For the past 11 months, Palestinian men, women and children have protested against Israel’s prolonged occupation, closure of the Gaza Strip, and denial of Palestinian refugees’ right to return. In response, for the past 46 weeks, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) has used unnecessary and excessive force, including lethal force, against the protesters to suppress their assemblies along the Gaza fence. Since It should be noted that according to Al-Haq field observations, for several weeks, the protesters have mostly stopped any attempts of passing through the fence, refrained from igniting car tires or from throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, or firing balloons. Yet the IOF continued to use excessive and lethal force against the peaceful protesters, resulting in injuries and deaths.
34th Great Return March protests, Friday, 16 November 2018
On Friday, 16 November 2018, the IOF injured 59 Palestinians, including 12 children, and four paramedics. Of the 59 injured, 31 were shot with live bullets and shrapnel. At around 2:30 pm, thousands of peaceful protesters gathered at the five return camps in the east of the five governorates of the Gaza Strip, near the fence, and which continued until 5:30 pm. The protesters, who were at a distance of approximately 300 meters from the fence, raised the Palestinian flags, chanted national slogans and organized cultural activities. Nonetheless, the Israeli soldiers and snipers deployed behind the fence and inside military jeeps fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and gas canisters at the protesters, especially in Abu Safiya Hill, east of Jabaliya; Malaka, east of Gaza City; and Al-Breij Refugee Camp in the Central Governorate.
In the North Gaza Governorate, hundreds of peaceful Palestinians, including children, protested in Abu Safiya Hill to the east of Jabaliya. The Israeli soldiers injured 31 protesters, including 11 children and four paramedics. Of the 31, 16 were wounded with live ammunition, including five children. Eight others were wounded by rubber bullets, including five children and two paramedics who were wounded in the left leg and the head. Another eight were wounded with tear gas canisters in different parts of their bodies, including a child and a paramedic. All of the wounded were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital.
In the Gaza Governorate, hundreds of peaceful protesters, including children, took part in the protests in Malaka, east of Gaza City. The IOF injured 21, 12 of whom with live ammunition, and nine with rubber bullets. All those injured were transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital. In the Central Governorate, the IOF injured seven Palestinians including, a child. Three were wounded by live fire and four by gas canisters. They were transferred to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Meanwhile, in Khan Younis and Rafah Governorates, hundreds of protesters gathered in the return camps in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis, and Al-Shawka in Rafah. Dozens suffocated tear gas inhalation, while no injuries from live or rubber bullets were reported.
35th Great Return March protests, Friday, 23 November 2018
On Friday, 23 November 2018, 77 Palestinian protesters, including 15 children, and one journalist, were injured by the IOF along the Gaza Fence. Of the 77, 34 were injured with live fire and shrapnel.
In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 38 protesters, including five children, 20 of whom were injured with live ammunition and shrapnel, whereas four were injured with rubber bullets. In addition, 14 others suffocated from gas inhalation. In the Central Governorate, the IOF injured 20 protesters, including four children. Of the 20 injured, 14 sustained injuries from live ammunition and bullet shrapnel. Three others were wounded from gas canisters, and another three suffered suffocation. In the North Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 19 protesters, including six children and a paramedic. In Khan Younis and Rafah Governorates, tens of protesters suffered gas suffocation, while no injuries from live or rubber bullets were recorded.
39th Great Return March Protests, Friday, 21 December 2018 [2]
On Friday, 21 December 2018, the IOF killed three Palestinian protesters, including two children and one person with disability, and injured 119, among them 19 children, two journalists, and a paramedic. Of the injured, 72 were shot by live ammunition or sustained injuries from bullet shrapnel.
Killings
At around 4:00 pm, 14-year-old Muhammad Mou'in Jahjouh was shot with a bullet in the neck during the protests in Malka, east of Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. Muhammad was about 200 metres from the fence when he was shot. He was transferred in an ambulance to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where he arrived at 4:18 pm. Muhammad was pronounced dead shortly after, at 4:25 pm.
Sixteen-year-old Abd Al-Aziz Ibrahim Abu Shari’a was shot with a bullet in his abdomen during the protests in Malka, east of Gaza City. Abd Al-Aziz was about 200 metres away from the fence when he was shot. He was transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital with a serious condition. Abd Al-Aziz was pronounced dead at 8:30 pm of the same day.
Maher Attiya Yassin, 30, a person with physical disability since childhood, was shot with a bullet in the head during the protests in Al-Breij Refugee Camp, in the Central Governorate. Maher was transferred to the Al-Aqsa Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at around 7:30 pm.
Injuries
The IOF injured 119 Palestinian protesters, among them 19 children, two paramedics and two journalists. In the North Gaza Governorate, 13 Palestinian protesters were injured, including six children. Of the 13, five were injured by live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, whereas eight others were hit by gas canisters, including four children. In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 54 protesters were injured, including six children. Of the injured, 28 were injured by live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, whereas 17 others were shot with rubber bullets, and nine others were hit with gas canisters. One journalist was also injured.
