30 dec 2013
The remains of the Al-Dalou family home after an Israeli airstrike on November 18, 2012
Operation Pillar of Defense
November marked the one year anniversary of Operation Pillar of Defense, the November 14 to 21, 2012 Israeli military offensive on Gaza. At least 167 Palestinians died during the offensive, including more than 30 children. In the deadliest single attack, 10 members of the Al-Dalou family, including five children ages 1 to 14, were killed in an air strike that leveled the family home.
The offensive was characterized by disproportionate force directed at government and civilian infrastructure, residential neighborhoods and individual civilians. One civilian was Mahmoud Khousa, 13, who left his home to buy a pencil for his sister in a nearby shop around 2 pm on November 21, 2012. While walking in the street, which was reportedly calm with no military activity, he was targeted and killed by a drone-fired missile.
One year on, despite well-documented evidence of war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law, there has been no accountability and no justice for the civilian deaths.
East Jerusalem House Demolitions
Operation Pillar of Defense
November marked the one year anniversary of Operation Pillar of Defense, the November 14 to 21, 2012 Israeli military offensive on Gaza. At least 167 Palestinians died during the offensive, including more than 30 children. In the deadliest single attack, 10 members of the Al-Dalou family, including five children ages 1 to 14, were killed in an air strike that leveled the family home.
The offensive was characterized by disproportionate force directed at government and civilian infrastructure, residential neighborhoods and individual civilians. One civilian was Mahmoud Khousa, 13, who left his home to buy a pencil for his sister in a nearby shop around 2 pm on November 21, 2012. While walking in the street, which was reportedly calm with no military activity, he was targeted and killed by a drone-fired missile.
One year on, despite well-documented evidence of war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law, there has been no accountability and no justice for the civilian deaths.
East Jerusalem House Demolitions
Farahat R. (9) - Settler Violence Injured: 20 Oct 2013
House demolitions in East Jerusalem so far in 2013 have displaced at least 300 Palestinians, including at least 153 children, which is the highest number since 2009, according to OCHA.
Earlier in the year, DCI-Palestine highlighted the ongoing physical and mental health impact for children associated with house demolitions in East Jerusalem by interviewing children of the Castiro family whose home was demolished in February by Israeli authorities.
A study by Save the Children-UK states that “children who have had their home demolished fare significantly worse on a range of mental health indicators, including withdrawal, somatic complaints, depression/anxiety, social difficulties, higher rates of delusional, obsessive, compulsive and psychotic thoughts, attention difficulties, delinquency and violent behavior.”
»Read the bulletin: Violations Bulletin - Issue 35 - October/November 2013
House demolitions in East Jerusalem so far in 2013 have displaced at least 300 Palestinians, including at least 153 children, which is the highest number since 2009, according to OCHA.
Earlier in the year, DCI-Palestine highlighted the ongoing physical and mental health impact for children associated with house demolitions in East Jerusalem by interviewing children of the Castiro family whose home was demolished in February by Israeli authorities.
A study by Save the Children-UK states that “children who have had their home demolished fare significantly worse on a range of mental health indicators, including withdrawal, somatic complaints, depression/anxiety, social difficulties, higher rates of delusional, obsessive, compulsive and psychotic thoughts, attention difficulties, delinquency and violent behavior.”
»Read the bulletin: Violations Bulletin - Issue 35 - October/November 2013
23 dec 2013
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Defence for Children International Palestine produced a short film about Palestinian families living near the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar, which is described by The New York Times as “an extremist bastion on the hilltops commanding the Palestinian city of Nablus in the northern West Bank.”
Yitzhar's roughly 1,000 radical Israeli settlers terrorize 20,000 Palestinians from the surrounding villages [PDF] of Burin, Madama, Asira al-Qibliya, Urif, Einabus, and Huwara. “Multiple times they would reach as far as our doorstep,” says Um Majdi from Asira al-Qibliya. |
“Some of them throw rocks at us, others set fires, and some write hate slogans on the walls. We’re in a stressed psychological state.”
