Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 15
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, were killed by Israeli
forces
· 5
of the victims were killed in 2 extra-judicial assassinations
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 94
houses were destroyed in Khan Yunis refugee camp
· Large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the Gaza Strip were razed
· Houses
were raided and dozens of Palestinians were arrested
· PCHR
obtained a temporary injunction stopping the demolition of 11 houses in
al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis
· Israeli
forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, injuring a number of
Palestinian civilians
· Construction
of the “Annexation Wall” in the West Bank has continued and more areas of
Palestinian land were seized
· Israeli
settlers continued their attacks on Palestinian civilians and properties
· 2
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
· Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces have escalated
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations perpetrated by
Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial killings,
incursions into Palestinian areas, especially in the Gaza Strip, indiscriminate
shelling and house demolitions. Israeli occupying forces have also
continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 15
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, were killed by Israeli
occupying forces. One of the children
was killed by the explosion of a suspicious object of the remainders of Israeli
occupying forces.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
12 military incursions into Palestinian areas, especially in Khan Yunis and
Deir al-Balah. Eight of these incursions targeted Khan Yunis, during
which 3 Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed and 79 houses were
destroyed. As a result, 622 people (103)
families have become homeless. On 2 May
2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 15 houses in al-Qarara village, north
of Khan Yunis. As a result, 100 people
have become homeless. Israeli occupying
forces conducted 3 military incursions into Deir al-Balah and neighboring
villages. During these incursions,
Israeli troops killed one Palestinian, injured 15 others, including 2
journalists and a paramedic, destroyed at least 10 houses and razed large areas
of Palestinian agricultural land.
In an excessive use of force, on 1 May 2004, Israeli
occupying forces killed a Palestinian child and wounded another one in al-Nada
housing project in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli troops fired at a number of children who threw stones at
them. Another Palestinian child died
from an injury he sustained by Israeli troops two weeks ago in similar
circumstances.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces committed
more belligerent acts against Palestinian civilians. They committed 2 extra-judicial
assassinations in the Nablus district, which left 5 Palestinian alleged activists
dead. Three Palestinian civilians,
including an old woman, were killed during Israeli military incursions into
Palestinian areas. In addition, a
10-year-old Palestinian child from Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm,
was killed by the explosion of a suspicious object believed to be left behind
by Israeli occupying forces.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 29 April 2004
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved
into Sourif village, northwest of Hebron. They arrested 14-year-old Khader ‘Ali Khader Abu Far.
At approximately 02:30 Israeli occupying forces moved
into Ethna village, south of Hebron. They arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Akram
Zaki ‘Eissa Khalawi, 21; and
2. Mohammed
Ibrahim Isma’il ‘Awad, 21.
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces,
accompanied by 2 military bulldozers, moved into al-Fara’a refugee camp,
southeast of Jenin. They raided Salah
Khalaf Cultural Center (which had been used in the past as an Israeli military
prison). A number of Israeli soldiers
were positioned atop of its buildings. The two bulldozers started to close the entrances of the camp with rocks
and sand barriers. A number of
Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at Israeli
military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas
canisters at the stone throwers. One
tear gas canister fell into a house belonging to the family of Subhiya Mahmoud Amin
Abu Libbada, 65 which caused her to lose consciousness. She died on the way to the hospital. According to information available to PCHR,
she was suffering from a form of cardio disease. In addition, 12 Palestinians, including a
journalist, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:
1. Nabil
Mazawa, a cameraman of al-Jazeera Satellite Channel, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the left leg;
2. Ma’ath
‘Abdul Karim al-Ghoul, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left armpit;
3. Bilal
Sharif D’ib Subeh, 18, hit by a sound bomb to the back;
4. Ahmed
Salah Sawalma, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;
5. Mohammed
Kamel Abu al-Samen, 17, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the
forehead and the right hand;
6. Wa’el
Khaled Abu Tayeh, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right
hand;
7. Mohammed
Mahmoud Shana’a, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;
8. Shaher
‘Abdul Karim Barahma, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
shoulder;
9. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed Abu Habib, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;
10. Mohammed ‘Ali Waqed, 16, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the thigh;
11. Ibrahim ‘Ali Waqed, 18, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand; and
12. Mo’tassem Mohammed al-Jawad, 16,
wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in Block K in Rafah refugee camp. Two Palestinian civilians were injured:
1. Na’im
Sami al-Hams, 15, injured by shrapnel in the buttocks; and
2. Ahmed
Sa’id Abu ‘Aathra, 18, injured by shrapnel in the left hand.
