Updates

No Accountability

Israeli Border Police officer fires sponge round at Palestinian teen’s head, then hits him in the head with a gun, Silwad, 10 March 2017

On 10 March 2017 Palestinians and Israeli security forces clashed in Silwad. A Border Police officer fired a sponge round, injuring D.T., 17. The officer then hit him in the head with a gun. D.T., who lost consciousness, was taken to Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem, where he underwent surgery for a cranial fracture and subdural hematoma. During his 12 days in Hadassah Hospital, his parents were not allowed to approach him, and he was kept in restraints. While shocking, this case is not at all unusual, nor is the fact that no one will be held accountable, guaranteeing these injustices will continue as long as the occupation does.

30 July 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Testimony: Nibal Hashish, a 37-year-old mother of four, talks about running a household on 4 hours of power a day on average, al-Maghazi R.C.

“I used to use candles for lighting … but I stopped because of something that happened about five years ago. My children, who got up at 5:00 A.M. to go to school, lit a candle and set it down on the TV... They forgot the candle and left… I woke up in a panic from the smell of smoke. The candle had fallen over and the TV caught fire. The whole house was full of black smoke. I started screaming and woke my husband. He put out the fire. ... Now we use battery-operated LED lights … but the power isn’t on long enough to charge the battery, and the lighting in the house is dim because the battery is nearly drained.”

24 July 2017

No Accountability

Playing with fire: Israel’s sweeping disregard for the wellbeing and security of East Jerusalem residents has led to four fatalities and dozens of injuries

During recent events, Israel has repeatedly demonstrated sweeping disregard for the lives and security of Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem, and for their right to maintain a normal routine. The Israel Police treated Palestinian residents as if they were enemy soldiers, rather than as a civilian population for whose wellbeing and security it is responsible. This conduct is part of the way Israel controls East Jerusalem. Nothing but comprehensive and substantive change to this regime of control, and to the reality in Jerusalem, will ensure the human rights of all the people living in the city.

24 July 2017

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Palestinian stabs to death 3 members of Israeli family and wounds fourth in Halamish settlement

B’Tselem expresses its shock over Friday (21 July 2017) evening's attack in which Yosef Salomon, 71, his daughter, Chaya Salomon, 46, and his son, Elad Salomon, 35, were stabbed to death in their home in the settlement of Halamish by a Palestinian from the village of Kobar. Tova Salomon, 68, wife of Yosef and mother of Chaya and Elad, sustained moderate to severe injuries and was taken to Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem. B’Tselem conveys its condolences to the family and wishes Tova Solomon a speedy recovery. Attacks against civilians undermine every moral, legal and human standard. B'Tselem strongly condemns any and all deliberate attacks on civilians and reiterates its call to politicians and leaders to act responsibly and refrain from stirring up violence.

22 July 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Summer 2017: New movement restrictions in Hebron heighten isolation of Palestinian neighborhoods

Since the 1990s, Israel has implemented a segregation policy in central Hebron, prohibiting Palestinians from driving along – and in some cases even walking on – major streets in the area. In May 2017, these severe restrictions were stepped up. This collective punishment has taken a toll on tens of thousands of Palestinians, preventing them from leading normal lives and making daily routine unbearable. In applying these measures, Israel is effecting a gradual, silent transfer of Palestinians from the heart of Hebron.

20 July 2017

Agriculture

CA confiscated water tanks and destroys pipe in Jordan Valley communities

On Jul. 19, military and Civil Administration forces confiscated two water tanks in Kh. Tall al-Himma in the northern Jordan Valley, along with a pump from a spring used as the community’s main source of water. Solar panels were confiscated there on Jul. 5. The forces then cut a pipe used to bring water from a natural spring to a reservoir in the community of Kh. Um al-Jmal, used for livestock and irrigation. The cruel treatment of these communities, which Israel refuses to connect to the water system, is particularly brazen in the current scorching heat of the Jordan Valley.

19 July 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Khulud Jaber, a mother of five, from a-Nuseirat R.C., tells of her struggle to care for her family without a regular supply of electricity

“My washing machine broke down about two months ago, because of the irregular power supply. Before that, when we got power at regular hours, I’d set an alarm clock to get up and run a load when the power came back on at night. I’d also knead dough and bake a few dozen pita breads in an electric pita-bread pot for us and for my husband’s family. My hands ache, but we can’t afford to buy ready-made bread. When the power shut down, I’d move on to housework that doesn’t require electricity.” Click here to read the full account.

19 July 2017

Area C

Israel confiscates solar panels supplying all power for Palestinian village it has not connected to grid for 50 years

The Palestinian village of Jub a-Dib near Bethlehem has existed since 1929, yet Israel refuses to hook it up to the power grid. In late 2016, thanks to international aid, 96 solar panels were installed providing the 160 residents with regular electricity for the first time. Israel confiscated the panels on 28 June 2017. This is another example of Israel’s systematic abuse of Area C Palestinians, denying them basic services and confiscating or destroying alternatives provided by aid organizations.