Yitzhar settlers are responsible for hate crimes, termed “price tag” attacks, targeting Palestinians in retaliation for actions, including those initiated by the Israeli government, against Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They have also repeatedly attacked the US-funded water project in Asira al-Qibliya.
Settlements like Yitzhar continue to expand in the West Bank with Israeli government support. There are approximately 650,000 settlers living in over 200 settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
“The idea behind the Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank is very clear,” says Dror Etkes, the director of Israeli organization Kerem Navot, which studies land use in the West Bank. “To marginalize the Palestinian community, which is about 90% of the population, still today, to certain enclaves ... in order to leave as much as possible vacant land for the development of the Israeli settlements.”
Settlements have a profound impact on the lives of Palestinians throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Apart from the loss of land taken for the settlements and their related infrastructure, settler violence, such as beatings, shootings and destruction of property are a common occurrence in the lives of Palestinians, including children.
“Sometimes I dream that they shoot at us,” says 12-year-old Roa'a Abu Majdi. “They take us, along with the neighbors' kids, and throw us in a hole.”
The Israeli authorities have consistently failed to prevent settler attacks against Palestinians and to take adequate law enforcement measures against settlers who commit these crimes. Israeli soldiers often turn a blind eye and fail to intervene in confrontations. DCI-Palestine has also documented cases where soldiers actively participate in civilian attacks by settlers.
Yitzhar settlers are responsible for hate crimes, termed “price tag” attacks, targeting Palestinians in retaliation for actions, including those initiated by the Israeli government, against Jewish settlements in the West Bank. They have also repeatedly attacked the US-funded water project in Asira al-Qibliya.
Settlements like Yitzhar continue to expand in the West Bank with Israeli government support. There are approximately 650,000 settlers living in over 200 settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
“The idea behind the Israeli settlement policy in the West Bank is very clear,” says Dror Etkes, the director of Israeli organization Kerem Navot, which studies land use in the West Bank. “To marginalize the Palestinian community, which is about 90% of the population, still today, to certain enclaves ... in order to leave as much as possible vacant land for the development of the Israeli settlements.”
Settlements have a profound impact on the lives of Palestinians throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Apart from the loss of land taken for the settlements and their related infrastructure, settler violence, such as beatings, shootings and destruction of property are a common occurrence in the lives of Palestinians, including children.
“Sometimes I dream that they shoot at us,” says 12-year-old Roa'a Abu Majdi. “They take us, along with the neighbors' kids, and throw us in a hole.”
The Israeli authorities have consistently failed to prevent settler attacks against Palestinians and to take adequate law enforcement measures against settlers who commit these crimes. Israeli soldiers often turn a blind eye and fail to intervene in confrontations. DCI-Palestine has also documented cases where soldiers actively participate in civilian attacks by settlers.
4 dec 2013
Two children await interrogation at Al Mascobiya interrogation and detention facility in Jerusalem. Ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention is widespread and systematic and generally occurs within the first 24-48 hours after an arrest.
Defense for Children International Palestine submitted complaints to the Israeli Military Police Criminal Investigations Division this week over the ill treatment of Palestinian teenagers during arrest and transfer to Ariel police station in September.
In separate incidents, Israeli soldiers severely and repeatedly beat Ali S, 14, from Azzun, Hendi S, 17, from Salfit, and Mohammad A, 15, from Tulkarem after arresting them. One soldier extinguished a cigarette butt on Ali’s lip while another burned Hendi’s arm with a cigarette, according to the sworn testimonies of the two teenagers. Hendi and Mohammad were denied access to food, water and toilet facilities for a long period. All three of them were accused of stone throwing.
“Israeli soldiers conduct traumatic arrests of Palestinian children, often involving violence and humiliation, to prime them to quickly confess during interrogation,” said Iyad Misk, a lawyer at DCI-Palestine. “Burning children with cigarette butts raises particular alarm that demands a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division where the abusers are held accountable.”
