Continued Israeli War Crimes in the
OPT and the International Community Remains Silent
· 20 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 3 women
and 2 children, killed by Israeli forces
· Israeli forces invade al-Boreij refugee camp, killing
10 Palestinians and destroying a house
· 4 extra-judicial assassinations, and 4 Palestinians
killed
· Continued Israeli retaliatory campaign against
families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against
Israeli targets
· Large areas of agricultural land razed and 3 houses
demolished in the Gaza Strip
· Israeli forces use Palestinian civilians as human
shields during military operations
· A number of Palestinians arrested
· Continued strict siege of the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated
more war crimes and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians,
including willful and extra-judicial killings, shelling of, and incursion into
Palestinian areas as well as agricultural land leveling. This week, 4-11 December 2002, 20
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 3 women and 2 children, were killed
by Israeli forces.
On Friday, 6 December 2002,
the second day of the Islamic feast (‘Eid al-Futter), Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters, invaded
al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip to destroy a house of a wanted
Palestinian. The Israeli invasion left
10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, dead. The invasion apparently aimed at destroying the house of Ayman al-Shishnia,
who is wanted by the Israeli forces. Seven of the victims were killed by a missile launched by an Israeli
combat helicopter. Six Palestinians,
including 5 brothers, were also wounded. Israeli forces also destroyed al-Shishnia’s house and 2 neighboring
houses. In addition, 12 houses were
severely damaged. This operation is a
part of the Israeli policy to carry out retaliatory attacks against families of
wanted Palestinians and those who have carried out attacks against Israeli
targets. Within the same context,
Israeli forces destroyed a Palestinian house in al-Mughraqa village, south of
Gaza City, on 5 December 2002.
In a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially
adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli forces, this week, perpetrated 4
extra-judicial assassinations that left 4 wanted Palestinians dead. On Wednesday, 11 December, Israeli occupying
forces assassinated a Palestinian in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus,
inside his house. The day before,
Israeli forces assassinated a Palestinian in Khan Yunis. There are suspicions that he may have been
liquidated by Israeli forces after he was arrested. On 4 December, Israeli combat helicopters
assassinated a Palestinian in the center of Gaza City. On 6 December 2002, Israeli forces
assassinated a Palestinian in Seilat al-Harthia veillage near Jenin. Israeli forces admitted responsibility in all
these cases.
In 4 cases of apparent willful killing, this week, Israeli forces killed
5 Palestinians, including 2 women and a child who died from an injury sustained
previously. On 8 December 2002, a
Palestinian woman was killed and three of her children were wounded when
Israeli forces fired at them in Rafah for no apparent reason. On 9 December 2002, Israeli forces shot dead
a mentally handicapped Palestinian civilian in Tulkram. On the same day, Israeli soldiers on a tank
shot dead a Palestinian woman and wounded her husband and his mother in Nablus. On the same day, a Palestinian child from
Khan Yunis died in a Jordanian hospital from a wound he sustained by Israeli
forces about two months ago. On 4 December 2002, two Palestinians were shot
dead by Israeli forces in Hebron. Israeli forces claimed that the two Palestinian civilians tarried to
fire at them when those forces came to arrest them. The two were hiding in a room adjacent to a
cow farm.
Israeli forces have
maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the
Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas,
transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians’ economic,
social and cultural rights. They have
also imposed curfews on several different areas. In the West bank, a Palestinian civilian, who
suffered from a heart attack, died as Israeli forces obstructed his evacuation
to hospital.
Shelling of and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 200m into Abu Qaraqoush area in the south of Khan Yunis, east of
Morag settlement. An Israeli military
bulldozer razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, which
is a part of a 24-donum area, 7 donums of which had been razed by Israeli
forces on 10 November 2002. The land is owned by heirs of Khalil Isma’il Khalil
al-Masri.
At approximately 17:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 300m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They fired live ammunition, flare and sound
bombs at the Palestinian National Security Force site in the area. Then, an Israeli military bulldozer leveled
sand barriers on a tract of land owned by Mohammed Suleiman Abu Khutai, which
was razed on 25 August 2002.
In the morning, Israeli
forces moved into Tulkarm to maintain the curfew imposed on the town. Israeli soldiers on armored personnel
carriers opened fire at Palestinian civilians, who were out celebrating the
Islamic feast (‘Eid al-Futter). Seven civilians, including 5 children, were wounded by rubber-coated
metal bullets.
