Off the coast of Gaza nr. Gaza City, Israeli naval forces open fire on 4 Palestinian fishing boats, seriously injuring 1 fisherman, arresting 2, and confiscating 2 boats. (The fisherman will die from his injuries on 3/7.) IDF troops e. of Khan Yunis fire warning shots at Palestinian farmers approaching the border fence, causing no injuries. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers clash with stone-throwing Palestinian activists nr. the rebuilt “Gate of Jerusalem” protest tent camp in Abu Dis; 7 Palestinians are lightly injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. IDF troops also violently disperse Palestinian, Israeli, and international protesters at demonstrations against Israel’s separation wall, settlements, and occupation in 5 areas nr. Ramallah (Silwad, Bil‘in, Ni ‘lin, outside Ofer Prison, and Jalazun r.c.), and Kafr Qaddum nr. Qalqilya; 7 Palestinians are moderately injured and 4 French activists are detained. Israeli soldiers open fire on a Palestinian vehicle at a checkpoint n. of Jenin, injuring 2 men; shoot and injure 5 stone-throwing Palestinian youth with live ammunition during clashes sparked when the soldiers patrol in Jalazun r.c. nr. Ramallah. The IDF conducts a house search nr. Ramallah; patrols in 4 villages and al-‘Arub r.c. nr. Hebron, 2 villages nr. Tulkarm, and 1 nr. Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, a Palestinian man rams his car into a group of Israeli police in Shaykh Jarrah, injuring 4 officers and 1 Israeli civilian. Israeli police shoot and critically injure the man, as he exits the car with a knife; they arrest him. The Israeli police summon the man’s father and brother for interrogation and increase security measures throughout the city. Israeli forces raid the man’s home in Ras al-Amud and homes in Silwan, sparking clashes; 2 Palestinians are injured and 2 are arrested. Hours after the attack, unknown assailants deface several gravestones at a Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, YA 3/6; MNA, WAFA 3/7; PCHR 3/12; HA 3/16)
Friday, March 6, 2015