Press Release

 

Israeli occupation forces’ tanks are stationed to the east of Gaza City,

Three Palestinian civilians, including two children, are killed

 

Ref: 144/2000

Date: October 24, 2000

Time: 16:00 GMT

18:00 Palestine Time

 

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their killings and criminal acts against Palestinian civilians who have continued to organize demonstrations in protest to the Israeli actions for the 26^th consecutive day. The number of martyrs killed by the Israeli occupation forces has increased to 122, including 35 children, and more than 3,400 have been wounded.

Since the morning, in the area of Erez, in the northern part of the Gaza strip, clashes have broken out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which have responded firing live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas. This afternoon, the child Nedal Mohammed Dbeika, 14 years, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed by a bullet in the abdomen shot by the Israeli occupation forces. Additionally, 23 people have been wounded with live bullets and 4 with rubber-coated metal bullets, and dozens of civilians were hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces in the area. Thw wounded were evacuated to Al-Awda hospital in Jabalya and Shifa’ hospital in Gaza.

In Khan Yunis, this morning, the child Eyad Ossama Shaath, 12 years, died from his wound in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces on October 21, 2000. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the child was shot from less than a 20-meter distance. Sources of Shifa’ hospital in Gaza stated that a bullet penetrated the child’s forehead and settled in his head. In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military site to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis. The Israeli occupation forces responded firing live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas. As a result, 44 Palestinian civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets and 7 by live ammunition. Additionally, dozens of civilians, mostly children, were hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces in the area.

In the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom, two Palestinian were wounded by live ammunition fired by the Israeli occupation forces at Palestinian demonstrators. PCHR in the area reported that the Israeli occupation forces threw Molotov cocktails towards the area on which demonstrators assembled. As a result, trees surrounding a nearby elementary school burnt.

In Rafah, clashes broke out this afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that 4 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition and 4 by rubber-coated metal bullets on the areas of Salah El-Din Gate on the borders with Egypt, and Tal El-Sultan. In addition, dozens of civilians were hurt due to inhaling tear gas.

Last night, tanks and bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces invaded the road leading from Netzarim Junction to Karni Outlet. Since this morning, 3 tanks have been stationed on an area under the full control of the Palestinian National Authority to the east of Al-Mentar area. This is an unprecedented escalation on the area where no military post has ever been. This action is part of the reinforcement of the Israeli occupation forces throughout the Gaza Strip in direct friction with Palestinian civilians, which may threaten these civilians’ security and safety. Bulldozers swept the agricultural and wooded land on both sides of the road. PCHR’s field officer reported that sweeping at 21:00 GMT last night and continued until 7:00 GMT this morning. They swept on both sides of the road an area of 40m wide and 3km long. Orchards of citrus and olive trees, hothouses and other agricultural facilities were destroyed (PCHR will issue a detailed report tomorrow on sweeping of land that have been carried out by the Israeli occupation forces since the beginning of this month).

Last night, the Israeli occupation forces fired rockets and heavy bullets at some neighborhood of Hebron. As a result, Abdel Aziz Abu Sneineh, 55 years, was killed by a heavy bullet in the head. PCHR learned that the martyr Abu Sneineh at home when he was shot dead.

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community and the High Contracting Parties to Geneva Fourth Convention to immediately intervene to stop the continued killings and abuses perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces. PCHR calls for providing international protection for Palestinian civilians as it is the only way that will ensure their security and safety. PCHR warns of the continued reinforcement, establishment of new military posts, and sweeping of land by the Israeli occupation forces, as these forces seek to tighten their grip on Palestinian cities and villages. PCHR fear that stationing tanks of the Israeli occupation forces to the east of Al-Mentar area in Gaza may pave the way for establishing a new military post in the area.