Press Release

Israeli occupation forces continue killing Palestinians:

More sweeping and demolition by the Israeli occupation forces

Ref: 184/2000

Date: November 29, 2000

Time: 13:30 GMT

15:30 Palestine Time

The past 24 hours witnessed more victims among Palestinian civilians as a result of shooting by the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, killing a young man with a live bullet in the head. In the village of Rammoun in Ramallah, a young man died as a result of inhaling tear gas used intensively by the Israeli occupation forces when they raided the village. A child from Rafah died from a previous wound, incurred on November 23, 2000, caused by an exploding bullet in the head. In Amman, yesterday evening, a young man from Gaza was pronounced dead from a previous wound with bullets in the neck and the chest that were shot by the Israeli occupation forces on November 19, 2000. Today, although there was a significant decrease in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces, these forces continued to shoot at Palestinian civilians. In addition, these forces continued to reinforce their presence, to sweep more areas of agricultural land and to demolish more houses in the Gaza Strip.

1. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

This morning, clashes broke out between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces. In the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, four Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces. Near the borderline in Rafah, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians in Al-Barazil neighborhood, wounding four. In the eastern area of Al-Boreij refugee camp, this afternoon, a Palestinian civilian was wounded with a live bullet shot by the Israeli occupation forces.

Yesterday afternoon, in the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians demonstrating more than 100 meters away from these forces. As a result, Emad Adib El-Dayeh, 19 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp, was shot dead with a live bullet in the head. El-Dayeh was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital, but was pronounced dead at about 20:00 local time.

Yesterday evening, a large number of Israeli occupation troops raided the village of Rammoun in Ramallah, where Palestinian civilians faced them. The Israeli occupation forces used tear gas intensively against Palestinian civilians. As a result, Ibrahim Abdel-Jabber Kuhleh, 24 years old, died from inhaling tear gas. Eyewitnesses stated that Kuhleh was evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah due to difficulty breathing. He died before reaching the hospital.

Also yesterday evening, Karam Fathi El-Kurd, 14 years old, died at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City from a previous wound caused by an exploding live bullet in the head, incurred on November 23, 2000, when the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians demonstrating near Salah El-Din Gate on the borderline in Rafah.

Yesterday, Ashraf Abdel-Karim El-Basous, 19 years old, from Gaza, died from a previous wound with live bullets in the neck and chest shot by the Israeli occupation forces near Al-Mentar (Karni) outlet, to the east of Gaza City. El-Basous was transferred to a hospital in Jordan on November 22, 2000, and was pronounced dead yesterday.

Yesterday evening, Israeli occupation troops, positioned in a military post in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement, to the north of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding two, one of whom was seriously injured. Eyewitnesses stated that the incident took place at 22:30 local time when there were no clashes in the area. The two wounded persons were near their houses when they were hit by bullets. They are:

1.  
   1. Amin Mohammed Abdel-Qader Abu Mosallam, 24 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the thigh; and
   2. Sami Abdullah Ahmed, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh that caused a cut in an artery. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.

2. Continued Sweeping of Agricultural Land

Yesterday, at about 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces swept more areas of agricultural land on the northern side of the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) leading to Kissufim Border Crossing in the east. The swept areas are about 1,000 meters from Salah El-Din Street. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping included:

1.  
   1. A two-donum area of agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with vegetables were established, owned by Awadh El-Semeiri. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
   2. A one-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables was established, owned by Aae’d Abu Haddaf.
   3. A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Suleiman El-Semeiri.
   4. A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Abu Haddaf.
   5. A 120-square-meter, one-story house owned by Ismail El-Saffi.

While the Israeli occupation forces continued to close the road between Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that yesterday, at about 17:00 local time, these forces started to sweep more areas (approximately 200 meters worth) along the road. Because of the heavy presence of the Israeli occupation forces in the area, reinforced with six tanks, PCHR’s field officer could not reach the area to check on the swept areas. According to a resident of the area, the sweeping included:

1.  
   1. An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the El-Thalathini family.
   2. A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by the El-Ghefari family. In addition, a well and an 80-square-meter house were destroyed.

PCHR’s field officer stated that the Israeli occupation forces have been building a new settlement road for more than one week, connecting the road branch of Al-Shuhada (Netzarim) junction and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet with the borderline.