In an excessive use of force, in the evening, Israeli
occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Hares village, southwest
of Nablus, when they fired at a number of Palestinian demonstrators who threw
stones at them.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 18:30, a number of Palestinian young men gathered at the western
entrance of Hares village, southwest of Nablus. They threw stones at an Israeli military post in the area. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
stone throwers. Ahmed ‘Abdullah Mohammed
Kulaib, 22, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest. A passing Israeli ambulance stopped and its
staff tried to offer him first medical aid, but Israeli soldiers prevented
them, causing Kulaib to bleed to death.
In another attack against Palestinian civilian
properties, in the evening, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 20 houses in
Khan Yunis refugee camp.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military
vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved approximately 150 meters into Khan Yunis
refugee camp. Under the cover of
indiscriminate shelling, they started to destroy a number of Palestinian
houses. By 05:00 on the following day, they had destroyed 12 houses totally and
8 others partially. As a result, 194
people (31 families) have become homeless. In addition, Israeli forces destroyed a football playground, 3 rooms and
3 gardens belonging to Palestinian families.
(Note: PCHR has a list of the houses that were
destroyed in Khan Yunis refugee camp).
Friday, 30 April 2004
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They arrested 6 Palestinians:
1. Asid
‘Abdul Rahman Hamamra, 19;
2. Mahmoud
Tayseer Za’oul, 18;
3. Mahmoud
Yasser Za’oul, 20;
4. Ahmed
‘Eissa Hamamra, 18;
5. Mohammed
‘Aadel Hamamra, 19;
6. Jihad
Sami Hamamra, 20.
At approximately 15:30, a number of Palestinian
children from al-Nada housing project in the northern Gaza Strip threw stones
at Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of the
neighboring “Nissanit” settlement. Israeli troops fired at the children wounding 2:
1. Mohammed
‘Abdullah al-Ghoul, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand; and
2. Ibrahim
Kamal al-Ghandour, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in Rafah refugee camp. Three
Palestinian civilians were wounded, including a child who was seriously wounded
when he was near his home, approximately 1000 meters away from the border:
1. Ahmed
Hammad Zo’rob, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;
2. Hussan
Sa’ad al-Sissi, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg; and
3. Mohammed
Rateb Sama’an, 23, wounded by shrapnel in the limbs.
Saturday, 1 May 2004
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Wad Shahin neighborhood in Bethlehem. They raided and searched Ahmed Salahat’s
house and arrested his son, Yousef, 18.
At approximately 17:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They were positioned in Faisal Street in the center of the city. Israeli troops opened fire at markets and
passing Palestinian civilians. As a
result, Jamal Shehada Radwan Hamdan, 22, was seriously wounded by a live bullet
in the back. He was evacuated to Rafiday
Hospital in the city, but all medical efforts made to save his life failed. He
was pronounced dead at 20:00. According
to eyewitnesses, the victim was shot from a distance of approximately 100
meters when he was near a restaurant in the area, which was completely
quiet.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces killed a
Palestinian child and wounded another one in al-Nada housing project in the
northern Gaza Strip. Israeli troops
fired at a number of children who threw stones at them.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 16:30, a number of Palestinian children gathered near the fence
separating between “Nissanit” settlement, which stands on Palestinian
land, and al-Nada housing project in the northern Gaza Strip. The children threw stones at Israeli troops
positioned in the vicinity of the settlement. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children wounding 2. The two children were evacuated to Kamal
‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. One of
them, Khaled Bahjat Abu ‘Elba, 15, from al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City, was
in a serious condition as he was hit by a live bullet in the head. He was transferred to Shifa Hospital in Gaza
City. Medical efforts made to save his
life failed and he was pronounced dead late at night. The other child, Jihad Fayez al-Madhoun, 15,
from Beit Lahia, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces killed a
Palestinian child and injured 9 other civilians, including 5 children in the
Khan Yunis refugee camp. Investigations
conducted by PCHR concluded that Israeli forces used excessive force when no
threat was posed to the lives of Israeli soldiers, while disregarding the lives
of Palestinian civilians, especially children.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military
vehicles, moved into Khan Yunis refugee camp. Israeli forces opened fire at a number of Palestinian children near
al-Shaf’ei mosque, approximately 150 meters away, injuring 3 of them. One of the injured children, Hussein Sa’id
‘Abdullah Abu ‘Aker, 8, died shortly after having been evacuated to the
hospital. He was hit by 2 live bullets
to the abdomen and the arm. Israeli
forces continued to fire at the area, injuring 7 other civilians, including 3
children. One of these children,
Mohammed Tawfiq Abu Than, 15, was seriously injured by a live bullet in the
abdomen. According to medical sources at
Nasser Hospital, which received the injured in this incident, most injuries
were in the upper part of the body. The
injured included:
1. Saleh
Khalil al-‘Aamoudi, 17, hit by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Saleh
Ibrahim al-Bardawil, 13, hit by a live bullet to the left thigh;
3. Isma’il
Mohammed Abu Mustafa, 13, hit by a live bullet to the left arm;
4. ‘Omar
Tala’at Sahloul, 12, hit by a live bullet in the right hand;
5. Salim
Hassan al-Muqannan, 18, seriously injured by a live bullet in the chest;
6. Jaber
Fayez al-Shamali, 28, hit by a live bullet to the right hand;
7. Mahmoud
Mohammed Abu ‘Eita, 36, hit by shrapnel to the head; and
8. Mahmoud
Mohammed Abu Rezeq, 38, hit by shrapnel to the left hand.
