Israeli Forces Perpetrate More Crimes
in the OPT
· 17
Palestinians, 14 of them are civilians, including 6 children and a man
suffering from a cognitive disorder, were killed by Israeli troops
· One
of the victims was killed in an extra-judicial assassination in Nablus
· 3
of the children were killed by Israeli indiscriminate shelling in the Gaza
Strip
· Israeli
troops continued their offensive on Beit Hanoun; at least 1300 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed and the civilian infrastructure of the town was
severely damaged
· 16
houses were destroyed and more areas of agricultural land were razed in the
Gaza Strip
· 2
houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinian activists
· 2
Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire at military
checkpoints in the Gaza Strip and Beit Hanoun has been isolated for the 2nd
consecutive week
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more
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 executions,
incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and house
demolitions. This week, 17 Palestinians, 14 of whom are civilians,
including 6 children, and a man suffering from a cognitive disorder, were
killed by Israeli troops.
In the Gaza Strip, this week, 9 Palestinian
civilians, including 6 children, were killed by Israeli troops. Israeli occupying forces continued their
offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. This week, 4 Palestinian civilians, including
3 children, were killed by Israeli troops. At least 1300 donums of agricultural land have been razed in the town
since the beginning of the Israeli offensive. The five other Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were killed
by Israeli troops in other parts of the Gaza Strip. Four of the victims were killed by
indiscriminate shelling.
Also this week, Israeli troops conducted 6 military
incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they demolished
16 houses, leaving 235 people (43 families) homeless, and 16 shops in
Rafah. They also razed 28 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land in Khan Yunis, and arrested 5 Palestinians in
Khan Yunis and Gaza City. Israeli
helicopter gunships destroyed 2 workshops in Gaza City and Jabalya town, and
damaged neighboring civilian properties. On 7 July 2004, Israeli helicopter gunships attacked a civilian car in
Gaza City, apparently targeting a number of activists of Hamas movement, who
survived the attack. Three passing
civilians, including a 5-year-old child, were injured.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces launched a
series of attacks against Palestinian civilians. Six Palestinians, 3 of whom are civilians, including
a university lecturer and his son, were killed by Israeli troops. Five of the victims were in Nablus, while
the fifth one was killed in Jenin. Israeli
troops also arrested dozens of Palestinians throughout the West Bank. In addition, they destroyed 2 houses
belonging to families of Palestinian activists.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
execution officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments in violation of international law and humanitarian law, on
Wednesday morning, 7 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces committed another
extra-judicial execution in the West Bank, which left ‘Essam ‘Ali Sa’id
Mahamid, 30 dead. He was from Balata
refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli troops also killed a Palestinian
worker having chased the car in which he and other workers traveled inside
Israel.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, even though the Israeli High Court
issued a decision instructing these forces to change the course of the
“Annexation Wall” around Jerusalem. They
razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land around Jerusalem and
demolished 3 houses in Arab al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron for the purpose
of the construction of the wall.
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. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces have
continued to close most border crossing. A number of these crossing were partially reopened, but under severe
restrictions. They imposed severe
restrictions on traveling through Rafah Terminal. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces
have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities. They
have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians
and closed some checkpoints. This week,
they closed Tarqoumia crossing on the border with Israel, southwest of
Hebron. They also closed al-Karama
Terminal on the Jordanian border for several hours.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Israeli Offensive on Beit Hanoun
Israeli occupying forces have continued their
offensive on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun since 28 June
2004. Since then, 6 Palestinians, 3
children, have been killed by Israeli troops. Four of the victims were killed this week. Israeli troops have also razed at least 500
donums of Palestinian agricultural land and the largely destroyed the civilian
infrastructure of the town, isolating it from the rest of the Gaza Strip.
On Thursday, 1 July 2004, Israeli troops razed more
areas of agricultural land and inflicted more destruction on the civilian
infrastructure of the town. They
continued to impose a tight siege on the town and dozens of neighboring
houses. Israeli troops also expanded
their offensive to include the eastern edges of Jabalya, thus isolating the
area extending from the northeast of Beit Hanoun to the cemetery of martyrs in
the south from the rest of the Gaza Strip.
