Ref: 131/2003

PCHR strongly condemns the
extra-judicial assassination carried out by Israeli occupying forces in Tulkarm
in the West Bank, on Saturday, 4 October 2003. The attack left dead a member of
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, as well as a 9-year-old
child. PCHR is deeply concerned about the ongoing escalation of human rights
violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT), particularly the policy of extra-judicial assassinations
officially adopted by the Israeli government. PCHR expresses further concerns
that Israeli occupying forces may escalate assassination attempts in the coming
days and calls upon the international community to intervene and fulfill its
obligations to prevent these actions.  

According to investigations carried
out by PCHR, at approximately 16:45 on Saturday, 4 October 2003, an Israeli
military undercover unit infiltrated Tulkarm refugee camp in 4 Palestinian
registered civilian cars. As they approached the Ashraf Hamam car wash near an
UNRWA school, they opened fire at a civilian car – a black Citroen. When the
car stopped, 2 Israeli armored personnel carriers and 7 military jeeps arrived
at the scene and a number of Israeli soldiers got out of the jeeps and moved
towards the targeted car, arresting one, before withdrawing from the area.

The attack left dead 9-year-old
Mohammed Ayman Burhan Barahma, who was hit by a live bullet in the head.
According to eyewitnesses, Mohammed was shot while crossing the street. An hour
later, Israeli occupying forces admitted responsibility for the attack and
stated that the undercover unit had killed 19-year-old Sarhan Burhan Hussein
Sarhan, whom they accused of carrying out an armed attack against “Mitser
Kibutz” last year, which resulted in 5 deaths. 

PCHR strongly condemns this
extra-judicial assassination and expresses deep concerns regarding the
escalation of such actions by the Israeli government and occupying forces. PCHR
believes that this attack and other extra-judicial assassinations further
proves Israel’s disregard for international humanitarian law, which prohibits
such actions. PCHR asserts that the policy of extra-judicial assassination,
officially adopted by the Israeli government, further increases tension in the
region, as well as threatens the lives of Palestinian civilians. In light of
the above, PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention to meet their obligations and ensure protection for Palestinian
civilians in the OPT.