Israeli troops withdrew from the area at
approximately 22:00 after having dug a trench, 4 meters deep and 3 meters wide
in the south and southwest of the refugee camp.
At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the border. A Palestinian civilian, Khaled Kamal Mutair,
22, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back.
Sunday, 2 May 2004
At approximately 00:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300 meters into
al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They razed a 2-donum area of Palestinian agricultural land planted with
vegetables and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman
al-Sheebi. They also dug a trench to the
south of al-Matahen checkpoint in the area.
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Halhoul village, north of Hebron. They raided a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Sari
Yousef Karaja, 25;
2. Tawfiq
Hamdan al-Baw, 27;
3. ‘Abdul
Muhsen Abu Rayan, 55; and
4. Munjed
Mohammed Msnsour, 29.
At approximately 13:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and
“Gadid” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
civilians who were participating in the funeral procession of Hussein Abu
‘Aker, who was killed by Israeli troops on Saturday evening. Two civilians, including a child, were
wounded:
1. Jamil
Mustafa Jadallah, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and
2. Mohammed
Tawfiq Abu ‘Ouda, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. A number of Palestinian children gathered in the center of the village
and threw stones at Israeli troops. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 13-year-old
Zakaria Yahia ‘Abdul Raziq with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
Also at approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Wadi al-Salqa village to the north of “Kissufim” settler
road, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They
raided ‘Atiya Mohammed Abu Zaher’s house. They held the 12 residents of the house in one room and transformed its
roof into a military site. About 5 hours
later, Israeli military reinforcements were brought to the area. Israeli troops called through megaphones on
residents of the area to leave their homes. Residents of the area left their homes taking some of their belongings
with them. Soon after, Israeli troops
destroyed some areas of agricultural land and civilian properties. During their incursion, which continued until
the following day until noon, 3 May 2004, Israeli troops raided and searched a
house belonging to the family of Marwan Salem Abu ‘Eid, 22, and arrested
him.
(Note: PCHR has a list of the civilians’ properties
that were destroyed in the area).
In a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, article
33 of which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces demolished 15
Palestinian houses that night. The houses were located to the south of the
“Kissufim” settler road in the center of the Gaza Strip. They also forced the occupants of 11 other
houses to leave their premises. PCHR
anticipates that these houses will also be demolished.
According to investigations, conducted by PCHR, on Sunday
around noon, Israeli troops, accompanied by 6 military bulldozers, moved into
the Palestinian residential areas located to the south of “Kissufim”
settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. They surrounded about 20 houses in the Abu Haddaf area, and ordered the
residents of these houses to vacate them. Then a number of Israeli soldiers raided Salem Esleem Abu Farraj’s house
and forced the whole family to leave, except for the owner. They occupied the
house and transformed it into a military facility. The owner was held inside the house until the
following morning. At that time, the residents
of the other homes were allowed to re-enter their homes. That evening, Israeli
forces opened fire at these other houses, which forced the residents to leave
their houses for the second time. Soon
after, Israeli troops started to demolish these houses. By Monday morning, 3 May 2004, they had
demolished 15 houses belonging to the families of al-Qedra, al-‘Adini, al-Zar,
Abu Farraj and Abu Sinjar. As a result,
about 100 people have become homeless. In addition, 11 other houses belonging to the families of al-Masalha,
Abu Sulaisel, Abu Rezeq and Abu Farraj, are threatened with demolition. PCHR submitted an appeal to the Israeli High
Court, on Sunday, to stop these demolitions. The court issued a temporary injunction stopping the demolitions. Residents of these houses are now trying to
remove their belongings as the houses are expected to be demolished in the
imminent future.
(Note: PCHR has a list of all these houses).
