(This report covers the period 29 January – 11 February 2004 due to the
Islamic Eid holiday)
Israeli Forces Escalate Crimes in
the OPTs
· 28
Palestinians, including 2 children, were killed by Israeli forces
· 3
of the victims were killed in 2 extra-judicial assassinations
· 15
of the victims were killed during Israeli military incursions into al-Shojaeya
neighborhood and Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 24
houses and 3 schools were demolished in Rafah refugee camp
· Dozens
of donums[1]
of Palestinian agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip
· Numerous
houses were raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· Continued
use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Israeli military operations
· Construction
of the “separation wall” in the West Bank continued and more areas of
Palestinian land seized
· 18
houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip were destroyed by Israeli forces as part
of the continuing campaign of retaliation against the families of Palestinians
accused of involvement in attacks against Israeli targets
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a number of civilians
injured
· Israeli
forces ordered confiscation of areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir
al-Balah for settlement expansion
· Israeli
occupying forces continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs
Introduction
In the period covered by this
report, Israeli occupying forces continued escalated war crimes and human
rights violations against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs). Israeli occupying
forces conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot at Palestinian
civilians, which included children; committed more assassinations; indiscriminately
shelled residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled agricultural
land. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the
“Separation Wall” inside the West Bank while imposing a tight siege on the OPTs.
During the period covered by this report, 28 Palestinians, including 2
children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
In a serious escalation of force, 12 Palestinians
were killed by Israeli occupying forces in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza
city and 3 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in the Rafah refugee
camp. Three of the victims killed in al-Shojaeya died when Israeli
occupying forces destroyed a house with them still inside. In addition,
at least 60 Palestinians, including 33 children, were injured in the two
incidents. Medical sources at hospitals in the Gaza Strip described the
condition of 20 of those injured as moderate to serious. Israeli forces
also destroyed 24 houses and 3 schools in Rafah refugee camp. These developments took place as Israeli
occupying forces, supported by helicopters, moved into al-Shojaeya neighborhood
in the east of Gaza city and into Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza
Strip. Israeli military sources claimed that the two incursions were conducted
under the pretext of arresting wanted individuals and searching for tunnels. The international community continues to fail
to act regarding these human rights violations, and leaving the Palestinians to
face their fate alone.
During the period covered by this report, Israeli
occupying forces conducted 6 military incursions into Palestinian areas in the
Gaza Strip. In 2 military incursions in
Rafah, Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinians and injured dozens of others. Israeli forces moved also into Khan Yunis and
Deir al-Balah and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land. In an excessive use of force, Israeli forces
shot dead 2 Palestinian civilians in the central Gaza Strip, while they were
attempting to infiltrate into Israel to search for jobs.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued
to move into Palestinian areas, especially in Bethlehem, Hebron, Nablus, Jenin,
Tulkram and Ramallah. In a major military incursion into Bethlehem,
Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and injured another Palestinian in a
military incursion into Jericho. They
also killed a Palestinian in Jenin, claiming that he fired at workers who work
on the construction of the “Separation Wall.” No eyewitnesses were available to
verify this claim. In addition, a number
of Palestinians were injured and others were arrested by Israeli forces during
these incursions.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by Israeli authorities in violation of
international humanitarian law and other human rights instruments, Israeli
occupying forces carried out 2 assassinations, which left dead 3 Palestinians,
including a child, and injured 11 civilian bystanders, including 3
children. On Friday, 30 January 2004,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian in Beit ‘Awa village,
southwest of Hebron, after they had surrounded his house then injured and
arrested him, and claimed that he had been allegedly wanted. On Saturday morning, 7 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces committed another assassination in Gaza city, which left dead a
leader of the Islamic Jihad and an 11-year-old Palestinian child and injured 11
other civilians.
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 that Israel alleges have
ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. During the period covered by this report,
Israeli occupying forces escalated this campaign of retaliation against
families of such individual Palestinians. During the week of the Islamic
holiday Eid al-Adha, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 16 houses in Ramallah,
Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jenin in the West Bank, and two others in the Gaza
Strip. As a result, 28 Palestinian families (more than 140 people) have
become homeless.
Despite international criticism, including the recent UN General
Assembly Resolution referring the case of the “separation wall” in the West
Bank to the International Court of Justice, Israeli occupying forces continued the
construction of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank. For this purpose, they confiscated more
Palestinian lands and warned a number of Palestinian families living near the
wall that their houses would be demolished. These actions came 2 weeks before the session of the International Court
of Justice to consider the case of the legality of the “Separation Wall”
according to a UN General Assembly Resolution issued on 8 December 2003. Israeli officials began to claim that the
track of the wall might be moved to the west towards the Green Line, and that
plans to establish parts of the wall around Palestinian villages would be
cancelled, however, they did not refer to parts of the wall that have already
been constructed. In the meantime, the
Israeli High Court held its first session to consider the case of the
“Separation Wall” in response to an appeal submitted to the court by human
rights organizations. PCHR reiterates
that the construction of the wall on Palestinian lands violates international
humanitarian law and asserts that statements by Israeli officials are part of
the Israeli media campaign to move the attention of the world from the disastrous
human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces against
Palestinian civilians, including the construction of the wall itself. PCHR also reiterates its position that the
Israeli judiciary in general and the High Court in particular are biased to
Israeli official positions.
