Protection of Civilians Report | 12 - 25 September 2017

• On 26 September, a Palestinian man shot and killed two Israeli security guards and a border policeman, who were on duty at a Barrier gate next to the Har Hadar settlement (Jerusalem governorate); the perpetrator was shot and killed.

Biweekly highlights

• 48 Palestinians, including ten children and six women, were injured across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) in clashes with Israeli forces. Four of the injuries occurred in the Gaza Strip, during protests next to the perimeter fence, and the rest in the West Bank. The highest number of injuries was recorded in the Qalqiliya governorate (33), including during a search and arrest operation in the village of Azzun and the weekly demonstration against access restrictions in Kafr Qaddum. Additionally, Israeli forces shot and injured, and, subsequently, arrested a 15-year-old Palestinian boy after he reportedly attempted to stab an Israeli man next to Kiryat Arba settlement (Hebron).
• Overall, Israeli forces conducted 123 search and arrest operations across the West Bank and arrested 152 Palestinians, including 20 children. The Hebron and Jerusalem governorates accounted for the highest portion of operations (37 each). 
• On 20 September, an 11-year-old Palestinian child was injured by an unexploded ordnance, which detonated in Kafr Qaddum village (Qalqiliya).
• In at least ten incidents in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces opened fire towards Palestinian civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA), at land and sea; one fisherman was injured and his boat confiscated. Also, one merchant was reportedly arrested by Israeli forces at Erez crossing. On two occasions, Israeli forces entered the Gaza Strip, near Khan Younis, and carried out land levelling and excavation operations in the vicinity of the perimeter fence.
• On 13 September, Palestinian security forces shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian man and injured another during an exchange of fire in the context of a law enforcement operation in Yatta town (Hebron).
• Citing the lack of building permits, the Israeli authorities demolished 21 structures in Area C and East Jerusalem, displacing 29 people, including 16 children, and affecting the livelihoods of about 40 others. The largest incident took place in the Area C community of Istaih, next to Jericho city, where the Israeli authorities demolished 16 structures, all but one under-construction. Four structures were demolished in East Jerusalem, included a car wash facility, an animal shelter, and the second floor of a two-story residential building, destruction of which severely damaged the entire building.
• In the herding community of Umm al Oborin, in the northern Jordan Valley, Israeli forces seized 50 water-storage barrels and two cows, affecting the livelihood of 14 people, including four children. The community is located within an Israeli-declared “firing zone” and nature reserve. Also, in two separate incidents, the Israeli authorities seized three Palestinian-owned bulldozers in Beit Furik (Nablus) and Kafr Qaddum (Qalqiliya) village, citing usage for illegal construction in Area C.
• The Israeli military entered the Area C community of Khan al-Ahmar / Abu al Helu (Jerusalem) and reiterated to local leaders that they must leave the area to a site planned for their relocation. According to media reports, the Israeli state attorney informed the Israeli High Court of Justice of its intention to evacuate the community by mid-2018. This is one of 46 Palestinian Bedouin communities in the central West Bank, home to around 8,100 people, at risk of forcible transfer due to the coercive environment generated by a range of Israeli policies, including demolitions and an official relocation plan.
• On 13 September, around 400 olive trees belonging to 19 Palestinian farmers from Burin (Nablus) were set on fire, reportedly by Israeli settlers. The targeted area is adjacent to Yitzhar settlement, and Palestinian access to it requires prior-coordination with the Israeli authorities. Since the beginning of the year, around 2,800 Palestinian-owned trees were vandalized, compared with 1,650 trees vandalized last year.     
• At least five incidents of stone and Molotov-cocktail throwing at Israeli vehicles on main roads in the Ramallah and Hebron governorates, resulted in the injury of two Israeli-settlers, including one child, and damage to at least four vehicles, according to Israeli media reports.
• During the reporting period, the Egyptian-controlled Rafah Crossing opened on three days in one direction, allowing 2,083 Palestinian pilgrims to return back to the Gaza Strip. During 2017, the crossing was partially opened for only 29 days. Over 20,000 people, including humanitarian cases, are registered and waiting to cross, according to the Palestinian authorities in Gaza.