26 july 2019
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Defence for Children International – Palestine
On the afternoon of January 11, 2019, Samer S. set out for the bus stop with his cousin. It was a Friday, meaning that the “Great March of Return” demonstrations would be starting soon. For a 13-year-old boy from the impoverished Jabalia refugee camp in the north of Gaza, where nearly 114,000 residents share a half square mile, the promise of dance and martial art performances was inviting. Reaching the area near the perimeter fence east of Jabalia around 2:30 p.m., Samer sat for a while to take in the free show. |
“There were performances of dance, karate, and kung fu,” said Samer. “There were many people at the tent camp.
Some young men and boys were close to the perimeter fence, throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers, who were firing bullets and tear gas canisters at them.”
“Military jeeps were also firing a large number of tear gas canisters, which would fall randomly, whereas the canisters fired by the soldiers hit the demonstrators directly,” the boy later told Defense for Children International – Palestine.
After watching the performances for a while, Samer headed to Jakkar street. He had just reached the street, some 300 meters (984 feet) from the perimeter fence, according to his sworn affidavit, when something struck his right shoulder. A canister landed near his feet and began spewing a thick, white smoke.
Choking and bleeding, Samer ran. Seeing how badly he was injured, others came alongside Samer and carried him to an ambulance, where a paramedic cut open his shirt.
“I saw a circular hole with a diameter of about four centimeters [1.6 inches] in my shoulder, and it was bleeding profusely,” Samer said.
Samer was transferred to Al-Awda hospital and admitted him to the operating room. Doctors told him there were two fractures in his right shoulder. Due to the severity of the fractures, surgeons implanted platinum rods to hold the bones together. On January 14, Samer underwent a second surgery to adjust the platinum rods.
Before he was discharged, doctors stressed that treatment was not over. Samer would need to consult a neurologist to assess the extent of nerve damage. He also needed a medical brace. But Samer said the brace “is very expensive and not available at hospitals. My father is a street vendor and cannot afford such a brace.”
The bad news only continued for Samer as a neurologist confirmed that a nerve in his right arm had been severed. In February, he endured a third surgery to remove the platinum rods and several bouts of complications involving infections.
By the middle of March, Samer still could not move his arm. “I still feel pain, especially at night, it burns,” Samer said to DCIP.
The doctor prescribed antibiotics and painkillers. However, Samer explained to DCIP that it is beyond his father’s financial ability to pay for these medications. “My father cannot afford to pay 40 shekels every five days,” said Samer, an amount equivalent to nearly 70 dollars a month.
Samer’s routine now consists of attending regular physiotherapy sessions, which will last for one year. Between appointments, Samer attends school two or three days a week as “a listener,” because he is not able to write.
The injury has also isolated Samer, socially. “My father is worried that I may be pushed or hurt unintentionally. He does not allow me to go to school in the rain because I may slip and hurt myself. I stay in the classroom during the recess and gym. I loved playing soccer, but I no longer can play,” said Samer.
The “Great March of Return” civilian demonstrations began in the Gaza Strip on March 30, 2018 in protest of Palestinian refugees’ inability to return to properties lost during events surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and also to demand an end to Israel’s 11-year near total closure of Gaza.
These ongoing mass civilian protests, which are taking place on a weekly basis in the area along the Israeli-installed Gaza perimeter fence or near the Mediterranean shore, have drawn large and diverse crowds of demonstrators, including women, children, and elderly people.
Each week, Israeli forces stationed on the other side of the perimeter fence have consistently responded to the mass civilian protests with crowd control weapons as well as live ammunition.
On January 11, 2019, DCIP submitted evidence to UN investigators detailing Israeli forces’ unlawful killing of unarmed Palestinian child protesters and other serious violations of international law. The report noted that at least 16 children from the Gaza Strip suffered permanent disability in 2018 as a result of injuries sustained at the hands of Israeli forces.
When the U.N. Commission of Inquiry released its findings on March 18, 2019, it concluded [pdf] that Israeli forces killed 34 Palestinian children between March 30 and December 31, 2018, in the context of the “Great March of Return” protests. This number included 4 children who were killed after being directly struck by tear gas canisters.
Of the 1,642 children injured in the same period by Israeli forces, 233 children were directly hit by tear gas canisters, the report found.
While the rate of casualties significantly declined in July, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Israeli forces injured 350 Palestinians between July 2-15, 2019, in the context of the Gaza Strip demonstrations.
