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In a dramatic escalation of ground operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Israeli occupation forces this morning invaded three Palestinian towns in the Gaza Strip with tanks and infantry, and backed by helicopter gunships. Israeli forces raided Palestinian houses and arrested dozens of residents. They also shelled Palestinian security and civilian facilities, killing four Palestinians.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 01:00, Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers, supported by combat helicopters, moved from “Dogit” settlement and “Erez” area in the northern Gaza Strip seized control over the town of Beit Lahia. They raided houses and arrested a number of Palestinians, including As’ad Mahmoud Abu Halima, 16, and Sa’id Mahmoud Abu Halima, 18. Israeli forces withdrew from the town at approximately 04:00.

At approximately 01:30, five Israeli tanks moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip into Deir El-Balah. They thrust approximately 700m into the city and carried out a comprehensive search. During this invasion, Israeli forces fired three flechette weapons (shells that spray dart-like shrapnel over a wide area) at three members of the Palestinian National Security Forces who moved to a room adjacent to their roadblock near the border. The three were killed. They were identified as:

1. Khaled Abu Sitta, 25, from Zawayda village;

2. Shadi Mustafa El-Hassanat, 25, from Deir El-Balah; and

3. ‘Abdel-Hakim Sabri El-Hassanat, 41, from Deir El-Balah.

Israeli forces withdrew from the town at approximately 04:00. Three hours later, they invaded the same area again. At the time of this writing, Israeli forces continue to comb the area.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and helicopters, moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip and “Erez” area in the northern Gaza Strip into the town of Beit Hanoun. They shelled Palestinian civilian buildings at the center of the town, including offices of Fateh and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. A number of Palestinian gunmen confronted the invading Israeli forces, which fired at them. Amjad Yasser Hamad, 24, from Beit Hanoun, was killed by several live bullets in the head and the chest. At the time of this writing, Israeli forces are continue to carry out house raids in the town. They have also arrested some Palestinians, including:

1. ‘Adli Abu ‘Oudeh, 33;

2. Jamil Mahmoud El-Basiouni, 25;

3. Jamal Mahmoud El-Basiouni, 25;

4. Bilal Mahmoud El-Basiouni, 25;

5. Rafiq Mahmoud El-Basiouni, 33;

6. Sharif ‘Aatef ‘Edwan, 15;

7. Isma’il ‘Aatef ‘Edwan, 18;

8. Rezeq Na’im, 36;

9. Ibrahim Na’im, 55;

10. Mhmoud Majdi El-Masri, 22;

11. Khader Majdi El-Masri, 20; and

12. Amjad Majdi El-Masri, 18.

According to eyewitnesses, they were taken in armored vehicles to an unknown destination.

Since 06:30 on Tuesday, 12 February 2002, Israeli forces have been positioned approximately 2km into Palestinian-controlled areas east of Jabalya refugee camp. Special units of these forces have raided Palestinian houses and forced their residents to go out in the bad weather conditions. No further information has been available due the difficulties of access to the area.

PCHR is deeply concerned about this new escalation by the Israeli occupation government and its occupying forces, including indiscriminate shelling and invasion of Palestinian areas, which disregard international law and humanitarian law. The situation on the ground in the Gaza strip is dramatically deteriorating. PCHR reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under the Convention and ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It also calls upon the international community to end its silence, intervene to stop Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians, and to provide international protection for the Palestinian people.