Israeli authorities unconditionally released Hendi and sentenced Mohammad to time served during pretrial detention. Ali remains in Israeli custody.
This marks the second time Hendi endures ill treatment this year. In late February, DCI-Palestine submitted a complaint to the Police Internal Investigations Department over the abuse Hendi suffered during interrogation at Ariel police station in February.
DCI-Palestine has submitted a total of 10 complaints this year over the alleged ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children by Israeli soldiers and police. In eight of the cases, Israeli authorities failed to notify DCI-Palestine whether they had opened an investigation. The remaining two cases resulted in the military advocate general’s decision to close the investigation due to insufficient evidence. Israeli authorities deem the refusal of victims to testify without the presence of a lawyer as insufficient evidence.
Since 2000, Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, reports that only five percent of complaints submitted to the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division have led to an indictment.
Israel’s poor record of accountability, in practice, sends a loud message that grave human rights violations against Palestinians can be committed with total impunity.
Defense for Children International Palestine submitted complaints to the Israeli Military Police Criminal Investigations Division this week over the ill treatment of Palestinian teenagers during arrest and transfer to Ariel police station in September.
In separate incidents, Israeli soldiers severely and repeatedly beat Ali S, 14, from Azzun, Hendi S, 17, from Salfit, and Mohammad A, 15, from Tulkarem after arresting them. One soldier extinguished a cigarette butt on Ali’s lip while another burned Hendi’s arm with a cigarette, according to the sworn testimonies of the two teenagers. Hendi and Mohammad were denied access to food, water and toilet facilities for a long period. All three of them were accused of stone throwing.
“Israeli soldiers conduct traumatic arrests of Palestinian children, often involving violence and humiliation, to prime them to quickly confess during interrogation,” said Iyad Misk, a lawyer at DCI-Palestine. “Burning children with cigarette butts raises particular alarm that demands a prompt, transparent and impartial investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division where the abusers are held accountable.”
Israeli authorities unconditionally released Hendi and sentenced Mohammad to time served during pretrial detention. Ali remains in Israeli custody.
This marks the second time Hendi endures ill treatment this year. In late February, DCI-Palestine submitted a complaint to the Police Internal Investigations Department over the abuse Hendi suffered during interrogation at Ariel police station in February.
DCI-Palestine has submitted a total of 10 complaints this year over the alleged ill-treatment and torture of Palestinian children by Israeli soldiers and police. In eight of the cases, Israeli authorities failed to notify DCI-Palestine whether they had opened an investigation. The remaining two cases resulted in the military advocate general’s decision to close the investigation due to insufficient evidence. Israeli authorities deem the refusal of victims to testify without the presence of a lawyer as insufficient evidence.
Since 2000, Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group, reports that only five percent of complaints submitted to the Military Police Criminal Investigations Division have led to an indictment.
Israel’s poor record of accountability, in practice, sends a loud message that grave human rights violations against Palestinians can be committed with total impunity.
2 dec 2013
Israeli military forces arrested on Monday an 8-year-old child at the Qalandiya checkpoint, south of Ramallah.
Israel claimed that child Mohammed Ali was detained under the pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
His uncle denied this charge , stressing that Mohammed was arrested near the checkpoint, and there were no confrontations there.
Israeli forces has also summoned the child's father for investigation, no information was reported about them.
Israel claimed that child Mohammed Ali was detained under the pretext of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
His uncle denied this charge , stressing that Mohammed was arrested near the checkpoint, and there were no confrontations there.
Israeli forces has also summoned the child's father for investigation, no information was reported about them.
30 nov 2013
The 13-year-old child Yahia al-Rajabi from the old city of Hebron was tortured by the Israeli army soldiers during his 18-hour interrogation period in Etzion detention center. He was deprived of food and water.
The child told the lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) that he was arrested at midnight after the soldiers shot at his direction and then severely beat him with their rifle butts.