17 July 2017

No Accountability

Israeli security forces fire teargas at Palestinian homes and children without justification, injuring toddler and 6-yr-old

In two incidents in May 2017, Israeli security forces fired tear gas at civilians and homes in the West Bank, injuring a toddler and a child. This is the direct result of sending security forces into Palestinian villages with no justification. “Non-lethal crowd control measures” put babies, children, the elderly and patients at risk. When used permissively and indiscriminately, with no need and disregarding the danger involved, they may cause severe and completely unjustifiable injuries.

16 July 2017

Attacks on Israeli Civilians by Palestinians

Hamas authorities must immediately release Israeli civilians they are holding hostage

Hamas is reportedly holding at least two Israeli citizens - Avera Mengistu and Hashem a-Sayed -in Gaza as bargaining chips for the release of Hamas prisoners. A third Israeli crossed into Gaza 18 months ago and might also be held by Hamas. Holding people by force to be used as bargaining chips is immoral and unlawful. Hamas must immediately and unconditionally release the Israeli civilians it is holdings. Pending such release, it must treat them humanely and allow the ICRC to visit them.

10 July 2017

Area C

Israel’s CA confiscates solar panels from a community which Israel refuses to connect to the electricity network

Today, Wednesday 5 July 2017, Civil Administration officials and the military came to the Palestinian community of Khirbet Tall al-Himma (Khallet Hamad) in the northern Jordan Valley, south of the community of ‘Ein al-Beida. They confiscated two solar panels used by five families, numbering 25 people, including 15 minors. The panels had been donated by a humanitarian aid organization in March 2017, after Israeli authorities confiscated the pre-fab one of the families had been living in.

5 July 2017

Beating and Abuse

Israeli soldiers assaulted Tamer Tamimi twice in one day; he was abused and beaten until he lost consciousness

Tamer Tamimi, 23, was detained at two checkpoints near Ramallah on 4 June, abused and beaten to the point of hospitalization. The arbitrary fashion in which soldiers can detain Palestinians at checkpoints for no apparent reason, demand they obey their orders, humiliate them and use violence against them is part of daily life for Palestinians in the West Bank. B’Tselem has documented many similar incidents which could not have happened without the soldiers’ knowing they would be backed by the senior government and military officials, including the MAG Corps, and that they will not be held accountable for their actions.

5 July 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Iman Hassan Hamdan tells about what it’s like to live in Gaza on 4 hours of electricity a day, June 2017

Iman Hassan, a mother of six who lives in al-Bureij Refugee Camp, shares her story: “We’ve been suffering from the power cuts for over a decade, but things have become unbearable the past few months. We have power cuts for more than 12 hours a day. Our life, our sleep, everything is shaped by whether or not there’s power. Our roof is made of metal, so it’s hot as hell inside in the summer, but we can’t use the fan because there’s no electricity. The kids and I have to keep taking cold showers, otherwise it’s too hot to fall asleep. My baby boy, Ibrahim, sometimes gets a rash because it’s so hot. He cries at night and can’t fall asleep.”

4 July 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Military disrupting life in Deir Abu Mash’al for 2 weeks, since 3 residents killed Border Police officer

On 16 June 2017, three Palestinians from Deir Abu Mash’al killed Israeli Border Police officer Hadas Malka and wounded four other people in East Jerusalem. They were immediately killed by Israeli security forces. Since then, the military has disrupted the daily lives of all 5,000 residents of the village, although they have been accused of no wrongdoing. This form of automatic retaliation has become a policy in which the military cynically abuses its power to mistreat civilians. This collective harm is morally and legally indefensible.

29 June 2017

Economic & Social Rights

Israeli security forces punish town of Silwad, near Ramallah, for car-ramming attack by local resident

On 6 Apr. 2017 a Silwad resident ran over and killed one soldier and injured another. He was arrested at the scene. For the next two months, Israeli security forces collectively punished the town: blocking roads, raiding homes at night, confiscating money and cars, and revoking Israeli work permits. The military disrupted the lives of more than 10,000 people who did nothing wrong and were suspected of no wrongdoing. This disruption of daily life is morally and legally indefensible, and is entirely based on a policy of violence that cynically exploits the military’s authority in order to abuse and intimidate a civilian population.

25 June 2017

No Accountability

Israeli navy vessel fires at Gaza fishermen, killing one as his boat fled

On 15 May 2017, Israeli navy soldiers shot and killed Muhammad Baker, 25, from a-Shati Refugee Camp in Gaza. B'Tselem’s investigation found the soldiers opened fire when Muhammad’s boat was 3 nautical miles off the coast within the zone in which the military permits Gazans to fish. As long as this routine continues, innocent fishermen will continue to risk arrest, injury or death to make a living. No one in Israel will be held accountable for the attacks and the usual whitewashing formalities will be applied.