The Israeli occupation forces have so far swept:

1.  
   1. A 7.5 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Baker Oleyan El-Heraqli.
   2. An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Hajjaj.
   3. A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ne’man Hajjaj.
   4. A seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Muheisen Hajjaj.
   5. An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the Abu El-Atta family.

Also yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces swept areas of agricultural land and demolished buildings along the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) leading to Gush Qatif settlement block (Al-Matahen Junction). PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping and demolition included:

1.  
   1. A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the heirs of Jbara Ismail El-Farra.
   2. A 60-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by the heirs of Rafiq Jbara El-Farra. In addition, a well, two water pumps, two rooms and an irrigation network were destroyed.
   3. An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sae’b Mustafa El-Farra.
   4. A 150-square-meter house, in which four people lived, owned by Abdel-Mou’ti Abu Ghayyadh.
   5. A 500-square-meter tin house, in which 13 people lived, owned by Mohammed Salim Hussein Abu Hassan.
   6. A 120-square-meter house, in which seven people lived, owned by Mohammed Suleiman Boreis.
   7. A 148-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Salim Suleiman El-Musseeb.
   8. A 120-square-meter house, in which 14 people lived, owned by Nayef Suleiman El-Musseeb.

In Al-Qarara, near Khan Yunis, the Israeli occupation forces swept areas of agricultural land and demolished houses, 250 meters to the east of Salah El-Din Street. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that this particular action included:

1.  
   1. A nine-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Fuad and Jamal Mabrouk El-Qedra. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
   2. A 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the heirs of Mabrouk Ismail El-Qedra.
   3. A 0.5 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Kamel Mabrouk El-Qedra.
   4. An 80-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Sami Ismail El-Qedra. The house was surrounded by 500 square meters of agricultural land planted with olives.
   5. A 90-square-meter house, in which eight people lived, owned by Suleiman Salem Abu Rezeq.
   6. Cutting electricity and water to a number of houses in the area.

3. Continued Reinforcements and Blocking of Roads in the Gaza Strip by the Israeli occupation forces

The Israeli occupation forces have continued to reinforce their presence throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. In the Gaza Strip, tanks and armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces are still stationed on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). The Israeli occupation forces have closed this road and its branch and agricultural roads near Kfar Darom settlement. This has divided the Gaza Strip into isolated areas.

The Israeli occupation forces have continued to impose a siege on Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area in Rafah and Khan Yunis, increasing the suffering of Palestinian residents of the area. In Khan Yunis, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to close the road between Khan Yunis city and its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area – under the control of these forces – at Al-Tuffah roadblock. Jarir El-Qedwa elementary and preparatory school is still closed because its teachers, most of whom are from Khan Yunis city, have not been able to reach the area. Agricultural products have been damaged because farmers have been denied access to their agricultural land.

In Rafah, the Israeli occupation forces have kept up their actions of collective punishment by continuing to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories and by closing Gaza International Airport and Rafah Border Crossing. On November 25, 2000, the Israeli occupation forces re-closed Al-Karama border crossing on the Palestinian-Jordanian border. Yesterday, Israeli sources stated that the Israeli occupation forces reopened Rafah Border Crossing, but after this statement was checked for accuracy, it was clear that yesterday, November 28, 2000, the Israeli employees at the Crossing completed the entry procedures for about 100 people from Egypt into the Gaza Strip, while no one from the Palestinian side was present save for the director of the Palestinian Civil Liaison. This morning, the Department for Crossing of the Palestinian National Authority refused to send any Palestinian staff to the Crossing in protest over the changing work conditions violating previously signed agreements. The new conditions that the Israeli occupation forces attempted to establish were the following:

1.  
   1. Work will be limited to travelers coming from abroad, while residents of the Gaza Strip will not be able to travel abroad.
   2. The reduction of Palestinian personnel from 320 to seven.
   3. Members of the Palestinian security services are prohibited from returning to their work at the Crossing.
   4. Palestinian personnel must undergo security checks by the Israeli occupation forces.
   5. Work at the Crossing will continue for only seven hours per day, 8:00-15:00 local time, although the Crossing in the past was open 24 hours per day.
   6. Cars of Palestinian personnel and VIPs will not be allowed to enter the Crossing.