As part of the Israeli settlement activities in the Gaza Strip, on 6
February 2004, Israeli occupying forces handed written notices to 7 Palestinian
families, who own agricultural lands to the west of “Kfar Farom”
settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, informing them that their lands would
be confiscated for security and military purposes. The confiscation orders were issued by Major
General Dan Harel, head of the Southern Command of Israeli occupying
forces. The area of these lands is
estimated at 220 donums, owned by the families of Abu Bashir, Abu Sa’id,
al-Agha, al-Qedra, al-Tawashi, Abu ‘Obaid and Abu Samra. These lands had already been razed by Israeli
occupying forces. In addition,
previously on 19 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces had informed 10 other
Palestinian families who have agricultural lands near the aforementioned
settlement that their lands would be confiscated for the same purposes. The area of these lands is estimated at 700
donums. PCHR has submitted appeals to
the Israeli military legal advisor demanding cancellation of these military
orders and providing reparation to the families.
In addition, to the construction of the
“Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
continued other settlement activities in the West Bank, and settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property, especially in
Hebron. They seized areas of Palestinian
land and used violence against Palestinian civilians, while Israeli forces
confiscated more Palestinian lands for various purposes.
Israeli occupying forces
have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian
civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
have continued to impose a tightened siege, and imposed more restrictions on
movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a
number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed
at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement
are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a
state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights. During the period
covered by this report, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and
al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north
and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian
civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a maximum of a few
hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation and harassment by
Israeli soldiers. Israeli forces have continued to close al-Tuffah
military checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi of Khan Yunis since 19 January
2004. Furthermore, Israeli occupying
forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on travel through Rafah
Terminal on the Egyptian border, which has been the only outlet that the Gaza
Strip has to the outside world since the beginning of the current
Intifada. Palestinian pilgrims coming back from Saudi Arabia were subject
to humiliation and prolonged travel procedures. Furthermore, many of
them were forced to spend a number of nights on the Egyptian side of the
terminal waiting permission to cross into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli restrictions at Beit Hanoun
crossing are not limited to workers; rather they also affect patients who are
transferred to hospitals in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West
Bank. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians during the Islamic Eid holiday. Many Palestinian
employees were not able to go back to their homes before the Eid. Israeli forces also erected new checkpoints
and imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians.
Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 29 January 2004
At
approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces raided Hassan al-‘Awawda’s house
in Dura village, south of Hebron. They
forced the family out, searched the house and arrested the owner’s son, Ayoub,
22.
At
approximately 03:45, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee
camp, west of Nablus, and proceeded to raid and search Ahmed Shehada Shahin’s
home. An Israeli intelligence officer
interrogated the owner’s sons, and then arrested one of them, Mahmoud, 17.
At
approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Jilda neighborhood
in the west of Hebron. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Bilal
Ramadan al-Dwaik, 21, a university student; and
2. Mo’tassem
‘Abdul Sami’ al-Junaidi, 22.
Friday,
30 January 2004
In a major
military incursion, Israeli occupying forces, supported by helicopters, moved
into Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and neighboring refugee camps, which resulted in the
destruction of one house and a number of Palestinian arrests.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:25, approximately 50
Israeli military vehicles, supported by helicopters, moved into Bethlehem and
Beit Jala towns, al-Duha and al-Kahder villages, and al-Duhaisha, ‘Aaida and
al-‘Azza refugee camps. Israeli forces
imposed a curfew on these areas, and raided and searched some houses in
Bethlehem in addition to some in al-Duhaisha and ‘Aaida refugee camps. Also during this incursion, Israeli occupying
forces destroyed 3 civilian cars and arrested 10 Palestinians:
1. Sa’id
Mohammed ‘Atallah, 24, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp;
2. Fathi
Mohammed Makkawi, 28, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp;
3. Khalil
‘Abdullah ‘Atallah, 31, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp;
4. Mohammed
‘Abdul Rahman Makkawi, 27, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp;
5. Hamdi
Ibrahim Hassan, 25, from Bethlehem;
6. Hamza
Suleiman Humaid, 23, from Bethlehem;
7. Humaid
Mohammed Humaid, 27, from Bethlehem;
8. Lu’ai
Mohammed al-Ahmar, 22, from al-Duha village;
9. ‘Emad
Salem al-Ahmar, 26, from al-Duha village; and
10. Ayman Sa’id al-Ahmar, 24, from al-Duha
village.
At
approximately 03:15, 10 Israeli military vehicles moved into Seilat al-Harthia
village, west of Jenin, raided and searched the house of Sharif Khaled Tahaina,
40, and arrested him.
At
approximately 03:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village,
east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers opened
fire at Palestinian houses and seriously wounded a Palestinian civilian,
Mahmoud ‘Ezzat Khatatba, 22, by a live bullet in the head.
At
approximately 20:00, Israeli soldiers positioned at the Egyptian border, south
of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood adjacent
to the border. A Palestinian child,
Isma’il Mustafa ‘Aabdin, 11, was injured by shrapnel in the head.
Saturday,
31 January 2004
At
approximately 03:45, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Ussama
Jamal Shash, 25; and
2. ‘Omar
Mohammed al-Afandi, 33.
At
approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 2 tanks and a
military bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in
the northwest of Khan Yunis. They razed
the following areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with
vegetables stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Karim
Ahmed Qassem al-Astal.
2. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with
vegetables stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud ‘Abdul
Karim Qassem al-Astal.
3. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with
vegetables stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Sami ‘Abdul
Karim Ahmed al-Astal.
At
approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 2 tanks and a
military bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into al-Qarara village, northwest
of Khan Yunis. They razed an 8-donum
area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Sa’eb Mustafa Hassan
al-Farra. Israeli forces previously had
also razed 7 donums of agricultural land owned by al-Farra on 21 January
2004.
