contact@ifamericansknew.org, Author at Israel-Palestine Timeline

Netanel Kahalani

March 17, 2018March 19, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

March 16, 2018: Netanel Kahalani, 20, was killed when an automobile collided with him and another soldier who were standing at a military roadblock in Barta’a village in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

In addition to Sergeant Kahalani, Lieutenant Ziv Daus, 21 was also killed in the collision.

Israeli Ynet News said Daus was a company commander of army’s “search and rescue” brigade, while Kahalani was a driver in the Menashe Brigade.

The soldiers were killed near Barta’a military roadblock, close to Jenin in northern West Bank, when a Palestinian driver, identified as Ala’ Rateb Qabha, 26, crashed into the roadblock.

Ala’ suffered light-to-moderate wounds, in addition to wounding two other soldiers.

The Israeli army claimed that the fatal incident was a deliberate attack targeting the soldiers at the military roadblock, and raided the family home of the Palestinian driver, before violently searching the property and interrogating the family.

But the family of Ala’ denied that claim, saying that the young man was not politically involved in any way, and the collision was a car accident, not an attack.

The day after the fatal vehicular collision, the army announced it plans to recommend that the Israeli government split the village of Barta’a in two, and determined a series of collective punishment measures, including constant invasions, and isolating the village.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and several members of his cabinet, vowed to demolish the home of the Palestinian driver, while the Israeli Internal Security claimed that “all indications, and the interrogation of the driver, points towards a nationally motivated attack,” a term used to refer to incidents directly related to the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine.

Israel’s illegal policies of collective punishment, including demolishing the homes of Palestinians accused of killing Israelis, or wounding them, and even those accused of carrying out attacks, such as shootings and hurling Molotov cocktails at the military or colonialist settlers, has been widely implemented since Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 1967.

The Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD) has reported that Israeli demolished 351 homes and structures, and displaced 528 Palestinians in the year 2017, and added that the number of demolished structures in the occupied West Bank since 1967 is 78,743.

Netanel was from Elyakim Moshav, in the Megiddo Regional Council, in the northern part of Israel. Source: IMEMC

Ziv Daus

March 17, 2018March 19, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

March 16, 2018: Ziv Daus, 21, was killed when an automobile collided with him and another soldier who were standing at a military roadblock in Barta’a village in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

In addition to Lieutenant Daus, Sergeant Netanel Kahalani, 20, was also killed in the collision.

Israeli Ynet News said Daus was a company commander of army’s “search and rescue” brigade, while Kahalani was a driver in the Menashe Brigade.

The soldiers were killed near Barta’a military roadblock, close to Jenin in northern West Bank, when a Palestinian driver, identified as Ala’ Rateb Qabha, 26, crashed into the roadblock.

Ala’ suffered light-to-moderate wounds, in addition to wounding two other soldiers.

But the family of Ala’ denied that claim, saying that the young man was not politically involved in any way, and the collision was a car accident, not an attack.

Ziv was from Azur town near Tel Aviv. Source: IMEMC

Ameer Omar Shehada

March 10, 2018June 5, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

March 10, 2018: Ameer Omar Shehada, 22, was shot in the chest and killed by Israeli forces in the eastern area of ‘Orif village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

Medical sources at Rafidia Hospital in Nablus said that Ameer was rushed to surgery after suffering a gunshot injury in his chest, but died from his serious wounds.

The fatal shooting took place after a group of extremist Israeli colonizers invaded the Palestinian village, where they clashed with local youth.

Shortly afterwards, dozens of soldiers invaded the town to secure the withdrawal of the Israeli colonizers, and started firing live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades at the Palestinians, while many of them hurled stones at the soldiers.

One child, 14 years of age, was shot with a live round in his thigh, while many Palestinians suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.

On the same evening, dozens of Palestinians suffered the effects of teargas inhalation, in Azzoun town, east of the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, after several Israeli army jeeps invaded the city.

On Friday evening, the soldiers killed a young Palestinian man, identified as Mohammad Zeid al-Ja’bari, 24, after shooting him with a live round in his chest.

Mohammad, who was deaf and could not speak, was shot in the Bab az-Zawiya area, in the center of Hebron city, in the southern part of the West Bank.

Ameer was from ‘Orif village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. Source: IMEMC.

Mohammad Zein al-Ja’bari

March 9, 2018March 9, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

March 9th, 2018: Mohammad Zein al-Ja’bari, 24, who is deaf and mute, was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.

The young man could not speak or hear, and so did not respond to Israeli soldiers’ commands as they invaded the city.

The young man suffered very serious wounds and was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his wounds despite all efforts to save his life.

Mohammad was shot when the soldiers engaged in an excessive use of force against Palestinian protesters, firing live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.

