Ref: 144/2014
Date: 29 September 2014
Time: 11:40 GMT

Two Palestinian workers have been wounded when Israeli forces stationed along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting gravel and iron parts near the border. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns Israeli volitions against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. PCHR is deeply concerned over the continuous Israeli attack on workers’ livelihoods, especially in the light of the closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 11:00 on Monday, 29 September 2014, Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers north of Um al-Nasser village opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting gravel near the border. As a result, Jalal Fawzi ‘Odetallah Abu Jarad (14), from Um al-Nasser village, sustained a bullet wound to his left leg. Abu Jarad was transferred to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital and his wound was described as moderate.

In another attack, at approximately 11:30 on Sunday, 28 September 2014, Israeli forces stationed at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, opened fire at a group of workers who were collecting gravel and iron parts near the border. As a result, Rajab Muhammad Rajab Ma’rouf (22), from Beit Lahia, sustained a bullet wound to his right thigh. He was transferred to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital for treatment and his wound was described as moderate.

It is worth noting that Israeli forces stationed on watchtowers at the border, north of Beit Lahia in the Northern Gaza Strip, wounded two workers collecting gravel and iron parts near the border on 19 September 2014. The wounded workers were identified as: ‘Atta Musa ‘Atta al-Hassoumi (20), who sustained a bullet wound to his right leg; and Ahmed As’ad ‘Ayish (26), who sustained a bullet wound to his right leg. Later, they were transferred to Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital for treatment. Medical sources described al-Hassoumi’s wound as serious due to the laceration of leg bones and veins. Consequently, he was transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. On Saturday, 20 September 2014, al-Hassoumi was moved to al-Maqased Hospital in Jerusalem for treatment. Al-Sous’ wound was described as minor.

PCHR is concerned over the continuous Israeli attacks against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and:

1. Calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1 of the Convention to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances, and their obligations under Article 146 of the Convention to search for and prosecute those suspected of perpetrating grave breaches of the Convention; and,
2. Calls for securing Palestinian civilians’ access to their houses and property and protecting their rights to life, security, safety and work.