On Friday, 13 April 2018, as Palestinians continued to peacefully protest their right of return and against the Israeli-imposed closure of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) continued to deliberately employ excessive and lethal force against them. Since the Great Return March began on 30 March 2018, the IOF has killed 28 Palestinians, including one journalist,[1] and injured over 3,400, including hundreds with live ammunition. In addition to the 28 killed during protests, the IOF has killed seven other Palestinians in a number of ancillary unilateral attacks in Gaza since 30 March. On 13 April alone, the IOF killed one Palestinian during protests and injured 968, including at least 17 paramedics.

On 6 April 2018, Israeli forces killed 9 Palestinians, including 8 peaceful Palestinian protestors in the Gaza Strip, and injured at least 795 others. Approximately 20,000 Palestinians participated in the second of the “Great Return March” protests that began on Friday, 30 March 2018, against Israel’s continued 11-year closure of the Gaza Strip, its ongoing occupation of the Palestinian Territory, and its persistent denial of Palestinian refugees’ right of return as part of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

On Friday 30 March 2018, thousands of Palestinian families and civilians comprising youth, children, women and men in the Gaza Strip commemorated Land Day, demonstrated against the 11-year long closure, and reaffirmed their right of return, by peacefully marching towards the border areas along the Strip with Israel. In response, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) had extensively prepared for and deployed additional forces and equipment in the area, including snipers, drones, bulldozers, and attack dogs, and issued explicit orders to use live fire against Palestinian protestors.[1]

"Israeli policies contribute to a clear plan to eliminate Palestinian presence in Jerusalem"

On Wednesday 7 March 2018, Al-Haq, along with Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC), the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem (CCPRJ), al-Quds University's Community Action Center (CAC), and Society of St. Yves, presented a briefing on the current legal status of Jerusalem to diplomatic missions in the Yabous Cultural Center in Jerusalem.