According to PCHR’s preliminary investigations, at
approximately 12:00, Israeli troops moved from the border between the Gaza
Strip and Israel nearly 1500 meters into the east of Jabalya. Under the cover of intense shelling, they
started to raze large areas of agricultural land. By the evening, they had razed at least 100
donums of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus owned by the
families of Junaid, al-Zain, al-Najjar, al-Batesh, Rihane, Dardouna, ‘Ali and
‘Abed Rabbu.
In the evening, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched fired 2 missiles at a number of Palestinian civilians near Hammouda
fuel station. Eight civilians were
injured, 2 of whom were in a serious condition.
On the same day, Israeli troops positioned at the
entrance to the town opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who threw
stones at those troops. 14 children were
wounded, one of whom was in a serious condition.
On Friday, 2 July 2004, Israeli troops further
tightened the siege imposed on the town and continued to shell residential
areas. They also razed more areas of
agricultural land to the east of the town and to the east of Jabalya.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli troops on a tank
positioned in al-Farta area, less than one kilometer to the east of Beit
Hanoun, shot dead Mohammed Ahmed Jaber Daifallah, 21, with a live bullet in the
head. He was at the door of his house
when he was killed. According to the
victim’s brother, their house had been surrounded by Israeli troops since the
beginning of the offensive. His brother
was standing at the door of the house. He was hit by a live bullet. The
brothers hurried to offer him help, but he was already dead. Israeli troops did not allow them to take the
body to the hospital, but they were able to take it out through a back
door. They carried the body for at least
1500 meters towards the hospital.
At approximately 14:30 on the same day, medical
sources at Kamal ‘Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia declared that Hamza Nahed Hassan
Habboush, 15, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, died from an injury he
had sustained on the proceeding day. He
was hit by a live bullet in the chest when Israeli troops fired at a number of
children who threw stones at those troops near Hammouda fuel station.
At approximately 20:00 on the same day, Israeli
helicopter gunships opened fire at areas located in the south of Beit Hanoun
and to the east of Jabalya. No
casualties were reported.
On Saturday, 3 July 2004, Israeli troops razed more
areas of Palestinian agricultural land. They also continued to impose a strict siege on al-Farta area to the
east of the town. They surrounded a
number of houses in the area and cut the electricity and water supplies from
them. They also transformed a number of
houses intro military posts. According
to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops brought more reinforcements to the area.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli troops on tanks
positioned to the east of Beit Lahia opened fire at 9-year-old Rihab ‘Abdul
Karim Shatat when he was crossing the road near Hammouda fuel station to by
something from a neighboring shop. He
was killed by a live bullet in the chest. According to an ambulance driver, Jawad Budair, he saw 2 children
crossing the street, while Israeli tanks were positioned nearly 100 meters
away. No clashes took place in the
area. Suddenly, he heard sounds of
gunfire and one of the children fell down. The ambulance evacuated the child to the hospital, but he died soon
after arrival.
At approximately 19:00 on the same day, Israeli
troops positioned to the east of Beit Lahia, opened fire at Ishaq Mo’in Abu
Taleb, 15, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, when he was near Hammouda
fuel station. He was seriously wounded
by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the abdomen. He died half an hour following his evacuation
to the hospital.
On Monday, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops razed more
areas of agricultural land, especially to the east of Jablaya. They razed at least 500 donums of
agricultural land planted with citrus.
On Tuesday, 6 July 2004, crews of the ICRC were able
to enter food and drinking water into the town. Israeli troops continued to use a number of houses as military
posts. They also razed at least 400
donums planted with citrus in the east of the town. Israeli helicopter gunships shelled various
areas in the town.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli troops positioned at
the southern entrance to Beit Hanoun fired at a number of children who threw
stones at those troops. Adham Ahmed Abu
Hassan, 14, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, was seriously wounded by a
live bullet that entered the abdomen and exited the back.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli troops expelled
Nasser al-Za’anin and his 10-member family from their house. Israeli troops had already seized the house
and held the family inside.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004,
Israeli troops partially destroyed a factory of concrete owned by the Abu ‘Ouda
dfamily at the southern entrance of the town. They also demolished a 120-square-meter house owned by Khamis
al-Majdalawi.
At the same time, Israeli troops moved around 3
kilometers into the east of Jabalya. They razed 240 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus.
The Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun is still
ongoing.
