An Escalation of Israeli
Illegal Military Actions against the Palestinian People and the International
Community Remains Silent
Introduction
In the first week, after the new Israeli government
took office, Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated grave illegal military
actions against Palestinian civilians and property, using all kinds of weapons. Such
actions came after threats made by the Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to
escalate the military operation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The latest and most violent Israeli onslaught
targeted Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip last night. Israeli warplanes and tanks intensely shelled
the camp. The operation, which continues
until Thursday morning, 6 March 2003, left dead 11 Palestinian civilians,
including 4 children and an old man. Five of the victims were killed by a tank shell fired by Israeli forces
during their withdrawal from the camp, when these civilians were trying to putt
out fire that had broken out in a house. In addition, more than 50 Palestinians, including two journalists, were
injured. Israeli forces destroyed two
Palestinian houses, damaging dozens of neighboring houses. They also caused severe damage to the
infrastructure, houses and shops in the camp. During the week, Israeli forces had launched two other similar
offensives against al-Boreij refugee camp and Khan Yunis in the Gaza
Strip. Those operations left dead 10
Palestinian civilians, including a child and pregnant woman who died under the
ruins of her destroyed house. Her
husband and 4 of her children were also injured. Dozens of other Palestinian civilians were
injured as well. During the two
operations, Israeli forces destroyed 4 Palestinian houses, which left dozens of
other houses either destroyed or damaged.
Israeli occupying forces have continued their illegal
military actions against Palestinian civilians and their property, using
various kinds of weapons. This week, 27 February – 5 March 2003, 28 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children, two women, an old man
and a deaf youth, were killed by Israeli
forces.
Israeli forces shelled and moved into Palestinian
areas in the Gaza Strip. They shelled
these areas, demolished dozens of Palestinian houses and razed large areas of
agricultural land. In Rafah, Israeli
forces demolished 22 houses near the Egyptian border, south of the town,
rendering dozens of Palestinian civilians homeless. Also this week, Israeli
forces indiscriminately shelled Palestinian residential areas and medical and
educational institutions in Khan Yunis, injuring dozens of Palestinian
civilians, including a school child, who was seriously injured while she was
inside her classroom.
In violation of international humanitarian law, which
prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli
targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli
forces. In this context, they destroyed 11 Palestinian houses in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip.
In various cases of apparent willful killing, this week, Israeli forces shot dead 5 Palestinian
civilians, including a child, a deaf youth and an old man. In addition, two other Palestinian civilians,
including a woman, died from previous injuries they sustained by Israeli forces.
Israeli
occupying forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one another. They have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three
separated zones and restricted the movement of people and goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in
the West Bank.
On 5 March 2003, Israeli forces imposed
a closure on the West Bank until Sunday, 9 March 2003. A young Palestinian woman died as Israeli
forces prevented her travel to Jordan to receive medical care there.
Israeli offensive on Khan Yunis
Saturday night, 1 March 2003, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and helicopters and covered by
intense shelling, thrust into Khan Younis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi
neighborhood in the western part of the town. The Israeli invasion
continued until 07:00 on Sunday, 2 March 2003, and left dead two Palestinians,
including a civilian who was killed at home. 39 were injured, including 7
inside the Nasser Hospital. In addition, Israeli forces destroyed an
apartment building located in a densely populated area, which rendered dozens
of neighboring houses destroyed. They also bulldozed 5 other houses. In
an aggression against medical and educational institutions, Israeli forces
demolished large parts of the walls surrounding Nasser Hospital and an UNRWA
preparatory school.
According to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitness
reports, at approximately midnight, around 30 Israeli heavy military vehicles,
accompanied by military bulldozers, moved approximately 400m into Khan Younis
refugee camp. At the same time a number of other Israeli forces moved into
al-Nimsawi neighborhood in the west of Khan Younis. Israeli heavy military
vehicles and helicopters shelled the two areas intensely.
