19 feb 2019
Dozens of Palestinians were injured on Tuesday when the Israeli occupation forces attacked peaceful protesters on the coast north of Gaza.
The Ministry of Health said that 20 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire and tear gas bombs.
Gaza coast protests have been a major part of the Great March of Return launched on 30 March 2018.
Member of the Higher National Committee of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege Khaled Abu Helal said that the peaceful protests in the Gaza Strip will continue in all possible ways until they achieve their goals, mainly breaking the blockade.
The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the start of the border protests have launched several flotillas of dozens of vessels toward Israeli-controlled water in a bid to break the siege. All boats were intercepted and those on board were arrested by the Israeli navy.
The Ministry of Health said that 20 Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire and tear gas bombs.
Gaza coast protests have been a major part of the Great March of Return launched on 30 March 2018.
Member of the Higher National Committee of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege Khaled Abu Helal said that the peaceful protests in the Gaza Strip will continue in all possible ways until they achieve their goals, mainly breaking the blockade.
The Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the start of the border protests have launched several flotillas of dozens of vessels toward Israeli-controlled water in a bid to break the siege. All boats were intercepted and those on board were arrested by the Israeli navy.
At least seven Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire and dozens others choked on tear gas on Monday evening on Gaza border.
Local sources told the PIC that the Israeli occupation forces opened fire at the protesters marching on the border east of Gaza city, injuring seven of them, including a child.
The PIC reporter said that dozens of Palestinian youths gathered late on Monday near the border to take part in the night demonstrations which have become a major part of the Great March of Return.
The Great March of Return's night protests were halted in November after Israel had vowed to ease the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for over 13 years by expanding the fishing zone, allowing Qatari financial aid into the enclave, and offering other facilities.
The demonstrations were resumed over a week ago since Israel showed no commitment to the understandings reached under the auspices of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
The Palestinian youths taking part in the night protests, who also call themselves "night confusion units", usually fly fire balloons and kites over the border fence, launch fireworks, and chant national songs during the night.
The night confusion units say that their goal is to confuse the Israeli soldiers stationed at the border and keep them on permanent alert.
Local sources told the PIC that the Israeli occupation forces opened fire at the protesters marching on the border east of Gaza city, injuring seven of them, including a child.
The PIC reporter said that dozens of Palestinian youths gathered late on Monday near the border to take part in the night demonstrations which have become a major part of the Great March of Return.
The Great March of Return's night protests were halted in November after Israel had vowed to ease the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for over 13 years by expanding the fishing zone, allowing Qatari financial aid into the enclave, and offering other facilities.
The demonstrations were resumed over a week ago since Israel showed no commitment to the understandings reached under the auspices of Egypt, Qatar, and the United Nations.
The Palestinian youths taking part in the night protests, who also call themselves "night confusion units", usually fly fire balloons and kites over the border fence, launch fireworks, and chant national songs during the night.
The night confusion units say that their goal is to confuse the Israeli soldiers stationed at the border and keep them on permanent alert.
18 feb 2019
Israeli soldiers fired, on Sunday at night, several missiles and artillery shells into areas in northern Gaza and injured 19 Palestinians during protests near the fence; the Israeli army said one soldier was hurt by an explosive.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said the 19 young men, were injured during protests near the fence, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
It added that the wounded Palestinians were moved to the Indonesian hospital, among them one who suffered life-threatening wounds.
The army claimed that several Palestinian protesters “rolled burning tires at soldiers across the perimeter fence.”
Israeli Ynet News said the protesters also “hurled what appears to have been an explosive,” wounding the soldier.
Furthermore, the Israeli army fired shells at an observation post, east of Jabalia, and at another site, north of Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, causing damage but no injuries.
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said the 19 young men, were injured during protests near the fence, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza.
It added that the wounded Palestinians were moved to the Indonesian hospital, among them one who suffered life-threatening wounds.
The army claimed that several Palestinian protesters “rolled burning tires at soldiers across the perimeter fence.”
Israeli Ynet News said the protesters also “hurled what appears to have been an explosive,” wounding the soldier.
