Continued
Israeli Violations in the OPT and the International Community remains Silent
· 10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, killed by Israeli
forces
· A series of Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas
and a number of Palestinian civilians killed or wounded
· 2 Palestinians assassinated
· Continuing Israeli retaliatory campaign against
families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against
Israeli targets
· Continuing strict siege of the OPT
Introduction
Israeli forces have perpetrated more human rights
violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, shelling
of, and incursions into Palestinian areas, agricultural land leveling and house
demolitions. This week, 31 October – 6
November 2002, 10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 2 children, were
killed by Israeli forces.
In Rafah in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, two
Palestinian boys were killed when the Israeli occupying forces moved into the
refugee camp on 5 November. In the past
weeks, Rafah has been subjected to numerous Israeli incursions that have left a
number of Palestinian civilians dead and dozens wounded, while dozens of houses
were demolished.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Israeli occupying forces
extra-judicially assassinated two Palestinians in Nablus through bombing the
car in which the Palestinians traveled. In addition, 2 passing Palestinian civilians were wounded.
In an apparent willful killing, on 3 November,
Israeli tanks positioned at the border of the Gaza Strip east of Jabaliya fired
shells and heavy caliber bullets at 3 Palestinian civilians, who were
approximately 800m from the border. The
three civilians were killed. According
to PCHR’s investigation, the Israeli soldiers used excessive force against the
three civilians who were inside Palestinian areas, approximately 800m away from
the forces. The three civilians did not
pose any real threat to the Israeli forces, and they could have been controlled
through less lethal means.
Also on 3 November, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the
town. A Palestinian civilian was killed
while he was in the center of the town. On the same day, Israeli occupying soldiers on a tank at the border with
Egypt shot dead a mentally handicapped Palestinian from Khan Yunis.
On 31 October, Israeli occupying soldiers positioned
near the military court in “Beit Eil” military compound, north of Ramallah,
shot dead a Palestinian and took his body to an unknown destination. Israeli forces claimed that the victim was
armed and that he fired at Israeli soldiers, but eyewitnesses denied these
claims.
This week, Israeli occupying forces continued their
attacks against Palestinian houses and agricultural land. During the week, they demolished 11 houses in
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They
also razed large areas of agricultural land, especially in the Beit Hanoun in
the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces continued their retaliatory campaign
against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out attacks
against Israeli targets by demolishing 2 houses in the West Bank.
Israeli occupying forces waged large campaigns of
arrests in which dozens of Palestinians were arrested in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip.
Furthermore, Israeli forces have maintained the total
siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the Palestinian people.
Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into
cantons, violating Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural
rights. They have also imposed curfews
on several areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 24 October 2002
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 600m into Sha’at
area in Gizan al-Najjar neighborhood in the south of Khan Yunis. Here they razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, destroyed a well that served a 300-donum area of
agricultural land and 10 families, and demolished a 24-square-meter,
iron-roofed room owned by ‘Amira Salem ‘Amira al-‘Omour.
2. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Khader and
Hassan Mahdi al-Banna.
3. They razed a 7.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nazhem,
Ref’at and Salem Khamis Sha’at.
4. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Madiouf Sha’at.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, invaded Qabatya village near Jenin and
imposed a curfew. They surrounded the
house of Yousef Hassan Abu al-Rub, opened fire at the house and called by
loudspeakers on its residents to leave it. Israeli forces also demolished an old neighboring house which is owned
by al-Rub. Then, they destroyed the
first house and arrested 25-year-old Mohammed Yousef Hassan Abu al-Rub.
At approximately 08:00, an Israeli settler raided a
tract of Palestinian agricultural land in the al-Birka area in the south of
Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip. He brought
a bulldozer and started setting up greenhouses.
At approximately 09:00, 3 Israeli tanks and 2
military bulldozers moved approximately 1200m into Palestinian areas south of
“Elli Sinai” settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. The bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land until 15:00 in the afternoon:
1. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Omar Khalil
‘Omar.
2. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted
with fruits, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Jouda ‘Abed Khamis
Suleiman.
3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with strawberries and vegetables owned by Asa’ad Matar.
4. They demolished a 150-square-emter animal farm owned
by Hassan ‘Abdul Dayem.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell exploded inside the house
of ‘Eid Ibrahim Abu Madhi, in which 3 families consisting of 16 persons live,
damaging its furniture. An additional
number of houses were damaged and 8 Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Ahmed Younis Mahmoud Abu Mustafa, 24, seriously
wounded by shrapnel in the face;
2. Howaida Ahmed Mahmoud Zaqqut, 43, wounded by shrapnel
in the feet;
3. ‘Abdullah Salem Abu Nemer, 5, wounded by shrapnel in
the right hand;
4. Ibrahim Nazhir Abu Sahloul, 15, wounded by shrapnel
in the right shoulder;
5. Shadia Salem ‘Arram, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the
left foot;
6. Ibrahim ‘Ali Huneideq, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the
right shoulder;
7. Mo’een Khalil Shalloula, 24, wounded by shrapnel in
the head; and
8. Ra’ed Sayed Ghaith Abu ‘Azzoum, 29, wounded by a live
bullet in the right hand.
At approximately 20:00, 5 Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 70m into al-Heker area in the southeast of Deir
al-Balah. They searched the area and
demolished a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families
consisting of 11 persons used to live, owned by Zaher and Maher Ahmed ‘Aayesh
al-Qedra. The Israeli forces did not
allow the owner to save any of his furniture. The forces withdrew from the area
at approximately 06:00 on the following day.
Friday, 1 November – Saturday, 2 November 2002 (Land
Leveling in Beit Hanoun)
In two days, Israeli occupying forces razed large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Hanoun in the Northern part of
the Gaza Strip:
At approximately 09:00 on Friday, 5 Israeli military bulldozers
and 3 tanks moved into Palestinian areas in Beit Hanoun and razed areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 72.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Basiouni
Mohammed Basiouni.
2. They razed a 0.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Ibrahim Tawfiq ‘Abdul Hadi Hamad.
3. They razed a 0.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Mousa Ibrahim ‘Abdul Hadi Hamad.
4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives.
5. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with apples, citrus and figs owned by sons of Mohammed ‘Abdullah
al-‘Athamna.
At approximately 09:30, 2 Israeli tanks and 4
military bulldozers moved more than 1km into Palestinian areas in the east of
Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 35-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by sons of
Mohammed and Zuhdi Khaled al-Yazji.
2. They razed a 68-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by sons of Saleh
and Salah ‘Abdul Rahman Murtaja.
3. They razed a 20-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by sons of Ahmed
Nafe’ Abu ‘Aabed.
4. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Suleiman
Salem Khalil al-Shami.
5. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by heirs of Ahmed Helmi Basha.
6. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul ‘Aziz
‘Abdul Rahman Mohammed Wahdan.
7. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Ahmed Saleh Badawi Saleh.
Saturday, 2 November 2002
At approximately 05:30, 5 Israeli tanks moved
approximately 700m into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City, and opened fire
and destroyed a number of electricity towers and the main road. As a result, electricity and water were cut
from the village. Then, an Israeli
military bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. It razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted
with vegetables, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Isma’il Hamad
Fayez Abu Kumail.
2. It razed an irrigation network owned by Sa’aj Hamad
Fayez Abu Kumail.
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 400m into al-Qarara village, northwest of Khan Yunis. They forced residents of three houses, owned
by Mohammed Hussein ‘Ali al-‘Awadhi, Hussein ‘Obeid Abu ‘Oweili and Salah
‘Abdullah Salem al-Seiqali, out. Then, they raided and searched the houses for
two hours.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell hit the house of Subhi
Mohammed Khalil Sweilem damaging the roof and a water tank. A number of houses were also damaged.