At approximately 10:30,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the Tal Zo’rob area,
southwest of Rafah, fired two artillery shells to the east. The two shells fell on the Egyptian border
near Zo’rob square. As a result,
shrapnel hit a building of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in the area,
damaging its doors and windows, but no casualties were reported.
On the second day of the
Islamic feast (‘Eid al-Futter), Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters, invaded al-Boreij refugee
camp in the central Gaza Strip to destroy a house of an a wanted Palestinian. The Israeli invasion left 10 Palestinians,
mostly civilians, dead.
According to PCHR’s
investigation, at approximately 01:00, around 50 Israeli soldiers, with colored
faces, moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip approximately 2km into
al-Boreij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip. They surrounded the house of the family of
Ayman al-Shishnia, who is wanted by the Israeli forces. Mohammed and ‘Emad ‘Abdul Hamid al-‘Oweini,
28 and 26 respectively, members of the Palestinian National Security Force,
discovered the presence of the Israeli soldier and fire erupted between the two
and the soldiers, who were positioned near the southeastern side of the
house. Another group of Israeli soldiers,
positioned 100m north, fired at the two brothers. The two were killed by several live bullets
throughout the body. Meanwhile, two
Israeli combat helicopters flew over the area. They opened fire indiscriminately. Around 17 Israeli tanks moved into the southeastern part of the refugee
camp, while 5 tanks moved in from the al-Shuhada’ junction, south of Gaza City,
through Salah al-Din Street. Israeli forces seized complete control over the
refugee camp and opened fire at its houses. A number of Palestinian gunmen moved to defend the camp and confronted
the invading Israeli forces. A number of
Palestinian civilians were close to the area of clashes. Soon, an Israeli combat helicopter launched a
missile at a group of Palestinian civilians who had gathered near the area of
clashes. Seven Palestinians, including a
child and two gunmen, were killed:
1. Ussama Hassan al-Tahrawi, 30, a gunman;
2. Tariq Yahia Ramadan, 28, a gunman;
3. Ra’ed Yahia Ramadan, 35, brother of the second
victim;
4. Marwan Saber al-Tahrawi, 16;
5. ‘Abdul Mon’em Mohammed al-Bahar, 30;
6. Hazem Jamil Abu ‘Abdu, 30; and
7. Rani ‘Omar al-‘Aalem, 24.
In addition, 6
Palestinians, including 5 brothers, were wounded:
1. Nabil Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, 30, wounded by
shrapnel in the right hand;
2. Na’im Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, 28, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot;
3. Ra’ed Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, 26, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot and side;
4. Ahmed Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, 21, wounded by
shrapnel in the head;
5. Khader Mohammed ‘Abdul Fattah Mansour, 18, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot; and
6. Salim ‘Abdul Majid Khalil, 32, wounded by shrapnel in
the right foot.
Israeli tanks then moved
towards the house of al-Shishnia. They
opened fire at the area. A Palestinian
woman, Ahlam Rezeq Qandil, 32, was seriously wounded by two live bullets in the
mouth and the right shoulder. She was
evacuated to hospital, but the attempts to save her life failed. Israeli soldiers surrounded the house of al-Shishnia. They raided and searched it. They also arrested 3 of its residents. Then, they forced its residents out and
destroyed it. A number of neighboring
houses were severely damaged. PCHR’s
field worker in the central Gaza Strip reported that ambulances were not able
to enter the refugee camp on time, due to the intense Israeli shelling and
gunfire. Israeli forces withdrew from
al-Boreij refugee camp at approximately 04:30.
At approximately 15:00,
Israeli forces invaded Shweika neighborhood in the north of Tulkarm. They opened fire at passing Palestinian
civilians, wounding 4:
1. Rafe’ ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Abdullah Jaradat, 29, wounded by
a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Khalil Khaled Mohammed Yousef, 9, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
3. Mujahed Mohammed Mustafa Salama, 12, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right forearm; and
4. ‘Eleiwa Sharif ‘Abdul Shafi, 17, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the Tal Zo’rob area,
southwest of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses at Zo’rob square. A Palestinian woman, Hunaida Suleiman Hammad
Bureika, 30, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, while she was
inside her house, approximately 400m east of source of fire.
