Press Release

Ref: 136/2000

Date: October 18, 2000

Time:11:30 GMT

Since the morning, the Israeli occupation forces continued shooting towards Palestinian civilians in several areas of the Gaza Strip. More than 16 Palestinian civilians were wounded in the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom near Deir El-Balah, including the child Ismail Mohammed Abu Jayyab, 13 years old, from Deir El-Balah, who was wounded by a bullet in the head, and was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza in a critical condition. A driver of a UN ambulance, Mohammed El-Danaf, 47 years old, was also wounded by a bullet in the knee, while he was relieving the wounded.

PCHR’s field officer in Deir El-Balah reported that the Israeli occupation forces used live ammunition against youth and children, and that he saw some people, including the child Abu Jayyab, being wounded without hearing the sounds of shooting, as the Israeli occupation forces used silencers. The PCHR’s field officer added that Jewish settlers threw stones towards Palestinian cars, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, and that they also participated in aggressions against Palestinian demonstrators.

In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near the Israeli military outpost, known as “Al-Nouria Outpost,” to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces used tear gas against demonstrators and the adjacent houses to the Israeli military outpost. As a result, dozens of Palestinian civilians, including some children, were hurt due to inhaling tear gas.

In the area of Erez to the north of the Gaza Strip, clashes broke out this morning between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which responded using tear gas bombs. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that a tear gas bomb hit and damaged an ambulance of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.

In Rafah, PCHR’s field officer reported that sounds of shooting and explosions were heard last night in the area adjacent to Salah El-Din Gate on the borders with Egypt. The PCHR’s field officer added that 3 people were wounded by splinters of shells unleashed by the Israeli occupation forces, and that facades of two houses were damaged.

The Israeli occupation forces continued to reinforce their presence in the Gaza Strip. Yesterday afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces established a new military outpost on a 2-donum area near Kissufim Road which links Gush Qattif Settlement Block with the Green Line. Eyewitnesses stated that two tanks in addition to a large number of troops were deployed in the new military outpost, and that Israeli military patrols were seen moving along the mentioned road. It is worth mentioning that the new Israeli military outpost is the forth of its kind along the road leading to Kissufim Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel.

The Israeli occupation continue to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories, and Gaza International Airport is still closed contrary to the Israeli claims that it was reopened this morning.