Israel’s racist cruelty towards Palestinian children

With the complicity of the international community, the founding of the Zionist state forced the Palestinian people from their land and created the largest single refugee population in the world. Palestinians in the West Bank have been living under a foreign military dictatorship for almost 50 years and their children, in particular, suffer grievous harm at the hands of the Israeli Occupation forces. The human rights organisation, Military Court Watch, has lodged submissions with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that relate to Israeli war crimes. Armed forces constantly abduct Palestinian children and transfer them to prisons inside Israel in violation of both article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This practice is internationally recognised as a war crime, and hundreds of Palestinian children are subjected to it every year. Evidence collected by Defence of Children International-Palestine (DCIP) during 2014 showed that more than three-quarters of Palestinian child detainees endured some form of physical violence between the period of their arrest and interrogation. Prolonged periods of solitary confinement, that international law recognises as torture, are often used to ‘soften up’ child captives for interrogation.

Recently, on 28 November, 49 Australian Parliamentarians signed a statement, calling on Israel to stop using its military power over an Occupied people to abuse Palestinian children. The campaign was initiated by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN). In their statement, the Australian lawmakers reminded the world that “Israel is the only country in the world that automatically prosecutes children in military courts. And only Palestinian children.”

UNICEF frequently reports widespread, systematic and institutionalised ill-treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli Army, with armed soldiers seizing children as young as 11 years and taking them prisoner. Palestinian homes, even in UN refugee camps, can offer no security for terrified children, who are dragged from their homes, often in the middle of the night. In violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the captive youngsters are taken out of Palestine to Israel, where they face what UNICEF describes as an “institutionalised” court procedure to which no Jewish child would be subjected. Most are deprived of legal counsel during interrogation and even the support of a parent is denied to many. The children are pressured to sign ‘confessions’ written in Hebrew, which to most of them is a foreign language and so, not surprisingly, these racist Israeli court procedures produce a 99% conviction rate for the up to 700 Palestinian children taken prisoner each year. The 49 Australian Parliamentarians deserve praise and recognition for action that should inspire all Parliamentarians, worldwide. Our own Government has a duty to make representations at the Security Council to demand measures be put in place to force Israel to stop this – continuing silence and inaction will only afford shameful cover for Israel.

Israeli Army child-targeting terrorism – video
The maltreatment of Palestinian youngsters is an integral component of Israel’s population-control industry. Palestinian children have to live (and sometimes die) under Israeli air strikes, home invasions, shootings, stun grenades and choking tear gas. There is no security for them, whether it be at home or in refugee camps, hospitals, schools, sports grounds, beaches or simply the streets. As 2016 draws to a close it is timely to take a look at the hateful Israeli Army and settler violence against Palestinian children committed since the beginning of the year. Watch this online video of Israeli soldiers terrorising and kicking a small child and remember it whenever you read about abduction (blindfolds, hands tied etc.) Recall it again as you read of home invasions (children dragged from their beds – parents humiliated in front of them) and bear it in mind whenever you see reports of child torture, death and injury. The numbers of families evicted from their homes because of Israeli Army exercises and reports of the destruction and/or vandalism of Palestinian houses and tent dwellings etc., that daily and nightly traumatise Palestinian children are far too numerous to recount here but should also be borne in mind as you read below the selection of just a few examples of Israeli Army acts of violence and terror meted out to Palestinian children during 2016.

From 1 January to 5 December 2016 there were:
26 children killed, plus one death from injuries inflicted in a 2011 Israeli air strike (see below).
At least 459 children, aged from 10 to 17, were abducted (many during home invasions).

JANUARY

7 January
Israeli Army – assault on schoolgirl: Jerusalem – 09:00, Israeli soldiers assaulted a schoolgirl as she attempted to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque.

11 January
Israeli Army attack – child shot, wounded and abducted: Jerusalem – 18:40, Israeli troops, manning the Hizma checkpoint, opened fire on and wounded a 12-year-old boy, Qusay Raed Nimr Abdel-Jawad Al-Jimzawi, and took him prisoner.

21 January
Israeli Army – child terrorised for over 8 hours: Jerusalem – 14:00-22:30, Israeli soldiers seized, and held captive for over eight hours, a 14-year-old boy: Mohammad Annad.

Israeli Army – children terrorised – pastoral sabotage: Hebron – 15:40, Israeli soldiers in east Yatta seized, and held captive for a time, three children herding sheep: Hassan Hamidat (12), Faysal Hamidat (13) and Alaa Hamidat (12).

