Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 14
Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli forces
· 7
of the victims were killed in 3 extra-judicial assassinations
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· Dozens
of shops were destroyed in Beit Hanoun
· Houses
were raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· Construction
of the “Separation Wall” in the West Bank has continued and more areas of
Palestinian land were seized
· 2
Palestinian houses were destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continuing
campaign of retaliation against 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
· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs
· In
violation of international humanitarian law, Israeli forces transferred 2
Palestinian detainees from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to
violate the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations included the use of
extra-judicial assassinations and willful killings. Throughout the week,
Israeli occupying forces also conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot
at Palestinian civilians, including children; indiscriminately shelled
residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled agricultural land.
Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “separation
wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the
OPTs. This week, 14 Palestinian
civilians were killed and more than 20 others injured by Israeli occupying
forces.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli occupying
forces carried out 3 assassinations this week in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. These assassinations left dead 7
Palestinians and injured 13 others. PCHR
asserts that the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by
the Israeli government serves to increase tension in the region and threatens
the lives of Palestinian civilians.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas. These incursions left dead 8 Palestinian
civilians. Israeli forces also arrested
dozens of allegedly wanted Palestinians. On Friday, 27 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces attacked
Palestinians while praying in al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
In violation of article 33 of the Geneva Convention
Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, 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. In this
context, they destroyed 2 houses in the West Bank.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
2 military incursions into Beit Hanoun. On Friday, 27 February 2004, they moved into the town and destroyed 84
Palestinian shops.
From the beginning of the current Intifada until the
end of 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 333 Palestinian economic
facilities in the Gaza Strip. On 3 March 2004, Israeli forces moved into the
town again. They raided and searched a
number of Palestinian houses.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank. In an attempt to evade a ruling by the Israeli High Court that ordered temporarily
stopping construction of a part of the wall near Beit Sourik village, southwest
of Ramallah, Israeli occupying forces began constructing another part of the
wall north of Bethlehem. The court’s
ruling has been the first since the construction of the wall started. The Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz
criticized any legal decision that may interrupt the construction of the wall,
and ordered intensifying works of construction.
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the 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 tightened siege, and imposed more
restrictions on movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. 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.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have blocked a number of roads using
cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches. They have also erected temporary checkpoints and arrested a number of
Palestinians.
In violation of international humanitarian law, this
week, Israeli occupying forces transferred two Palestinian detainees from the
West Bank to the Gaza Strip. On 26
February 2004, they transferred Ra’ed ‘Abdul Muhsen Zaghloul Hassan, 38, from
Dura al-Qare’ village in Ramallah to the Gaza Strip for a period of 5
years. On 3 March 2004, Israeli forces
transferred Mohammed Ahmed Taqatqa, 52, from Bethlehem to the Gaza Strip for an
unspecified period. In the past two
years, Israeli occupying forces transferred dozens of Palestinians from the
West Bank to the Gaza Strip.
The following is a summary of gross Israeli violations
of international law perpetrated against Palestinian civilians in February
2004:
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 26 February 2004
At approximately 03:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles moved
into Bethlehem and Beit Jala towns as well as ‘Aaida refugee camp. Israeli soldiers raided a number of houses
and arrested 9 Palestinians, including two children:
1. Majed Mohammed Ziada, 22, from
Bethlehem;
2. ‘Arafat Mousa ‘Awad, 19, from
Bethlehem;
3. Yahia Hani Sa’ada, 18, from Bethlehem;
4. Majed Mousa al-Masa’eid, 18, from
‘Aaida refugee camp;
5. Kamal Mahmoud Roumi, 30, from
Bethlehem;
6. Tariq Suleiman ‘Owaida, 18, from Beit
Jala;
7. Hatem Saleh Jawarish, 19, from
Bethlehem;
8. Firas Khaled Nasrallah, 17, from Beit
Jala; and
9. Mahmoud Sa’id Khalil, 16, from
Bethlehem.