In the evening, a
Palestinian woman, Nahla ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Aqel, 42, was killed when Israeli
forces indiscriminately shelled a Palestinian residential area in Rafah. In his testimony to PCHR, the victim’s son,
Mohammed ‘Aadel ‘Aqel, 18, said:
“In the morning, my 9-member
family and I were in our new house in the north of Bader camp, which includes
dozens of houses that were built by UNRWA for those whose houses were
demolished by Israeli forces. We were
given a new house in the camp as our house in al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis
was demolished about 18 months ago. We
were in the house to prepare it for living. At approximately 19:00, we were about to leave the house. While my father was closing the door, an
Israeli tank in the vicinity of the Gush Qatif settlement block, opposite Tal
al-Sultan neighborhood and approximately 300m west of our house, opened fire at
us. My father asked my brothers and
mother, Nahla ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Aqel, 42, to lie on the floor and we did for about
two minutes, during which the shooting continued. When the shooting stopped, my father asked me
to call the neighbors for help. My
mother, my brothers: ‘Ali, 11, and Tamer, 5, and my sister Nivin, 15, were
wounded. Israeli soldiers fired at us
again. When the Israeli gunfire stopped,
a number of neighbors came. We evacuated
the wounded in a civilian car to a Palestine Red Crescent Society center in Tal
al-Sultan neighborhood. From there, they
were transferred to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah. My mother died during surgery as she was
wounded by a live bullet in the neck. Doctors informed us that Nivin was wounded by a live bullet in the
pelvis, ‘Ali was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh and Tamer was
wounded by shrapnel in the head. They
were in moderate to serious condition.”
At approximately 17:30, an
Israeli infantry unit, accompanied by 3 military jeeps, moved approximately
300m into the Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They took position on the main and branch
roads in the area. They stopped a number
of cars and passing civilians and checked their identity cards. Upon their withdrawal from the area 3 hours
later, Israeli soldiers arrested two Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Salem Sweilem Abu Haddaf, 25; and
2. Munir Salem ‘Abed Rabbu Abu Haddaf, 24.
At approximately 19:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 50m into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. This Israeli incursion continued until 05:00 on Tuesday, 10 December
2002, during which Israeli forces opened fire at the area. They also demolished two Palestinian houses:
1. A 300-square-meter house, in which 5 families,
counting 16 persons, used to live, owned by ‘Ali Suleiman Saleh Sha’at.
2. A 270-square-meter house, in which 9 persons used to
live, owned by Salah Saleh Jaber al-Mughayar.
Israeli forces also
destroyed fences surrounding area of agricultural land.
At approximately 10:30, an
Israeli infantry unit, reinforced with a number of heavy military vehicles,
moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of Khaled Ibrahim
Homeidan al-Sumeiri and held the 8 residents of the house in one room. Israeli soldiers checked their identities and
searched the house. Two hours later,
additional Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into
the area. They opened fire at farms and
residential areas, but no casualties were reported. Then, two Israeli military bulldozers razed
areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 20-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by ‘Abdul Rahim Nasser Salem al-Sumeiri.
2. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Ibrahim Homeidan Suleiman al-Sumeiri.
3. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Mos’ad Jomei’an al-Sumeiri.
4. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Homeidan al-Sumeiri.
5. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Khaled Ibrahim Homedian al-Sumeiri.
At approximately 11:45, an
Israeli infantry unit, reinforced with military jeeps, moved approximately 200m
into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of ‘Adnan Mohammed Abu
Haddaf and held its 8 residents in one room. Israeli soldier checked the identity cards of the residents and searched
the house. Then, they arrested the
owner’s two sons: Hazem, 22, a university student, and Mohammed, 18.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially
adopted by the Israeli government, the Israeli occupying forces this week
carried out 4 extra-judicial assassinations that left 4 wanted Palestinians
dead.
At approximately 14:20 on
Wednesday, 4 December 2002, 5 Israeli combat helicopters launched 3 missiles at
Abu Khadra governmental compound in the center of Gaza City. The missiles hit a 5-square-meter guardroom
located near the entrance of a building of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Mustafa Ahmed Sabbah, 35, from al-Nasser
neighborhood, who had worked as a civil guard in Abu Khadra compound, was
killed. According to eyewitnesses, his
body was found distorted, about half a meter east of the room. Israeli forces admitted responsibility for
this extra-judicial assassination, and claimed that the victim, who was an
activist of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committee, had carried out a
number of attacks against Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip.