Sunday, 3 November 2002
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces demolished a
number of Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in al-Aqbat area and the
villages of al-Ram, Jaba’ and Beit Eksa in the north of occupied East
Jerusalem, claiming that they were established without licenses:
1. They demolished an 800-square-meter animal farm and
killed 150 animals in Jaba’ village owned by ‘Eid Mohammed Abu ‘Eid.
2. They demolished a 130-square-meter house, which were
still under construction house, in which 6 persons lived, in al-Ram village,
owned by Zahid Fayez Mujahed.
3. They demolished a 300-square-meter, 2-story house, in
which five families consisting of 33 persons lived, in Beit Eksa village, owned
by Nasser, Mohammed, Fawzi and Maher Mustafa Zayed.
4. They demolished a 125-square-meter house, in which 9
persons lived, in al-Aqbat neighborhood, owned by Jamil Yassin Bader.
5. They demolished a 50-square-meter car maintenance workshop
in al-Ram village owned by Ramadan Radwan al-Harbawi.
At approximately 18:00, an Israeli tank positioned at
the border of the Gaza Strip east of Jabaliya fired 8 shells and several live
bullets at 3 Palestinian civilians, who were approximately 800m away from the
border. The three civilians were all
killed. They were identified as:
1. Ahmed Mousa al-Sharqawi, 22;
2. Marwan ‘Ouda Erbaye’, 20;
3. Yousef Mohammed al-Soufi, 20, all from Rafah.
Israeli sources claimed in the media that Israeli
forces fired at the three civilians when they attempted to steal into
Israel. Ambulances were not able to
reach the area before midnight upon coordination between the Palestinian
Ministry of Health and the Israeli side. According to an ambulance driver, the three victims were wearing
civilian clothes, two of them were lying with their faces to the ground and
traces of an Israeli tank were seen 3m away from their bodies, while the third
body was found a few meters away. Their
bodies were partially distorted, and fractures were noticeable on the
limbs. A wire cutter and a screw driver
were found near the three bodies.
PCHR believes that Israeli occupying forces used
excessive force against the three persons who were inside Palestinian areas,
approximately 800m away from the forces. The three civilians did not pose any threat to the forces, and they
could have been controlled through less lethal means.
Monday, 4 November 2002
At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces
raided al-Tour neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem. They surrounded a shop of construction
materials owned by Hussam Ahmed Shihab, and demolished it over its
contents.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces
demolished a bus station of Net Tours Company in al-Tour neighborhood in
occupied East Jerusalem, claiming that it was established without a
license.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp. Five Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Jihan Rami Huneideq, 4, wounded by shrapnel in the
head;
2. Amani Hamdan Abu Siam, 18, wounded by a live bullet
in the shoulder;
3. Mohammed Shaker al-Jalous, 46, wounded by a live
bullet in the left foot;
4. Khamis Kamel al-‘Anani, 51, wounded by shrapnel in
the right arm; and
5. Ramzi Mohammed al-Raqib, 33, wounded by shrapnel in
the right arm.
At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces
razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Hanoun in the
northern Gaza Strip, an action that began on Saturday, 2 November. Until 17:00, Israeli forces razed 67 donums
of agricultural land:
1. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Sha’ban
Mohammed Jaber.
2. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by ‘Aahed Fa’eq Bessiso.
3. They razed an 18-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Subhi and
Ahmed Isma’il al-Yazji, and Younis, Jamil and Hamed Bakir al-Yazji.
4. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Suhail Hashem
al-Saqqa.
5. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Suhail Hashem al-Saqqa and brothers.
6. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Sa’id Saleh
Murtaja.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces raided
Be’r al-Haya neighborhood in the south of Hebron and demolished a
150-square-meter house, which was under construction, owned by Sa’ad Mohammed
Kamel al-Rujbi.
At the same time, Israeli military bulldozers
demolished a 400-square-meter animal farm owned by Burhan Ibrahim al-Rujbi, and
a 350-square-meter bird farm owned by Jihad ‘Abdul Salam al-‘Ajlouni.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces
demolished a 150-square-meter building owned by the family of ‘Amru in Beit
Marsam village, south of Hebron. The
building served as a place for family meetings. A neighboring room owned by Yousef Badawi ‘Amru was also damaged.
