A Glimpse into Israeli Violations in 2014

Over the course of this year, Israeli violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including the killings, injuries and destruction of Palestinian lives and properties have continued unabated. So far, the death toll has greatly exceeded that of last year – rising sharply to more than 2,136 Palestinians compared to 56 in 2013. The vast majority of the killings took place during Israel’s 53 day-long criminal assault on Gaza. In the West Bank, 75 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of 2014. 

Acts of settler violence reported in 2014 have reached 855 incidents to date. Among these incidents were the attacks on Palestinians during the olive harvest, the murder of a 5 year old girl, placing into a coma a 4 year old girl, attacking mosques, and raiding villages and towns. These incidents which were reported to the Israeli police have not been properly investigated. According to a recent report by Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din, less than 7.4 percent of investigation files led to indictments of Israeli civilians (settlers) who were suspected of attacking Palestinians and their property. Moreover, 85.2% of the police files concluded were closed due to the police’s failure to investigate properly.1

There has also been an alarming increase in attacks to religious sites, especially against the Aqsa Mosque, reaching 265 incidents so far this year. Furthermore, there has been a sharp and frightening increase in the incitement by Israeli officials against Palestinians and the Palestinian leadership. 

Recent statements by Israeli ministers against the Palestinian president and the two state solution are but an example of such incitement: 

“Rather than look for a solution, I am seeking a way to manage the conflict and our relations in a way to strengthen our mutual interests. It is time to free ourselves of the concept that everything leads to a framework that is called a state. From my standpoint, they can call it the Palestinian empire. I don’t care. It would basically be autonomy.” Moshe Ya'alon - October 17^th, 2014).

“Abu Mazen, one of the greatest terrorists spawned by the Palestinian nation, bears direct responsibility for the blood of the Jews. At a time when we were preoccupied with illusions about the diplomatic process, the Palestinians were preparing an infrastructure of combined terror and incitement. Even concrete barricades don’t stop terror, but instead encourage it. Abu Mazen has declared war on Israel and we have to respond accordingly.” Naftali Benett - November 18th, 2014).

The lethal combination of organized incitement by the Israeli government and settler violence have played a major role in flaring the tension in Jerusalem. For instance, Israeli officials including members of the Israeli government and the Knesset, and joined by the Israeli security forces, lead extremists to forcibly enter Al Haram Al Sharif, provoking Palestinians and Muslims at large and threatening to change the character of the conflict into a religious one. 

Examples of Israel’s violation in East Jerusalem & the rest of the occupied West Bank

Killings

• Sa’id Ali, an 85 year old resident of Kufr Qaddum village in Nablus, was killed through tear gas inhalation from tear gas grenades fired by Israeli forces suppressing a demonstration against the continued closure of the village. (01/01/2014)

• Mohammed Mubarak, 22 year old resident of Jalazoun Refugee camp in Ramallah, was shot and killed by Israeli forces near Ein Sinya village. (29/01/2014)

• Israeli forces raided Bir Zeit village killing Mu’taz Washaha and injuring and arresting several other Palestinian residents. (27/02/2014)

• Jihad Al-Tawil (A resident of Silwan) died while in custody in an Israeli prison. He had been arrested for allegedly driving an unregistered vehicle. (25/02/2014)

• Israeli forces opened fire against several residents of Beitin village in Ramallah for allegedly throwing rocks, killing Saji Darwish, a 19 years old resident of the village. (10/03/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed on Al Karamah crossing (Allenby bridge) shot and killed Raed Za’tir, 38 year old Palestinian-Jordanian judge, as he was traveling between Jordan and the West Bank. (10/03/2014)

• Fida Majadlah, a 23 year old resident of Attiel village in Tulkarem, was killed when his car overturned while being apprehended by Israeli forces near Jabar checkpoint in Tulkarem. (11/03/2014)

• Yusef Shawamra, 16 years old, was shot and killed by Israeli forces as he was attempting to cross the wall (near Al-Ramadin village) to enter Israel for work. (19/03/2014)

• Israeli forces entered and sparked clashes in Jenin refugee camp killing three Palestinian residents of the camp - Hamza Abu Haija, Yaza Jabarin, and Mahmoud Abu Zeina. (22/03/2014)

• Israeli forces raided Al-Ayda refugee camp in Bethlehem firing weapons and throwing stun and gas grenades.  Nuha Qatamish, a 44 years old women, suffocated and died from tear gas inhalation thrown inside her home in the camp. (14/04/2014).

