Thursday, January 21, 2021

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers blocked several intersections in the West Bank, including near Bethlehem, Burqa, Luban al-Sharqiyya, Jit, Qalqilya, and in the northern part of the Jordan Valley, throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles; 1 3-year-old Palestinian suffered injuries to his face near Burqa and several vehicles were damaged. Israeli forces arrested 15 settlers, most of whom were released within hours. Israeli settlers also threw Molotov cocktails at 2 Palestinian homes in Burin, causing damage. 16 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around al-Bireh, Kaubar, Hebron, Surayf, Bayt Umar, Jericho, Ya‘bad, and Qabatiya; clashes erupted during the raid in al-Bireh; 1 Palestinian was hit by a rubber-coated bullet and others suffered tear-gas related injuries and Israeli forces severely beat 1 Palestinian during a house raid in Kaubar. In East Jerusalem, 4 Palestinians were arrested during raids in Issawiyya and al-Tur; clashes broke out during the raids in both neighborhoods. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian shepherds northeast of Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 1/21; WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 1/22; HA, WAFA 1/23; HA 1/27; PCHR 1/28)

PA prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called on the international community to put pressure on Israel to allow Palestinians in East Jerusalem to partake in the scheduled Palestinian elections. (WAFA 1/21)

Australia donated $1 million to the WHO in support of its efforts to combat the COVID-19 virus in the occupied Palestinian territories. (WAFA 1/21)