October 10, 2002
Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (10 October 2002)
Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (10 October 2002)

 

Continuing Israeli Violations in the OPT

 

 
 

· 27  Palestinian civilians, including 12 children
and a woman, killed by Israeli occupying forces

 

· A series of Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas
in the Gaza Strip and 11 Palestinian civilians killed and dozens wounded in
Khan Yunis and Rafah

 

· 66  incidents of apparent willful killings by Israeli
forces in the West Bank, in which 6 Palestinian civilians were killed

 

· Continuing
Israeli
retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who have carried out armed attacks against
Israeli targets

 

· Large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the
Gaza Strip razed

 

· Continuing strict siege on the OPT and restrictions
at Israeli military checkpoints
 

 

Introduction

 

This week, 27 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and a
woman, were killed and more than 100 others were wounded by Israeli occupying
forces. The human rights violations and war crimes include willful killings,
shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas and agricultural land
leveling.

 

In the Gaza Strip, Rafah
and Khan Yunis in the south were subjected to a series of war crimes committed
by Israeli occupying forces. Last night,
Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling and supported by combat
helicopters, moved approximately 20m into Salah al-Din Street in Rafah refugee
camp near the Palestinian-Egyptian border. As a result of this incursion, which continued until Thursday morning,
Saher Salah al-Hout, 12, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Eihab
Fathi al-Mughayar, 18, was killed by a live bullet in the back. According to a PCHR field officer, the two
were killed at approximately 08:00 this morning, when Israeli forces fired at
them while withdrawing from the area. In
addition, three children were wounded, and the Israeli forces destroyed 6
houses. At the time of writing, Israeli
occupying forces are shelling Palestinian residential areas in Rafah. 

 

Yesterday, Israeli heavy
military vehicles moved into Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the
Palestinian-Egyptian border. They
leveled areas adjacent to the border, while opening fire at houses. Two Palestinian children were killed and 10
other civilians, including 6 children, were wounded by the Israeli shelling.

 

On Tuesday, 8 October, Israeli
occupying forces at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah,
indiscriminately shelled al-Brazil neighborhood, adjacent to the border. Maisaa’ ‘Obeid Zannoun, 12, was killed by a
live bullet in the chest while
being
inside her family’s house, approximately 800m away from the border
.

 

On Sunday, 6 October,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported
by combat helicopters, invaded al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Amal areas in Khan
Yunis overnight. Israeli heavy military
vehicles and combat helicopters intensely shelled the two areas. As a result of the Israeli invasion, which
continued until 04:30 on the following day, 15 Palestinian civilians, including
six children and a woman, were killed and more than 80 were wounded, many of
whom are still in a serious condition. An Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile at a group of Palestinian
civilians in al-Katiba area, killing a number of them. Some of the wounded bled to death. An Israeli military spokesman and the Israeli
defense minister claimed that all the victims, except for a woman, were gun
men, but according to PCHR’s investigation, all victims were civilians. On Monday morning, 7 October, Israeli
occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekailm” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp
and al-Nimsawi and Baten al-Samin neighborhoods, killing a Palestinian civilian
and wounding 7 others, one of whom is in serious condition. 

 

On Monday, 7 October,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Nasser Hospital,
approximately 600m east. As a result of
the indiscriminate shelling, which continued for some minutes, 4 Palestinian
civilians inside the hospital, including two of its staff, were wounded and
buildings were severely damaged. The
hospital is clearly marked and known as one of the main medical facilities that
serve the southern Gaza Strip and the Israeli forces know well the site of the
hospital and subordinate buildings. On
Wednesday, 9 October, Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable military tower
in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis,
opened fire at Palestinian residential areas and civilian facilities in Khan
Yunis refugee camp. Live bullets hit two
schools wounding a school child and a worker, together with 6 other
civilians. 

 

In 6 incidents of apparent
willful killing in the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 6
Palestinian civilians, including two children, in Jenin and Nablus. Three of the victims bled to death
. 

 

This week, Israeli
occupying forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted
with olives at the season of its cultivation in the Gaza Strip, especially in
Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, and in the east of Jabalya in the northern
Gaza Strip. 

