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Press Release
A Palestinian child killed in Rafah by Israeli occupation forces in cold blood
Ref: 52/2001
Date: 9 August 2001
Yesterday evening, Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime, the latest in a series committed against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. A 15-year-old child was the victim, shot dead by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen. According to PCHR’s investigations, the child was shot from a distance of approximately 300m, without any clashes having been reported. Thus, the number of Palestinian children under 18 killed by the Israeli occupation forces since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada on September 29, 2001 has increased to 151.
According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitnesses’ testimonies, 15-year-old Mohammed Samir Abu Lebdeh, from Block “O” in Rafah refugee camp, was standing on a branch road close to his family’s house, approximately 300m north of the border with Egypt, on Saturday, September 8, 2001, at approximately 21:00 local time. Without any clashes having been reported in the area, an Israeli sniper in a military site near Salah El-Din Gate at the border fired a heavy caliber bullet at him, hitting him in the abdomen. The child was immediately evacuated to Al-Joneina (Martyr Abu Yousef Al-Najjar) Hospital in Rafah, where he was soon pronounced dead. According to medical sources at the hospital, the child received a heavy caliber bullet that entered the right side of the abdomen and exited the left side, rupturing his internal organs.
PCHR strongly condemns this crime committed by Israeli occupation forces in apparent cold blood. According to PCHR’s records, at least 17 children from Rafah have been killed by the Israeli occupation forces since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada in similar circumstances. PCHR reiterates it call for the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to fulfill their obligations under the Convention, and take all necessary measures to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention, and provide protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
