march of return

March 30, 2019: Mohammad Jihad Sa’ad, 20, was shot and killed by Israeli sharpshooters on Saturday morning, east of Gaza city, before the Great Return March processions started.

Mohammad was killed after being struck with a bullet fragment in the head, near the perimeter fence, east of Gaza city.

His corpse was moved to the Shifa Medical Center.

It is worth mentioning that Mohammad was injured several times since the beginning of the Great Return March procession a year ago.

Israeli soldiers killed, Saturday, four Palestinians, and injured 316 others, including 14 who suffered life-threatening wounds, during protests across the perimeter fence, in the eastern parts of the Gaza Strip.

On Saturday at night, a Palestinian teen, identified as Bilal Mahmoud Najjar (Abu Jamous), 17, from Bani Soheila near Khan Younis, in southern Gaza Strip, died from serious wounds suffered earlier after the soldiers shot him with live fire.

The Palestinian Health Ministry has reported that, among the wounded are 86 children and 29 women.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians gathered on lands near the perimeter fence, marking Palestinian Land Day, and the first anniversary since the beginning of the Great Return March.

Media sources in Gaza said that National Committee for Breaking the Siege has called for a million-person march, marking Land Day, and the first anniversary of the Great Return March, demanding lifting the siege on Gaza, the internationally-guaranteed Right of Return, the liberation of Palestine and independence.

On Saturday evening, the Health Ministry in Gaza said the soldiers killed Tamer Hashem Abu al-Kheir, 17, after shooting him with a live round in the chest, east of Khan Younis, in the southern part of the coastal region.

His death came just hours after the soldiers killed Adham Nidal ‘Amara, 17, who was fatally shot during the processions east of Gaza city.

Among the injured Palestinians are three medics and seven journalists, while the soldiers also caused damage to three ambulances.

In its latest report, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported the following statistics about the Great Return March protests on Land Day 2019 – March 30th, 2019:

Deaths:

1. Bilal Mahmoud Najjar, 17.
2. Mohammad Jihad Sa’ad, 20.
3. Adham Nidal ‘Amara, 17.
4. Tamer Hashem Abu al-Kheir, 17.

Injuries: (316 total):

1. Five Palestinians suffered critical wounds.
2. Nine Palestinians suffered serious wounds.
3. 121 suffered moderate wounds.
4. 184 suffered mild wounds.

Cause of injuries:

1. 64 Palestinians were shot with live fire.
2. 16 were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets.
3. 13 were injured by shrapnel from bullets.
4. 46 suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
5. 94 were injured by shrapnel from gas bombs.
6. 83 suffered cuts and bruises.

The area of injury in the body:

1. 64 suffered head and neck injuries.
2. 55 injured in the upper limbs.
3. 16 suffered chest and back injuries.
4. 18 injured in the Pelvis and abdomen.
5. 125 injured in the lower limbs.
6. 64 teargas inhalations.
7. 4 suffered injuries to various parts of the body.

Injuries by governorate:

1. 39 in the northern parts of the Gaza Strip.
2. 108 in Gaza city area.
3. 73 in central Gaza.
4. 41 in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.
5. 55 in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip.

Mohammad was from the Sheja’eyya neighborhood in Gaza City. Source: IMEMC

March 22, 2019: Nidal ‘Abdel Karim Ahmed Shatat, 29, was shot and killed by Israeli forces while participating in the 51st weekly Great March of Return protest in Gaza. In addition to Nedal, Israeli forces also killed  Jihad Munir Khaled Hararah (24), from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood in Gaza City, and wounded 181 others, including 53 Children, 5 Women, 1 Paramedic, and 3 Journalists.  Three of those wounded were reported as having very serious injuries.

Nidal was wounded at approximately 17:20 with a bullet that entered the left side of his chest and exited the right side when he was among the protesters around 50 meters away from the border fence, east of al-Bureij refugee camp.  At approximately 17:40, he was declared dead on arrival at Shuhaa’ al-Aqsa Hospital.

Jihad Munir Khaled Hararah (24), from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded in eastern Shija’iyah and arrived at 16:50 at al-Shifaa’ Hospital, where his death was declared at 17:30.

At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started marching to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities. Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered meters and tens of meters away from the main border fence, burning tires and attempting to throw stones at the Israeli forces. Although the protesters gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters. The Israeli shooting, which continued until at around 18:00, resulted the killing of 2 civilians.

According to observations by Palestinian Center for Human Rights fieldworkers, the Israeli forces, who were stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel, continued to use excessive force against the protesters by opening fire with both live ammunition and tear gas.

As a result, dozens of protesters were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.

Moreover, PCHR’s fieldworkers said that the Israeli forces raised the sand berms on which the snipers are stationed, particularly in eastern Khan Younis, enabling them to see clearly and completely the area where the protesters are spread and deep into the Return encampment.

These new violations come only hours after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on accountability brought by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The vote had 23 states voting in favor, 8 against and 15 abstentions, condemning Israel’s “apparent intentional use of unlawful lethal and other excessive force” against civilian protesters in Gaza.