At approximately 03:45, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a house belonging to
the family of Kamal Mohammed Ballah, 26, and arrested him.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched ‘Abdullah Kharazana’s house and arrested his
son, Fadi, 25.
In an excessive use of force, Israeli occupying
forces killed 3 Palestinian civilians in Biddu village, northwest of Jerusalem,
when they opened fire at dozens of Palestinian civilians and international
solidarity activists, who were demonstrating against the construction of the “Separation
Wall” in the area. Israeli forces
claimed that they used rubber-coated metal bullets against the demonstrators,
but Palestinian medical sources asserted that two of the victims were hit by
live bullets.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 10:30, hundreds of Palestinian civilians organized a
demonstration in the center of Biddu village, northwest of Jerusalem. The demonstrators moved towards the lands of
the village, which are threatened to be confiscated by Israeli occupying forces
for the purpose of the “Separation Wall” construction. The demonstration
arrived to the area which had approximately 200 Israeli soldiers present,
reinforced by military vehicles and a helicopter gunship. Israeli soldiers then closed all entrances to
the villages of Biddu, Beit Diqqu and Beit Ajza. At approximately 11:30, Israeli soldiers
fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, and tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators. Zakaria Mahmoud ‘Eid
Salem, 28, from Beit Ajza village, was killed by a live bullet in the chest,
and Mohammed Fadel Hashem Rayan, 25, from Beit Diqqu village, was killed by a
live bullet in the back. Israeli
soldiers continued to surround Biddu village and fired tear gas canisters at
the demonstrators. At 16:20, ‘Abdul
Rahim Ibrahim Abu ‘Eid, 50, was pronounced dead as a result of suffering tear
gas inhalation. In addition, 16
civilians were wounded, one of whom, Mohammed Daoud Badwan, 19, from Biddu
village, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. He was officially pronounced dead at a hospital
on Wednesday, 3 March 2004.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Hassan Khalil Jawabra, 21;
2. ‘Eziddin al-‘Adarba, 22; and
3. Mohammed ‘Abed al-Qassas, 17.
At approximately 22:50, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations near “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Qarara village to the
east. A Palestinian civilian, Naji Sabri
al-‘Abadla, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
Friday, 27 February 2004
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-‘Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron and imposed a curfew on the
camp. At approximately 10:00, a number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding
11-year-old Mo’tassem Yousef Madi with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
back.
At approximately 04:15, an Israeli military jeep
moved into Abu Dis village, east of Jerusalem, and stopped near a mosque in the
village. Israeli soldiers began checking the ID cards of Palestinian civilians
who were going to the mosque to pray. They arrested Ibrahim Hassan Khalil Rabi’, 18, and then raided and
searched the mosque.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah. They imposed a curfew and called through
megaphones on male residents of the village to gather in the center of the
village. Israeli soldiers checked their
ID cards and arrested Qais Mohammed Sarhan, 25, a policeman.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli soldiers positioned
in “al-Nouria” military location, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in al-Sad al-‘Aali area in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Mahmoud ‘Atiya Abu Mustafa, 17, was wounded
by a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 11:40, Israeli occupying forces moved
into Housan village, west of Bethlehem, and imposed a curfew. They surrounded three mosques in the village
and fired tear gas canisters towards them and as a result, a number of
worshippers suffered from tear gas inhalation. They forced the worshippers to
go back home, claiming that the village had been under a curfew. Housan village had been under a curfew since
22 February 2004.
At approximately 12:50 on Friday, after thousands of
Palestinian worshippers had finished the Friday Prayer, hundreds of Israeli
soldiers surprised them by breaking into the mosque’s yard through al-Maghareba
and al-Silsila gates. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired dozens of
rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs, and tear gas canisters at the
worshippers while disregarding the presence of thousands of women, children,
and elderly. As result of the surprise attack, 24 worshippers were
injured. Israeli soldiers then called on the worshippers through
megaphones to leave the mosque. Many Israeli soldiers were deployed in
the mosque’s yards and at entrances to the old town of Jerusalem.
