Press Release

A child injured in the head by the Israeli occupation forces

A policy of economic and social suffocation by the Government of Israel

Ref: 125/2000

Date: October 10, 2000

This morning, the Israeli occupation forces shot live ammunition at a number of children who demonstrated near Salah El-Din Gate at the border with Egypt in Rafah. Six people were injured, including the child Sami Fathi Abu Jazar, 12 years old, who was shot in the head. The child Abu Jazar was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza in a very critical condition.

Yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces’ helicopters bombed another residential building near Al-Shuhada’ Junction (Netzarim Junction), and completely destroyed it. The building was about to collapse as a result of previous bombing. Bombing also caused damages to three adjacent houses in the area, owned by Al-Wheidi family, in which 20 people live.

The Israeli occupation authorities continue their policy of collective punishment by imposing a comprehensive siege on the whole occupied Palestinian territory. Yesterday, the Israeli occupation authorities extended the siege in a practical implementation of the Israeli government’s threats against the Palestinian people. In the Gaza Strip, border crossings into Israel and Gaza International Airport are still closed upon orders by the Israeli occupation authorities few days ago. The Israeli authorities reopened Rafah Border Crossing into Egypt with a very reduced number of staff, and therefore limit travelers’ movements through the crossing. The siege also affects the movement of Palestinians between the West Bank and Gaza Strip through the so-called “Safe Passage”, and restrain commercial deals as all forms of import and export from the Gaza Strip through Israel are prohibited.