Press Release
The Israeli occupation forces escalate their aggression on the occupied Palestinian territories, and reinforce their military outposts in the Gaza Strip
Ref: 137/2000
Date: October 18, 2000
Time: 16:00 GMT
The Israeli occupation forces continued to shoot fire towards Palestinian civilians in several areas of the Gaza Strip. This afternoon, several areas of the Gaza Strip, specially Rafah, Khan Yunis, the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom near Deir El-Balah and the area of Erez in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, witnessed clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. As a result, more than 100 Palestinians were wounded by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces. The wounded were evacuated to hospitals in Khan Yunis and Gaza.
Clashes in the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom have continued up to the time of issuing this press release. Since this morning, more than 59 Palestinians have been wounded in the mentioned area by live ammunition, nine of whom are in critical conditions. In the area of Erez, 8 Palestinians were wounded by live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets shot by the Israeli occupation forces, and more than 30 Palestinians were hurt due to inhaling tear gas. According to PCHR’s field officer in the area of Erez, clashes are still continuous there. In the area adjacent to the Israeli military outpost, known as “Al-Noria Outpost,” to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis, More than 50 Palestinian civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets, and dozens, including some children, were hurt due to inhaling tear gas as a result of clashes with the Israeli occupation forces. In Rafah, PCHR’s field officer reported that the Israeli occupation forces shot fire at Palestinian demonstrators and wounded two of them.
The Israeli occupation forces fenced an 80-donum area in Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, near the settlement of Neve’ Dekalim on the southern side, with barbwire, and annexed it to the settlement. PCHR referred in a previous press release to sweeping the mentioned areas by the Israeli occupation forces to annex it to the mentioned settlement. This action threatens the safety of Palestinian civilians who pass along the way leading from Khan Yunis to the seacoast as a result of expanding the mentioned settlement. The Israeli occupation forces are now sweeping a wooded area along the public road near the area of Erez in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
PCHR is deeply concerned about escalating the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR observes the Israeli occupation forces’ reinforcement and expansion of their outposts contrary to the claims of the Israeli mass media about decreasing the friction with Palestinian civilians. PCHR asserts that the Gaza Strip is still under total siege, as the Israeli occupation forces continue to close all border crossings and Gaza International Airport.