Thursday, 1 July 2004
At approximately 02:00, Israeli
occupying forces moved into Nablus. They
opened fire at Palestinian houses. A
number of Israeli military vehicles moved into the old town. Israeli troops raided and searched a number
of houses to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. At noon, dozens of Palestinian children and
young men threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers, wounding 5 children and a passing girl:
1. Marwa Mohammed Namrouti, 20, from ‘Askar refugee camp,
hit by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the left leg;
2. Jalal Kamal ‘Aayed, 12, from Iraq al-Tayeh village, hit
by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
3. Jamil Salim Jamil Dwaikat, 14, from Iraq al-Tayeh
village, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
4. ‘Omar Tayseer ‘Abdul Haq, 10, from Nablus, hit by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
5. Hamza Zaher ‘Olaiwi, 15, from Nablus, hit by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and
6. Husni Suleiman
Salah, 17, from Nablus, hit by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 03:00, around
40 Israeli military vehicles, reinforced by helicopters, moved into
Jericho. They opened fire at Palestinian
houses. Israeli troop declared the town
a closed military zone. They raided a
number of houses in the town and the neighboring ‘Aqabat Jaber refugee camp,
and arrested 12 Palestinians. They also
destroyed a house belonging to the family of a Palestinian activist (see
below).
At approximately 04:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved nearly 100 meters into
al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. Israeli troops raided a 3-storey house belonging to ‘Ata Sa’id al-Hilu,
in which 15 people (2 families) live. They ordered the families to gather on the second floor and searched and
damaged the house. Then, they held the
families in one room and transformed the roof into a military post. The families were only able to move inside
the house under escort of Israeli troops. At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 2 July 2004, Israeli troops left the
house and no arrests were reported.
At approximately the same time,
an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Zaytoun
neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. Israeli troops raided Mahmoud Matar Abu Jarad’s house. They held 3 residents on the third floor and
then used them as human shields to protect them from the gunfire of members of
the Palestinian resistance who attempted to engage the IOF in combat. A few hours later, more Israeli troops,
supported by helicopters, arrived at the area to reinforce the undercover unit. Israeli troops established a road through
agricultural land, 800 meters long and 6 meters wide. They also razed 2 donums of agricultural land
near the aforementioned house. Israeli
troops also opened fire at the area, wounding 6 civilians. Before their withdrawal from the area at
20:00, Israeli troops arrested the 3 Palestinians, whom they had used as human
shields:
1. Muhannad Yousef Abu Jarad, 21;
2. Rubin Mohammed Abu Jarad, 21; and
3. Haitham Mahmoud Abu Jarad, 18.
In the morning, Israeli troops
moved into Biddu and Qutna villages near Ramallah; Nour Shams refugee camp near
Tulkarm; Jenin and the neighboring Bourqin village; al-‘Arroub refugee camp
near Hebron; and Jericho. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested 11 Palestinians.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved
into al-Brazil and al-Salam neighborhoods in the south of Rafah, adjacent to
the Egyptian border. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses. A Palestinian child,
‘Omar Mohammed Zorai’an, 9, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, while he
was playing with his friends near his house in al-Salam neighborhood. The Israeli gunfire continued until the
evening, during which 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli
gunfire:
1. Ahmed Hamdan Zannoun, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
2. Saber Salman al-Louli, 17, wounded by a live bullet in
the right shoulder; and
3. Ussama Mustafa Saidam, 33, wounded by a live bullet in
the right thigh.
Also during this incursion,
Israeli troops raided a number of houses and transformed them into military
sites. This incursion continued until
07:30 on Friday, 2 July 2004, during which Israeli troops destroyed 7 Palestinian
houses completely and 5 others partially. These houses belong to the families of Abu Taha, al-Bashiti, al-Najjar,
Abu Mutair, al-Namla and Mousa. As a
result, 151 people (33 families) have become homeless. In addition, Israeli troops destroyed 15
shops and severely damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area.
At approximately 13:00, hundreds
of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli peace activists
demonstrated on the land of Deir Ballout village, southeast of Qalqilya, in protest
to the construction of the annexation wall in the area. Israeli troops fired live ammunition and tear
gas canisters at the demonstrators. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation, and Kayed
Hussein ‘Abdullah, 43, was hit by a tear gas canister to the head.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500
meters into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. Under the cover of intense gunfire, they
partially destroyed 2 houses, a mosque, a garage, a car and a bird farm. They also razed 28 donums of agricultural
land and destroyed agricultural equipments belonging to the al-Farra
family. Since Sunday, 27 June 2004,
Israeli troops have razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and
destroyed a number of civilian facilities in the area.