23 January
Killing: Jerusalem – a 13-year-old Palestinian girl was shot dead by an Israeli security guard in the West Bank on Saturday. The killing took place outside the illegal Anatot Jewish settlement, also known as Almon, north-east of Jerusalem. Israeli police alleged that Ruqayya Abu Eid had tried to stab the guard who killed her, but neither he nor any member of the Israeli security forces was hurt. http://www.thenational.ae/world/middle-east/13-year-old-palestinian-girl-killed-by-israeli-security-guard-in-the-west-bank

Home invasion and abduction: Jerusalem – 01:00, Israeli soldiers abducted a 12-year-old boy, Harbi al-Rajabi, in the Silwan neighbourhood.

FEBRUARY

3 February
Israeli Army attack – 1 youngster wounded: Jerusalem – 17:00, a 17-year-old youth, Zakariay Ahmad Taha, was wounded when Israeli Occupation forces in Qatanna village opened fire with live ammunition and stun and tear gas grenades.
Home invasions and occupation – abductions – injury: Jenin – 04:35, the Israeli Army raided Qabatiya, closed all roads leading to the village, declared the area a closed military zone and searched several homes. The soldiers commandeered one home, set up a sniper post on the roof and abducted two minors: Mu’tasim Mahmoud Suliman (17) and Ahmad Billal Abdel-Afo Al-Nazal (17). During the raid, an Israeli Army vehicle rammed into and injured a 16-year-old youth: Mohammad Al-Abbas Zakarneh.

5 February
Israeli Army attack – 1 child killed and 1 wounded: Hebron – 15:10, the Israeli Army opened fire on people in Halhul, killing a 15-year-old boy, Haytham Ismail Atiya Al-Bo, and wounding a 17-year-old youth, Wajdi Yusef Atiya Al-Bo, who was then abducted by Israeli soldiers.

8 February
Raid – child terrorised and beaten by Israeli soldiers: Tulkarem – 19:00, Israeli forces raided Zeita, seizing and holding captive for a time, a 14-year-old boy, Munthir Abdel-Raziq Abu Sharqiya, before beating and then releasing him.

10 February
Israeli Army attack – youngster shot dead: Hebron – 11:50, the Israeli Army raided the al-Arrub refugee camp, shooting dead a 16-year-old boy and tear-gassing another, Gevara Ahmad Jawabra (11). Doctors at the al-Mizan Hospital in Hebron said the boy had been shot in the chest during the raid.
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=770218

11 February
Death – child: Gaza – Yusef Bahjat Al-Za’lan (11) died of injuries sustained from Israeli air strikes on his home during the Israeli blitz on the Gaza Strip in 2011.

12 February
Israeli Army – child (15) wounded – rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades: Jerusalem – 16:25, Abu Dis: a 15-year-old boy, Yusef Abdel-Qadder Shihadeh, was wounded in a hail of rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades.

14 February
Killings – 2 children shot dead: Jenin – 10:35, two children: Fo’ad Marwan Khaled Waqad (15) and Nihad Raed Mohammad Waqad (15), were shot dead in al-Arqa village by the Israeli Army, for allegedly preparing to throw a petrol bomb.
Killing – 17-year-old youth shot dead: Bethlehem – 13:35, the Israeli Army shot dead a 17-year-old youth, Na’im Ahmad Yusef Safi, at a checkpoint near al-Nu’man village, for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.

Israeli Army – 12-year-old child terrorised: Jerusalem – Israeli troops seized, and held captive for a time, a 12-year-old boy, Ahmad Mohammad Darbas.
Israeli Army – 12-year-old boy run down by Army vehicle – stun and tear gas grenades: Hebron – 09:50, Israeli forces, positioned near the al-Arroub UN refugee camp, opened fire with stun and tear gas grenades before running down a 12-year-old boy, Muneer Abdel-Rahman Jawabrah, with an Israeli Army vehicle.

20 February
Israeli Army attack on refugee camp school: Ramallah – 22:55, the Israeli Army opened fire on a school in the al-Jalazoun UN refugee camp.

Raid – school disruption – vandalism: Jerusalem – 00:10, Occupation troops raided the Abu Nour Bedouin community in al-Eizariya and destroyed a school funded by the French Government. http://www.imemc.org/article/75023

24 February
Occupation settler-inflicted road casualty – child (7): Jerusalem – 16:00, an Israeli settler vehicle, travelling along the main road near the Shuafat refugee camp, ran over and hospitalised a seven-year-old girl, Raghad Izzat.

27 February
Israeli Army attack – child injured and hospitalised: Qalqiliya – 15:15, Israeli soldiers, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, attacked protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring a 15-year-old boy, Abdul-Mahdi Hikmat Ali, and hospitalising him with a broken arm.

28 February
Israeli Army – child beaten and terrorised: Ramallah – evening, Israeli soldiers in Silwad seized, assaulted and held captive for a time, a 13-year-old boy, Suhayeb Al-Jaraz.

