Urgent Communique

Release no. 1

Grave breaches of human rights

Israeli soldiers massacre Palestinian civilians

Published @ 06.00 GMT (08.00 local time) 26 September

Yesterday, 25 September 1996, seven Palestinians were killed and over 300 people injured when Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians demonstrating against the Israeli Government’s decision affecting the Holy Muslim Shrine of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem. Reports state that Israeli soldiers used arbitrary and excessive force, firing live ammunition into unarmed crowds of Palestinian demonstrators in Ramallah, al-Bireh, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem. The Israeli military also inflicted countless injuries by beating Palestinians with rifles and riot sticks. A number of Ministers of the Palestinian Authority and senior Palestinian religious figures were caught up in the violence and, some, it has been reported, were subjected to beating at the hands of Israeli soldiers.

The situation throughout the Gaza Strip is deteriorating rapidly. Spontaneous demonstrations and protests are breaking out across the Occupied Territories, both in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These went on throughout the night and are continuing at the time of publication. Israel has responded to the violence by enforcing a military closure on the Occupied Territories, blocking all incoming and outgoing traffic, including 20,000 Gaza labourers from their work in Israel.

The Centre’s field workers report that Israeli soldiers are firing arbitrarily at protesters near the Israeli settlements inside the Gaza Strip. The Centre will follow events around the clock to make all information available.

The spontaneous popular demonstrations which have occurred across the Occupied Palestinian Territories are in protest against continued Israeli violations aimed at disregarding Palestinian rights and the peace agreements. These violations include the expansion of Jewish settlements and the Judaicization of Jerusalem, which has been carried out by demolishing Palestinian houses, confiscating Palestinian land, and occupying land by forgery and other illegal methods.

The most recent violation was the Israeli opening of a tunnel near al-Aqsa Mosque joining the Wailing Wall with the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is believed that the opening of and construction around this tunnel may threaten al-Aqsa Mosque. This action has been viewed as a gross violation of the religious rights of the Palestinian people, Arab nations, and all Muslims in the world.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights gravely condemns the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people and on the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem.

1. The Israeli government is responsible for the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the massacres conducted by Israeli soldiers against unarmed Palestinian civilians.

2. The Israeli occupying forces have carried out these provocative actions against the Palestinian people under the guise of security. There is no excuse which justifies Israeli killing of Palestinians in cold blood.

3. These ongoing actions reflect the exercise of Israeli terror against the Palestinian people, while Israeli leaders simultaneously pay lip service to their concerns about continuing the peace process.

4. The situation in the area is explosive. It is expected that more Palestinian civilians will be killed and injured in the coming hours.

In light of this, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights calls upon the international community for immediate and speedy intervention before the situation becomes irreversible. The Centre has warned on many occasions that Israeli policies of provocation would create a situation in the Occupied Territories which would be liable to explode at any minute. It appears that this has occurred.

NOTE: For further information, please call Mazen Shaqura or Issam Younis at any hour at (07)824776, 825893 or at night (050)573711 or (07)835779.

 

URGENT COMMUNIQUE

Release no. 2

A Bloody Day in the Gaza Strip

Published @ 08.30 GMT (10.30 local time) 26 September

From the very early hours of Thursday, 26 September 1996, a state of extreme tension has prevailed in the Gaza Strip, as protests, sparked by the massacre of Palestinian civilians at the hands of the Israeli armed forces in the West Bank, erupted throughout the Gaza Strip. Incidents of protest and violence have been concentrated in areas close to Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and near crossroads controlled by Israeli military forces, especially in the areas of Kfar Dorom and Netsarim in the middle of the Gaza Strip, in Rafah, and around the Erez checkpoint on the northern border of the Gaza Strip with Israel.

A special team from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is closely monitoring the events which are currently occurring all over the Gaza Strip. Our field workers have reported that Israeli soldiers are using excessive force and shooting randomly at demonstrating Palestinian civilians, in clashes the likes of which have not been seen since the redeployment of Israeli forces in May 1994.

According to information obtained by the Centre as of 08.30 GMT (10.30 local time), at least five Palestinian civilians have been killed by Israeli soldiers using live ammunition, including a 13-year-old girl, while the number of Palestinians wounded is over 100. Gaza’s hospitals are in a state of emergency, and the sirens of ambulances transporting more wounded from the areas where clashes are taking place can be heard racing through the streets.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is calling upon the international community for immediate and urgent intervention to put an end to the Israeli massacres of Palestinian civilians and to stop the bloodshed in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Palestinian Centre holds the Israeli armed forces and the Israeli government totally responsible for the deterioration of the current situation and for the killing of Palestinian civilians in cold blood.

NOTE: The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has set up a special operations room to monitor events as they unfold, and will continue to publish information about the developing situation.

For more information please contact Issam Younis or Mazen Shaqura on

(07)825 893 or 824 776. At night, please call (050) 573 711 or (07)835 779.

 

 

URGENT COMMUNIQUE

Release no. 3

16 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Reported Dead and

Over 200 Injured by Israeli Forces

Published @ 11.30 GMT (13.30 local time) 26 September

The protests and demonstrations are continuing throughout the Gaza Strip. Up-to-date information obtained by the Palestinian Centre, as of 13.30 local time, indicates that Israeli soldiers are continuing to employ arbitrary and excessive lethal force against Palestinian demonstrators, resulting in significant casualties. Eight Palestinian civilians, including a 13-year-old-girl and a 12-year-old boy, have been killed and over 200 have been injured, many critically.

In addition, Israeli forces have killed eight Palestinian police officers who were trying to protect Palestinian civilians from the Israeli attacks. It has been reported that the Israeli army is currently bringing in reinforcements to the Gaza Strip.