Friday, 2 July 2004
At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian who was near the
aforementioned settlement. He was hit by
several live bullets throughout the body. A few hours later, Israeli occupying forces informed the Palestinian
liaison that a body was in the area. At
approximately 09:00, a Palestinian ambulance went to the area and evacuated the
body to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. The victim was later identified as Mohammed Ahmed Hassan Ekrayem, 60,
from Khan Yunis. According to his
family, he was suffering from an acute psychological disorder.
At approximately 10:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli troops opened fire at Palestinian houses. A number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the Israeli military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 2:
1. Lu’ai
Husni ‘Ali al-Jermi, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
thigh; and
2. Mohammed
Jaber Mahmoud ‘Owais, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
thigh.
Saturday, 3 July 2004
At approximately 17:50,
medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Yousef Fayad
Nasrallah, 16, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City died from an injury
he had sustained nearly 2 months ago. According
to PCHR’s documentation, Nasrallah was hit by a live bullet in the back on 11
May 2004 during an Israeli offensive on al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the
southeast of Gaza City. Thus, the number
of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops during this offensive has mounted to
19.
At approximately 19:30, 4 Israeli
military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli troops opened fire at houses. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered in the area and threw stones at Israeli troops. Immediately, those troops fired at the stone
throwers. Mahmoud Saleh Ibrahim
al-Lahwani, 20, was killed by a live bullet in the head. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops
fired at him from a distance of approximately 100 meters, even though he did
not pose any threat to their lives. The
victim’s brother, Salah, 18, was killed by Israeli troops in similar
circumstances on 15 June 2004. Two
demonstrators were also wounded:
1. Mohammed
‘Aamer Abu Janbiya, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
and
2. Ahmed
‘Abdullah Mirsal, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.
At approximately 23:25, Israeli
helicopter gunships launched 2 missiles at a workshop at the entrance to the
densely populated Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip. The workshop, which is owned by Saber Jamil
al-Habibi, is located on the first floor of a 2-storey house owned by ‘Anan
Mohammed Ramadan, in which 8 people live. The workshop was partially destroyed, and the house, 2 neighboring
houses and a civilian car were damaged.
Sunday, 4 July 2004
At approximately 00:40,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Mahdi Mohammed Jouda, 33, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right shoulder when he was inside his house in al-Junaina
neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from the border.
At approximately 01:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved nearly 300 meters into Abu
Zaher area in al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli troops raided Mansour ‘Ouda Abu
Zaher’s house. They held the 6 residents
of the house in one room and searched the house for 2 hours before they left
the area.
At approximately 01:50,
Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses
in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. They also fired flare bombs in the air. One flare bomb fell onto a 240-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Omar Khalil Mohammed Gannan, in which 17 people
(2 families) live, and burnt the bedroom. Fire engines arrived at the area to extinguish fire, but contents of the
room were totally burnt. Another flare
bomb also hit a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Rajaa’ Abu
Nuqaira, and burnt one of its rooms. Residents of the house had already left it due to the Israeli frequent
shelling.
At approximately 03:00,
Israeli troops moved into Deir Abu Da’if village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians.
At approximately 09:30,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Palestinian houses in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters to the
north. A Palestinian civilian, Hisham
‘Aayesh Abu ‘Amra, 22, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.
At noon, Israeli troops
shot dead a Palestinian worker while he was on his way to his work place inside
Israel. They claimed that they fired 2
Palestinians in ‘Ein Karem – Bar Gayoura Street near Jerusalem, after those
troops chased them. Israeli troops did
not indicate whether the two Palestinians had weapons.
According to information
available to PCHR, in the early morning, 10 Palestinian workers traveled from
Yatta village, south of Hebron, to their work places in Israel. They were traveling in a car that has an
Israeli registration. At approximately
11:00, when the car arrived at ‘Ein Kerem area, west of Jerusalem, Israeli
troops fired at it. Mohammed Nassar
Mohammed al-Shawahin, 26, was instantly killed by a live bullet in the
head. Later, Israeli troops called his
family to collect his body.
At approximately 18:00, 5
Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Rima village, northwest of
Ramallah. Israeli troops opened fire at
houses. A number of Palestinian children
gathered in the center of the village and threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
children, wounding 3:
1. Walid
Yousef al-Barghouthi, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
leg;
2. Selmi
Subhi al-Haj, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the eye; and
3. Mohammed
‘Ezzat Battout, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest.
