PCHR did not issue the Weekly Report
last week due to the Eid. This report
covers the period 20 November – 3 December 2003.
Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 12
Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli forces
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into the West Bank and Gaza Strip
· 4
Palestinians, including a child, were killed and 3 buildings were destroyed
during an Israeli military incursion into Ramallah and al-Bireh
· 4
houses were destroyed in Rafah
· Agricultural
land were razed in the Gaza Strip
· Houses
were raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· 8
Palestinian houses were destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continuing
campaign of retaliation against the families of Palestinians accused of
involvement in attacks against Israeli targets
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a number of Palestinian
civilians were injured
· Construction
of the “separation wall” in the West Bank continued
· Israeli
occupation forces continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs and restrict
the movement of Palestinian civilians
Introduction
During the period covered in this report,
particularly in the past 10 days, violations of the human rights of Palestinian
civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) carried out by Israeli
occupying forces have escalated, including incursions into Palestinian areas,
shooting at Palestinian civilians, especially children, indiscriminate shelling
of residential areas, house demolition and leveling of agricultural land.
Israeli occupying forces have also continued to impose a tightened siege on the
OPTs. During the last two weeks, 12
Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed and a number of others were
injured by Israeli occupying forces. As
demonstrated by the ongoing investigations carried out by PCHR, Israeli
occupying forces continue to carry out a systematic policy of extrajudicial
killing. During the period under
consideration this policy was demonstrated by the unlawful killing of 3
Palestinians during an Israeli military incursion into Ramallah.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas including Jenin,
Tulkarm, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, al-Bireh, and Hebron. The largest incursion during this period was
into Ramallah and al-Bireh on Monday, 1 December 2003, which left dead 4
Palestinians, 3 of whom were killed when Israeli occupying forces demolished a
building while they were inside. In total,
8 Palestinians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces
during these incursions. Israeli
occupying forces carried out operations in these areas using tanks, armored
personnel carriers, military jeeps, helicopters, and civilian cars used by
undercover units to infiltrate into Palestinian communities. Also during these incursions, dozens of
Palestinians were arrested and a number of houses were destroyed as a form of
collective punishment against families of alleged Palestinian activists.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “separation wall” inside the West Bank. This week, Israeli occupying forces razed approximately 500 donums[1] of Palestinian agricultural land in the Tulkarem
district for the construction of the “separation wall.” Occupying forces also confiscated 22 donums
of land in Zeita village. According to
the planned tract of the wall, Zeita village will be isolated from the rest of
the West Bank by the wall, while the neighboring Nazlat ‘Eissa and Nazlat Abu
Nar villages will be trapped between the wall and an Israeli military fence.
In the Gaza Strip, 4 Palestinian civilians, including
3 members of a single family, targeted while they were on their way to visit
relatives during the Eid, were killed by Israeli occupying forces. Israeli occupying forces have acknowledged
that the three relatives were killed by mistake. The fourth victim was killed by Israeli soldiers
in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli
occupying forces also indiscriminately shelled Palestinian residential areas,
especially in the southern Gaza Strip. As a result, more than 10 Palestinian civilians, including several
children, were injured.
Israeli occupying forces conducted 7 incursions into
Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. They razed 63 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Khan Yunis and
the central Gaza Strip, and destroyed 4 houses in Rafah.
In violation of international human rights and humanitarian
law, in particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War of 1949, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures
against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. In this context, Israeli occupying forces
destroyed 8 Palestinian houses in Ramallah, Hebron and Jenin.