At
approximately 11:15, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location in Tal
Zo’rob area in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Zo’rob
neighborhood. A Palestinian woman,
Fatema Ne’mat Hijazi, 29, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest.
Sunday,
1 February 2004
In the
morning of the first day of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, Israeli occupying
forces moved into Jericho to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. Members of Palestinian resistance clashed
with Israeli forces, which opened fire at houses in the town. A member of the Palestinian resistance was
killed and another seriously injured. In
addition, 8 Palestinian civilians were injured when Israeli soldiers fired at
demonstrators who threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Israeli forces also destroyed a house in
which members of the Palestinian resistance sheltered and 2 other houses
belonging to families of resistance men.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:00, 30 Israeli military
vehicles moved into Jericho while firing indiscriminately. They surrounded and
opened fire at a 2-storey house owned by 4 Palestinians from the Jalaita
family, in the al-Arab quarter in the center of the town. A number of members
of the Palestinian resistance, who had sheltered in the house, clashed with
Israeli forces. A member of the resistance, Shadi Melhem Jaradat, 26, from
Seilat al-Harthia village, west of Jenin, was killed. In addition, Mohammed ‘Eissa Jalaita, 30,
from Jericho, was wounded by 5 live bullets in the chest, the shoulder, and the
left leg. Israeli forces seized the
victim’s body, and arrested Jalaita along with his three brothers: ‘Abdullah,
25; Mohye, 27; and Nayef, 32, and a member of the resistance man, Eyad Ahmed
Balu.
In the
meantime, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones at
Israeli forces, garnering an immediate response from Israeli soldiers, who opened
fire at these civilians, wounding 8:
1. ‘Eissa
Darwish Jalaita, 26, wounded by 2 live bullets in the legs;
2. Ibrahim
Salah Jalaita, 36, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
3. Ibrahim
Ahmed ‘Eissa Jalaita, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
4. Mohammed
Mousa ‘Awajna, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the back;
5. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed ‘Awajna, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
6. Khaled
Mohammed Mousa Barahma, 25, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
7. Ibrahim
Falah Quraishi, 26, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
8. Yassin
‘Omar Suleiman, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
Monday,
2 February 2004
On the second day of the Eid, Israeli occupying forces killed 4
Palestinians during a military incursion into Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the
west of Rafah. Israeli occupying forces claimed the reason for the
incursion into the neighborhood was to arrest an allegedly wanted
Palestinian. Two of the victims were brothers, one of whom was physically
handicapped and allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying authorities. Three
Palestinian civilians were also wounded.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 03:10,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and combat
helicopters, moved hundreds of meters into Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the
west of Rafah. They surrounded the house of Yasser ‘Abdul Hamid Abu
al-‘Aish, 35, a member of Islamic Jihad, who had previously lost his two legs
and right arm. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the house and
exchanged fire with Abu al-‘Aish and his brother Hussein, 38, who were inside
the house. When gunfire ceased, Israeli soldiers forced Yousef ‘Abdul
Rahman Abu al-‘Aish, 52, to enter the house to tell the family of 10 people to
leave the house and search for Yasser’s body. Yousef Abu al’Aish entered
one of the rooms and pulled at Yasser Abu al-‘Aish’s body, however he was
not able to do so since the scene was catastrophic and Yasser’s plastic limbs
were not on his body, so he left the house. Soon after, Israeli soldiers
moved into the room and opened fire. Israeli soldiers then pulled Yasser
Abu al-‘Aish’s body into the street and fired at him again from a close
distance then photographed the body. When Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the area, the body of
Yasser’s brother, Hussein, was found inside the house. During this
military incursion, Israeli combat helicopters and tanks opened fire at a
number of members of the Palestinian resistance who attempted to confront Israeli
soldiers. Two men were killed:
1. Bahaa’
Hatem Jouda, 24, hit by a live bullet in the right forearm; and
2. Majdi
Mahmoud al-Khatib, 35, hit by a live bullet in the neck.
Three Palestinian civilians were also wounded:
1. Hatem
Mohammed Jouda, 42, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;
2. Ra’ed
Yousef al-Muzayen, 28, wounded by a live bullet in the back; and
3. Yasser
Hassan al-Soufi, 33, wounded by shrapnel in the back.
In addition, 3 homes were damaged and a civilian car destroyed by indiscriminate
Israeli shelling. It is also worth noting that Abu al-‘Aish’s other brother,
‘Abdul Hamid, 28, was killed by Israeli shelling approximately one year
ago.
Also in the
morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp in Bethlehem
to destroy a house belonging to the family of Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Abdul Fattah
Abu ‘Ouda, 27, who is allegedly wanted by these forces. Abu ‘Ouda was killed by the Israeli gunfire
and his brother was injured.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 09:45, 12 Israeli military
vehicles accompanied by a military van, ambulance, and bulldozer, and backed by
a helicopter, moved into ‘Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. They surrounded a house belonging to the
family of Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Abdul Fattah Abu ‘Ouda, 27, who is allegedly wanted
by Israeli occupying authorities. Israeli soldiers opened fire at the house while the family was still
inside. At approximately 10:35, Israeli
soldiers broke into the house and opened fire inside it. Khaled Mahmoud Abu ‘Ouda, 18, was wounded by
a live bullet in the left thigh. While
searching for Mohammed, they clashed with Khaled, shot him dead, and carried
his body with them. Soon after, Israeli
soldiers planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. As a result, the second and third floors of
the house were totally destroyed and the first one was partially
destroyed.
During this
incursion, Israeli soldiers also raided and searched a number of houses in the
refugee camp and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Murad
Ishaq Hammad, 24;
2. Ahmed
Khalil Abu ‘Ouda, 21; and
3. Mahmoud
Salem ‘Allan, 22.
Tuesday, 3 February 2004
At approximately 12:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations near “Gadid” settlement, southwest of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands in Baten al-Samin area to
the east. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Alaa’
Marzouq Salem al-Bashiti, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand,
while he was on a farm located 400m away from the settlement.
Wednesday,
4 February 2004
In the early
morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tubas village, east of Jenin. They raided and searched Mohammed Saleh
Sawafta’s house, and arrested 3 of the owner’s sons: Eyad, 23; ‘Emad, 25; and
Jihad, 30.
At
approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Rafah, opened fire at al-Shouka neighborhood
in the east of the town. A Palestinian
civilian, Mohammed Salama al-Soufi, 24, was wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen,
while he was sleeping in his house.
Thursday,
5 February 2004
At the same
time, Israeli occupying forces raided and searched a number of houses in
Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, in addition to al-‘Azza refugee camp. They arrested 8 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed
Qaraqe’, 24, from al-‘Azza refugee camp;
2. Mohammed
Suhail Masalma, 23, from Bethlehem;
3. Hamza
Ramzi Masa’id, 22, from Beit Sahour;
4. Ibrahim
Khalil Masa’id, 22, from Beit Sahour;
5. Khader
al-Ghazzawi, 18, from Beit Sahour;
6. Yousef
‘Abdul Hai, 18, from Beit Sahour;
7. Mohammed
Abu Sorour, 18, from Beit Sahour; and
8. Ra’fat
al-Zahlan, 20, from Beit Sahour.
At
approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a military
bulldozer, moved approximately 400m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. This incursion continued until 13:00, during
which Israeli forces razed 45 donums of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 30-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ibrahim
Ahmed al-Sumairi.
2. They
razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by heirs
of Khader al-Masri.
Friday,
6 February 2004
At
approximately 02:00, 20 Israeli occupying forces moved into Ethna village, west
of Hebron and opened fire at Palestinian homes. They also raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed
Saleh al-Nattah, 24;
2. ‘Abdul
Qader Mohammed al-Nattah, 24;
3. Yasser
Tumaizi, 23;
4. ‘Emad
Mohammed Hussein al-Nattah, 22; and
5. ‘Aaref
Mousa Mahmoud Noufal, 22.
At
approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus. They raided and searched
a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 brothers:
1. Ahmed
‘Ata Abu al-Khair, 23;
2. Khamis
‘Ata Abu al-Khair, 21; and
3. Mohammed
Jasser Isma’il, 25.
At
approximately 11:45, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces traveling
in 2 civilian cars with Palestinian registration moved into ‘Askar refugee
camp, northeast of Nablus. Immediately,
Israeli soldiers surrounded 4 Palestinians who were standing near an UNRWA
school and arrested them:
1. Wasim
Khalil al-Sader, 26;
2. Mohammed
‘Abdul Halim ‘Ouda, 24;
3. Majdi
‘Abdul Halim ‘Ouda, 23; and
4. Hamada
Khaled ‘Ouda, 27.
At
approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned along the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the
town. Two Palestinian civilians,
including an infant, were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Yahia Duhair, 2, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck while playing
near his family’s house, approximately 2km to the north of the border; and
2. Akram
‘Abdul Qader Abu al-‘Ouf, 33, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh, while
near his house in Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border.
As part of
the Israeli settlement activities in the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
handed written notices in the afternoon to 7 Palestinian families, who own
agricultural land to the west of “Kfar Farom” settlement, southeast
of Deir al-Balah, informing them that their land would be confiscated for
security and military purposes. The
confiscation orders were issued by Major General Dan Harel, head of the
Southern Command of Israeli occupying forces. The area of these lands is estimated at 220 donums and owned by the
families of Abu Bashir, Abu Sa’id, al-Agha, al-Qedra, al-Tawashi, Abu ‘Obaid
and Abu Samra. These lands had already
been razed by Israeli occupying forces. Additionally, earlier on 19 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces had
informed 10 other Palestinian families who have agricultural lands near the
aforementioned settlement that their lands would be confiscated for the same
purposes. The area of these lands is
estimated at 700 donums. PCHR has
submitted appeals to the Israeli military legal advisor demanding cancellation
of these military orders and providing reparation to the families.
At
approximately 17:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Duha village,
southwest of Bethlehem, into al-Fawaghra and al-Saf neighborhoods and Salah
al-Din Street in the center of the town. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 4 Palestinians:
1. Firas
Ibrahim al-Yamani, 18;
2. ‘Ali
Khalil al-Yamani, 24;
3. Hussam
Khalil al-Yamani, 30; and
4. Sa’id
Ussama Harmas, 17.
At
approximately 19:30, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Far’oun village, south
of Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers opened fire
at Palestinian houses. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones the jeeps. Israeli soldiers
chased the children and arrested 2 of them:
1. Tahaddi
Jihad Hassan Habib, 14, who was released later; and
2. Ahmed
Anwar Salama, 17.
