February 2018

Ismael Saleh Abu Ryala

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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

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Yassin Omar Saradeeh
Yassin Omar Saradeeh

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.

Ahmad Mohammad Abu Hilo

Mark

February 21, 2018: Ahmad Mohammad Abed-Rabbo Abu Hilo, 19, died from serious wounds he suffered five days earlier when Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian protesters east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza.

Mohammad was shot by Israeli soldiers last Friday, and remained in critical condition until he succumbed to his injuries, on Wednesday morning.

After his injury, Palestinian medics moved him to the Al-Aqsa Hospital, in Deir al-Balah, and later transferred him to the Shifa Hospital, due to the seriousness of his condition.

On the same day, the soldiers shot twenty-three Palestinians, including some who were shot with live rounds, after the army, stationed across the border fence, attacked protesters, who marched in several parts of the Gaza Strip.

On February 17, the Israeli army fired missiles and artillery shells in al-Shokah Palestinian village, east of Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and killed two Palestinian teens, identified as Salem Mohammad Sabbah, 17, and his friend, Abdullah Ayman Salim Irmeilat, 15.

Mohammad was from the al-Boreij refugee camp in central Gaza. Source: IMEMC

Salem Mohammad Sabbah

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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

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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.

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-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.

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.

‘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

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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

Khaled Waleed Tayeh

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February 06, 2018: Khaled Waleed Tayeh, 22, was killed by Israeli soldiers who invaded Nablus city, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Khaled was shot with a live round in the chest and died shortly after being rushed to the an-Najah Hospital in Nablus.

During the invasion, the soldiers fired dozens of live rounds at random, in addition to rubber-coated steel bullets, gas bombs and concussion grenades.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said the soldiers also injured 110 Palestinians, including 32 who were shot with live ammunition, 26 with rubber-coated steel bullets, and 51 who suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.

It added that the soldiers also rammed one Palestinian with their jeep, causing moderate wounds.

The head of the an-Najah National Hospitals, Salim al-Haj Yahia, said one of the wounded Palestinians, identified as Anwar Abu Aisha, was instantly rushed to surgery after an Israeli bullet severed the main artery in his thigh, and added that his condition is very serious.

The escalation started after dozens of soldiers invaded the Northern Mountain area, in Nablus, apparently looking for the Palestinian who killed an Israeli settler, identified as Itamar Ben Gal, 29, Monday.

Undercover forces surrounded two homes but were unable to locate and arrest the man they were reportedly looking for, and instead abducted seven Palestinians, not involved in the fatal stabbing.

The Israeli army said it was unable to arrest the “suspected stabber,” and claimed that the soldiers were “attacked by more than 500 young Palestinian men, who hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at them.”

Media sources in Nablus said the soldiers also arrested several Palestinians during the invasion and moved them to a nearby military base. Khaled was from Iraq-Tayeh village, near Nablus. Source: IMEMC

Ahmad Nasr Jarrar

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February 06, 2018: Ahmad Nasr Jarrar, 22, was killed by Israeli forces who invaded the village of al-Yamoun, near Jenin in northern West Bank, and surrounded a house where he was staying.

Although Jarrar was suspected by the Israeli authorities of the murder of an Israeli settler, identified as Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was killed in a drive-by shooting, the Israeli military extra-judicially assassinated him, without filing charges or arresting him for the crime.

The soldiers, including a canine unit, were heavily deployed in the area, and conducted searches of many homes, in addition to using the rooftops of several buildings as monitoring towers and firing posts.

They also demolished a wall and a shed, and uprooted many olive trees, as they set up a perimeter around the Ahmad’s location.

The military operation was reportedly carried out by regular army units and undercover officers, who were given “shoot-to-kill” orders.

Israeli media outlets said the soldiers located a large cache of bullets and alleged that Jarrar had been planning a serious attack.

Local Palestinian media sources reported that Jarrar exchanged fire with the soldiers, and that the soldiers destroyed the home where he was hiding.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman congratulated the army for what he called “a successful operation,” that resulted in Jarrar’s death.

Following the military invasion and the death of the Palestinian, dozens of local youngsters hurled stones at the soldiers, who fired many live rounds, rubber-coated steel bullets and gas bombs.

It is worth mentioning that, on January 18th, the soldiers killed Ahmad Nasr’s cousin, identified as Ahmad Ismael Jarrar, 31, in Wadi Burqin town, after they mistook him for his cousin.

In addition to killing Ahmad Ismael Jarrar, the soldiers demolished Ahmad’s home, and two other homes.

On February 3rd, the soldiers killed Ahmad Samir Abu ‘Obeid, 19, with a live round in the head, during a massive military invasion into Burqin, also searching for Ahmad Nasr Jarrar.

Ahmad Nasr Jarrar was from Wadi Burqin, in the northern part of the West Bank. Source: IMEMC

Ahmad Abu ‘Obeid

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February 03, 2018: Ahmad Samir Abu ‘Obeid, 19, was killed by Israeli soldiers with a live round in the head, during a massive military invasion into Burqin town, west of Jenin, in the northern part of the West Bank.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has confirmed that the soldiers shot Ahmad with a live round in his head, causing a very serious injury, before medics rushed him to Jenin Governmental Hospital, where he died from his wounds.

The Ministry added that the soldiers also shot two other young Palestinian men with live rounds in their legs, and six with rubber-coated steel bullets, in addition to causing dozens to suffer the severe effects of teargas inhalation, after the army attacked locals, who protested the invasion.

The army also arrested four young Palestinian men, and demolished a room and a barn, in addition to causing damage to several structures and cars, before withdrawing from the town.

The invasion was carried out by twenty-two armored military vehicles, and two bulldozers, before the soldiers broke into and searched many homes, and used K9 units in searching the properties, causing anxiety attacks among many Palestinians, especially children.

After the army withdrew from the town, hundreds of Palestinians marched in Ahmad’s funeral procession, while chanting against the ongoing Israeli military occupation.

The Israeli invasion into several areas in the Jenin Governorate started when the soldiers invaded Kafeer village, south of the Jenin city, after surrounding it and declaring it a closed military zone.

The soldiers conducted extensive military searches of homes and detained two siblings, identified as Thieb Walid Ershaid, 43, and his brother Qa’qaa, 42, after surrounding their homes.

The shooting death of Abu Obeid came during the invasion of Wadi Burqin by the Israeli military early Saturday morning to besiege the home where the army believed that the wanted man Ahmad Nasr Jarrar, was hiding.

Ahmad Nasr Jarrar was wanted by the Israeli military for allegedly killing an Israeli settler on January 8th.

Following that killing, the Israeli military invaded many nearby villages and conducted house-to-house searches.

On January 18th, the Israeli army besieged a home where they mistook Ahmad Ismail Jarrar for his cousin, and killed him. Ahmad was from Burin, west of Jenin. Source: IMEMC