• Israeli forces stationed near the village of Beitunia in the Ramallah district shot and killed two Palestinians (Nadim Nuwara, 17 years old and Mohammed Abu Thaher 20 years old) as they were demonstrating peacefully during the Nakba commemoration. (15/05/2014)

• Samih Wahish, 64 year old medical doctor, died of complication after suffocating from tear gas thrown by Israeli forces on a peaceful demonstration in Abu Dis on May 23^rd. (27/05/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at Hawarah checkpoint near Nablus shot and killed Ala Odeh, 31 years old. (02/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Ahmed Sabarien, 23 years old resident of Jalazoun refugee camp, for allegedly throwing rocks.  (16/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Mohammed Doudin, a 10 year old boy resident of Dura village near Hebron, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration. (19/06/2014)

• Jamil Suf, 60 year old resident of Salfit, died from a heart attack he suffered as Israeli forces stormed his home in Salfit and prevented medical units from providing him with health care. (21/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Mohammed Ismail, 30 year old resident of Ramallah, as the forces invaded the city of Ramallah. (22/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Ahmed Khaled, 36 years old resident of Nablus, as he was leaving the mosque during morning prayers. (22/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Mustafa Aslan, 24 year old resident of Qalandia refugee camp, during a demonstration in the camp. (25/06/2014)

• Fatima Rushdi, a 65 year old Palestinian woman, died from a heart attack she suffered as Israeli soldiers stormed her house in Aboud refugee camp in Hebron. (29/06/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Yusef Abu Zagha, 20 year old resident of Jenin refugee camp, as he was returning to his house following morning prayers. (01/07/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Munir Al Badarin, 21 year old resident of Al Samou’ village in Hebron, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration in the village against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (14/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at Al-Ram junction (near Jerusalem) shot and killed Mohammed Al Shawamreh, 22 years old resident of Al-Ram, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (21/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed near Bethlehem shot and killed Mohammed Hamamreh, 19 years old resident of Husan village in Bethlehem, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (22/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at Qalandia checkpoint shot and killed Mohammed Al-Araj, a 17 year old resident of Qalandia refugee camp in Jerusalem, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (24/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at Al-Jalameh checkpoint in Jenin, shot and killed Bassem Abu AlRub, 19 years old resident of Jenin, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (25/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at Huwara checkpoint near Nablus, shot and killed Khaled Odeh and Tayeb Shihadeh, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (25/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at the west entrance of Beit Fajjar shot and killed Nassir Taqatqa, a 14 year old boy, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (25/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of Beit Ummar village near Hebron shot and killed 3 residents of the area: Hisham Abu Mariya, Sultan Al-Za’aqiq, and Abdel Hamid Baraghit for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (25/07/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at the Aroub refugee camp shot and killed Eid Al Faseelat, 26 years old, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (25/07/2014)

• Israeli forces shot Ala’ Zughair, a 16 year old boy from Ithna, Hebron, during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza on 21^st of July. He later died from the wounds sustained. (29/07/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Oday Jaber, 23 year old resident of Safa village near Ramallah, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration in the village against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (01/08/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Tamer Faraj Sammour, 22 year old resident of Tulkarem, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (01/08/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Mohammed Nayef Ja’abis, 21 years old resident of Jerusalem, for allegedly trying to overrun Israelis in Jerusalem. (04/08/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed in Pesagot settlement shot and killed Mohammed Ahmad Al Qattari, 19 years old resident of Ramallah, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (08/08/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed in Hebron shot and killed Nadir Idris, 42 year old resident of the city, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (08/08/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed at the entrance of Al Fuwar refugee camp shot and killed Khalil Anati, 11 year old resident of the camp, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration against Israel’s assault on Gaza. (10/08/2014)

• Mohammed Mutasim Bashirat, resident of Tamoun village, was killed by an Israeli military UXO as he was herding his sheep in the village. (11/08/2014)

• Israeli forces shot Hassa Ashour, 16 years old, during a demonstration in the village against Israel’s assault on Gaza. Hassa later died of the injuries sustained. (23/08/2014)

• Hanadi Abu Sbatin, 20 years old infant, died at a Jerusalem hospital after she suffocated from Israeli-fired tear gas in the area. (28/08/2014)

• Mohammed Sonukrut, 15 year old resident of Jerusalem, died of a serious head injury he received from Israeli forces during a demonstration in Jerusalem on September 1^st. (07/09/2014)

• Israeli forces shot and killed Khaled Al Qatari, 22 year old resident of Ramallah, when they raided the Al Amari refugee camp in the city. (09/09/2014)

• Abdel Rahman Al Shaludi was shot and killed by an Israeli security officer after he ran over several Israelis in Shufat neighborhood in Jerusalem. (22/10/2014)

• Israeli forces stationed near the entrance of Silwad village shot and killed Awarah Hamad, 14 year old citizen of the United States, for allegedly throwing rocks during a demonstration. (26/10/2014)

Israeli settler violence

Terrorist attacks by settlers are commonplace and include physical attacks on Palestinian people and their property. Settlers also act to infringe upon the basic human rights of Palestinians by, for example, preventing Palestinian access to the Palestinians’ own land used to sustain their livelihood. Some examples of such acts can be seen below. 

