Press Release

More shelling of residential neighborhoods and more leveling of agricultural land

Ref: 192/2000

Date: December 7, 2000 Time: 13:00 GMT  15:00 Palestine Time  

Yesterday evening and this morning, the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets at residential neighborhoods in the cities of Rafah, Gaza, Khan Yunis and Al-Bireh and the refugee camp of Al-Jalazon, causing severe damage to property.  In the past 24 hours, bulldozers of the Israeli occupation forces swept more areas of agricultural land and demolished more agricultural facilities in the Gaza Strip.

 This morning, at approximately 1:00 local time, Palestinians who live near the road between Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, woke up hearing sounds of intensive shooting by the Israeli occupation forces positioned along the road.  Eyewitnesses said that six tanks of the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on houses, causing severe damage to a number of these houses, including:

1)                     The house of Abdel-Karim Qaddoura Malaka, a two-story house: Bullets hit external and internal walls, windows and water storage tanks.

2)                     The house of Mustafa Qaddoura Malaka, a two-story house: Bullets hit external walls and destroyed water storage tanks.

Eyewitnesses said that the shooting coincided with leveling of areas of agricultural land in the vicinity by the Israeli occupation forces.  The sweeping included:

1)                     A six-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and another 1.5-donum area on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables was established.  The land is owned by Yousef Malaka and brothers.  In addition, a 60-square-meter agricultural pool, an irrigation network, a water pump and an electricity generator were destroyed.

2)                     A 24-square-meter car park owned by Mohammed Yousef Malaka.  In addition, a sewage network near his house was destroyed.

3)                      A 24-square-meter car park, a 16-square-meter store of agricultural equipment and a 20-square-meter bird farm, in which all the birds were killed.  All are owned by Abdel-Karim Qaddoura Malaka.

 Last night, at approximately 00:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets at Tal Zourob neighborhood in Rafah.  PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the source of fire was a military post of the Israeli occupation forces at the borderline.  PCHR’s field officer added that two shells penetrated the three-story house of Sa’di Mohammed Zourob, making holes 10-15 centimeters in diameter in walls of the third floor.  A third shell fell near the house, but did not explode.  No injuries were reported among Palestinian civilians who left their houses in the area.

 Last night, at about 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets at the refugee camp of Khan Yunis.  PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the sources of fire were military posts of the Israeli occupation forces at Al-Tuffah roadblock, in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and to the west of Al-Amal neighborhood.  No injuries were reported among Palestinian civilians.  The shelling hit a number of houses in the refugee camp of Khan Yunis, including the five-story house of Fayez Abu Akar and his brothers.  Windows were broken and bullets made holes in the façade.

 Yesterday evening, at about 21:30, the Israeli occupation forces shelled the Palestinian refugee camp of Al-Jalazon and the city of Al-Bireh, causing severe damage to houses.

  ***   PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to immediately intervene to stop the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR calls in particular for:  1.                              Establishing without delay an independent commission of inquiry, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1322 (2000), to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. 2.                              Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention. 3.                              Immediately providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories in the face of the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under the protection of these forces. 4.                              Use by the EU of effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights. 5.                              Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are increasingly deteriorating because of the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire occupied Palestinian territories. 6.                              Use by the international community and relevant bodies, including ICRC, of necessary measures to ensure the access of medical supplies and equipment and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces have continued to deny entry of this material through Rafah Border Crossing (into the Gaza Strip).    

“End”