Israeli Forces escalate war crimes
in the OPT
· 11
Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed by Israeli forces
· 3
of the victims killed in extra-judicial assassinations
· 2
failed assassination attempts carried out by Israeli forces against the founder
and 2 other senior leaders of Hamas movement
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued leaving dead 2 Palestinian
civilians and injuring dozens of others
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· Houses
were raided and a number of Palestinian civilians were arrested
· More
than 100 donums[1]
of agricultural land were razed and 1 house was demolished in the Gaza Strip
· 2
houses in the West Bank were destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the
continued campaign of retaliation against the families
of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks
against Israeli targets
· Construction
of the separation wall in the West Bank continued
· Israeli
forces have imposed a comprehensive closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip
Introduction
Following the 2 bombings that took place inside
Israel on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Israeli political and military officials
escalated their threats against Palestinians, indicating that the war crimes that
are being perpetrated against Palestinian civilians may continue. PCHR is concerned that Israeli occupying
forces may continue to escalate their aggression towards Palestinian civilians
and increasingly employ excessive force against civilian targets, including the
use of warplanes. This comes at a time when the Israeli political and military
establishments have declared that they will continue to take whatever measures necessary
against the leaders of Palestinian groups such as Hamas.
Only a few hours after issuing these threats, on
Wednesday morning, 10 September 2003, Israeli warplanes launched missiles at
the house of Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a senior leader of the Hamas movement, in
the densely populated al-Sabra neighborhood in central Gaza City. Al-Zahhar managed to survive, but his son and
one of his bodyguards were killed in the aerial attack. This attack came only a
few days after the assassination attempt targetting Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The tactics used in both these attacks are
reminiscent of an assault that occurred on 22 July 2002, when Israeli forces
used F-16 fighter jets to target a house in the densely populated al-Daraj
neighborhood in the center of Gaza City. This attack resulted in the deaths of
18 Palestinians, including Sheikh Salah Shehada, a leader of the military wing
of the Hamas movement, along with his wife, daughter and bodyguard. The
other victims, mostly children, were residents of neighboring houses.
This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a
series of incursions into Palestinian Authority controlled areas, during which
they killed a number of Palestinian civilians, raided and destroyed houses and
arrested dozens of Palestinians, razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land
and demolished a number of houses. Israeli occupying forces continued to
shell Palestinian residential areas and have maintained the total siege imposed
on the OPT. This week, 4-10 September 2003, 11 Palestinians were killed and
dozens of others were wounded by Israeli occupying
forces.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
7 incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they razed large areas of
agricultural land, especially in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. Israeli occupying forces continued to shell
Palestinian residential areas, particularly in Khan Yunis and Rafah. A number
of Palestinian civilians, including children, were wounded.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, accompanied by indiscriminate
shelling and shooting. On 4 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed
a 7-storey apartment building in Nablus in which 8 families lived. The
destruction took place following an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and
a Palestinian gunman. The gunman was killed during the fire-fight after
sustaining several gunshot wounds. On 9 September 2003, Israeli occupying
forces surrounded and opened fire at an 8-storey apartment building in
Hebron. 3 Palestinians, including an 11-year-old child in a neighboring
house, were killed in the attack and 2 other civilians were wounded. Israeli
occupying forces planted explosives in the building and destroyed it, leaving
98 people (14 families) homeless.
In 2 cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli
occupying forces shot dead 2 Palestinian boys in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip. On 6 September 2003, Israeli
occupying forces fired at a 17-year-old Palestinian civilian near the border
with Israel, east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. He was wounded by a number of gunshots and
Israeli soldiers left him at the scene, without offering him any medical help.
As Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area the victim bled to
death. The circumstances of the incident indicate that Israeli soldiers fired
at the victim without making any attempt to apprehend him.
On 10 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot
dead a Palestinian boy while he was attempting to cross the separatiion wall
near Seilat al-Harthia village in the northern West Bank. They also wounded and
arrested another boy.
Israeli occupying forces shelled Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus, while Palestinian civilians were exiting a mosque after the
evening prayer, killing 2 Palestinian civilians and wounding 2 others
seriously.
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
continued to take retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians
Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against
Israeli targets. In this context, they destroyed a 3-storey house in
Tulkarm and a shop in Hebron, in addition to the 2 apartment buildings
destroyed in Nablus and Hebron.
Israeli occupying forces continue to maintain a
strict siege on the OPT, especially in the West Bank. On 7 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces
imposed a comprehensive closure on the OPT and prevented all Palestinians from
entering Israel.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
re-erected 2 observation towers at Abu Houli and al-Matahen junctions, north of
Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street – the main road between the north and south
of the Gaza Strip. This reinstates the situation that was in place prior to 30
June 2003. In accordance with
Palestinian-Israeli security negotiations concluded on 30 June 2003, Israeli
occupying forces had redeployed from Salah al-Din Street and the 2 observation
towers were moved 15-20m away from their original sites. Following these latest developments, Israeli
occupying forces have retained complete control over Salah al-Din Street.
While
Israeli occupying forces continue to perpetrate violations of human rights
against Palestinian civilians, they have also continued to establish a
separating wall between the West Bank and Israel. For this purpose, they
confiscated more areas of Palestinian land and demolished more Palestinian
houses. After the suicide bombings, the Israeli chief of police, Shlomo
Aharoneski, stated that the construction of the separation wall must continue
and added that the Israeli Prime Minister had ordered that the construction be
expedited. This week Israeli occupying forces closed gates separating
Palestinian villages, fencing them in between the wall and the Green Line and
cutting them off from the rest of the West Bank.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
This week, in a serious escalation of war crimes
perpetrated against Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupying forces carried out
two extra-judicial assassination attempts in Gaza City. The first targeted Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder
and spiritual leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, but he managed
to survive the attempt. During an
Israeli aerial attack, a missile was fired at a residential building in central
Gaza City. Sheikh Yassin and Ismail Haniya, another leader of Hamas, both
sustained only moderate injuries in the attack. 13 Palestinian civilians
were also wounded. The second
assassination attempt targeted Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, another prominent leader
of the Hamas movement. Al-Zahhar survived the attack carried out by Israeli
occupying forces on his home in central Gaza City with only moderate injuries. Al-Zahhar’s son and one of his bodyguards were
killed in the aerial attack and 20 Palestinian civilians, including al-Zahhar’s
wife and daughter were wounded. In the
two attempts, Israeli occupying forces used F-16 fighter jets against houses in
densely populated areas, highlighting the flagrant disregard for the lives of
Palestinian civilians.
According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately
16:00 on Saturday, 6 September 2003, an Israeli aircraft fired 1 missile into
an apartment on the third floor of a residential building in al-Daraj
neighborhood, a densely populated residential area in the centre of Gaza City.
The building is owned by Dr. Marwan Abu Ras, a lecturer in Arabic Literature at
the Islamic University in Gaza City, who was sustained injuries to his legs in
the attack. Sheikh Yassin and Ismail Haniya were reported to have been
visiting Abu Ras and were just leaving the building when the missile struck. The
missile destroyed the third floor apartment and the rest of the building
sustained serious structural damage. Several nearby buildings were also
damaged.
12 other Palestinians in the area were injured,
including a number of members of the Abu Ras family. All of the wounded, with
the exception of Yassin and Haniya, were taken to Shifa Hospital in central
Gaza City. Medical resources reported that there were 6 children among
the wounded.
At approximately 10:15 on Wednesday, 10 September
2003, Israeli warplanes launched missiles at Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar’s house in
the densely populated al-Sabra neighborhood in central Gaza City. The
2-storey house was totally demolished in the attack. Ambulance and rescue
personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the strike and removed 2 bodies
from the rubble of the building. The 2 victims were later identified as
al-Zahhar’s son, Khaled, 25, and his bodyguard, Shehda Yousef al-Deeri, 32,
from Gaza City. Al-Zahhar was moderately wounded in the attack and more than 20
other Palestinian civilians, including al-Zahhar’s wife and daughter, were also
wounded. Medical sources described the conditions of several of the wounded,
including al-Zahhar’s wife, as serious.
PCHR field workers reported that the Israeli attack also
damaged several neighboring houses, as well as the nearby al-Rahma mosque.
An Activist Succumbs to a Wound He Had Sustained in a
Previous Assassination Attempt
At approximately 12:00, on
Saturday, 6 September 2003, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City
declared that Khaled Mahmoud Mustafa Mas’oud, 26, from Jabalya, died from a wound
he had sustained in an assassination attempt carried out by Israeli occupying
forces approximately 2 weeks prior. According to PCHR’s investigations, Mas’oud
and 2 of his colleagues, both members of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the
military wing of the Hamas movement, were the targets of an assassination
attempt carried out on 26 August 2003. The 3 survived the attempt, but Mas’oud was seriously wounded, and an old
man was killed. Later, a 9-year-old
child died from a wound she sustained during the attack. 28 Palestinian civilians in the area were
also wounded.
Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 4 September 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with 10 tanks and 4 bulldozers, moved approximately 300m into
Palestinian agricultural areas located north of the Kfar Darom settlement,
southeast of Deir al-Balah. Under cover
of intense gunfire, the Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 28-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and
fruits and destroyed a 200-meter-long wall and a 300-meter-long barbwire fence
owned by Hatem Ahmed Mohammed Abu Samra.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an agricultural pool and a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by
Khalil Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra.
3. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and
fruits owned by Salama Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra.
4. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and
fruits owned by ‘Omar Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra and his brother.
5. They
razed a 4.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and
palms owned by Hassan Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra and his brothers.
At approximately 10:30, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces infiltrated into the Palestinian controlled town of Salfit,
south of Nablus, using 2 Palestinian registered civilian cars. Soon after, an Israeli
armored personnel carrier and 5 military jeeps moved into the town. They
surrounded the house of Sanbak al-Halabi in the north of the town and ordered the
residents to evacuate the building. The residents left the house and Israeli
soldiers checked their identity cards and searched them. Israeli soldiers arrested 3 of them:
1. Mohammed
Hussein al-Harrim, 23, allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces;
2. ‘Abdul
Ghafer Mahmoud ‘Omran, 22; and
3. ‘Abboud
‘Abdul Qader al-Halabi, 25.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at a military location near Tal al-Sultan military checkpoint in western
Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Bassam Naji Rusrus,
30, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. At the same time, Israeli soldiers in a
military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at
Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Zo’rob neighborhood to the
east. A number of live bullets hit an
elementary school in the area, during school hours, causing panic among the
students.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps moved into
Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicles. 1 of the stone throwers and a passing
civilian were wounded:
1. Mousa
‘Ezzat ‘Eissa Khatatba, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
head; and
2. Mahmoud
Yousef Mousa Hanani, 43, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
jaw.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps, moved
into the Palestinian controlled Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They
imposed a curfew and raided and searched houses. A number of Palestinian
children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicle. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
the children, wounding 14-year-old Malek ‘Abdul Baset al-Kilani with a live
bullet in the abdomen.
On Friday morning, 5 September 2003, Israeli
occupying forces destroyed a 7-storey apartment building in Nablus in which 8
families lived. The destruction took place following an exchange of fire
between Israeli forces and a Palestinian gunman. The gunman was killed
during the fire-fight after sustaining several gunshot wounds.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
22:30 on Thursday, 4 September 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying
forces moved into al-Makhfiya neighborhood in the southwest of Nablus, using 4
Palestinian taxis and a Ford minibus. Israeli soldiers surrounded a
600-square-meter, 7-storey apartment building owned by Ja’far Rezeq
al-Masri. Soon after, approximately 30 Israeli military vehicles moved
into the area, accompanied by a helicopter gun-ship. Israeli soldiers
used megaphones to order the residents to vacate the building and neighboring
houses. The residents were gathered together and taken to the nearby Sa’id Ben
‘Aamer elementary school, where they were detained for several hours. Israeli
soldiers then broke into the building, and, after coming under fire from the
Palestinian gunman, evacuated the building.
At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 5 September 2003,
Israeli forces attacked the fourth floor of the building with anti-tank
missiles and broke into the building once again. A few hours later,
Israeli soldiers were seen taking the gunman’s body out of the building.
Later, he was identified as “Mohammed Yousef” ‘Abdul Rahim al-Hanbali, 28, an
engineer from Nablus. Israeli occupying forces claimed that al-Hanbali
was wanted for being the northern West Bank leader of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam, the
military wing of the Hamas movement. At approximately 09:00, as the
Israeli military operation came to a close, occupying soldiers planted
explosives on the first floor of the building. The building was
completely leveled by the explosion. As a result, 48 Palestinians (8
families), including 30 children, have become homeless:
1. The
family of Nihad Bader Badawi Qarqash (7 people, including 5 children);
2. The
family of Wa’el ‘Abdul Rahman Hindiya (6 people, including 4 children);
3. the
family of Mohammed Shawqi al-Toubasi (5 people, including 3 children);
4. the
family of Anwar Subeh (7 people, including 5 children);
5. The
family of Jamal ‘Abdullah al-Kurdi (5 people, including 3 children);
6. The
family of Nihad ‘Abdul Rahim (7 people, including 4 children);
7. The
family of Ja’far Rezeq al-Masri (6 people, including 3 children); and
8. The
family of Nidal Khaled Harazallah (5 people, including 3 children).
Friday, 5 September 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with 3 tanks and a military bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into
al-Mughraqa village, south of Nablus. Immediately, they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and figs and destroyed
a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by ‘Abdul Fattah Hamdan.
2. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and figs and
destroyed a 50-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Hassan ‘Ali al-Dirawi.
3. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and
destroyed a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Suleiman ‘Ali
al-Dirwai.
4. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and
destroyed a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Mahmoud Sha’ban
al-Hilu.
5. They
razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by
Majed ‘Abdullah al-Hassanat.
6. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with corns owned by Ishaq
‘Abdul Karim Hassan.
7. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ra’fat
Suleiman Shahin.
8. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Zuhair
al-‘Alami.
9. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by
Farjallah Rashad al-Mallahi.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved hundreds
of meters into Zo’rob neighborhood in the southwest of Rafah, adjacent to the
Egyptian border. They demolished a
Palestinian house and razed large areas of agricultural land:
1. They
demolished a 200-square-meter, under-construction house owned by ‘Omar Suleiman
Mabrouk Buraika.
2. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and beans and
destroyed an agricultural pool and an agricultural room owned by Nour al-Din
Mohammed ‘Olayan Buraika.
3. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted
with vegetables stood, and destroyed an agricultural pool, a water pump and an
irrigation network owned Farouq Mohammed ‘Olayan Buraika.
4. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed
an agricultural pool, an agricultural room, a water pump and an irrigation
network.
5. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, beans and
eggplants and destroyed an agricultural pool, an agricultural room, a water
pump and an irrigation network owned by Salah Mohammed ‘Olayan Buraika.
6. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with
vegetables stood, and destroyed a well, an agricultural pool, a water pump, an
agricultural room and an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Mohammed ‘Olayan
Buraika.
7. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with
vegetables, and destroyed an agricultural pool, a water pump, an agricultural
pool and an irrigation network owned by ‘Omar Mohammed ‘Olayan Buraika.
8. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
agricultural pool, a water pump, an agricultural room and an irrigation network
owned by Hafez Tawfiq Mahmoud Buraika.
9. They
razed a 3500-square-meter irrigation network owned by Yousef Mohammed ‘Olayan
Buraika.
10. They razed a 3500-square-meter
irrigation network owned by Ahmed Mohammed ‘Olayan Buraika.
11. They destroyed parts of a fence
surrounding a wedding gallery owned by Ahmed Suleiman Mousa Hijazi.
At approximately 16:00, an Israeli tank moved
approximately 150m into Gizan Abu Rashwan in the southwest of Khan Yunis. It took position near a well of the
Municipality of Khan Yunis and opened fire at Palestinian houses and
agricultural lands in the area. Although
no casualties were reported, a number of houses were damaged.
Approximately an hour later, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 military
bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into Um al-Selek in the southwest of Khan
Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 21-donum area of agricultural land planted with onions, on which 3
greenhouses stood, and destroyed 4 agricultural rooms, an agricultural pool, 2
water pumps, an irrigation network and agricultural tools owned by ‘Eissa
Mustafa ‘Eissa al-Lahham.
2. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land, on which 8 greenhouses stood, and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Sami, Ghazi and Suhail Shehda Hassan
Hijazi.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with cucumbers and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Fadhel Hijazi ‘Ouda Hiajazi.
4. They
partially destroyed a room owned by Mahmoud Hassan al-Sha’er.
At approximately 19:00, an Israeli military force of
5 military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones at the military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
stone throwers wounding 2:
1. Ahmed
Najeh Mustafa Hanani, 14, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the legs;
and
2. Ziad
Ghazi Nafe’ Hanani, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand and a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in a military locations near Tal al-Sultan military checkpoint, west
of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in
the west of the town. As a result, a
fire broke out in a flat owned by Ahmed Fua’d Rusrus, located opposite to the
military location.
Saturday, 6 September 2003
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched Hamed Hamadna’s house. Then, they arrested the owner’s son, Nayef,
25.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Mousa Hanani’s house. Then, they arrested the owner’s son, Nassim,
17.
In the morning, Israeli soldiers fired at a
Palestinian worker from Beit Fourik who was on his way to work, wounding
him. They left him bleeding without
offering him any medical aid.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
05:00, Ayman Khaled Mohammed ‘Ouda, 32, a worker from Deir al-Hatab village,
east of Nablus, was on his way to his work in Kufor Qassem town inside the Green
Line. When he was walking on a muddy
road south of Qalqilya towards the Green Line, Israeli soldiers, who were
patrolling in the area, fired at him. He
was wounded by a live bullet in the buttocks. Israeli soldiers left him bleeding without offering him an medical
aid. Shortly later, a Palestinian
civilian car arrived at the area and evacuated him to UNRWA Hospital in
Qalqilya. A few hours later, he was
transferred in an ambulance to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but when the
ambulance arrived at Hawara military checkpoint, south of Nablus, Israeli
soldiers denied the passage of the ambulance, so he was taken to another
ambulance on the other side of the checkpoint.
At approximately 09:00, 2 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They patrolled the village provoking and insulting Palestinian
civilians. At approximately 09:30, the
two jeeps took position near the road leading to the village schools. They withdrew from the village at
approximately 10:00, but came back again at approximately 15:30, when school
children were leaving school. A number
of the school children threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
children, wounding 2:
1. Mohammed
Tahseen Mustafa Hanani, 9, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the left
leg and buttock; and
2. Mashour
Masha’er Mustafa Hanani, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
back.
At approximately 12:15, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the cemeteries area and a n apartment buildings
in al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Ibrahim Suleiman Abu ‘Azab, 16, was
wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder, when he was visiting his
deceased mothers tomb.
In the afternoon, in an apparent willful killing,
Israeli occupying forces fired at a 17-year-old Palestinian civilian near the
border with Israel, east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. He was wounded by a number of gunshots. Israeli soldiers left him bleeding to death
without offering him any medical aid. Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area. The circumstances
of the incident indicate that Israeli soldiers fired at the victim without
making any attempt to arrest him. They
also left him bleeding to death.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
15:00, Saleh al-Natour, a paramedic of Palestine Red Crescent Society, received
a phone call from Mohammed ‘Abdullah Shehda Abu al-Hassan, 17, from Jabalya, in
which Abu al-Hassan informed him that he was wounded by a live bullet in the
right leg and asked for help and specified his place. Immediately, an ambulance moved towards the
area, but they were not able to attend him until the evening due to the lack of
coordination with Israeli occupying forces. The victim continued to call the ambulance center using a mobile
phone. Before connection with him was
cut, he informed medical aid workers that whenever he tried to creep away from
the area, Israeli soldiers fired at him. At approximately 10:00 on the following day, Sunday, 7 September 2003,
an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society was able to reach the area with
assistance of the victim’s relatives. He
was dead. His body was evacuated to
Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. According
to medical sources he was hit by several live bullets in the head, the neck,
the abdomen and the right leg. Signs of
crawling on the ground were visible on his body, especially the arms.
At approximately 15:00, an Israeli force of an
armored personnel carrier and 3 military jeeps moved into Nablus through its
western entrance. They moved towards the
central market in the middle of the town, firing at houses and streets. A number of Palestinian children and young
men gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
the stone throwers, wounding 4:
1. ‘Aahed
Bassam Mohammed Kalbouna, 18, from Nablus, wounded by a live bullet in the left
forearm;
2. ‘Orabi
Najeh Tayseer al-Aghbar, 18, from Nablus, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the right shoulder;
3. Salah
Joma’a Mohammed al-‘Akka, 15, from ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, wounded
by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder; and
4. Ayoub
Mas’oud Husni Habibi, 19, from Nablus, wounded by shrapnel in the legs.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” and
“Neve Dekalim” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in al-Amal and al-Nimsawi neighborhoods and Khan Yunis
refugee camp. The Israeli gunfire
continued sporadically for 3 hours, but no casualties were reported.
At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian residential areas to the north. A Palestinian civilian, Hani Isma’il Abu al-So’ud, 17, was wounded by a
live bullet in the head. PCHR’s field
worker in Rafah reported that Abu al-So’ud was wounded when he was near his
house in Block O in Rafah refugee camp, approximately 300m away from the source
of fire.
Sunday, 7 September 2003
At approximately 03:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced with military vehicles and helicopters, moved
approximately 800m into the western refugee camp near Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Immediately, Israeli soldiers raided Mahmoud Mohammed Tabasi’s house, destroying
its door. They detained the 16 residents
of the house in one room on the ground floor. Then, they blindfolded the owner and asked him about one of his sons,
Akram. They searched the other houses in
the compound and arrested 4 of the owner’s sons: 1) Akra, 31, a policeman; 2)
Haitham, 23, a driver; 3) Mohammed, 35, a worker; and 4) Ra’fat, 22, a
worker. According to the family, Israeli
soldiers also confiscated a large amount of money and 4 mobile phones.
At approximately 06:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Sumairi area to the west of
the “Kissufim” settlement road. Al-Sumairi is in al-Qarara village north of Khan Yunis. Immediately, Israeli soldiers raided and
searched 5 houses belonging to the al-Sumairi family. Then, they searched agricultural areas. Approximately 2 hours later, the infantry
unit was reinforced by other Israeli forces and a bulldozer. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a well owned by Jama’an
Salama Jomai’an al-Sumairi. They also
uprooted 6 olive trees, a 100-meter-long row of wild figs, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Humaidan al-Sumairi.
At approximately 19:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
in a military location near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas north of the border. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Muhsen
Madhi, 35, was wounded by shrapnel in the face while he was walking
approximately 1000m north of the border.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Brazil neighborhood to the north. A Palestinian woman, Zakia Mohammed Abu ‘Armana, 45, was wounded by shrapnel
in the abdomen while she was inside her house, approximately 400m away from the
source of fire.
At approximately 23:00, 2 Israeli helicopter gunships
launched 2 missiles at a store in the densely populated Block H in Khan Yunis
refugee camp. As a result, 8 Palestinian
civilians, including a 3-year-old child, were wounded:
1. Nour
al-Huda Mohammed Abu Mustafa, 3, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot;
2. Mahmoud
Isma’il Matar, 33, a member of PCHR’s staff, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
3. Yousef
Salem Abu Mousa, 35, wounded by shrapnel in the back;
4. Ahmed
Ramadan ‘Aashour, 30, wounded by shrapnel in the face;
5. Jamal
Radwan ‘Aashour, 52, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;
6. Hisham
Isma’il Abu Nemer, 29, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot;
7. Ibrahim
Fu’ad Ghurab, 26, wounded by shrapnel in the chest; and
8. Yassin
Mufid al-Faqa’awi, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the left shoulder.
In addition, 9 Palestinian houses were severely
damaged. Israeli military sources
claimed that the store contained weapons and explosives and belonged to the
brother of ‘Abdul Salam Mousa, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying
forces for his activities in ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of
Hamas movement.
Monday, 8 September 2003
At approximately 02:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Jaba’ village, southeast of Jenin. They imposed a curfew and raided and searched a number of Palestinian
houses. Upon their withdrawal from the
village, Israeli soldiers arrested 2 young men:
1. ‘Alaa’
Riadh Mahmoud Salama, 18; and
2. Bader
‘Abdullah Mohammed ‘Alawna, 19.
At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Deir Abu Masha’al village, west of Ramallah. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, but
no casualties were reported. Upon their
withdrawal from the village, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Yousef
Ahmed Saleh al-Barghouthi, 18;
2. ‘Arafat
Faraj al-Barghouthi, 26; and
3. Islam
Mhamoud al-Barghouthi.
At approximately 22:00, an Israeli military force of
15 tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps and 2 military
bulldozers, reinforced by 2 helicopters, moved into Tulkarm refugee camp in the
northern West Bank. They imposed a
curfew on the camp. They also fired live
ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result of Israeli shooting, a Palestinian civilian, Salim Mahmoud
Abu Safia, 48, was wounded by a live bullet that entered the abdomen and exited
the back.
Tuesday, 9 September 2003
In the second such incident this week, early in the
morning, Israeli occupying forces surrounded and opened fire at an 8-storey
apartment building in Hebron. Three Palestinians, including an
11-year-old child in a neighboring house, were killed in the attack and two
other civilians were wounded. Israeli
occupying forces planted explosives in the building and destroyed it, rendering
98 people (14 families) homeless.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces,
including a tank, 3 armored personnel carriers (APCs), 12 military jeeps and a
military bulldozer, moved into the Abu Katila neighborhood in northwest
Hebron. They imposed a curfew on the neighborhood and then surrounded an
8-storey apartment building, in which 14 families live. They opened fire
and ordered residents to exit the building. Residents left the building
and gathered in the yard. During this part of the operation, a resident,
Basem Fathi Al-Dajani, 37, was injured and then taken away by Israeli
soldiers. Israeli occupying forces conducted physical searches of the
residents and then detained them in a nearby nursery school. At
approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces called out to gunmen who they
believed were still in the building to exit. Then, Israeli
soldiers opened fire with heavy machine guns at the building from the north,
the west and the south. At approximately 06:30, Israeli soldiers began
firing tank shells at the building and a number of apartments sustained serious
damage. This shooting and shelling continued for more than 4 hours.
At approximately 10:20, 11-year-old Tha’er Mohammed Mansour Sayouri was hit in
the head by a piece of shrapnel, killing him instantly. According to the
child’s father, Tha’er was hit while he was in the kitchen of his home which
overlooks the western part of the targeted building. The house is located
approximately 45m to the south of the targeted building. 18-year-old
Taratil Anwar ‘Abdul Hafez Abu Hamdiya, who was also at home in a nearby
building, sustained a shrapnel wound to her pelvis.
PCHR’s field worker in Hebron reported that at
approximately 12:20, Israeli occupying forces forced Palestinian journalists
away from the area and also called on residents of neighboring houses to leave
the area. At approximately 14:00, more Israeli military reinforcements,
including 2 ambulances, were brought to the area. Israeli occupying forces also resumed
shelling of the building. At
approximately 15:00, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched 3 missiles at the
building. At approximately 15:30,
Israeli soldiers were seen bringing 2 of the residents who were detained in the
nursery school and forcing them to wear white clothes similar to those of
medical personnel. Then, Israeli
soldiers forced the two residents to carry a stretcher and enter the
building. At approximately 15:50, the
two residents were seen removing a body from the building. Approximately 10 minutes later, they were
seen again removing another body. Israeli soldiers transferred the two bodies to a military jeep which took
them to an unknown destination. At
approximately 18:05, Israeli soldiers planted explosives on the ground floor of
the building and detonated them. A part
of the building was destroyed. Israeli
soldiers detonated explosives in the building again at 19:10 and 20:00. At approximately 20:30, an Israeli military
bulldozer started to level the remains of the building.
‘Othan Bader, 68, told PCHR’s field worker in Hebron
that at approximately 19:10, Israeli occupying forces took him to the
headquarters of the military liaison in Hebron and asked him to identify the
two bodies. The victims were identified
as:
1. Ahmed
‘Othman Bader, 22, hit by shrapnel throughout the body, whom Israeli occupying
forces claimed to be the leader of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military
wing of Hamas movement, in Hebron;
2. ‘Ezziddin
Khader Misk, 24, hit by shrapnel throughout the body.
This operation came following a similar Israeli
military operation conducted in Nablus on Friday 5 September 2003, in which a
7-storey apartment building was demolished.
Wednesday, 10 September 2003
At approximately 06:45, Israeli soldiers positioned
in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire
at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Sufian Mustafa
Mohammed ‘Abdullah, 42, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli tanks positioned at
the Egyptian border opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood
in the south of Rafah. Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded while they were near their houses, approximately 500m
north of the border:
1. Ibrahim
Harbi al-Ghairani, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and
2. Nour
al-Din Na’im Bulbul, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 300m into al-‘Abit area, north of “Kfar Darom” settlement
in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They
leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land they had already razed on 8 May
2003. Then, they raided houses of the
al-‘Abit family and forced their residents out. Israeli soldiers searched the houses. Upon their withdrawal from the area, they took 7 young men to a nearby
military location and interrogated them. The young men were released an hour later.
At approximately 17:30, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in Rafah refugee camp. 3
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Samira
Marzouq Siam, 45, wounded by a live bullet in the back, while she was near her
house in al-Shaboura area, approximately 1200m to the north of the border;
2. Rashad
Mohammed Abu Sha’ar, 18, wounded by 2 live bullets in the legs, while he was
near his house in al-Shaboura area, approximately 1200m to the north of the
border; and
3. Subhi
‘Abdul Hadi al-Jamal, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, while he was
near his house in Yibna area, approximately 300m to the north of the
border.
In the evening, in an excessive use of lethal force,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian boy while he was crossing the
separating wall Israel has constructed between Palestinian areas near Seilat
al-Harthia village in the northern West Bank. Israeli forces also wounded and arrested another boy in the area.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 19:45, 4 Palestinian boys were on their way back to their houses
in Seilat al-Harthia village, southwest of Jenin, from their work in Um
al-Fahem town inside the Green Line. When they crossed the separating wall, which passes through the
northeastern part of the village, an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling
in the area noticed them. An Israeli
soldier fired a live bullet in the air, but the boys attempted to escape. Immediately, an Israeli soldier jumped out of
the jeep and fired at them from a distance of approximately 50m. One of the boys was killed and another one was
wounded, while the other two boys were able to escape. Israeli soldiers arrested the wounded boy and
detained the body of the deceased boy. At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 11 September 2003, the body was
delivered to the Palestinian side. The
victim was identified as Ahmed Ghaleb Salim Tahaina, 16, from Seilat al-Harthia
village, while the other boy, who was wounded and arrested, was identified as
Marwan Mohammed Salim Rashid, 14.
Also in the evening, Israeli occupying forces shelled
Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, killing 2 Palestinian civilians.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 20:40, a tank and a military jeep of Israeli occupying forces
moved into the road leading to ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They moved forward and took position at the
western entrance to Balata refugee camp. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on the tank opened fire with heavy machine
guns at the main road of the camp while Palestinian civilians were exiting a
mosque after the evening prayer. Two
young men were killed:
1. Mahmoud
Ahmed Nasser ‘Eissa, 20, hit by 2 heavy caliber bullets in the neck and the
left shoulder; and
2. Mohammed
Shukri Khalil al-‘Aassi, 19, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen.
Two other young men were also wounded:
1. Ibrahim
‘Abdullah al-Jammal, 18, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the
pelvis; and
2. Jawadat
‘Abdul Ra’ouf Mustafa Musallam, 19, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet
in the right side.
A PCHR field worker reported that Israeli occupying
forces fired at the young men from a distance of approximately 100m when the
area was completely quiet.
At approximately 21:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis, shelled
Palestinian residential and agricultural areas in ‘Abasan and al-Qarara villages
to the west. A Palestinian civilian,
Salem Jamil Hassan Abu Shab, 18, was wounded by shrapnel in the neck and hands,
while he was walking approximately 500m away from the border.
At approximately 22:20, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations 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 to the east. A
Palestinian civilian, Taher Nayef Abu Hannoud, 57, a physician at Nasser
Hospital, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left side. He was wounded when he was in al-Bahar
Street, approximately 800m away from the source fire.
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 01:50 on Monday, 8 September 2003,
an Israeli military force of 15 military vehicles and 2 bulldozers, moved into
Tulkarm refugee camp. They seized
control over the camp and surrounded a 90-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by
Sharif Husni Farhana, 57. Approximately half
an hour later, Israeli soldiers broke into the house and forced the 12
residents to leave without allowing them to evacuate any of their belongings. The
soldiers then planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. The owner’s
son, Mursi, 26, had previously been detained, after Israeli occupying forces
claimed that he had aided in the planning of suicide bombings that were to be
carried out in Israeli towns.
At approximately 21:45 on the same day, an Israeli
military force of 8 military jeeps and an ambulance moved into the Sha’aba
neighborhood in the east of Hebron. They
broke into a shop owned by Nabil Hijazi ‘Obaidu, 37, and planted explosives
inside. At approximately 22:00, they
destroyed the shop. ‘Obaidu and his
brother, Hazem, 30, have been detained by Israeli occupying forces for several
weeks and their other brother, Walid, was killed in an exchange of fire with
Israeli occupying forces in 2002. PCHR’s field worker in Hebron reported that
Nabil ‘Obaidu suffers heart disease.
In addition, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 2
apartment buildings in Nablus and Hebron, claiming that Palestinian gunmen were
hiding inside (see details above).
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict
siege on the OPT, especially in the West Bank. On 7 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a comprehensive
closure on the OPT and prevented all Palestinians from entering Israel
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
re-erected two observation towers at Abu Houli and al-Matahen junctions on
Salah al-Din Street north of Khan Yunis. Salah al-Din Street is the main road between the northern and southern
regions of the Gaza Strip. The
enforcement of these two checkpoints reconstructs the situation that preceded 30
June 2003. Israeli occupying forces had
redeployed at Salah al-Din Street according to Palestinian-Israeli security
understandings concluded on 30 June 2003. The two observation towers were moved 15-20m away from their original
sites. Enforcing the two checkpoints
allow Israeli occupying forces to retained complete control over Salah al-Din
Street, partitioning the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. Israeli occupying forces have also continued
to close the western road between Rafah and Khan Yunis, the part of Salah
al-Din Street adjacent to the central Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajin road between
Wadi al-Salqa and al-Qarara villages, north of Khan Yunis, and a number of
branch roads. In addition, Israeli
occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the
southern Gaza Strip and al-Sayafa area in the north.
On Thursday, 4 September 2003, Israeli occupying
forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli junctions on Salah al-Din Street. Then, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved
approximately 100m south of al-Matahen junction. They surrounded a 5-storey
apartment building, apparently suspecting that a Palestinian gunman was hiding
inside. They fired live ammunition,
sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians and vehicles in the
area. Many civilians suffered from tear
gas inhalation, and ‘Abed Rabbu ‘Abdul Rahman Shana’a, 28, was hit in the right
leg by a tear gas canister. Israeli occupying forces reopened the junctions 2
hours later.
On Sunday morning, 7 September 2003, Israeli
occupying forces closed al-Tuffah and Tal al-Sultan military checkpoints, which
separate al-Mawasi area from Khan Yunis and Rafah respectively. In doing so, they denied access to
Palestinian workers attempting to reach their work places in the “Gush Qatif”
settlement bloc.
Israeli occupying forces have also restricted
movement at border crossings of the Gaza Strip. On Sunday morning, 7 September 2003, they closed Erez crossing in the
northern Gaza Strip, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to
their work places in Israel. This
closing comes less than one week after Israeli forces partially opened Erez
following a prolonged period of closure. Israeli occupying forces allowed 18 Palestinian patients to travel to
Israeli hospitals, but only after subjecting them to strict checking procedures
and delaying their travel for 6 hours.
On Monday, 8 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces
closed al-Mentar crossing, the only commercial crossing between the Gaza Strip
and Israel. The crossing was reopened on
the following day.
At approximately 12:20 on Tuesday, 9 September 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints
on Salah al-Din Street. They moved two
observation towers back to the two junctions, re-constructing the restrictions
that preceded 30 June 2003. They also
erected traffic lights which allow them to control access of the two
junctions. Hundreds of Palestinian
civilians had to wait along the road to return to their homes and Israeli soldiers
fired tear gas canisters at those waiting. At approximately 20:30, Israeli occupying reopened the two junctions and
closed them again 2 hours later. Israeli
occupying forces reopened the two junctions at approximately 16:00 on
Wednesday, 10 September 2003.
In the West
Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued to impose a tightened military siege
on Palestinian communities, declaring them “closed military areas.” Israeli forces also closed many west Bank checkpoints. While passage was granted in exceptional
cases, Israeli soldiers deliberately hindered Palestinian civilians trying to cross,
checking their ID cards, searching their personal belongings and inquiring
about their destination, and where they had come from. Only a few dozen Palestinian civilians were
allowed passage through the checkpoints by Israeli occupying forces. These civilians hold “checkpoint
permits”, are teachers, medical personnel or staff of international
agencies.
Following the
assassination attempt that targeted Sheikh Ahmad Yasin and a prominent Hamas
political leader, Ismail Hania, on Saturday, 6 September 2003, Israeli
occupying forces tightened the military siege imposed on occupied
Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses observed the
intensive deployment of members of the police and the so-called Israeli border
guard on the demarcation line between the two parts of the city, in Bab
al-Jadid, the entrances to the old city, the French Hill junction and
“Ramot” settlement. “Border guard” forces erected a temporary
checkpoint south of the al-Ram junction, north of the city, denying passage of
vehicles and Palestinian civilians. Hundreds were held between Qalandya checkpoint in the north and Beit
Hanina checkpoint in the South. Israeli
occupying forces placed additional concrete blocks on the Kabsa checkpoint, the
main entrance to al-Eizariah, Abu Dis and Jerusalem, completely closing the
checkpoint and thus denying passage of Palestinian civilians. Palestinian civilians from all over the West
Bank cross this checkpoint on their way to the Maqassed Charitable Society
Hospital and the Motala’ hospital on al-Tour Mount. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli Soldiers
positioned at the Beit Hanina checkpoint, in an utterly racist procedure, made
an opening for Israeli registered cars driven by Palestinians holding blue ID
cards. Furthermore, soldiers facilitated
the movement of settlers through the checkpoint.
Bethlehem
Israeli
occupying forces closed Gilo checkpoint that lies north of Bethlehem connecting
it with occupied Jerusalem, and continued the closure of the Container
checkpoint connecting the north and south of the West Bank. In addition to intensifying their presence,
Israeli forces also piled dirt and placed extra concrete blocks at the
checkpoints. Palestinian civilians have
used the container road for several years since they were prevented from
passing through Jerusalem. The road,
uninhabited and relatively dangerous, had been paved by the Jordanian governor
of the West Bank.
Ramallah
and al-Bireh
Since Saturday
morning, 6 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a complete siege on
the district, denying passage of nearly all Palestinian civilians at Qalandya
checkpoint. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli military units deployed on the main and bypass roads, force Palestinian
civilians in their vehicles to wait. Israeli soldiers at Qalandya checkpoint, to the south, denied passage of
Palestinian civilians except those holding blue ID cards and checkpoint
permits. On Monday morning, 8 September
2003, Israeli soldiers positioned at the Nabi Saleh gate, northwest of
Ramallah, denied passage of Palestinian civilians. Residents of the northwestern villages and
Salfit district use this track. The
situation was similar at the ‘Atara checkpoint, north of Birzeit, which leads
to nearly thirty villages in the western Beni Zeid area, the neighboring Salfit
villages and the northern towns of the West Bank. Hundreds of Palestinian
civilians were forced to wait for several hours before they left their vehicles
and risked their lives in attempting to follow a dirt track around the
checkpoint on foot. At the same time,
temporary checkpoints were erected west of the district, especially near the
villages of Deir Ibzee’, ‘ Ein ‘Areek and Kofor Ni’ma.
Nablus
PCHR’s
fieldworker reported that Israeli occupying forces further restricted the
movement of civilians in the district, while soldiers continued to move into
Nablus, its refugee camps and surrounding villages. Israeli soldiers positioned at the
checkpoints of Hawara to the south, Deir Sharaf to the northwest and Beit
Fourik to the west, deny passage of Palestinian civilians with very few
exceptions. Israeli soldiers allow
teachers whose names are provided by the Israeli occupying forces in mysterious
lists, medical personnel and very few sick civilians to pass. However, the Israeli occupying forces keep
the checkpoint closed until after 09:00 am in an attempt to obstruct the
passage of even those individuals mentioned above. Israeli occupying soldiers deployed on the
hills surrounding the town have placed traps for Palestinian civilians,
including students and workers, attempting to bypass the checkpoint. Israeli soldiers lead those who are caught to
the checkpoint where they are detained until late at night. When they are finally released, they have no
chance whatsoever of reaching their homes.
Jenin
Israeli
occupying forces closed all bypass roads between the town and neighboring
villages preventing Palestinian civilians from using them. PCHR’s fieldworker reported that long lines
of vehicles were seen searching for ways to enter or leave the town. On Saturday morning, 6 September 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed the Northern Jordan Valley and prevented Palestinian
civilians from either entering or leaving the area. Eyewitnesses from the valley reported that
the metal gate at the northern entrance of the valley, east of the village of
Tayaseer, was closed. Afterwards, the
area between Cobra Military Camp to the west and Street no. 90 by the River
Jordan was also closed.
Tulkarm
In the
Sha’rawi area north of the town, Israeli occupying forces closed the gates and
entrances to several villages and towns lying within the separation wall. According to eyewitnesses, since Sunday
morning, 7 September 2003, Israeli soldiers have shut the eastern Baqa and
Nazlat ‘Eissa gates, preventing Palestinian civilians from entering or leaving
these areas. Furthermore, Israeli
soldiers erected a checkpoint east of the town, at the Beit Leed junction on
the Tulkarem-Nablus Road, which has been closed for more than 2 years. Soldiers forced Palestinian civilians out of
their vehicles and searched them thoroughly, detaining tens of civilians for
long hours before forcing them to return the way they came. At noon, on Monday, 8 September 2003, Israeli
occupying forces declared Tulkarm and its surrounding villages a “closed
military area,” preventing Palestinians from either entering or leaving. Furthermore, Israeli forces erected a
military checkpoint between Shweikeh and the Sha’rawi area to the north, and
another one at the entrances to Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm. A third checkpoint was erected at the Far’on
Junction to the south. Israeli forces
closed al-Kafreyat checkpoint, south of Tulkarm and prevented Palestinian
civilians from crossing from either direction.
Qalqilya
On Monday, 8
September 2003, Israeli occupying forces once again closed the military
checkpoint at the eastern entrance of the town. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers positioned at the checkpoint
denied passage of Palestinian civilians from and into the town. The Israeli occupying forces’ have also used
the checkpoints as traps for those on its wanted lists. In this context, on Sunday, 7 September 2003,
Mohammad Ahmed Rasheed Mislih, 33, from ‘Azoon village, east of Qalqilya, was
arrested. Mislih was attempting to cross
the Qalqilya checkpoint. It is noted
that the Separation Wall surrounds the town from all four directions, closing
all entrances and forcing residents to access Qalqilya through a single
checkpoint.
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 respect for the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
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”
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:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