• An Israeli settler ran over Murad Al-Atrash, a 5 year old boy, near the old city of Hebron leaving him hospitalized with contusions. (11/01/2014)

• An Israeli settler ran over and injured Ahmad Burqan, a 4 year old boy, near south Hebron leaving him hospitalized with contusions.(18/02/2014)

• An Israeli settler ran over Saleh Malahat, 66 years old, along the main road in east Al-Taybeh and killed him. (02/03/2014)

• The child Samira Awad (16 years old) was hospitalized with contusions after being run over by an Israeli military vehicle near Sah’ab Al-Batem area in south Yatta. (08/03/2014)

• Israeli settlers stormed agricultural land and assaulted 4 Palestinian residents. Moreover an Israeli settler ran over Suliman Hijazi leaving him hospitalized with contusions and Israeli forces detained a resident. (02/04/2014)

• An Israeli settler ran over 2 Palestinians Ramadan Romanin and Iz-Aldin Abu Asal, along Al-Shalalat road near Al-Oja leaving them hospitalized with contusions. (14/04/2014) 

• Israeli forces and settlers surrounded Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the old city of Jerusalem and prevented worshipers from entering the mosque. (16/04/2014)

• Israeli settlers stoned residents and vehicles passing near “Amoutil” settlement damaging a vehicle owned by Ahmad Ammar, a resident of Beit Amin village and injuring 6 residents: Zulfa Amaar, Fatima Amar, Ni’meh Sarsur, Haytham Al-Assi and his wife leaving them hospitalised with contusions. (18/04/2014)

• Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli forces stormed Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem and fired rubber coated steel bullets, and stun and tear gas grenades towards several worshipers, injuring Marwa Idris, as worshipers attempted to defend against the settler assault. (22/04/2014) 

• Israeli settlers ran over and injured a child along road 90 in Al Oja village in the Jordan Valley. (13/05/2014)

• Israeli settlers abducted and burnt alive Mohammad Abu Khdeir (16 years old) from Shu’fat neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. The body was found in Deir Yassin village. (02/07/2014)

• Israeli forces at the entrance of “Pesagot” settlement located in east Al-Bireh fired live ammunition rubber coated steel bullets, and stun and tear gas grenades towards several residents for allegedly throwing rocks, killing Mohammad Ahmad Al-Qattari resident of Al Amari Refugee Camp.(08/08/2014) 

• The child Hassan Hazem Abdel-Hamid Ashour (16 years old) died of injuries sustained during clashes with Israeli forces in Beit Furiq. (25/08/2014)

• Israeli settler ran over the child Mays Al-Razam (8 years old) in his vehicle forcing her to be hospitalized with contusions. (02/10/2014)

• Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli military forces occupied two apartments inside of “Anan Baydoun” building in Silwan Neighborhood of Jerusalem. (05/10/2014).

• Israeli settler vehicle ran over Moath Ghazal (17 years old) near “Ma’alee Amous” settlement forcing him to be hospitalized with contusions. (07/10/2014)

• An Israeli settler vehicle ran over two women Ghina Qassim and Nisrin Talhab along a main road near Al-Fanduq village forcing them to be hospitalized with contusions. (08/10/2014).

• Israeli settlers stormed agricultural land in Husan village, uprooted and stole 38 olive trees and chopped the limbs of approximately 200 Olive trees owned by Mahmoud Shusheh. (09/10/2014).

• An Israeli settler attempted to abduct the child Majd Huzina (4 years old) outside of his family home near in Al-Sa’diya neighborhood in Jerusalem. (12/10/2014)

• The child Inas Khalil (5 years old) was killed and Tulin Asfour (6 years old) was injured after they were run over by an Israeli settler in his vehicle along the main road connecting Ramallah and Nablus near the entrance of Sinjil. (19/10/2014)

• Israeli settler ran over Ali Al-Shawish (a resident of the old city of Jerusalem) near Al-Khalil gate in the old city of Jerusalem forcing him to be hospitalized with a broken arm and contusions. (31/10/2014).

• An Israeli settler ran over Ibrahim Hamdan in his vehicle near the north-west entrance of Beit Jallah leaving him hospitalized with contusions. (04/11/2014)

• Israeli settlers near Ma’ale Adumin settlement assaulted Mohammad Obied. Also, Israeli settlers positioned near Bab Al-Amoud gate in the old city of Jerusalem assaulted Mazen AlQaq. (06/11/2014)

• An Israeli settler vehicle ran over Muhanad Salah (A resident of Al-Khadr) near the main by pass road leading to Al-Khadr. (06/11/2014)

• Israeli settlers positioned near Al-Eisawiya assaulted Ahmad Obied (A resident of AlEisawiya) forcing him to be hospitalized with contusions. (07/11/2014).