In a punitive measure against Palestinian detainees,
on Sunday, 23 November 2003, Israeli occupying forces transferred 3 Palestinian
detainees from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. They left the three at three different locations
in the Gaza Strip. On Thursday, 20 November 2003, the Israeli High Court
held a session to consider appeals submitted by the three detainees concerning the transfer orders issued
by the head of the Israeli military central command to transfer 18 Palestinian
detained by Israeli occupying forces from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. Israeli occupying forces implemented the
original transfer orders against the three detainees before the Israeli High
Court had issued a ruling in their cases. The number of Palestinian detainees transferred by Israeli occupying
forces from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip in November 2003 increased to
5. These measures constitute unlawful
transfers within the meaning of article 49 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention. The unlawful transfer of a protected person also constitutes
a grave breach of international humanitarian law, as detailed in article 147 of
the Fourth Geneva Convention, and a war crime, as further clarified in article
85 of the First Additional Protocol. PCHR is gravely concerned about the role played by the Israeli judicial
system in providing legal approval for those Israeli military practices in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories that contradict international humanitarian
law.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities and restrict
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
have also continued to impose a closure on a number of main and branch roads in
the Gaza Strip. Palestinian civilians
also continue to be subject to humiliating and degrading treatment at Israeli
military checkpoints and border crossings. The restrictions on movement and the fragmentation of the OPTs, through
the use of checkpoints and barriers, carried out by Israeli forces systematically
violate Palestinian economic, social and cultural rights. Recently, Israeli occupying forces have
imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians between the
north and south of the Gaza Strip. In
the West Bank, despite claims by Israel that they eased the siege imposed on
Palestinian communities in the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 20 November 2003
At approximately 02:15, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Marda village, north of Salfit. They raided and a searched a number of houses. They withdrew from the village after having
arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Ramzi
‘Abdullah Ahmed Hujair, 22;
2. D’iaa’
Baker ‘Aqel Suleiman, 22;
3. Mohammed
Baker ‘Aqel Suleiman, 21; and
4. Samer
Husni Ahmed al-Khuffash, 21.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth, west of Ramallah, They raided and searched
the house of Ahmed Mohammed ‘Atallah, 27, and arrested him.
At approximately 03:15, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces infiltrated into Beit Reema village, northwest of
Ramallah. They raided the house of
Mohammed ‘Abdul Mo’ti, 26, and arrested him.
At the same time, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced by military vehicles, raided an mountainous area
between Kufor ‘Ein and Mazare’ al-Noubani, northwest of Ramallah. They searched caves and arrested 4
Palestinians:
1. Jamil
‘Othman al-Refa’ei, 33, from Kufor ‘Ein village;
2. ‘Ali
Fayez al-Refa’ei, 22, from Kufor ‘Ein;
3. Ahmed
Hamad Yousef Daghra, 32, from Kufor ‘Ein village; and
4. Wafi
As’ad ‘Othman al-Shu’aibi, 29, from Deir Ghassana village.
Friday, 21 November 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved
approximately 1200m into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural
land planted with citrus owned by Ihsan ‘Abdul Ra’ouf al-Bourno.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus through its southern entrance. They moved forward towards the old town whilst
firing indiscriminately. 2 Palestinian
civilians were wounded:
1. Joma’a
Mohammed Ahmed Abu Halawa, 57, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
2. Ranin
Ahmed Joma’a Abu Halawa, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the face.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
in military locations in the vicinity of “Gush Qatif” settlement block, west
and south of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural
areas to the east and the north. 2
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Muneer
Ahmed Mohammed al-Sha’er, 2, wounded by shrapnel in the right ankle; and
2. Shadi
Mustafa al-Saqqa, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand.
Saturday, 22 November 2003
At approximately 03:20, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Assira village, north of Nablus, under cover of intense
gunfire. No casualties were
reported. Israeli forces also arrested 4
Palestinians:
1. Muhannad
Murshed Yahia ‘Athamna, 19;
2. ‘Akar
Husni Sawalha, 19;
3. Muhannad
Mohammed Jarara’a, 25; and
4. ‘Abdullah
Yousef al-Shouli, 28.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead
a Palestinian child during a military incursion into the eastern part of the
northern West Bank town of Jenin. Israeli military sources claimed that a Palestinian gunman fired from
among a group of people at an Israeli military unit and, in response, the unit
returned fire. During the incident a child
was killed by Israeli gun fire.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 14:35, an armored personnel carrier, 3 military jeeps
and a military bulldozer, moved into the eastern part of Jenin. They opened fire at houses and passing
civilians. Then, the military bulldozer
began to block an agricultural road leading to al-Almaniya neighborhood. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the bulldozer. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, killing 10-year-old
Ibrahim ‘Ali Jalamna with a live bullet in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, the children did
not pose any danger to Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli soldiers fired at
Nour ‘Abdullah Sawalma, 10, from ‘Assira village, north of Nablus, claiming
that he broke the curfew imposed on the village. He was wounded by a live bullet in the left
leg.