29 February
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – hijacking and abduction – economic sabotage: Northern Gaza – 09:30, the Israeli Navy opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off al-Sudaniya, hijacking one of them, abducting a 17-year-old crew member, Khamis Suhiel Fadil Bakr, and taking prisoner seven others.
Israeli Army – 11-year-old boy terrorised: Jerusalem – 14:30, Israeli soldiers seized, and held captive for a time, an 11-year-old child, Ali Qayed Ismail Taha, a resident of Qatanna village.

MARCH

1 March
Killings: Nablus – 06:30, Israeli forces shot dead two 17-year-old youths, Khaldoun Anwar Azam and Mohammad Hashim Ali Zaghloun, for allegedly stabbing an Israeli settler.

Home invasions – youngsters assaulted: Jenin – dawn, Israeli soldiers raided Sanur village, searched two homes and assaulted two young people: Mahmoud Shuja’ Jarar (15) and Mohammad Mufid Omar Issah (16).

3 March
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Army attack – school damaged – children terrified – agricultural sabotage: Gaza – 14:00, Israeli forces, positioned behind the Green Line, opened fire on al-Shuja’iya agricultural land and the Beit Dajan School, damaging the outside of a classroom occupied by schoolchildren still at their studies.

4 March
Israeli Army attack – 1 wounded (youth, aged 17): Jerusalem – 16:05, Israeli forces positioned in Abu Dis and al-Eizariya, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, wounded and hospitalised a 17-year-old youth: Thaer Abdallah Sarabiya.

Israeli Army attack – child (9) and adult wounded: Qalqiliya – 12:40, Israeli soldiers opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades on protesters in Kafr Qaddum, wounding a child, Khaled Murad Ishtewwi (9), and an adult, Mash’hour Saleh Hassan Jum’a. There were several tear gas casualties.

Raid – child injured: Bethlehem – 18:00-19:00, Israeli forces raided al-Khadr, injuring a 13-year-old boy, Diya Ibrahim Salah.

9 March
Killing: Salfit – 09:30, a 17-year-old youth from Masha village, Ahmad Yusef Ismail Ammar, was shot dead by the Israeli Army, for allegedly attempting to stab an Israeli soldier.

11 March
Air strikes – 2 children dead: Northern Gaza – 02:20, Israeli war planes fired four missiles in two consecutive strikes on Beit Lahiya, killing a ten-year-old Palestinian boy and his six-year-old sister, according to medical officials. The boy was identified as Yassin Abu Khoussa. His sister, Issra, died in hospital later. Medics said the pair were hit by fragments from a missile fired by Israeli aircraft. The attack was in response to rockets fired from Gaza that landed harmlessly in open areas in southern Israel, causing no deaths or injuries. The missiles fired from Gaza were in response to over 240 ceasefire violations by Israel since 1 January this year. Israel does its utmost to provoke missile launchings from Gaza. This year alone, from 1 January to 10 March, there have been just three Palestinian Gaza ceasefire violations. All were directed at Israeli blockade-enforcing military, taking place on 23 January, and 2 and 7 March. Over the same period, there have been more than 240 Israeli ceasefire violations aimed at civilian targets, mostly farmers and fishing boats. As a result of Israeli aggression in Gaza there have been, so far this year, six Palestinian deaths, including three children. Fifty-three Palestinians have been wounded and, in addition, Israel has carried out five hijackings of Palestinian fishing boats. http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/12/two-palestinian-children-in-gaza-killed-by-israeli-airstrike/

22 March
Israeli Army attack – youngster wounded and hospitalised: Bethlehem – 18:25, the Israeli Army attacked the al-Aida refugee camp, opening fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, wounding and hospitalising a 16-year-old youth, Tariq Mohammad Ali Sarour.

Israeli Army tear gas grenades – child injured and hospitalised: Bethlehem – 09:30, Israeli troops, firing tear gas grenades at people, injured an 11-year-old boy from the al-Duhisheh refugee camp, Abdallah Abdel Hameed Ibrahim Al-Tus. The child was admitted to hospital after being struck by a flying tear gas grenade.

Raid – children injured and hospitalised: Bethlehem – 18:05, Israeli forces raided al-Khadr, injuring and hospitalising two children: Ahmad Yusef Mohammad Atwan (9) and Diya Mohammad Issa (14).

APRIL

1 April
Israeli Army – child beaten and hospitalised: Hebron – 17:20, Israeli soldiers assaulted and hospitalised a 15-year-old boy, Sufiyan Mana’ Fihmi Al-Ja’bari, at the entrance to Beit Einoun village.

