Press Release

On the 30^th day of clashes:

Significant escalation of shooting by the Israeli occupation forces

Today, clashes broke out between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces throughout the Gaza Strip. These forces fired at demonstrators and wounded dozens. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces continued to station themselves on several parts of the main road between the north of the Gaza Strip and the south (Salah El-Din Street). They re-closed the mentioned road near Kfar Darom settlement.

At 15:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire from their machine guns on Palestinian civilians demonstrating near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural area). Eight civilians were wounded. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that among the wounded were two children, one wounded in the neck and the other in the abdomen. The two children were evacuated to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

In Rafah, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near Salah El-Din Gate on the Palestinian-Egyptian border, and near Tal Al-Sultan road block in the west of the town (separating it from Al-Mawasi). The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators in the two areas of clashes and wounded four of them with live ammunition, three of whom are in critical condition. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the three seriously wounded are: Mohammed Mustafa Al-Jazzar, 18 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the head and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza; Essam Al-Moghayar, 20 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the back; and Mousa Abu Jazar, 16 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the back.

In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military post to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis and near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators. Snipers using silencers took part. As a result, 22 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition, including the child Mohammed Sai’d Abu Al-Hesein, 15 years old, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest. PCHR’s field officer reported that the Israeli occupation forces opened fire suddenly and indiscriminately this afternoon and wounded eight Palestinian civilians at once. Among the wounded were the child Jamal Al-Ghalban, 12 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen, and the child Yousef Awadh Abu Tayyem, 14 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the neck. Additionally, eight Palestinian civilians were wounded today with rubber-coated metal bullets.

In the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement near Deir El-Balah, clashes broke out this afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces fired live ammunition, frequently using silencers, and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrators. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that 14 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live bullets fired by the Israeli occupation forces, four of whom were seriously wounded; they are: Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Boheisi, 17 years old, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen; Hammam Jamal Al-Aqraa’, 16 years old, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with a live bullet in the left eye; and A’atef Ahmed Nejem, 22 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the chest. Additionally, three other Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets.

This afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near the area of Erez – under the control of these forces – in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinian demonstrators. A Palestinian civilian was wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder and three were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets.

This afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces on a road used by Jewish settlers near Karni Outlet. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators and wounded three of them with live ammunition. The wounded were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza.

PCHR’s Notes on Today’s Clashes in the Gaza Strip:

1. There is a significant escalation of shooting at Palestinian demonstrators by the Israeli occupation forces; 53 Palestinian civilians were wounded with live ammunition and 14 wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets.
2. Ten of the wounded are in critical condition as they were wounded in the head, chest and abdomen. This provides strong evidence of a shoot-to-kill policy adopted by the Israeli occupation forces.
3. Eight of the seriously wounded are children of the age 12-18 years.
4. Two of the wounded received bullets in the back. This provides evidence of indiscriminate shooting or targeting with the aim to kill.
5. Eight of the wounded received bullets at once which is a clear evidence of indiscriminate shooting by the Israeli occupation forces.
6. The Israeli occupation forces frequently used snipers and silencers in shooting at Palestinians.

PCHR condemns the killings and abuses perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories. Since September 29, 2000, 127 Palestinians, including 38 children, have been killed and more than 3,800 wounded, some of whom are in critical condition. PCHR warns of the continued escalation of excessive lethal use of force by the Israeli occupation forces, and warns particularly of the targeting of Palestinian children.

PCHR reiterates its call to the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately intervene to halt serious abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. In addition, these parties should intervene to stop the continued attacks on Palestinian land and property. PCHR calls for providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories as it is the only way to stop the Israeli occupation forces’ crimes and to prevent further deterioration of the situation.