Friday, March 27, 2020

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian herders in al-Twana, injuring 1 who was treated at a hospital. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians during the weekly anti-settlement protests in Kafr Qaddum; 1 Palestinian was injured by a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. In Gaza, Israel struck targets belonging to Hamas after a rocket was fired at Israel. Israeli authorities said it believed that Hamas operatives did not fire the rocket. Israeli forces also opened fire on agricultural lands east of Dayr al-Balah; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA 3/27; WAFA 3/28; HA 3/29; PCHR 4/2)

In a letter to the U.S. State Department, 6 senators from the Democratic Party urged the Trump administration to release the funds allocated to humanitarian aid for Palestinians by U.S. congress to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Congress had allocated $75 million in aid to Palestinians for the 2020 fiscal year. The 6 senators who signed the letter were Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Bernie Sanders (D-VT). (WAFA 3/28; HA, HILL 3/30)