A/HRC/43/70 Israeli security forces closed the main entrance to the town and placed a checkpoint at the secondary entrance for 20 days, starting on 27 March 2019, affecting around 9,000 inhabitants.13 12. Between June and October 2019, allegedly in response to stone-throwing, the Israeli security forces conducted frequent arrests and night raids and imposed movement restrictions in Al Isawiya neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. During that period, the Israeli security forces arrested 365 Palestinians, including at least 95 children and 42 women. By the end of September, fewer than 10 of those persons had reportedly been indicted, raising concerns that most arrests and detentions were without legal grounds, which would render them arbitrary.14 On 29 and 30 July 2019, the Israeli security forces summoned for interrogation the parents of two children, aged 5 and 6, alleging that they had thrown stones at the forces. According to Israeli media, the chief of the Jerusalem District Police stated in September that the arrests in Al Isawiya would continue, “until they stop throwing rocks at every police car driving by”.15 The stated aim of these continued operations and detentions raise concern about a pattern of collective punishment of the population of Al Isawiya. 13. Advancement of settlement plans and construction continued at a high rate. During the reporting period, the Israeli authorities demolished 95716 structures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – the highest levels since 2016.17 Settler violence against Palestinians continued at high levels.18 According to the results of OHCHR monitoring activities, some families were consequently left with no choice but to leave their homes in East Jerusalem, Nablus and Hebron governorates, raising concerns that these cases may amount to forcible transfer. These developments are described in the report of the High Commissioner submitted to the Human Rights Council at its fortieth session.19 14. The Israeli security forces continued to use live ammunition to enforce unilaterally declared restrictions at sea in Gaza.20 They injured 18 fisherfolk during 354 shooting incidents. In addition, 42 fisherfolk, including five children, were arrested and 17 fishing boats were confiscated. Along the land perimeter with Israel, Israeli security forces tanks and bulldozers routinely conducted incursions into Gaza to level and excavate farmland. Four farmers were injured by the Israeli security forces during the reporting period. 15. The enforcement methods used by Israel in the restricted areas are not in accordance with international law insofar as they often violate the rules on the use of force by law enforcement officials. In the context of hostilities, the methods used often violate the principle of distinction, which establishes that civilians (in this case, the fisherfolk and the farmers) and civilian objects are not to be targeted. 2. Civilian casualties in the context of hostilities 16. During the reporting period, Palestinian armed groups launched 1,078 rockets and 352 mortar shells towards Israel and Israel fired 848 rockets and 308 tank shells into Gaza, which resulted in the death of four Israeli civilians and 16 Palestinian civilians, including four women and three children, two of whom were infants.21 The rockets and mortars launched from Gaza, most of which landed inside Israel, were indiscriminate in nature, violating international humanitarian law through their inability to distinguish between military and civilian objectives. Several Israeli attacks on Gaza raised serious concern with regard to the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 4 http://pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/QalqiliyaE.html. www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/israel-police-arrest-25-in-east-j-lem-neighborhooddespite-vow-toease-crackdown-1.7883879. Ibid. www.ochaopt.org/data/demolition. Ibid. Information provided by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance of the Secretariat. A/HRC/40/42. A/73/420, para. 33. Information provided by the Department of Safety and Security of the Secretariat.