Ref.,: 1/2001

Introduction

This report covers violations perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian civilians during the period of December 28, 2000 – January 3, 2001. This period witnessed a significant escalation of violations perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces, despite the occupied Palestinian territories seeing a significant decrease in mass clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli forces. During this period, the Israeli occupation forces continued to resort to the use of lethal force and willful killing at times when no threat was posed to the occupying forces. These forces also continued to commit political assassinations against Palestinian political activists, the last of which was the assassination of Dr. Thabet Thabet, Secretary of Fatah Movement in Tulkarm, on December 31, 2000. During the same period, the Israeli occupation forces and settlers killed six Palestinians, including three civilians, one of whom was a 12-year-old child who was killed by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired by the Israeli occupation forces when the shell fell onto the roof of the house of his family in Hebron on December 31, 2000. Among the victims were two Palestinian security men who were killed by the Israeli occupation forces in cold blood in Tulkarm on December 31, 2000, when there were no clashes in the city. A third Palestinian security man was killed when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces in the east of Beit Hanoun on December 28, 2000. During the same period, the Israeli occupation forces continued to fire artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian cities, which resulted in killing a child, wounding a number of civilians and causing severe damage to houses and civilian facilities in some cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces also continued to sweep areas of agricultural land and to demolish houses and civilian facilities, especially those near settlements and on the sides of roads used by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers.

At the beginning of the new year, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces toughened the siege imposed on the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak stated that his army must prepare for a comprehensive war, that his forces would toughen the siege in an unprecedented way and that he would allow the entry of only basic necessary materials for humanitarian purposes. In effect, the Israeli occupation forces closed Rafah Border Crossing on December 30, 2000. On January 1, 2001, these forces also closed Gaza International Airport, Al-Karama Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet and Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing. On the morning of Tuesday, January 2, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces closed the two main roads between the governorates of the Gaza Strip (Salah El-Din Street and the coastal road, which was closed for the first time), and all alternative branch roads, isolating the Gaza Strip and dividing it into three separate areas. Similar measures were taken in the West Bank that divided it into dozens of separate areas. 

 1. Restrictions on Free Movement

The Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories. In addition to the prohibition of movement between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip through Israel, the Israeli occupation forces toughened the internal siege imposed on Palestinian cities, isolating these cities from one another (in the Gaza Strip this took place on Tuesday, January 2, 2001). At the same time, large numbers of settlers were present on bypass roads, shooting at Palestinian civilian cars and throwing stones on Palestinian civilians. In recent developments concerning the total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the occupied Palestinian territories, this siege has included:

 1) Preventing Travel Abroad

Since Saturday, December 30, 2000, the Israeli occupation forces have closed Rafah Border Crossing, preventing travel to Egypt. In the evening of Monday, January 1, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces closed Gaza International Airport and Al-Karama Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan. With these measures the Israeli occupation force have completely prevented the travel of Palestinian citizens abroad. In addition, these forces continued to impose restrictions on the movement of Palestinian citizens between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

 2) Closing Commercial Crossings

Since the evening of January 1, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces have closed Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. The Mentar (Karni) Outlet is devoted to commercial exchange through Israeli territory. Now only the entry of basic necessary materials is allowed. These force have also continued to close Sofa Crossing, near Rafah, and Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip.

 3) Restrictions on Internal Movement

On the morning of Tuesday, January 2, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces closed the coastal road between Gaza City and the middle area of the Gaza Strip. While continuing to close Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) and all alternative roads, the Gaza Strip became separated into three completely isolated areas: Rafah and Khan Yunis, the middle area, and Gaza City and the northern area. 

On the morning of Tuesday, January 2, 2001, Israeli occupation forces positioned near Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, prevented the passage of a Palestinian ambulance in which there was a pregnant woman coming from a clinic in Deir El-Balah. The blocked patient was on the way to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that Mrs. Meriam A’amer El-Akhras, 30 years old, was in serious condition and critically in need of a Caesarian operation that cannot be performed in the middle area of the Gaza Strip due to the lack of necessary medical equipment in nearby local clinics. The occupying forces also prevented the passage of a Palestinian ambulance in which Rajab El-Sa’afin, 70 years old, and Safeya El-Kurd, 70 years old, from Deir El-Balah, were traveling in order to receive medical care at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the occupying troops forced the ambulance to travel back to the middle area, preventing its passage to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.

On January 3, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces prevented the entry of Palestinian newspapers published in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, into the Gaza Strip. The major daily newspapers, Al-Quds, Al-Ayyam and Al-Hayat Al-Jadeeda, are published in Jerusalem and Ramallah. 