Monday, 3 May 2004
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300 meters into al-Mughraqa
village near “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City. They destroyed al-Qadisiya Street and blocked
it with sand barriers. Israeli troops
raided and searched a number of houses, then seized control over 2 houses owned
by Ziad al-‘Aaidi and Sha’ban al-Hilu and transformed them into military
sites. Approximately an hour later,
Israeli troops started to destroy some civilian properties in the village. By Tuesday morning, 4 May 2004, Israeli
troops had completely destroyed 4 houses and 2 others partially, rendering 32
people form the al-Hilu family homeless. They had also razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Bourqin village, west of Jenin. They raided a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians:
1. Ziad
Ahmed D’ib ‘Obaidi, 24;
2. Ahmed
Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman Subeh, 23;
3. ‘Abdul
Nasser Murtada, 19;
4. Rami
Talal Khallouf, 21;
5. Ahmed
‘Ali ‘Atiq, 17; and
6. Ahmed
Majed ‘Atiq.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
arrested 4 Palestinians in Jenin:
1. ‘Adnan
‘Abdul Rahman Nazzal, 17;
2. Suleiman
Hatem As’ad, 24;
3. ‘Aaref
Abu ‘Ezzat, 20; and
4. Ahmed
al-Shati, 18.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces
arrested 2 Palestinians in Jalboun village, east of Jenin:
1. ‘Abdul
Qader Ahmed Abu al-Rub, 21; and
2. Ahmed
Mohammed Abu al-Rub, 23.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the eastern part of Jenin. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, wounding 12-year-old Farraj
Mustafa Najjar.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces
which had moved into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian
border, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in Rafah. A Palestinian woman, Howaida D’ib Abu
Ramadan, 25, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the left
shoulder and settled in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, the woman, who is 7 months pregnant, was near
her house, about 2000 meters away from the sources of fire, when she was
shot.
At approximately 09:30, 4 Israeli tanks and 3
military bulldozers moved approximately 300 meters into Baten al-Samin area in
the southwest of Khan Yunis. They opened
fire at Palestinian houses in the area. During this 5-hour incursion, Israeli troops razed an 11-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables and destroyed agricultural
equipments belonging to the families of al-Sha’er and Zo’rob. They also destroyed the southern fence of
Khan Yunis cemeteries and the fence of a well. Also during this incursion, an artillery shell fired by Israeli troops hit
a bird farm owned by Salah ‘Omar Yousef Durgham. Two houses in the area were also damaged by
the Israeli gunfire.
At approximately 01:00, medical sources at al-Quds
Hospital of Palestine Red Crescent Society in Gaza City declared that Ahmed
Jihad al-Khawalda, 16, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, succumbed
to a wound he sustained about 2 weeks ago. According to PCHR’s documentation, al-Khawalda was hit by a live bullet
to the head fired by Israeli occupying forces that had moved into al-Nada
housing project in the northern Gaza Strip on 20 April 2004. This Israeli attack left dead 4 Palestinian
civilians and injured about 30 others, including al-Khawalda, at the time being
declared clinically dead.
At noon, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Rafah
refugee camp. Two Palestinian
schoolchildren were injured while they were on their way back home from school:
1. Mustafa
Rajab ‘Awaja, 10, injured by shrapnel in the left knee; and
2. Faten
Jamal Abu Zuhri, 16, injured by shrapnel in the left shoulder.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Nissanit” settlement
in the northern Gaza Strip opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who
threw stones at these forces. Four
children were wounded:
1. Mahmoud
Na’im Abu Salama, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by a live bullet to the
right foot;
2. Eyad
Sa’ad al-Aa’raj, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by a live bullet to the left
thigh;
3. Shaker
Thabet al-Zawarqa, 16, from Beit Lahia, hit by a live bullet to the right foot;
and
4. Hamza
Mansour Abu Jalhoum, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by shrapnel to the
face.
Tuesday, 4 May 2004
On the morning of Tuesday 4th May, Israeli forces killed 2
Palestinians, including a child, and injured 24 others, including 2 children,
in Khan Yunis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip. They also destroyed 34 houses totally and 8
others partially. These attacks took
place during a wide scale Israeli military incursion into the camp.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 23:15 on Monday, 3 May 2004, Israeli forces, reinforced by heavy
military vehicles and 3 helicopters, moved into al-Sad al-Aali area in Khan
Yunis refugee camp. Under the cover of
intense shelling, they started to demolish some Palestinian houses. By 05:00 on Tuesday, they had demolished 34
houses totally and 8 others partially. As a consequence, 299 Palestinian refugees (48 families) have become
homeless. PCHR’s field worker in Khan
Yunis reported that the families escaped from their homes before being able to
vacate their belongings. Israeli forces
also destroyed the fence of an UNRWA elementary school in the area. Many houses in the area were demolished by
Israeli forces last year, and with this latest destruction, the area has become
almost vacant.
At approximately 02:15 on Tuesday, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched a missile at a number of Palestinians, including a number of members
of the Palestinian resistance. The
missile exploded and its shrapnel killed 2 Palestinians, including a child:
1. Jamil
Walid Mohammed Abu Mustafa, 17, hit by shrapnel to the abdomen; and
2. Bilal
Mohammed Hamdan, 25, a member of the Palestinian resistance, hit by shrapnel
throughout the body.