Israeli occupying forces arrested 3 Palestinian
children from Tubas village, east of Jenin. The three children left their homes on Thursday morning, 26 February
2004, to go to their school, but did not come back. According to school children of Tayaseer
School, they saw Israeli soldiers arresting the three children and taking them
to a nearby military location. On Monday
Morning, 1 March 2004, the Palestinian Prisoner Club asserted that the three
children had been detained in Salem detention center, west of Jenin. The three children are:
1. Ibrahim Sidqi Marzouq Sawafta, 16;
2. Mo’taz Hussein Kurayem Daraghma, 13;
and
3. Tariq Mohammed Hussein Abu Muhsen,
14.
In another
Israeli violation of international law directed against Palestinian civilians
and property, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 84 shops in the northern Gaza
Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 14:00 on Friday, 27 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces moved
into the route devoted to Palestinian workers at the Palestinian side of Erez
Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. They raided Palestinian shops on
both sides of the route, broke their entrances, and searched them. At
approximately 18:00, more reinforcements of Israeli occupying forces, including
military bulldozers, arrived at the area. Until 21:00, Israeli occupying
forces destroyed 84 shops, which employed 250 people, providing income to
dozens of Palestinian families. These shops were selling foodstuffs and
were built in 1995 to serve Palestinian workers on their way to their
workplaces in Israel.
This Israeli systematic destruction of Palestinian
economic infrastructure by Israeli occupying forces has left a disastrous
impact on thousands of Palestinian civilians who have lost their sources of
income and livelihood. From the beginning of the current Intifada until
the end of 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 333 Palestinian economic
facilities in the Gaza Strip.
Saturday, 28 February 2004
At approximately 03:30, 10 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit ‘Awa village, west of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 6 Palestinians, including 3 children and an elderly man:
1. Tamer Sa’id Bishara, 19;
2. Mahmoud Hassan ‘Abdul Fattah Masalma,
17;
3. ‘Eissa Mohammed Abu al-Jemal, 18;
4. Mohammed Ahmed Mousa Abu al-Jemal, 17;
5. Isma’il ‘Ali al-Swaiti, 65; and
6. Jawhar Isma’il ‘Ali al-Swaiti, 17.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Arroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched Mahmoud Jibril
Jawabra’s house and arrested his son, ‘Ammar, 21.
At approximately 13:25, Israeli soldiers in a
military jeep fired a rubber-coated metal bullet at a number of Palestinian school
children in Beit Emrin, northwest of Nablus. The bullet hit 11-year-old Mohammed Basel Adib ‘Abdul Qader in the
head. The bullet caused serious
fractures and hemorrhage to the child’s skull. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the children from a
distance of 30m. This kind of bullet can
be lethal if fired from a close distance.
At approximately 16:15, Israeli soldiers positioned
in military locations around “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Fayez
Hunaideq, 24, was injured by shrapnel in the right hand and foot.
Sunday, 29 February 2004
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided a number of houses, damaged
civilian cars, and severely beat 3 Palestinian civilians. Later, when Palestinian civilians were on
their way to mosques for the Friday Prayer, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
them. Three civilians were wounded:
1. Saleh Jibril Abu Fara, 24, wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh;
2. Ra’ed ‘Aziz Barad’eia, 22, wounded by a
live bullet in the left side; and
3. Mohammed Saber Barad’eia, 35, wounded
by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck.
At approximately 07:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles
surrounded Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire at the camp. At
approximately 11:30, Israeli soldiers noticed a member of the Palestinian
resistance at the northern entrance of the camp, exchanged fire with him, and
wounded him by a live bullet in the neck. He bled to death as ambulances were able to attend to him 10 minutes
later. The victim was identified as
Mohammed Zuhair ‘Owais, 22, who was allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying
forces.