 

Israeli occupying forces
continued their retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians
and those who carried out attacks against Israeli targets
. On Wednesday, 9 October, Israeli occupying forces destroyed
two houses in Salfit town, south of Nablus. The houses are owned by families of three Palestinians detained by the
Israelis who claim the Palestinian men have been shooting at settlers
. 

 

Israeli occupying 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. In the Gaza
Strip, Israeli occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen military
checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Tuesday, 8 October. Israeli forces blocked cars, including an
ambulance that was transporting a child in serious condition to hospital,
between the two checkpoints and checked a number of Palestinian civilians. This blockade continued until the evening,
during which Israeli forces checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 7. In a new step that increased the suffering of
the residents of al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying
forces imposed a curfew on the area on Monday, 7 October. They also raided a school in the area and
arrested a member of its staff. They
also held a number of farmers in the sun and arrested two. The curfew on the area is still in
effect. 

 

 

Following are details of
human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces in the period
3-9 October 2002
:

 

 

 

 

 

Shelling of and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 3 October 2002

 

At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military
vehicles, invaded and seized control over Juhor al-Dik area, southeast of Gaza
City. More than 100 Israeli soldiers
were deployed in the streets. They
raided and searched houses and arrested more than 100 Palestinians. They handcuffed and blindfolded them and
transported them to “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City. The detainees were put in tents where they
were interrogated. At approximately
10:00, they were released, excluding six who were taken to Israeli prisons:

 

1. Kamal Suleiman al-Nabahin, 35, a worker;

2. Joma’a Juhaini al-Sweirki, 35, a worker;

3. Khaled Eshteiwi al-‘Oudat, 40, a car trader;

4. Mustafa Juhaini al-Sweirki, 32, a worker;

5. Marwan Mustafa al-Nabahin, 21, a worker; and

6. Mousa Mohammed al-Bahaisa, 25. 

 

Israeli forces also
bulldozed two bird farms located on a 500-square-meter area of land owned by
Salim ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu ‘Ayash
. 

 

At approximately 07:30, two
Israeli tanks moved into al-Basatin neighborhood in the north of Jenin. Israeli soldiers on tanks opened fire at
Palestinian civilians who were in the central market of the town, seriously
wounding 44-year-old Ahmed Hassan Khalil Esteiti from Jenin refugee camp, with
a live bullet in the head. He succumbed
to his wound upon arrival at hospital. Esteiti was selling vegetables as he had a shop in the market. In addition, three other civilians, including
a man and his child, were wounded:

 

1. Abdullah Musleh ‘Abdullah
Esteiti, 34, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand and foot
;

2. Ahmed Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Marar, 10, wounded by
shrapnel in the right elbow, armpit and ankle; and

3. Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Marar, 42, wounded by shrapnel
in the right elbow, armpit and ankle
. 

 

In a similar attack that
took place on 21 June 2002, Israeli occupying forces shot dead three
Palestinian civilians and wounded 14 others in Jenin central market, one of
whom died later
. 

 

At approximately 16:00,
Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of “Morag” settlement, south
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a civilian car, in which three Palestinian
civilians from the al-Najjar family were traveling on their way to their
agricultural land, approximately 300m north of the settlement. No casualties were reported, but the car was
damaged by live bullets. 

At approximately 18:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 400m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided and
searched two houses in the area and arrested 4 Palestinians, two brothers and a
man and his son:

 

1. Nasser Zowayed al-Lahham, 38;

2. Sami Zowayed ‘Abdul Rahman al-Lahham, 35;

3. Ahmed ‘Othman Tubasi al-‘Agha, 50; and

4. Naji Ahmed ‘Othman al-Agha, 20. 

 

Israeli soldiers handcuffed
the four Palestinians and took them to “Nitser Hazani” settlement,
northwest of Khan Yunis. The four were
interrogated for 4 hours, during which they were beaten. They were released late at night
. 

