The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR
87
Statement by H. A, a female citizen
H. A. a female citizen, stated that, on 5 July 2021, she received information that her husband A. A. had been
arrested while joining others to take part in a sit-in protests on the Al-Manarah roundabout. After she was
informed of the place where her husband was detained, H. A. went to the Police station in the Al-Balou’ area
together with her minor children. At first, she was accompanied by her children only. She stood on the sidewalk and chanted slogans quoted from a statement by the Prime Minister and Jibreel al-Rujoub on the State
of freedoms. H. A. shouted: “O, the State of freedoms. No to political detention.” About an hour later, many
citizens and activists gathered. Most were family members of detained persons. At about 9:30 pm, two Anti-riot Police busses came out of the Police station and demanded over loudspeakers that citizens evacuate the
area within 10 minutes. Before this time was up, a group of Anti-riot Police personnel and masked individuals
attacked, dragged, and pepper sprayed demonstrators. H. A. stated that she was extremely worried about her
children and father-in-law, who were with her. When she looked at them, she saw her children crying and
father-in-law rubbing his eyes due to the gas. She was dragged into the Police station. Meanwhile, her blouse
was ripped. She lost her gold necklace, with the inscription “Um Khaled.” Her sandals were also torn apart.
She put on one sandal and carried other in her hand. Earlier, she heard a female Police officer saying: “Get
her in. From the first moment she was here, I had my eye on her.” While young male individuals used pepper
spray, female officers dragged protestors. H. A. was placed in the reception section of the Police station. Once
I was in, I asked a female Police officer for help. “You’re a month,” she said. I asked her if she was a mother.
“I am not a scum like you.” I saw them arresting many participants, including young men and woman. These
ranged from 15 to 20.
In the Gaza Strip, complaints indicated that males were the most susceptible to abuses. Eight males
were assaulted. On the other hand, impingements on women and children were not reported. Also
according to complaints, street vendors and stall owners were the most vulnerable to violations.
Statement by A. T, a street vendor, Jabalya refugee camp
My name A. T. I am 45 years old, resident of the Jabalya refugee camp, and sell detergents in flea markets. At
about 12:00 am on 24 January 2021, I was in the Ar-Rimal area near to the Palestine junction. I was participating a protest held by vendor stall owners, demanding that flea markets be reopened. Meantime, four jeeps,
including two of the Rapid Intervention and Law Enforcement Unit and two of the General Investigation Police, arrived, all including some 30 officers. I tried to escape from the protest, but five officers chased me. They
caught me while I was running. As soon as they got hold of me, five officers gathered around me. An officer
slapped me so hard on the face, so I felt dizzy. Then, officers (Rapid Intervention and Law Enforcement Unit
and General Investigation Police) took turns beating me on all parts of my body, including my legs, arms, and
back. They beat me for three minutes running with hand fists and plastic canes. I felt swelling in all parts of my
body. Then, they put me into the back cabin of the jeep. I was not assaulted inside the jeep. I was taken to the
General Investigation Police station in the Al-Abbas area, released at 4:00 pm, and allowed to leave. Against
this background, file a complaint to the ICHR against the Rapid Intervention and Law Enforcement Unit and
General Investigation Police because they assaulted and beat me on 24 January 2021, while I was taking part
in a peaceful assembly held by owners of vendor stalls in the weekly flea market.
2.1.5.7 Complaints by offending agency
In the West Bank, the ICHR received 35 complaints on violations the right to peaceful assembly.
these included 41 abuses that were lodged against five agencies: MoI (19): Preventive Security (1);
Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021