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PALESTINIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
PRESS RELEASE
Ref: 17/2003
Date: 26 January 2003
Israeli occupying forces kill 12 Palestinians, injure dozens and destroy a number of houses and civilian facilities In the last 24 hours, Israeli occupying forces have escalated their assaults against Palestinian civilians and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Last night, Israeli occupying forces killed 12 Palestinians and destroyed nearly 20 civilian facilities in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, when they invaded the neighborhood, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters. In addition, 40 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were injured, 6 of them remain in a serious condition. More than 60 shops in a market in the nearby al-Shojaeya neighborhood were also burnt by Israeli shelling.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 22:20 on Saturday, 25 January 2003, about 40 Israeli heavy military vehicles, accompanied by military bulldozers and covered by combat helicopters, invaded al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza city from two directions: al-Shuhada junction and the settler road between al-Shuhada junction and al-Mentar crossing, south of the city. Israeli military vehicles and combat helicopters intensely shelled the neighborhood. They seized complete control over the neighborhood. Israeli soldiers deployed on the main and branch roads and planted explosives in 17 workshops and destroyed them. Two houses located above two of these workshops were also destroyed. In addition, 15 workshops and dozens of houses were severely damaged.
During the Israeli invasion which continued until Sunday morning, 26 January 2003, 12 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces. PCHR’s fieldworker in Gaza city reported that in the early stages of the Israeli invasion, Ashraf Samih Kuhail, 22, was killed by several live bullets in the chest and thighs, while he was in a branch road in the neighborhood. Israeli heavy military vehicles also fired an artillery shell at three Palestinian security men who were resisting the Israeli invasion. The three were killed by shrapnel from the shell. As a result of the Israeli indiscriminate shelling, 8 Palestinians were killed. In addition, 40 Palestinians were injured, six of them remain in a serious condition. A number of artillery shells hit the al-Shojaeya clothes market setting fire to a large number of stalls. Firefighters were only able to extinguish the fires this morning as the area remained dangerous throughout the night.
Those killed by Israeli forces during the invasion were:
1. Ashraf Samih Kuhail, 23, shot by several live bullets in the chest and thighs;
2. Ahmed Hassan al-Fayoumi, 24, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence, hit by shrapnel from an artillery shell;
3. Mohammed Rashad ‘Obaid, 28, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence, hit by shrapnel from an artillery shell;
4. Ahmed Shihada ‘Aabed, 23, a member of the Palestinian Military Intelligence, hit by shrapnel from an artillery shell;
5. ‘Alaa’ Zuhair Khalifa, 23, killed by several live bullets throughout the body;
6. Mohammed Akram al-Nakhala, 21, killed by several live bullets throughout the body;
7. Rami Fathi ‘Eissa, 27, killed by shrapnel sustained throughout the body;
8. Marwan Zuhair Rahmi, 25, killed by several live bullets in the head and the neck;
9. Eyad Bader Jibril ‘Akkawi, 20, killed by several live bullets in the chest and neck;
10. Wissam Fayez Yousef Hassan, 24, killed by a live bullet in the head;
11. Khaled ‘Ali Hassan Shallouf, 17, killed by several live bullets throughout the body; and
12. Amjad Yusuf al-Hattab, 16, shot by several live bullets throughout the body;
PCHR condemns this attack, which came only hours after Israeli occupying forces had invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun and leaving large-scale destruction to civilian property. PCHR is concerned that these Israeli attacks may be a prelude for a comprehensive invasion; the Israeli Defense Minister stated that the government is still considering seizing control over the whole Gaza Strip. PCHR reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to meet their obligations and ensure protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR calls also upon the international community to end its silence and immediately intervene to halt Israeli military attacks against Palestinian civilians and provide international protection for the Palestinian people.
Public Document
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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 7 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. Web:http://www.pchrgaza.org