The injury has affected every part of my life,” said Samer. “I am afraid of everything. I am afraid of the dark. I am afraid of loud sounds. A dog barking or the sound of drones in the sky makes me shake.”These days, Samer’s daydreams do not revolve around martial arts performances or soccer kicks.
He told DCIP that what he wishes for is access to more medical treatment outside of Gaza, and for the soldier who fired the tear gas canister to sit trial.
Some young men and boys were close to the perimeter fence, throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers, who were firing bullets and tear gas canisters at them.”
“Military jeeps were also firing a large number of tear gas canisters, which would fall randomly, whereas the canisters fired by the soldiers hit the demonstrators directly,” the boy later told Defense for Children International – Palestine.
After watching the performances for a while, Samer headed to Jakkar street. He had just reached the street, some 300 meters (984 feet) from the perimeter fence, according to his sworn affidavit, when something struck his right shoulder. A canister landed near his feet and began spewing a thick, white smoke.
Choking and bleeding, Samer ran. Seeing how badly he was injured, others came alongside Samer and carried him to an ambulance, where a paramedic cut open his shirt.
“I saw a circular hole with a diameter of about four centimeters [1.6 inches] in my shoulder, and it was bleeding profusely,” Samer said.
Samer was transferred to Al-Awda hospital and admitted him to the operating room. Doctors told him there were two fractures in his right shoulder. Due to the severity of the fractures, surgeons implanted platinum rods to hold the bones together. On January 14, Samer underwent a second surgery to adjust the platinum rods.
Before he was discharged, doctors stressed that treatment was not over. Samer would need to consult a neurologist to assess the extent of nerve damage. He also needed a medical brace. But Samer said the brace “is very expensive and not available at hospitals. My father is a street vendor and cannot afford such a brace.”
The bad news only continued for Samer as a neurologist confirmed that a nerve in his right arm had been severed. In February, he endured a third surgery to remove the platinum rods and several bouts of complications involving infections.
By the middle of March, Samer still could not move his arm. “I still feel pain, especially at night, it burns,” Samer said to DCIP.
The doctor prescribed antibiotics and painkillers. However, Samer explained to DCIP that it is beyond his father’s financial ability to pay for these medications. “My father cannot afford to pay 40 shekels every five days,” said Samer, an amount equivalent to nearly 70 dollars a month.
Samer’s routine now consists of attending regular physiotherapy sessions, which will last for one year. Between appointments, Samer attends school two or three days a week as “a listener,” because he is not able to write.
The injury has also isolated Samer, socially. “My father is worried that I may be pushed or hurt unintentionally. He does not allow me to go to school in the rain because I may slip and hurt myself. I stay in the classroom during the recess and gym. I loved playing soccer, but I no longer can play,” said Samer.
The “Great March of Return” civilian demonstrations began in the Gaza Strip on March 30, 2018 in protest of Palestinian refugees’ inability to return to properties lost during events surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and also to demand an end to Israel’s 11-year near total closure of Gaza.
These ongoing mass civilian protests, which are taking place on a weekly basis in the area along the Israeli-installed Gaza perimeter fence or near the Mediterranean shore, have drawn large and diverse crowds of demonstrators, including women, children, and elderly people.
Each week, Israeli forces stationed on the other side of the perimeter fence have consistently responded to the mass civilian protests with crowd control weapons as well as live ammunition.
On January 11, 2019, DCIP submitted evidence to UN investigators detailing Israeli forces’ unlawful killing of unarmed Palestinian child protesters and other serious violations of international law. The report noted that at least 16 children from the Gaza Strip suffered permanent disability in 2018 as a result of injuries sustained at the hands of Israeli forces.
When the U.N. Commission of Inquiry released its findings on March 18, 2019, it concluded [pdf] that Israeli forces killed 34 Palestinian children between March 30 and December 31, 2018, in the context of the “Great March of Return” protests. This number included 4 children who were killed after being directly struck by tear gas canisters.
Of the 1,642 children injured in the same period by Israeli forces, 233 children were directly hit by tear gas canisters, the report found.
While the rate of casualties significantly declined in July, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Israeli forces injured 350 Palestinians between July 2-15, 2019, in the context of the Gaza Strip demonstrations.
The injury has affected every part of my life,” said Samer. “I am afraid of everything. I am afraid of the dark. I am afraid of loud sounds. A dog barking or the sound of drones in the sky makes me shake.”These days, Samer’s daydreams do not revolve around martial arts performances or soccer kicks.
He told DCIP that what he wishes for is access to more medical treatment outside of Gaza, and for the soldier who fired the tear gas canister to sit trial.
18 july 2019
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This Report is prepared and published by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights In The Occupied Territories (B’Tselem): B’Tselem investigation published today proves a soldier fired live ammunition, hitting ‘Abd a-Rahman a-Shteiwi, 9, in the head.
A-Shteiwi was injured last week while playing in the entrance to a home in Kafr Qadum during the weekly demonstration in the village. Now hospitalized in critical condition, he is the latest victim of the reckless open-fire policy that allows soldiers to use live fire even when neither they nor anyone else is in any danger. At about 1:30 PM on Friday, 12 July 2019, the regular weekly |
demonstration against the closure of the main access road from Kafr Qadum to the regional capital Nablus took place. The military blocked the road in the early 2000s, following the expansion of the adjacent settlement of Kadum. Since then, residents have been forced to use a bypass road that lengthens the journey by about half an hour.
During the demonstration, a few dozen youths threw stones at a number of soldiers deployed along the ridge on the outskirts of the village, several dozen meters from the demonstrators. The soldiers fired rubber coated metal bullets at the protestors, but, in a departure from previous practice in Kadum protests, this time, they also fired a large number of live rounds in the air.
At a distance of about 200 meters from the main protest, about ten protestors threw stones at four soldiers who were a few dozen meters away from them, on another hill on the same ridge. About 100 meters away from this group, further down the road, a resident of Kafr Qadum was sitting under an olive tree with his two 10-year-old children. Opposite them, about 10 meters away, ‘Abd a-Rahman a-Shteiwi, 9, was sitting at the entrance of one of the homes on the edge of the village playing with a piece of wood.
At about 2:20 PM, as the main demonstration, some 200 meters away from ‘Abd a-Rahman a-Shteiwi, began to disperse, a soldier fired a live bullet. It hit boy’s head and he immediately fell to the ground. The resident who was sitting nearby and a young man who was in the area evacuated the boy to an ambulance waiting some 50 meters away down the road. ‘Abd a-Rahman was taken unconscious to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus and underwent head surgery. Two days later, on 14 July 2019, sedated and ventilated, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer.
In its statements to the media, the military denied that soldiers used live fire, and even rejected any responsibility for the incident. A response the military released claimed that the soldiers had used “various crowd-control methods” and that “a report was received of an injured boy aged around ten.” However, 9-year-old A-Shteiwi’s injury is a direct result of the open-fire policy implemented by the military in the Occupied Territories. This policy illegally and without any justification permits the use of live fire against Palestinians who are not endangering anyone. The policy remains in force despite the fact that it has resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries.
The military prides itself on regulations restricting the circumstances in which live fire may be used, while at the same time claiming that the law enforcement system will take action against soldiers who violate the regulations. However, these statements are hollow and meaningless. In many cases, the open-fire regulations are completely disregarded. Meanwhile, the law enforcement system is actually a whitewashing system intended to create the illusion of investigations. A-Shteiwi is the latest victim of this policy, but unless it is changed, it is only a matter of time before the next victim is added to the list.
During the demonstration, a few dozen youths threw stones at a number of soldiers deployed along the ridge on the outskirts of the village, several dozen meters from the demonstrators. The soldiers fired rubber coated metal bullets at the protestors, but, in a departure from previous practice in Kadum protests, this time, they also fired a large number of live rounds in the air.
At a distance of about 200 meters from the main protest, about ten protestors threw stones at four soldiers who were a few dozen meters away from them, on another hill on the same ridge. About 100 meters away from this group, further down the road, a resident of Kafr Qadum was sitting under an olive tree with his two 10-year-old children. Opposite them, about 10 meters away, ‘Abd a-Rahman a-Shteiwi, 9, was sitting at the entrance of one of the homes on the edge of the village playing with a piece of wood.
At about 2:20 PM, as the main demonstration, some 200 meters away from ‘Abd a-Rahman a-Shteiwi, began to disperse, a soldier fired a live bullet. It hit boy’s head and he immediately fell to the ground. The resident who was sitting nearby and a young man who was in the area evacuated the boy to an ambulance waiting some 50 meters away down the road. ‘Abd a-Rahman was taken unconscious to Rafidia Hospital in Nablus and underwent head surgery. Two days later, on 14 July 2019, sedated and ventilated, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer.
In its statements to the media, the military denied that soldiers used live fire, and even rejected any responsibility for the incident. A response the military released claimed that the soldiers had used “various crowd-control methods” and that “a report was received of an injured boy aged around ten.” However, 9-year-old A-Shteiwi’s injury is a direct result of the open-fire policy implemented by the military in the Occupied Territories. This policy illegally and without any justification permits the use of live fire against Palestinians who are not endangering anyone. The policy remains in force despite the fact that it has resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths and thousands of injuries.