In Khan Younis refugee camp, Israeli forces
surrounded a 7-storey apartment building, in which 7 families, counting 54
people, live. The house is owned by Fayez ‘Ouda Hussein Abu ‘Aker. They called through loudspeakers on residents of the
house to get out, but they refused. Immediately, Israeli forces, accompanied by dogs, broke into the house
and held up its residents. They used
15-year-old Rafiq Fa’eq Abu ‘Aker as a human shield while searching the
house. They also fired live bullets and sound bombs inside the house
while searching it. Then, Israeli forces
ordered residents of the house to get out and took them approximately 200m
away, without allowing them to evacuate their belongings. They also
forced residents of neighboring houses out. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it,
including some commercial stores that contained foodstuffs for approximately
10,000 US$. As a result of the blast, dozens of neighboring houses were
totally or partially destroyed, and the eastern facade of a mosque was
destroyed. Israeli military bulldozers also demolished 3 houses:
1. A
120-square-meter, 4-storey house, in which 4 families counting 25 people lived,
owned by Ibrahim ‘Ali Mohammed Abu ‘Awadh;
2. A
108-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 3 families counting 17 people lived,
owned by heirs of ‘Ali Hassan Abu Zaid; and
3. A
180-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which 4 families counting 17 people lived,
owned by Ahmed Mohammed Hassan Abu Zaid.
In al-Nimsawi neighborhood, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved from “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
towards Nasser Hospital in the north of the neighborhood. They surrounded the hospital and military bulldozers demolished large
parts of its fence. Also in the same
area, Israeli military bulldozers demolished large parts of the fence
surrounding an UNRWA preparatory school. They then demolished 3 houses:
1. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, tin and concrete-roofed house, in which two families counting
5 people lived, owned by Rami ‘Abdul Latif Mohammed al-Zaqzouq.
2. They partially demolished a
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people live, owned by Riad
‘Abdul Latif al-Zaqzouq.
3. They totally demolished a
60-square-meter, tin-roofed uninhabited house owned by Isma’il Hashem
al-Zaqzouq.
The bulldozers started demolishing one of these
houses while its residents were still inside.
A number of Palestinian gunmen confronted
Israeli forces during the incursion, which continued until 07:00 on Sunday, 2
March 2003. One of the gunmen, Mohammed Mar’ei ‘Abdul Hadi, 25, was
killed by a live bullet in the chest.
As a result of the Israeli indiscriminate shelling, a
Palestinian civilian, ‘Abed Rabbu D’ib ‘Abed Rabbu, 52, was injured by shrapnel
in the chest and back. He bled to death. According to eyewitnesses, 4 artillery shells hit the
bedroom of his house, which is located in al-Nimsawi neighborhood,
approximately 100m away from Nasser Hospital. Palestinian medical
personnel were not able to reach the area due to the intensive Israeli shelling
and because the Israeli soldiers denied them access to the affected
house. ‘Abed Rabbu bled to death. His body was evacuated to hospital
at approximately 07:00, after the Israeli forces had withdrawn from the
area. Also as a result of Israeli indiscriminate shelling and gunfire, 39
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 10 children, were wounded.
Seven of those were wounded inside Nasser Hospital, including two staff
members: Mahmoud Mohammed al-Bardawil, 35, a nurse; and Ahmed Salman
al-Faqa’awi, a worker.
PCHR’s field worker in Khan Yunis reported that
ambulances faced difficulties in attending to the wounded due to intensive
Israeli shelling, which damaged buildings inside Nasser Hospital, a number of
houses and the telephone and electricity supplies.
Israeli Offensive on al-Boreij Refugee Camp
In another offensive into al-Boreij refugee camp,
reflecting that these frequent Israeli incursions have become a systematic
policy, Israeli occupying forces killed 8 Palestinian civilians, including a
pregnant woman who bled to death under ruins of her destroyed house. In
addition, they destroyed a mosque and 8 houses, when they, reinforced with dozens
of heavy military vehicles and helicopters, invaded the camp in the central
Gaza Strip on Monday, 3 March 2003 to destroy some houses.
According to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitness
reports, at approximately 00:30, around 60 Israeli heavy military vehicles,
including military bulldozers, moved approximately 2-5km into al-Boreij refugee
camp from three directions; from the eastern border, from “Kfar
Darom” settlement in the south, and from “Netzarim” settlement
in the north. Before this incursion, Israeli undercover units dressed in
civilian clothes deployed around targeted houses.
