Occupied Palestinian territory: Protection of Civilians Report | 13 June - 4 July 2023 [EN/AR/HE]

Latest Developments (after the reporting period)

This section is based on initial information from different sources. Further confirmed details will be provided in the next report.

• On 6 July, a Palestinian shot and killed an Israeli soldier and was subsequently killed by Israeli forces near the Israeli settlement of Kedumim and the Palestinian village of Jit (Qalqiliya). An Israeli guard was injured.

• On 7 July, Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in an operation they were carrying out in Nablus, involving exchange of fire with Palestinians.

Highlights from the reporting period

• Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including one child, and two additional Palestinians, including another child, died of wounds sustained during an operation carried out by Israeli forces in Jenin. On 19 June, Israeli forces conducted a large-scale operation lasting over 11 hours, which began with undercover units raiding Jenin during the early morning hours. Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including one child, and injured 90 others. At least 50 of those injured were by live ammunition. Palestinians and Israeli forces exchanged fire in areas close to Jenin Refugee Camp. Improvised explosive devices were used by Palestinians, resulting in damage to Israeli military equipment. Subsequently, Israeli forces launched an airstrike, reportedly as part of the evacuation process for troops who faced Palestinian gunfire and were targeted with explosive devices. According to Israeli sources, eight members of Israeli forces were injured during the operation. According to medical sources, Israeli forces limited the movement of ambulances in the area during the operation. On 20 and 21 June, two additional Palestinians, including one girl, succumbed to wounds they had sustained by Israeli forces during that the operation in Jenin. An initial humanitarian assessment indicates that at least 75 houses are estimated to have sustained damage during the operation, including damage caused using shoulder-fired explosive projectiles. Damage was also reported to infrastructure such as electrical generators, water networks, and telecommunication services. No displacement was reported.

• On 20 June, two Palestinian men were killed, and one child was injured, when an improvised explosive device was recklessly handled and detonated in Balata Refugee Camp (Nablus).

• Two Palestinians killed four Israeli settlers, including two children, before they were shot dead. On 20 June, two Palestinians men shot and killed four Israeli settlers, including two children, and injured four others, near the Eli settlement (Nablus). One of the attackers was shot and killed by an Israeli settler at the location, while the other [ed the scene and was shot and killed by Israeli forces during a manhunt, near Aqqaba village (Tubas). Subsequently, Israeli forces tightened movement restrictions in the Nablus governorate, and closed several checkpoints.

• Israeli forces killed a Palestinian during a settler-related incident. On 21 June, following the attack near Eli, an estimated 300-400 Israeli settlers entered the Palestinian community of Turmus’ayya (Ramallah), accompanied by Israeli forces. Israeli settlers opened fire, threw stones, physically assaulted Palestinian residents, and set fire to Palestinian-owned homes, vehicles, trees, and cultivated land (more details below). Palestinians threw stones, and Israeli forces shot live ammunition, rubber bullets and teargas canisters. Israeli forces shot and killed one Palestinian man and injured another 41 others, including two children.

• Israeli forces killed three Palestinians, including one child, in a drone strike in Jenin. On 21 June, three Palestinians, including one child, were targeted by an Israeli airstrike while travelling in a vehicle near Al Jalama checkpoint (Jenin). The Israeli military stated that a drone strike targeted Palestinians who had previously carried out shooting attacks against Israelis. The Israeli authorities are withholding their bodies as of the end of this reporting period.

• One Palestinian child was killed, and six members of Israeli forces and one Israeli settler were injured in two shooting attacks near checkpoints in the West Bank. On 24 June, a 17-year-old Palestinian opened ?re at Israeli forces at Qalandiya checkpoint (Jerusalem) and was subsequently shot and killed by Israeli forces. According to Israeli sources, two members of Israeli forces were injured. The child’s body is withheld by the Israeli authorities. On 13 June, one Israeli settler and four members of Israeli forces were injured after perpetrators believed to be Palestinians shot at Israeli vehicles while driving near Barta’a checkpoint (Jenin), with Israeli forces subsequently intensifying access restrictions in the area.

• On 3 and 4 July 2023, Israeli forces conducted a large-scale air and ground operation in Jenin Refugee Camp and its surroundings. Details of the humanitarian impact of the two-day operation are available in OCHA’s Flash Updates #1 and #2 and Situation report #1. The Palestinian Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed that twelve Palestinians, including four children, were killed during the operation in Jenin, in addition to one Palestinian who was killed by Israeli forces on 3 July in Ramallah, during a demonstration that involved stone- throwing in protest to the Jenin operation. Furthermore, at least 143 Palestinians were injured during the operation.