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Press Release
Secretary General of the PFLP killed, the most prominent figure to be assassinated by Israeli occupation forces since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada
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Ref: 48/2001 Date: 27 August 2001 |
This morning, the Israeli occupation forces assassinated one of the most prominent Palestinian political leaders, Abu Ali Mustafa, Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). This horrible crime is a turning point in the Israeli government’s assassination policy. Previous assassinations targeted those described by the Israeli government as “Intifada activists,” but this time the target was one of the most prominent Palestinian political leaders, and a symbol of the national struggle.
PCHR learnt that on Monday morning, August 27, 2001, at approximately 11:15 local time, Israeli combat helicopters fired two rockets at the office of Secretary General of the PFLP, the second most prominent political party of the Palestinian national movement, and one which opposes the Oslo agreements. The rockets hit the office, an apartment on the third floor of a building behind the office of the Ramallah-Al-Bireh Governorate in Al-Bireh. One rocket penetrated an eastern window of the Abu Ali Mustafa’s office, killing him instantly. The other rocket penetrated a northern window of the office. The apartment was totally destroyed and five Palestinians, including a woman resident of the building, were injured.
According to Palestinian security sources, the attack was launched by Israeli combat helicopters that were flying over Kubar village, 15km to the north of Al-Bireh.
Abu Ali Mustafa is the nom de guerre of Mustafa Ali El-Zabri, 62, from Arrabeh village near Jenin.
PCHR strongly condemns this criminal act by Israeli occupation forces, which was carried out according to a declared policy of assassination adopted by the Israeli government, in violation of international law and international humanitarian law. PCHR believes that the assassination policy, including this most heinous crime, further proves the aggressive nature of the Israeli government and refutes its claims of wanting peace. This crime was certainly committed after a deliberate decision taken by the Israeli government, headed by the war criminal Ariel Sharon, to escalate tension in the whole region. In light of continued escalation of Israeli aggression, PCHR reiterates its call for the international community, through its organizations and agencies, to immediately intervene to prevent further deterioration of the situation in the region. PCHR also calls upon the international community to provide protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, who face the most horribly destructive weapons of the Israeli arsenal, used with the full political support of the US administration.
