April 20, 2016

The IDF conducts a major campaign of raids and house searches in the Issawiyya neighborhood of East Jerusalem overnight, arresting 31 Palestinians and issuing arrest summons to another 18. They also set up flying checkpoints around the neighborhood and verbally abuse a number of residents. Meanwhile, Israeli forces enter the nearby Qalandia r.c. and punitively demolish the interior walls of the home of a Palestinian killed on 1/25 after he, along with another youth, stabbed and killed an Israeli settler. The demolition sparks major clashes with residents of the camp; 8 Palestinians and 2 Israeli soldiers are injured. In the West Bank, Israeli forces detain and assault a Palestinian nr. Qalqilya who is attempting to cross into Israel for work. IDF troops conduct house searches and raids in Hebron and nr. Ramallah, arresting 4 Palestinians and damaging some property. (HA, JP, MNA, TOI, WAFA, YA 4/20; MNA, PCHR, WAFA 4/21; PCHR 4/28)