At approximately 14:30, while Palestinian civilians
were preparing for the funeral procession of ‘Owais, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved towards a mosque where civilians were waiting to organize the funeral
procession. Israeli soldiers opened fire
at the civilians, killing 22-year-old Riad Sa’id Abu Shallal, 22, with a live
bullet in the chest. Three other
civilians, including a woman, were wounded:
1. Ilham Qutob ‘Abdul Halim Serouji, 35,
wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Hazem ‘Abdul Fattah Mahmoud Abu ‘Eisha,
29, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and
3. Mahmoud Hashem ‘Abdul Rahman Abu
Halima, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned
in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire
at Palestinian houses in Zo’rob neighborhood. A Palestinian girl, Maha ‘Eid Hamdan al-Soufi, 18, was injured in the
right arm.
Monday, 1 March 2004
At approximately 03:30, 12 Israeli military vehicles moved
into Jenin. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested Nemer Shehada al-‘Absi, 24.
At approximately 04:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Battir village, west of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Mahmoud ‘Owaina, 35;
2. Sa’id Mustafa Mo’ammar, 21;
3. George Mohammed Rushdi, 22; and
4. Hakim Mohammed Rushdi, 18.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They
raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahim Hamamra, 21;
2. Musbah ‘Abdul Rahim Hamamra, 21; and
3. Ramzi ‘Amira, 27.
At approximately 04:15, 9 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They raided and searched Sa’di Fayeq Darwaza’s house and arrested his
son, Sa’ad, 24.
At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza city, opened
fire at Palestinian houses and farms west of the border. A Palestinian civilian, Baher Fu’ad Ibrahim
al-Dabba, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest in al-Shojaeya
neighborhood.
At approximately 17:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Burqa village, northwest of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children gathered in
the center of the village and threw stones at the jeeps. Israeli soldiers immediately fired at the children,
wounding 14-year-old Hussam Hakam Abu ‘Omar with a live bullet in the right
thigh. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli soldiers also fired at a number of women who tried to offer help to the
child, who was left bleeding on the ground until an ambulance was able to
attend him.
Tuesday, 2 March 2004
In complete disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians,
Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian civilian in Yatta village, south
of Hebron, and later admitted that he was not targeted. An Israeli
military spokesman claimed that the victim did not obey orders by Israeli
soldiers to halt, and as a result, shot him dead. However, investigations
conducted by PCHR refute this claim.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 2 March 2004, 25 Israeli military vehicles
moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, and surrounded a house belonging to
the family of Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Abu Rajab, 25, in the east of the
village. A number of Israeli soldiers advanced towards the house and then
opened fire at it. As Abu Rajab attempted to leave the house through its main
door, Israeli soldiers shot him dead, and then pulled the victim’s body 20m
back. An Israeli military bulldozer proceeded to demolish the house, but
suddenly stopped; Israeli forces then withdrew from the area. The
victim’s body was transported to a hospital in Hebron. According to
medical sources, the victim was hit by 3 live bullets to the face and the head,
which lays serious doubts to the Israeli claim that he was shot while
attempting to escape.
At approximately 04:00, 8 Israeli military vehicles
moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 3
Palestinians:
1. Mohammed ‘Aziz al-Khatib, 16;
2. Lu’ai Amin ‘Aaida, 17;
3. ‘Omar Rajeh Abu Lail, 23; and
4. Bilal Abu Lail, 26.
At approximately 04:30, 7 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a mosque and a number of
houses. They arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Nash’at Mohammed Mahmoud al-Badawi; and
2. Khaled Nasser Abu Tama’a.
At approximately 11:00, 2 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers stopped Mohammed
Yousef al-Weher, 35, while driving his truck. They searched the truck and arrested him.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve Dekalim”
settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and al-Amal
neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed ‘Eissa Salim al-Naffar, 24, was injured
by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right foot.
Wednesday, 3 March 2004
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles moved into the northern Gaza Strip town
of Beit Hanoun. Israeli military
vehicles positioned in the northwest of the village closed the main road
towards Erez crossing and denied movement of Palestinian vehicles. Palestinian workers were forced to cross the
crossing on foot. Twenty Israeli soldiers then raided a number
of Palestinian houses, held residents of each house in one room, and searched
the house using dogs. They transformed
these houses into military sites. Israeli forces withdrew from the town at 18:00 and no arrests were
reported.