 

Friday, 4 October 2002

 

At approximately 11:00, two
Israeli tanks moved into Jenin through its northwestern entrance opening fire
at Palestinian civilians and houses. When they arrived at the northern entrance of Jenin refugee camp, a
number of Palestinian gun men confronted them. A gun man, Sami Mohammed Salem Jalamna, 20, was killed by a live bullet
in the abdomen. In addition, 4 passing
Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:

 

1. Nizar Nazhem Mustafa ‘Aboushi, 71, wounded by
shrapnel throughout the body
;

2. Mahmoud Fahmi Salah al-Din, 22, wounded by shrapnel
in the left eye
;

3. Tayseer Ghazi Hussein, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the
face and the legs; and

4. Bahaa’ Hakam ‘Arqawi, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the
left leg
. 

 

At approximately 15:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 400m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. Immediately, two Israeli armored military
bulldozers razed site 8 of the Palestinian National Security Force, a 250-square-meter,
iron-roofed site. They also razed large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

 

1. They partially razed a 1-donum greenhouse planted
with tomatoes and destroyed an agricultural pool, a sprinkler, a water motor
and an irrigation network owned by Fayez ‘Obeid ‘Abdullah Qudeih
. 

2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fathi Ahmed
Qaudeih
.

3. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Salem Samara
.

4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Rasmi Hussein
Subeh
.

5. They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nizar
Salman Subeh
.

6. They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fathi
Hassan Hussein Qudeih
.

7. They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with olives, and destroyed
an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and a
20-square-meter room owned by ‘Abdul Rahman Hussein Qudeih
.

8. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, lemons and sycamores and destroyed an irrigation network
owned by Ayman Suleiman Ibrahim Qudeih. 

9. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Subhi Hussein
Qudeih
.

10. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Salman
Hussein Qudeih
.

11. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Suleiman Subhi Qudeih
.

12. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted
with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Suleiman Subhi
Qudeih
.

13. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud
Suleiman Subhi Qudieh
.

14. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Samir Khalil
Salman Qudeih
.

15. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Samir Ahmed
Hamed Qudeih
.

16. They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and palms, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by
heirs of Ahmed Musallam ‘Abdullah Qudeih.

17. They razed a 200-meter-long raw of wild figs
surrounding a tract of land owned by ‘Abdullah Mansi Qudeih
.

18. They razed a 150-meter-long raw of wild figs
surrounding a tract of land owned by Hassan Mahmoud Abu To’eima
. 

19. They razed a 200-meter-long raw of wild figs
surrounding a tract of land owned by Salem, ‘Oleyan and ‘Ali Zer’ei Qudeih
. 

 

Saturday, 5 October 2002

 

At approximately 09:30, a
number of school children in ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp broke the curfew
imposed by Israeli occupying forces on Nablus and its refugee camps and went to
their schools. When Israeli forces
intercepted their way, they gathered at the southern entrance of the refugee
camp and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicles. Israeli forces fired at the children, killing
14-year-old ‘Ammar Rajab Hashem al-Namrouqi with a live bullet in the
head. 

 

At approximately 18:45, two
tanks and two Israeli armored personnel carriers moved into Jenin through its
northwestern entrance to re-impose a curfew on the town. When they arrived at the industrial zone,
Israeli soldiers
opened
fire at a taxi driven by Tawfiq Yousef Hamarsha, 54, who was on his way
home. He was seriously wounded by a live
bullet in the head. At approximately
16:30 on the following day he was pronounced dead in an Israeli hospital, to
which he was evacuated. 

 

Sunday, 6 October 2002

 

At approximately 21:30,
Israeli forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabaliya,
opened fire at Palestinian agricultural land and animal farms 800m west of the
border. An animal farm owned by ‘Abdul
Majid Musbah Abu Safia was hit by heavy and medium caliber bullets. As a result, three cows were killed and some
others were injured, while the farm was severely damaged. 

