Press Release

Three Martyrs in Nablus and Gaza today,

PCHR calls for immediate international intervention

Ref.,: 135/2000

Date: 17 October, 2000

Time: 16:00 GMT

This evening, Nabil Sae’d Abed Khater, 42 years old, from Gaza, died at Shifa hospital after he was wounded by a bullet in the chest shot by the Israeli occupation forces in the area of Erez to the north of the Gaza Strip. In Nablus, Mohammed Hussein El-Dakhil, 26 years old, from Nablus, died at hospital after he was wounded with a bullet in his neck shot by the Israeli occupation forces on October 2, 2000.

According to reports by PCHR’s field officers, clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces have been continuous in the area of Erez since the morning. The Israeli occupation forces have been using live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas against Palestinian demonstrators. Consequently, Nabil Sae’d Abed Khater have been killed, two other people have been wounded by live ammunition, and some other 15 were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets. In additions, more than 80 people have been hurt due to inhaling tear gas.

In khan Younis, clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces are still taking place near the Israeli military outpost, known as “Al Nouria Outpost”, to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Younis. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that 45 Palestinian civilians, including some children, were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets. One civilian was wounded by live ammunition in the right leg. The PCHR’s field officer added that dozens of Palestinian civilians, including some children, were hurt due to inhaling tear gas while they were at home in most cases.

In the West Bank tension has speard through out the area since the morning hours after one of the settlers of the settlement of Eitamar near Nablus shot fire at some Palestinian farmers in the village of Beit Fourik near Nablus while they were cultivating olives. As a result Mousa Eissa Manasra, 28 years old, was shot dead by a bullet in the abdomen.

There are fears that tension may escalate, and the number of Palestinian victims may increase as a result of the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation forces against unarmed Palestinian demonstrators.

PCHR calls for immediate international intervention to prevent more deterioration in the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. As a result of the criminal actions perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces and Jewish settlers, 97 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2600 have been wounded. PCHR reiterates its demand for establishing an international commission of inquiry, under the auspices of the United Nations, to investigate these crimes, and providing immediate international protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.