Karam Mohammad Fayyad

December 28, 2018: Karam Mohammad No’man Fayyad, 26, a disabled Palestinian man, was shot in the head and killed by Israeli forces at the Great March of Return east of Khan Younis in Gaza. In addition to Karam, Israeli soldiers shot and injured at least eight other protesters with live ammunition, including a medic and a photojournalist, during the Great March Of Return processions in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Health Ministry said two of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries.

Dr. Ashraf al-Qedra, the spokesperson of the Health Ministry in Gaza, said the soldiers fired dozens of live rounds, high-velocity gas bombs and concussion grenades at the marchers, killing Karam, and wounding eight others.

Among the eight Palestinians shot with live ammunition were a child who was shot in the neck, a journalist and a female medic. They were all shot along the perimeter fence areas, in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip, as the Great Return March processions continued for the fortieth consecutive week.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said the soldiers fired a barrage of live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets, in addition to high-velocity gas bombs and concussion grenades, especially east of Gaza city, al-Boreij refugee camp, Khan Younis and Rafah.

It is worth mentioning that, since the Great Return March procession started in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army has killed at least 190 Palestinians, and injured more than 25,000 others.

No Israeli soldiers have been killed by Palestinian demonstrators participating in the ‘Great March of Return’ that has taken place each Friday since March 30th, 2018.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a total of 295 Palestinians were killed and over 29,000 were injured in 2018 by Israeli forces.

This is the highest death toll in a single year since the Gaza conflict of 2014 and the highest number of injuries recorded since OCHA began documenting casualties in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2005.

About 61 per cent of the fatalities (180 people) and 79 per cent of the injuries (over 23,000) were in the context of Gaza’s ‘Great March of Return’ demonstrations by the fence. Across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 57 of the Palestinian fatalities and about 7,000 of the injuries were under 18 years of age. 28 of the 295 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in 2018 were members of armed groups in Gaza and another 15 were perpetrators or alleged perpetrators of attacks against Israelis in the West Bank. The other 252 were civilians.

A total of 14 Israelis were killed during the year by Palestinians and at least 137 others were injured. While the number of fatalities is nearly the same as in 2017 (15 people), the proportion of civilians among these fatalities (50 per cent) increased compared to the previous year (27 per cent).

Karam was from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Qassem Mohammad Ali Abasi

December 20, 2018: Qassem Mohammad Abasi, 17, was killed by Israeli soldiers near Jerusalem.

The soldiers also  injured two others, after opening fire at their car near Beit El military roadblock, north of the al-Biereh city, in the central West Bank governorate of Ramallah and al-Biereh.

The wounded Palestinians have been identified as Mohammad Hani al-Abasi, 28, and two teens; Mohammad Ma’moun Abasi and his brother Mahmoud.

Except for Qassem. They suffered mild-to-moderate wounds, mainly from shrapnel and glass.

Mohammad Hani al-Abasi told Wadi Hilweh Information Center in Silwan (Silwanic) that they were heading to Ramallah, but road was closed by the army, before an officer told the drivers there that the road is closed, and will remain closed for about two hours.

He added that the officers told them that they must instead take a bypass road near Beit El.

They then turned the car around to try to find another way, and when they were about to leave the area, a bunch of Israeli soldiers and settlers began chasing their car.

“Soldiers and settlers were all around us, behind is and in front of our car, and that is when they opened fire,” Mohammad added, “the tires were punctured, the windshield and the back window were also broken by bullets.”

“Only then we realized that Qassem was shot — I heard Mahmoud al-Abasi shouting his name over and over, and he was in a very critical condition,” Mohammad stated, “I called for an ambulance, and the soldiers forced us all out, but Qassem was injured, unable to move.”

Mohammad said that he and the other passengers were forced by the Israeli army to take Qassem out of the car, even though he had been shot in the back. They did what the army said, and put him on the ground.

The medical team that arrived declared that Qassem was dead – but the army left the teen lying on the ground for an hour until they allowed an ambulance to come.

The army claimed that the driver of the car “broke through the military roadblock,” before the soldiers opened fire at the car, seriously injuring Qassem, who succumbed to his wounds, and added that “it is still investigating the incident.”