Also at approximately
18:00, Israeli troops moved into Turmos’aia village, north of Ramallah. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the
stone throwers. A passing Palestinian
civilian, Marwan al-Sheikh Taleb, 33, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
foot.
At approximately 21:00,
Israeli troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire
at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian woman, Samah Ahmed al-Sha’er, 28, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right thigh, while she was inside her house in Musabbeh
neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters to the north of the border.
At approximately 21:20, 10
Israeli military vehicles, reinforced by a helicopter, moved into Namera
neighborhood in the east of Hebron. They
surrounded Joudi al-Ja’bari’s house and called through megaphones on its
residents to leave it. Then, Israeli
troops opened fire at the house from a distance of nearly 30 meters. At approximately 21:50, Israeli troops broke
into the house opening fire inside. The
owner’s son, ‘Abdul Muhsen, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the leg. Israeli troops arrested him and his brother
Muhannad, 18.
At approximately 22:45, Israeli
troops positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Ref’at ‘Omar Abu ‘Amra, 28, was seriously
wounded by a live bullet that entered the back and settled in the abdomen, when
he was sitting near his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters
away from the border. He died on the way
to the hospital.
At approximately 23:30,
Israeli helicopter gunships launched 4 missiles at a workshop owned by Ashraf Mohammed
Loulu in the densely populated al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza
City. The workshop was destroyed and a
Palestinian civilian was lightly injured.
Monday, 5 July 2004
In the morning, Israeli troops moved into Jenin,
Qalqilya and Hebron. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians.
At approximately 09:10, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in
al-Brazil neighborhood to the north. A
Palestinian child, ‘Abdul Salam ‘Emad Jarbou’, 14, was injured by shrapnel in
the head, when he was in a summer camp in Rafah Stadium, nearly 600 meters away
from the border.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli troops moved nearly
300 meters into al-Qarara village to the south of the “Kissufim”
settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. They
raided a 3-storey house belonging to Suleiman ‘Atwa al-‘Eimawi. They held its 9 residents in one room and
used the owner as a human shield while searching the house. As Israeli soldiers and the owner were
stepping down, a wall collapsed over the owner and 2 Israeli soldiers. The owner was injured in the head and the
limbs.
At approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into Jenin. A few minutes later, Israeli troops,
reinforced by around 20 military vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved into the
town. They opened fire at Palestinian
houses and took position in Wad ‘Ezziddin area in the east of the town. Some Israeli troops were positioned on roofs
of a number of houses, while other troops surrounded a house belonging to the
family of Khaled Suleiman al-Hawi, 24. They called on him through megaphones to surrender and opened fire at
the house. Al-Hawi exchanged fire with
Israeli troops and was killed by several live bullets throughout the body. In addition, Yousef Mohammed Nemer Qandil,
22, who was accompanying al-Hawi, was injured and arrested by Israeli
troops.
Also at approximately 14:00, an Israeli police
vehicle chased a Palestinian civilian car at the entrance to Halhoul village
near Hebron. Israeli cops fired at the
car. The driver, Fayez al-‘Aramin, 42,
from Yatta village, south of Hebron, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
thigh. The medical crew of a passing
Palestinian ambulances attempted to offer him first medical aid, but the
Israeli police arrested him and took him to an unknown destination.
At approximately 20:20, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Shaboura
refugee camp, nearly 1000 meters to the north. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were wounded:
1. Anas
Maher Abu ‘Armana, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and
2. Ussama
Khalil Saqer, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli troops positioned in
military posts in the vicinity of “Gadid” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Baten al-Samin area, nearly 700 meters to
the east. Two artillery shells and several live bullets hit the western
and southern façades of Hamada Mohammed al-Sha’er’s house. One heavy
caliber bullet penetrated the southern wall of a hall on the first floor of the
house and hit the owner’s son, ‘Aala’ in the head. The live bullet smashed
the skull and settled in the chest. The child was sleeping in his bed
when he was hit by the bullet. PCHR’s field worker in Khan Yunis who went
to the place of the incident reported that the child’s bed was covered with his
blood. The child’s family was not able to evacuate him to the hospital
for at least one hour due to the Israeli intense gunfire.
Thus, the number of Palestinian children killed in
the OPTs by Israeli troops since the beginning of the current Intifada in
September 2000 has mounted to nearly 540, including about 280 killed in the Gaza Strip. At least
170 of these children have been killed by Israeli shelling that targeted
civilian residential areas.