A number of Israeli military jeeps moved from
“Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, approximately 5km into
al-Boreij refugee camp. They surrounded the
house of Mohammed Hassan Taha, 65, allegedly wanted by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers broke into house opening
fire inside after they had destroyed its door. The owner’s son, Ayman, 35, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
hand. Then, Israeli soldiers arrested
Taha and his three sons: ‘Abdullah, 23; Ayman, 35; and ‘Abdul Rahman, 19, and
two other civilians in the area: Sami ‘Abdullah Hamed, 33; and Ibrahim ‘Abdul
Raziq al-‘Abeed, 22. Soon, a number of
Israeli heavy military vehicles arrived at the area and imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers forced the 10 residents of
the 250-square-meter house, and the residents of the neighboring houses, out
and planted explosives in the house. Then, they destroyed the house. The eastern facade of the nearby al-Taqwa Mosque was destroyed by the
blast.
At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles
moved from “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah,
approximately 5km into the camp. They
surrounded the house of ‘Aadel ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Salam. He is the father
of Sami ‘Abdul Salam who was killed in a bombing at al-Matahen military
checkpoint, north of Khan Yunis, on 9 February 2003. Israeli soldiers forced the 10
residents of the 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house out and destroyed
it. As a result, 3 neighboring houses
were destroyed:
1. A
60-square-meter house, in which 12 people lived, owned by Shukri Suleiman
Hussein al-Maqadma was destroyed. A room
collapsed over the family, killing the wife, Nuha Sabri al-Maqadma, 40, who was
9 months pregnant. Since ambulances and
rescue teams couldn’t reach the house due to the presence of the Israeli
forces, which opened fire in all directions, the wife remained under ruins of
the house bleeding. In addition, 4 of
her 10 children were injured.
2. A
100-square-meter, tin and asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 people lived, owned
by Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Raya was destroyed.
3. A
60-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which two families counting 8 people lived,
owned by Ahmed Mohammed Amin Shahin.
At the same time, Israeli heavy military vehicles
moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip approximately 2km into the
camp. They surrounded the house of
Ramadan Hassan Abu Hassanein. He is a relative of Suleiman Abu Hassanein who carried out an
armed attack against Israeli forces in the Kissufim area, southeast of Deir
al-Balah, last year. Israeli soldiers,
accompanied by dogs, broke into the house after they had destroyed its
door. A dog bit the owner’s daughter,
Islam, 12. Israeli soldiers forced the
13 residents of the 220-square-meter, 2-storey house out and destroyed it. As a result, a neighboring 60-square-meter,
tin-roofed house, in which two people lived, was destroyed. That house was
owned by Suleiman Mustafa Hamdan. In addition, a carpentry workshop owned by
Khaled Abu Hwaishel was destroyed, and a number of neighboring houses were
damaged. When Israeli forces withdrew
from the area, Ramadan Abu Hassanein’s son, Hassan, 20, was found under ruins
of the house. He was wounded by several
live bullets in the feet and the left hand.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
raided the house of Ahmed Suleiman al-Qurinawi and forced its residents out. Then, they broke into a car park near the house and
destroyed a civilian car, a black Hyundai, owned
by Fu’ad Ibrahim al-Wir. The car was
used by Riad Abu Zaid who was assassinated by Israeli forces on 17 February
2003.
As a result of the indiscriminate shelling by the
Israeli forces during the incursion and withdrawal, 7 Palestinian civilians,
including a child and a security man, were killed:
1. Tariq Sa’di ‘Aqel, 13, from Nusseirat
refugee camp, shot by several live bullets throughout the body;
2. Maher Khamis al-Refa’ei, 24, from
al-Boreij refugee camp, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force,
shot by two live bullets in the back and the chest;
3. Walid ‘Abdullah al-Khatib, 24, from
al-Boreij refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the chest;
4. Mohammed ‘Ali al-Babli, 22, from
Nusseirat refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the pelvis;
5. Rami Yousef ‘Awadh, 21, from al-Boreij
refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the abdomen – he
bled to death;
6. Fadi Fayez al-Hawajri, 19, from
Nusseirat refugee camp, shot by two live bullets in the chest and the foot; and
7. Mo’tassem Hamed ‘Aqel, 24, from al-Boreij
refugee camp, shot by a live bullet in the head.