Palestinian sources said Qassem was in a car transporting four Palestinians, all carrying Jerusalem ID cards, and just after arriving at Beit El military roadblock, the soldiers suspected that the car “was involved in a shooting” targeting a bus station on the colonialist road #60, close to Ofra illegal colony, east of Ramallah, although  the distance between Ofra and Beit El is about 2 Kilometers, and the fatal shooting that killed Mohammad took place 40 minutes later.

The army closed Ofra junction after the alleged shooting at the bus station, and said that the soldiers fired back, before the army invaded Ein Yabrud nearby town.

Furthermore, the army completely closed various areas in the governorate, including the gate leading to the al-Jalazoun refugee camp, in addition to the towns of Deir Dibwan, Silwad, Doura al-Qare’, and Ein Siniya.

The soldiers also attacked many Palestinians at Ein Siniya Junction, north of Ramallah, after the army stopped and searched dozens of cars.

Furthermore, the army invaded Doura al-‘Qare’, and declared it a closed military zone, before storming and ransacking many shops, causing excessive damage after the soldiers claimed they were unable to find surveillance recordings in the stores.

The soldiers fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at many Palestinian protesters, and prevented journalists and medics from entering the town.

Qassem was from Silwan town, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC

Sgt. Yosef Cohen

December 13, 2018: Sgt. Yosef Cohen, 20, was shot and killed by a Palestinian gunman in a shooting attack close to the illegal colony of Ofra, near Ramallah, in central West Bank.

He and another Israeli soldier were killed, and two Israeli settlers were wounded in the attack.

The shooting took place at the hitchhiking section of Givat Assag, in the Benyamin Regional Council of Settlements, between Beit El and Ofra, illegal colonies.

Israeli sources said Magen David Adom national emergency medics rushed to the scene, and provided treatment to the two wounded soldiers.

One of the soldiers, who suffered a severe gunshot wound to the head, was rushed to Hadassah Ein Karem hospital, and a woman was taken to Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center, in occupied Jerusalem, suffering serious wounds.

The army said, according to its initial investigation, the shooter got out of a vehicle, before approaching the hitchhiking station, and opened fire at the people waiting there, then ran back to the car, where another man was behind the wheel, and both managed to escape unharmed.

The two wounded settlers are in their twenties.

Following the incident, dozens of colonialist Israeli settlers invaded the eastern area of ‘Asira al-Qibliya village, south of Nablus, before the Palestinians intercepted them, leading to confrontations.

The Israeli army also closed the Qalqilia-Nablus road, and installed dozens of roadblocks around Nablus, before stopping and searching hundreds of cars, and imposed a tight siege on Ramallah governorate.

In addition, the soldiers closed Huwwara military roadblock, south of Nablus, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing, while groups of colonialist settlers hurled stones at many Palestinian cars.

It is worth mentioning that, at 1 am on Thursday, a squadron of soldiers and police officers invaded Nablus, surrounded the house where a Palestinian suspected of killing two Israeli settlers a month earlier, was believed to be hiding, and shot and killed the man, who was identified as Ashraf Waleed Suleiman Na’alwa, 23.

On Thursday at dawn, the soldiers killed a Palestinian, identified as Majd Mteir, 26, in the al-Waad Street, in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, after he reportedly stabbed and injured two Israeli police officers.

On Wednesday evening, undercover Israeli soldiers assassinated a Palestinian Taxi driver, identified as Saleh Omar Saleh Barghouthi, 29, near Surda village, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah; the army claimed the Palestinian was allegedly “involved” in the shooting targeting colonialist settlers, the previous Sunday.

Yosef was originally from Beit Shemesh. Source: IMEMC

Sgt. Yovel Mor Yosef

December 13, 2018: Sgt. Yovel Mor Yosef, 20, was shot and killed by a Palestinian gunman in a shooting attack close to the illegal colony of Ofra, near Ramallah, in central West Bank.

He and another Israeli soldier were killed, and two Israeli settlers were wounded in the attack.