At approximately 18:00 on
Friday, 6 December 2002, an Israeli undercover unit in civilian clothes
infiltrated the al-Khaniq area south of Seilat al-Harthia village in
Jenin. As soon as ‘Abdul Hadi ‘Omar Najib
al-‘Emari, 21, appeared in the area, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him
without warning. He was killed by 4 live
bullets in the abdomen. About 5 minutes
later, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the
village. They opened fire at houses and
streets. Four passing Palestinian
civilians were wounded by live ammunition. On its Arabic web page, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted
Israeli sources as saying that soldiers of “al-Musta’rebin”
(Arabianizers) killed a wanted Palestinian in Seilat al-Harthia village, called
‘Abdul Hadi al-‘Emari, a member of the Islamic Jihad. The newspaper also reported, quoting sources
of the central command of the Israeli army, that al-‘Emari attempted to escape,
so soldiers shot him dead. Eyewitnesses
refuted such claims and asserted that al-‘Emari was fired at without
warning.
On Tuesday, 10 December
2002, Israeli occupying forces shot dead Yassin Sa’id D’iab al-Agha, 24, from
Khan Yunis. Initial evidence indicates
that he was shot dead after he had been wounded and arrested by Israeli
soldiers.
According to PCHR’s
investigation and eyewitnesses’ testimonies, at approximately 02:45, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and jeeps, moved into
al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Israeli military vehicles were positioned near ‘Abdullah ‘Azzam Mosque
in Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser Stree, linking between Khan Yunis and al-Qarara village. Israeli soldiers, including masked ones, were
deployed in the area. They surrounded
al-Shawakra residential community and called on the residents to leave their
houses. Israeli soldiers ordered one of
them, Adib Shukri D’ib al-Agha, 34, to go to the houses of Sa’id D’iab al-Agha
and Ziad Sa’id D’iab al-Agha and tell their residents to leave the houses. Then, they ordered him to enter the
houses. They raided and searched the
houses using dogs, damaging their furniture. Two hours later, sounds of shooting were heard in the backyard of the
house of Sa’id D’iab al-Agha, where his son Yassin, who is wanted by the
Israeli forces, was hiding. In his
testimony to PCHR, Bassem Shukri D’ib al-Agha, who was in his house only 2m
away from the aforementioned backyard, said:
“Between 04:30 and
05:00, I heard sounds coming from the backyard of the house of my relative
Sa’id al-Agha. It sounded like it came from Israeli soldiers who invaded the
area. They ordered someone to stop and I
heard sounds of shooting. Then, I heard
an Israeli soldier saying in Lebanese Arabic: ‘Do not be afraid! Talk to me! I
do no want to shoot you.” I heard a voice that I could not recognize as it
was very low. The conversation continued
for 10-15 minutes, during which I recognized the voice of the person the
Israeli soldiers were talking with. It was Yassin Sa’id al-Agha. Then, I saw a military car, a Suzuki, stop in
the yard in front of our house. I saw
the feet of a person who was lying on his back in the car. He was wearing a brown pajama. The, Israeli forces withdrew from the
area. I knew later that they arrested my
brother Adib, 34, Ziad Sa’id al-Agha, 35 and his brother Yassin, 24, who is
believed to have been wounded during arrest.”
At approximately 05:30,
Israeli forces withdrew from the area leaving a statement written in Arabic and
signed by the command of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip which said:
“To residents of al-Qarara, the Israeli Defense Force is operating in your
area to stop subversive activities carried out by terrorist Yassin al-Agha
against Israel.”
Later, the Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot reported on its Arabic web page that, according to Israeli
sources, a unit of Israeli soldier shot dead a Hamas activist in Khan Yunis
called Yassin al-Agha, while they were attempting to arrest him. It added that an undercover unit and soldiers
of the Shimshon brigade raided al-Agha’s house. It also claimed that when they got close to the house, he threw a big
stone at them and attempted to use his gun, which was the reason why they shot
him dead.