He was in an area far from where the protest was taking place, but was struck with a live round after the army fired many bullets at the protesters.

The Israeli army claimed that the soldiers shot the Palestinian while he was allegedly “throwing a Molotov cocktail at them,” and added that it is “investigating the incident.”

It is worth noting that Israeli forces have been proven to, in virtually every occasion, claim that a Palestinian that they have killed was attacking them. Even though most of these claims are later proven false, they are reported in the media in the immediate aftermath of a killing and never retracted.

Hours after his death, hundreds of Palestinians marched in his funeral procession following prayers at a local mosque, in Ein Sara Street, in Hebron.

Mohammad was from Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Mohammad Ata Abu Jame’

March 3, 2018March 4, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

March 03, 2018: Mohammad Ata Abu Jame’, 59, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while working on his land in Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that the farmer was shot by the soldiers, and suffered a serious injury, while working on his own land, in Khuza’a area, east of Khan Younis.

He was rushed to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, but died from his serious wounds, later the same day, March 3rd.

His wife said that she was heading to the family’s land to bring food for her husband when she heard the shots, and then she heard the husband screaming in pain and asking her to call for an ambulance.

Both Mohammad’s wife and their son said that there was no reason for the soldiers to shoot Mohammad, because he was just working on his land, and the situation was calm, and added that the man was very healthy, and always loved to work and plant the land.

“Our only problem is that our land is located near the border fence which was installed by Israel,” the son said, “They shot him for nothing — this was the first time that the soldiers open fire at us on our land…”

There were no protests near the border area when the soldiers shot the Palestinian man, and there was no reason for opening fire.

It is worth mentioning that the army frequently invades Palestinian lands located close to the border fence, and constantly opens fire at farmers and workers, an issue that has led to dozens of casualties, including many fatalities.

Mohammad was from Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC.

Ismael Saleh Abu Ryala

February 25, 2018March 13, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

February 25, 2018: Ismael Saleh Abu Ryala, 18, was shot and killed by Israeli forces who opened fire on his fishing boat while he was fishing near the shore of Gaza, in the Mediterranean Sea.

There were two other fishermen in the boat with Ismael when the Israeli naval ship opened fire on them with a barrage of bullets. Both of them were wounded by the gunfire. The wounded fishermen have been identified as Mahmoud Adel Aby Ryala, 18, and ‘Aahed Hasan Abu Ali, 26, who were both abducted by the navy after they were shot.

Other fishermen who were nearby managed to tow the boat back to shore.

Protesting the constant, and in many cases deadly, Israeli violations against the fishermen in Palestinian waters, the Palestinian Fishermen Syndicate has suspended all fishing activities in Gaza waters, for two days.

The Head of the Syndicate of Palestinian Fishermen Nizar Ayyash said that the three fishermen were aboard a fishing boat, on their way back to the port, when the Israeli gunboats opened fire at them.

“All of them were directly targeted,” he said, noting that all of them, including the one who was killed, were abducted by the navy.

While he did not know the reason why the Israeli naval forces had opened fire on the men, Ayyash stressed that they did not cross the fishing limit defined by the Israeli occupation.

Meanwhile, according to Days of Palestine, an Israeli source claimed that the Israeli navy opened fire at the boat of the three fishermen after they allegedly crossed the arbitrary line of six nautical miles set by the Israeli authorities for Palestinians to fish.

“The Israeli navy opened fire at the body of the boat, but they were wounded and one of them suffered serious injuries and later died from those injuries,” the Israeli source said.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) has said that all Israeli attacks on Palestinian fishermen have taken place within the distance of six nautical miles, which it said “proves that Israeli forces’ policies aim to tighten restrictions on the Gaza Strip’s fishermen and their livelihoods.”

Ismael was from Shati’ refugee camp, west of Gaza City. Source: IMEMC.

Yassin Omar Saradeeh

February 22, 2018February 25, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

February 22, 2018: Yassin Omar Saradeeh, 33,was killed by Israeli soldiers who shot him, then beat him repeatedly while he was lying on the ground.

According to witnesses, Yassin heard a commotion at his uncle Khamis Hattab’s house, and rushed to see what was going on. The soldiers ambushed and shot him, then beat him up, including hitting him with their rifles.

The Israeli army abducted the severely wounded Palestinian, and several hours later, said that he died from his wounds.

Ismael al-Masri, Yassin’s brother-in-law, said that a group of soldiers jumped at Yassin, and started beating him up on various parts of his body, including his stomach and back, and dragged him away.

The head of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society in Jericho, Eid Barahma, said the soldiers informed the Yassin’s family about his death on Thursday at dawn, and added that the young man was brutally beaten by the soldiers, before he was dragged into a military vehicle.

