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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
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Ref: 52/2005
Date: 10 April 2005
Time: 11:00 GMT
14 Palestinians Dead Since Sharm el Sheik – including 3 Palestinian Children in Rafah Yesterday
In another attack that reflects the continuing disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, especially children, on Saturday evening, 9 April 2005, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) willfully killed 3 Palestinian children near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. These children did not pose any threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers. Further to this, IOF opened fire at residential areas in Khan Yunis, wounding 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children. These killings are the first of their kind for one month, even though IOF have continued to perpetrate other violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), while Palestinian resistance groups have committed to a truce that was agreed upon in the context of Israeli – Palestinian understandings in Shram al-Sheikh, and the Cairo understandings among resistance groups.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 9 April 2005, IOF positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, without warning opened fire at 5 Palestinian children who were playing on ruins of houses that had been already demolished by IOF in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. Two of the children were instantly killed, while a third one died shortly after being evacuated to the hospital. The other two children survived the attack and were able to escape. According to medical sources, each of the victims was hit by one live bullet to the upper part of the body, which strongly indicates that IOF intended to kill them. The victims were identified as:
1. Khaled Fu’ad Ghannam, 17, hit by a live bullet to the neck;
2. Ashraf Sameer Mousa, 15, hit by a live bullet to the chest; and
3. Hassan Ahmed Abu Zaid, 17, hit by a live bullet to the head.
A few hours later, IOF positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gani Tal” settlements, west and northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp, while Israeli military aircraft flew over the area. Five Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were wounded.
PCHR strongly condemns the killing of the three unarmed civilian children, and believes that whatever the reason for their presence near the border, it does not justify their killing.
PCHR remains deeply concerned by ongoing grave breaches perpetrated by IOF in the OPT. According to PCHR’s documentation, since the beginning of this year, 70 Palestinians, including 22 children, have been killed by IOF; 14 of these victims have been killed by IOF since 8 February 2005, the day on which the Palestinian and Israeli sides agreed on a truce.
Subsequently, PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to stop such breaches and take necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of Palestinian civilians. PCHR further reiterates its call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal obligations and ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPT.
“END”
Public Document
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