However, ink was seen on
al-Agha’s fingers, which indicates that Israeli soldiers took his fingerprints
and it raises suspicions that he was liquidates after he had been
arrested. His body was delivered to the
Palestinian side at noon. According to
medical sources, he was shot by 8 live bullets in the legs and the
abdomen.
At approximately 02:30 on
Wednesday, 11 December 2002, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of
Hassan ‘Ali Badra in al-Hashashin area in the south of Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers knocked
on the door of the 3-story house and Badra opened it. Immediately, dozens of Israeli soldiers
rushed into the house and searched it. They asked Badra about his son Ussama, 27. They did not find him, so they left the house
at approximately 03:00. At approximately
03:15, they came back. When Badra opened
the door, they again rushed into the house. A number of soldiers mounted the roof and pointed their guns at the roof
of the stairs where Ussama was hiding. They fired at him from a distance of only 3m. He was wounded and fell onto the roof of the
house. Israeli soldiers surrounded him
and left him bleeding until 04:45, when they allowed an ambulance of Palestine
Red Crescent Society to evacuate him. When the medical personnel arrived, he was dead. His body was evacuated to hospital. According to medical sources, he was shot by
two live bullets in the chest and the left shoulder and by shrapnel in the
right hand.
The Israeli daily Ydiot
Aharanot quoted an Israeli security sources on its Arabic web page as
saying: “Security forces killed a Palestinian, who was wanted by security
services, in Balata refugee camp near Nablus this morning. He was killed when he attempted to escape
when soldiers came to arrest him.” An Israeli military source claimed that “soldiers fired warning
bullets to deter him, but he attempted to escape again, so they shot him
dead.” However, circumstances of
the incident refute the Israeli claim. Israeli soldiers could have used less lethal means against him as he was
not armed.
Early in the morning,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead two Palestinians who were wanted by those
forces:
1. Ahmed Hashem Daoud Sorour, 22; and
2. Kazhem Asa’ad Shawar, 23, both from Hebron.
Israeli forces claimed they
returned fire at the two after the two fired at them during an arrest
attempt. At noon, their bodies were
delivered to the Palestinian side. According to medical sources, the two were shot by several live bullets
throughout the body.
According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 02:00, residents of the villages of Taffouh
and Dura, southwest of Hebron, noticed movement by Israeli forces towards
al-‘Amouria area between the two villages. Soon, sounds of intense shooting were heard in the area. Later, it was discovered that Sorour and
Shawar were hiding in a room adjacent to a cow farm when they were attacked by
Israeli forces. No additional
information was available as the incident took place in an isolated area.
In the evening, Israeli
soldiers shot at a handicapped Palestinian child in the old town of Nablus,
seriously wounding him with a live bullet in the neck, which made a cut in the
spinal cord and fractures of 4 vertebras of the spinal column.
According to the victim’s
mother, at approximately 17:40, after the end of fasting on the last day of the
Ramadan month, her child, Shadi ‘Awni Manosur, 15, left the house to buy toys
in celebration of the Islamic feast. While he was playing with his friends near the house in al-Qarioun area
in the old town of Nablus, Israeli soldiers positioned on the roof of the house
of the al-Shu’abi family fired at children. They were all able to escape, except for Manour, who is deaf. He remained in the area alone. Soon, an Israeli sniper fired at him,
wounding him with a live bullet in the neck. Ambulances were able to evacuate him to hospital only an hour later, as
Israeli soldiers obstructed their access to the area. He was evacuated to hospital in serious
condition. According to medical sources,
the live bullet settled in the left shoulder, causing a hemorrhage, a cut in
the spinal cord and fractures of 4 vertebras of the spinal column. He is now paralyzed.
At approximately 20:00, an
Israeli undercover unit infiltrated Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. They opened fire at passing Palestinian
civilians wounding two:
1. Ibrahim Saleh Ibrahim Nassar, 40, seriously wounded
by 4 live bullets in the pelvis, the right leg and the left foot; and
2. Ra’ed Khairi Saleh ‘Awad, 13, wounded by a live
bullet in the right foot.
In the afternoon, Israeli
soldiers in a military jeep positioned on the road linking Tulkarm and its
refugee camp fired from a distance of approximately 50m at 17-year-old Islam
“Mohammed Jihad” Hussein Jamal, from Tulkarm refugee camp. He was seriously wounded by a live bullet
that entered the neck and exited the left shoulder. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit
in Ramallah Hospital.
