PRESS RELEASE

Released @ 25 January 1998

The Israeli Occupation Forces Bulldoze Palestinian land in Khan Younis and Open Fire on Palestinians.

Late night 21 January 1998 in a serious escalation of tensions, Israeli bulldozers, accompanied by several Israeli troops, bulldozed land in the west of the Khan Younis refugee camp, close to the eastern part of the Neve Dalim settlement. Bulldozing is the first step before confiscating the land and annexing it to the settlement. On 5 January 1998 Israeli troops also bulldozed land in El-Mawasi area in Khan Younis, again to the east of Neved Kalim.

Later, expressing denunciation for the bulldozings, many people gathered in the area. Clashes soon erupted between the people and Israeli soldiers at around 11:30 AM on 22 January 1998. The Israeli soldiers opened fire on the demonstrators. They used rubber bullets, live ammunition, tear gas, and noise bombs. The confrontation, lasting until 4 PM, resulted in the injury of three Palestinians by rubber bullets, as well as another injury by an exploding noise bomb. At noon 23 January 1998 a clash between the Israeli Occupation Forces and Palestinians began again. The Palestinians held a demonstration in order to convey that they would not passively let their land be stolen. The Israeli Occupation Forces used force against the Palestinians. Five Palestinains were injured. One, Ismail Fathi Salama Wadi, who was only 17 years old, was seriously injured when a bullet penetrated his stomach. His pancreas and liver were badly damaged. Wadi was transferred to Shifa Hospital, where surgery was immediately performed. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit.

Bulldozing new land in Khan Younis in order to expand the existing settlements is a grave violation of international law and will undoubtedly increase tension in the area. Moreover, the Israeli Occupation Forces has used forced excessively against Palestinian civilians. Nine Palestinians were injured in the two days of confrontation, two of which were serious cases, and five of which were children. The shooting took place when the lives of the soldiers were not in serious danger, and when the demonstrators were but two meters away from the soldiers. This escalation — the bulldozing of new Palestinian land and the attack against Palestinian civilians — reaffirmed that human rights in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are being flagrantly violated by Israel. Therefore, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights demands that the international community take firmer measures against the Israeli government. Such measures should compel Israel’s obedience to international law and principles. They should guarantee protection to Palestinian civilians and their property.