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PCHR condemns the deaths of 5 Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation forces
Ref:73/2001
Date: 24 November 2001
The past 24 hours witnessed further escalation in attacks perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 5 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces.
On Friday afternoon, after the funeral procession of the five children who were killed in Khan Yunis on Thursday, clashes erupted near the city cemetery between dozens of Palestinian children and Israeli occupation forces, stationed at “Neve Dekalim” settlement. Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on the children, killing 15-year-old Wa’el ‘Ali Radwan, from ‘Aabasan village in Khan Yunis, with a live bullet in the head. Three civilians were also wounded.
As part of the ongoing declared policy of political assassinations, Israeli occupation forces also assassinated three Palestinians who they claimed were involved in attacks against Israel. On Friday, at approximately 19:05, two Israeli combat helicopters fired five rockets at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling on a branch road, 3km southwest of Al-Far’a village, north of Nablus. The car was totally destroyed. Three Palestinians who were traveling in the car were killed. Their bodies were transferred to Jenin Hospital, where two were identified as Ayman Rashid ‘Awaysa (Hashayka), 37, and his brother Ma’moun, 26, from Tallouza village in Nablus. The third victim was later identified as Mahmoud Mohammed El-Shouli (Abu Hannoud), 35, from ‘Assira village near Nablus.
In the evening, Israeli occupation forces fired at a Palestinian taxi in Rafah, killing the driver and wounding two passengers. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 21:00, the taxi was transporting a family from Rafah to Khan Yunis after they visited relatives in Rafah. The driver mistakenly drove towards Rafah Border Crossing. When he realized his mistake and turned the car around towards Khan Yunis, Israeli occupation forces in a military location near the crossing opened fire on the car without warning. The driver died of his injuries and two passengers sustained serious injuries:
1) Ahmed Mohammed El-Hinnawi, 25, the driver, killed by a live bullet in the head;
2) Hadia Salameh Abu Shammala, 53, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head; and
3) Ikram Jawad Abu Shammala, 25, wounded by a live bullet in the left knee.
The Israeli forces denied ambulance access to the area for around 45 minutes. El-Hinnawi was later pronounced dead at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis.
PCHR reiterates its condemnation of the violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to put an end to such violations. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to meet their legal obligations under the Convention, and to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians and to ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the OPT.