At approximately 10:00,
medical sources in al-Istiqlal Hospital in Jordan declared that 16-year-old
Ahmed ‘Abdul Karim Hussein al-Majaida, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he
sustained about two months ago.
According to PCHR’s
investigation, at approximately 17:45 on Tuesday, 24 September 2002, Israeli
soldiers in military jeeps in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement,
northwest of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw
stones. Al-Majaida and another child
were wounded. Al-Majiada was in serious
condition, so he was transferred to a Jordanian hospital.
In an apparent willful
killing, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep on a bypass road leading to
“Einab” settlement, east of Tulkarm, fired at a handicapped Palestinian,
wounding him with a live bullet in the back. He bled to death.
According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00, while Bassel Mustafa Mohammed Kou’,
29, from Beit Lid village, east of Tulkarm, was riding his donkey in the Ra’s al-Shama
area east of the village, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep, that was
patrolling on a bypass road between Nablus-Tulkarm road and “Einab”
settlement, fired at him from a distance of approximately 300m. He was wounded by a live bullet in the back. They left him bleeding for two hours without
offering him any help. According to an
eyewitness, he informed Israeli soldiers that Kou’ was mentally handicapped,
but they did not offer him help. Kou’
was evacuated to hospital dead. According to medical sources, he was wounded by an explosive live bullet
and his life could have been saved if he was brought to hospital earlier.
At approximately 18:30,
Israeli soldiers at Abu Houli military checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah,
fired at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint in their
cars. The checkpoint had been closed for several hours. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Nour Abu Shallouf, 19, from
Rafah, was wounded by a live bullet in the back. A PCHR field worker reported that Abu
Shallouf, who is a student in an UNRWA training center in Gaza City, was
wounded while he was traveling in an UNRWA bus on his way home.
In an apparent willful
killing, in the evening, Israeli occupying forces, which had already seized
control over Nablus, shot dead a 25-year-old Palestinian woman and wounded her
husband and his mother. According to the
husband, at approximately 19:00, he was driving his car towards his home. His brother Jamil, 25, his wife Rihana Hisham
Fakhri Zeid al-Kilani, 25, and his mother Khadija Beiram, 52, were accompanying
him. They were coming back from the
Women’s Union Hospital northwest of Nablus. When he crossed an iron gate established by the Israeli forces to separate
the eastern and western parts of the city, he was surprised by the coming of an
Israeli tank and an armored personnel carrier from the opposite direction. When Israeli soldiers saw the car, they moved
towards it. He was forced to stop the
car to avoid colliding with the heavy military vehicles. However, the two military vehicles continued
to move towards the car. He was forced
to drive the car back until a junction of branch road linking Amman Street in
the north and al-Quds Street in the south. He turned the car to the right. As soon as he entered the branch road, the engine of the car
stopped. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
on the tank opened fired at the car. The
car was hit by several live bullets. He
succeeded in starting the car again although he was wounded in the left
shoulder. He traveled south towards
al-Quds Street. He asked his companions
if anyone was wounded. His mother told
him that she and his wife were both wounded. He decided to go to hospital in the western part of the city. The Israeli military vehicles continued to
chase them. After he moved 200m forward,
he stopped the car and got out of it. He
helped his companions getting out of the car. His wife lost conscious and was bleeding from the chest. He used a public phone to call an
ambulance. Five minutes later, an
ambulance arrived at the area and evacuated the mother and the wife to Rafidya
Hospital. Then, another ambulance
arrived and evacuated him. His wife died
15 minutes after arrival at hospital. According to medical sources, she was shot by 3 live bullets that
entered the back and exited the chest. The husband was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder and the
mother was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the left arm.
At approximately 21:10,
Dhiaa’ Fakhri al-Zaghi, 19, from Kufor ‘Aqab village, north of occupied Jerusalem,
and his family were waiting at Qalandya military checkpoint, which they had to
cross to get home. Israeli soldiers at
the checkpoint denied their passage although it was raining heavily. He phoned the liaison offices, which
apparently ordered the Israeli soldiers to open the checkpoint. However, the Israeli soldiers allowed women
and children only to cross. When
al-Zaghi and his father turned back, Israeli soldiers fired at him from a
distance of 2m only. He was wounded by 3
rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and 9 others in the neck, the shoulders
and the back.
At approximately 17:10,
Israeli soldiers in an observation tower on a bridge between al-Matahen and Abu
Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and
the south of the Gaza Strip, fired at 3 Palestinian civilians who were trying
to repair the car in which they were traveling. Kamal ‘Abed ‘Aashour, 38, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that
entered the abdomen and exited the back and then hit ‘Abdul Rahim Ishaq
Shurrab, 44, in the pelvis. Then,
Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. The two were left bleeding for 10 minutes. When the checkpoints were reopened, a
civilian car took the wounded to al-Matahen checkpoint and then an ambulance of
Palestine Red Crescent Society evacuated them to hospital.
At approximately 20:00,
Israeli soldiers positioned between the al-Mawasi area in Deir al-Balah and the
al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis fired at two Palestinian boys who attempted to
enter the al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis through an Israeli military buffer
zone. The two were wounded and arrested
by Israeli soldiers:
1. Mustafa Nassim Mustafa al-Astal, 17, evacuated to an
Israeli hospital; and
2. ‘Ali Bashir ‘Abdul Karim al-Astal, 16, wounded by a
live bullet in the right shoulder.
Collective Punishment
Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out
Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international and humanitarian law
which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces carried out retaliatory
measures against families of Palestinians who have attacked Israeli targets in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 01:00 on
Thursday, 5 December 2002, about 50 Israeli soldiers, reinforced with heavy
military vehicles, moved approximately 500m into Tal al-‘Ojoul area in
al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Sa’id Shihada Hassan and raided and
searched the 210-square-meter house. Then, they arrested the owner’s son Ussama, 20, and took him to
“Netzarim” settlement, north of the village. Then, they forced the 8 residents of the
house out and destroyed it. An Israeli
military bulldozer also partially demolished a 160-square-meter, 2-story house
owned by Yousef Khalil Shihada.
On Friday morning, 6
December, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and
combat helicopters, invaded al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip. Ten Palestinians, including a
child and a woman, were killed. Israeli
forces surrounded the house of Salah Anis al-Shishnia, 60, in Block 12. About 30 Israeli soldiers raided and searched
the house and destroyed its furniture. They also arrested the owner’s sons: Mohammed, 33, and ‘Eissa, 25, and a
neighbor, Na’im Jibril, 41. The three
were released several hours later. Then,
Israeli soldiers forced residents of the 400-square-meter, 2-story house out
and destroyed it and two neighboring houses:
1. A 200-square-meter house, in which 6 persons used to
live owned by Fawzi Ahmed al-Fassih; and
2. A 470-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3
families, counting 11 persons used to live, owned by ‘Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Abu
Gharqoud.
In addition, 12 houses were
severely damaged. Al-Shishnia is the
father of Ayman al-Shishnia, 33, who is wanted by Israeli forces.
Israeli forces have
maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing
Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas,
transforming them into cantons, and have imposed curfews on some areas,
violating Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural rights. The Gaza Strip is still partitioned into
three isolated zones.
On Monday, 9 December 2002,
Israeli forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint separating Khan Yunis from its
al-Mawasi area. Dozens of people were
not able to go back home and were forced to spend the night at houses of their
relatives and friends. Israeli soldiers
fired at people who waited near the checkpoint to drive them away.
This week, Israeli forces
have regularly closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah
al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip,
disregarding the sacredness of the month of Ramadan. At approximately 11:00 on Monday, 9 December
2002, Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints. Israeli soldiers searched a number of cars
and checked the identity cards of passengers. They arrested Ahmed Rushdi al-Zeini, 28, a member of the Palestinian
National Security force. In the evening,
Israeli soldiers fired at an UNRWA bus, wounding a Palestinian student. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli forces
closed the two checkpoints. In the
evening of Wednesday, 11 December 2002, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
Palestinian civilians wounding two.
In the West Bank, Israeli
occupying have imposed a curfew on most Palestinian towns and villages. They
have also restricted the freedom of movement at military checkpoints.
On Monday, 9 December 2002,
‘Azzam ‘Abdul Qader Hassan ‘Alawna, 45, from ‘Azmout village, east of Nablus,
died from a heart attack as Israeli forces at a military checkpoint obstructed
his evacuation to hospital.
********
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”