22 June 2017

General

B’Tselem Executive Director speaks about 50 years of Israeli occupation

Several events were held in Brussels, Stockholm and Copenhagen to mark the milestone of 50 years since the Israeli occupation began. B’Tselem Executive Director Hagai El-Ad delivered a talk at two of these events - at the Swedish parliament on 7 June and at the Danish parliament on 9 June - saying: “For every moment of the last fifty years, we have all lived - and too many of us have died - in violence. It permeates the air in the occupied territories – for the oppression of one people by another is, by definition, violence. It can take the form of a bureaucrat denying a permit, or a soldier squeezing a trigger. Either way, every single day, it is violence - and it must end.” For the full text of El-Ad’s speech, click here.

21 June 2017

Agriculture

Israel’s CA uproots hundreds of fruit trees and ruins crops on privately owned Palestinian land in the Jordan Valley

Israeli forces raid two Palestinian Jordan Valley communities in past two months, uprooting and confiscating trees and ruining fields on Palestinian-owned land. Over 75% of Jordan Valley lands have been taken over by Israel, with 150,000 hectares transferred to settlement regional councils. In recent years, Israel has increased efforts to expel local Palestinian communities. Palestinians now own a minute portion of Jordan Valley lands, yet Israel harasses them even there.

20 June 2017

Harassment

B’Tselem field researchers detained by Israel Police while documenting movement restrictions in Hebron

B’Tselem field researchers Manal al-Ja’bri and Musa Abu Hashhash were detained yesterday in Hebron while documenting the increase in movement restrictions imposed by the military at the Bakery Checkpoint. Al-Ja’bri was questioned and held in police custody in the settlement of Kiryat Arba until late last night. Abu Hashhash was held at the checkpoint for about 40 minutes and released.

18 June 2017

Economic & Social Rights

The PA’s wrongful actions towards Gaza residents do not mean Israel can shirk its responsibility for their fate

The Gaza Strip is in the throes of a humanitarian disaster. Without a regular power supply, all aspects of life are harmed. This reality is part of an Israeli policy, of the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza for the past ten years. Despite this intolerable reality, the Israeli cabinet has decided to accept the Palestinian Authority’s cruel plan to further reduce the power supply to Gaza. This is not some sort of natural disaster. The reality in Gaza is the result of Israel’s handiwork. Israel can, and must, change this reality.

13 June 2017

Beating and Abuse

Israeli soldiers detain Baraa Kan’an, a 19-year-old Palestinian, then abuse him for 7 hours

On 12 May 2017, in a-Nabi Saleh, soldiers stopped an ambulance and removed Baraa Kan’an, 19, who was accompanying an injured person. The soldiers blindfolded Kan’an and took him to an unknown location where they abused him for hours, beating him, making death threats and covering him in earth, eventually leaving him out alone on a road. This abuse did not take place in a vacuum. Over the years, B’Tselem has documented many such violent incidents, which would not have taken place had the abusers not known they would have the full support of senior officials, and would not be held accountable.

12 June 2017

No Accountability

Israeli sniper fatally shoots 22-year-old Palestinian who posed no danger at a-Nabi Saleh weekly protest

On 12 May 2017, during a protest against settlers’ takeover of a-Nabi Saleh village land, a sniper fired live ammunition at Sabaa ‘Obeid, 22, killing him. ‘Obeid - who had been throwing stones at soldiers from 80 meters away and posed no real threat - was shot as he was moving away. Regulations and officials both state that lethal gunfire is not to be used under such circumstances and is limited to cases of mortal danger and as a last resort. In practice, soldiers operate under other orders, using lethal measures in a variety of circumstances, resulting in injuries and fatalities.

12 June 2017

Settler Violence = State Violence

Settlers attack Huwarah homes, wounding three, including 68-yr-old woman tending sheep near home

On 22 April ‘17, settlers from Yitzhar and its outposts threw stones at cars and homes in the village of ‘Urif. Later that day, settlers attacked people and homes in the town of Huwarah. Security personnel who arrived at the scene made no arrests and allowed the attackers to simply walk away. Experience shows the police will likely not take any follow-up measures and the violence will continue. These attacks are allowed to continue as they are a privatized use of force, serving Israel’s agenda of taking over more land in the West Bank.

8 June 2017

General

B’Tselem Executive Director to Top European Officials:After 50 years of occupation, resolute international action needed to end it

This morning (Thursday) Hagai El-Ad met with Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen; tomorrow he meets with the ambassadors of the 28 EU states in Brussels. Early this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he would not meet with leaders who meet with organizations that work toward ending the occupation. This is yet another step taken by the Israeli government in its efforts to silence those who oppose its policies: the media, activists, academics, artists and human rights organizations. El-Ad says he will use his meetings to clarify that ending the occupation is pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian, and pro-justice.

1 June 2017