The shooting took place at the hitchhiking section of Givat Assag, in the Benyamin Regional Council of Settlements, between Beit El and Ofra, illegal colonies.

Israeli sources said Magen David Adom national emergency medics rushed to the scene, and provided treatment to the two wounded soldiers.

One of the soldiers, who suffered a severe gunshot wound to the head, was rushed to Hadassah Ein Karem hospital, and a woman was taken to Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center, in occupied Jerusalem, suffering serious wounds.

The army said, according to its initial investigation, the shooter got out of a vehicle, before approaching the hitchhiking station, and opened fire at the people waiting there, then ran back to the car, where another man was behind the wheel, and both managed to escape unharmed.

Yovel served in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion in the Kfir Brigade.

The two wounded settlers are in their twenties.

Following the incident, dozens of colonialist Israeli settlers invaded the eastern area of ‘Asira al-Qibliya village, south of Nablus, before the Palestinians intercepted them, leading to confrontations.

The Israeli army also closed the Qalqilia-Nablus road, and installed dozens of roadblocks around Nablus, before stopping and searching hundreds of cars, and imposed a tight siege on Ramallah governorate.

In addition, the soldiers closed Huwwara military roadblock, south of Nablus, and prevented the Palestinians from crossing, while groups of colonialist settlers hurled stones at many Palestinian cars.

It is worth mentioning that, at 1 am on Thursday, a squadron of soldiers and police officers invaded Nablus, surrounded the house where a Palestinian suspected of killing two Israeli settlers a month earlier, was believed to be hiding, and shot and killed the man, who was identified as Ashraf Waleed Suleiman Na’alwa, 23.

On Thursday at dawn, the soldiers killed a Palestinian, identified as Majd Mteir, 26, in the al-Waad Street, in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, after he reportedly stabbed and injured two Israeli police officers.

On Wednesday evening, undercover Israeli soldiers assassinated a Palestinian Taxi driver, identified as Saleh Omar Saleh Barghouthi, 29, near Surda village, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah; the army claimed the Palestinian was allegedly “involved” in the shooting targeting colonialist settlers, the previous Sunday.

Yovel was originally from Ashkelon. Source: IMEMC

Hamdan Tawfiq Arda

December 13, 2018: Hamdan Tawfiq Arda, 60, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while driving his car in the Industrial Zone in al-Bireh city, in central West Bank. The Israeli military, according to Israeli media sources, admitted that its soldiers mistakenly killed Hamdan, after initially claiming that he had deliberately tried to ram his vehicle into soldiers.

Eyewitnesses told Maan News Agency that it looked like a car accident, and that the driver was startled by the military presence, and tried to turn away from them.

Sources added that one soldier was lightly injured, but it was not from the car driven by the Palestinian man.

The soldiers fired a barrage of live rounds at the car, fatally wounding the driver, who suffered gunshot wounds mainly to the head.

His brain and fragments of his skull were on the car seat after he was removed by the medics, before they were collected for proper burial with his body later on.

The Israeli military initially stated was an “attempt to ram his car into soldiers”, and then changed their statement, telling the Jerusalem Post that they believed it was an accident.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has confirmed that its medics were at the scene shortly after the man was shot, and added that the soldiers stopped them and prevented them from approaching him.

The Israeli military had just finished invading the Industrial Zone, in an apparent search for the suspects of the killing of two Israeli soldiers earlier Thursday.

Hamdan was from ‘Arraba town, near the northern West Bank city of Jenin. Source: IMEMC

Ashraf Waleed Na’alwa

December 13, 2018: Ashraf Waleed Suleiman Na’alwa, 23, was shot and killed by a squadron of Israeli military and police officers in an extrajudicial assassination.

The soldiers surrounded the house where a Palestinian suspected of killing two Israeli settlers, was believed to be hiding, and shot and killed the man, who was identified as

Na’alwa was ‘wanted’ by Israeli forces for the killing of two Israeli colonial settlers two months ago.

The soldiers shot and killed Ashraf with multiple rounds.

According to Israeli sources, the name of Na’alwa was provided by several suspects after they were subjected to “harsh interrogation”, which is the euphemism that Israeli authorities use to describe torture.