 2. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

Tuesday, January 2, 2001

In the morning at approximately 7:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot dead Sabri Awadh Ibrahim Khader, 51 years old, from Jabalya, with a medium caliber bullet to the right shoulder (below the neck). In his testimony to PCHR, an eyewitness – the victim’s nephew – said that he was with his uncle and a number of their family members working in a grove, about 700 meters away from a military position of the Israeli occupation forces in Dogit settlement to the north of Beit Lahia, when the shooting took place. At approximately 7:20 (local time), the sound of an explosion was heard and two minutes later the Israeli occupation forces positioned in the area of Dogit settlement opened fire arbitrarily and intensively. Palestinian farmers were forced to flee to nearby houses in order to take shelter from the shooting. The eyewitness added that his uncle was not among those who escaped. When the eyewitness returned to his work place after the shooting stopped, he found his uncle lying on the ground bleeding. The motionless farmer was evacuated to hospital, but died as a result of the shooting.

Also in the morning, at approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned on Salah El-Din Street, near Al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, opened fire on an UNRWA vehicle, while it was on its way to Gaza City. The driver of the car, Ashraf Weshah, survived, though the front right tire was hit by a live bullet.

Monday, January 1, 2001

In the morning, at approximately 10:30 local time, an Israeli occupation soldier shot at Jadallah El-Ja’bari, 32 years old, from Hebron, wounding him with two live bullets in the leg. A videotape filmed by an Associated Press cameraman showed the cruelty of the crime committed by the Israeli occupation forces. The victim was passing through the market of the city when he was shot from a very close distance. El-Ja’bari, who works in the sanitation department for the municipality of Hebron, was evacuated to Hadassa hospital in Jerusalem.

Sunday, December 31, 2000

In the morning, at approximately 7:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian laborers waiting for security checks at the gate of Erez industrial zone. As a result, five of these laborers were wounded. In addition, a driver of an ambulance for the Health Work Committees was wounded while he was offering help to one of the wounded. PCHR’s field officer in the northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that the wounded were:

 1) Alla’edddin Ahmed Khater, 23 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;

 2) Oudeh Mahmoud Abu Shehadeh, 22 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand;

 3) Sae’d Ja’far El-Harazin, 23 years old, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;

 4) Mohammed Mohammed Nasser, 23 years old, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee,

 5) Yasser Abdullah El-Rantisi, 21 years old, from Nusseirat, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen; and

 6) Ibrahim Ahmed Shabat, 32 years old, from Beit Hanoun, an ambulance driver, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh while offering assistance to one of the wounded. He was wearing a special uniform designed to identify medical staff when he was wounded.

Also in the morning, at approximately 9:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the borderline to the east of Al-Boreij refugee camp shot at Jerar Oudeh Mahmoud Abu Shehadeh, 20 years old, from Al-Maghazi refugee camp. Abu Shehadeh was wounded in the head by shrapnel from live bullets. PCHR’s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip reported that the area did not witness any clashes when the Israeli occupation forces shot at Abu Shehadeh from a distance of more than 100 meters.

Also in the morning, at approximately 9:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces asassinated the Secretary of Fatah Movement in Tulkarm, Dr. Thabet Thabet, 49 years old. Dr. Thabet was from the village of Ramin and a resident of the city of Tulkarm. Dr. Thabet was in his car in front of his house in the southwest of Tulkarm, when the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on him from a distance of more than 250 meters. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli occupation troops stationed a military truck at a junction leading to a military roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces and suddenly opened fire on Dr. Thabet’s car when there were no clashes in the area. Dr. Thabet was wounded with several bullets in the chest and was evacuated to Tulkarm hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:00 local time. 

This crime is the first one against a Palestinian political organizational figure in the past three months, and is regarded as a significant escalation of the assassination policy adopted by the Israeli occupation forces against persons whom these forces deem to be executive members of Palestinian organizations.

In the evening, at approximately 19:30, settlers opened fire on a number of Palestinian young men near the northern entrance of the village of Hazma to the east of Jerusalem, killing Tahrir Suleiman Rezeq, 20 years old, with a live bullet in the head.

Also in the evening, at approximately 21:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot dead two members of the Palestinian National Security Forces (Military Intelligence) in Tulkarm. Eyewitnesses said that Israeli occupation forces positioned in the west of the city of Tulkarm opened fire on Mou’taz Mohammed Sae’id Serouji, 37 years old; and Tariq Ibrahim Ahmed El-Qatto, 31 years old, killing the former with live bullets in the head, the neck, the chest and the thighs, and the latter with live bullets in the head, the back and the thighs.

Saturday, December 30, 2000

In the evening, at approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement shot at Oudeh Mahmoud Abu Samra, wounding him with a live bullet in the left hand. Abu Samra was in front of his house, about 150 meters to the north of the mentioned settlement when he was shot.