Furthermore, the Israeli army fired shells at an observation post, east of Jabalia, and at another site, north of Beit Hanoun, in northern Gaza, causing damage but no injuries.
17 feb 2019
Dozens of Palestinian youths choked on tear gas on Saturday night when the Israeli occupation forces attacked peaceful marches along Gaza border.
The PIC reporter said that the Israeli forces heavily fired tear gas bombs at peaceful protesters east of Khuza'a town in the southern Gaza Strip, injuring at least 30 of them.
Dozens of Palestinian youths on Saturday night marched on the border in southern Gaza as part of the Great March of Return.
The Great March of Return's night demonstrations were halted in November after Israel had vowed to ease the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for over 13 years by expanding the fishing zone, allowing Qatari financial aid into the enclave, and offering other facilities.
The Palestinian youths taking part in the night protests, who also call themselves "night confusion units", usually fly fire balloons and kites, launch fireworks, and chant national songs during the night.
The night confusion units say that their goal is to confuse the Israeli forces stationed at the border and keep them on permanent alert.
The PIC reporter said that the Israeli forces heavily fired tear gas bombs at peaceful protesters east of Khuza'a town in the southern Gaza Strip, injuring at least 30 of them.
Dozens of Palestinian youths on Saturday night marched on the border in southern Gaza as part of the Great March of Return.
The Great March of Return's night demonstrations were halted in November after Israel had vowed to ease the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip for over 13 years by expanding the fishing zone, allowing Qatari financial aid into the enclave, and offering other facilities.
The Palestinian youths taking part in the night protests, who also call themselves "night confusion units", usually fly fire balloons and kites, launch fireworks, and chant national songs during the night.
The night confusion units say that their goal is to confuse the Israeli forces stationed at the border and keep them on permanent alert.
16 feb 2019
The Palestinian Center For Human Rights (PRHC): On Friday evening, 15 February 2019, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 47th Friday of the March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 67 civilians, including 14 children, 2 women, 2 paramedics, and a journalist eastern Gaza Strip. The injury of 5 of the wounded civilians was reported serious.
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them. As a result, dozens of the demonstrators were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On Friday, 15 February 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the 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 10-100 meters away from the main border fence. They chanted national slogans, attempted to throw stones at the Israeli forces and in limited cases, they approached the border fence, attempting to set fire to tires and throwing stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the demonstrators 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 teargas canisters.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:30, resulted in the injury of 67 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children, 2 women, 2 paramedics, and a journalist. In addition, dozens of demonstrators, 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 following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March:
Wounded Killed
2044 39 Children
319 2 Women
175 2 Journalists
173 3 Medical Crews
– 8 Disabilities
10819 189 Total
Notes
Among those wounded, 526 are in serious condition and 101 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 89 lower-limb amputations, 2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger amputations and 17 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention. Thus, PCHR calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
According to observations by PCHR’s fieldworkers, the Israeli forces who stationed in prone positions and in military jeeps along the fence with Israel continued to use excessive force against the demonstrators by opening fire and firing teargas canisters at them. As a result, dozens of the demonstrators were hit with bullets and teargas canisters without posing any imminent threat or danger to the life of soldiers.
On Friday, 15 February 2019, the incidents were as follows:
At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the 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 10-100 meters away from the main border fence. They chanted national slogans, attempted to throw stones at the Israeli forces and in limited cases, they approached the border fence, attempting to set fire to tires and throwing stones at the Israeli forces.
Although the demonstrators 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 teargas canisters.
The Israeli shooting, which continued at around 17:30, resulted in the injury of 67 Palestinian civilians, including 14 children, 2 women, 2 paramedics, and a journalist. In addition, dozens of demonstrators, 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 following table shows the number of civilian victims due to the Israeli forces’ suppression of the Great March of Return since its beginning on 30 March:
Wounded Killed
2044 39 Children
319 2 Women
175 2 Journalists
173 3 Medical Crews
– 8 Disabilities
10819 189 Total
Notes
Among those wounded, 526 are in serious condition and 101 had their lower or upper limbs amputated; 89 lower-limb amputations, 2 upper-limb amputations, 10 finger amputations and 17 children had their limbs amputated according to the Ministry of Health. The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullets and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation and sustained bruises.
PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention. Thus, PCHR calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons.
PCHR hereby condemns the excessive use of force and commission of crimes by the Israeli forces despite the prevailed calmness, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons.
PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.
Public Document
**************************************
Follow PCHR on Facebook and Twitter
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893
Gaza- Jamal ‘Abdel Nasser “al-Thalathini” Street – Al-Roya Building- Floor 12 , El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
15 feb 2019
Israeli soldiers attacked, Friday, the Great Return March processions, ongoing for the 47th consecutive week in the besieged Gaza Strip, and injured dozens of Palestinians, including at least twenty with live fire, one of them a child, who suffered a life-threatening injury.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has confirmed that the soldiers shot twenty Palestinians with live fire, and added that one of the wounded is a child, 15, who suffered a serious injury after the soldiers shot him with a live round in the chest.
It stated that the child was shot east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, and was rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
Furthermore, a Palestinian woman, 29, was injured with a shrapnel in her head, causing a moderate wound, before she was rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
The soldiers also shot and moderately injured a photojournalist, identified as Mohammad Za’noun, east of Gaza city.
More than 11000 Palestinians participated in the ongoing Great Return March processions this Friday, media sources in Gaza have confirmed.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army stated that one of its undercover soldiers was injured, Friday, after a Palestinian hurled a pipe bomb at a military jeep, near the perimeter fence in Gaza.
Media sources in Gaza said the officer opened the door of his armored jeep, and started firing live rounds at the protesters, before one Palestinian hurled a pipe bomb at the jeep, mildly wounding the soldiers in the leg.
The Health Ministry in Gaza has confirmed that the soldiers shot twenty Palestinians with live fire, and added that one of the wounded is a child, 15, who suffered a serious injury after the soldiers shot him with a live round in the chest.
It stated that the child was shot east of the al-Boreij refugee camp, in central Gaza, and was rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
Furthermore, a Palestinian woman, 29, was injured with a shrapnel in her head, causing a moderate wound, before she was rushed to the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
The soldiers also shot and moderately injured a photojournalist, identified as Mohammad Za’noun, east of Gaza city.
More than 11000 Palestinians participated in the ongoing Great Return March processions this Friday, media sources in Gaza have confirmed.
It is worth mentioning that the Israeli army stated that one of its undercover soldiers was injured, Friday, after a Palestinian hurled a pipe bomb at a military jeep, near the perimeter fence in Gaza.
Media sources in Gaza said the officer opened the door of his armored jeep, and started firing live rounds at the protesters, before one Palestinian hurled a pipe bomb at the jeep, mildly wounding the soldiers in the leg.
14 feb 2019
Palestinian protesters resumed on Wednesday late-night protests on the Gaza border in response to Israel’s ceaseless crimes and violations against the Palestinian people.
The sounds of fireworks rang through the air at nightfall east of Khan Younis city. Protesters burned tires, filling the night sky with smoke.
Dozens of protesters showed up on the Gaza border, when Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and live ammunition at anti-occupation youth, resulting in scores of suffocation cases.
Almost a year into the Great March of Return protests, demonstrations along the boundary with Israel have become a fixture of life in the besieged Gaza Strip. The return of night protests marked a symbolic move of discontent over Israel’s failed promises regarding the ceasefire agreement with Palestinian resistance factions.
The Great March of Return protesters agreed on resuming night-time protests in response to Israeli violence committed since the Egypt-brokered November ceasefire.
The sounds of fireworks rang through the air at nightfall east of Khan Younis city. Protesters burned tires, filling the night sky with smoke.
Dozens of protesters showed up on the Gaza border, when Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and live ammunition at anti-occupation youth, resulting in scores of suffocation cases.
Almost a year into the Great March of Return protests, demonstrations along the boundary with Israel have become a fixture of life in the besieged Gaza Strip. The return of night protests marked a symbolic move of discontent over Israel’s failed promises regarding the ceasefire agreement with Palestinian resistance factions.
The Great March of Return protesters agreed on resuming night-time protests in response to Israeli violence committed since the Egypt-brokered November ceasefire.