At approximately 03:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles
moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. Israeli
soldiers opened fired at houses and streets. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Mustafa Mahmoud Kharioush, 20, was
wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus. They raided a number
of houses in Street 24 and arrested 2 Palestinians, including a child:
1. Jasser Khalil ‘Awada, 34; and
2. Eihab Ziad al-Titi, 15.
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces continued to
impose a curfew on Housan village, west of Bethlehem, for the 11th
consecutive day and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Nasri Sabatin, 22;
2. ‘Alaa’ Nasri Sabatin, 24; and
3. ‘Aaref Musbah ‘Aaref, 21.
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Tulkarm refugee camp
again. They opened fire at Palestinian
houses and streets. As a result, 6
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Akram Mohammed ‘Eissa ‘Ata, 27, wounded
by 2 live bullets in the feet;
2. Ma’moon Kamal Hassan ‘Ali, 29, wounded
by a live bullet in the right foot;
3. Jihad Mustafa ‘Oufi, 15, wounded by
shrapnel in the upper limbs;
4. Ghassan Mohammed Hussein Qawzah, 24,
wounded by shrapnel in the chest;
5. ‘Eid Zaher Hassan Nafe’, 30, wounded by
shrapnel in the right thigh; and
6. Mahmoud Mohammed Mustafa Jamous, 29,
wounded by shrapnel in the legs.
At approximately 14:15, Israeli occupying forces
positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas in the town. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Suleiman Mahmoud Abu Muhsen, 22, from
al-Shaboura refugee camp, approximately 1000m away from the border, wounded by
a live bullet in the right foot; and
2. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Rahman Qeshta, 43, from
Kherbat al-‘Adas neighborhood, approximately 2000m away from the border,
wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Junaina
neighborhood, approximately 700m to the north. A Palestinian civilians, Mohammed D’ib al-Hams, 20, was wounded by a
live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve Dekalim”
settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas
in the town. A Palestinian child,
Isma’il Ahmed Fares, 6, was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the back,
while he was inside his home, approximately 2000m away from the source of
fire.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassination officially adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli occupying
forces carried out 3 assassinations this week in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. These assassinations left 7
Palestinians dead and injured 13 others.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 18:40 on Saturday, an Israeli helicopter gunship supported by an
F-16 fighter jet launched a missile at a civilian car, a Subaru, in which three
Palestinians were traveling near al-Saftawi junction, north of Gaza city.
The missile hit the car and destroyed it, killing the 3 Palestinian passengers
and injuring 11 civilian bystanders, including 3 children. One of the
injured children, a 7-year-old, was described as in critical condition. A
number of neighboring houses and shops were damaged. The three victims
were identified as:
1. Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Jouda, 24, from
Jabalya refugee camp;
2. Amin Hamdan Ibrahim al-Dahdouh, 32,
from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza city; and
3. Ayman Sha’ban al-Dahdouh, 42, from
al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza city.
On Wednesday morning, 3 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces shot dead a Palestinian in Tulkarm refugee camp after injuring and
arresting him. The victim was a member
of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 3 March 2004, 20 Israeli military vehicles
moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They took
position at the main crossroads and ambushed it looking for members of the
Palestinian resistance. As Qais ‘Aaref
Yousef ‘Oufi, 20, was walking with a friend in al-Shuhada Street in the center
of the camp, the two were surprised by the presence of Israeli soldiers 50m
away. Israeli soldiers turned lights on
the two and immediately opened fire at ‘Oufi, wounding him with 2 live bullets
in the right hand and thigh. The two
Palestinians escaped, but Israeli soldiers chased them and captured ‘Oufi,
while his friend was able to escape. When Israeli forces withdrew from the camp, residents of the camp found
‘Oufi’s body. According to medical
sources, the victim was hit by several live bullets in the head and throughout
the body.