The Israeli intelligence service Shin Bet told Israeli media that they worked with several other Israeli agencies to “interrogate suspects” and try to locate Na’alwa.

During the invasion, the military deployed dogs and heavily-armed soldiers who surrounded the building, entered the building firing heavily, shot and killed Na’alwa, and abducted two men who lived in the building with their mother.

Israeli sources said Na’alwa was killed by undercover soldiers of the Yamam special forces, who briefly exchanged fire with him, while he was hiding in a home in Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus.

They added that Ashraf was chased, for several hours, through many areas until reaching the home, until dozens of soldiers, intelligence officers and undercover soldiers managed to surround the building.

The soldiers also abducted, detained and interrogated many Palestinians, who said “admitted to providing aid to him,” in addition to alleging that Ashraf “intended to carry out more attack against Israeli targets.”

Israeli media sources quoted senior military and security officials stating that the first weeks after fatal shooting in the settlement, the hunt for Na’alwa was largely focused on extensive searches of homes, caves and buildings, but later the search became more focused on individuals, who were detained and “interrogated,” on suspicion of providing aid to him.

After killing the young man, the soldiers invaded many areas in Tulkarem, especially in Shweika area, near the Annexation Wall, and fired a barrage of gas bombs, rubber-coated steel bullets and live rounds, at Palestinian protesters.

The soldiers also attacked journalists and forced them to leave the area.

It is worth mentioning that the soldiers repeatedly abducted members of his family, including his father, mother, sisters, and brothers, in an attempt to locate him.

Two months ago, the army also issued a demolition order targeting the Na’alwa family home.

Earlier in the day, another Israeli execution operation was carried out, this time targeting Salah Omar Barghouti, 29, who was a suspect in another crime.

In response to the assassination of Na’alwa, the Palestinian resistance party Hamas issued a statement, “The fire of resistance in the West Bank will not die until the occupation is lifted. The death of the two soldiers proves that the option of the Palestinian people is defiance. The West Bank will continue to support the forces of resistance and the blood of Na’alwa and Barghouti has not been spilled in vain. Hamas and the other resistance factions will continue to support activity to avenge their death.”

Ashraf was from the central part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Saleh Omar Barghouthi

December 12, 2018: Saleh Omar Saleh Barghouthi, 29, was extra judicially assassinated by Israeli soldiers near Surda village, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah; the army claimed the Palestinian was allegedly “involved” in a shooting targeting colonialist settlers, last Sunday.

The slain  Palestinian has been identified as a a Palestinian Taxi driver named Saleh Omar Saleh Barghouthi, 29; eyewitnesses said he was driving his taxi when the undercover Israeli soldiers, driving an old commercial Mercedes, ambushed him, and opened fire at him, before abducting him while he was still alive, but severely injured and bleeding.

The army later said the Palestinian died from his wounds in a hospital in occupied Jerusalem.

Eyewitnesses said that the taxi remained in the middle of the road, after the soldiers shot Saleh, and added that a young man, identified as Wa’ad Barghouthi, tried to remove it from the road, but the undercover forces attacked him and abducted him too.

Eyewitnesses said the undercover soldiers instantly opened fire at the car after ambushing it, in what appeared to be a clear assassination, not an attempt to abduct and imprison him.

The soldiers also abducted Ala’ Tarifi, who owns the Taxi company, when he tried to ask about Saleh’s condition.

Hours after killing Barghouthi, dozens of soldiers invaded Kobar village, northwest of Ramallah, and stormed his home where they forced his family in one room, and then removed the males from the property, before conducting extensive and violent searches.

The soldiers assaulted the family, and hurled concussion grenades in the property, eyewitnesses said.

The invasion into the village led to protests, and the army fired dozens of rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.

Medical sources said the soldiers injured several Palestinian, including a child, and prevented a Palestinian ambulance from transferring the wounding child to a hospital in Ramallah.

The sources added that the army prevented many ambulances from entering Kobar.

The soldiers also invaded Ein Misbah area in the al-Biereh nearby city, and confiscated a Palestinian car, which looks similar to the one used in the shooting targeting the settlers.