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit ‘Awa village,
west of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9
Palestinians:
1. Samir
‘Abdul Qader Masalma, 34;
2. Baker
‘Abdul Karim Masalma, 20;
3. Mahmoud
‘Eissa Masalma, 42;
4. Salim
Jaddou’ Masalma, 21;
5. Younis
Salim Masalma, 50;
6. Subhi
‘Omar Masalma, 42;
7. Ayman
Hussein Hassan Masalma, 22;
8. Hussam
Mohammed ‘Eissa Masalma, 17; and
9. Mohammed
Marash al-Swaiti, 45.
At
approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-‘Arroub refugee
camp, north of Hebron. They raided and
searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians:
1. Suhaib
Mohammed Jawabra, 20;
2. Sami
Rajab al-Maleh, 20;
3. Mustafa
Mahmoud Jawabra, 23;
4. Ahmed
Younis Rashid Muhaisen, 23;
5. Hisham
Ahmed al-Kuronz, 22; and
6. Tariq
Yousef Abu Nawa, 22.
At
approximately 04:00, 14 Israeli military vehicles moved into ‘Aaida refugee
camp in Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers
opened fire at Palestinian houses and also raided a number of others. Forces
surrounded a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad Jamal Abu Hammad, 22, to
arrest him, and after he attempted to escape they immediately opened fire at
him. He was seriously wounded by a live
bullet in the head and another bullet in the right thigh, and evacuated to a
hospital in Jerusalem. PCHR’s field
worker in Bethlehem reported that Abu Hammad was not wanted by Israeli
occupying forces, and when he was shot he was unarmed.
Saturday,
7 February 2004
In the
evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian from
al-Boreij refugee camp as he attempted to enter Israel to search for a
job. Israeli soldiers did not use less
lethal means against him nor attempted to arrest him, rather they shot him and
left him bleeding to death.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR and the testimony of the victim’s friend who
accompanied him, at approximately 20:00, Salah ‘Ata al-‘Amassi, 17, and Hassan
‘Ali Mousa Rezqa, 19, both from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip, moved towards the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east
of the camp. The two were trying to
enter Israel to find jobs to help their poor families since they were
prohibited from working in Israel. The two attempted to move towards the barbwire
of the border and Israeli soldiers immediately fired at them. Rezqa was wounded by a live bullet in the
abdomen and bled to death, while al-‘Amassi was able to escape. At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying
forces informed the Palestinian liaison that there was a body near the border.
A Palestinian ambulance moved into the area and transported Rezqa’s body to a
hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Sunday,
8 February 2004
On the
morning of 8 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces killed one Palestinian and
wounded 21 others, including 9 children and 2 women in Rafah, during a military
incursion into al-Salam neighborhood. Six of the wounded were in serious condition.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced by 20 heavy military vehicles and 2 helicopters, moved into
al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. During this military incursion, which
continued until 19:00, Israeli forces opened fire at the area, wounding 21
Palestinian civilians, including 9 children and 2 women. Israeli forces surrounded the house of Ashraf
Adnan Abu Libda, 32, who was allegedly wanted for his activities in the Abu Ali
Mustafa Brigade, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of
Palestine (PFLP). Israeli forces had
called on Abu Libda through megaphones to surrender, but he refused and
exchanged fire with them. As a result,
Abu Libda was killed by several live bullets throughout his body, and his
father was also injured. In addition, Israeli soldiers arrested and
interrogated Abu Libda’s 4 brothers, then released them at 12:00. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces
raided and searched Harb Hamad Qeshta’s house, and then razed a 2-donum
area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by him. A number of houses and the civilian structure
of the area were damaged by the indiscriminate Israeli shelling.
Investigations
conducted by PCHR prove that Israeli occupying forces have used excessive force
during their military operations, especially during those conducted to arrest
allegedly wanted Palestinians. These operations often cause casualties among
Palestinian civilians, exemplified in this operation and in a similar operation
that occurred on 2 February 2004, where Israeli occupying forces caused 3
civilian casualties.
Monday,
9 February 2004
At
approximately 08:35, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces traveling
in a civilian car with Palestinian registration moved into Balata refugee camp,
east of Nablus, and stopped in front of a chicken shop. Four Israeli soldiers, wearing civilian
clothes and carrying firearms, left the car and fired at the shop’s owner,
Samir Hammoud Khudaish, 25, and wounded him with 2 live bullets in the legs.
Five Israeli military jeeps arrived to the area and arrested him. An hour later, the Arabic web page of the
Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted an Israeli military spokesman as
claiming that “a military unit fired at an activist of the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine.” The spokesman further claimed that
“the activist attempted to escape when soldiers came to arrest
him.” However, according to
eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at Khudaish while he was still in his
shop.
At
approximately 12:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Sourif village,
southwest of Hebron, and took position at the entrances to a secondary
school. Israeli soldiers fired tear gas
canisters at the school, in which 700 student study. Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Awad, 31, a
teacher, was injured in the hand when he attempted to move a tear gas canister
away from the schoolyard.
At
approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus. They raided
and searched a number of houses and arrested Nasser Yousef Abu Rajab, 25, from
Balata refugee camp, while he was in al-Sikka Street in the city, and claimed
that he was wanted.
At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tulkarm refugee camp, and surrounded a house belonging to the family
of Majid Ahmed Saleh Hattab, 34, in order to arrest him. Hattab was able to
escape, and Israeli soldiers chased him in the alleys of the camp and fired at
him. Despite having been wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh, he was able to escape from them again. Before their withdrawal from the camp,
Israeli forces arrested Majid’s brother, Walid, 27, and detained him for
several hours.
At
approximately 16:30, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces opened fire
at 3 members of the Palestinian resistance who were in a mountainous area to
the east of Jenin. One of the men, ‘Omar
Ahmed ‘Awad al-Mahdi, 23, was killed by several live bullets throughout the
body. The other 2 men were wounded:
1. Yousef
Qassem Qawadri, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Ahmed
Jihad Hifnawi, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the left side.
At
approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Seilat al-Zaher
village, south of Jenin, and surrounded a 2-storey building owned by Mazen,
Majed, Nasser, and Hussein Fahmi Taher ‘Atiya. Israeli soldiers then held the
32 residents of the house, including 20 children, in 2 rooms. Israeli soldiers brought weapons and
foodstuffs to the house and transformed Nasser’s flat into a military site,
then at approximately 19:00 forced the family to leave the house.
Also at approximately 17:00, Israeli naval troops
arrested 6 Palestinian fishermen while fishing opposite the Gaza seashore,
claiming that they were fishing in a prohibited area:
1. Rajab al-Hissi, 80;
2. Jihad Rajab al-Hissi, 30;
3. Khaled Murad al-Hissi, 20;
4. Majdi Mohammed al-Hissi, 20;
5. Ramadan Shamia, 55; and
6. Mohammed Ahmed Tulba, 20.
Tuesday, 10 February 2004
At approximately 03:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Rafidya neighborhood in Nablus. They raided and searched the dormitory of an-Najah National University
and arrested 3 students:
1. Mohammed Sidqi Zaid al-Kilani, 22, from
Nazlat Zaid, southwest of Jenin;
2. Mohammed Sidqi Sawafta, 24, from Tubas;
and
3. Anas Khader Sundok, 23, from Jeet
village, west of Nablus.
At approximately 03:15, Israeli occupying forces
raided and searched a number of houses in Bethlehem and arrested Kamel Mahmoud
Shawria, 30.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kharabtha Bani Hareth, west of Ramallah. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed Rebhi Habbas, 22;
2. ‘Abdullah Yassin Hammouda, 23; and
3. Mohammed Tala’at Hammouda, 22.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Bitounia village, southwest of Ramallah, raided an apartment building, and
forced its residents out. They checked
the residents’ ID cards and then arrested Mohammed Yassin, 29, from Jenin.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved
into al-Zaheria village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched the house of Mahmoud Hamed Owraidat, 52, and
arrested him.
At
approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a military
bulldozer, moved approximately 100m into Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir
al-Balah, and razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives
owned by ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Nattat.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers raided and searched the
house of ‘Emad ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Humaida, 31, and arrested him.
Wednesday,
11 February 2004
In a serious
escalation of violence, 12 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupying forces
in al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza city and 3 Palestinians were killed by
Israeli forces in the Rafah refugee camp. Three of the victims killed in
al-Shojaeya died when Israeli occupying forces destroyed a house with them
still inside. In addition, at least 60 Palestinians, including 33
children, were injured in the two incidents. Medical sources at hospitals
in the Gaza Strip described the condition of 20 of those injured as moderate to
serious. Israeli forces also destroyed 24 houses and 3 schools in Rafah
refugee camp. These developments began
as Israeli occupying forces, supported by helicopters, moved into al-Shojaeya
neighborhood in the east of Gaza city and into Rafah refugee camp in the
southern Gaza Strip. Israeli military sources claimed that the two
incursions were conducted with the aim of arresting wanted individuals and
searching for tunnels.
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 05:00, an undercover unit of
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of
Gaza city coming from Nahal Ouz crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza
Strip. The unit moved towards a Palestinian National Security Forces
post. Israeli soldiers and the Palestinian security services exchanged
fire. As a result, a Palestinian security man, Mohammed Kamal Abu
‘Armana, 22, from al-Boreij refugee camp, was killed, and 2 other Palestinian
security men were injured. A few minutes later, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved
approximately 1500m into al-Shojaeya neighborhood. Israeli forces
surrounded a 250-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of Ashraf
Abu Hassanain, 22, who was reportedly wanted by the Israeli occupation
forces. Israeli soldiers ordered the 3 families (17 people) living in the
house out. Soon after, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the house in which
Ashraf and 2 of his colleagues were hiding. Ashraf and his colleagues
exchanged fire with Israeli forces. When the exchange of fire had stopped,
Israeli forces destroyed the house with the 3 men inside. When Israeli
forces withdrew from the neighborhood, the bodies of Ashraf and his two
colleagues – Ayman Nasser al-Sheikh Khalil, 22, and Mohammed al-Hayek, 25 –
were found near the house.
As a result
of excessive and indiscriminate use of force, 4 Palestinians were killed and
more than 40 others, including 20 children, were injured in the incursion into
al-Shojaeya. Some of the injured remain in a serious condition.
Israeli forces also denied access of ambulances to the area. During this incursion, members of the
Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli forces and as a result, 4 members
of the Palestinian resistance were killed. The remaining eight victims
have been identified as:
1. Hani
Mahmoud Abu Sukhaila, 25, from Jabalya refugee camp;
2. Hitham
Zaki ‘Aabed, 25, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
3. Mohammed
‘Aayesh al-‘Ejla, 45, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
4. Isma’il Mohammed Abu al-‘Ata, 28, from
al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
5. Mohammed
Ahmed Helles, 17, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
6. Akram
‘Oqailan, 25, from al-Shati refugee camp;
7. Mahdi
Ya’qoub Zaidia, 25, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood;
8. ‘Aamer
‘Othman al-Ghamari, 24, from al-Shojaeya neighborhood.
According to
medical sources, the victims all died of wounds sustained from live bullets
and/or shrapnel from artillery shells.
