Systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians continue

Israeli forces continue systematic attacks against Palestinian civilians and property in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt)

• Israeli forces launched series of aerial and land attacks on the Gaza Strip.
- A child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded in al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

• Israeli forces have continued to open fire at the border areas in the Gaza Strip.
- In excessive use of force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother in the northern Gaza Strip
- 8 Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded in the northern and southern Gaza Strip.

• A member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service was killed in Qalqilia.
- A child was wounded during an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm.

• Israeli forces have continued to use excessive force against peaceful protesters in the West Bank.

- 8 demonstrators, including a child, were wounded in Bil'in weekly protest, west of Ramallah.
- Many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation.

• Israeli forces conducted 58 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one in the Gaza Strip.

- At least 37 Palestinians, including a child, were arrested.
- Israeli forces distributed leaflets with portraits of fathers of young men who are allegedlywanted and held those fathers responsible for their sons' acts.

• Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the oPt and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.
- Israeli forces established dozens of checkpoints in the West Bank.
- At least 5 Palestinian civilians were arrested at checkpoints in the West Bank.

• Israeli navy forces have continued targeting Palestinian fishermen in the sea.
- Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern Gaza Strip.

Summary
Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law in the oPt continued during the reporting period (19 – 25 December 2013).

Shooting:
During the reporting period, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinians, including a 3-year-old child, and wounded 12 others, including 3 children and a mother of 2 of them, in several aerial and land attacks in the Gaza Strip and other shooting incidents along the border fence. In the West bank, Israeli forces killed a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service (GIS) in Qalqilia amd wounded 8 civilians, including a child in Bil'in weekly protest, west of Ramallah. Moreover, a child was wounded in an Israeli incursion into Tulkarm.

In the Gaza Strip, on 20 December 2013, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian civilian and wounded his brother while they were near the border fence, north of Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip. According to investigations conducted by PCHR, Israeli forces used excessive force as the crime was committed in the daylight and it was clear they were civilians collecting plastics and metals near the border fence.

On 24 December 2013, after an Israeli soldier was killed by a Palestinian sniper on the borders of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched several aerial and land attacks on civilian objects and on training sites of Palestinian armed groups. As a result, a child was killed and a woman and her 2 children were wounded.

On 20 December 2013, 2 civilians, including a child and a coal-supplier, were wounded when a group of civilians headed to the east of Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, and threw stones at Israeli soldiers positioned along the border fence. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the stone throwers, wounding 2 of them, including a child, and a coal-supplier standing in front of his shop around 70 meters away from the borderline.

On the same day, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands to the west of the border fence.

On 21 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a group of civilians who were present on agricultural lands and streets to the south of the border fence.

On 23 December 2013, a Palestinian civilian was wounded by 3 bullets when Israeli forces stationed along the border fence in Beit Lahia opened fire at him when he was at Beit Lahia beach.

On 24 December 2013, a worker was wounded by 2 bullets to the right hand and thigh when Israeli forces stationed on the northern borders of the Gaza Strip opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting metals in al-Ghoul area, northwest of Beit Lahia, about 200 meters away from the fence.

In the context of targeting fishermen in the sea, on 20 December 2013, Israeli forces stationed off al-Waha resort, northwest of Beit Lahia, opened fire sporadically at Palestinian fishing boats that were sailing about 3 nautical miles offshore. However, neither casualties nor material damage were reported.

In the West Bank, on 19 December 2013, Israeli forces killed a member of the GIS in the centre of Qalqilia, claiming that he was wanted and he opened fire at Israeli soldiers.

On 25 December 2013, a child was wounded when Israeli forces moved into Tulkarm and responded by firing sound bombs and tear gas canisters at stone throwers.
Israeli forces continued the systematic use of excessive force against peaceful protests organised by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities in the West. As a result, 8 protestors, including a child, were wounded in Bil'in weekly protest. In addition many civilians suffered tear gas inhalation and others sustained bruises as they were beaten up by Israeli soldiers in that protest and other protests in the West Bank.

The full report is available online.

ENDS

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