4 April
Israeli Army attack in support of settler violence on Palestinian youngsters: Hebron – 18:00, the Israeli Army opened fire in east Yatta towards two Palestinian youngsters, Mus’ab Musa Hassan Al-Shawahin (10) and Baha Musa Hassan Al-Shawahin (16), as they were being chased by Occupation settlers. The soldiers then seized the boys and assaulted them.

Israeli Army – child (10) terrorised: Qalqiliya – 20:20, Israeli soldiers in Azun seized, and held captive for a time, a ten-year-old boy, Mohammad Bassim Abdel-Fattah Mansour.

Raid – 12-year-old boy injured and hospitalised: Jerusalem – evening, a 12-year-old child, Yazen Khaled An’aji, received a head injury and was admitted to hospital as a result of an Israeli Army raid on al-Eisawiya village.

18 April
Israeli Army attack – youngsters shot, wounded and abducted: Jerusalem – 21:30, Israeli forces in al-Ram opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, wounding two minors: Ahmad Abdel-Kareem Al-Qadi (16, shot in the stomach) and Fo’ad Al-Ja’bari (15, shot in the leg). The wounded boys were also abducted.

Israeli Army – school disruption – stun and tear gas grenades: Hebron – 09:10, the Israeli Army, firing stun and tear gas grenades, attacked the Al-Zahra School for Girls, causing 15 tear gas casualties.

Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – hijacking – economic sabotage: Rafah – Israeli gunboats opened fire on fishing boats off the city, hijacking one and detaining two fishermen, including a minor: Nafith Mahdi Abu Rayalah (16).
Occupation settler violence – child beaten: Hebron – an Israeli settler, identified as Hannah Cohen, beat up an 11-year-old child, Ubai Yusef Abu Maria, who was travelling with French peace activists on their way to give their condolences to the family of Hisham Aza, killed by the Israeli Army.

26 April
Israeli Army assault on schoolchildren – rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades: Jerusalem – 08:00, Israeli forces, positioned in Silwan, fired rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades at children on their way to school.

Raid – boy (10) injured and hospitalised: Bethlehem – 11:25, ten-year-old Mohammad Hussein Ali Issa was admitted to hospital after being run over by an Israeli Military vehicle during a raid on al-Khadr.

MAY

10 May
Raid – school plundered: Jerusalem – 18:30, the Israeli Army invaded Sur Behar, raided the Omar Bin Abdel-Azziz village school and plundered it of its computers.

15 May
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – hijack and sinking – economic sabotage: Northern Gaza – 19:00, the Israeli Navy opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats off al-Sudaniya, took prisoner two fishermen, detained eight others, including three 17-year-old youths, Mohammad Khamis Bakr, Jameel Ahmad Ada and Mohammad Mahmoud Bakr, hijacked one fishing boat and sank another.

17 May
Occupation settler home invasion – youngster beaten – Israeli Army complicity: Hebron – evening, a settler mob invaded a home in the Tel al-Rumeida neighbourhood and beat up a 16-year-old youth, Rami Abu Aisha. Israeli troops came to the aid of the settlers, seizing and holding the youngster captive for a time for trying to defend himself in his own home.

23 May
Killing: Jerusalem – 14:15, Sawsan Ali Daoud Mansour (17) was shot dead by Israeli forces at the Beit Iksa checkpoint. http://maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=771652

26 May
Israeli Army – 12-year-old child terrorised: Hebron – 11:00, Israeli soldiers in the Old City seized, and held captive for a time, 12-year-old Sarah Salah Sader.

27 May
Killings: Jerusalem – 10:55, a 24-year-old pregnant woman and mother of two children, Maram Hassan Abu Ismail, and Ibrahim Salah Hassan Taha (16), were both shot dead by Israeli soldiers at the Qalandiya checkpoint.

Occupation settler violence: Jericho – 14:20, Israeli settlers assaulted an eight-year-old child, Hamed Mahmoud Ka’abneh.

Raid – injury: Nablus – 00:10-04:15, Israeli soldiers and settlers raided the city, injuring a 17-year-old youth, Ahmad Adel Massoud.

JUNE

11 June
Occupation child road casualty: Nablus – 16:15, an Israeli Army Jeep ran over and hospitalised a nine-year-old boy, Ameen Hamad Maher Salihat, as he was playing near his home in Wadi al-Badhan village.