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 23:55, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced with more than 40 heavy military vehicles and
supported by combat helicopters, moved from military posts in the vicinity of
“Gani Tal” settlement towards al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the
northwest of Khan Yunis and al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the town. 
Israeli tanks and infantry units were deployed in the streets of al-Amal
neighborhood.  The soldiers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately. 
In al-Amal neighborhood, Israeli occupying forces were deployed near the family
home of Rafe’ Salah Salama, a Palestinian activist who is allegedly wanted by
Israel.  When his mother, Rahima Hassan ‘Ali Salama, 50, heard Israeli
soldiers in the area, she opened the door fearing that Israeli soldiers may
break into the house suddenly, but an Israeli soldiers shouted at her and she
shut the door.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the door,
wounding the mother with several live bullets throughout the body, and her
child Mahmoud, 15, with shrapnel.  Then, Israeli soldiers broke into the
house and prevented the family from offering help to the wounded.  Israeli
soldiers handcuffed the men in the house and detained the women in the house in
one room.  They remained in the house for two hours, conducting
searches.  The soldiers also denied access for ambulances to the area to
evacuate the wounded.  The mother bled to death and the child was
evacuated to hospital in a civilian car at approximately 03:30.  Another
Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Ali Suleiman al-Sallout, 40, was wounded
in the chest by a heavy caliber bullet fired by an Israeli combat helicopter
while he was in his home in al-Amal neighborhood.  He was evacuated in a
civilian car to hospital, but died later of his wounds.  In the same area,
an Israeli attack helicopter fired a missile at four Palestinian civilians from
the Abu al-Khair family while they were on the roof of their 250-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house.  The four were wounded, one of whom was in a
serious condition.  Children in the house narrowly escaped before the
missile penetrated the roof and entered the room they had been sleeping in
shortly before the attack.  A number of neighboring houses were also
damaged. Those wounded were:

 1. Nemer Nasser ‘Awadh
Abu al-Khair, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the right arm;

 2. Sami Mohammed ‘Awadh
Abu al-Khair, 20, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

 3. Majed ‘Awadh ‘Ali Abu
Al-Khair, 37, wounded by shrapnel in the feet; and

 4. Nasser ‘Awadh ‘Ali Abu
al-Khair, 40, wounded by shrapnel in the feet. 

The wounded were moved to the house of their neighbor, Dr. Jawad al-Tibi,
member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, who offered them first aid, as
Israeli occupying forces denied ambulances access to the area. It was eventually possible to evacuate them
the following day morning. In addition,
three civilians in the area were wounded. 

In al-Satar al-Gharbi area, Israeli heavy military vehicles, jeeps and
infantry units moved towards Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser Street, which links the
al-Satar al-Gharbi area and the center of Khan Yunis.  From there, Israeli
forces moved forward towards al-Katiba area in the north of the town, and then
to the center of the town.  Later, Israeli forces moved back and took up
position near al-Katiba Mosque. Israeli
soldiers raided a five-story apartment owned by ‘Eissa ‘Aashour, and forced 4
families comprising of 25 persons living in the upper floors to move down to
the first floor. They held all of them
in one flat and took one of the residents, Sa’ad al-Kilani, 38, and used him as
a human shield while searching the house. Then, they mounted the roof of the building and transformed it into a
military post from which they fired at neighboring houses and streets. 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli tanks positioned in al-Katiba area
opened fire indiscriminately, killing 18-year-old Jamal Fathi Muhareb with
several live bullets in the neck and the chest.  Approximately 20 minutes
later, Israeli heavy military vehicles started pulling back towards the
aforementioned settlement.  Soon, dozens of Palestinian civilians exited
their houses to check what happened in their area.  When they gathered at
a junction, an Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile at the group, killing
10 civilians, including 4 children.  More than 80 people were
wounded, 13 critically, three are clinically dead.  Those killed were:

 1. Mohammed Hassan
al-Astal, 15, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 2. ‘Abdullah Walid Salah,
16, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 3. Ahmed ‘Abdul Ra’ouf
al-Astal, 16, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 4. Fares ‘Abdul Nasser
Daoud al-Zaqzouq, 17, killed by shrapnel in the head;

 5. Haitham Mousa Abu
al-Naja, 27, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 6. Ussama Mohammed ‘Ali
‘Aabdin, 23, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 7. Eihab Helmi Dhib
Khalaf, 22, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 8. Ayman Mohammed Saqer,
35, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 9. Mohammed Mustafa
Sadiq, 20, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

 10. Nidal Kifah Barbakh,
16, critically wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and was pronounced dead
on the following day afternoon. 

Those clinically dead are:

 1. Mohammed Hashem
al-Astal, 35, hit by shrapnel in the head;

 2. Mahmoud Jadallah
al-Astal, 16, hit by shrapnel in the head; and

 3. Tariq ‘Abdul Karim
Qudeih, 22, hit by shrapnel in the head. 

 

Monday, 7 October 2002

At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations
in the vicinity of “Gan Aur” and “Gadid” settlements,
southwest of Khan Yunis, and “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of the
town, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi and Baten al-Samin
neighborhoods, killing 23-year-old Mohammed Farhan Shaloula with a live bullet
in the back, and wounding 7 others. Live
bullets and artillery shells also hit Nasser Hospital, approximately 600m east
of “Neve Dekalim” settlement. Four Palestinian civilians, including two members of the hospital staff,
were wounded. Those wounded in these
incidents were:

1. Nafe’ Burhan al-Bura’ei, 22, a maintenance worker at
the department of nephritic diseases, critically wounded by a live bullet in
the head while near the department. He
was evacuated to Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza and then to an Israeli hospital
.