Also on Wednesday, 3 March 2004, Israeli air forces
launched an attack on a car traveling south of Gaza city. Three
Palestinians were killed and two were injured in the attack.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 14:20 Israeli aircraft fired one missile at a
Palestinian car, a white Mitsubishi, traveling eastward from Sheikh ‘Ejleen
neighbourhood south of Gaza city, towards al-Sabra neighborhood, southeast of
Gaza city. Part of the land in the Sheikh ‘Ejleen neighbourhood has been
effectively forcibly annexed to the illegal settlement of “Netzarim”, located
immediately south of Gaza city.
The missile struck the car in which three people were
traveling and killed them instantly. The vehicle was completely
destroyed. Two civilians who were walking in the street near the car as
the missile struck sustained moderate injuries. The deceased were
identified as:
1. ‘Ammar Hassan, 23, from al-Mughraqa
village;
2. Ibrahim al-Dairi, 32, from al-Sabra
neighborhood, Gaza city; and
3. Traad al-Jammal, 24, from al-Shojaeya
neighborhood, Gaza city.
All three were reportedly members of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam
Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
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 05:00 on Thursday, 26 February 2004,
14 Israeli military vehicles moved into al-‘Azza and ‘Aaida refugee camps in
Bethlehem. A number of military vehicles
surrounded a 130-square-meter house belonging to the family of the deceased
Hassan Abu Sha’ira. Israeli soldiers
forced the 5 residents of the house out and planted explosives inside the
house. At approximately 06:00, they
destroyed the house. Abu Sha’ira was
accused by Israeli occupying forces of killing a member of the Israeli General
Security Service two years ago.
At the same time, Israeli forces destroyed a
120-square-meter, 2-storey house in Aaida refugee camp belonging to the family
of Ibrahim ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Jundiya, 20, and rendered homeless 7 people. Abu Jundiya has been already detained by
Israeli occupying forces for one year.
Continued Construction of the “Separation
Wall”
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, confiscating more areas
of Palestinian land, and demolishing more homes for this purpose. The Israeli Defense Minister has ordered to
intensify work on the construction of the wall, apparently to complete as many
parts of the wall as possible, anticipating any judicial ruling that may stop
the construction.
On Saturday, 28 February 2004, Israeli occupying
forces handed notices to a number of Palestinians who have animal farms in Deir
Ballout village, southwest of Qalqilya, to leave their lands in 48 hours. These Palestinians live in tents and raise
animals in the west of the village, adjacent to the Green Line. These notices were issued for the purpose of
the construction of the wall in the area. At the same time, Israeli forces handed a notice to Suleiman Ahmed
Suleiman Mohammed that a wooden agricultural room he had built on his land in
the west of the village would be demolished.
The Mayor of Deir Ballout village states that Israeli
occupying forces issued an order to stop the construction of a school west of
the village, although the municipality had obtained the necessary
licenses. The municipality received a
map of the track of the wall in the area. The mayor asserted that the construction of the wall would seize 90% of
the lands of the villages of Deir Ballout, Rafat and al-Zawia, which would be
surrounded by the wall.
On Monday afternoon, 1 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces started to construct a new part of the wall north of Bethlehem. According to eyewitnesses, the construction
started near al-Jarashi car park north of Bilal Ben Rabah mosque (Rachel
Tomb).
On Wednesday, 3 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces
handed notices to 7 Palestinians from Jayous village, east of Qalqilya, to
demolish their barracks, claiming that they were built without licenses. These barracks are located only 400m away
from the wall.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, and imposed more restrictions on
movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. 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.
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, 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 16:00 on Saturday, 28 February 2004,
Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints for two hours. When the checkpoints were reopened, the road
witnessed a severe traffic jam.
