Ref: 132/2003

Israeli Occupation Forces are continuing the third day
of total internal and external closure of the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have
used this period to perpetrate additional violations of international
humanitarian and human rights law against the Palestinian civilian population
in the southern Gaza Strip.

 Israeli Occupying
Forces imposed a total internal and external closure on the Gaza Strip from
early morning on Sunday, 5 October 2003.  All main internal roads were
closed, segregating the Gaza Strip into four isolated zones, in addition to all
external access routes to Israel and Egypt (for further information see PCHR
press release on 5 October 2003 available at www.pchrgaza.org).

 Once the closure
was imposed, Israeli Occupying Forces moved further into the southern Gaza
Strip and began razing Palestinian land between the illegal Israeli settlement
of Morag, and the Sofa Crossing on the eastern border with Israel.  The
large Israeli military presence in this area has cut off all travel between
Khan Younis and Rafah, and Israeli soldiers have continued to open fire at
Palestinians moving in the area.  As a result, 1 Palestinian civilian was
killed and 5 others have been injured.

 According to
preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, early Sunday morning, Israeli
tanks, bulldozers and troops moved approximately 3 kilometres from Morag
settlement, and were concentrated along the southern section of the main
internal road, Salah al-Din Street, thereby cutting off all traffic between
Rafah and Khan Younis. Israeli soldiers raided a Palestinian house located on
Salah al-Din Street and took up position on the roof, from which they opened
fire on Palestinians in the street below.  Israeli bulldozers then began
razing Palestinian agricultural land located between Morag settlement and Salah
al-Din Street. During this operation, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Said
Hussein Abu Azoum, 26, who was traveling on a donkey cart from Khan Younis back
to his home in Rafah. Said was hit by 2 bullets: 1 in the stomach and a second
in his hand.  Israeli soldiers did not offer medical assistance and
delayed access for Palestinian medics. Said had already died by the time a
Palestinian ambulance was able to reach him.

 On Monday, 6
October, Israeli military bulldozers continued the land-razing operation,
focusing on Palestinian agricultural land between Salah al-Din Street eastwards
towards Sofa Crossing. Israeli soldiers continued to open fire at Palestinians
in the area. As a result of Israeli gun-fire, PCHR field workers have not yet
been able to gain access to the razed areas. However, local landowners estimate
that during this Israeli military operation, approximately 400 dunums of
Palestinian agricultural land between Morag settlement and Sofa Crossing has
been razed.  Israeli Occupying Forces have also continued to open fire at
Palestinians attempting to travel along Salah al-Din Street and on Monday, 5
Palestinians were shot and injured including 1 who remains in a critical
condition.

 Israeli Occupying
Forces also reportedly opened fire at Palestinian medics attempting to access
the wounded, including an ambulance from the Abu Yusuf Najar Hospital in
Rafah. 

 Palestinians
residing in properties in the Al Atatrah, Hai El Nasser, El Fukhari
neighborhoods located to the West and East of Salah al-Din Street, have been
particularly affected during this Israeli military operation. Water and
electricity networks were damaged by the Israeli bulldozers, cutting off all
supplies since Sunday. 

 Also on Monday,
at approximately 12:30pm, Israeli Occupying Forces entered the Salam
neighbourhood in Rafah, which is located directly adjacent to the border with
Egypt.  Israeli troops moved approximately 200 metres into the
neighbourhood, destroying 2 Palestinian homes and damaging a third.  3
families (at least 18 people) were rendered homeless as a result.

 PCHR condemns in
the strongest terms ongoing Israeli military attacks on Palestinian civilians
throughout the OPTs.  PCHR asserts that these military attacks constitute
violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war
crimes.  PCHR calls on the international community, specifically the High
Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take immediate concrete
steps to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people.