Dozens of Palestinians hurled stones at the soldiers, while the army fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them and at many homes and cars.

Among the wounded Israelis in the shooting incident is a pregnant woman, and her husband, who both remain hospitalized.

Israeli Ynet News has reported, Wednesday, that the doctors had to perform an emergency cesarean section on the injured mother, but the infant was announced dead.

In related news, the soldiers invaded Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, and fired a barrage of gas bombs, concussion grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets at local protesters.

One Palestinian was shot with a gas bombs in his neck, and many others suffered the severe effects of teargas inhalation, especially when the the soldiers fired gas bombs and homes.

Local nonviolent activist Mohammad Tamimi said the soldiers also invaded and violently searched many homes in the village, and interrogated several Palestinians while inspecting their ID cards.

Saleh was from the Ramallah area, in the central part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Majd Mteir

December 12, 2018: Majd Mteir, 26, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem, in the Old City, after he reportedly stabbed and injured two Israeli police officers.

Israeli sources said two officers of the Border Guards Unit suffered mild wounds, “when the Palestinian stabbed them, before he was shot dead.”

They added that one of the wounded officers, a 19-year-old policewoman, suffered a moderate injury, and was moved to Hadassah Ein Karem Medical Center, in Jerusalem, where her condition improved and was described as mild.

Majd was shot with several live rounds, and succumbed to his wounds shortly afterwards.

Following the incident, dozens of soldiers and officers were deployed in the Old City, and installed many roadblocks, preventing the Palestinians from leaving their homes, especially as many Muslims were heading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for dawn prayers.

The soldiers also stopped many Palestinian journalists and prevented them from entering the area.

Majd was from Qalandia refugee camp, north of occupied East Jerusalem. Source: IMEMC

Ahmad Yasser Abu ‘Aabed

December 11, 2018: Ahmad Yasser Sabri Abu ‘Aabed, 4, died from serious wounds he suffered when Israeli soldiers shot him in the eye with an expanding bullet, on Friday, December 7, 2018, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the soldiers shot the child with expanding bullets, one in his eye, and one in his abdomen, causing very serious wounds. Ahmad was rushed to a hospital in Khan Younis, underwent a surgery, and remained in a critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit, until he succumbed to his wounds.

According to a report by Defense for Children International, Ahmad was in his father’s arms around 3:30 p.m. when he was struck by shrapnel as Israeli forces opened fire on protesters in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on December 7. Ahmad sustained injuries to his head, chest and abdomen which caused his death.

“Suddenly, I heard the sound of a gunshot fired by one of the soldiers and I heard the sound of something exploding in front of me,” said the child’s father. “At this moment, Ahmad screamed. I looked at Ahmad and found blood coming down from his right eye and chest and his shirt was torn.”

Ahmad was treated at the European hospital in Khan Younis, according to the child’s family. An MRI revealed that shrapnel had entered Ahmad’s brain through his eye. He was held in the intensive care unit until Tuesday, when doctors pronounced him dead.

On Monday, the soldiers shot eleven Palestinians, including one medic, during the 19th weekly 19th protest against the Israeli naval blockade on the coastal Strip.

On the day of Ahmad’s serious injury, Friday December 7, 2018, the 37th Friday of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege on Gaza, the soldiers shot 72 Palestinian civilians, including 11 children and 2 paramedics.

Ahmad was from Khan Younis, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

Omar Hasan al-‘Awawda

December 11, 2018: Omar Hasan al-‘Awawda, 27, was shot and killed by Israeli soldiers  while driving his car in Ethna town, west of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, after he reportedly “failed to stop for inspection.”

The head of the Al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron, Dr. Yousef Takrouri, said the soldiers shot Omar with several live rounds in his back.

He added that Red Crescent medics rushed the young man to the hospital in critical condition, but he succumbed to his serious wounds.

The Israeli army claimed that the soldiers opened fire at the car, after its driver “failed to stop for inspection,” and “endangered the lives of the soldiers.”

Army officials alleged that the Palestinians tried to ram employees of the “Civil Administration Office,” and Border Guard officers, who were operating in the town.

Omar was from Ethna, east of Hebron in the southern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC