Ref: 76/2003

PCHR strongly condemns today’s extrajudicial
killing by Israeli occupying forces in al-Qarara village in the Gaza Strip. An
alleged Hamas activist was killed in the attack.  This latest killing is
part of the ongoing Israeli policy of extrajudicial killing of Palestinians in
direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law.

According to eyewitnesses’
statements collected by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 29 May 2003,
about 20 Israeli soldiers moved into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village,
northeast of Khan Yunis.  They raided the
house of Jihad Salim al-Qedra and forced its 8 residents out.  All the family left the house except the
owner’s son, Mohammed, 25, who was sleeping on the roof.  Then, the family heard an Israeli soldier
saying: “Everyone in the house must get out.”  Mohammed tried to exit the house.  He was unarmed.  When he was trying to get out, the family
heard the Israeli soldiers fire 6 live bullets at Mohammed from a distance of
only 2m.  His family rushed into the
house crying but the Israeli soldiers prevented them from helping Mohammed.  The soldiers remained in the house for about
half an hour, while the son lay injured. 
When Israeli soldiers withdrew from the house, they detained the owner’s
other son, Ahmed, 21.  As soon as the
soldiers left, neighbors attempted to evacuate Mohammed to a hospital in Khan
Yunis.  However, Israeli soldiers stopped
the car and ordered the neighbors to take Mohammed out of the car.  Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded
the neighbors.  Then, a soldier fired one
bullet at Mohammed at point blank range. A second bullet was fired into the
air.  Mohammed remained on the ground
until Israeli soldiers withdrew from the area. 
A Palestinian ambulance evacuated the body to Nasser Hospital in Khan
Yunis.  According to medical sources, the
victim was hit by 3 live bullets in the chest, the abdomen and the thigh. 

Israeli forces also raided
a number of houses in the village.  They
arrested 29 Palestinians; 23 were released later, but 6 remain in custody.

PCHR strongly condemns this extrajudicial
execution and expresses deep concern over the escalation
in unlawful
killings of Palestinians, which constitute war crimes under international
humanitarian law. PCHR believes that this latest execution is further evidence
of Israel’s disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law. PCHR
calls upon the international community to discontinue its policy of silence
towards such Israeli practices, and reiterates its call upon the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their legal
obligations to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.