At approximately 14:00, two Israeli combat
helicopters fired 6 missiles at a 3-story building in the industrial zone in
Nablus. The building is owned by Malek
Ahmed Rashid Dweikat and consists of a number of flats, workshops and a
factory. At approximately 16:00, Israeli
occupying forces arrived in the area, and a military bulldozer demolished the
building.
Tuesday, 5 November 2002
At approximately 07:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 300m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of
Khan Yunis. They razed areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 65-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, palms and potatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network
owned by ‘Eid Mahmoud al-Sha’er.
2. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul
Latif Marzouq al-Sha’er.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles dug into Palestinian land adjacent to the border with Egypt, south of
Rafah.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Block L in Rafah refugee camp and demolished 3 houses. They also opened fire at houses, killing two
Palestinian civilians:
1. Adham Ibrahim Hamdan, 16, shot by live bullets in the
head; and
2. Eyad Nafez Abu Taha, 17, shot by a live bullet in the
head.
In addition, 12 Palestinian civilians, including 4
children under the age of 18, were wounded:
1. Mousa Mohammed Abu Jazar, 18, critically wounded by a
live bullet in the head;
2. ‘Abdul Qader ‘Abdullah Barhoum, 31, wounded by
shrapnel in the left leg;
3. Mohammed Fathi ‘Abdul Wahab, 8, wounded by shrapnel
in the face;
4. Eihab Jamal Yousef, wounded by a live bullet in the
head;
5. Khaled Mohammed Abu ‘Awila, 38, wounded by shrapnel
in the abdomen and the left leg;
6. Miriam Suleiman al-Agha, 42, wounded by a live bullet
in the left thigh;
7. Na’im Ahmed Barhoum, 38, wounded by a live bullet in
the right arm;
8. Rami Khaled ‘Aabed, 19, wounded by a live bullet in
the left arm;
9. Mohammed Saleh Abu Jazar, 15, wounded by shrapnel in
the back;
10. Mohammed Ahmed Abu Hilal, 14, wounded by shrapnel in
the head and the back;
11. Mohammed Nasser Subeh, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the
head; and
12. Hussein Mustafa Abu ‘Oun, 72, wounded by shrapnel in
the left shoulder;
A number of houses were demolished, burnt or severely
damaged by Israeli bulldozers and shelling:
1. A 124-square-meter house, in which 9 persons lived,
owned by Samir Ahmed ‘Ali Barhoum, was completely demolished.
2. A 125-square-meter house, in which 7 persons lived,
owned by Yousef Khalil ‘Ali Barhoum, was completely demolished.
3. A 100-square-meter house, in which 6 persons live,
owned by Hani ‘Abdul Hamid al-Hams, was partially demolished.
4. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6
persons live, owned by Zeinab Mohammed Barhoum, was severely burnt.
5. A 110-square-meter house, in which 2 families
counting 16 persons live, owned by Subhia ‘Omar ‘Ali Shaqfa, was severely
damaged.
6. A 135-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 7
persons live, was severely damaged.
7. A 160-square-meter house, in which 10 persons live,
owned by Miriam Ahmed Khalil al-Sha’er, was severely damaged.
Israeli forces also razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with olives owned by ‘Abdul Rahim ‘Ouda al-Agha.
2. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with olives owned by Majed Mohammed al-Agha.
Wednesday, 6 November 2002
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They raided and searched the house of
Mohammed ‘Abdul Karim Abu Meghassib, where 13 persons live. Then, they arrested the owner’s son Wissam,
26, a college student.
In a continuation of the policy of assassination
officially adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli occupying forces carried
out a new assassination attempt in Nablus that left two Palestinians dead.