Sunday, 23 November 2003
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah and at the
entrance to the al-Mawasi area, west of the town, opened fire at Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian,
Khalil ‘Abdul Fattah Abu al-‘Eish, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the
right leg, while he was standing near his house.
At approximately 19:20, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Brazil neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Zuhair Mahmoud
al-‘Aaidi, 20, was wounded by shrapnel in the right foot, while he was standing
approximately 400m north of the border area.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli soldiers positioned
in military locations near “Gani Tal” and “Neve Dekalim” settlements, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A Palestinian woman, Faiza Fawzi al-Farra,
43, was wounded by a live bullet in the back while she was near her house.
Monday, 24 November 2003
At approximately 04:00, a number of Israeli military
jeeps moved into Tubas village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched ‘Awni Daraghma’s house. Then, they arrested 3 of his sons: Mohammed,
22; Rashed, 20; and Ahmed, 18.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved
approximately 100m into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip. The incursion continued until the
following evening. During the incursion
Israeli occupying forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Obaid
‘Abdullah Abu ‘Eyada.
2. They
razed a 30-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus owned
by Khalil Ibrahim al-Daya.
3. They
razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Yasser
Eqtifan.
4. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mohammed
‘Omar Hamdan.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in
al-Qarara village to the east. A
Palestinian civilian, Ahmed Hassan Mohammed Jaddou’, 23, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right shoulder, while he was walking along a road in the
area.
Tuesday, 25 November 2003
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by 3 tanks and a bulldozer, moved approximately 400m into al-Qarara
village, northeast of Khan Yunis. They
razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Suleiman ‘Atwa al-‘Eimawi.
2. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Ahmed ‘Atwa al-‘Eimawi.
3. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Khalil Mohammed al-Reqeb.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the Palestinian controlled Yatta village, south of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Yousef
Abu ‘Arram, 29. Without warning, they
opened fire at ‘Abu ‘Arram, wounding him with 2 live bullets in the abdomen and
the right foot. Then, they raided his
house and arrested him.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the Palestinian controlled Dura village, southeast of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
in Abu al-‘Ushoush area. Then, they
arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Rasmi
Mahmoud al-Sous, 22; and
2. ‘Amru
Hassan Mohammed ‘Amru, 25.
Wednesday, 26 November 2003
At approximately 04:30, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Jeeb village, southeast of Qalqilya. They raided and searched the house of Ahmed Rashid Hussein ‘Ouda, 30,
and then arrested him.
In the evening, in another case of apparent willful
killing Israeli occupying forces shot a Palestinian child in Yatta village,
south of Hebron. They also obstructed
his evacuation to the hospital, where he died the following morning. Another Palestinian was wounded and a third
was arrested.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 19:50, an armored personnel carrier and 12 military
jeeps, accompanied by 2 civilian cars carrying several Israeli undercover
units, moved into al-Musalla area in the center of Yatta village, south of
Hebron. Israeli occupation forces then
began to open fire at houses in the area. As a result, one child was killed and one Palestinian civilian was wounded:
1. Rashad
Tawfiq ‘Abdul Rahman Mur, 16, seriously wounded by an live bullet in the
abdomen, died the following morning; and
2. Mousa
Ahmed Mahmoud Abu ‘Ali, 28, wounded by 2 live bullets in the pelvis and the
left hand.
According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers got out
of a military jeep, and began to open fire at Mur from a distance of
approximately 30m.
Ambulances were not able to attend to the wounded due
to the intense Israeli gunfire. Mur was
evacuated in a civilian car to a hospital in the village, where he received
first aid treatment. An ambulance then
transferred him to al-Ahli Hospital in Hebron. He arrived at the hospital in a critical condition. His evacuation to the hospital took more than
2 hours due to the intense gunfire from Israeli occupying forces. A few hours later, Mur was transferred to
Ramallah Hospital. However, he was
pronounced dead at approximately 07:00 the following day. According to medical sources, the child had
been hit by an exploding bullet and died of an acute hemorrhage.
