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5 September 2024
Authenticated photo and video footage captured with the eyeWitness to Atrocities app in Palestine appears to show attacks on Palestinian homes, livelihoods, refugee camps, food supplies and food systems, water resources, agricultural systems, and other critical civilian infrastructure in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
[1/6] Immediate aftermath of a fire at al-Hisbah market in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine, which sells fruits, vegetables, and other products. Open-source reports indicate the fire started when members of the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) raided the area and shot tear gas canisters into the market, causing it to catch fire. | Photo captured by Al Haq, 30 May 2024.
[2/6] Scorched exterior of the al-Hisbah fruit and vegetable market in Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine. | Photo captured by Al Haq, 30 May 2024.
[3/6] Agricultural water pond in Marj Na'ja reportedly demolished by the ISF on the basis that there was no building permit, Jericho, West Bank, Palestine. | Photo captured by Al Haq, 11 March 2024.
[4/6] The aftermath of an attack, allegedly by the ISF, on what appears to be a residential building, Nur Shams Refugee Camp in Tulkarm, West Bank, Palestine | Photo captured by Al Haq, 21 April 2024.
[5/6] Destruction of a residential building in Nablus, West Bank, Palestine. | Photo captured by Al Haq, 4 March 2024.
[6/6] Destruction of a street and shrine for the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh , west of Jenin, West Bank, Palestine, allegedly by an Israeli bulldozer. Documenters have captured numerous pieces of footage with the eyeWitness to Atrocities app in the same area showing damage to public infrastructure, buildings, and vehicles post 7 October 2023. | Photo captured by Al Haq, 27 October 2023.
In July 2024, eyeWitness to Atrocities (eyeWitness) submitted selected authenticated footage and information about attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 (Special Rapporteur on Palestine) and the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food. The footage submitted was captured by Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq using the eyeWitness to Atrocities controlled-capture camera app. Both submissions aimed at contributing to the UN Special Rapporteurs’ upcoming thematic reports* to the the UN General Assembly's Autumn 2024 session, which opens on Tuesday, 10 September 2024.
The submission to the Special Rapporteur on Palestine focused on reported attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure reportedly by the ISF and Israeli settlers, primarily in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, following 7 October 2023. The submission to the Special Rapporteur on the right to food concentrated on possible attacks on food and food systems in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 2017.
Since 2016, human rights organisations and independent users in Palestine have captured more than 13,000 authenticated photos, videos, and audio recordings using the eyeWitness to Atrocities app depicting incidents that may amount to violations of international human rights law (IHRL) and international humanitarian law (IHL). This footage is preserved in eyeWitness’ access-controlled database, embedded with accurate metadata from the point of capture that proves its authenticity. The chain of custody is maintained so that the footage is available for use in investigations, and legal proceedings.
Based on footage captured with the eyeWitness app, its associated metadata, app user notes accompanying the footage, and publicly available information, the submissions highlighted incidents that appear to depict attacks on homes, refugee camps, livelihoods, food and food systems, water resources, agricultural systems, and other critical civilian infrastructure, specifically in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. In these submissions, eyeWitness has highlighted a number of incidents that have taken place since 7 October 2023. According to an update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) of 28 August 2024, the number of Palestinians displaced in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, due to demolitions and confiscations by Israeli authorities has more than doubled since 7 October 2023 as compared to the same period before that date.
As violence continues to escalate in Gaza, the situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has reached an alarming point. Since 7 October 2023, human rights documenters on the ground have captured more than 3,500 pieces of photo and video footage with the eyeWitness app showing various incidents of reported attacks against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure, mainly geolocated in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Footage captured with the eyeWitness app cannot be edited, and is embedded with unmodifiable metadata, including precise details of the date, time, and location of capture. Once uploaded to the eyeWitness access-controlled database, this authenticated footage is safely stored with the chain of custody maintained so that it can be used by investigators and in legal proceedings. eyeWitness' legal team, supported by a roster of pro bono lawyers working under strict confidentiality agreements, has meticulously analysed and mapped this footage.
This submission provides an overview of the footage captured using the eyeWitness app in the occupied Palestinian territories and highlights reported incidents of attacks against civilians and civilian critical infrastructure, specifically in West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Between 7 October 2023 and 22 June 2024, eyeWitness has classified 322 possible incidents of attacks against civilians and civilian critical infrastructure in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and 32 possible incidents in Gaza captured across the governorates of Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah. The footage portrays reported incidents of killings, physical injuries, forced displacement, demolitions of homes, agricultural infrastructure, and businesses, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement, exploitation of natural resources, and environmental damage.
This submission provides an overview of the footage captured using the eyeWitness app of reported incidents of attacks on food and food systems from 2017 to May 31, 2024. The submission also highlights a number of reported incidents in West Bank between 7 October 2023 and 31 May 2024.
Between 2017 and 2024, eyeWitness has classified 263 possible incidents of attacks on food and food systems in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These possible incidents include the demolition of agriculture-related facilities, attacks on farmers, damage to or confiscation of markets and food stalls, occupation of agricultural land, exploitation of natural resources, and environmental damage.
eyeWitness’ legal analysis shows that the incidents outlined in both submissions may indicate a range of IHRL violations, including the rights to adequate housing; privacy, family, home, and the peaceful enjoyment of possessions; water; food; livelihood; non-discrimination; and an effective remedy, among others.
The demolition, destruction, or damage to civilian infrastructure – including homes, refugee camps, businesses, markets, wells, and agricultural farms – may also constitute violations under IHL, specifically occupation law.
eyeWitness’ submissions highlight the urgent need for these incidents to be investigated and for perpetrators to be held accountable.
Read the submission to the Special Rapporteur on Palestine here and the submission to the Special Rapporteur on the right to food here.
*Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967: Call for input for the report of the Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory to General Assembly session 79.
*Special Rapporteur on the right to food: Call for input - Human Rights and Starvation, with an emphasis on the Palestinian People’s Food Sovereignty.
**Please note that the listed figures reflect the number of incidents highlighted for each submission, and that certain incidents were included in both the submission to the Special Rapporteur on Palestine and the Special Rapporteur on the right to food.