In addition, 24 Palestinians were injured, including 3 whose condition
was described by medical sources as serious.
(Note: PCHR has names of those who were injured and details of the
houses that were destroyed).
Also in the early morning, Israeli forces, reinforced by heavy military
vehicles, moved approximately 600 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They raided a house
belonging to the family of Jamal Mohammed Abu Haddaf, who was detained by
Israeli authorities. They held residents
of the house in one room and transformed the house into a military site. Later, Israeli troops razed 10-donums of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives, almonds and vegetables owned by the
families of Abu Mughassib, al-Sumairi, al-Hilu and Abu Than.
At approximately 02:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 200 meters into Abu Zaher area in
al-Qarara village to the south of “Kissufim” settler road, northeast
of Khan Yunis. Israeli troops raided
Samir ‘Atwa Abu Zaher’s house and held its 9 residents in one room. They searched the house and arrested one of
the owner’s sons, Akram, 22, a university student.
At approximately 13:30, a number of Palestinian boys
gathered near the fence separating between “Nissanit” settlement and
al-Hawouz area in the northern Gaza Strip. They threw stones at Israeli troops positioned in the vicinity of the
aforementioned settlement. Immediately,
Israeli troops opened fire at the boys wounding 5:
1. Mohammed
Nizar Rayan, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in the
right thigh;
2. Mohammed
Shihda Abu al-‘Eish, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded by a live
bullet that entered the left shoulder and settled in the neck;
3. Ibrahim
As’ad al-Mannaa’, 19, from Um al-Nasser village, seriously wounded by a live
bullet in the abdomen;
4. Mohammed
Mohammed Abu Jasser, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in
the left thigh; and
5. Salah
Tala’at Mousa, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded by a live bullet in the
left knee.
Late at night, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
by heavy military vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved into Block I in Khan Yunis
refugee camp. Under the cover of intense
shelling, they started to demolish a number of Palestinian houses. By Wednesday morning, 5 May 2004, they had
demolished 16 houses totally and a 17th one partially. As a consequence, 129 people (24 families)
have become homeless. These houses
belong to the families of Hunaideq, Abu Rezeq and Abu Shalloula. One of these houses, a 220-square-meter,
2-storey one, belong to Farhan Abu Shalloula, whose two sons had been killed by
Israeli troops earlier in the current Intifada. This operation was the third of its kind in Khan Yunis refugee camp this
week. In the three operations, Israeli
forces destroyed 78 Palestinian houses.
At approximately 23:30, Israeli forces, reinforced by
heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 200 meters into al-Brazil neighborhood
in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. The Israeli military vehicles destroyed a number of roads in the area. They withdrew from the area at approximately
05:15 the following day.
Wednesday, 5 May 2004
At approximately 00:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by about 30 heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 700 meters
into Palestinian areas located to the northwest of “Kfar Darom”
settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They opened fire at Palestinian houses in the area. At approximately 02:00, Israeli troops raided
2 houses owned by Sami Ibrahim Abu Sultan and Fu’ad al-Sayed Abu Musabbeh. They held residents of each house in one room
and transformed the two houses into military sites. During these raids, Israeli troops used Abu
Sultan as a human shield while searching his house. They handcuffed and
blindfolded Abu Musabbeh and his sons. Israeli troops fired at the area from the two houses. At approximately 08:00, a member of the Palestinian
National Security Force, ‘Abdullah ‘Ali ‘Abdul Fattah al-Jammal, 35, from
al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, was killed and one of his
colleagues was injured, when Israeli forces opened fire at their station. At approximately 10:00, at least 12
Palestinian civilians were injured by Israeli gunfire. This number includes 2 journalists and one
paramedic:
1. Mahmoud
Ibrahim al-Hams, 25, from Gaza City, a reporter from France Press;
2. Suhaib
Jadallah Jadallah, 24, from Gaza City, a cameraman from Reuters; and
3. Mohammed
Khamis al-Salhi, 35, a paramedic for the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
During this incursion, which continued until noon,
Israeli troops razed 47 donums of Palestinian agricultural land belonging to
the families of Abu Salim, Abu Musabbeh, Abu Samra, Abu Nasser, Abu Sultan,
Dalloul, al-Masri and Lubbad.
(Note: PCHR has a list of those who were injured and
details of the agricultural areas that were razed).