In the Central Governorate, 28 protesters were injured, among them two children and one journalist. Of the 28, 24 were injured with live ammunition and bullet shrapnel. In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF injured 13 Palestine protesters, including a child and a paramedic. Six were injured with live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, while three others were shot with rubber bullets. Four others were directly hit with gas canisters. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured 11 protesters, including four children; nine of whom were wounded by live ammunition, while two others were hit with tear gas canisters.
40th Great Return March Protests, Friday, 28 December 2018
On Friday, 28 December 2018, the IOF killed a Palestinian person with intellectual disability during the protests, and injured 21 other protesters, including four children, two paramedics, and a journalist.
Killing
Karam Muhammad Fayyad, 26, was shot with a live bullet in the head, approximately 150 metres away from the fence, east of Khan Younis. Karam was transferred to the Gaza European Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 6:00 pm of the same day.
Injuries
In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured six protesters, including a child who was shot with live ammunition in the back. Another person was shot with live ammunition, whereas three other protesters were wounded with rubber bullets. One journalist was injured with a gas canister that hit him directly in the back. In the Central Governorate, the IOF injured four protesters with live ammunition. In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF injured five protesters, including three with live ammunition, and two paramedics. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured six protesters, including two with live ammunition, and three children.
41st Great Return March Protests, Friday, 4 January 2019
On Friday, 4 January 2019, the IOF injured 59 Palestinian protesters, including 10 children, six paramedics and three journalists.
In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF wounded 22 protesters, including six children. Among the wounded, six were wounded with live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, while five others were hit with rubber bullets, including a journalist. In the Central Governorate, the IOF injured eight protesters with live bullets and shrapnel and direct gas canisters. Among the wounded was a paramedic who was injured by a gas grenade in the foot while on duty. In the North Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 15 protesters, one of whom a child who was shot with a live bullet in the back, and 14 others with gas canisters, including four children, a medic and a journalist.
In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF wounded seven protesters, three of them with live bullets, and four with gas canisters, including two paramedics. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured seven protesters, three of whom were shot with rubber bullets and four others with gas canisters. The IOF also fired tear gas canisters directly at an ambulance transporting the injured, injuring a paramedic by a tear gas canister in the abdomen.
42nd Great Return March Protests, Friday, 11 January 2019
On Friday, 11 January 2019, the IOF killed one Palestinian and injured 134 Palestinian protesters, including 23 children, two paramedics and two journalists. Among the wounded, 49 were shot with live ammunition.
Killing
Amal Mustafa Al-Taramsi, 45, was shot with a live bullet in the head at approximately 3:50 pm. At the time she was shot, Amal was participating in the protests, approximately 200 metres away from the fence in Malka, east of Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. She was transferred to a medical unit then to Al-Shifa Hospital, where she was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Injuries
In the North Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 23 protesters, including seven children. Among the wounded, there were six who were shot with live bullets, including two children. Also, 17 protesters were hit by gas canisters in different parts of the body, including five children and a medic. In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF wounded 65 protesters, including seven children. Among the wounded, 39 were injured by live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, whereas 18 others were directly hit by gas canisters. In the Central Governorate, the IOF injured 12 protesters, including three children. One person was shot with a live bullet, while 11 others were injured by gas canisters, including a journalist. In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF injured 15 protesters, including two children and a paramedic. Among the wounded, three were shot with live ammunition, and 12 others with gas canisters. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured 19 protesters, including six children. Among the wounded, three were shot with live bullets, and 10 others were hit with gas canisters.
43rd Great Return March Protests, Friday, 18 January 2019
On Friday, 18 January 2019, during the 43nd Great Return March protests, the IOF injured 26 Palestinians with live ammunition, 10 with rubber bullets, and 81 with gas canisters. Among the injured there were 34 children, five paramedics and two journalists
In the North Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 17 protesters, including seven children and two paramedics, three of whom were wounded by live ammunition, including one child. In addition, 14 other protesters were directly hit by gas canisters, including six children and two paramedics. In the Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 54 protesters, including two journalists and 12 children. Of the injured, nine were wounded by live ammunition and eight others with rubber bullets. In addition, 37 Palestinians were hit with gas canisters, including two journalists who were covering the protests. In the Central Governorate, the IOF wounded 19 protesters, including six children and a paramedic. Of the 19, one was shot with live ammunition, whereas 18 others were hit with gas canisters. In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF wounded 25 protesters, including three children. Nine were injured with live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, including a paramedic, whereas two were shot with rubber bullets, and 14 were hit with gas canisters, including two paramedics. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured 12 peaceful protesters, including six children. Four of them were wounded with live ammunition, including two children. Meanwhile, eight protesters were injured with gas canisters, including four children.
44th Great Return March Protests, Friday, 25 January 2019
On Friday, 25 January 2019, the IOF killed one Palestinian and injured 120 protesters, including 27 children and five paramedics.