20 June
Israeli Army attack – 1 child killed – 3 youngsters wounded: Ramallah – 03:00, the Israeli Occupation Army opened fire on a car in the area between Beit Ur al-Tahta and Beit Sira. The vehicle was carrying Palestinian teenagers returning from a visit to a nearby swimming pool. The incident took place near a bypass road for Israelis, built on private Palestinian land, which is referred to as “road 443”, also known as the “Apartheid Road.” Mahmoud Ra’fat Badran (15) was killed in the attack and his two brothers, Amir (16) and Hadi (17), were wounded, along with Daoud Abu Hassan (16) and Majd Badran (16), who is visiting his Badran family during this summer. The Western Press, including the New York Times, played down the deadly assault on the boys’ car, describing the situation as one of Israeli troops combatting stone-throwing troublemakers. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that Israeli soldiers prevented paramedics from reaching the wounded boys for over an hour-and-a-half. PLO General Secretary Saeb Erekat commented that the international community has the responsibility to put an end to Israel’s impunity for the crimes it commits.

23 June
Child beaten by Occupation settlers – Israeli Army complicity: Jerusalem – 15:30, a gang of settler militants in the Old City beat up and hospitalised a 13-year-old boy, Mohammad Al-Ramuni, with the support of Israeli troops, who seized and detained the boy for a time as well as taking prisoner a witness, Munthir Castiro.

JULY

1 July
Israeli Army attack – child and adult wounded: Qalqiliya – 13:30, a 14-year-old boy, Ahmad Imad Mohammad Eishtewei, and an adult, Mohammad Nidal Aqel, were wounded in an Israeli Army attack on protesters in Kafr Qaddum. The Israeli Army opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades. There were several tear gas casualties.

Israeli Army – girl (14) terrorised: Bethlehem – 11:30-22:20, Israeli soldiers seized, and held captive for over ten hours, a 14-year-old girl, Sondos Naji Abu Sinineh.

3 July
Israeli Army attack – 23 wounded/injured – ambulance seized: Jerusalem – 00:25, Israeli troops, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, raided the UN refugee camp in Qalandiya, wounding and injuring 23 residents, including a child and two other youngsters, while destroying one home and severely damaging another. The Israeli Army then opened fire on people who tried to come to the aid of the wounded and injured. Finally, Israeli soldiers seized an ambulance carrying wounded residents to hospital, and held it for a time. The youngsters wounded and injured were: Saja Khaled Abdallah (12), Ameen Mohammad Mahmoud Odeh (16), Ahmad Nader Abdel-Qadder Haron (17).

15 July
Israeli Army attack on UN refugee camp – 4 wounded – child terrorised: Bethlehem – 18:15, a 16-year-old youth, Ahmad Hussein Abu Sarour, was among the wounded during an Israeli Army attack on the al-Aida UN refugee camp. Israeli troops fired live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades during the assault. The other three people wounded were: Munthir Foad Mohammad Aliyan, Salah Hussein Abdel-Razaq, Abu Sarour and Hamza Ahmad Hussein Abd Rabbo. During the attack Israeli soldiers seized, and held captive for a time, a 13-year-old boy, Abdel-Khaliq Asharf Abu Sarour.

17 July
Israeli Army attack – home destroyed – 5 wounded: Jenin – 01:35, Israeli forces, firing live ammunition and rubber-coated steel bullets, raided Qabatiya and destroyed a family home, wounding five residents, including three children. One resident, Abdel-Rahman Suliman Abu Al-Rub, suffered critical injuries. The three youngsters wounded are Jawad Ahmad Kameel (14), Anwar Ahmad Kameel (17) and Billal Osama Abu Zeid (16).

19 July
Israeli Army attack – killing: Jerusalem – 19:30, the Israeli Army opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas grenades on the al-Kasarat area of al-Ram, killing a 12-year-old child, Muhyi Sadeq Tabaghhi.

20 July
Israeli Army beatings and injury to father and son (16): Jerusalem – 22:00, Israeli forces in Silwan beat up and took prisoner a 16-year-old youth, Numan Mazen Abu Sneineh, and his father, Mazen Abu Sneineh.

29 July
Israeli Army attack on UN refugee camp – home invasion – 7 wounded: Jenin – 07:45, the Israeli Army stormed the Jenin UN refugee camp, firing live ammunition as well as rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades. Seven people, including two youngsters, were wounded as the troops forced their way into and searched a refugee home. The wounded were identified as: Adel Mustafa Asad Abu Hussein (13), Youssef Nasser Hasan Salah (16), Ghassan Imad Yihya Abu Ghali, Abdallah Mohammad Shaker Sawalha, Rabee Jamal Awad Abu Hussein, Muhammad Jamal Awad Abu Hussein and Fawzi Jamal Abu Duqqah.

31 July
Israeli Army attack – 2 wounded in UN refugee camp: Bethlehem – 03:55, the Israeli Army, firing live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets and stun and tear gas grenades, raided the al-Dheisheh refugee camp, wounding a 17-year-old youth, Mohammad Yasser Saleh Rizek, and an adult, Ramzi Nasser Hussein Abu Ajamiyyeh.

