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| PCHR Palestinian Centre for Human Rights PRESS RELEASE |
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Ref: 104/2004
Date: 06 July 2004
Time: 11:00 GMT
A Sleeping Palestinian Child Killed by Israeli Shelling in Khan Yunis
On Monday evening, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops shelled Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis. A Palestinian child was killed by a heavy caliber bullet while he was sleeping inside his house.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at approximately 22:00 on Monday, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Gadid” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Baten al-Samin area, nearly 700 meters to the east. Two artillery shells and several live bullets hit the western and southern façades of Hamada Mohammed al-Sha’er’s house. One heavy caliber bullet penetrated the southern wall of a hall on the first floor of the house and hit the owner’s son, ‘Aala’ in the head. The live bullet smashed the skull and settled in the chest. The child was sleeping in his bed when he was hit by the bullet. PCHR’s field worker in Khan Yunis who went to the place of the incident reported that the child’s bed was covered with his blood. The child’s family was not able to evacuate him to the hospital for at least one hour due to the Israeli intense gunfire.
Thus, the number of Palestinian children killed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt) by Israeli troops since the beginning of the current Intifada in September 2000 has mounted to nearly 540, including about 280 killed in the Gaza Strip. At least 170 of these children have been killed by Israeli shelling that targeted civilian residential areas.
PCHR strongly condemns this attack, which is a further indication of the IOF disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians. PCHR reiterates its calls for the international community to effectively intervene to stop crimes perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians in the oPt, especially against children.
Public Document
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