Friday,
28 February 2003
At approximately 07:45, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian child, Reem Mahmoud ‘Ali Abu ‘Obaida, 9, was wounded by
shrapnel in the head, while she was playing at home, approximately 200m away
from the source of fire.
At approximately 09:30, 6 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, covered by intensive shelling, moved approximately 200m into
al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian
border. They destroyed two Palestinian
houses:
1. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Ihsan ‘Ouda ‘Omar al-Natour; and
2. A 90-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which two people lived, owned by Mustafa Jamal ‘Abdul Qader Hassan.
Live bullets hit an electricity transmitter in the
area, cutting electricity.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces
in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire
at the nearby Zo’rob square. A
Palestinian child, Mohammed Yahia Tabasi, 12, was wounded by shrapnel in the
right hand while he was near his house.
At approximately 13:30, 7 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into al-Salam
neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished 4 Palestinian houses:
1. A
350-square-meter house, in which two families counting 12 people lived, owned
by Mohammed Mousa Ahmed al-Ghoul;
2. A
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families counting 19 people
lived, owned by Joma’a Sarhan Khalil Abu Jazar;
3. A
300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 19
people lived, owned by ‘Aatef Suleiman Hassan al-Qadhi; and
4. A
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by
Ibrahim Isma’il Suleiman al-Qadhi.
At approximately 15:30, 5 Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent
to the Egyptian border. They demolished
two Palestinian houses:
1. A 370-square-meter house, in which 4
families counting 20 people lived, owned by ‘Awadh Mohammed Ahmed al-Nairab;
and
2. A 240-square-meter house, in which 4
people lived, owned by Sami Mohammed Taleb al-Zatma.
In the evening, medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in
Gaza city informed that Mohammed Yousef Mohammed al-‘Aaloul, 27, from Gaza
city, succumbed to a wound he sustained last week. According to PCHR’s investigation,
Al-‘Aaloul, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, was wounded by
a live bullet in the chest, when Israeli occupying forces invaded the northern
Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun on 23 February 2003, which left dead 7
Palestinians and rendered a number of houses destroyed.
At approximately 22:30, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Ali Mohammed Abu
Zarqa, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the eye.
Saturday, 1 March 2003
At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces in a
military location in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at residential areas
and educational and medical institutions in the town. As a result of the 3-hour gunfire, 3
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Huda
Na’im Mahmoud Darwish, 11, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head while
at school, approximately 900m away from the source of fire;
2. Jamil
Mustafa Mohammed Jadallah, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the head while he was
near his house; and
3. Ghaleb
Ahmed Hassan Radwan, 21, wounded by shrapnel in the neck.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with
heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into
al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. They demolished a 150-square-meter,
tin-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Slimi Zaidan Abu Shallouf,
and razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted by olives and citrus
owned by Salem ‘Assir Abu Shallouf and farmed by Suleiman Abu Shallouf.
Sunday, 2 March 2003
At approximately 10:00, an Israeli undercover unit
infiltrated Hindaza Mount in the south of Bethlehem. They surrounded the house
of Salman and Khaled Mohammed Nawawra, 32 and 40 respectively. 15 minutes later, 8 Israeli military jeeps
and two ambulances raided the area. They called through loudspeakers on the two
brothers to get out of the house and surrender. Soon, the two brothers got out and surrendered. A Palestinian civilian, Bilal Khaled Sa’ad
Kulaib, 18, passed by the area. Israeli
soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the right foot.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with 6 heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered
by intense shelling, moved approximately 200m into Block L in Rafah refugee
camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Ahmed
Isma’il Suleiman Radwan, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the head; and
2. Meziad
‘Adnan Joma’a Abu ‘Armana, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the left arm.