AUGUST

9 August
Raid – beating – pastoral sabotage – destruction – home demolitions – 27 people left homeless: Hebron – 07:10, Israeli forces raided the village of Um al-Kheir, destroyed five farm buildings and assaulted a villager, Suliman Hazaleen. Israeli forces demolished five homes in the Occupied West Bank on Tuesday, leaving 27 Palestinians homeless, more than half of them children, residents and an Israeli human rights group said. Israeli bulldozers destroyed the prefabricated shelters in the village of Um Al Kheir, some of them built with European Union funding, said the B’Tselem NGO. An AFP photographer at the site saw children playing amid twisted iron sheets and personal belongings, under searing heat. B’Tselem said the demolitions had left 16 children homeless. The structures had been built with EU aid after houses in the village, on the southern tip of the West Bank, were demolished at least eight times, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said in a statement. About 600,000 Israeli settlers colonise the Israeli-Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Settlement construction goes hand-in-hand with the destruction of Palestinian homes. Um Al Kheir lies close to the Israeli settlement of Carmel. http://www.jordantimes.com/news/region/israeli-demolitions-leave-27-homeless-west-bank

10 August
Israeli Army violence – 9-year-old child among the injured: Jenin – 19:30, Israeli forces set up a flying checkpoint between the town of Qabatiya and the village of Meseleh, before running a military vehicle into and injuring a passerby. A nine-year-old child, Omar Muhammad Smadi, was injured by a flying tear gas grenade and an adult, Muhammad Abu-Al Rub, was bitten by an Israeli Army dog.

25 August
Home invasions in UN refugee camp – mother and youngsters terrorised: Bethlehem – 03:55, Israeli forces raided al-Duhisheh UN refugee camp and searched several homes, injuring several residents and terrorising youngsters and a boy’s mother, in order to force the youngster to surrender to the Israeli Army.

29 August
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – hijacking – abduction – economic sabotage: Northern Gaza – 07:00, the Israeli Navy opened fire on fishing boats off al-Sudaniya, hijacking one of them and abducting a 15-year-old crew member, Nafeth Mahdi Mohammad Abu Rayala. The Israelis also took prisoner an adult fisherman, Mahdi Mohammad Abu Rayala (38).

30 August
Israeli Army abductions of schoolchildren: Hebron – 08:30, Israeli soldiers, outside Al-Ibrahimiya School, abducted two children: Qusay Ahmad Al-Dawabuqi and Iz Al-Din Al-Rajjabi.

SEPTEMBER

5 September
Home invasions – curfew and abductions: Nablus – 22:20, Israeli soldiers raided Huwara, imposed a curfew and abducted four children: Mohammad Ra’fat Odeh (15), Abdel-Rahman Ra’fat Odeh (14), Abdel-Wahab Ehab Odeh (13) and Abdallah Ehab Odeh (15).

10 September
Occupation road casualty – 6-year-old Palestinian girl: Bethlehem – 20:40, an Israeli settler vehicle, travelling along the by-pass road in the Um Rakaba area of al-Khadr, ran over and killed a six-year-old girl, Lama Marwan Mohammad Musa.

13 September
Israeli Army assault on child: Jerusalem – 17:00, Israeli soldiers in the Wadi al-Juz neighbourhood assaulted a 12-year-old child, Hamza Al-Nabulsi.

16 September
Israeli Army attack – youngster killed: Hebron – 17:00, Israeli forces in Tel al-Rumeida shot and killed a 16-year-old youth, Mohammad Thalji Qayed Al-Rajabi.

18 September
Israeli Army – 13-year-old boy strip-searched and terrorised: Jericho – 18:35-00:25, Israeli forces, manning a flying checkpoint in southern Jericho, seized, strip-searched and held captive for several hours, a 13-year-old boy, Mohammad Ahmad Maharma.

19 September
Israeli Army attack – youngster shot dead: Hebron – morning, Israeli soldiers in Bani Na’im town opened fire on and killed a 16-year-old youth, Issa Salem Mahmoud Tariya.

Israeli Army attack – 1 youngster and 1 adult shot dead: Hebron – 16:55, Israeli forces in the Old City opened fire on and killed a 17-year-old youth, Ameer Jamal Al-Rajabi, and an adult, Muhammad Jameel Ahmad Al-Rajabi (21).

Home invasions – 3 UN refugee camp youngsters injured: Bethlehem – 01:50, Israeli troops raided the al-Duhisheh UN refugee camp and searched several homes, injuring three youngsters: Yusef Izzat Abu Daya (17), Omar Ali Abu Ajamiya (17) and Ramzi Nasser Hassan Abu Ajamiya (15).

