Friday, April 3, 2020

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum and near Tulkarm; 1 Palestinian was injured by a rubber-coated bullet, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also forced Palestinian workers checking Palestinians arriving from Israel for COVID-19 to leave in Atil. Israeli forces arrested 5 Palestinians during late-night raids in and around Jenin and Nablus. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces arrested PA minister of Jerusalem affairs Fadi Hidmi during a late-night raid in al-Suwana and seized $2,800 from his house; he was released after hours of interrogation. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen west of Bayt Lahiya on 2 separate occasions; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian farmers east of Dayr al-Balah and Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported.(WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 4/3; PCHR 4/9)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree extending the state of emergency for another 30 days. The PA also introduced new measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, including restricting movement in West Bank cities between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and forcing shops to close after 5 p.m. The extended state of emergency and new measures were introduced as 171 Palestinians had tested positive for COVID-19. (WAFA, WAFA 4/3)