Protection of Civilians Report | 26 March – 8 April 2019

11 Apr 2019

Four Palestinians, including two children, were killed by Israeli forces in the context of the ‘Great March of Return’ (GMR) demonstrations in the Gaza Strip, and another 1,456 were injured. On Saturday, 30 March, which marked both Land Day and one year since the beginning of the demonstrations, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, including two 17-year-old boys: another man who was injured in the demonstrations died of his wounds three days later. In a separate incident outside of the GMR demonstrations, another man was shot and killed near the perimeter fence on the morning of 30 March. For cumulative casualty figures and breakdowns, see here.
On at least 27 occasions outside of the GMR events, Israeli forces opened fire at farmers and fishermen, in the course of enforcing access restrictions in areas next to the perimeter fence with Israel and at sea in Gaza, resulting in no injuries. On four other occasions, Israeli forces entered Gaza and carried out land-levelling and excavation operations in the vicinity of the perimeter fence. In two other incidents, five Palestinians, including three children were arrested while attempting to infiltrate into Israel.
Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in two search and arrest operations in the West Bank. On 27 March, an 18-year-old Palestinian volunteer medic was shot and killed by Israeli forces while he was on duty during a military operation in the Duheisheh refugee camp in Bethlehem; According to Palestinian sources, no clashes were ongoing in the area of the fatal shooting. On 2 April, in the vicinity of Qalandiya refugee camp, Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 24-year-old Palestinian man after clashes erupted between Palestinians and the Israeli army during the search and arrest operation. Another four Palestinians, including two children, were injured by live ammunition during these two incidents.
Additionally, 304 Palestinians, including 239 children, were injured by Israeli forces in other clashes, mostly following search and arrest operations and protests in the West Bank. Overall, Israeli forces conducted 169 search operations across the West Bank, eight of which triggered clashes, resulting in eleven of the above injuries. A total of 197 Palestinians, including fifteen children, were arrested with the Jerusalem governorate recording the highest number of operations. On two separate incidents on 7 and 8 March, Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters into a school compound in the Israeli-controlled area of Hebron city (H2), reportedly following stone-throwing by Palestinian children, resulting in 225 students and 35 teachers being treated for tear gas inhalation. Another eight Palestinians were injured during clashes that erupted following protests in commemoration of ‘Land Day’ and during the weekly protest against settler violence and settlement expansion in Al Mughayyir village (Ramallah) and in the Jordan Valley area. Overall, 90 percent of the injuries from clashes were caused by tear gas inhalation/ being struck by tear gas canisters requiring medical treatment; seven per cent by rubber bullets; and two per cent by live ammunition.
On 3 April, two Israeli settlers opened fire near Beita Junction (Nablus), injuring two Palestinians, including a 23-year-old man who died later in hospital. According to Human Rights organizations, the Palestinian fatality was reportedly throwing stones at Israeli vehicles when he was shot. The other Palestinian injury was shot with live ammunition while he was working inside his shop in the area. No Israeli injuries were reported..
Another eleven attacks by Israeli settlers resulted in Palestinian injuries or damage to Palestinian property. Three of the incidents involved the vandalizing of 35 olive trees in the villages of Buring and Yanun (both in Nablus) and 400 trees and saplings on private land in Deir Jarir village (Ramallah). In Ras Karkar village (Ramallah), Israeli settlers destroyed a building on privately-owned land which formed part of an agricultural project, affecting nine people. One Palestinian boy was injured and four vehicles were vandalized in five separate stone-throwing incidents by settlers in Ya’bad (Jenin), and in Al Mughayyir, Beitin, An Nabi Salih villages (all in Ramallah). A family of three, including a 17-year-old girl, was injured by settlers while they were on their way to their land near Jibiya village (Ramallah). In Beit Hanina town (East Jerusalem), settlers punctured the tires of 15 vehicles and sprayed graffiti on vehicles and on the walls of houses, affecting 15 households. comprising 75 people. In 2019, OCHA has recorded 104 incidents where Israeli settlers killed or injured Palestinians or damaged Palestinian property, including over 2,500 trees, marking a 53 per cent increase in the number of incidents compared with 2018.
Israeli media reported nine incidents of stone-throwing by Palestinians at Israeli settler vehicles; no casualties were reported, but damage was caused to five vehicles.
Ten structures were demolished in six different localities in East Jerusalem, for lacking Israeli-issued building permits, displacing nine Palestinians and affecting the livelihoods of some 83 others. Five of the ten structures targeted, all residential, were demolished by their owners following the receipt of final demolition orders, reportedly to avoid incurring additional fines. Overall, 145 structures have been demolished or seized by the Israeli authorities in the West Bank since the start of 2019.
On 9 April, Israeli authorities imposed a one-day closure on the oPt due to the Israeli national elections. The Kerem Shalom commercial crossing and the Erez pedestrian crossing with the Gaza Strip were closed, except for the movement of authorized urgent cases. The closure in the West Bank affected the access of all West Bank ID holders who have valid Israeli-issued permits to enter Jerusalem and Israel, except for UN/INGO and diplomatic staff.
On 1 April, the Israel authorities reportedly expanded the permissible fishing zone to 15 nautical miles along the southern part of Gaza’s coast, the furthest distance allowed since 2000. Access along the northern and middle areas remains limited to 6-12 nautical miles. The expansion is expected to increase the volume and quality of the fishing catch.
During the reporting period, the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was open in both directions for six days, and an additional four days in one direction. A total of 3,267 people entered Gaza, and 3,393 others exited.