Tuesday, 6 July 2004
At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by
heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved nearly 300 meters into al-Brazil
neighborhood in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Under the cover of intense shelling, they
started to demolish a number of houses and shops. By the evening, they had destroyed 4 houses
belonging to the families of al-Sha’er, Abu Dibaa’ and Abu Taha, in which 84
people (10 families) lived. They also
destroyed a shop and damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area. As a result of the Israeli intense gunfire, a
Palestinian civilians, Ramadan Mohammed Abu ‘Armana, 25, was wounded by a live
bullet in the back.
In another attack illustrating blatant disregard for
the lives of Palestinian civilians, in the morning, Israeli troops shot dead a
lecturer and his son in Nablus, while those troops were chasing 2 Palestinian
militants who were also killed. One of the militants was instantly
killed, while the other one attempted to escape and was killed later.
Israeli occupying forces claimed that the lecturer and his son were killed as
one of the militants went into the building where the lecturer lived. An
Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at the building. The
lecturer, his son and the militant were killed by shrapnel from the
missile. Preliminary investigations conducted by PCHR refute this claim
and prove that the lecturer and his son were killed by live bullets and the
militant was killed by shrapnel from the missile.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses. Then, they surrounded an under-construction building
at al-Sikka Street near ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp, west of the city, to
arrest 2 allegedly wanted Palestinians. The two Palestinians clashed with
Israeli troops. The clashes left one of the two Palestinians dead, Amjad
‘Arad Hanani, 26, from Beit Fourik village east of Nablus, who was hit by
several live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. Israeli troops chased
the other Palestinian who attempted to escape. They broke into a 4-storey
apartment building owned by ‘Omar al-Kattout. Israeli troops knocked on
the door of a flat belonging to Khaled Salah Mousa Salah, 52, a university
lecturer who lives on the first floor. As soon as Salah started to open
the door, Israeli troops opened fire at the door. Salah was instantly
killed by a live bullet in the head. His son Mohammed, 16, was also
killed by a live bullet in the mouth. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli
troops fired at the flat’s door from a distance of less than 3 meters.
The other wanted Palestinian escaped to a neighboring olive field. An
Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at him. He was instantly
killed by shrapnel in the head. He was later identified as Yamen Tayeb
Faraj, 26, from Madama village south of Nablus.
In the morning, Israeli troops moved into the towns
of Ramallh, Bethlehem and Hebron, and the villages of Seilat al-Harthia, Kufor
al-Dik and Salfit. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 7 Paletsinians.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block
L in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian
child, Hazem Yousef al-Sha’er, 17, was wounded in the right foot.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential
areas in the town. A Palestinian child,
Ibrahim Wa’el Duhair, 9, was wounded by a live bullet in the neck, while he was
playing near his house in Kherbat al-‘Adas area, nearly 2000 meters away from
the border.
In the evening, Israeli troops opened fire again at
residential areas in Rafah. four
Palestinian civilians, including a child and a woman, were wounded:
1. Tahani
Shehda Qeshta, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when she was
inside her house in al-Junaina neighborhood, nearly 900 meters away from the
source of fire;
2. Mohammed
Mahmoud Madi, 54, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis, when he was
inside his house in al-Shaboura refugee camp, nearly 1200 meters away from the
source of fire;
3. Yasser
Ibrahim Siam, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot, when he was in
al-Siamat neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters away from the source of fire; and
4. Tariq
Ahmed Zo’rob, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when he was inside
his house in Zo’rob neighborhood, nearly 500 meters away from the source of
fire.
At approximately 21:30, Israeli troops moved nearly
200 meters into Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They demolished a 100-square-meter,
under-construction house owned by Fawzi Ejmai’an Abu Sha’ar.
