Middle East Monitor's record of attacks on Gaza during first three months of 2015

Over the weekend, Yousef Munayyer of the US Campaign to End the Occupation seized on the news that a rocket had been fired on Israel from Gaza. He tweeted:

There are reports of the first projectile fired from Gaza into Israel in months. No one reports on near daily Israeli violations in Gaza.

“In the three months January-March, there were six military incursions – when Israeli forces invade the Gaza Strip then withdraw – and 67 shooting attacks on land and at sea.”

1. Here is a list of Israeli attacks on Gaza during a nearly 4 month period with ZERO projectile fire

2. Even when there is no rocket fire from Gaza, there is routine fire into Gaza’s land and waters by Israel targeting Palestinians.

3. Western media largely fails to cover this since they consider attacks on Palestinians to be the norm, only attacks on Israelis newsworthy

4. So when next inevitable Gaza war starts, readers/viewers see situation completely devoid of context thinking rocket fire unprovoked

5. Journos covering Israel/Palestine who fail to cover this fail to cover central component of reality in Gaza and mislead readers/viewers

6. Fisherman & farmers are routinely shot at or arrested by Israel in Gaza but that’s not considered provocative enough of Journos to cover

7. But if a projectile from Gaza lands in an open field, its a headline. This shows how for western journos, Israeli lives more important

April
• At least 22 incidents involving Israeli forces’ opening of “warning fire” at Palestinian civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) at land and sea were recorded in the Gaza Strip, one of which led to the injury of three Palestinians, including a child.
• One Palestinian child was killed, when a fire broke out inside his house north of Gaza city, where candles were being used during a power outage. Previously this year five other Palestinians were reportedly injured in four similar incidents in the Gaza Strip.

March
• On at least 36 occasions, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian civilians in areas near Gaza’s perimeter fence and at the sea, resulting in the injury of five civilians, including two children.
• Overall, 197 Palestinians were arrested across the oPt, including 10 near the fence surrounding Gaza, during attempts to cross into Israel.
• At least 21 incidents involving Israeli forces opening ‘warning’ fire into Access Restricted Areas (ARA)on land and at sea in the Gaza Strip were recorded this week, one of which ignited fire in a vehicle. Israeli forces entered Gaza east of Rafah and carried out land leveling on one occasion.
• At least 23 incidents involving Israeli forces opening ‘warning’ fire into Access Restricted Areas (ARA)on land and at sea were recorded this week, none of which lead to injury or property damage. Israeli forces entered Gaza near Al Maghazi Refugee Camp and carried out land leveling on one occasion.
• Israeli naval forces shot and killed a Palestinian fisherman who was fishing west of Gaza city, in unclear circumstances. On another 30 occasions, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian boats sailing near the Israeli-imposed 6 nautical mile fishing limit, including one incident resulting in the injury to two fishermen and in damage to their boat, and another in the detention of six fishermen.

February
• Incidents involving Israeli forces fired “warning shots” at Palestinian civilians in the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea continued on a daily basis, with at least 24 such incidents reported during the week, none of which led to injury.
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea continued on a daily basis, with at least 15 such incidents reported during the week, one of which led to injury
• In one incident on 23 February, Israeli forces fired two shells to the east of Al Maghazi Camp with no injuries reported.
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea continued on a daily basis, with at least 17 such incidents reported during the week, none of which led to injury. In at least two incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli-declared six nautical-mile fishing limit, forcing them ashore.
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea continued on a daily basis, with at least 26 such incidents reported during the week, including one leading to injury. On 8 February, Israeli forces special units reportedly entered Gaza, shot and injured and subsequently detained a 21-year-old Palestinian man while he was working on agricultural land, 300 meters from the perimeter fence, east of Al Magazi Camp.
• In at least seven incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli declared six-nautical-mile fishing limit, forcing them ashore.
• In at least two incidents on land, Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered approximately 150 meters into Gaza, northeast of Khan Younis, and east of Rafah, and leveled land. During the week, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians, including one merchant who was arrested at Erez crossing.
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea continued on a daily basis, with at least 29 such incidents reported during the week, none of which resulted in injuries. In at least ten incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli declared six-nautical-mile (NM) fishing limit, forcing them ashore. In two incidents on land, Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered approximately 150 meters into Gaza, northeast of Khan Younis, and east of Rafah, and leveled land.

January
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea have continued on a daily basis, with at least 19 such incidents reported during the week. In one incident on 16 January, Israeli forces positioned along Gaza’s perimeter fence east of Jabalia, opened fire towards a group of Palestinians who threw stones at them, injuring one Palestinian civilian. In another incident on 15 January, Israeli forces arrested three Palestinians, reportedly during an attempt to infiltrate into Israel. In at least three incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli declared six-Nautical-Mile (NM) fishing limit, forcing them ashore.
• Incidents involving Israeli forces opening fire into the Access Restricted Areas (ARA) on land and at sea have continued on a daily basis, with at least 32 such incidents reported during the two week reporting period, leading to the injury of three Palestinians civilians. In one incident on 2 January, Israeli forces positioned along Gaza’s perimeter fence east of Jabalia, opened fire towards a group of Palestinians who threw stones at them, injuring two 19-year-old youths.
• In at least nine incidents, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats reportedly sailing within the Israeli declared six-Nautical-Mile (NM) fishing limit, forcing them ashore. On 30 December, the Israeli navy fired warning shots at Palestinian fishing boats west of Rafah City. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli naval forces forced three fishermen on board to swim towards the navy boat, before detaining them and confiscating their boat. The fishermen were released a few hours later without their boat. In another incident on 3 January the Israeli navy opened fire at Palestinian boats west of Rafah, injuring one Palestinian fisherman and setting one boat on fire.