The child said that soldiers from the Israeli army transferred him to Qiryat Arba settlement where he was interrogated and then he was taken to Etzion detention center, in which he was subjected to psychological and physical torture that continued until his release on Tuesday night.
The Israeli authorities arrested Yahia al-Rajbi on Sunday, 25th November 2013.
The child told the lawyer of the Palestinian Prisoner's Society (PPS) that he was arrested at midnight after the soldiers shot at his direction and then severely beat him with their rifle butts.
The child said that soldiers from the Israeli army transferred him to Qiryat Arba settlement where he was interrogated and then he was taken to Etzion detention center, in which he was subjected to psychological and physical torture that continued until his release on Tuesday night.
The Israeli authorities arrested Yahia al-Rajbi on Sunday, 25th November 2013.
29 nov 2013
Palestinian human rights sources said that the occupation authorities issued an arrest warrant against a 4-year-old Jerusalemite child. The Information Center of Wadi al-Hilwa in Silwan said in a press release on Thursday that an Israeli military force raided the house of the citizen Zine al-Majid, in Saadin neighborhood in the Old City of Jerusalem, to arrest his son Mohammed, who is four years old.
The center quoted the father as saying "a large force stormed my house and asked me about the names of my children, when I answered, they told me they have an order to arrest my son Mohammed. I was very surprised and told one of the officers Mohammed is only 4 years old. However, he was not convinced and asked me to wake him up. Only after seeing him the officer retreated from implementing the arrest warrant."
The Israeli officers interrogated Mohammed's father about his child and his friends in the neighborhood, under the pretext that they are suspected of attacking a settler. They also threatened to summon Mohammed for interrogation.
The center quoted the father as saying "a large force stormed my house and asked me about the names of my children, when I answered, they told me they have an order to arrest my son Mohammed. I was very surprised and told one of the officers Mohammed is only 4 years old. However, he was not convinced and asked me to wake him up. Only after seeing him the officer retreated from implementing the arrest warrant."
The Israeli officers interrogated Mohammed's father about his child and his friends in the neighborhood, under the pretext that they are suspected of attacking a settler. They also threatened to summon Mohammed for interrogation.
26 nov 2013
"As I ran to get cover from the bullets, I felt something hit my foot and I was down. I was too close to the fence at that point. I had to pull myself away, crawling," said 17-year-old Yazid Abu Khader.
Yazid Abu Khader, 17, once the only bread winner of his eight-member family, struggles to stand up at his house in central Gaza Strip. The teen suffered a disability from a gunshot injury when he took part in a rally near Gaza’s border fence with Israel.
Waiting for us at the corner of the unpaved street that led to Yazid's house was his younger brother. As we approached the street, the boy gestured to us to follow him. Rags and blankets hanging at the entrance of Abu Khader's house seemed to be put there for a purpose; as if to hide the pain that lies within those walls.
Young Abu Khader, whose father served time inside Israeli jails, was used to attending rallies in support of Palestinian prisoners, but in April, an Israeli soldier shot him in the foot, nearly putting an end to the boy's ability to walk.
"As I ran to get cover from the bullets, I felt something hit my foot and I was down. I was too close to the fence at that point. I had to pull myself away, crawling," said Abu Khader.
Yazid's injury is only one of many reported this year. According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) monthly reports, 11 children, including a two-year-old girl, were shot by the Israeli military since the beginning of 2013, 10 of whom near Gaza's border fence with Israel and one in the fishing area off Gaza’s coast.
Although the majority of these children were shot and injured while in the area traditionally known as the buffer zone, usually defined as three hundred meters (1,000 feet) from the border fence, two-year-old Nahed al-Udaini of Deir Al-Balah was shot in her left leg while playing in front of her house, a thousand meters (1100 yards) away from the fence, according to PCHR January 2013 report.
With no other source of income, and being the eldest among his siblings, Yazid Abu Khader had started to work at an iron molding factory at the age of 11, when his father was serving time in an Israeli jail. But now, with two canes that he uses to help him stand up and walk, he is no longer able to do such a job.
"I can't carry heavy things. I can't even walk straight, and if I happen to step on a small stone, I fall down," the shy boy said, rarely raising his head when he spoke.
Inside the one bedroom house, we went through a modest kitchen, which shared its refrigerator with the living room where Yazid laid on his bed, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with his foot raised on a yellow pillow. His mother apologized for not having suitable chairs.
As we sat down and spoke with Yazid, his little brothers and only sister gathered around us as if to hear his story again. This was not Yazid's room alone. He shared it with three of his siblings. In the living room, where the young man spends most of his time, and sleeps, there were two other makeshift beds, one is a couch and the other is a mattress laid on the floor and covered with blankets.
Abu Khader has been through physical therapy for the past six months and he might need to undergo surgery, according to doctor Nashaat al-Ramli, an orthopedic surgeon at the bone department of Al-Shifa Hospital who has examined the boy recently.
"We still have to wait for the updated X-rays and neurology test results, but from what I see, I can tell that Yazid may not be able to walk normally or carry heavy items for quite some time,” said al-Ramli. "He may need an operation to repair the damage to his ankle, and he will definitely need further physiotherapy."
Borrowing the canes from a friend, Abu Khader was ashamed they revealed his new disability, and hid them behind his bed. He could no longer hang out with his fellow friends or enjoy playing football.
"We still go to the beach sometimes. But I have to sit down all the time. I can't do anything else," said Abu Khader, in a hardly-heard voice.
As Palestinians try to stay within a safe range of the fence, it has been difficult to accurately identify what that range might exactly be. Data collected by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights since the second intifada of 2000 shows that land within one hundred meters (330 feet) to two kilometers (1.25 miles) has been restricted at one point or another, with three hundred meters (1000 feet) being the range prevailing for the most part.
An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza in November 2012 was said to bring down that range to one hundred meters. At that time, some Palestinians reported being able to get as close as touching the fence and farmers began to plant their land, which prior to the agreement was off limits.
However, the PCHR reports that in March 2013, the access restricted area was redefined to three hundred meters, which accounts for 17% of Gaza Strip's area.
Not only on land, but also at sea, there is still confusion. Over the years, the distance fishermen are allowed to sail and fish has shrunk from 20 autical miles as agreed by the Oslo accord to three nautical miles in June 2007. In November 2012, this area was extended to six nautical miles, but again redefined to three in March 2013.
When asked whether he felt scared when he was shot, Yazid's mother, who overheard the question, answered instead: "I was terrified. I thought I was going to lose my son. Doctors told us he had lost a lot of blood.” Yazid, however, continued to stare at the scar left at the place where the bullet exited his right ankle.
Maha Elbanna is a freelance journalist based in Gaza and contributes articles to Defence for Children International Palestine.
Yazid Abu Khader, 17, once the only bread winner of his eight-member family, struggles to stand up at his house in central Gaza Strip. The teen suffered a disability from a gunshot injury when he took part in a rally near Gaza’s border fence with Israel.
Waiting for us at the corner of the unpaved street that led to Yazid's house was his younger brother. As we approached the street, the boy gestured to us to follow him. Rags and blankets hanging at the entrance of Abu Khader's house seemed to be put there for a purpose; as if to hide the pain that lies within those walls.
Young Abu Khader, whose father served time inside Israeli jails, was used to attending rallies in support of Palestinian prisoners, but in April, an Israeli soldier shot him in the foot, nearly putting an end to the boy's ability to walk.
"As I ran to get cover from the bullets, I felt something hit my foot and I was down. I was too close to the fence at that point. I had to pull myself away, crawling," said Abu Khader.
Yazid's injury is only one of many reported this year. According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) monthly reports, 11 children, including a two-year-old girl, were shot by the Israeli military since the beginning of 2013, 10 of whom near Gaza's border fence with Israel and one in the fishing area off Gaza’s coast.
Although the majority of these children were shot and injured while in the area traditionally known as the buffer zone, usually defined as three hundred meters (1,000 feet) from the border fence, two-year-old Nahed al-Udaini of Deir Al-Balah was shot in her left leg while playing in front of her house, a thousand meters (1100 yards) away from the fence, according to PCHR January 2013 report.
With no other source of income, and being the eldest among his siblings, Yazid Abu Khader had started to work at an iron molding factory at the age of 11, when his father was serving time in an Israeli jail. But now, with two canes that he uses to help him stand up and walk, he is no longer able to do such a job.
"I can't carry heavy things. I can't even walk straight, and if I happen to step on a small stone, I fall down," the shy boy said, rarely raising his head when he spoke.
Inside the one bedroom house, we went through a modest kitchen, which shared its refrigerator with the living room where Yazid laid on his bed, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, with his foot raised on a yellow pillow. His mother apologized for not having suitable chairs.
As we sat down and spoke with Yazid, his little brothers and only sister gathered around us as if to hear his story again. This was not Yazid's room alone. He shared it with three of his siblings. In the living room, where the young man spends most of his time, and sleeps, there were two other makeshift beds, one is a couch and the other is a mattress laid on the floor and covered with blankets.
Abu Khader has been through physical therapy for the past six months and he might need to undergo surgery, according to doctor Nashaat al-Ramli, an orthopedic surgeon at the bone department of Al-Shifa Hospital who has examined the boy recently.
"We still have to wait for the updated X-rays and neurology test results, but from what I see, I can tell that Yazid may not be able to walk normally or carry heavy items for quite some time,” said al-Ramli. "He may need an operation to repair the damage to his ankle, and he will definitely need further physiotherapy."
Borrowing the canes from a friend, Abu Khader was ashamed they revealed his new disability, and hid them behind his bed. He could no longer hang out with his fellow friends or enjoy playing football.
"We still go to the beach sometimes. But I have to sit down all the time. I can't do anything else," said Abu Khader, in a hardly-heard voice.
As Palestinians try to stay within a safe range of the fence, it has been difficult to accurately identify what that range might exactly be. Data collected by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights since the second intifada of 2000 shows that land within one hundred meters (330 feet) to two kilometers (1.25 miles) has been restricted at one point or another, with three hundred meters (1000 feet) being the range prevailing for the most part.
An Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza in November 2012 was said to bring down that range to one hundred meters. At that time, some Palestinians reported being able to get as close as touching the fence and farmers began to plant their land, which prior to the agreement was off limits.
However, the PCHR reports that in March 2013, the access restricted area was redefined to three hundred meters, which accounts for 17% of Gaza Strip's area.
Not only on land, but also at sea, there is still confusion. Over the years, the distance fishermen are allowed to sail and fish has shrunk from 20 autical miles as agreed by the Oslo accord to three nautical miles in June 2007. In November 2012, this area was extended to six nautical miles, but again redefined to three in March 2013.
When asked whether he felt scared when he was shot, Yazid's mother, who overheard the question, answered instead: "I was terrified. I thought I was going to lose my son. Doctors told us he had lost a lot of blood.” Yazid, however, continued to stare at the scar left at the place where the bullet exited his right ankle.
Maha Elbanna is a freelance journalist based in Gaza and contributes articles to Defence for Children International Palestine.
19 nov 2013
August and September brought increased violence by Israeli forces against Palestinian children living in refugee camps throughout the West Bank. Lax enforcement of the Israeli army’s open-fire regulations has led to increased violence against Palestinian civilians and perpetuated impunity throughout 2013.
On August 26, Mohammad A, 14, was shot in the leg by live ammunition when Israeli forces raided Qalandia refugee camp south of Ramallah. Laith E, 8, was shot in the forehead and injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.
On September 1, Basel S, 15, was shot and injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet that struck him directly in the eye in Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah.
On September 17, Muhammad G, 16, was shot with live ammunition in the foot during an Israeli army incursion into Jenin refugee camp around 6:30 am.