Wednesday, 7 July 2004
At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in
al-Siamat neighborhood, nearly 2000 meters away from the border. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Ahmed Jarghoun,
17, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
At approximately 19:30, Israeli troops positioned at
the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential
areas in the town. Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded:
1. Majdi
Ahmed Barhoum, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and
2. Nabil
Fu’ad ‘Abdul Wahab, 50, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
Extra-Judicial Execution
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
execution officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments in violation of international law and humanitarian law, on
Wednesday morning, 7 July 2004, Israeli occupying forces committed another
extra-judicial execution in the West Bank, which killed ‘Essam ‘Ali Sa’id
Mahamid, 30, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nbalus. The victim was a
member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. On the same day afternoon, Israeli troops
failed in an assassination attempt that targeted a number of activists from the
Hamas movement in Gaza City.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
09:45 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, Mahamid was walking towards ‘Ebad al-Rahman
mosque at the western entrance of Balata refugee camp, to attend the funeral
procession of Wa’el ‘Araishia, who was killed in mysterious circumstances on
Tuesday. When Mahamid was close to the
mosque, Israeli troops shot him dead with several live bullets throughout the
body. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli
troops fired at Mahamid from the roof of Balata old mosque to the north of the
main entrance to the camp, and Mohammed Nada’s house to the south of the
entrance. Soon, 3 Israeli military jeeps
arrived at the area and transported 7 members of an undercover unit from the
mosque and Nada’s house. Apparently, the
undercover unit moved into the camp in the early morning.
At approximately 13:00 on Wednesday, 7 July 2004, an
Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at a civilian car that was
traveling in the densely populated al-Tuffah neighborhood in the northeast of
Gaza City. A number of members of Hamas
movement were traveling in the car. The
missile struck the left part of the front of the car and immediately exploded, however
the members of Hamas escaped without being hurt. Three passing civilians, including a
5-year-old child, were injured.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians
Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against
Israeli targets.
At approximately 04:00 on Thursday, 1 July 2004,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Jericho. They surrounded a 120-square-meter house owned by ‘Abdul Masiah Khamis
a-Majrouh and rented by Ziad Mohammed Bazzar. Israeli troops called through megaphones on Bazzar and his wife to leave
the house. Then, they raided and
searched the house and planted explosives inside. At approximately 06:00, Israeli troops
destroyed the house.
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 5 July 2004, Israeli
troops moved into Til village, south of Nablus. They surrounded a 140-square-meter house belonging to the family of
Tha’er Helmi Mohammed Ramadan, 35, who was killed by Israeli troops near
“Har Brakha” settlement, south of Nablus, on Sunday, 4 July 2004. Israeli troops forced Ramadan’s wife and his
3 children out of the house. Then they
planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. Israeli troops had repeatedly raided the
house searching for Ramadan, who was wanted by them, before he was killed.
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 have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip for the 14th consecutive
week. Although Israeli troops reopened road linking Palestinian
communities in the Gaza Strip, they imposed restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians, especially at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to
the north of Khan Yunis. They have also continued to close Erez crossing
and industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip, and Sofa crossing northeast of
Rafah. They have continued to impose a
tight siege on the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.
This week, Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints to
the north of Khan Yunis, even though they reopened them on Saturday, 3 July
2004. At approximately 11:00 on Sunday,
27 July 2004, Israeli troops closed the two checkpoints. This closure continued for several
hours. Israeli troops closed the two
checkpoints again on Monday morning and afternoon, 5 July 2004. On Tuesday morning, 6 July 2004, Israeli
troops imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 10:00, they
closed the two checkpoints. Two hours
later, they opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at both sides
of the checkpoints. Two Palestinians
civilians from Khan Yunis were wounded:
1. Yousef
Mohammed Ahmed Khashan, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and
2. Ziad
Mousa Mustafa Sha’at, 40, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.
For the 3rd consecutive week, Israeli
troops have continued to prohibit the passage of private cars through the two
checkpoints.
Since Sunday, 27 June 2004, Israeli troops have
continued to close Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, denying access of
Palestinian workers to their work places inside Israel. On Sunday, 4 July 2004, Israeli troops
allowed entry of construction raw materials into the Gaza Strip through the
crossing. Even though Israeli occupying
forces partially reopened al-Mentar (Karni) commercial crossing to the east of
Gaza City, they imposed severe restrictions on the flow of goods through the
crossing.
In violation of the right of health, Israeli
occupying forces have imposed restrictions on access of Palestinian patients
from the Gaza Strip to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank to receive medical
care. Since the beginning of the Israeli
offensive on Beit Hanoun, Isaeli troops have closed Erez crossing in the face
of patients.
Israeli troops have continued to impose severe
restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal, sharply decreasing the number of
travelers. They have also continued to stop and interrogate Palestinian
travelers. Israeli occupying forces have
continued to prohibit male Palestinians between the ages of 16 and 35 from
traveling through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have
continued to close Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance to the area in
Rafah and impose restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians through
al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Khan Yunis. Israeli
troops reopened al-Tuffah checkpoint on Thursday, 1 July 2004, but did not
allow male Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 30 and females whose ages
are between 16 and 25 from crossing.
