaza city. Since the cease-fire of August 2014, eleven Palestinians, including one child, were killed in UXO incidents, and another 123, including 22 children, were injured.
At least 20 incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire in the Access Restricted Area (ARA) on land and at sea in the Gaza Strip were recorded this week, in addition to three incidents involving Egyptian naval forces opening fire towards Palestinian boats approaching Egyptian waters. No injuries or damage were reported.
In Area C, the Israeli authorities partially demolished a commercial structure in Silwad (Ramallah) for lack of Israeli –issued building permits, affecting one Palestine refugee family. In two separate incidents in the Jordan Valley, Israeli authorities confiscated two kilometers of donor funded irrigation pipes in Al Jiftlik Abu al ‘Ajaj and Umm Al Obor on similar grounds. Last week ( previously not reported) Israeli forces bulldozed 30 electrical poles and 3000 meters in cables that supply the village of Um Sidra, near Ar Ramadin (Hebron), with electricity, affecting the entire village (around 35 families).
Ten Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property were recorded, leading to five injuries, including an 18 month old baby and an elderly couple injured as a result of stone throwing in two separate incidents. At least 959 trees and saplings were set on fire or uprooted and at least 22 vehicles, including a United Nations vehicle, were damaged as a result of stone throwing.
A Palestinian crashed his vehicle into an Israeli bus station near Gush Etzion settlement area resulting in injury to four Israelis. According to the Palestinian DCO, the incident was an accident. Additionally, seven Palestinian attacks resulting in Israeli injuries or property damage were reported by Israeli media; all incidents involved stone throwing in the West Bank, mostly at Israeli settler vehicles, leading to the injury of four Israelis and damage to three vehicles.
The Rafah crossing was closed in both directions by the Egyptian authorities during the week. The crossing has been continuously closed since 24 October 2014, following an attack in Sinai, except intermittently on 12 days, on which it was partially opened.