At approximately 14:00 on Monday, 4 November 2002, an
explosion occurred in a civilian car, Suzuki, that had a Palestinian license
plate. The car was traveling from the center of Nablus towards its western
entrance to the city. Two Palestinians
who were traveling in the car were killed. They were identified as:
1. Hamed ‘Omar al-Sader, 37, from ‘Askar refugee camp in
Nablus; and
2. Firas ‘Abdul Ghani Ibrahim Abu Ghazala, 27, from
al-Ram village in Jerusalem.
According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli helicopter was
seen flying over the area when the explosion occurred, which raises suspicions
that Israeli occupying forces may have been involved in the explosion. In
addition, two passing civilians were injured:
1. Sameh Khaled Eshteiwi, 25, injured by shrapnel in the
testicles; and
2. Mohammed ‘Abdu al-‘Aqrouq, 48, injured by shrapnel in
the back and the left hand.
Israeli media reports quoted an Israeli security
sources as saying that “al-Sader – a wanted activist of Hamas – is the uncle of
Mohammed Bsutami who carried out a bombing in a hotel inside ‘Ariel’ settlement
near Nablus two weeks ago.”
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 carried out retaliatory
measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against
Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
surrounded a 340-square-meter, 2-story house in Burqin village, southwest of
Jenin, owned by Ibrahim Mustafa Abu Shadouf. They forced the 14 residents to leave the house and then destroyed
it. The owner is the father of Nidal
Ibrahim Abu Shadouf, 23, who carried out a bombing inside the Green Line. Eight neighboring houses were damaged.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
destroyed a 180-square-meter, 2-story house, in which 8 persons lived, in the
same village, owned by ‘Ali ‘Abdul Qader ‘Atiq, whose son carried out an attack
on an Israeli military location in Tayaseer village. Five neighboring houses were also
damaged.
Thursday, 31 October 2002
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying soldiers in
a military location near al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the al-Mawasi
area, west of Khan Yunis, fired at dozens of Palestinian civilians who were
waiting at the checkpoint to get home. Hamda Mohammed Suleiman Abu Madhia, 36, was wounded by a live bullet in
the feet. She had left the al-Mawasi
area the previous day to receive medical treatment in Khan Yunis, but she was
not able to get home the same day because the Israeli forces closed the
al-Tuffah checkpoint.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying soldiers on
heavy military vehicles fired at a number of Palestinian children who were in
the streets of Tulkarm at the northern entrance of the town. Muhannad Rasmi al-Dhumeiri, 14, was wounded
by a live bullet in the right hand.
At the same time, Israeli occupying soldiers fired at
a number of Palestinian civilians near the local council of Qabatya village in
Jenin. Four civilians were wounded:
1. ‘Emad Mohammed Noufal, 32, wounded by shrapnel in the
head and the pelvis;
2. Elias Sa’id Shanti, 35, wounded by a live bullet in
the thigh;
3. Tawfiq ‘Arbas, 31, wounded by shrapnel; and
4. ‘Omar Subhi ‘Abdullah Hassayen, 35, wounded by a live
bullet in the foot and was arrested by Israeli forces.
Israeli forces denied ambulances access to the
wounded for several hours.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
near the military court in “Beit Eil” military compound, north of Ramallah,
shot dead a Palestinian and took his body to an unknown destination. Israeli forces claimed that the victim was
armed and that he fired at the soldiers. Eyewitnesses denied these claims. The victim was identified as Ashraf Mansour
Hassan Mansour, 25, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza. In addition, 2 Palestinian civilians who were
traveling in a passing civilian car were wounded:
1. Samir Nasri ‘Awad, 42, from Jafna village in
Ramallah, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Nivin Ussama Marmash, 22, from Nablus, wounded by
shrapnel throughout the body.
In the evening, Israeli soldiers fired at a number of
Palestinian civilians who gathered near an UNRWA school in Tulkarm refugee
camp, when they discovered the presence of an undercover unit of the Israeli
forces in the area. A number of children
threw stones at the Israeli soldiers, who responded by firing at the stone
throwers wounding two:
1. Nazhmi ‘Eissa Dhumeiri, 15, seriously wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Mohammed Ghaleb ‘Anbas, 12, wounded by shrapnel in
the body.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying soldiers in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Amin ‘Ouda Abu Baker,
25, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right foot.