In the evening, three Palestinians were shot dead by
Israeli soldiers in the central Gaza Strip. Contrary to claims made by
Israeli occupying forces, the three men, all from the same family, were unarmed
and were shot as they were driving a car to visit relatives for the Eid
holiday. Later, Israeli media sources
reported that Israeli occupying forces admitted that they killed 3 Palestinians
by mistake.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 20:45, Israeli soldiers, traveling on foot, infiltrated
approximately 500m into the Abu Sha’ar neighborhood of Wadi Salqa village, east
of Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers took up
positions on farm land in the area. Approximately one hour later, 3
members of the al-Sumairi family left their home visit nearby relatives for the
Eid holidays. The three men got into a white Mazda car and drove away
from the house, which is situated approximately 150 meters away from an Israeli
military post in the area. When the car was approximately 300 meters away
from the house, Israeli soldiers opened fire without warning, wounding the
three men inside the vehicle. More Israeli soldiers then arrived to the
area and imposed a military curfew. Israeli
soldiers delayed passage of Palestinian ambulances to the scene for 90 minutes,
despite coordination with Israeli forces in the area. Two of the three
men were already dead by the time the ambulance arrived on the scene. The
third man was in critical condition and died upon arrival at the Deir al-Balah
Hospital.
The three Palestinians killed were identified as:
1. Khaled
Ahmed Ibrahim al-Smairi, 40, hit by several live bullets in the back and the
legs;
2. Ussama Suleiman ‘Aayesh Al-Smairi, 30, hit by
a live bullet in the head; and
3. Ibrahim Mousa al-Sumairi, 32, hit by several
live bullets in the chest and the abdomen.
Israeli military sources later claimed that Israeli
soldiers operating in the area had killed three armed Palestinians en route to
attack Israeli forces in the area. However, on Thursday, 27 November
2003, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported on its Arabic web site
that Israeli military sources admitted that Israeli soldiers killed the 3
Palestinians by mistake and that the three were unarmed.
Thursday, 27 November 2003
At approximately 04:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles
moved into Jenin and its refugee camp. At approximately 07:00, a number of members of the Palestinian
resistance clashed with Israeli forces. Palestinian
activist, Mo’ammar Shukri Fayez Ghawadra, 25, was wounded by shrapnel in the
legs.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli soldiers in a
military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian houses located approximately 400m to the east. 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded as they stood
near their homes:
1. Ahmed
Suleiman Hijazi, 38, wounded by 2 live bullets in the chest and the right hand;
and
2. Humaid
Subeh Fouju, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the head.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by 5 heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 70m into Block L
in Rafah refugee camp. Under cover of
intense gunfire, they leveled the remains of houses they had already demolished
in a previous operation. A Palestinian
civilian, Nabil Yousef Abu Ziada, 28, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
thigh.
Friday, 28 November 2003
In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers shot dead a
Palestinian man who was trying to assist a group of children who were trying to
move a mentally handicapped man away from the area for fear of Israeli military
activities. The incident took place as
the group were near a fence surrounding the “Nissanit” settlement,
approximately 600m to the south of Um al-Nasser village in the northern Gaza
Strip.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
13:15, Sayed Saleh Salem Abu Safra, 32, from Um al-Nasser village, was on his
way back home from the mosque after Friday prayers. His home is located approximately 300m away
from the fence surrounding the “Nissanit” settlement. He saw a number of children surrounding a
young man, who is mentally handicapped. The children were trying to make the young man move away from the
settlement’s fence. Abu Safra moved
towards the children, gesturing to them to move the young man away from the
area. The children managed to persuade
the young man to move away from the fence. When the group was about 20m away from the fence, an Israeli military
jeep stopped approximately 50m away from the fence inside the settlement. 2 Israeli soldiers got out of the jeep and opened
fired at Abu Safra and the group of children. Abu Safra was killed by a live bullet in the head. Abu Safra was a member of the Palestinian
General Intelligence. He was not armed
when he was shot. According to
eyewitnesses, the area was completely quiet when the incident occurred.
At approximately 17:15, Israeli soldiers positioned in
military locations near the “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at al-Amal neighborhood to the south. A Palestinian child, Ahmed Sami Abu al-Khar,
13, was wounded by a live bullet in the face, while he was playing near his
house in the area.