Israeli forces demolished 7 Palestinian houses in the
area:
1. They totally demolished a
100-square-meter house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Khaled Jamal Ibrahim
al-Tawil.
2. They totally demolished a
360-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 families counting 39 people
lived, owned by Jamal Ibrahim Mousa al-Tawil.
3. They totally demolished a
270-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 10
people lived, owned by ‘Eissa Husni Hamdan Abu Taha.
4. They totally demolished a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two people lived, owned by
Zainab Ibrahim ‘Abdul Karim al-Sha’er.
5. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two families counting 6
people lived, owned by Qassem Ahmed Mohammed Hassanein.
6. They totally demolished an
80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 people lived, owned by
Yousef Ahmed Mohammed Hassanein.
7. They partially demolished a
160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people live, owned by
Saleh Mohammed Salem al-‘Arja.
At approximately 12:00, 5 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, including a bulldozer, covered by intense gunfire, moved
approximately 150m into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent
to the Egyptian border. They demolished two Palestinian houses:
1. A
234-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people lived, owned by
Nidal ‘Abdullah Khamis al-‘Emwasi; and
2. A
100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people lived, owned by
‘Emad ‘Ayada Abu ‘Arar.
At approximately 18:00, medical sources at the
European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that ‘Aziza D’ib al-Qassir, 50, from
Rafah, succumbed to an injury she sustained by ruins of her house that was
destroyed by Israeli occupying forces.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
22:00 on Tuesday, 22 October 2002, around 20 Israeli heavy
military vehicles, covered by indiscriminate shelling and supported by 3 combat
helicopters, moved approximately 400m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah,
adjacent to the Egyptian border. At approximately 23:00, Israeli soldiers broke into the house of Mahmoud
Mohammed Jaber al-Qassir, father of Mohammed, 18, who was killed in armed
attack on the “Kissufim” settlement, east of Deir al-Balah on 18
February 2002, after he had killed a number of Israeli soldiers and settlers.
Israeli soldiers forced residents of the house out and destroyed it. As a
result, the owner’s wife, ‘Aziza D’ib al-Qassir, 50, sustained serious injuries
and fractures throughout the body, and 19 neighbors also sustained injuries and
bruises, as Israeli soldiers ordered them to stay at home while they destroyed
the house. She succumbed to her injuries at approximately 18:00 on
Sunday, 2 March 2003.
Monday, 3 March 2003
In the morning, Israeli forces moved into the old
town of Nablus. They seized control of a
number of houses and schools and transformed them into military outposts. They also raided a number of houses. A number
of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired
back at the stone throwers, wounding 3:
1. Mohammed
Samir Musbah Sharaf, 18, wounded by two rubber-coated metal bullets in the left
shoulder and leg;
2. Sa’id
Farid Walid Furaitakh, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right
leg; and
3. ‘Omar ‘Abdul Majid ‘Aadel Qan’eir, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian
border. Immediately, the bulldozer
partially demolished a 150-square-meter house, in which 7 people live, owned by
‘Aatef ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Yousef al-Ghouti.
At approximately 16:30, a tank and a military jeep,
covered by intense gunfire, moved into al-Balawna neighborhood in Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at the stone
throwers. Four boys were wounded:
1. Ahmed
Saif Khader al-Hamshari, 14, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head;
2. Wahid
Musbah Ahmed ‘Anbas, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the back;
3. ‘Abdullah ‘Aahed Hassan ‘Anbas, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet; and
4. Eyad
Khaled ‘Abdul Fattah Abu al-Ghayab, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet
in the right thigh.
Tuesday, 4 March 2003
At approximately 12:40, a person in civilian clothes,
who was holding a pistol, entered an internet café in Jenin. He fired 14 live bullets inside the
café. Then, he got out, stood near an
electricity tower near the café and made a phone call by his mobile phone. Two minutes later, a minibus with Palestinian
license plates arrived. It stopped 7m
away from the entrance of the café. Six
persons in military uniforms got out of it and opened fire. Five minutes later, an Israeli tank and two
military jeeps, supported by two combat helicopters, entered the area. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
passing Palestinian civilians, killing Hisham Mohammed Ahmed ‘Awad ‘Amru, 18,
from Jenin, with a live bullet in the heart, and wounding 6 others
civilians.