At approximately 11:00 on Sunday morning, 29 February
2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints. They held dozens of Palestinian vehicles in
between them and checked passengers, then arrested Ashraf ‘Ali Hamash, 33, from
Khan Yunis.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 1 March 2004,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints and held and searched
dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between. They arrested two Palestinians, including Samir Mohammed Enshasi, 39, a
taxi driver from Khan Yunis.
At approximately 18:40, Israeli occupying forces
closed the two checkpoints and arrested a Palestinian. The checkpoints were reopened one hour
later.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued to close Tal al-Sultan
checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Rafah and impose restrictions on
movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance
to the area in Khan Yunis. On Thursday,
26 February 2004, Israeli forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint. This closure continued until Monday, 1 March
2004.
Palestinians living in
al-Mawasi area, of which there are approximately 15,000, live under extremely
tight restrictions, such restrictions also applying to the entry of foodstuffs
into the area and access to schools and farms. It takes residents of the
areas several hours to cross Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints.
Palestinians living outside the area are prohibited from entering.
Israeli forces have assigned numbers to residents of the area. These numbers are
added to their identity cards and without them they are prevented from entering
the area. Women from the area married to men living outside the area
cannot visit their families.
In a step aiming to enhance
Israeli control over Palestinian areas located near “Kfar Darom” settlement,
east of Deir al-Balah, on Thursday morning, 26 February 2004, Israeli forces
moved into a besieged area near the settlement, where a number Palestinian
families live, and photographed children between the ages of 12 to 16 years
old. Israeli forces informed the
families that magnetic cards would be issued for them to be allowed to move
from and into the area, similar to those issued for Palestinian civilians
living in al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. On Friday, 27 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces tightened the siege imposed on the area and denied any
movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the area. This prohibition continued for 3 days.
Israeli occupying forces
have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal on the
Egyptian border, the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world. On Friday, 27 February 2004, Israeli forces
arrested Shadi Mohammed Rasem Gannan, 21, from Deir al-Balah, while he was
traveling abroad. On Sunday, 29 February
2004, Israeli occupying forces arrested Mohammed Jamal Khamis Hassan, 22, from
Rafah, while he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip from Egypt. On Tuesday, 2 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces denied access to a Palestinian ambulance, which moves traveling
patients, to the terminal.
On Thursday, 26 February
2004, Israeli occupying forces denied entry to raw construction materials going
into Sofa crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, but allowed workers to cross
towards their work places. On Sunday, 29
February 2004, Israeli forces denied access of workers to their work places in
Israel through the crossing, but allowed entry of raw construction
materials.
Israeli occupying forces
have continued to impose restrictions on the access of Palestinian workers to
Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian workers are subject to a prolonged and strict checking
process and humiliation by Israeli soldiers.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They have blocked
a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers, and trenches, and imposed
curfews on a number of villages.
Bethlehem
Israeli occupying forces have erected a new
checkpoint on Wadi al-Nar road, which links the north and south of the West
Bank. Israeli soldiers positioned at the
new checkpoint searched Palestinian vehicles and checked passengers. Israeli forces have continued to close Gilo
checkpoint, north of the town, which stands between the town and East Jerusalem.
Hebron
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians between the town and neighboring
villages. They erected more checkpoints
and stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles. Israeli soldiers beat a number of drivers and passengers.
Ramallah
On Sunday morning, 29 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces closed ‘Atara Bridge, north of Beir Zeit, and denied movement
of Palestinian civilians. PCHR’s field
worker in Ramallah reported that Israeli soldiers erected a checkpoint near
‘Atara village and denied access of Palestinian civilians to Ramllah, then repeated
the same process the following day. Throughout the week, Israeli soldiers positioned at the entrance to Bani
Zaid village closed the iron gate established there for long hours. Israeli occupying forces have continued to
impose restrictions on access of Palestinian civilians to Ramallah from
neighboring villages.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces positioned at checkpoints
around the city have continued to impose restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They have also continued
to prevent Palestinians under 35 years old from crossing military checkpoints
around the city. Israeli soldiers
positioned at Beit Eiba military checkpoint, west of Nablus, allow university
students to cross towards the city only on Saturdays and allow them to travel
back to their villages only on Wednesdays. As a consequence, university students are forces to live in Nablus, incurring
more financial burdens on their families. On 28 and 29 February, Israeli occupying forces erected a number of
checkpoints around the city and restricted movement of Palestinian
civilians.