The vote follows a report by the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violations committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, on their findings and results during the period from 30 March to 31 December 2018.  The Commission concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli forces committed serious violations during the Great March of Return protests that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The Israeli bullets and tear gas canisters wounded 181 Palestinian civilians, including 53 Children, 5 Women, 1 Paramedic, and 3 Journalists.  In addition, dozens of protesters, paramedics and journalists suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces targeted the medical field point in eastern Bureij Refugee Camp; as a result, one of the paramedics suffered tear gas inhalation.  A Palestinian Red Crescent Society volunteer paramedic was also hit with a tear gas canister to his hand in eastern Jabalia. This indicates the Israeli systematic policy to target the medical personnel and obstruct their humanitarian work. Medica are supposed to be guaranteed protection according to international humanitarian law.

Nidal was from al-Mughraqa in the central Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC

March 22, 2019: Jihad Munir Khaled Hararah, 24, was shot and killed by Israeli forces while participating in the 51st weekly Great March of Return protest in Gaza. In addition to Jihad, Israeli forces also killed Nedal ‘Abdel Karim Ahmad Shatat, 29, and wounded 181 others, including 53 Children, 5 Women, 1 Paramedic, and 3 Journalists.  Three of those wounded were reported as having very serious injuries.

Jihad, from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded at approximately 17:20 with a bullet that entered the left side of his chest and exited the right side when he was among the protesters around 50 meters away from the border fence, east of al-Bureij refugee camp.  At approximately 17:40, he was declared dead on arrival at Shuhaa’ al-Aqsa Hospital.

At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started marching to the five encampments established by the Supreme National Authority of Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege adjacent to the border fence with Israel in eastern Gaza Strip cities. Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel in front of each encampment and gathered meters and tens of meters away from the main border fence, burning tires and attempting to throw stones at the Israeli forces. Although the protesters gathered in areas open to the Israeli snipers stationed on the top of the sand berms and military watchtowers and inside and behind the military jeeps, the Israeli forces fired live and rubber bullets in addition to a barrage of tear gas canisters. The Israeli shooting, which continued until at around 18:00, resulted the killing of 2 civilians.

According to observations by Palestinian Center for Human Rights fieldworkers, the Israeli forces, who were stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel, continued to use excessive force against the protesters by opening fire with both live ammunition and tear gas.

As a result, dozens of protesters were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.

Moreover, PCHR’s fieldworkers said that the Israeli forces raised the sand berms on which the snipers are stationed, particularly in eastern Khan Younis, enabling them to see clearly and completely the area where the protesters are spread and deep into the Return encampment.

These new violations come only hours after the UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on accountability brought by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The vote had 23 states voting in favor, 8 against and 15 abstentions, condemning Israel’s “apparent intentional use of unlawful lethal and other excessive force” against civilian protesters in Gaza.

The vote follows a report by the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the violations committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, on their findings and results during the period from 30 March to 31 December 2018.  The Commission concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Israeli forces committed serious violations during the Great March of Return protests that may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The Israeli bullets and tear gas canisters wounded 181 Palestinian civilians, including 53 Children, 5 Women, 1 Paramedic, and 3 Journalists.  In addition, dozens of protesters, paramedics and journalists suffered tear gas inhalation and seizures due to tear gas canisters that were fired by the Israeli forces from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip. The Israeli forces targeted the medical field point in eastern Bureij Refugee Camp; as a result, one of the paramedics suffered tear gas inhalation.  A Palestinian Red Crescent Society volunteer paramedic was also hit with a tear gas canister to his hand in eastern Jabalia. This indicates the Israeli systematic policy to target the medical personnel and obstruct their humanitarian work. Medica are supposed to be guaranteed protection according to international humanitarian law.

Jihad was from al-Shija’iyah neighborhood in Gaza City. Source: IMEMC

March 8, 2019: Tamer Khaled Mustafa Arafat, 23, was killed by Israeli forces, who also wounded 48 others, including four medics and two journalists, in the Great Return March processions, in the eastern parts of the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza confirmed that the soldiers killed Tamer after shooting him with live fire, east of Rafah city, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

Tamer was hit with a live round in the head, and was rushed to the Gaza European Hospital, where he succumbed to his serious wounds.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) has confirmed that a total of 133 civilians, including 32 children, have been injured, and that one of the wounded Palestinians suffered a serious injury.

It added that dozens of protesters, paramedics and journalists suffered the effects of teargas inhalation and seizures.

The soldiers also fired a high-velocity gas bomb at a Palestinian ambulance belonging to the Health Ministry, east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza Strip, causing damage.

It added that Israeli forces have killed 192 Palestinians since the Great Return March processions started in the Gaza Strip, on March 30^th, 2018. Among them are 41 children, 2 women, 2 Journalists, 3 medical crews and eight with disabilities.

The PCHR said that the army also injured 11213 Palestinians, including 534 who suffered serious wounds, 114 who had their lower of upper limbs amputated.

It added that, according to the Health Ministry, there have been 114 limb amputations; 100 lower limb amputations, two upper-limb amputations, 12 finger amputations and 25 children had their limbs amputated.

The number of those wounded only include those shot with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousands who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises, the PCHR said.

Tamer was from Rafah, in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Source: IMEMC