In the second
incident, at approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy
military vehicles and helicopters, moved into Block J in Rafah refugee camp
adjacent to the Egyptian border. They moved forward towards Abu Baker
al-Siddiq Street, which links Rafah refugee camp and Tal al-Sultan
neighborhood. Israeli forces closed the road and took up positions on the
roofs of a number of houses, opening fire at the street below until the
evening. As a result, 3 Palestinian civilians were killed:
1. Ibrahim
Mohammed Zo’rob, 27, hit by a live bullet to the head;
2. Mohammed
Zahran al-Tantawi, 19, hit by a live bullet to the chest; and
3. Mohammed
‘Abdul Ghani al-Hamaida, 18, hit by a live bullet to the abdomen.
In addition,
17 civilians, including 10 children, were injured. Four of the injured
were described as being in a serious condition. During this incursion,
Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 5-storey, under-construction apartment
building owned by Khalil Kamel Sha’ath, under the pretext of searching for
tunnels. They also destroyed 6 houses
completely, 18 others partially, 3 UNRWA schools and a school of the
Palestinian Ministry of Education. Israeli forces withdrew from the area on Thursday morning, 12 February
2004, leaving large destruction.
(Note:
PCHR has lists of the people who were injured in the two incursions and the
houses that were destroyed in Rafah refugee camp.)
At
approximately 18:45, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations
near “Qatif” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
houses in al-Satar al-Gharbi area to the east. A Palestinian child, Rafiq Salem al-Farra, 9, was wounded by a live
bullet in the lower jaw.
Extra-Judicial
Assassinations
In a
continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted
by Israeli authorities, in violation of international humanitarian law and
other human rights instruments, Israeli occupying forces carried out 2
assassinations, leaving dead 3 Palestinians, including one child, and injuring
11 civilian bystanders, including 3 children.
On Friday, 30
January 2004, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian in Beit ‘Awa
village, southwest of Hebron, after surrounding his home, injuring him, and
arresting him. Israeli forces claimed
that he had been wanted for 6 years for having been a member of the Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas).
According to
investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 01:20 on Friday, 30 January
2004, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved on foot into Beit
‘Awa village, southwest of Hebron and surrounded the house of Yousef Mohammed
Ahmed al-Qahoush, 55, in the north of the village. In the meantime, 3 Israeli armored personnel
carriers, 10 military jeeps, 2 ambulances, and a bulldozer, backed by a
helicopter, moved into the village. All
these Israeli military units surrounded and opened fire at al-Qahoush’s
house. They also called on residents of
the house through megaphones to evacuate in two minutes or face them destroying
the house over their heads, claiming that Jihad Isma’il Abu Ghalia Swaiti, 40,
was hiding inside the house. The
residents left the house, except for Swaiti and the house’s owner, who refused
to leave it fearing that Israeli forces may destroy the house. Israeli soldiers then fired at Swaiti who
returned fire at them. During these
clashes, Swaiti was wounded by a live bullet in the head. Israeli soldiers then broke into the house
and opened fire from a close distance at Swaiti, who was still alive from his
wound, killing him instantly. According to the house’s owner, Israeli soldiers
pulled the victim’s body out of the house and fired at him again. At approximately 05:30, Israeli soldiers
arrested al-Qahoush and moved Swaiti’s body to an unknown destination.
PCHR strongly condemns the assassination attempt carried out by Israeli
occupying forces in Gaza City. On Saturday morning, 7 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces committed another assassination in Gaza city, which left dead a
leader of Islamic Jihad and an 11-year-old Palestinian child, and injured 11
other civilians, including 3 children, one of which was in serious
condition.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 10:30 am
on Saturday, 7 February 2004, an Israeli helicopter gunship, supported by an
F-16 fighter jet, launched a missile at a civilian car. Its target was a white Peugeot 205 traveling
on al-Wihda Street near the Municipality of Gaza’s garages, in a densely
populated area in the center of Gaza city. ‘Aziz Mahmoud al-Shami, 38, a
senior leader of the Islamic Jihad, and Khalil Salah al-Bahtini, 25, his
bodyguard, both from Gaza city, were traveling in the car. The missile
hit the front of the car, and the two passengers were able to immediately
escape from the hit vehicle, which lit on fire. Al-Shami was injured in his legs and
subsequently lost one of them. Al-Shami also lost his left hand several
years ago. His bodyguard, al-Bahtini, was also injured. Later, medical sources at Shifa Hospital
declared that al-Shami died from his injury.
This attack also left dead 11-year-old Tariq Majdi al-Sousi, who was
killed while on his way to school, and injured 11 civilian bystanders,
including 3 children. The condition of one of these children was
described as critical. According to eyewitnesses, al-Sousi was thrown off
his feet by the explosion and hit a nearby tree. He was evacuated to the
hospital while in a very serious condition, soon after which he died.
Later, Israeli military sources asserted that the Israeli air force
attacked al-Shami’s car in the center of Gaza city, and claimed that al-Sahmi
was “responsible for attacks, in which Israeli soldiers were killed, and was
involved in planning other attacks.”
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 that Israel alleges have
ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets. During the period covered by this report,
Israeli occupying forces escalated the campaign of retaliation against families
of those individuals. During the week of the Islamic holiday Eid, Israeli
occupying forces destroyed 16 houses in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Jenin
in the West Bank, and a 2 other houses in the Gaza Strip. As a result, 28
Palestinian families (more than 140 people) have become homeless.