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Jenin. They arrested 3
Palestinians:
1. Rami
Rawhi Qudsiya, 21;
2. Mohammed
Mahmoud Zahed, 22; and
3. Ussama
Jamal Turkman, 22.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus. They arrested 3
Palestinians:
1. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed Jabarin, 23;
2. Ahmed
Khalil Jebara, 22; and
3. Ahmed
Salim Samaru, 22.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
al-‘Arroub refugee camp and arrested 8 Palestinians:
1. Rami
Yousef Abu Ghazi, 17;
2. Yousef
Ibrahim al-Jawabra, 16;
3. Nader
‘Abdul Rahman al-Titi, 16;
4. Ma’ath
Ahmed al-Titi, 16;
5. Nihad
Khaled al-Ballasi, 15;
6. Mahmoud
Mohammed Nemer, 17;
7. Haitham
Mohammed al-‘Alama, 23; and
8. Ma’moun
Rashad Abu Jouda, 15.
Between 09:00 and 14:00, Israeli occupying forces
arrested about 60 Palestinians in Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops transported these Palestinians
in a bus to an unknown destination.
At approximately 11:00, a number of Palestinian boys
gathered near the fence separating between “Nissanit” settlement and
Palestinian areas in the northern Gaza Strip. The boys threw stones at Israeli troops in the area. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers wounding 4:
1. Ibrahim
Rabah Abu Shehada, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by a live bullet to the
right thigh;
2. Hassan
Ahmed al-Numailat, 17, from the Bedouin village, hit by a live bullet to the
left thigh;
3. Ibrahim
Mohammed al-Balbissi, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by a live bullet to
the right foot; and
4. Majed
‘Omar al-Jammali, 16, from Gaza City, hit by a live bullet to the right
thigh.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
This week, Israeli occupying forces committed 2
extra-judicial executions in the West Bank, which left 5 Palestinians
dead.
On Sunday evening, 2 May, 2004, Israeli forces
extra-judicially executed 4 Palestinians in Nablus. The victims were members of the Fatah
movement, who were wanted by Israeli forces. An Israeli military spokesman admitted Israeli responsibility for this
attack, saying that “helicopters attacked a car belonging to some
prominent activists of Fatah organization,” and that Israeli forces
“resorted to this operation after all other efforts made to arrest them
had failed.” According to PCHR’s
documentation, this extra-judicial execution was the 5th in 10 days. These latest extra-judicial executions left
14 Palestinians dead.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 21:30 on Sunday, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched
a missile at a civilian car that was traveling near the old district court in
the center of Nablus. The missile hit
the car and completely destroyed it. All
those who were traveling in the car were instantly killed. Their burnt bodies were transferred to
Rafidya Hospital. They were identified
as:
1. Hashem
Daoud Eshtaiwi Abu Hamdan, 25, from Balata refugee camp east of Nablus;
2. Nader
Mohammed ‘Abdul Hafiz Abu al-Lail, 26, from Balata refugee camp;
3. Na’el
Ziad Hassanain, 21, from Balata refugee camp; and
4. Mohammed
Hussein Hamdan Abu Hamdan, 24, from Habla village in Qalqilya district.
On Wednesday evening, 5 May 2004, Israeli forces extra-judicially
assassinated ‘Emad Mohammed Hafez Janajra, 33, from Tallouza village, north of
Nablus. Israeli forces admitted
responsibility for this crime and claimed that the victim was wanted for being
a Hamas activist. On 24 April 2004,
Israeli troops attempted to assassinate or arrest Janajar when they moved into
Tallouza village. However, Israeli
troops killed a university lecturer. They admitted that the lecturer was killed by mistake.
According to preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR, on Wednesday
evening, an undercover unit of Israeli forces moved into Tallouza village,
north of Nablus. Israeli soldiers took
up position on olive fields at the road linking between the village and the
neighboring Yassid village. At
approximately 19:00, sounds of intense gunfire were heard in the area. Soon after, 6 Israeli military jeeps arrived
at the area and closed it. Israeli
soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses. Later, Janajra was reported to be killed in this attack. Israeli troops transferred his body in a
military jeep to an unknown destination.
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. In this context, on Thursday, 29 April 2004,
Israeli occupying forces destroyed 2 houses in Surra village, southwest of
Nablus.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:00 on Thursday 29 April 2004, 13 Israeli military jeeps moved
into Surra village. A number of Israeli
soldiers took up positions on top of a number of houses. Israeli troops surrounded 2 houses owned by
Jasser D’ib ‘Ouda and Ghaleb Mahmoud ‘Abdullah. They ordered residents of the two houses to leave witihin 15 minutes. Israeli troops then planted explosive
devices inside the two houses. At approximately
05:00, they destroyed ‘Ouda’s 160-square-meter, 2-storey house, rendering 9
people homeless. About 10 minutes later,
they destroyed ‘Abdullah’s 130-square-meter, 2-storey house, rendering 11
people homeless. ‘Ouda and ‘Abdullah are
fathers of two Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli jails.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
This week, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces further tightened the siege
imposed on the Gaza Strip. This week,
they divided the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. For the 6th consecutive week, Israeli
occupying forces have continued to close all border crossings into the Gaza
Strip. They also imposed restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians at all entrances to Palestinian areas located near Israeli
settlements and prevented Palestinian civilians from moving freely. 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. They have also negatively affected activities
of humanitarian organizations.