Palestinian Minister of Detainees Issa Qaraqe said Yassin was assaulted the moment he was shot and captured by the soldiers, who continued to beat him up despite his wounds.

It is worth mentioning that a surveillance video of the attack shows a muzzle flash the moment the soldiers jumped at the young man, just as they began to beat him.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) called for an immediate and impartial investigation into the circumstances of his death, expressing concerns that the Israeli forces might have tortured and beaten him while in custody, leading to his death.

According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ accounts, at approximately 04:30 on Thursday, 22 February 2018, Israeli forces moved into Jericho. They raided and searched a house belonging to Khamis Hattab in the center of the city after breaking down the main house door in addition to damaging some of the house contents. His nephew, Yassin ‘Omer al-Saradih (33) headed to the house to figure out what was going on. However, immediately, a number of Israeli soldiers severely beat him up throughout his body and then fired a tear gas canister on the spot. They then pulled him on the ground to a military vehicle and later to an unknown destination.

At approximately 09:30 on the same day, the family received a phone call from the Palestinian Military Liaison telling then that the Israeli Liaison informed them of the death of their son, which the army claimed was due to gas inhalation and seizures. A video captured by a surveillance camera showed 6 Israeli soldiers attacking Yassin and brutally beating him up using their riffles’ butts and feet.

His family said to PCHR’s fieldworker that their son had not suffered from any health issues before his abduction. It should be mentioned that the Israeli authorities held the corpse and have not so far handed it back to the family or the Palestinian authorities.

PCHR noted in their report that Palestinian civilians who are abducted by the Israeli military are frequently subjected to severe beating, physical and psychological torture, and inhuman and degrading treatment.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Rayan al-Ali, who participated in the autopsy of Yassin, said that the Palestinian man was killed by a bullet in his abdomen, which was fired at point-blank range.
The bullet, which struck Yassin, cause massive internal bleeding, and severed the left common iliac artery, then exiting through his back.

The autopsy also revealed multiple fractures in the pelvis, in addition to various cuts and bruises indicative of having been beaten.

Dr. al-Ali was chosen by the Palestinian Detainees Committee and the Justice Ministry to participate in the autopsy, which is carried out in conjunction with Israeli authorities.

The head of the Detainees Committee, Issa Qar’aqe’, said that Israel still hasn’t announced when they will transfer his body back to his family.

Qar’aqe’ said that, “Yassin was shot at point-blank range and was repeatedly beaten by the soldiers. The attack was caught on surveillance tape.” He also said that, “The autopsy reports void the Israeli suggestion that he was killed by seizures resulting from tear gas.”

Qar’aqe’ called for the prosecution of Israeli authorities at the International Criminal Court in the Hague, especially since Israeli policy has been to execute Palestinians, instead of arresting them. He added that the army could have easily arrested Yassin, but chose to shoot and beat him instead.

Yassin was from Jericho, in the eastern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC.

Salem Mohammad Sabbah

February 18, 2018February 19, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

February 17, 2018: Salem Mohammad Sabbah, 17, was killed by Israeli soldiers who fired missiles and artillery shells in al-Shokah village, east of the city of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Salem was walking in the village with a group of teens when an Israeli military jet dropped a bomb, and the fired artillery shells from tanks stationed at the border, killing Mohammad and his friend ‘Abdullah Ayman Salim Irmeilat, 15, and wounding two other children.

The bombing was immediately criticized by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) as well as international human rights groups, as a ‘war crime’ by Israel and a clear violation of the obligations of an occupying power under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The PCHR said the children hit by the artillery shells were all teens under the age of 18, none of whom was associated in any way with any fighting group.

Investigations by PCHR emphasize that the shelling violates the principle of distinction and military necessity, and use of force was unjustifiable, noting that the two killed children and the other wounded were unarmed civilians who did not carry out any act that would endanger the life of Israeli soldiers.

Salem Mahmoud Abu Safra, 16, survived the airstrike, and was injured in the leg.

He told the WAFA News Agency, “We were studying together for school. But then the lights went out. There was no electricity for us to continue our studying. We began walking in the neighborhood near Rafah. We thought the area where we were walking was safe, and had no idea that Israel would be targeting us. Why would they target us?”

He was hit by shrapnel in his leg, he said that he had to crawl away to get under cover. Finally an ambulance arrived a number of hours later, and took him to the Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital.

He was then moved to the Gaza European Hospital, which is where he received word that two of his friends were killed in the airstrike.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 21:30 on Saturday, 17 February 2018, Israeli forces stationed along the border fence with Israeli near al-Shokah village, east of Rafah City, fired around 10 artillery shells and opened fire at 4 Palestinian children.

Shrapnel of artillery shells and live bullets hit the four children in various parts of their bodies. Two of them were immediately transferred to Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital in Rafah City as they ran to the west until the medical staffs evacuated them.