On September 26, Musab S, 6, was shot in the eye with a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by an Israeli soldier as he was walking next to his mother. Due to the severity of his injuries, doctors determined that he needed to be transferred to Saint George hospital in Jerusalem. After waiting four hours for approval from Israeli authorities, the transfer was completed and Musab underwent surgery at Saint George hospital to remove his right eye and the rubber-coated metal bullet, which had settled into his eye socket.
Tensions in Hebron increased during September as thousands of Israelis visited for the Jewish holidays. On September 23, Awni S, 14, living in a home that has an Israeli military station on the roof, was attacked by a group of settlers on his rooftop and sustained bruises.
»Read the bulletin: Violations Bulletin - Issue 34 - July-September 2013
On August 26, Mohammad A, 14, was shot in the leg by live ammunition when Israeli forces raided Qalandia refugee camp south of Ramallah. Laith E, 8, was shot in the forehead and injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by Israeli soldiers during clashes in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.
On September 1, Basel S, 15, was shot and injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet that struck him directly in the eye in Jalazoun refugee camp north of Ramallah.
On September 17, Muhammad G, 16, was shot with live ammunition in the foot during an Israeli army incursion into Jenin refugee camp around 6:30 am.
On September 26, Musab S, 6, was shot in the eye with a rubber-coated metal bullet fired by an Israeli soldier as he was walking next to his mother. Due to the severity of his injuries, doctors determined that he needed to be transferred to Saint George hospital in Jerusalem. After waiting four hours for approval from Israeli authorities, the transfer was completed and Musab underwent surgery at Saint George hospital to remove his right eye and the rubber-coated metal bullet, which had settled into his eye socket.
Tensions in Hebron increased during September as thousands of Israelis visited for the Jewish holidays. On September 23, Awni S, 14, living in a home that has an Israeli military station on the roof, was attacked by a group of settlers on his rooftop and sustained bruises.
»Read the bulletin: Violations Bulletin - Issue 34 - July-September 2013
17 nov 2013
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) on Friday evening released the child Mohammed Hamid, 12, after he was arrested and assaulted, in Silwad east of Ramallah. The IOF kidnapped Mohammed during violent clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian youths on the Shohadaa roundabout in Silwad, after accusing him of throwing stones at Israeli soldiers.
His family said that the occupation released him after midnight, after a detention that lasted for more than seven hours in Ben Yamin Camp at Ofer prison. During his detention Mohammed was severely assaulted by the Israeli soldiers, which resulted in breaking his hand and other bruises in the head and all over his body.
The IOF has also arrested and attacked four other children, causing them bruises.
Their families appealed to the competent authorities to intervene for the release of their sons who have been absent from schools due to their detention.
Another Palestinian child from Fawwar camp south of al-Khalil was arrested on Saturday evening by the Israeli soldiers, who have been deployed in the region.
Eyewitnesses said that more than five Israeli patrols were present at the entrance to the camp during the arrest of the child who was then taken to an unknown destination.
They added that the occupation forces attacked the citizens and searched the vehicles entering and leaving the camp, while a state of tension was prevailing in the place amid expectations of outbreak of new confrontations.
His family said that the occupation released him after midnight, after a detention that lasted for more than seven hours in Ben Yamin Camp at Ofer prison. During his detention Mohammed was severely assaulted by the Israeli soldiers, which resulted in breaking his hand and other bruises in the head and all over his body.
The IOF has also arrested and attacked four other children, causing them bruises.
Their families appealed to the competent authorities to intervene for the release of their sons who have been absent from schools due to their detention.
Another Palestinian child from Fawwar camp south of al-Khalil was arrested on Saturday evening by the Israeli soldiers, who have been deployed in the region.
Eyewitnesses said that more than five Israeli patrols were present at the entrance to the camp during the arrest of the child who was then taken to an unknown destination.
They added that the occupation forces attacked the citizens and searched the vehicles entering and leaving the camp, while a state of tension was prevailing in the place amid expectations of outbreak of new confrontations.