Ref: 80/2003

PCHR condemns the latest Israeli
assassination attack in Gaza city this afternoon in which 7 Palestinians were
killed, including an infant.  Today’s
attack is the latest in Israel’s policy of extrajudicial killings which has
been stepped up in recent days, in total disregard for the lives of Palestinian
civilians.  This attack brings the total
number of casualties from such attacks to 23 Palestinians in the last 48
hours.  Five of those killed were
targeted by Israel, 18 were non-targeted civilians.

According to PCHR’s initial
investigation, at approximately 15:50 this afternoon an Israeli helicopter
gunship launched 5 rockets at a car that was traveling along Al-Jalaa Street in
central Gaza city.  Four rockets hit the
car, killing all occupants.  The
occupants were later identified as Yasser Mohammed Ali Taha, 31, from al-Bureij
Refugee camp, and his 7-month pregnant wife, Islam Abdullah Taha, 25, and their
baby, Khawla, 18 months. 

According to PCHR’s
information, Taha had been wanted by the Israeli authorities for many years due
to his alleged participation in the military wing of the Hamas movement.  In March 2003, Israeli occupation forces
raided Taha’s family home during an incursion into the al-Bureij camp, in the
central Gaza Strip.  His father and three
of his brothers were arrested during the raid, but Taha escaped capture. The
family home was demolished during the incursion.   Taha’s father and brothers remain in Israeli
detention.

Four non-targeted
Palestinians were also killed in today’s attack and more than 20 were
injured.  The wounded were transferred to
Shifa hospital in Gaza city, several of whom remain in a serious condition,
according to medical sources.  Several
children were among the wounded.  The
four bystanders killed were identified as Jihad Jasser al-Saoudi; Ahmed
Mohammed Samour; Saed Ziad Gherbaen; and Mohammed Khalil Matar. 

The fifth rocket launched by
the Israeli helicopter gunship missed the targeted car and hit the Abdul Fatah
Nijm family home, located only a few metres from where the car was hit.  No injuries were reported.

In light of this ongoing
escalation in attacks by the Israeli occupation forces on Palestinian
civilians, PCHR reiterates its calls to the international community, in
particular the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to
fulfill their obligations to ensure the protection of the Palestinian civilian
population.  PCHR is concerned that a
further escalation in violence, including increased attacks on civilians, are
likely to take place in the coming days.  
The ongoing failure of the international community to intervene will
serve only to encourage the Israeli occupation forces to perpetrate further
attacks against

the Palestinian civilian
population.