Friday, December 29, 2000

In the afternoon, at approximately 14:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Ahmed Abdullah El-Maghayzha, 24 years old, from Deir El-Balah, wounding him with a live bullet in the left leg. El-Maghayzha said that he was on his way from Al-Qarara to his house, 30 meters to the north of the road leading to Kissufim Crossing on the borderline. When he crossed the road towards his house, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned on the roof of a house they expropriated last November, shot at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the left leg.

Also in the evening, at approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the borderline in Rafah opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians, wounding three with shrapnel from bullets. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the three were evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah. They are:

 1) Jaber Ihasan El-Natour, 14 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;

 2) Ahmed Mohammed Abu A’rmaneh, 15 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the thigh; and

 3) Mahmoud Hamdan Mo’ammar, 18 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the leg.

Thursday, December 28, 2000

In the afternoon, at approximately 15:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces, to the north of Beit Hanoun in the north of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces also fired an artillery shell at the mentioned post, killing a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, Mahmoud Ali Mahmoud Nusseir, 33 years old, from Beit Hanoun, with a direct hit to the abdomen and chest.

 3. Shelling of Residential Neighborhoods

Tuesday, January 2, 2001

In the evening, at approximately 17:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at residential neighborhoods in Hebron. This particular action targeted El-Sheikh, Bab El-Zawia and Be’r El-Hommus neighborhoods and caused severe damage to Palestinian houses and civilian facilities.

Monday, January 1, 2001

At noon, armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces positioned at the borderline in Rafah opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Barazil neighborhood. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that they opened fire again at approximately 17:00 local time. These attacks launched by the Israeli occupation forces resulted in the wounding of a number of Palestinian civilians with live bullets and shrapnel. The wounded were:

 1) Munir Hussein El-Sedudi, 20 years old, wounded by a live bullet in the leg;

 2) Hussein Talal Abu Sha’ar, 14 years old, wounded by a live bullet in the the arm;

 3) Mohammed Sami El-Tawil, 25 years old, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;

 4) Omar Fawzi Abu Hussein, 9 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the legs and the thighs (he was wounded at approximately 12:00 local time and wounded again at approximately 17:00 local time);

 5) Ali Fawzi Abu Hussein, 15 years old, wounded in the back (he was wounded at approximately 12:00 local time and wounded again at approximately 17:00 local time);

 6) Mohammed Fawzi Abu Hussein, 13 years old, wounded in the arms and the back (he was wounded at approximately 12:00 local time and wounded again at approximately 17:00 local time);

 7) Wessam Abdel-Karim EL-Shae’r, 19 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;

 8) Ahmed Mohammed Abu A’rmaneh, 15 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head (he was also wounded in the thigh on December 29, 2000);

 9) Saleh Zuhair Hammad, 13 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the leg and the thigh; and

 10) Ahmed Yusri Oweidha, 6 years old, wounded by a medium caliber bullet in the thigh.

At night, at approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the junction leading to Gush Qatif settlement block (Al-Matahen junction) shelled Palestinian houses 700 meters to the west of the junction. PCHR’s field officer reported that artillery shells hit the following two houses:

 1) The house of Jehad Abu Madhi, a 200-square-meter, two-story house in which 10 people live, was hit by two artillery shells that made holes in external walls; and

 2) The house of Suleiman Abu Nahia, a 170-square-meter, three-story house in which 17 people live, was hit by an artillery shell that made a hole in a wall and damaged external walls.

Also at night, at approximately 23:40, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim in the west of Khan Yunis shelled a number of Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer reported that three housing buildings owned by Al-Farra Company were hit by artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets that caused severe damage to external walls. This was the second time these buildings were hit in less than 24 hours. These buildings are about 200 meters to the east of the mentioned settlement.

Sunday, December 31, 2000

At night, at approximately 23:50 local time, the child Ma’ath Ahmed Abdullah Abu Hadwan, 12 years old, was pronounced dead at Al-Ahli hospital in Hebron. The child was wounded earlier that day by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired by the Isareli occupation forces. PCHR learned that during the afternoon the child was in the house of his family in Haret El-Sheikh, which is in the center of Hebron, when Israeli occupation forces positioned at the “Ramat Yitsai” settlement center fired artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian houses. An artillery shell fell onto the house of Ahmed Abdullah Abu Hadwan, and its shrapnel wounded his son Ma’ath in the head. The child was evacuated to Al-Ahli hospital where he was pronounced dead later that day.

At approximately midnight local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement in the west of Khan Yunis shelled Palestinian housing buildings in Khan Yunis, causing severe damage to these houses (see the housing buildings owned by Al-Farra Company above.)

Saturday, December 30, 2000

In the evening, at approximately 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the borderline in Rafah, near Salah El-Din Gate, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Barazil neighborhood. As a result, Najeh Abdel-Hadi Hassan Hamed, 26 years old, was wounded by shrapnel in the right arm, and Ali Abu Jarad, 70 years old, was wounded by shrapnel in the right arm.

