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Ref: 95/2005

Date: 03 August 2005

Time: 10:00 GMT

Rockets of the Palestinian Resistance Hit Palestinian Civilians

Two home-made rockets fired by groups of the Palestinian resistance at Israeli targets hit Palestinian residential areas yesterday evening.  One of the rockets hit a house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, killing a 6-year-old child and injuring 9 other civilians, including 5 children.  The other rocket hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis and damaged it.    

 According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:00 on Tuesday, 2 August 2005, groups of the Palestinian resistance fired 3 home-made rockets at Israeli targets to the northeast of the Gaza Strip.  One of the rockets went astray and hit a house belonging to the al-Ashqar family in the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.  As a result, 6-year-old Yasser ‘Adnan al-Ashqar was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, and 9 other civilians, including 5 children, were injured.  The wife and the four children of Hisham ‘Abdul Raziq, former Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, were among those who were injured, as they were visiting the house of the al-Ashqar family – the wife’s family.  Those injured in the incident were identified as:

1. ‘Adnan al-Ashqar, 50, seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

2. Mousa al-Ashqar, 60, seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

3. Huda ‘Abdullah al-Ashqar, 55, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

4. ‘Alaa’ ‘Adnan al-Ashqar, 11, injured by shrapnel throughout the body;

5. Faten ‘Abdul Raziq, 29, injured by shrapnel to the body;

6. Jihad Hisham ‘Abdul Raziq, 4, injured by shrapnel to the face and the legs;

7. Nisma Hisham ‘Abdul Raziq, 8, injured by shrapnel to the body;

8. Basma Hisham ‘Abdul Raziq, 10, injured by shrapnel to the body; and

9. Nisreen Hisham ‘Abdul Raziq, 6, injured by shrapnel to the body. 

This incident came less than 24 hours following a similar incident, when a rocket hit Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.  According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:15 on Monday, 1 August 2005, a home-made rocket went astray and hit the reception department at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, damaging the water network and the solar energy system. 

PCHR strongly condemns such acts and remains gravely concerned at repeated mistakes in firing those rockets hitting civilian areas and endangering civilians.  PCHR also reminds the Palestinian resistance groups of their responsibilities with regard to protection of civilians in keeping with international law, and calls on them to abstain from launching any military activities from inside or near civilian areas or which target civilians or civilian areas.  Attacks against civilians are in clear violation of international humanitarian law.  PCHR continues to campaign and press for the complete implementation of IHL and that the perpetrators of attacks against civilians must be dealt with in accordance with international humanitarian law.

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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