2. Jibril ‘Ateya ‘Aabed, 45, a driver of the hospital,
wounded by a live bullet in the chest
.

3. Munther Radwan al-Masri, 27, wounded by a live bullet
in the left thigh while at hospital
. 

4. Aadel Yousef Eslayeh, 36,
wounded by shrapnel in the face while at hospital
. 

 5. ‘Aamer Khader Khalaf,
39, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;

 6. Samah Salman Abu
‘Aathra, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

 7. Isma’il Na’im Matar,
13, wounded by a live bullet in the head;

 8. Yousef Isma’il Mahmoud
Ahmed, 46, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg;

 9. Jihad Yousef Isma’il
Ahmed, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;

 10. Shirin Hassan
al-Banna, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh; and

 11. Hani Hamed al-Najjar,
11, wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

In his testimony to PCHR,
Jebril Jaber ‘Aabed, a driver of Nasser Hospital, said
:

 

I was called to hospital at
approximately 01:30 on Monday, 7 October 2002, after the hospital declared a
state of emergency when Israeli occupying forces invaded parts of Khan
Yunis. I carried out my duties until
Israeli tanks withdrew from those areas. At approximately 08:15, while I was in the facility designed for
ambulances in the eastern part of the main building of the hospital, I felt
that a live bullet hit me in the chest. I also heard sounds of live bullets hitting walls. Immediately, those who were near me moved me
to the reception department, where I received medical treatment.”

 

At approximately 13:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered
by intense shelling, moved approximately 800m into Palestinian agricultural
land east of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip. At the time of writing, they have razed large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives at the season of its
cultivation:

 

1. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Musbah Mohammed Halawin
.

2. They razed a 12-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhib ‘Abed
Rabbu Yassin Sultan
.

3. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Ahmed
‘Abdullah al-Mutawaq
.

4. They razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Ramadan ‘Omar Juneid
.

5. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Essam
Mohammed Hussein al-Nuthor
.

6. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Khaled Hussein
Halawin
.

7. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Musbah
Mohammed Musbah Halawin
.

8. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Bashir
Mohammed Khader
.

9. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Zayed Ziad
Khader
.

10. They razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yassin Yousef
Khader
.

11. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Abu Ahmed
al-Shurafa
.

12. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by al-‘Abed
Musleh Khader
. 

13. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdullah
Khalil al-Zain
.

14. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Hassan
Maqat
.

15. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mousa ‘Arafat
Dardouna
.

16. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhiab Mustafa
Dhamida
.

17. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Dhib
Hassan al-Batash
.

18. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhib Hashem
Juneid
. 

19. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed al-Adham
. 

 

Tuesday, 8 October 2002

 

At approximately 07:30,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with two tanks and an armored personnel
carrier and covered by intense shelling, moved into al-Bassatin neighborhood in
the center of Jenin. They opened fire at
a bus of the Arab American University, wounding 8 Palestinian civilians,
including 6 students:

 

1. Mohammed Yousef ‘Arqawi, 17, seriously wounded by a
heavy caliber bullet in the chest
;

2. Rasha Suleiman Salfiti, 18, seriously wounded by a
heavy caliber bullet in the right leg
;

3. Fidaa’ Bilal Komayel, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the
legs
;

4. Abdul Karim Qaddoura Mousa,
12, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body
;

5. Somoud Yousef ‘Azzouqa, 14, wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body
;

6. Alaa’ ‘Aadel Abu Zeid, 14, wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body
;

7. Ahmed ‘Abdul Halim, 37, wounded by a live bullet in
the left side; and

8. Sa’id Mustafa Jobe’I, 30, wounded by a live bullet in
the left hand
.

 

At approximately 14:10,
medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that 35-year-old
Mohammed Hashem al-Astal succumbed to a wound he sustained in the head, when an
Israeli combat
helicopter
fired a missile at a group of Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis, during an
Israeli invasion of the town
.

