Protection of Civilians – OCHA OPT weekly report (14 – 20 April 2015)

Reporting period: 14 – 20 April 2015

Weekly Highlights

● 31 Palestinians, including 12 children, were injured by Israeli forces across the West Bank. Half of these injuries (16) were reported during clashes with Palestinian stone-throwers in the context of demonstrations marking Palestinian prisoners' day, as well as in weekly protests against the Barrier in Bil'in and Ni'lin (Ramallah); settlement expansion in An Nabi Saleh (Ramallah); and against the closure of the main entrance to Kafr Qaddum (Qalqiliya). Most of the remaining injuries occurred in clashes that erupted in the course of search and arrest operations, mainly in the Jerusalem governorate.

● At least 22 incidents involving Israeli forces' opening of "warning fire" at Palestinian civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) at land and sea were recorded in the Gaza Strip, one of which led to the injury of three Palestinians, including a child. On at least one occasion, Egyptian naval forces opened fired towards Palestinian boats approaching Egyptian waters, west of Rafah, forcing them ashore.

● A 25 year-old Israeli man died of wounds he sustained the same day after being hit by a car driven by a Palestinian man at a bus station in East Jerusalem; another Israeli woman was seriously injured in the same incident. While Palestinian media reported that the driver claimed it was an accident, Israeli media indicated that he confessed it was a planned attack. Additionally, four incidents involving stone-throwing by Palestinians at Israeli vehicles traveling in the West Bank were reported by the Israeli media, resulting in one injury, as well as some damage to the targeted vehicles.

● One Palestinian child was killed, when a fire broke out inside his house north of Gaza city, where candles were being used during a power outage. Previously this year five other Palestinians were reportedly injured in four similar incidents in the Gaza Strip. Due to the long electricity outages, currently lasting for 12-16 hours a day, people resort to unsafe methods and practices for lighting and heating, resulting in regular accidents.

● Two Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property were recorded, including the uprooting of 430 olive saplings in Deir Istiya village (Salfit), reportedly by settlers from Emanuel settlement. Since the beginning of 2015, at least 8,139 trees and saplings were uprooted or vandalized by Israeli settlers, an approximately seven per cent increase compared to the equivalent period in 2014.

● The Israeli authorities demolished three Palestinian structures in Area C (one) and East Jerusalem (two) for lack of Israeli-issued building permits, affecting at least three families. The targeted structures included a commercial structure in Silwad (Ramallah), a residential caravan and a four-storey building under construction in Beit Hanina and Wadi al Joz area, respectively in East Jerusalem. The Israeli authorities also dismantled and confiscated eight solar panels provided by an international donor, affecting two households in the Bedouin community of Khan al Ahmar Abu al Helu (Jerusalem). The latter is one of the 46 communities at risk of forcible transfer due to an Israeli "relocation" plan. Also in Area C, two vehicles belonging to a stone factory in Al Lubban ash Sharqiya (Nablus) were confiscated.

● 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. Reportedly more than 30,000 people including patients and students among others are waiting to cross into Egypt. Ministry of Health in Gaza warns of a potential deterioration in the medical cases that are in need of medical treatment outside Gaza.

http://www.ochaopt.org/poc14april-20april.aspx