At approximately 17:30, an Israeli tank moved into
Tulkarm. It was positioned east of
Tulkarm refugee camp. A number of
Palestinian civilians gathered approximately 200m away from the tank and threw
stones at it. Israeli
soldiers fired at the stone throwers, killing Bassel ‘Ali Hassan ‘Abbas, 26,
who was deaf, with several live bullets in the chest and thighs. In addition, 3 other civilians were wounded,
one of them critically.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into al-Salam
neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Immediately, they demolished a
220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families counting 18 people
lived, owned by Ibrahim Mohammed Isma’il al-Habibi.
At approximately 22:30, Israeli forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved
approximately 100m into al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent
to the Egyptian border. They demolished
a 300-square-meter mosque and a 150-square-meter house, in which 8 people
lived, owned by Jamal ‘Abdul Qader Yousef Hassan.
Wednesday, 5 March 2003
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Shihada Abu ‘Aker, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;
2. Hamad
Ibrahim Abu ‘Awadh, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder; and
3. Ahmed
Marzouq Abu Sahloul, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the thigh.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Sunday, 2 March 2003
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinians who were participating in the
funeral procession of Mohammed Mar’ei ‘Abdul Hadi who was killed by Israeli
forces during the offensive on Khan Yunis the previous night. The funeral procession took place in a
cemetery located approximately 100m away from the aforementioned
settlement. Three Palestinian civilians
were wounded by the Israeli gunfire, including 9-year-old ‘Abdul Rahman Mustafa
Jadallah, who was critically wounded by a live bullet in the head. At approximately 17:00, he was pronounced
dead at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City. The other two civilians who were wounded were:
1. Mohammed
‘Abdullah al-Ghalban, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the back; and
2. Mahmoud
Fu’ad Barbakh, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the head.
Monday, 3 March 2003
Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint on an
agricultural road between Nablus and Bourin village, south of the city, shot
dead a Palestinian civilian.
According to information available to PCHR, in the
morning, Mohammed Hassan ‘Ali ‘Eissa, 23, from Salem village, east of Nablus,
left home to go in the direction of Ramallah. As
Israeli occupying forces had closed the main roads, he resorted to an
agricultural road between Nablus and Bourin village. At approximately 12:00, Israeli soldiers at a
military checkpoint on the road stopped and humiliated him and a number of
other Palestinian civilians. Then, an
Israeli soldier fired at them, wounding ‘Eissa with a live bullet that entered
the left thigh and settled in the abdomen. Israeli soldiers left him bleeding without offering him any kind of
help. A Palestine Red Crescent Society
ambulance was called. ‘Eissa was
evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but medical efforts made to save his
life failed. According to medical
sources, there were signs of chains on his hands, which indicate that he was
fired at while being chained.
Tuesday, 4 March 2003
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a
military location in the southwest of “Netzarim” settlement, south of
Gaza city, shot dead an old Palestinian farmer with several live bullets in the
head and the neck.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
13:00, while ‘Abdullah Shihada al-‘Ashab, 75, was farming his land,
approximately 100m south of “Netzarim” settlement, Israeli soldiers
in a military location in the southwest of the settlement shot him dead with
three live bullets in the neck and the head. At approximately 14:00, an Israeli tank moved into the area and searched
it. Around 15:30, a Palestinian
ambulance evacuated the body after this was coordinated between Israeli forces
and the Palestinian side. Later, the
Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted an Israeli military spokesman on
its Arabic web site as saying: “A unit of the Israeli military noticed a
Palestinian riding a donkey near Netzarim settlement in an area prohibited for
Palestinians, so Israeli soldiers fired at him.” This indicates that Israeli soldiers fired at
the farmer without prior warning and without using less lethal means.
