Press Release

Israeli occupation forces continue criminal actions:

Two martyrs in Tulkarm and Hazma

Ref: 154/2000

Date: November 3, 2000

Time: 17:00 GMT

19:00 Palestine Time

The Israeli occupation forces have reinforced their presence in the area of clashes with Palestinian demonstrators in the Gaza Strip with tanks and armored vehicles. PCHR’s field officers have reported that the Israeli occupation forces continued to shoot at Palestinian demonstrators. This afternoon, dozens of Palestinian civilians were wounded in several areas in the Gaza Strip. This morning, the Israeli occupation forces demolished two houses and swept several areas of agricultural land in Rafah.

Two Palestinians were shot dead in Tulkarm and the village of Hazma near Jerusalem by the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, dozens were wounded in the West Bank during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation forces since September 29 has increased to 150, including 45 children, with about 4,600 wounded.

In Tulkarm, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators, killing Fathi Ahmed El-Louh, 21 years old, from Deir El-Balah in the Gaza Strip and currently a resident of the refugee camp of Tulkarm. The martyr El-Louh received a live bullet in the chest. Additionally, more than 40 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets.

In the village of Hazma near Jerusalem, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators, killing Mahmoud Abdel-Jawad Ese’id, 18 years old, with a live bullet in the chest.

In Jenin, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators during clashes in the village of Seilet El-Dhaher. As a result, Asa’d Abdel-Rahman El-Hantouli was seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets near the Israeli military roadblock at Al-Jalama village. Additionally, dozens of civilians were hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian demonstrators.

In Hebron, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators, wounding two of them with live ammunition and another 26 with rubber-coated metal bullets. In Bethlehem, 15 Palestinian civilians were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces.

At the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, ten Palestinian civilians were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR has learned that more than 150 Palestinian civilians suffered from fainting and suffocation due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces against them.

In Khan Yunis, clashes have broken out since the morning between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the security control of the Israeli occupation forces. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators wounding 22 civilians with live ammunition and another nine with rubber-coated metal bullets. Among the wounded were the child Islam Ismail Abu Daqqa, 15 years old, who was wounded with two live bullets in the testes and shoulder, and Khaled Rezeq Hussein, 28 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the head. The two were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza. PCHR’s field officer reported that dozens of civilians suffered from fainting and suffocation due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces in the area; 63 of those were evacuated to hospitals and clinics in Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field worker added that large numbers of troops of the Israeli occupation forces were deployed in the area of clashes and that military jeeps were stationed at Gush Qatif junction on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). The Israeli occupation forces continued to position a roadblock on Salah El-Din Street, checking passing civilians and their vehicles.

In the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet Clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces, which re-stationed tanks and armored vehicles on the main road to the east of Shujayiya. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that 11 Palestinian civilians were wounded with live ammunition, including Alla’ Abdel-Samad El-Qattaa’, 23 years old, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza, who was wounded with a live bullet in the neck. Two other Palestinian civilians were wounded with rubber coated metal bullets, one of whom was wounded in the head. PCHR also reported that the Israeli occupation forces shot at an UNRWA ambulance which was parked by the road. Bullets penetrated its back glass and its driver escaped by sheer good fortune.

In the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement near Deir El-Balah, clashes have broken out since the morning between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire and wounded two civilians with live bullets, including the child Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Sharif, who was wounded in the abdomen and was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the Israeli occupation forces’ tanks and armored vehicles were still stationed on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).

After they completed sweeping a strip of agricultural land 3km long and 30-50m wide adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border in Rafah, the Israeli occupation forces demolished two houses this morning in Al-Salam neighborhood after they drove away women and children. They also swept more areas of agricultural land in the above-mentioned strip making its width 70m.

At about 7:00 a.m local time, shooting was heard in the area. At that time, Mahmoud Ahmed Abu Riash had left home to work, leaving his wife and two children at home. When the shooting started, his wife and children left the house, escaping from the intensive shooting by the Israeli occupation forces. In a few minutes, the Israeli occupation forces’ bulldozers started to demolish the 150-square meter house owned by the family. The house was completely demolished without its owners being able to evacuate their furniture.

Another 200-square meter house adjacent to the mentioned one, owned by Suleiman Mohammed El-Riati, 40 years old, married with 6 children, was also demolished. When the house was demolished, its owner was not there. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the house was in its final stage of construction. He added that the Israeli occupation forces shot medium caliber bullets at about 9:00 a.m. local time at El-Nour mosque in Al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah and caused severe damage to walls and windows.

The tracts of lands and agricultural facilities that were swept in Rafah are:

A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Saleh El-Shae’r.

A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Salah Salem El-Shae’r.

A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Mohammed El-Shae’r.

A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Sabri Fathi El-Shae’r.

A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and oranges owned by Nssar Hussein El-Shae’r.

An agricultural pool owned by Mahmoud Ahmed El-Shae’r.

A 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds owned by the families of Qeshta and Abu Fatema (the total area of leveled land owned by the two families increased to 53 donums as 38 donums were already swept on November 2, 2000).

There was a significant presence of troops, tanks, and armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces in the areas of clashes, especially in the area of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, in the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement and Gush Qatif and Morag junctions on Salah El-Din Street. Roadblocks positioned by the Israeli occupation forces remained on Salah El-Din Street.

The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators wounding 55 with live ammunition and another 15 with rubber-coated metal bullets. There was intensive use of tear gas, especially in Khan Yunis.

Four of the wounded are in serious condition including two children, one of whom was wounded in the testes and shoulder.

Shots were fired at an ambulance close to the area of clashes near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet.

More areas of agricultural land were swept and two houses were demolished in Rafah.

The Israeli occupation forces continued to close Gaza International Airport and to restrict the movement inside and outside the Gaza Strip.

Establishing without delay an independent commission of inquiry, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1322 (2000), to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians.

Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention.

Immediately providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories in the face of the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under the protection of these forces.

Use by the EU of effective political and economic means with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement which calls for the respect for human rights.

Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are increasingly deteriorating because of the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the whole occupied Palestinian territories.