At the same time, Israeli soldiers positioned in military
locations near “Gadid” settlement, southwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses and agricultural areas in Baten al-Samin area. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed ‘Abdullah
Mohammed al-Bayoumi, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis.
Saturday, 29 November 2003
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces,
including 5 heavy military vehicles and a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m
into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Using gunfire as cover, they demolished 3
Palestinian houses:
1. A
200-square-meter house owned by Samir ‘Awadh Hamed Barhoum, in which 8 people
(2 families) lived;
2. A
100-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Hamdan Barhoum, in which 10
people (2 families) lived; and
3. A
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Khairi ‘Abed Shuraiqi Barhoum,
in which 8 people lived.
Sunday, 30 November 2003
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces entered
the Palestinian village of al-Yamoun, west of Jenin. They took up positions near a secondary
school in the village. At approximately
14:00, a number of students gathered and began throwing stones towards the
Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers immediately
opened fire at the students, wounding 14-year-old Ibrahim Ahmed Asa’ad Furaihat
with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces entered
the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A number of Palestinian teenagers gathered and began throwing stones at
Israeli military vehicles. Israeli
soldiers immediately opened fire at the group, wounding Bilal Ziad Hijab, 18,
in the left hand.
Monday, 1 December 2003
Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces, killed
four Palestinians during several separate incursions into the West Bank.
Two of the victims were killed when Israeli occupying forces detonated
explosive devices inside a house in the al-Am’ari refugee camp, near
Ramallah. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the two were wanted by
the Israeli occupying authorities. A 9-year-old child and another
Palestinian were also killed in separate incursions.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at approximately
00:30, Israeli occupying forces entered Ramallah and al-Bireh from the north
and the south. Israeli forces advanced from three directions. They
moved into the Balou’ neighborhood in the north, al-Shurafa neighborhood and al-Am’ari
refugee camp at al-Quds Street and and al-Masioun neighborhood in the south.
During the incursion Israeli occupying forces opened fire indiscriminately at
civilian properties in the area. Israeli occupying forces surrounded Maher
al-Ramahi’s house in the Shurafa neighborhood east of the al-Am’ari refugee camp.
Israeli soldiers opened fire with heavy-calibre machine guns at the ground
floor of the 2-story house. At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying
forces detonated several explosive devices inside the building. Two male
civilians were killed in the explosion. Israeli occupying forces later
claimed that the two victims were wanted by the Israeli occupying
authorities. At approximately 12:30, an ambulance transferred the two
bodies to Ramallah Hospital. The two victims were later identified as:
1. Sa’id
‘Abdul Karim Khader Qassim, 30, from al-Bireh: sustained numerous bullet and
shrapnel wounds; and
2. Saleh
Mahmoud Hussein al-Talahma, 37, from Kherbat al-Burg in Hebron: sustained numerous
bullet and shrapnel wounds.
While Israeli occupying forces were surrounding the targeted
buildings, a number of Palestinian teenagers gathered to throw stones at the
soldiers. As a result of the
indiscriminate Israeli machine-gun fire, 10 Palestinian civilians were wounded,
including 9-year-old Mo’ayad Mazen ‘Abdul Rahman Hamdan, who was hit by a live
bullet in the head. Mo’ayad was transferred to Ramallah Hospital in
a critical condition but died of his wounds at approximately 14:00.
The other wounded were:
1. ‘Omar
Jamal Mohammed Mahmoud, 18, wounded in the chest by a rubber-coated metal
bullet;
2. Ma’moun
Hassan ‘Awad, 16, wounded in the neck by a live bullet;
3. Ashraf
Ziad Salhiya, 23, wounded in the neck by a live bullet;
4. Mousa
Samir al-Salehi, 17, wounded in the head by a rubber-coated metal bullet;
5. Ahmed
Marwan ‘Abed Mousa, 13, wounded in the hand by a live bullet;
6. Hamza
Hussein Salama, 16, wounded in the left leg by a live bullet;
7. Daoud
Harb ‘Alqam, 23, wounded in the right leg by a rubber-coated metal bullet;
8. Saleh
Nizar al-Maleh, 16, wounded in the shoulder by a rubber-coated metal bullet;
and
9. Ahmed
Saleh al-Masri, 17, wounded in the right hand by a rubber-coated metal
bullet.