Collective
Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have
Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation
of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment,
Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who
have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 27 February 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Mahmoud Ibrahim
Mohammed Abu Zour, 49, in Makdousha area. They forced the 7 residents of the 160-square-meter, 3-storey house out
and gave them 15 minutes to evacuate their belongings. Before the 15 minutes passed, Israeli
soldiers planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. Two neighboring houses were destroyed and
three others were damaged. Israeli forces
claimed that the owner’s son, Muhannad, 19, carried out an armed attack against
“Shavi Shomron” settlement, north of Nablus, on 31 May 2002.
At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 3 March 2003,
Israeli forces moved into Qaffin village, north of Tulkarm. They surrounded the western part of the
village. They raided 3 houses owned by
Fathi Raja Ahmed Khatib, 43, and forced their 15 residents out. They also forced residents of 5 neighboring
houses out. Then, they planted
explosives in the three houses and destroyed them. The 5 neighboring houses, owned by Rifqi Raja
Ahmed Khatib, ‘Azzam ‘Awni Khatib, Hussam ‘Awni Khatib, Nader Mohammed ‘Ammar
and Jihad Tawfiq ‘Ammar, were damaged. Fathi Khatib has been detained by Israeli forces for one year.
At approximately 01:30 on Tuesday, 4 March 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of
Hebron. They surrounded the house of
Ahmed ‘Abdul Qader Abu ‘Awad, 33. They
forced the residents of the 80-square-meter house out and destroyed it. Two days earlier, Israeli forces had raided
the house, destroyed its door and searched it. They had also destroyed a turnery workshop and a car owned by Abu ‘Awad
and they had detained Abu ‘Awad’s brothers, Jamal, 40, and Ayoub, 27, and
destroyed a monument.
At approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 5 March 2003,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, surrounded
the house of “Mohammed Subhi” Bassam Mahmoud al-Sayed in the east of
Nablus. Israeli soldiers broke into the
first floor of the house and forced its residents out. They demolished some internal walls, without
allowing residents of the house to evacuate their belongings, including
jewelry. Then, they planted explosives
in the house and destroyed its first floor. The 180-square-meter, 2-storey house was severely damaged. Then, Israeli forces ordered residents of the
house to enter it, but they refused, fearing that the house would
collapse. In the morning, Palestinian
security forces discovered explosives in the house. Al-Sayed is the father of Ashraf al-Sayed who
carried out an attack against an Israeli military checkpoint, east of Nablus on
8 August 2001.
A Palestinian Girl Dies Due to Obstruction of Access to Health Care
On Sunday morning, 2 March 2003, Najwan Mohammed
Sa’id Salhi, 18, from ‘Ein Bait al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of Nablus, died in
Jericho Hospital, as Israeli forces did not allow her to travel to Jordan on
the previous day to receive medical care. According to the victim’s father, she was suffering from cancer. She underwent a surgery in Ramallah Hospital
on 11 March 2002. Since then, she had
received medical care in the National Hospital in Nablus. On 2 February 2003, her doctor decided her
transfer to a Jordanian hospital to receive medical attention not available in
Palestinian hospitals. However, she was
not able to travel due to an Israeli decision that prohibits all travel of
Palestinians under 35 years old. On 19
February, the family referred to the Palestinian liaison department and the
ICRC to intervene with Israeli authorities to allow her to travel. At approximately 14:00 on Thursday, 27
February 2003, the father received a phone call from the office of the ICRC in
Nablus, which informed him that his daughter could travel. However, she was not able to travel on the
following day due to the bad weather. At
approximately 11:00 on Saturday, 1 March 2003, an ambulance of Palestine Red
Crescent Society transported the girl to al-Karama Crossing on the Jordanian
border. Israeli military checkpoints on
the way to the crossing delayed her passage. She arrived at the crossing at approximately 13:30, but Israeli forces
did not allow her to cross. At
approximately 14:40, the ambulance evacuated her to Jericho Hospital, hoping
that she would be able to travel on the following day, but she died at
approximately 07:30 on the following day.
********
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, to ensure the respect of the Convention.
3. Upon the
international community to investigate and prosecute those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories before
international courts.
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.
[1] This number includes the 11 civilians killed in the
Israeli raid on Jabalya on the 6th of March. See separate press
release for more information.