Killing
Ehab Atallah Abed, 25, was hit with a live bullet in the chest by Israeli soldiers at around 4:30 pm on Friday, 25 January 2019. Ehab was shot while participating in the Great Return March protest, approximately 100 metres from the fence in Al-Shawka, east of Rafah. He was transferred to the European Hospital in Khan Younis, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.
Injuries
In the North Gaza Governorate, 24 protesters were injured, among them 13 children and a volunteer medic. Of the 24, nine were shot with live ammunition, including two children. In addition, 14 other protesters were hit with gas canisters, including 10 children. In the Gaza Governorate, 42 protesters were injured, among them three children. Of those injured, 20 were shot with live bullets, whereas 16 protesters were hit with gas canisters. In the Central Governorate, 22 Palestinian protesters were injured, among them four children. Four sustained injuries from live bullets, while 18 others were hit with gas canisters. In the Khan Younis Governorate, the IOF injured five protesters, two of whom with live ammunition, including a child. Sewage water was also used to disperse the protesters. In the Rafah Governorate, the IOF injured 28 protesters, including 10 children. Of the 28, 10 were wounded by live bullets and bullet shrapnel. Nineteen others were hit with gas canisters in various parts of the bodies.
45th Great Return March, Friday, 1 February 2019
On Friday, 1 February 2019, the IOF injured 99 Palestinian protesters, including 15 children, a paramedic and a journalist. Of the 99 injured, seven were in serious condition. In addition, one ambulance was damaged as it was hit with a live bullet.
In the North Gaza Governorate, 25 protesters were injured, including six children, and two who were in serious conditions. Of the 25, 13 protesters were injured with live ammunition and bullet shrapnel, including two children. Meanwhile, 12 protesters were injured with gas canisters in various parts of the bodies. In the Gaza Governorate, 26 Palestinian protesters were injured, including a child, and eight who were injured with live bullets and shrapnel. There were two who were injured with rubber bullets, and 16 others with gas canisters, including a journalist. In the Central Governorate, 13 protesters were injured, including four who were shot with live bullets and shrapnel, one of whom a child. Nine others were injured by gas canisters. In the Khan Younis Governorate, 18 protesters were injured, including a child. Of those, six were wounded by live fire and shrapnel, including two children who were shot in the chest and were in serious conditions. Nine others were hit with gas canisters in various parts of the bodies, including one child. In the Rafah Governorate, 17 protesters were injured, 11 of whom with live fire and bullet shrapnel, including three children and one paramedic. Six others were hit with gas canisters.
46th Great Return March, Friday, 8 February 2019
On Friday, 8 February 2019, two Palestinian children were killed by the IOF, and 91 protesters were injured, including 35 children and a paramedic. Among those injured, 22 were wounded with live bullets, whereas 48 others sustained injuries from gas canisters.
Killings
At approximately 4:00 pm, 14-year-old Hassan Iyad Shalabi was shot with a live bullet in the chest while participating in the protests, approximately 100 metres away from the fence in Khuza’a, east of Khan Younis. Hassan was transferred to Naser Governmental Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 4:30 pm.
Meanwhile, at approximately 5:00 pm, 17-year-old Hamza Muhammad Ishtewi was shot with a live bullet in the neck while participating in the protests, approximately 50 metres from the fence in Al-Zaytoun neighbourhood, east of Gaza City. Hamza was transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 5:30 pm of the same day.
InjuriesIn the North Gaza Governorate, the IOF injured 12 protesters, including eight children. There were two protesters who were shot with live ammunition, and seven others with gas canisters, including five children. Three other children were shot with rubber bullets, while tens others suffocated from gas inhalation. In the Gaza Governorate, 30 protesters were injured, including 11 children. Of those injured, eight were shot with live fire, 11 with gas canisters, and 11 with rubber bullets. In the CentralGovernorate, seven protesters were injured, including four children. Of those, three were shot with live ammunition, and four with gas canisters, one of whom was hit in the head with a serious injury. In the Khan Younis Governorate, 16 protesters were injured, including five children. Of those injured, six were shot with live fire, and 10 were hit with gas canisters. A paramedic was among those injured. In the Rafah Governorate, 26 protesters were injured, including 10 children, and three who were shot with live ammunition. Sixteen others were hit with gas canisters in various parts of their bodies, whereas six others were shot with rubber bullets.
[1] This report does not include information on the 36th, 37th and 38th Great Return March protests.
[2] For information on the 36th, 37th and 38th weeks of the Great Return March protests, see: http://www.mezan.org/en/post/23334/Child+Wounded+in+Demonstration+Dies+from+his+Injuries%3B+Number+of+Children+Killed+now+34;http://www.mezan.org/en/post/23336/201+Palestinians+Wounded+in+Israeli+Forces%E2%80%99+Shooting+at+Unarmed+Protesters+in+the+Gaza+Strip; and http://www.mezan.org/en/post/23336/201+Palestinians+Wounded+in+Israeli+Forces%E2%80%99+Shooting+at+Unarmed+Protesters+in+the+Gaza+Strip