October 17, 2016

In East Jerusalem, 43 right-wing Jewish activists tour Haram al-Sharif, marking Sukkot. Israeli forces seize the identity cards of several Palestinians waiting for access while the group is touring the sanctuary. They also arrest 10 students and an administrator of the Islamic Orphan’s Secondary School in the Old City after reports of stone-throwing in the area, as well as 2 Palestinians during raids and at checkpoints in the Old City and Issawiyya. In the West Bank, the IDF delivers stop-work orders to the al-Zawiya municipality for an ongoing road-paving project in the village. IDF troops arrest 7 Palestinians during raids nr. Ramallah and Hebron; and patrol nr. Nablus, Hebron, and Ramallah during the day. Unidentified assailants throw stones at an Israeli bus driving nr. Bethlehem; the driver suffers minor injuries. Along Gaza’s border, IDF troops open fire on Palestinian electricity technicians doing maintenance work on power lines nr. Khuza‘a. Off Gaza’s coast, Israeli naval forces open fire on Palestinian fishing boats nr. Bayt Lahiya. Neither incident results in injuries. (MNA, TOI 10/17; PCHR 10/20)