The military prides itself on regulations restricting the circumstances in which live fire may be used, while at the same time claiming that the law enforcement system will take action against soldiers who violate the regulations. However, these statements are hollow and meaningless. In many cases, the open-fire regulations are completely disregarded. Meanwhile, the law enforcement system is actually a whitewashing system intended to create the illusion of investigations. A-Shteiwi is the latest victim of this policy, but unless it is changed, it is only a matter of time before the next victim is added to the list.
17 july 2019
The Israeli occupation authorities released a child from Jerusalem last night, while six others were detained.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center stated that the authorities released the child under 5 days’ house arrest, after he was arrested and interrogated a few days ago.
The Israeli occupation authorities extended the detention of a Jerusalemite child until the 23rd of this month after an indictment was filed against him during the court session yesterday. He was subjected to harsh interrogations in the cells of the occupation since his arrest from his home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
5 other citizens were also arrested until the 31st of October.
Meanwhile, a 5 year old child suffered a head injury after being attacked by a settler guard in Batan Al Hawa, in the town of Silwan, last night.
Israeli court puts kid under house arrest, extends detention of others
An Israeli court in Occupied Jerusalem on Thursday night decided to place a Palestinian teenager under house arrest and extend the detention of six others.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, an Israeli court ordered the release of a teenager called Nour Khamis on condition of not leaving his home for five days. He was arrested and interrogated a few days ago.
The court also extended the detention of another kid called Hammam al-Husseini until July 23 after an indictment was filed against him.
Husseini had been exposed to harsh interrogation by Israeli police officers since he was kidnaped from his home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood recently. His sick elderly father was also arrested and his brother was summoned for interrogation at the time.
The detention of other teenagers called Mohamed Farroukh, Ameer Farroukh, Ahmed Abu Khalaf, Mohamed al-Abbasi and Mohamed Abu Tayeh was extended until October 31.
In a separate incident, five-year-old Mimati Jaber suffered head bruises after an Israeli settler guard physically assaulted him in the Arab neighborhood of Maragha in Silwan district, east Jerusalem.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center stated that the authorities released the child under 5 days’ house arrest, after he was arrested and interrogated a few days ago.
The Israeli occupation authorities extended the detention of a Jerusalemite child until the 23rd of this month after an indictment was filed against him during the court session yesterday. He was subjected to harsh interrogations in the cells of the occupation since his arrest from his home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood.
5 other citizens were also arrested until the 31st of October.
Meanwhile, a 5 year old child suffered a head injury after being attacked by a settler guard in Batan Al Hawa, in the town of Silwan, last night.
Israeli court puts kid under house arrest, extends detention of others
An Israeli court in Occupied Jerusalem on Thursday night decided to place a Palestinian teenager under house arrest and extend the detention of six others.
According to Wadi Hilweh Information Center, an Israeli court ordered the release of a teenager called Nour Khamis on condition of not leaving his home for five days. He was arrested and interrogated a few days ago.
The court also extended the detention of another kid called Hammam al-Husseini until July 23 after an indictment was filed against him.
Husseini had been exposed to harsh interrogation by Israeli police officers since he was kidnaped from his home in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood recently. His sick elderly father was also arrested and his brother was summoned for interrogation at the time.
The detention of other teenagers called Mohamed Farroukh, Ameer Farroukh, Ahmed Abu Khalaf, Mohamed al-Abbasi and Mohamed Abu Tayeh was extended until October 31.
In a separate incident, five-year-old Mimati Jaber suffered head bruises after an Israeli settler guard physically assaulted him in the Arab neighborhood of Maragha in Silwan district, east Jerusalem.
Israeli soldiers invaded, Wednesday, Silwan town, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, and demolished four stores owned by a Palestinian, identified as Mohammad al-Abbassi, and abducted one child.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said dozens of soldiers, including undercover officers, and the police, invaded Abu Tayeh neighborhood, in Ein al-Louza area, in Silwan, after surrounding and isolating it.
Silwanic added that the soldiers then demolished the four stores, under the pretext of being built without permits.
The soldiers also assaulted many Palestinians before, during and after the demolitions.
It is worth mentioning that al-Abbassi was only informed of the demolition orders a day ago and started removing their contents with the help of his family.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ali Taweel, 15, from Wadi Hilweh neighborhood, and took him to an interrogation facility in the city.
The Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) said dozens of soldiers, including undercover officers, and the police, invaded Abu Tayeh neighborhood, in Ein al-Louza area, in Silwan, after surrounding and isolating it.
Silwanic added that the soldiers then demolished the four stores, under the pretext of being built without permits.
The soldiers also assaulted many Palestinians before, during and after the demolitions.
It is worth mentioning that al-Abbassi was only informed of the demolition orders a day ago and started removing their contents with the help of his family.
Furthermore, the soldiers abducted a child, identified as Ali Taweel, 15, from Wadi Hilweh neighborhood, and took him to an interrogation facility in the city.
16 july 2019
Israeli Occupation Forces detained 2,759 Palestinians during the first six months of 2019, including 446 minors and 76 women, Palestinian human rights groups announced yesterday.
The Prisoners Affairs Commission, the Palestinian Prisoner Society and Addameer said in a joint statement that 5,500 Palestinians were being held in Israeli jails until 30 June, including 43 women and 220 minors.
Approximately 500 were held in administrative detention, without charge or trial. Seven have been on hunger strike for over a week, demanding an end to their illegal detention, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said.
Israel Prison Service (IPS) has taken punitive action against the striking prisoners, including denying them family visits, obstructing meetings with their lawyers and transferring them to other prisons.
The Prisoners Affairs Commission, the Palestinian Prisoner Society and Addameer said in a joint statement that 5,500 Palestinians were being held in Israeli jails until 30 June, including 43 women and 220 minors.
Approximately 500 were held in administrative detention, without charge or trial. Seven have been on hunger strike for over a week, demanding an end to their illegal detention, the Palestinian Prisoner Society said.
Israel Prison Service (IPS) has taken punitive action against the striking prisoners, including denying them family visits, obstructing meetings with their lawyers and transferring them to other prisons.
15 july 2019
Israeli courts sentenced Palestinian children to be jailed in Ofer Israeli prison in addition to heavy financial penalty, which reached to total 26,000 Shekels in last June only.
The Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee revealed in a report issued on Monday that 23 children were arrested in Ofer jail, 15 of whom were arrested from their homes, 7 from the streets, while one was arrested for not having a permit.
The report also said that there are currently 116 children in the Israeli jails, and that five children were brutally assaulted by Israeli soldiers during investigation and arrest.
The committee confirmed that ‘Israel’ sees arrested Palestinians, especially children, as a permanent source of income. Heavy financial penalty are being imposed on them, which turned military courts into a tool to blackmail and loot Palestinian families.
The Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Committee revealed in a report issued on Monday that 23 children were arrested in Ofer jail, 15 of whom were arrested from their homes, 7 from the streets, while one was arrested for not having a permit.
The report also said that there are currently 116 children in the Israeli jails, and that five children were brutally assaulted by Israeli soldiers during investigation and arrest.
The committee confirmed that ‘Israel’ sees arrested Palestinians, especially children, as a permanent source of income. Heavy financial penalty are being imposed on them, which turned military courts into a tool to blackmail and loot Palestinian families.
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Monday kidnaped at least 19 Palestinian citizens, including two girls, in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed its forces arrested nine Palestinians, while local sources affirmed that 19 citizens were taken prisoners by the IOF in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The Israeli army also said that Palestinians attacked Israeli army and settler vehicles with Molotov cocktails on a road near Bethlehem, adding that its forces arrested some of the perpetrators after chasing them.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported that the IOF opened fire at a Palestinian car and rounded up two young men who were aboard it in Beit Jala city, west of Bethlehem.
Two Palestinian young girls identified as Shurouq al-Badan, 25, and Rawan Abu Sneina, 17, were reportedly taken prisoners at an IOF checkpoint in al-Ras neighborhood near Kiryat Arba settlement, east of al-Khalil.
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed its forces arrested nine Palestinians, while local sources affirmed that 19 citizens were taken prisoners by the IOF in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The Israeli army also said that Palestinians attacked Israeli army and settler vehicles with Molotov cocktails on a road near Bethlehem, adding that its forces arrested some of the perpetrators after chasing them.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported that the IOF opened fire at a Palestinian car and rounded up two young men who were aboard it in Beit Jala city, west of Bethlehem.
Two Palestinian young girls identified as Shurouq al-Badan, 25, and Rawan Abu Sneina, 17, were reportedly taken prisoners at an IOF checkpoint in al-Ras neighborhood near Kiryat Arba settlement, east of al-Khalil.
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