Israeli 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 06:00 on Saturday, 1 May 2004,
Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints. They held dozens of
Palestinian vehicles in between the two checkpoints and searched passengers. They arrested one Palestinian who has not yet
been identified.
On Sunday morning, 2 May 2004, Israeli occupying
forces divided the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. They closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli
checkpoints, separating between the south and the middle, and closed the
coastal road linking between the middle and the north of the Gaza Strip. This closure continued until 09:00 on
Tuesday, 4 May 2004. Israeli sources
claimed that these measures were taken for security reasons. When the two checkpoints were reopened,
Israeli troops held and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles in
between. This measure continued until
Tuesday evening.
For the 6th consecutive week, Israeli
forces have continued to close border crossings between the Gaza Strip and
Israel, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work places
in Israel. They have also closed the
Erez industrial zone.
In violation of the right of health, for two weeks,
Israeli occupying forces have denied access for Palestinian patients from the
Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical
care. They have also denied entry of
medicines into the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces have imposed
more restrictions at Rafah Terminal, the only outlet from the Gaza Strip to the
outside world since the beginning of the current Intifada. The Israeli intelligence services often
summon and interrogate a number of Palestinian travelers.
In a continued breach of
Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits, collective
punishment, Israeli forces have continued to prohibit Palestinians between
the ages of 16 and 35 from traveling through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian
border, since the 16th April 2004.
Israeli forces have
continued to impose a strict siege on the 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.
Israeli forces have also
continued to impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza
Strip. Israeli forces have also continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in al-Ma’ni area
near “Kfar Darom” settlement, in the central Gaza Strip.
The West Bank
Israeli forces have continued to impose a strict
siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have also imposed severe restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They imposed curfews on a number of
villages.
Jerusalem
Israeli forces imposed further restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
closed the entrances to Shu’fat refugee camp and ‘Anata village, northeast of
the city. They also imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians through Dahiat al-Barid
checkpoint, north of the city. Israeli forces erected a checkpoint in Nusaiba
neighborhood to prohibit Palestinian civilians from resorting to branch
roads. For the 5th
consecutive week, Israeli forces have denied access for Palestinians who are
under 45 to the al-Aqsa Mosque in the old town for Friday prayers.
Ramallah
Israeli forces imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians through the military checkpoint surrounding
the town. On Sunday, 2 May 2004, Israeli
troops closed Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, for several hours. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
positioned at Halmish checkpoint, north of Ramallah, imposed more restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops also erected a checkpoint at the entrance to Surda
village, north of Ramallah.
Hebron
Israeli forces imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
erected more checkpoints inside the town. Since Thursday evening, 29 April 2004, Israeli troops have closed the
northern and northwestern entrances of the town. They have also erected a number of
checkpoints at the other entrances of the town. They stopped and searched Palestinian civilians.
Nablus
Israeli forces imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
closed all checkpoints around the city. This week, Israeli troops repeatedly closed checkpoints at the entrances
of the city and separated it from the surrounding countryside.
Jenin
Israeli forces have imposed more restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They
erected more checkpoints around the town. They checked and humiliated Palestinian civilians traveling between the
town and other Palestinian communities.
Qalqilya
Israeli troops reinforced their presence at military
checkpoints erected on the main roads in the district. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
erected 3 military checkpoints on the roads linking between the town and
Tulkarm and Nablus districts.
Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israeli settlers who live in the OPTs in violation of
international humanitarian law have continued to attack Palestinian civilians
and their properties.
On Thursday morning, 29 April 2004, an armed Israeli settler
seized by force a 6-donum area of Palestinian agricultural land owned by ‘Emad
‘Ali Salah in the west of al-Khader village, southwest of Bethlehem.
On Friday evening, 30 April 2004, a number of Israeli
settlers moved from “Shakid” and “Hananit” settlements,
southwest of Jenin, and raided the neighboring Um al-Rihan village. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of
settlers, escorted by Israeli troops, moved into the village. The beat a number of Palestinian villagers
and threatened to destroy an elementary school, claiming that its students
threw stones at their vehicles. Um
al-Rihan village has been isolated from its surroundings by the “Annexation
Wall”. Its residents are allowed to exit
and enter it through an iron gate at its western entrance controlled by Israeli
troops.
