Protection of Civilians Weekly Report | 24 February - 2 March 2015

Weekly Highlights

Over 70 per cent of these injuries were recorded during five separate protests against access restrictions imposed by the Israeli military. The largest incident (25 injuries) took place on 26 February in Azzun (Qalqiliya), in a protest against the closure of the village’s eastern entrance since 2001. Another two protests took place also in Qalqiliya governorate, in Izbat Tabib, in commemoration of the death of Minister Abu Ein, following his assault by an Israeli soldier during an olive planting event in December 2014, and Kafr Qaddum village in a protest against the longstanding closure of the village entrance, triggering clashes with Israeli forces. The remaining two protests resulting in injuries occurred in Bi’lin (Ramallah) against the Barrier, and in Hebron city, against the longstanding closure of Ash Shuhada Street. The latter has been totally forbidden for Palestinian vehicles and partially closed for Palestinian pedestrians, on the grounds of security needs of Israeli settlers in the city. Two of this week’s injuries were recorded during search and arrest operations by Israeli forces in Al Duheisha Refugee Camp (Bethlehem), on 1 March.

During the previous reporting period, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian refugee during a search and arrest operation in the camp. Overall, Israeli forces conducted 103 search and arrest operations during the week, compared to a weekly average of 86, thus far in 2015. The majority were carried out in the Nablus governorate. During the week, a total of 100 Palestinians were arrested, with the highest number of arrests per governorate recorded in Jerusalem.