UN OCHA Protection of Civilians Weekly
Each week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories publishes a humanitarian update. This week’s highlights include:
- Israeli forces injured 21 Palestinians, including seven children, in various clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians. The most serious incidents reported in the West Bank, include ran eight-year-old child who was seriously injured when a soldier, with his rifle, hit the child in the eye while playing in proximity to clashes in Al Khader (Bethlehem); three Palestinians, including two children (14 and 15 years old), shot with live ammunition in Silwan; and a man who was shot with live ammunition in the back during clashes at the entrance to Al Jalazun Refugee Camp (Ramallah). Another three Palestinians were injured during clashes with Israeli forces next to the Gaza perimeter fence, east of Khan Younis.
- At least 21 incidents involving Israeli forces opening ‘warning’ fire into Access Restricted Areas (ARA)on land and at sea in the Gaza Strip were recorded this week, one of which ignited fire in a vehicle. Israeli forces entered Gaza east of Rafah and carried out land leveling on one occasion.
- Israeli forces conducted 86 search and arrest operations and arrested 93 Palestinians in the West Bank, mainly in the Hebron and Jerusalem governorates. Another four Palestinians were arrested next to the fence surrounding Gaza, while attempting to cross into Israel without permits.
- In Area C of the West Bank, the Israeli authorities demolished 30 Palestinian structures for lack of Israeli-issued building permits. Of these, 29 structures were demolished in the herding communities of Al Mak-hul and Al Hadidiya (27) in the northern Jordan Valley, as well as three in Al Jabal community in Abu Dis (Jerusalem) to make way for the Israeli authorities’ “relocation plan” which involves the forcible transfer of 46 communities. The demolished structures included five residences, leading to the displacement of 15 people. Of the total, 18 structures were donor-funded. On similar grounds, Israeli authorities delivered demolition and stop-work orders against 35 structures, including 22 donor-funded residences in Khan al Ahmar-Mihtawish Bedouin community (Jerusalem); five residences in Silwan (East Jerusalem); three residences and a shop in Beit Ummar (Hebron); four structures in Bardala (Jordan Valley); and a mosque in Kardala (Tubas). Additionally, Israeli forces confiscated two donor-funded water tanks in Al Farisiya herding community in the Jordan Valley for being used without a permit in a closed military zone.
- Israeli forces uprooted 492 trees and saplings planted by Palestinians next to the Majdal Bani Fadel (Nablus), Bidya (Salfit) and Adh Dhahiriya (Hebron) villages in Area C of the West Bank, on grounds that these areas were designated as “state land”. According to official data, over 99 per cent of “state land”, or public land, has been included within the jurisdictional boundaries of the local and regional councils of Israeli settlements, built in contravention of international law.
- Four Israeli settler attacks resulting in Palestinian injuries or property damage were recorded, including two stone-throwing incidents leading to the injury of a six-year-old girl and a woman; and the uprooting of 83 trees and saplings in the villages of Turmus’ayya and Deir Ndham (Ramallah) by settlers from the outpost of ‘Adei ‘Ad and the settlement of Halamish, respectively. Additionally (not included in the count) an allegedly deliberate hit and run incident, resulting in the injury of a man, was recorded in Hebron city.
- Two Palestinian attacks resulting in Israeli injuries or property damage were reported, including four people, two of whom are children, injured as a result of stone-throwing at an Israeli bus and damage to settlers’ houses as a result of a Molotov cocktail-throwing, both in East Jerusalem.
- Israeli settlers took over a family house of a Palestinian family, consisting of three separate apartments as well as two plots of land, in Silwan (East Jerusalem), claiming ownership to the properties.
- 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 for 12 days, on which it was opened, but with restrictions.