 4. Leveling of Agricultural Land

Tuesday, January 2, 2001

 In the morning, at approximately 9:00, the Israeli occupation forces started to level areas of agricultural land to the south of Dogit settlement in the north of Beit Lahia in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the northern area of the Gaza Strip reported that this particular action included leveling:

 1) a 20-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, and two greenhouses, owned by Abu Ali El-Akka and farmed by Salah Khudeir;

 2) a 40-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by Majed Arafat and farmed by Abu Ziad Abu Halima; and

 3) a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by the El-Essi family.

At approximately the same time, the Israeli occupation forces started to level areas of agricultural land to the east of Kfar Darom settlement in the middle area of the Gaza Strip. These forces leveled a 35-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, almonds, palms and vegetables, owned by brothers Khaled, Mohammed and Hassan Mahmoud Sae’id, and Khaled Oudeh Sae’id. The occupying forces also destroyed an irrigation network.

Monday, January 1, 2001

From midnight until early in the morning, the Israeli occupation forces demolished three Palestinian houses, 400 meters to the south of Kfar Darom settlement. These forces demolished:

 1) the house of Nasra Salem Abu Meghasib, a 180-square-meter house in which two people used to live;

 2) the house of Fatema Abu Bakra, a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house in which two people used to live; and

 3) the house of Intesar Abu Bakra, a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house in which four people used to live.

In the evening, at approximately 17:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to sweep areas of agricultural land near Morag settlement in the east of Rafah. These areas are 600 meters to the east of the junction on Rafah-Khan Yunis western road, leading to Morag settlement. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces swept a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and olives, owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Eshteiwi Dhuheir and brothers.

Saturday, December 30, 2000

The Israeli occupation forces completely demolished the house of Anwar Humeid Hamdan Qeshta, a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven people used to live. These forces started to demolish the house on the previous day. The house was on the southern side of the road branch of Rafah-Khan Yunis western road, leading to Gush Qatif settlement block (Oraybeh road), 300 meters to the west of the junction on Rafah-Khan Yunis western road. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces also swept a 14-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by the family, near the house. In addition, these forces destroyed an irrigation network, an electricity network, an agricultural pool and agricultural equipment. The Israeli occupation forces also destroyed a well that was used in irrigating more than 150 donums of agricultural land. The well was 90 meters to the west of the above-mentioned junction and owned by Mousa Zayed Abu Jazar.

At the same time, the Israeli occupation forces continued to put muddy shelters on both sides of Oraybeh road. Bulldozers of these forces transferred mud from leveled areas of agricultural land along the road for this purpose. Trucks of the Israeli occupation forces started to transport five caravans from Morag settlement to a military post of these forces at the end of Oraybeh road, in the vicinity of Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area in Rafah and Khan Yunis.

Friday, December 29, 2000

From midnight until 11:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces leveled more areas of agricultural land in Khan Yunis. This particular action included agricultural land and facilities in the eastern area of the village of Al-Fokhari adjacent to the borderline. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces leveled:

 1) A 30-donum area of land, 27 donums of which were planted with almonds, olives and vegetables. The remainder of the tract of land was devoted to farms of birds and sheep, stores of feed and agricultural equipment. These were all destroyed and birds and sheep were killed. In addition, an irrigation network, a water pump and agricultural toxic pumps were destroyed. Bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces also destroyed approximately 200 bee cells on the tract of land, owned by Taha Abdel-Azziz Mahmoud El-Zaqzouq.

 2) A 20-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and almonds, owned by Hussein Mustafa Kaware’ and brothers. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

 3) An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by Ramadan Eshteiwi Attaya. In addition, a room, a water motor and an irrigation network were destroyed.

 4) A six-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds, owned by Mohammed Salim Ahmed Attaya.

 5) A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds, owned by Mohammed Abel-Karim Al-Farra.

 6) A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sae’b Al-Farra.

Thursday, December 28, 2000

In the evening, at approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to level areas of agricultural land in the northeast of Beit Hanoun in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the Israeli occupation forces leveled areas of agricultural land adjacent to the borderline as follows:

 1) a 34-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Abdullah Basiouni Mohammed Hussein and brothers;

 2) a 24-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Hussein Abdel-Rahman Mohammed Hamdan and brothers;

 3) a 34-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Habib Mohammed Hassan Basiouni and brothers;

 4) a 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Nayef Mohammed Eid;

 5) a nine-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Attaya Sweilem; and

 6) a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Hammouda Sweilem.

*****

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to immediately intervene to stop the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR calls in particular for:

1. Establishing without delay an independent commission of inquiry, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1322 (2000), to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians.

2. Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention.

3. Immediately providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories in the face of the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under the protection of these forces.

4. Use by the EU of effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights.

5. Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are increasingly deteriorating because of the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire occupied Palestinian territories.