In al-Masioun neighborhood in the south of Ramallah,
Israeli occupying forces surrounded 2 houses owned by Wajih and Jamal
al-Kasawani. They forced residents of
the two houses to exit the properties and detained Wajih, Jamal and ‘Eissa
al-Kasawani in a room in a nearby building. Israeli forces interrogated the three brothers for 8 hours about Palestinians
wanted by the Israeli occupying authorities and whom the soldiers believed were
in the houses. At approximately 13:15,
Israeli occupying forces detonated explosive devices inside the two houses destroying
them. After Israeli occupying forces had
withdrawn from the area, a rescue team began work to remove the rubble of the
destroyed properties. On Tuesday, 3 December
2003, rescue teams found the body of a Palestinian man who was later identified
as Hussein Hamdi Rummana, 37, from al-Bireh.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into areas on the outskirts of Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 40-year-old Ahmed
Asa’ad Abu Khalil in the shoulder with a live bullet.
At approximately 11:00, an Israeli armored personnel
carrier moved into Beit Wazan village, west of Nablus. Israeli soldiers opened fire at nearby Palestinian
houses. Rami Fathi Hafez ‘Atallah, 23, sustained
shrapnel wounds to the head and neck.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, fired an artillery shell at
Block J in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian
civilian, Nour al-Din Fathi Lafi, 19, was seriously wounded by shrapnel in the
chest. Nour had been standing with
friends, approximately 300m away from the border.
At approximately 15:00, 2 Israeli military jeeps
moved into the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses,
wounding 13-year-old Samer Jamil Mahmoud Hashash in the left hand with a
rubber-coated metal bullet.
At approximately 20:00, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces entered Tulkarem and opened fire at a Palestinian man,
wounding him with 2 live bullets. Israeli soldiers arrested the man together with 4 other
Palestinians.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, Hazem
Wa’el Hattab, 23, was sitting in a shop in the western quarter of Tulkarm, with
4 other Palestinians: Mahmoud Yousef Ibrahim Zaidan, 21; Muhannad ‘Adnan Abu
Samaha, 20; ‘Essam Ahmed Sa’ada, 19; and Ahmed Jihad al-Hamshari, 22. A civilian car, a white Subaru, stopped near
the shop. A man wearing civilian clothes
and holding a pistol got out of the car. He addressed Hazem, asking his name. When Hazem told him his name, the armed man fired 2 live bullets at
Hazem, wounding him in both thighs. Immediately, more Israeli forces arrived at the area. They detained the five Palestinians. Hazem was then transferred by an Israeli
ambulance to an unknown destination. The
other four men were released a few hours later.
Tuesday, 2 December 2003
Early in the morning, in Jenin, Israeli occupying
forces shot dead a Palestinian man.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at
approximately 03:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles moved into the eastern
quarter of Jenin, covered by intense gunfire. At approximately 07:30, as Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the area,
residents of the area discovered the body of Amjad Mahmoud Kamal al-Sa’di, 30,
in the town’s cemetery. According to
medical sources, he was hit by 5 live bullets in the chest and the thighs. Al-Sa’di’s house is located approximately
500m away from the cemetery.
At approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved into al-Salam neighborhood, in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian
border. They destroyed a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Ali Suleiman D’ib, in which 7
people were living.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in the Rafah refugee camp. Falasteen Rawhi Zannoun, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
foot, while she was playing near her house, approximately 300m away from the
border.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a
Palestinian and wounded another in Deir Abu Masha’al village, northwest of
Ramallah.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
07:30, residents of Deir Abu Masha’al village heard sounds of shooting at
Shahbal Mount, approximately 700m to the north of the village. They also saw Israeli military jeeps moving
in the area. Immediately, they called
for an ambulance. At approximately
08:15, an ambulance arrived at the area of shooting, where the driver found the
body of a Palestinian teenager, and another who had sustained 2 live bullets wounds
to the head and the abdomen. Israeli
soldiers forced the driver to travel towards the Rantis checkpoint, west of
Deir Abu Masha’al village, where Israeli soldiers delayed the ambulance for 2
hours. Soldiers then ordered the driver
to travel to an Israeli hospital in Tel Aviv where the injured teenager was to
receive treatment. The body of the
teenager was removed to Ramallah Hospital. He was later identified as Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Zahran, 18. According to medical sources, he sustained a live
bullet wound to the abdomen. The wounded
child was identified as Nidal Ibrahim Mohammed Saleh, 14. An Israeli military spokesman later claimed
that 4 Palestinian teenagers had thrown molotov cocktails at an Israeli
military jeep, and that Israeli soldiers had then opened fire at the group,
killing one and injuring another.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 20 November 2003,
Israeli military vehicles, reinforced by a helicopter, moved into Yatta
village, south of Hebron. They
surrounded Mohammed Khalil al-Shamisti’s house in al-Maqbiya quarter in the
center of the village. Without warning, Israeli
forces opened fire at the house. As they
were firing at the house, Israeli soldiers called through megaphones to Nabil
D’iab Abu Qabita, 40, who was hiding in the house, to surrender to them. The shooting continued sporadically until
10:00, when Israeli soldiers broke into the house and arrested Abu Qabita. At approximately 10:30, Israeli soldiers
planted explosives inside the 200-square-meter house and destroyed it. 12 people were left homeless as a result.
At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, 27 November 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Sha’aba neighborhood in the northeast of
Hebron. They surrounded the house of
”Mohammed Hijazi” al-Tamimi, 69. They woke
him and forced him and his family out of the house. The family was taken 50m away from the
house. Israeli soldiers planted
explosives inside the house. At
approximately 03:30, they blew up the 120-square-meter, 2-storey house. 11 people, including 7 children, have been
made homeless as a result. The owner’s
son, Walid, 19, was killed while carrying out an armed attack against Israeli
occupying forces in the center of Hebron on 8 June 2003. After his death, Israeli occupying forces
detained his brother Hazem, 42, for 80 days, during which time he was subject
to torture, resulting in long-term physical damage. The owner and his son, ”Mohammed Amin”, 17,
were also arrested and detained for several weeks. On 4 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces
destroyed a supermarket belonging to the family.
At approximately 01:00 on Monday, 1 December 2003,
Israeli occupying forces that had moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh surrounded
two houses in al-Masioun neighborhood in the south of Ramallah. At approximately 13:15, after they had forced
the residents out, Israeli occupying forces destroyed the two houses. Following are details of the houses:
1. A
250-square-meter, 4-stoery apartment building owned by Wajih Daoud al-Kasawani,
in which 25 people (8 families) lived; and
2. A
120-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Jamal Daoud al-Kasawani, in which 8
people lived.
At approximately 03:00 on the same day, Israeli
occupying forces moved into the northern area of Hebron. They surrounded a 173-square-meter, 5-storey
apartment building, the second floor of which belongs to the family of ‘Othamn
Shafiq Bader, 73. They broke into the
building and forced its residents out without allowing them to take any of
their belongings. They also ordered residents
of a neighboring building to vacate their homes. Residents of the two buildings were moved
away from the area. Israeli soldiers
planted explosives inside Bader’s house and at approximately 06:25, they blew
it up. As a result, 11 people, including
4 children, have been rendered homeless. Bader is the father of Ahmed Bader, 22, who was killed together with two
other Palestinians, including a child, by Israeli occupying forces on 9
September 2003. Israeli forces blew up
an apartment building where Bader had been hiding.
At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 2 December 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into the Palestinian village of Seilat
al-Harthia, west of Jenin. They
surrounded the house of Ibrahim Hassan Yassin Jaradat, 55. They forced the 11 residents of the house out
without allowing them to take any of their belongings. Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside
the 160-square-meter house and destroyed it. The property owner is the father of Eyad Jaradat, 20, who has been
detained by Israeli occupying forces for 5 months. Israeli occupying forces then moved to a
130-square-meter house nearby, belonging to the family of Sami Suleiman Ibrahim
Jaradat, 30. They also destroyed this
house, rendering 6 people homeless. Jaradat has been detained by Israeli occupying forces for 45 days.