The situation in hospitals across the Gaza Strip is dire, and the Palestinian National Authority is asking citizens for donations of blood.

The names of the Palestinian citizens, as well as any additional information available regarding residency, age, and the nature of injury follow:

Nura Musa Abu Saad. From Deir al-Balah, 13 years old, shot in head.

Qasim Suleiman Al-Buhisi. From Zawaydah village, 16 years old, head injuries.

Mohammed Al-Bayumi. From Rafah, 16 years old, head injuries.

Hani Jalal Musa. From Deir al-Balah, 18 years old, bodily injuries.

Riziq Suleiman Al-Hawajri. From Zawaydah Village, 30 years old, bodily injuries.

Ahmad Salim Al-Najar. From Khan Younis, 19 years old, head injuries.

Mohammed Abdul Karim Al-Astal. From Khan Younis, 12 years old.

Abdul Majid Saleh Hamad. From Khan Younis, 23 years old, chest injurie.

 

The names of the Palestinian police killed, as well as any additional information available, follow:

Khalil Abu Nusair. Lieutenant, Naval Police, shot in chest.

Fareed Al Daaleez. Military Intelligence, from Nuseirat, 26 years old.

Bassim Ibrahim Naim. Soldier, Medical Services.

Rajih Yousef Barud. Major, National Security, from Rafah, 41 years old.

Yousef Al-Beshiti. Soldier, National Security, from Al-Maghazi, shot in head.

Amjad Abu Harbeed. Naval Police, from Beit Hanoun.

Qusai Mohammed ‘Akasha. From Jabaliya, 20 years old, shot in neck.

Ala Usama Al-Shurab (details not available).

The Centre is currently attempting to secure further information about each of the above cases, and will release it when available.

The injuries of Palestinians killed and wounded have been sustained in the head, neck, chest, and abdominal areas, clearly demonstrating that Israeli forces are directing their fire with the intention to kill or commit severe injury. This constitutes a use of excessive and arbitrary lethal force, which is being employed by Israeli soldiers against Palestinian civilians without justification. Unarmed Palestinian civilians, in particular a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, could not possibly have presented a threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers.

The Palestinian Centre calls upon the international community for urgent intervention in order to protect the Palestinian people. It calls upon the international community to pressure the Israeli government to stop the massacres being perpetrated by Israeli forces.

 

For more information please contact Issam Younis or Mazen Shaqura at the Palestinian Centre’s Operations Room on (07)825 893 or 824 776. At night, call (050) 573 711 or (07)835 779.

 

 

 

URGENT COMMUNIQUE

Release no. 4

Gaza Witnesses its Bloodiest Day Ever,

As the Number of Palestinians Killed in the Gaza Strip Rises to 25

Published @ 16.00 GMT (18.00 local time) 26 September

As of 18.00 local time, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers has risen to 25, including civilians and Palestinian policemen, making this the highest number of Palestinians ever killed in the Gaza Strip in a single day.

An updated list of the names of Palestinian civilians killed, as well as any additional information available regarding residency, age, and the nature of injury follows:

1. Nura Musa Abu Sa’ad. From Deir al-Balah, 13 years old, shot in head.

2. Qasim Suleiman Al-Buhisi. From Zawaydah village, 16 years old, head injuries.

3. Mohammed Al-Bayumi. From Rafah, 16 years old, head injuries.

4. Hani Jalal Musa. From Deir al-Balah, 18 years old, bodily injuries.

5. Riziq Suleiman Al-Hawajri. From Zawaydah Village, 30 years old, bodily injuries.

6. Ahmad Salim Al-Najar. From Khan Younis, 19 years old, head injuries.

7. Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim Al-Astal. From Khan Younis, 12 years old.

8. ‘Abdul Majid Saleh Hamad. From Khan Younis, 23 years old, chest injuries.

9. Mohammed Fathi Hasballah. 20 years old, shot in chest

10. Hazim Fawzi Saqer. 20 years old, shot in head.

11. Rashad Khader Abu Quta. 18 years old, shot in the head.

12. Hassan Mohammed al-Yazji. From Jabaliya, 28 years old, shot in the head.

An updated list of the names of Palestinian policemen killed, as well as any additional information available, follows:

1. Khalil Ahmed Nusair. From Beit Hanoun, Lieutenant, Naval Police, shot in chest.

2. Farid Al Da’aliz. Military Intelligence, from Nuseirat, 26 years old.

3. Bassim Ibrahim Na’im. Soldier, Medical Services.

4. Rajih Yusef Barud. Major, National Security, from Rafah, 41 years old.

5. Yusef Al-Beshiti. Soldier, National Security, from Al-Maghazi, shot in head.

6. Amjad Abu Harbid. Naval Police, from Beit Hanoun.

7. Qusai Mohammed ‘Akasha. From Jabaliya, 20 years old, shot in neck.

8. ‘Ala’ Usama Al-Shurab (details not available).

9. Ra’id ‘Alian Jabr. National Security

10. Musa Nasser Abu Nusair. From Deir al-Balah, 28 years old.

11. ‘Omar Musa Sisalam. 19 years old.

12. Shihda Mohammed Wahdan. National Security, 27 years old, shot in the head.

13. Issam Sa’id ‘Ulwan. National Security.

In addition, at least 315 wounded Palestinians have been treated in the Gaza Strip’s three main hospitals and in several clinics in Rafah. This number does not include hundreds of wounded who have been treated in other local clinics.

No.	Name of Hospital	Number wounded	Comments
1-	Shifa’ Hospital, Gaza	137	41 wounded severely in head and chest
2-	Al-Ahli Hospital, Gaza	26	various injuries
3-	Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis	116	various injuries
4-	Clinics in Rafah	36	various injuries

The Centre continues to monitor the situation, and will release further information as it becomes available.