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The Palestinain Centre for Human Rights expresses its grave concern at the latest attacks by the Israeli military against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Ref: 16/2002
Date: 11 February 2002
This morning, Israeli Apache helicopter gunships shelled civil and security insitutions in Jabalya refugee camp and Gaza city, injuring tens of Palestinians, including civilians. The attacks seriously damaged a number of civilian homes and other civil and security properties.
At approximately 11:15am, Israeli Apache helicopter gunships shelled a Palestinian security complex which includes Gaza prison. After ten minutes the same target was hit by missiles fired from F16 fighter jets. A number of buildings inside this complex were seriously damaged. In addition, other properties, including civilian homes, located around the complex were damaged. Tens of civilians who were in the area were shocked or rendered unconscious in the explosions. Two Palestinian journalists, Samer Khalil Abu Daqka, from Al Jazeera, and Mohammad Shabat, a studio photographer, were injured. A foreign journalist, George Kochaniec from the Denver Rocky Mountain News, was also injured by shrapnel.
This attack came less than 24 hours after shelling attack yesterday evening on Gaza city. In yesterdays attack, buildings in the Ansar Presidential compound were hit by missiles from F16 fighter jets. Tens of civilians were injured or suffering from shock. Several buildings in the complex were damaged.
Moreover, at approximately 9pm yesterday, Israeli Apache helicopter gunships fired 5 missiles at a steel workshop located in a populated area in Jabalya refugee camp. The shop was completely destroyed and four civilians were injured. One hour later another workshop located in a residential building in Tel El Zatar was hit by missiles from an Apache Helicopter gunship. The workshop was completely destroyed and six civilians were injured. One of those was a child, Mohammad Suleiman Nasar, 13, who was blinded in the attack.
PCHR is gravely concerned by the escalation of these attacks and calls upon the High Contracting Parties to fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure Israel’s respect of the Convention in the OPTs. PCHR calls upon the High Contracting Parties to provide immediate international protection for Palestinian civilians in the OPTs.
