Ref: 160/2003

 In the latest
attack on civilians, three Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli soldiers
yesterday evening in central Gaza Strip.  Contrary to claims made by the
Israeli military, the three men, all from the same family, were unarmed and
were shot as they drove a car to visit relatives for the Eid holiday.

 According to
preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 8:45pm yesterday
evening Israeli soldiers infiltrated on foot the Abu Shar neighbourhood of Wadi
Salqa, east of Deir-El Balah, in the central Gaza Strip.  Israeli soldiers
took up positions on farm land in the area.  Approximately one hour later,
3 members of the Al-Smairi family left home to pay Eid holiday visits to nearby
relatives.  The three men got into a white Mazda car and drove away from
the house, which is situated approximately 150 metres away from an Israeli
military post in the area.  When the car was approximately 300 metres away
from the house, Israeli soldiers opened fire without warning, wounding the
three inside the vehicle.  More Israeli soldiers then arrived to the area
and imposed a military curfew. 

 Israeli soldiers
delayed passage of Palestinian ambulances to the scene for 90 minutes, despite
coordination with the Israeli military in the area.  Two of the three men
were already dead by the time the ambulance arrived at the scene.  The
third man was in a critical condition and died upon arrival at the
Deir-el-Balah Hospital. 

 The three
Palestinians killed were identified as:

1.    Khaled Ahmed Al-Smairi, 35

2.    Osama Suleiman Al-Smairi, 30

3.    Ibrahim Musa Al-Smairi, 32

Israeli military
sources later claimed that Israeli soldiers operating in the area had killed
three armed Palestinians en route to attack Israeli forces in the area. 
However, according to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, the three were unarmed
and were not involved at the time in any attack against Israeli targets. 
Israeli media articles also contradicted the Israeli military’s claim.

 PCHR condemns
this latest killing of three unarmed Palestinian civilians.  The willful
killing of a Palestinian civilian constitutes a grave breach of the Fourth
Geneva Convention, namely a war crime.  PCHR calls upon the Israeli
authorities, in accordance with international standards, to conduct a full and
fair investigation into the incident, to prosecute those individuals
responsible, and to provide full reparation for the victims of this incident.
 PCHR further calls on the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva
Convention, to intervene to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention,
including the immediate cessation of unlawful killings.