The doctors described their condition as moderate while the medical crews could not reach the two other children as it was very late and increasingly dangerous.

At approximately 06:15 on Sunday, 18 February 2018, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance crews managed to access the area and transfer the bodies of the two children.

Medics of the Palestinian Red Crescent said that they evacuated two wounded children, and could not find the two other children. However, in the morning, they could evacuate their bodies that were 30 to 50 meters away from the border fence with Israel. They added that the two children died after being hit with shrapnel throughout their bodies.

Salem was from al-Shokah village, east of the city of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

‘Abdullah Ayman Irmeilat

February 18, 2018February 19, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

February 17, 2018: ‘Abdullah Ayman Salim Irmeilat, 15, was killed by an Israeli airstrike and artillery shelling in al-Shokah village, east of the city of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

‘Abdullah was walking in the village with a group of teens when an Israeli military jet dropped a bomb, and the soldiers fired artillery shells from tanks stationed at the border, killing ‘Abdullah and his friend, Salem Mohammad Sabbah, 17, and wounding two other children.

The bombing was immediately criticized by the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, (PCHR) as well as international human rights groups, as a ‘war crime’ by Israel and a clear violation of the obligations of an occupying power under international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The children hit by the bomb were all teens under the age of 18, none of whom was associated in any way with any fighting group.

Investigations conducted by the PCHR emphasize that the shelling violates the principle of distinction and military necessity, and use of force was unjustifiable, noting that the two killed children and the other wounded were unarmed civilians who did not carry out any act that would endanger the life of Israeli soldiers.

Salim Mahmoud Abu Safra, 16, survived the airstrike, and was injured in the leg. He told the WAFA News Agency, “We were studying together for school. But then the lights went out. There was no electricity for us to continue our studying. We began walking in the neighborhood near Rafah. We thought the area where we were walking was safe, and had no idea that Israel would be targeting us. Why would they target us?”

He was hit by shrapnel in his leg, he said that he had to crawl away to get under cover. Finally an ambulance arrived a number of hours later, and took him to the Abu Yousef An-Najjar Hospital. He was then moved to the Gaza European Hospital, which is where he received word that two of his friends were killed in the airstrike.

Shrapnel of artillery shells and live bullets hit the four children in various parts of their bodies. Two of them were immediately transferred to Abu Yousef An-Najar Hospital in Rafah City as they ran to the west until the medical staffs evacuated them. The doctors described their condition as moderate while the medical crews could not reach the two other children as it was very late and increasingly dangerous.

At approximately 06:15 on Sunday, 18 February 2018, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance crews managed to access the area and transfer the bodies of the two children.

‘Abdullah was from al-Shokah village, east of the city of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

Hamza Yousef Zama’ra

February 6, 2018February 7, 2018 contact@ifamericansknew.org

February 06, 2018: Hamza Yousef No’man Zama’ra, 19, was killed by Israeli soldiers after allegedly stabbing an Israeli security guard in the hand.

Hamza was shot and killed near Karmei Tzur illegal Israeli colony, which was built on Palestinian lands in Hebron.

The Palestinian District Coordination Office (DCO) confirmed to the Health Ministry that the slain Palestinian has been identified as Hamza Yousef No’man Zama’ra, 19, from Halhoul town, north of Hebron.

Israeli sources claimed that the Palestinian “very lightly wounded the guard in a stabbing attack in Karmie Tzur.” The wounded Israeli guard was identified as Boris Balbrava, 36, from Karmei Tzur colony.

They said that Hamza “arrived by car at the security post leading to the settlement, and attacked a guard directly after exiting the car,” and added that he stabbed a guard in his hand, causing very minor wounds, before another guard shot him dead.

Following the incident, dozens of soldiers arrived at the scene, and initiated an extensive search campaign, reportedly to locate “possible accomplices.”

The soldiers later invaded Hamza’s home, and violently searched it, before interrogating his family and detaining his father. They released the father later, and summoned two of his sons for interrogation in the Etzion military base, north of Hebron.

Following Hamza’s death, dozens of Palestinian protested in Halhoul, before the soldiers attacked them, and fired dozens of live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.

Medical sources in Hebron said the soldiers shot at least 29 Palestinians with live rounds and rubber-coated steel bullets and caused many to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation, in addition to assaulting three with clubs and batons.

It is worth mentioning that Hamza is a former political prisoner and has two brothers who are imprisoned by Israel.

He is the third Palestinian to be killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank within 24 hours, after the soldiers killed Ahmad Nasr Jarrar, near Jenin, and Khaled Waleed Tayeh, in Nablus.

Hamza was from Halhoul town, north of Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC