Press Release

More sweeping of agricultural land and more demolition of agricultural facilities:

The Israeli occupation forces fire shells and heavy and medium bullets at Khan Yunis  

Ref: 190/2000

Date: December 5, 2000 Time: 13:00 GMT  15:00 Palestine Time

 Today, at approximately noon local time, Israeli occupation troops positioned at the borderline in Rafah, opened fire on houses and Al-Nour mosque in Al-Brazil neighborhood adjacent to the borderline in Rafah.  No injuries were reported among Palestinian civilians.

  Shelling of Khan Yunis

 Last night, at about 22:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets at Al-Amal neighborhood and the refugee camp of Khan Yunis.  PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the source of fire, which lasted until midnight, was a military post of the Israeli occupation forces to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.  As a result of the shelling, two Palestinian civilians were wounded while they were in their houses.  They are:

1)                  Mohammed Mosleh Hamdan, 28 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the hand; and

2)                  Ahmed Ghazi Baker, 25 years old, wounded with shrapnel from a shell in the left foot.

The shelling also caused severe damage to façades of houses, more than 250 meters away from the military post of the Israeli occupation forces.

  Continued Sweeping of Agricultural Land

 Early this morning, the Israeli occupation forces continued to sweep areas of agricultural land on both sides of the settler road, which these forces recently established between the borderline and the road between Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet.  PCHR’s field officer in the area has not been able so far to reach the area, which the Israeli occupation forces have closed.

 Yesterday evening, at about 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces swept more areas of agricultural land and demolished more agricultural facilities in the area of Oraybeh, to the west of Rafah, on both sides of the road branch of Rafah-Khan Yunis western road leading to Gush Qatif settlement block, and near the borders of Morag settlement.  PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the new sweeping and demolition, which lasted until this morning, included:

1)                     A six-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by the heirs of Ali El-Shae’r. 2)                     A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables was established, owned by Sae’id Hafezh El-Agha. 3)                     A six-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by brothers Kamal and Mohammed Ahmed El-Shae’r. In addition, four greenhouses were destroyed. 4)                     Uprooting cypress trees surrounding a tract of land owned by Darwish El-Masri, 500 meters long and 50 meters wide.  Uprooted trees were thrown onto a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by A’llawi Mousa Qandil.  Crops were damaged as a result.

In the middle area of the Gaza Strip, early this morning at about 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces continued to sweep areas of agricultural land on the southern side of the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), leading to Kissufim Crossing.  The sweeping of agricultural land, 500 meters to the west of Kissufim Crossing, which took place until 11:00 local time this morning, included:

1)                     A 60-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, owned by Rezeq A’wwad Abu Mosleh. 2)                     A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Suleiman Abdullah El-Satari. 3)                     A 13-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds owned by Mohammed Khamis Abu Mossae’d. 4)                     A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Abdullah Salem Abu Musleh. 5)                     A 23-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds owned by Suleiman Baraka. 6)                     A nine-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Abed Mohammed Abu Abdullah.   Restrictions on Movement inside the Gaza Strip  The Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories.  In addition, Israeli occupation troops are still heavily deployed at the entrances of Palestinian cities and at the main junctions.  Concerning internal closure imposed inside the Gaza Strip, this morning, the Israeli occupation forces re-opened Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) from near Kfar Darom settlement.  PCHR’s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip reported that the mentioned road witnessed a heavy traffic jam as the Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks, continued to position roadblocks on the road.  Yesterday afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces re-opened Rafah Border Crossing for travelers under new work conditions and with reduced staff.  PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that only 40 travelers were allowed to travel yesterday.  Gaza International Airport has continued to operate with a reduced work time, from 9:00 to 16:00 local time.  No changes have taken place in the new work conditions established by the Israeli occupation forces that were mentioned in our previous press releases.   ***  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. 6.                              Use by the international community and relevant bodies, including ICRC, of necessary measures to ensure the access of medical supplies and equipment and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces have continued to deny entry of this material through Rafah Border Crossing (into the Gaza Strip).    

“End”