• Israeli settlers attacked a vehicle driven by Daoud Siyam as he was stopped at a traffic light near “Ramat Shakol” junction and damaged his vehicle. (08/11/2014)

• A group of Israeli settlers stormed Burin village and stoned several residents during which Israeli forces fired stun and tear gas grenades towards residents as they attempted to prevent the settler attack. Finally, the settlers withdrew under the protection of Israeli forces. (17/11/ 2014)

Home & Property Demolition

According to a recent report by the United Nations, a total of 522 structures have been demolished since the beginning of the year until November 3, 2014 in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. As a result at least 954 Palestinians, including many children, were displaced.

Israeli Settlement Activities and Land Confiscation:  

• 5,241 units Total Tendered Settlement Housing Units

• 9,282 units Total Announced Settlement Housing Units

In the reporting period, Israel continued the intensification of settlement activity, particularly, issuance of building permits and planning in the West Bank including East Jerusalem. The Israeli government announced and tendered 14,523 illegal units. The following are an example of the recent tenders and announcements by the Israeli authorities.

Extensive settlement planning is taking place around Occupied East Jerusalem in particular: 

• Northwest Occupied East Jerusalem

  • Ramat Shlomo (1,500 units) Ramot (738 units) and Givat Zeev (437 units).  

• East of Occupied East Jerusalem

  • Kefar Adumim (304 units), E1-  the Israeli government announced plans to expedite the establishment of at least 3426 units of the controversial settlement of E-1– a settlement that previous governments had made commitments not to build.  

• South of Occupied East Jerusalem 

  • Gilo (708 units), Har Homa (512 units).  Plans to build new settlement Givat Hamatos of at least 2,335 housing units for Israeli settlers. 

• Western Bethlehem

  • Beitar Illit (630 units) Efrat (527 units)

All these settlements around Occupied East Jerusalem are currently being linked together by the Wall and an elaborate road system. The dual purpose of these settlements and the Wall installations is to maximize Israeli territory while minimizing the Palestinian population within the city’s boundaries, and to territorially separate Jerusalem from the Palestinian West Bank.

• Northern West Bank extensive settlement planning is taking place in the Salfit Governorate:

  • Ariel (839 units), Bruchin (550 units), new settlement of Leshem (694 units) located more than half a kilometer away Alei Zahav.

Land Confiscations

​In 2014, several military orders regarding land confiscations in areas of the West Bank were issued by Israel, and amounted to around 5,500 dunums.

On August 31, the Israeli government announced expropriation of a total of 3799 (almost 1000 acres) of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem governorate. This represents the largest Israeli land grab in the Occupied State of Palestine in three decades. The Israeli government intends to build a new settlement-city called Gevaot on the lands of five Palestinian villages in Western Bethlehem, known by Israel as the “Gush Etzion bloc”, an occupied area that Israel aims to illegally annex. The latest Israeli land confiscation involves five Palestinian villages in Bethlehem and Hebron Governorates: Wadi’ Fukin, Jaba’, Nahhalin, Hussan and Surif.

In addition, on September 7, for the expansion of the illegal settlement of Efrat in Bethlehem governorate, the Israeli High Court rejected the final petition against confiscation submitted by

Palestinian owners of 1700 dunums of land paving the way to finalize the theft of the land.

Annex I

The following is a summary of Israeli violations and crimes committed during the 53 Days of Israel’s aggression against the Gaza Strip: 

From July 6th– August 27th

• Palestinians killed: 2,143 

• Palestinians Injured: 11,230 

• Demolished Structures: 10,800

• Partially Demolished Structures: 8,000 

• Damaged Homes: 46,000 

• Schools Damaged: 141 Government Schools and 136 UNRWA Schools 

• Damaged Hospitals and Health Centers – 10 hospitals and 7 PHC clinics were damaged, 5 hospitals and 44 primary health clinics were closed, 16 ambulances were damaged, and 83 health personnel injured, 23 health personnel died after Israeli airstrikes. 

• Attacks against Religious Sites – 73 mosques cannot be used and 197 have been partially damaged. Ten Muslim cemeteries have been targeted. Two Churches and one Christian cemetery have been Partially Damaged. Two Churches and one Christian cemetery have been Partially Damaged. 

Many of the 600,000 people displaced during the war returned to find their homes completely destroyed or simply not fit for living 

The entire population of the Gaza Strip have been affected by the destruction of electricity, water and waste water infrastructures.

Annex II:

The following table summarizes Israeli violations in the course of this year.

Comparison Table of Events over the Year 2014

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• 1. http://www.yeshdin.org/userfiles/file/%D7%93%D7%A3%20%D7%A0%D7%AA%D7%95%...