21 September
Israeli Army wounds child at checkpoint: Qalqiliya – 08:15, a Palestinian child was shot and wounded by the Israeli military on Wednesday morning when she allegedly failed to heed a soldier’s order to stop as she approached a military roadblock. Israeli troops then locked down the roadblock and transported the wounded child to the Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava. The girl was shot at a roadblock near the illegal Israeli settlement of Alfei Menashe, near Qalqiliya in the northern part of the West Bank. She is the niece of a 24-year-old Palestinian woman who was killed in November at a military roadblock in the same area. http://imemc.org/article/israeli-soldier-shoots-13-year-old-palestinian-girl-for-failing-to-stop-at-checkpoint/

23 September
Israeli Army attack – youngster wounded: Hebron – 12:30, Israeli troops in the Old City opened fire on a minor, Osama Jameel Mir’i Zidat, wounding and hospitalising him.

Raid – child assaulted and hospitalised – home invasion: Nablus – 22:45-04:20, Israeli soldiers raided Nablus, assaulting and hospitalising a 13-year-old girl, Maymouna Attiya Mansour, and set up a sniper post on the roof of a building. The soldiers then raided several shops and removed CCTV recordings from a supermarket and a furniture shop.

26 September
Raid – Bedouin school partially destroyed: Jerusalem – 05:00, the Israeli Army raided the Abu Al-Nour Bedouin community in east al-Eizariya and destroyed a classroom in a community secondary school.

OCTOBER

4 October
Raid – destruction – violation of education facility: Jerusalem – 21:00, the Israeli Army raided the Abu Nur Bedouin community in al-Eizariya, robbed the school of the tents that had been set up to replace the building destroyed previously by Occupation troops.

10 October
Israeli Army attack – 2 wounded: Bethlehem – 08:25, Israeli forces in the Wadi al-Hums area of Dar Salah opened fire on people as they made their way to work, wounding and hospitalising two residents: Ma’moun Talib Mohammad Ta’amra and 16-year-old Mahmoud Badr Abdallah Qawazbah.

11 October
Israeli Army attack – 4 wounded – live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Jerusalem – 18:45, Israeli troops in al-Ram opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas, wounding two 15-year-old children, Mursi Ahmad Azmi and Ahmad Mursi Aref, and two other persons: Ahmad Aref Abu Sbieh (17) and Eyad Farah Ali.

12 October
Israeli Army attack – youngster wounded in UN Refugee camp: Ramallah – 14:15, a 16-year-old youth, Ahmad Ibrahim Al-Hatab, was wounded when Israeli forces opened fire with live ammunition, rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas on residents in the al-Jalazoun UN refugee camp.

18 October
Occupation settler violence – pregnant woman beaten and hospitalised: Hebron – evening, Zionist fanatics, invading the Old City, beat up and hospitalised a pregnant woman, Haneen Issa Abdel-Fattah Al-Bayad.

20 October
Israeli Army attack – child shot dead: Hebron – 17:30, Israeli forces opened fire on people in Beit Ummar, killing a 15-year-old boy, Khalid Baher Ahmad Baher, and then opened fire with stun grenades and tear gas. There were several tear gas casualties. According to the Israeli Army, the boy was shot dead for throwing a stone that hit an Occupation military patrol vehicle, lightly bruising a soldier. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/palestinian-stone-thrower-shot-dead-israeli-troops-161020160114233.html

29 October
Israeli Army – child beaten and hospitalised – stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Ramallah – 17:00, Israeli soldiers, firing stun grenades and tear gas in Beitunya, assaulted and hospitalised with a broken arm, a 14-year-old boy, Ameer Murad Faroukh.

NOVEMBER

1 November
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Navy attack – hijacking – economic sabotage: Northern Gaza – 08:30, the Israeli Navy opened fire on and hijacked a Palestinian fishing boat off the al-Waha area of Beit Lahiya. Six crew members were seized and held captive, including a 14-year-old boy, Billal Hassan Abu Rayaleh.

2 November
Home invasions in UN refugee camp – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters – 6 children abducted: Ramallah – 02:50-06:00, Israeli forces firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas, raided the al-Amari UN refugee camp, invaded several homes, injuring two residents: Mohammad Salah Al-Shiekh Basem and Mohammad Khaled Mahmoud Mah’fouth. A mother and father were taken prisoner and their six children, Mahran, Ehab, Mohammad, Fadi, Baha and Thiyab, were abducted.

3 November
Israeli Army stun grenades and tear gas canisters – schoolgirl wounded and hospitalised: Nablus – 12:30, Israeli forces fired stun grenades and tear gas at an area near al-Labban al-Sharqiya village school, injuring with a flying tear gas canister and hospitalising a 15-year-old girl, Areej Bassam Hassan. Two boys, Eyad Nathmi Ahmad Eiwis (14) and Hassan Ibrahim Khalil Ewis (15), were seized and held captive for a time by Israeli soldiers.