On Tuesday morning, 2 March 2004, Israeli forces
erected a military checkpoint to the southeast of Wadi al-Fara’a village, east
of Nablus. They arrested Taleb Tahseen
Salahat, 27; and Hazem Tawfiq Salahat, 25, both form al-Fara’a village.
Tulkarm
Israeli occupying forces positioned at military
checkpoints around Tulkarm have imposed more restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They stopped and
searched Palestinian vehicles and checked passengers. They also denied access of school children to
their schools.
On Thursday evening, Israeli soldiers positioned at
Qiffin gate, north of Tulkarm, arrested ‘Aa’ed Ibrahim Sabbah, 29, from Qiffin
village, while he was traveling to his village back from Tulkarm.
On Tuesday, 2 March 2004, Israeli forces erected a
checkpoint at the crossroad of Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. They searched Palestinian vehicles and
arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Ghani Anis, 28;
2. Mohammed Sa’id ‘Abed Rabbu, 26; and
3. Mo’ammar ‘Abdul Hamid Radwan, 25.
Jenin
On Monday morning, 1 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces closed the military checkpoint located east of Tayaseer village in the
northern Jordan Valley and denied movement of Palestinian civilians. On the same day in the evening, Israeli
occupying forces closed al-Hamra checkpoint in the central Jordan Valley and
denied movement of Palestinian civilians and their vehicles.
Qalqilya
On Saturday, 28 February 2004, Israeli forces erected
a checkpoint at the entrance to the town and denied movement of Palestinian
civilians to and from the town. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers stopped and searched
Palestinian vehicles, then checked the ID cards of passengers. Israeli
forces have also continued to close a number of iron gates established along
the “Separation Wall” near the town.
Salfit
Israeli occupying forces have imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected more checkpoints around the town
and closed the entrance to Kufol Hares village. Israeli forces also reinforced their presence on the road linking
between the town and Ramallah. In
addition, they imposed a curfew on Marda village, north of the town, for
several days.
On Thursday, 26 February 2004, Israeli police
informed Tawfiq al-Khatib, head of the Islamic Heritage Committee in East
Jerusalem that he would be denied access to al-Aqsa Mosque for the second
consecutive year. Al-Khatib was also interrogated
by the Israeli intelligence.
Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property
In addition to the construction of the
“Separation Wall”, this week, Israeli occupying forces carried out a
number of settlement activities in the West Bank.
On Friday morning, 27 February 2004, a number of
extremist Israelis living in “Me’a Sha’arim” neighborhood in West Jerusalem attacked
a Palestinian child.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, while
Mahmoud Fathallah al-Tahhan, 17, from Ras al-‘Aamoud neighborhood in East
Jerusalem was passing in “Me’a Sha’arim” neighborhood, a number of extremist
Israelis attacked him with rods and knives. He sustained injuries and bruises throughout the body. The Israeli police witnessed the attack, but
did not intervene to stop it. After the
attack, Israeli police arrested one of the attackers for a few minutes, then
released him on site.
On Monday, 1 March 2004, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Tiqua” settlement, east of Bethlehem, seized about 20 donums of the lands
of al-Rashaida village. The settlers
brought a bulldozer and razed the land.
On Tuesday morning, 2 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces began razing areas of Palestinian land in Kufor Laqef village, east of
Qalilya, near the settlements of “Karni Shomron”, “Ma’ale Shomron” and “Ginat
Shomron”. They razed about 120 donums of
the village’s land owned by Ahmed Qaddura and the heirs of ‘Awad Nasser.
Also on Tuesday morning, Israeli military trucks
transported 6 mobile homes to “Ennab” settlement, east of Tulkarm.
*****
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:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
