Palestinian Civilian Killed by Israeli Settler in Gaza Strip

Published on 31 December 1996 at 14:00 GMT

Yesterday, 30 December 1996, at around 9:30pm local time, an Israeli settler shot and killed Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammed Abu Nasir near the settlement of Kfar Darom located in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

Abu Nasir, a 33 year old resident of Deir el Balah, suffering from mental illness, had according to his family’s testimony, left home around 12 noon. His family believed he was going to visit his brother or cousin who lives close to the eastern side of Kfar Darom settlement. It is appears that while walking near the settlement, approximately 70 metres from his cousin’s house, Abu Nasir was fired upon by a settler from inside the settlement and consequently died on the spot. Residents in the area stated they heard the sound of one shot around 9:30pm and within minutes saw Israeli flares explode in the air.

The director of the Palestinian Preventive Security for the central Gaza Strip stated he was informed by the joint District Coordination Offices at 10:15pm of the death of a Palestinian. The information he received from the Israeli side was that an unidentified Palestinian died,from gunshot wounds to the chest inflicted by an Israeli settler following an attempt by the Palestinian to enter the Kfar Darom Settlement. The Israeli military provided the Palestinian Police with photographs, but did not hand over the body until today.

Subsequent information from Israeli sources is contradictory. Israeli security sources stated that a Jewish settler killed a Palestinian after he entered the settlement area in the Gaza Strip and Israeli radio said that the settler claimed to open fire against a Palestinian after he attacked him.

However, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights obtained the following information:

1) There is no evidence that Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammed Abu Nasir entered or attempted to enter the settlement, nor did he attempt to attack a Jewish settler. Rather, it appears that he was walking outside the settlement of Kfar Darom on his way to visit a relative’s home.

2) It appears that Abu Nasir was unarmed, and, in fact, had he been armed it is likely that the Israeli military would have notified the Palestinians of this.

3) Also, it would appear unnecessary for the Israeli settler to have shot at an intruder. From information available, Abu Nasir was killed in a well lit and open area 50 meters from an Israeli military watch tower located inside the settlement. It is unlikely that anyone could successfully penetrate the settlement without alerting the Israeli soldiers in the watch tower.

4) It seems that no previous warning was given to Abu Nasir before he was shot and killed.

• The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights condemns the killing of Abu Nasir. This is the just the most recent incident involving a Palestinian coming under fire from Israeli based in the Gaza Strip. On 5 June 1996 Atiah Abu Samra was killed by Israeli soldiers near a military installation near the Gani Tal settlement near Khan Younis. Abu Samra was unarmed when he was fired upon by Israeli soldiers.
• The settlements established by Israel in the Occupied Territories breach international       law. The frequency of these incidents creates greater friction in an already tense environment following the clashes of late September 1996. The Palestinian Centre asserts that security, order, and peace cannot be achieved in the region whilst the Israeli settlements remain in the Occupied Territories. The Palestinian Centre demands the following:

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  1) The immediate opening by an independent and objective body of an investigation with the participation of international investigators.

  2) Appropriate measures should be established to protect Palestinian civilians from violent actions by settlers, especially in areas near Israeli settlements.