Friday, 1 November 2002
At approximately 16:00, Israeli soldiers in a
military location in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani’ settlement opened fire at
Palestinian houses in al-Qarara village, northwest of Khan Yunis. A Palestinian civilian, Hussein ‘Obeid ‘Ali
Abu ‘Oweili, 59, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck.
Sunday, 3 November 2002
At approximately 11:30, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Gadid” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at the Baten al-Samin area, southwest of the southern Gaza Strip
town. A Palestinian civilian, Hassan
Khalil Mohammed Zo’rob, 36, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
chest, while he was in the center of the town, approximately 1km away from the
source of fire. He was pronounced dead
at hospital at approximately 23:40.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli tanks at the border
with Egypt shot dead Isma’il ‘Abdullah Isma’il al-Masri, 20, from Khan
Yunis. At approximately 22:00, Israeli
occupying forces informed the Palestinian liaison forces that a body of a
Palestinian was at the border. A
Palestinian ambulance collected the body at Rafah border crossing. Medical personnel noticed a cord around the
neck and another one around the feet. The victim was shot by two live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. Bruises were also seen on the body. Earlier that day, at approximately 17:00, the
Palestinian liaison forces had informed their Israeli counterparts that a
mentally-handicapped Palestinian was present in a dangerous area at the border,
but Israeli soldiers did not pay any attention to this information and shot him
dead.
Monday, 4 November 2002
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupying soldiers on
a tank near Salah al-Din Gate in the south of Rafah opened fire at ‘Omar Ben
al-Khattab Street. Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman
‘Abdul Qader ‘Othman, 27, a maintenance worker in the Palestinian Public
Security, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, while he was near
a shop owned by his friend. He succumbed
to his wound upon arrival at hospital.
Israeli occupying forces have maintained the total
siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing Palestinian people. Israeli
forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, and
have imposed curfews on several areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,
violating Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural rights. The Gaza Strip is still partitioned into
three isolated zones.
On Monday, 28 October, Israeli forces reopened
al-Tuffah military checkpoint at the entrance to the al-Mawasi area in the
southern Gaza Strip, allowing only Palestinian civilians over 50 to go home.
However, they are allowing only 15 persons per day to cross the
checkpoint.
At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 31 October,
Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah
al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, and
blocked a number of cars between the two checkpoints. Soon, Israeli soldiers searched cars and
checked identity cards of the passengers.
At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, 2 November,
Israeli forces searched a number of cars between al-Matahen and Abu Houli
military checkpoints and checked identity cards of the passengers.
At approximately 16:00 on Monday, 4 November, Israeli
forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah al-Din
Street, and blocked a number of cars between the two checkpoints. Israeli soldiers searched the cars and
checked the identity cards of the passengers. They held 20 Palestinians aside, and arrested some of them, including
Maher Abu Latifa, Ra’fat Shubair and Eihab Budair.
At approximately 12:30 on Tuesday, 5 November,
Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints and blocked
a number of cars between the two checkpoints. Israeli soldiers then searched cars and checked the identity cards of
the passengers. They arrested 7
Palestinians, including Mustafa Abu Jazar, a member of the Palestinian
Investigation Bureau.
At approximately 09:00 on Wednesday, 6 November,
Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the al-Mawasi area. They also closed al-Tuffah checkpoint at the
entrance of the area, denying access of Palestinian residents to the area. In addition, Israeli soldiers arrested ‘Adnan
Ibrahim al-Sha’er, 30, at his farm in the west of Rafah.
Israeli occupying forces have also prevented 21
teachers living outside al-Mawasi from
reaching Jirar al-Qidwa School, where they work. This school is the only one in the al-Mawasi
area, and serves 1175 students.
*****
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 in order to take
effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under Article 1, 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 observations
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.