Press Release

Four Palestinians killed in clashes between Palestinian civilians and Israeli Occupying Forces, during the 52nd Commemoration Anniversary of El Nakba

2 Palestinian Children intentionally killed by a Settler in Qalqilya

Ref.,: 64/2000

Date: 16^th May, 2000

On 15^th of May 2000, the Israeli Occupying Forces killed three Palestinians and injured hundreds others. The day before, one Palestinian from the West Bank was also mortally wounded. The deaths were caused by the violent and disproportionate intervention of the Israeli Occupying Forces to disperse Palestinians demonstrating peacefully in Commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of El Nakba- the uprooting of Palestinians from their land. The demonstrations were organised by Palestinians who were also expressing their solidarity with Palestinian and Arab prisoners on hunger strike since early May 2000, demanding their release. The 52nd Commemoration resulted very quickly in bloody clashes due to the excessive use of power demonstrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces.

On the same day, a tragic incident occurred, involving a settler who knocked down 2 children on the road, in Qalqilya. A witness to the accident reported that the settler did not try to avoid the children and therefore deliberately run over them.

At 3 pm on 15^th of May, the Israeli Military Forces caused serious damage to the “City Inn” hotel in El Bireh, located nearby Beit El Settlement, along the main road between El Bireh and Nablus. The Israeli Occupying Forces irrupted in the hotel, destroyed the furniture, and from the hotel windows, started firing at the demonstrators who gathered outside the hotel. They shot at random, using live ammunition and tear gas. Later on, Israeli helicopters arrived as a support for the Israeli soldiers, and started firing at the crowd. As a result, a number of civilians were wounded. Among them, the journalist Maher Abu Khader, Correspondent for the German Der Ishbighal Magazine was injured by a bullet in his chest while covering the event. He was immediately evacuated to hospital, in critical conditions. Another Palestinian civilian was injured in the abdomen while trying to get out of the hotel.

At the time of the clashes, more than 50 foreigners were residents at the hotel, including Dr Amin Mekhani, Chief Technical Adviser for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Gaza. These persons had gathered in the hall of the hotel and witnessed all the violent actions of the Israeli Occupying Forces against Palestinian civilians.

 

Names of the victims killed:

1. Samer Ahmad Abdel Kareem Aourtani: He was shot in the lungs during the clashes in Qalqilya, on 14^th May
2. Ahmad Abdel Fatah Auda: He was shot in the head, in El Bireh, on 15^th May
3. Ayid El Safadi: He was shot in the neck in Nablus, on 15^th May
4. Bashar Amr El Shaneer: He was shot in the head, in Nablus on 15^th May

In addition, the 2 children killed were:

5. Mhamoud El Aqrah: Killed by the settler near Alfieh Minsheh Settlement, Qalqilya
6. Mohammad El Aqrah: Killed together with his brother by the Israeli Settler.

  

PCHR condemns the indiscriminate actions of the Israeli Occupying Forces perpetrated against Palestinians, leading to the death of 6 civilians and hundreds of wounded.

PCHR believes, according to testimonies, that such actions also demonstrated and intentioned orders for the Israeli soldiers to use excessive force.

PCHR reminds the High Contracting Parties to the IV Geneva Convention, of their legal obligation as defined in the above stated International Instrument, and calls upon their immediate intervention to stop the grave violations carried out by the Israeli Occupying Forces.

Furthermore, PCHR urges the High Contracting Parties to convene a Conference and take the necessary measures to end the continuing breaches of the IV Geneva Convention by the State of Israel, and to stop as well the politization of International Humanitarian Law as firmly denounced during the Geneva Conference on 15^th July 1999.

 

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