 

At approximately 20:30,
medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City declared that 16-year-old
Mahmoud Jadallah al-Astal succumbed to a wound he sustained in the head in the
same missile attack
.

 

At approximately 19:00,
Israeli occupying forces at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah,
indiscriminately shelled al-Brazil neighborhood, adjacent to the border. Maisaa’ ‘Obeid Zannoun, 12, was killed by a
live bullet in the chest while in her family’s house, approximately 800m away
from the border. In her testimony to
PCHR, her mother said:

 

At approximately 19:00 on
Tuesday, 8 October 2002, my husband, children and I were inside our house,
approximately 800m away from the border south of Rafah. My husband was praying and I was preparing
the
beds
for the children. My daughter Maisaa’
was at the door of a room opposite to Salah al-Din Gate on the border, where an
Israeli military position is located. She was playing with her brother Mahmoud, 9. I heard sounds of shooting coming from Salah
al-Din Gate and suddenly, my daughter cried. I saw her falling with her hand on her chest. My husband hurried and carried her, but he
was not able to see her bleeding, so her uncle Eyad came and took her in a
civilian car to hospital, where she soon died.”

 

Wednesday, 9 October 2002

 

At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable military tower in the vicinity of
“Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis refugee
camp. Live bullets hit two schools
wounding a child and a worker, together with 6 other civilians:

 

 1. Ahmed Khamis
Killab, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot while at school
;

 2. Kamel Hafezh
Hammouda Sadiq, 55, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh while working at
school
;

 3. Fidaa’
Mohammed Joma’a Zo’rob, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen
;

 4. Ramez Ussama
‘Obeid, 5, wounded by shrapnel in the face
;

 5. Anas Ghassan
al-Najjar, 8, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot
;

 6. Mohammed
Hassan Abu Zhaher, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot
;

 7. Zuhair
Mohammed Gannan, 36, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and

 8. Ashjan
‘Atallah al-Bardawil, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot
. 

 

At approximately 15:00, 4
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 50m into Block L in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border. They leveled
areas adjacent to the border, while opening fire at
houses. Two Palestinian children were
killed and 9 other civilians were wounded. Those killed were
:

 

1. Ahmed Fu’ad Radwan, 16, wounded by two live bullets
in the chest and the right thigh; and

2. Mohammed Mousa ‘Aashour, 15, wounded by a live bullet
in the chest
.

 

Those wounded were:

 

1. Sa’id ‘Abdul Wahed Abu ‘Aathra, 38, wounded by a live
bullet in the right foot
;

2. Midhat Ziad Abu Muhsen, 23, critically wounded by
shrapnel in the back
;

3. Abdullah Mustafa Abu Jazar,
12, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg
;

4. Ahmed Ibrahim al-Jazzar, 15, wounded by a live bullet
in the left thigh
;

5. Emad ‘ouda Kabaja, 18,
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left arm
;

6. Midhat Jouda Abu al-S’oud, 14, wounded by a live
bullet in the right thigh
;

7. Ammar Salman Abu Jazar, 12,
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left arm
;

8. Ahmed Mohammed al-Kurd, 18, wounded by a live bullet
in the right thigh; and

9. Yousef Mohammed Shahin, 14, seriously wounded by a
live bullet in the left thigh
. 

 

At approximately 18:00,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the
southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood in the west of the town. Ibrahim Hisham Abu Khammash, 1.5, was critically wounded by a live
bullet in the chest when he was in his home.

 

Shooting at Palestinian
Civilians
:

 

Friday, 4 October 2002

 

At approximately 13:00, an
Israeli military jeep moved into the north of Nazlat Zeid village, southwest of
Jenin, and imposed a curfew. Mohammed
‘Ali Najib Zeid, 16, was studying in his colleague’s house. When he opened the window of the room he was
in, he saw the Israeli jeep stopping about 50m away from the house. An Israeli soldier ordered him to shot the
window, but an Israeli soldier fired at him wounding him in the left side. The owner of the house, Samir Khaled Zeid,
tried to help him, but he could not stop blood, so he took him in his car and
drove towards a hospital in Jenin, but Israeli soldiers prevented him from
moving. He resorted to a road leading to
Toura village, where an Israeli military checkpoint is erected. Israeli soldiers there denied him passage. He moved towards an Israeli military
checkpoint north of Ya’bad village, but Israeli soldiers again denied him
passage, and denied him access to an ambulance. After a long debate, Israeli
soldiers took the child to an Israeli ambulance. According to the victim’s father, the Israeli
ambulance did not offer his child any medical help, so he succumbed to his
wound at approximately 14:30. Then, his
body was delivered to a Palestinian ambulance. 

 

Monday, 7 October 2002

 

At approximately 15:30,
while 41-year-old Ahmed Saleh Isma’il ‘Eid, from Jainasafout village in
Qalqilya was on his way home from Nablus, passing by an Israeli military
checkpoint near Jeet village on Nablus-Qalqilya road, Israeli soldiers at the
checkpoint opened fire at him for no apparent reason. He was wounded by two live bullets in the
abdomen and pelvis. He bled for about an
hour, without Israeli soldiers offering him help. At approximately 16:30, an ambulance of
Palestine Red Crescent Society arrived at the area and evacuated him to Rafidya
Hospital in Nablus, but he succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital. According to eyewitnesses, the area was
completely quiet when Israeli soldiers fired at him. 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, 8 October 2002

 

At approximately 08:00,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations southeast of
“Nissanit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip
, fired at a number of
Palestinian children who demonstrated approximately 50m north of the military
locations and threw stones at Israeli soldiers. Eight children were wounded
:

 

1. Ammar Yousef al-‘Otal, 14,
wounded by a live bullet in the left knee
;

2. Abdul Mo’ti Na’im Mosa’ad,
13, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the arm
;

3. Hassan al-Romeilat, 13, wounded by a live bullet in
the right leg
;

4. Nassim al-Manaia’a, 14, wounded by a live bullet in
the buttock
;

5. Mohammed al-Sharatha, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the back
;

6. Sakher Subeih, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the neck
;

7. Mohammed al-Da’our, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the right leg
;

8. Bassel Qarmout, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the
right thigh; and

9. Ahmed Hammouda, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the right arm
.

 

Attacks by
Settlers against Palestinian Civilians

 

While the season of olive
cultivation started, on Sunday, 6 October 2002, settlers shot dead a Palestinian
young man in ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus, while he was with other
villagers in their olive farms
. 

 

At approximately 10:00,
while a number of Palestinian farmers from ‘Aqraba village were cultivating
olives in their agricultural land in the northeast of their village, they were
surprised by a number of settlers from “Eitamar” and
“Ged’oun” settlements, established on lands that belong to villages
of Nablus. The settlers opened fired at
the farmers, wounding Hani Yousef Bani Murra, 26, with a live bullet in the
right thigh. His colleagues were not
able to evacuate him to hospital for two hours, as settlers continued to fire
at them. He was then taken to a medical
center in the village, but he succumbed to his wound. In addition, Fadi Fadhel ‘Aadel Bani Jaber,
26, was wounded by a live bullet in the right elbow. Earlier this year, on 17 October 2000,
settlers from the same two settlements shot at number of Palestinian farmers in
Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus, killing 18-year-old Farid Mousa ‘Eissa
Nasasra, 28, with a live bullet in the side.

 

Retaliatory Measures
against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who
have Carried out Attacks against
Israeli Targets

 

At approximately 03:00 on
Wednesday, 9 October 2002, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 11 heavy
military vehicles, moved into Salfit town, south of Nablus. They surrounded two houses and forced their
residents out. Then, they destroyed the two
houses:

1. A 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which two
families comprising of 10 persons used to live, owned by ‘Abbas Khader ‘Ali
‘Abdul Fattah. The Israelis forces claim that a member of the family, Bilal
Khader ‘Abdul Fattah who has been detained by Israeli occupying forces for
several months, has fired at settlers.

2. A 100-square-meter, two-story house, in which 8
persons used to live, owned by Hussein Ahmed al-‘Arja and rented by Rashid
Qassem al-Besher. The Israeli Army claims that al-Basher’s two sons, Maher, 24,
and Ahmed, 27, who are both detained by Israeli occupying forces, have fired at
settlers. 

 

 

*****

 

 PCHR calls:

 

1. Upon the international community to provide immediate
and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories
.

2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect
Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance
with their obligations under article 1 and article 146, to ensure the respect
of the Convention.

3. Upon the international community to investigate and
prosecute those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories before international courts.

4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its
activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territories
.

5. Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the
Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect
human rights
.

6. Upon the international community to provide
humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living
conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege
imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.

 

 

 

 

“End”

 

 

 

 

 

rection”6;ni:
embed’>3. Tariq Ziad Dawas, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the
left leg;

4. Mahmoud al-Sabbagh, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the
right hand;

5. Ahmed Hatem al-Kafarna, 18, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

6. Muhannad Abu Nahel, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the left hand;

7. Mohammed Manour Abu Mashi, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the left thigh; and

8. Ibrahim Badwan, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the left thigh. 

 

At approximately 16:45,
three Israeli military jeeps took position outside “Gani Tal”
settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opposite to a number of Palestinian
children who were playing football in al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the
town. The children gathered and threw
stones at the jeeps. Immediately,
Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding two:

 

1. Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman Hussein al-Majaida, 16,
critically wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen that entered the stomach;
and

2. Hassan Hisham Abbu Shammala, 16, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot. 

 

A PCHR field officer
reports that Israeli occupying forces took position outside the aforementioned
settlement opposite to areas where Palestinian children play. Clashes erupted and Israeli forces fired at
the children more than once. 

 

Wednesday, 25
September 2002

 

At approximately 09:00,
dozens of Palestinian children threw stones at Israeli soldiers in a military
location near Beit Hanoun crossing in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers fired at the children,
wounding 9:

 

1. Shadi Mohammed Abu al-Qumsan, 15, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;

2. Hussam Abu Marasa, 14, wounded by a live bullet in
the face;

3. Mohammed Mousa, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the
pelvis;

4. Mohammed Na’im al-Shinnawi, 14, wounded by two live
bullets in the right hand and leg;

5. Mohammed al-Hawajri, 12, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the left knee;

6. Yassin Abu Jalhoum, 14, wounded by a live bullet in
the left foot;

7. ‘Ali Salem, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the right hand;

8. Sami al-Madhoun, 17, wounded by shrapnel from a live
bullet in the right hand; and

9. ‘Ammar ‘Edwan, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the
right arm. 

 

At the same time, dozens of
Palestinian school children from the central Gaza Strip threw stones at Israeli
occupying soldiers in military locations in the vicinity of “Kfar Darom”
settlement, east of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers fired at the children wounding 4:

 

1. Hammouda Nabli Mousa al-Hamarna, 16, seriously
wounded by a live bullet in the chest;

2. Mohye al-Din Samir Matar, 17, wounded by a live
bullet in the head;

3. ‘Ali ‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Athamna, 18, wounded by a live
bullet in the right thigh; and

4. Saleh Hassan al-Ustath, 13, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right foot. 

 

A
Newly Born Infant Dies Due to Obstruction of Her Evacuation to Hospital by
Israeli Occupying Force

 

On Monday morning, 23
September 2002, medical sources at al-Muhtasseb Hospital in Hebron declared
that Rawan Murad ‘Eissa Hureizat from Yatta village south of Hebron, who was
born three days earlier, died after Israeli occupying forces obstructed her
evacuation to hospital. 

 

According to information
available for PCHR, on Sunday evening, 22 September 2002, the aforementioned
infant was sick. Her family took her to
a physician at Zhaher Hospital in Yatta village. After the medical check, the physician
decided to transfer her to al-Muhtasseb Hospital in Hebron. On the following day morning, the family
began traveling to the hospital. When
they arrived at the entrance of the village, they were not able to cross
Israeli military checkpoints, and had to resort to alternative roads, which
took them much longer time. When they arrived in Hebron, Israeli occupying
forces in Abu Sneineh neighborhood denied them passage. Again they resorted to
alternative roads and were eventually able to reach hospital, but during this
long journey, the infant died. According
to medical sources at al-Muhtasseb Hospital, the infant was brought dead to
hospital at approximately 08:30 on Monday, 23 September 2002, and the
obstruction of her access to hospital prevented saving her life. 

 

*****

  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. 

 

 

“End”



[1] This
number includes Palestinians killed inside the Green Line.