6 November
Israeli Army – child terrorised: Qalqiliya – 09:20, Israeli soldiers seized, and held captive for a time, a 15-year-old boy, Abdel-Mahdi Hikmat Abdel-Mahdi.
Occupation settler violence: Hebron – 10:20, Israeli settlers assaulted a 16-year-old youth, Mohammad Abdel-Mughni Qafashiya.

11 November
Israeli Army attack – 2 youngsters wounded: Ramallah – 13:45, Israeli forces, positioned at the Ofer military base, opened fire on and wounded two minors: Issa Mohammad Mahmoud (16) and Wael Waleed Hamidat (17). The Israeli Army also fired rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas. One person was taken prisoner.
Israeli Army attack – 1 youngster wounded: Ramallah – 16:00, the Israeli Army opened fire on the al-Jalazoun UN refugee camp, wounding a 15-year-old boy, Suqrat Khalid Muslih. The refugee camp was also attacked with volleys of rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas.

Israeli Army attack – child (13) wounded: Qalqiliya – 12:00, the Israeli Army attacked protesters in Kafr Qaddum, opening fire and wounding a 13-year-old boy, Majdi Majed Jum’a. Israeli troops also fired rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas. There were several tear gas casualties.

Israeli Army – child olive harvesters injured – agricultural sabotage: Hebron – 16:00, the Israeli Army attacked olive harvesters near Zif village, injuring two children: Mohammad Fareed Daoud Yusef Burqan (5) and Yamin Fareed Daoud Yusef Burqan (7). The boys’ father, Fareed Daoud Yusef Burqan, and another person were also injured in the attack.

18 November
Israeli Army – youngster wounded and hospitalised – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Bethlehem – 14:15, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas at people in Teqoa, wounded and hospitalised a 17-year-old youth, Mahmoud Hussein Gabril.

Israeli Army soldiers assault and terrorise child (aged 11): Hebron – 13:30, Israeli soldiers in the Old City set upon an 11-year-old child, Firas Yacoub Al-Natsheh, seizing and hold him captive for a time and physically assaulting him.

25 November
Israeli Army attack – child shot dead: Jerusalem – 17:50, Israeli forces, positioned at the Shuafat checkpoint, shot dead a 12-year-old child, Mohammad Nabeel Salam Zidan.

Home invasion – child terrorised: Jerusalem – 22:50-02:20, Israeli forces raided Biddu and terrorised a 12-year-old boy, Yusef Nafith Ismail Ayash, for several hours.

Raid – 10-year-old boy terrorised: Bethlehem – 13:25-18:15, Israeli forces raided Husan village, seizing and holding captive for a time, a ten-year-old boy, Malik Nasser Jaber Hamamrah.

27 November
Israeli Army violence – child beaten and hospitalised: Hebron – evening, Israeli soldiers in the Old City beat up and hospitalised a 13-year-old child, Abdel-Rahman Al-Harbawi.

28 November
Israeli Army – 11-year-old child terrorised: Hebron – 20:15, Israeli soldiers in the Old City seized an 11-year-old child, Ayat Sami Abu Markhiya, and held her captive for a time.

30 November
Home invasions and abduction: Jerusalem – dawn, the Israeli Army raided two homes in Sur Baher village. One minor, Mohammad Ahmad Atwan (16), was abducted and an adult was also taken prisoner.

DECEMBER

3 December
Raid – children terrorised – stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Bethlehem – 16:35, Israeli troops, firing stun grenades and tear gas, raided the Aida UN refugee camp and terrorised children playing football.

Raid – children terrorised – stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Bethlehem – 20:20, Israeli forces, firing stun grenades and tear gas, raided Harmala village and terrorised children.

4 December
Israeli Army – child assaulted and injured: Hebron – 16:20, Israeli soldiers assaulted a 12-year-old boy, Mohammad Mahmoud Jawabra, near the entrance to the al-Aroub UN refugee camp and broke his arm.

Israeli Army attack – children under fire: Jerusalem – 18:00, Israeli forces opened live fire towards children in Hizma.

Israeli Army – children terrorised: Jerusalem – Israeli soldiers in the Old City seized, and held captive for a time, six children: Jihad Hadad (9), Suliman Kan’an (9), Qusay Darbas (12), Anas Mahmoud (12), Yazen Nuori (13) and Yacoub Dabagh (15).

5 December
Israeli Army – 12-year-old boy terrorised: Bethlehem – 16:45, Israeli forces set up a checkpoint at the entrance to Teqoa, seizing and holding captive for a time, a 12-year-old boy, Mohammad Khader Sabah.