A/HRC/28/80 thereafter following an attack on Egyptian military troops in the Sinai. It was still closed at the end of the period under review. 12. The restricted access of fishermen to fishing waters continued. Israeli Naval Forces arrested approximately 53 fishermen, confiscated 22 boats, damaged one and destroyed two others during the period under review. 13. The restrictions of Israel on the entry of construction materials into Gaza continued to undermine the reconstruction and economic development in Gaza. The Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism, a temporary agreement between the Government of Palestine and the Government of Israel brokered by the United Nations in September 2014 and launched on 20 October 2014, represents an attempt to ease the crisis and to begin reconstruction. Given the scale of reconstruction needs, the initial phase of implementation of the Mechanism produced only limited results;8 and whether it will lead to significant increases in the flow of materials, such as cement, iron bars and gravel, into Gaza remains to be seen. At the end of October 2014, more than 70,000 people remained homeless, their homes having been damaged or destroyed during the hostilities. 9 14. Although accelerating the Mechanism is critical to addressing the situation of internally displaced persons, it is no substitute for lifting the blockade. The continued imposition of the blockade is contrary to international law and constitutes a form of collective punishment that denies the rights of the population in Gaza (see A/HRC/28/45, paras. 34 – 42). 2. Excessive use of force and accountability 15. During the period under review, a dramatic increase was seen in the number of incidents involving Israeli security forces in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulting in 47 Palestinian fatalities.10 By comparison, there were 27 fatalities in the whole of 2013 and eight in 2012. 16. Twenty fatalities were recorded in the context of demonstrations against the hostilities in Gaza while they were ongoing (see A/HRC/28/80/Add.1). As in previous years, both in the context of demonstrations and in other incidents, OHCHR documented that Israeli security forces appeared to be under little or no threat at the time of the incidents, indicating the unnecessary or disproportionate use of force (A/69/347, paras. 44 – 51). 17. Of particular concern was the killing of two Palestinian youths, shot at Beituniya in the West Bank on 15 May 2014 in demonstrations commemorating what Palestinians call “Nakba day”. OHCHR found that the Israeli security forces faced no threat when the two youths were killed. During the period under review, a total of six people were shot and killed (including two children) and 128 were injured as a result of enforcement of access restricted areas by Israeli security forces in Gaza. In some incidents, shooting by Israeli security forces occurred in circumstances that, according to information available to OHCHR, posed no threat to soldiers (A/HRC/28/45, paras. 15-17). Nine fishermen were injured between 9 November 2013 and 31 October 2014 while reportedly fishing in the permitted fishing zone. According to information gathered by OHCHR, the fishermen 8 9 10 As at 4 November 2014, some 700 Gazans had been able to purchase materials. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Protection of Civilians report, reporting period 28 October – 3 November 2014. Figures do not include the death of two Palestinians who allegedly died of tear gas inhalation during clashes between Palestinians and the Israel Defense Forces (on 1 January and 14 April 2014 respectively). 5