A/HRC/34/36 16. The Secretary-General has raised concerns over the arbitrary deprivation of life due to non-provision of medical assistance and to the Israeli practice of preventing Palestinian first responders from treating wounded attackers or suspects. 12 Such cases appear to be continuing in violation of international standards.13 17. On 30 September 2016, a Palestinian man was shot by Israeli Security Forces at Qalandiya checkpoint. Within a few minutes, a Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance reached the area but the gates at the checkpoint had been closed. One of the paramedics told OHCHR that he had approached the border guards at the gate but withdrew after one of them raised his rifle. Although he could see the wounded man on the ground for the 15 minutes that he was there, he was not allowed to provide medical assistance. A second Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulance, which attempted to reach the man from the Jerusalem side of the checkpoint, was also prevented from approaching. The wounded man subsequently died. In another case, on 20 September 2016, a Palestinian Red Crescent Society paramedic said that he had been blocked by soldiers while trying to attend to a child who had been shot near Bani Na’im. The non-governmental organization Physicians for Human Rights-Israel has documented many attacks by Israeli Security Forces against Palestinian health-care teams.14 2. Detention and ill-treatment 18. According to the Palestinian non-governmental organization Addameer, the number of Palestinians held in Israeli detention increased from 6,300 in November 2015 to an estimated 7,000 by the end of October 2016,15 including 387 boys, 51 women and 13 girls. That is reported to be the highest number of detainees at any one time since June 2010, due to frequent raids and search-arrest operations by Israeli Security Forces throughout the reporting period in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Most detainees continue to be held in Israel, in contravention of article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. 16 19. Of those detained, 350 individuals are reportedly from Gaza. 17 According to the AlMezan Centre for Human Rights, at least 155 fishermen, including 19 children, were arrested by the Israeli navy during the reporting period. 18 This is the highest number of fishermen arrested since at least 2009. Fishermen told OHCHR that, when arrested at sea, they were forced to undress, jump into the sea and swim towards the Israeli boat. Some were required to do this after being injured by gunfire or from the ramming of their fishing boats. They were also prohibited from contacting their families or a lawyer while in detention. 20. In addition, over 50 Gazans, including at least 14 children, were arrested while attempting to cross the Gaza-Israel fence or at the Erez crossing. In one case monitored by OHCHR, on 10 August 2016, a 43-year-old man was arrested at Erez as he was crossing to accompany his daughter for medical treatment in Israel. He was accused of being affiliated with Fatah’s military wing and was only released by the Ashkelon Magistrate Court six days later. He told OHCHR that, during his detention, Israeli security officers threatened that his daughter would no longer be allowed access for medical treatment in Israel if he did not confess to their charges. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Ibid., para. 11. See www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/UseOfForceAndFirearms.aspx (Principle 5c). See www.phr.org.il/en/israel-delays-investigations-attacks-healthcare-teams. See www.addameer.org/news/joint-report-estimates-554-palestinians-arrested-october-2016. See A/71/364, para. 33. See www.addameer.org/statistics. Figures provided by Al-Mezan. 5