On Sunday evening, 2 May 2004, about 150 Israeli
settlers broke into, and seized 2 Palestinian houses in Abu Dis town, east of
occupied Jerusalem. According to
eyewitnesses, settlers, who were escorted by Israeli troops, brought 15 trucks
loaded with furniture to the area. They
broke into the two houses, which belong to the families of Hammouda and
Wahish. They expelled residents of the
two houses, which is in an area about 100 meters away from the building which
serves as the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council. The following morning, the settlers
surrounded the two houses with a fence. According to Israeli sources, the settlers are members of the extremist
“Atirat Kuhanim” movement. These setters claim that the two houses stand on a part of an 80-donum
area of land they had bought in 1927.
At approximately 09:00 on Monday, 3 May 2004, a
number of Israeli settlers moved from “Magen David” settlement to the
east of Yatta village, south of Hebron, they beat Yousef and ‘Emad Ahmed Abu
al-Debes, who were cultivating wheat on their agricultural land in the
southeast of Yatta village. Then, the
settlers damaged the land.
On Wednesday, 5 May 2004, Israeli authorities issued
3 military orders. Two of these orders
announced the intention of Israeli forces to demolish 11 houses in the old town
and Wadi al-Nassar neighborhood in Hebron. The third order confiscated 21.8 donums of Palestinian land in Far’oun
villaghe, south of Tulkarm. The three
orders were signed by Moshe Keblinski, Head of the Central Command of Israeli
forces.
One Palestinian Child Killed and 2 Others Injured
On Tuesday afternoon, 4 May 2004, a 10-year-old
Palestinian child was killed and 2 other children were injured in Deir
al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm, by an explosion. It is believed that the explosion was caused
by the detonation of an Israeli explosive device which had remained dormant at
the location.
PCHR has conducted preliminary investigations based
on testimonies of the injured children which corroborate with investigations by
Palestinian security services. At
approximately 14:00 on Tuesday, Bahaa’ Falah Asa’ad Abu Zaytoun, 10; Ahmed
Samir Mohammed Abu Zaytoun, 11; and Mahmoud Khaled Abu Zaytoun, 13, were
playing in the eastern part of Deir al-Ghosoun village. They saw a red pipe, about 50 centimeters
long, on which some words were written in a foreign language. The pipe was put on the front of an old
deserted car, which was between 2 other old ones. The first child carried pipe and hit the
ground using it. Immediately, the pipe
exploded and its shrapnel hit the three children. The children were evacuated to Dr. Thabet
Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm. Bahaa’ was
brought to the hospital dead. The other
two children were injured by shrapnel. After the incident took place, Palestinian security services moved into
the area. They checked the object. Upon checking, they discovered that the
object consists of an explosive head with a copper tube, on which NDR 1*3 were
written. These details indicate that the
object was the remainder of a dormant Israeli explosive device.
*****
Recommendations
to the International Community
1. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
fulfill their legal and moral obligations under article 1 of the Convention to
ensure Israel’s respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories. PCHR believes that the
failure of the international community to fulfill it’s obligations as High
Contracting Parties encourages Israel to act without due regard to
International Human Rights and humanitarian law.
2. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
convene a conference to take effective steps to ensure Israel’s respect of the
Convention in the OPTs and to provide immediate protection for Palestinian
civilians.
3. PCHR
calls upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to
comply with their legal obligations detailed in article 146 of the Convention
to search for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches, namely war
crimes.
4. PCHR
recommends international civil society organizations, including human rights
organizations, bar associations and non-governmental organizations participate
in the process of searching for those who have participated in grave breaches
of the Geneva Convention and to urge their governments to bring these individuals
to justice.
5. PCHR
calls upon the European Union to activate article 2 of the Euro-Israel
Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as
a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to
prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the OPTs.
6. PCHR
calls upon European governments to vote in keeping with their public statements
to enforce international human rights and humanitarian law at UN bodies,
particularly the General Assembly, Security Council and Commission on Human
Rights.
7. PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which requested a consultative
opinion on the issue of the “Annexation Wall” inside the OPTs from the
International Court of Justice. PCHR requests that the international community
to immediately take action to halt the building of “Annexation Wall”.
8. In
recognition of the ICRC as the guardian of the Fourth Geneva Convention, PCHR
calls upon the ICRC to increase its staff and activities in the OPTs, including
for facilitating family visitations to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
9. PCHR
appreciates the efforts of international civil society, including human rights
organizations, bar associations, unions and non-governmental organizations, and
urges them to continue their role in pressuring their governments to secure
Israel’s respect for human rights in the OPTs and to end its attacks on
Palestinian civilians.
10. In light of the severe restrictions
imposed by the Israeli government and its occupying forces on access for
international staff to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries to apply
the same entry standards to Israeli citizens.
11. PCHR reiterates that any political
settlement not based on international human rights law and humanitarian law
cannot lead to a peaceful and just solution of the Palestinian question.
Rather, such an arrangement can only lead to further suffering and instability
in the region. Any peace agreement or process must be based on respect for
international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law.
“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