The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted an Israeli
military spokesman on its Arabic web site as saying that “Israeli forces
destroyed houses of two Palestinian activists who are members of the organization,
Islamic Jihad, in Seilat al-Harthia village.” He claimed that “one of the two was involved in the ‘Gadish’ attack, in which
2 Israelis were killed, and the other sent a woman who carried out a bombing in
the Maxim Restaurant in Haifa, which left dead 21 Israelis and injured
dozens.” Israeli occupying forces had
already accused Amjad Ahmed ‘Eissa ‘Obaidi, 37, from Zabbouba village, west of
Jenin, of sending the woman, Hanadai Tayseer Jaradat, to carry out the bombing
in Haifa. ‘Obaidi was arrested on 5
October 2003, and his house and the house of Hanadai Tayseer Jaradat were
destroyed.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
The West Bank
Although Israeli occupying forces claimed that they had
eased the siege imposed on Palestinian communities in the West Bank, they have in
fact continued to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians. PCHR’s field workers reported daily sightings
of Israeli soldiers delaying or refusing passage of dozens of Palestinian
civilians at Israeli military checkpoints throughout the West Bank.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities and restrict movement of Palestinian
civilians in the Gaza Strip. They have
also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip
by Israeli soldiers stationed at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement are
in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a state
party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. These restrictions particularly affected
thousands of Palestinian civilians who were attempting to visit relatives
during the Eid festival in November.
Recently, Israeli occupying forces have imposed tighter
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians between the north and
south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli
occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on
Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza
Strip, have continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a
maximum of a few hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation
and harassment by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 11:00 on Friday, 21 November 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints and held many Palestinian
vehicles in between. They forced a
number of vehicles to move into an enclosed area for searching. They ordered Palestinian civilians to get out
of the vehicles, checked their ID cards, and then forced them to wait for many
hours. This procedure continued until
18:00. During this time, Israeli
soldiers sporadically opened fire above the vehicles. The same measures were implemented
again on Sunday, 23 November 2003.
Despite assurances from Israeli occupying forces that
they would open the two checkpoints 24 hours a day during the Eid festival, on
the first day of the Eid, Tuesday, 25 November 2003, Israeli soldiers closed
the two checkpoints and held and searched a number of Palestinian
vehicles. They also closed the two
checkpoints for two hours on Thursday, 27 November 2003.
On Monday, 1 December 2003, Israeli occupying forces
closed the two checkpoints from 14:00 until approximately midnight. Palestinian civilians were checked and
interrogated by Israeli occupying forces. Two Palestinians were arrested. The
next morning, Israeli occupying forces held and searched Palestinian
vehicles. They also opened fire with
live ammunition and tear gas at thousands of Palestinian civilians who were
waiting at the two checkpoints. As a
result, whilst waiting at the Abu Houli checkpoint, ‘Abed Rabbu Hamdan
al-Qa’oud, 73, was wounded by 2 live bullets in the right foot.
At approximately 14:30 on Wednesday, 3 December 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in the south of
Gaza city. They blocked the costal road
liking between Gaza city and the central Gaza Strip with sand barriers. Palestinian vehicles were not able to travel
on the road, so Palestinian civilians were forced to walk.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, restricting movement
into and out of the area. Israeli
occupying forces have increased restrictions on movement of Palestinian through
al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Khan
Yunis. Palestinians under 35 years old
have been denied passage across the checkpoint. Israeli occupying forces have also tightened the siege imposed on the al-Sayafa
area between “Dogit” and “Elli Sinai” settlements in the northern
Gaza Strip. Palestinian civilians moving
into and out of the area are now subjected to prolonged physical checks by
Israeli soldiers stationed at the only entry point to the area.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian workers through Erez crossing. A worker must be over 35, married, have
children, have a magnetic card and a valid work permit and have Israeli
security clearance. Workers fulfilling
all these conditions are also subject to prolonged physical checks at the
crossing. A number of workers have been questioned
by the Israeli security services during passage across Erez. A number of worker’s permits were cancelled
because of the alleged anti-Israel activities of family members. These continuing restrictions on the access of
Palestinian workers to their work places have caused further deterioration to
the Palestinian economy, and, as a result, poverty and unemployment in
Palestinian areas have remained high.
*****
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective
measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article
146.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches perpetrated in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“END”
Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972
8 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
Trial Version