Israeli forces have also continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. The have denied entry of domestic gas to the
area. They have also imposed severe
restrictions of the movement of Palestinian farmers, and continued to prevent
those whose ages are under 30 from moving out and into the area. Israeli
troops allowed only 5 persons to get out of the area everyday to bring
foodstuffs. In the same context, Israeli
occupying forces have 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 occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They imposed
curfews on a number of villages.
Jerusalem
This week, Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions
on the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, Israeli
troops closed all roads leading to East Jerusalem. They erected more checkpoints around the city
and stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles.
Ramallah
Israeli troops imposed severe restrictions on the
movement of Palestinian civilians. They erected
more checkpoints around the town. They
obstructed the movement of Palestinian vehicles for long hours.
Hebron
On Sunday afternoon, 4 July 2004, Israeli occupying
forces closed Tarqoumia crossing on the Green Line, southwest of Hebron. They prohibited access for Palestinian
traders and goods to the crossing. On
Monday morning, 5 July 2004, Israeli troops closed the entrance to Beit Ummar
village, north of Hebron and prevented the movement of Palestinian civilians in
and out of the village.
Bethlehem
On Sunday morning, Israeli troops closed the
Container checkpoint on Wad al-Nar road, north of the town. They forced hundreds of Palestinian civilians
to wait for a long time and reportedly beat some of them. A Palestinian civilian, Nazmi Mohammed Daoud,
57, was injured in the head and the shoulder as Israeli troops severely beat
him. Israeli troops were also deployed
on branch roads.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. They forced Palestinian civilians and vehicles to wait for long hours at
military checkpoints. On Monday morning,
Israeli troops closed all military checkpoints around Nablus, and declared the
city a closed military zone. They did
the same on the following day morning.
Jenin
On Friday morning, Israeli troops closed al-Buqai’a –
al-Hamra road in the central Jordan Valley. Israeli troops positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint denied the passage of
truck loaded with vegetables and water. This road is the only one that links between the northern and central
Jordan Valley.
Tulkarm
Israeli troops often close ‘Ennab gate to the east of
‘Anabta village, east of Tulkarm. This
week, they erected a number of temporary checkpoints around the town and
stopped and searched Palestinian vehicles.
Jericho
On Thursday morning, Israeli troops declared Jericho
a closed military zone. They closed all
military checkpoints around the town and al-Karama crossing on the Jordanian
border. This closure continued for
several hours.
Continued Construction of the Annexation Wall in the
West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the annexation wall inside the West Bank, even though the Israeli High Court
issued a decision instructing these forces to change the course of the
“Annexation Wall” around Jerusalem.
Israeli troops continued to raze areas of Palestinian
agricultural land around Jerusalem for the purpose of the construction of the
wall. They also established a gate at
the entrance to Shu’fat refugee camp, east of the city.
In the same context, Israeli troops razed more areas
of Palestinian agricultural land in al-Sawahra village, southeast of Jerusalem,
for the purpose of the construction of a section of the wall in the area. The construction of this section will
separate 7000 Palestinian civilians, who
have Jerusalemite identity cards, and the city of Jerusalem.
In Hebron, on Monday morning, 5 July 2004, Israeli
troops demolished 3 houses and an animal farm belonging to the families of
al-‘Azazma and al-‘Ananai in ‘Arab al-Ramadin village, south of Hebron, for the
purpose of the construction of a section of the wall in the area.
*****
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 the
conspiracy of silence practiced by the international community has encouraged
Israel to act as a state above law and continue to violate 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 its 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 to
participate in the process of searching for Israeli war criminals and to urge
their governments to bring these war criminals 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 change their positions towards the
Palestinian cause at UN bodies, particularly the General Assembly, Security
Council and Commission on Human Rights.
7. PCHR
welcomes the UN General Assembly resolution, which referred the issue of the
Separation Wall inside the OPTs to International Court of Justice to give a
consultative opinion. There is no doubt
that the wall is illegal, which obligates the international community to take
steps that amount to the level of the expected decision by the court.
8. In
recognition of 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, Trade Unions, and other 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 of
international solidarity groups to the OPTs, PCHR calls upon European countries
to take a similar approach to issuing Israeli citizens with visas.
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