At approximately 01:30 on Thursday, 29 January 2004, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 300m into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan
Yunis. They surrounded a house belonging
to the family of Ziad Abu Haddaf, 20, who is allegedly wanted by these forces,
and forced the 10 residents of the house out. Israeli soldiers used the house’s owner, Mohammed Swailem ‘Awad Abu
Haddaf, 44, and his son Nahed, 22, as human shields while searching the house.
They forced the family to move away from the area, claiming that they were
carrying a security activity in the area. Soon after, Israeli forces demolished the 280-square-meter, 2-storey home
and also 3 agricultural rooms, and razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and palms also owned by Abu Haddaf. In the same area, Israeli soldiers raided and
searched 3 homes belonging to the Abu Haddaf family and held their owners for 2
hours.
On Friday morning, 30 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a
house belonging to ‘Ali Muneer Ja’ara’s family in ‘Aaida refugee camp in
Bethlehem. Twelve people, including 6 children, lived in the
150-square-meter, 2-storey house. Ja’ara, 28, was killed while carrying
out a bomb attack in Jerusalem on Thursday, 29 January 2004.
On Saturday, 31 January 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 7 homes
in Silwad village, northeast of Ramallah, and 2 others in Koubar village, in
the northwest of Ramallah. The houses belonged to families of several
Palestinians currently detained by Israeli occupying authorities. As a
consequence, 12 families (41 people, including 13 children) have become
homeless.
The houses destroyed include:
1. A
350-square-meter, 4-storey house belonging to Ahmed Mustafa Saleh al-Najjar’s
family, in which 6 people, including a child, lived;
2. A
150-square-meter house belonging to Khaled ‘Abdul Mo’ez al-Najjar’s family, in
which 3 people, including a child, lived;
3. A
170-square-meter house belonging to Ahmed Khaled Daoud al-Najjar’s family, in
which 4 people, including 2 children, lived;
4. A
120-square-meter house belonging to Yasser Hassan al-Najjar’s family, in which
5 people, including 3 children, lived;
5. A
180-square-meter, 3-storey house belonging to Mo’ayad Shukri Hammad’s family,
in which 3 families (12 people, including 4 children) lived;
6. A
200-square-meter house and a 170-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to
Faraj Isma’il al-Natour’s family, in which 3 families (8 people, including a
child) lived;
7. A
150-square-meter house owned by Jasser Isma’il Mousa al-Barghouthi’s family, in
which his wife and 2 children lived; and
8. A 170-square-meter house owned by Murad
Walid Khaled al-Barghouthi’s family, in which his wife lived.
On Sunday, 1 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces
conducted military operations in Jericho. During the operations, one
Palestinian was killed and 9 other Palestinians were injured, most of them
civilians who were not engaged in any hostilities at the time. Israeli
forces also destroyed 2 houses belonging to the families of individuals who are
allegedly members of the resistance. A third house, in which
members of the Palestinian resistance had taken shelter while confronting
Israeli soldiers, was also destroyed. As a result, six families (33
people, including 17 children) became homeless.
The houses destroyed include:
1. A
150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Nayef ‘Eissa Jalaita, ‘Abdullah Ahmed
Jalaita, Mohye ‘Ali Jalaita, and Nazih Yousef Jalaita, in which 4 families, 19
people, including 11 children, lived;
2. A
160-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by ‘Eissa Ahmed Jalaita, whose son
Mohammed has been detained by Israeli occupying forces, in which 6 people
lived; and
3. A
180-square-meter house owned by Ahmed Mohammed Ballu, whose son Eyad has been
detained by Israeli occupying forces, in which 8 people, including 6 children,
lived.
On Monday, 2 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Mahmoud ‘Abdul Fattah Abu ‘Ouda, 27.
Mohammed was allegedly wanted by the Israeli occupation authorities for alleged
involvement in attacks against Israeli targets. During the Israeli
attacks, ‘Ouda was killed by Israeli gunfire and his brother Khaled, 18, was
injured by a live bullet in the left thigh. Three families (24 people,
including 12 children) lived in the 130-square-meter, 3-storey house.
On Thursday, 5 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a
150-square-meter house belonging to Ziad Nasser Qindah’s family in Abu
Shukhaidem village, northwest of Ramallah. Two families (10 people,
including 3 children) lived in the house. Abu Shukhaidem has been held in
detention by Israeli occupying authorities since the beginning of the current
Intifada.
On the same day, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 150-square-meter,
2-storey house owned by Lutfi ‘Abdullah Yousef Khalaf in Bourqin village, west
of Jenin. The owner’s son Ahmed, 20, is reportedly wanted by the Israeli
occupying authorities for alleged membership in the al-Quds Brigade, the
military wing of Islamic Jihad.
Continued Construction of the “Separation
Wall”
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank territory. For this purpose, they confiscated more
Palestinian lands and warned a number of Palestinian families living near the
wall that their homes would be demolished.
In Bardala area, north of Tubas, Israeli military
bulldozers leveled areas of Palestinian land. Israeli engineering units continued to survey lands in the neighboring
‘Ein al-Baida village and near the Jordan River to construct a section of the
wall there. These Israeli actions
threaten the sources of income for Palestinian civilians living in the area,
which may force them to leave, as they mainly depend on agriculture for their
livelihoods.
According to Israeli plans regarding the construction
of a part of the wall in the Jordan Valley, this construction will isolate the
area between the wall and the Jordan River, in an attempt to force Palestinian
civilians living there to leave the area. It is worth noting that for 2 years, Israeli occupying forces have
continued to refuse to change the addresses of Palestinian civilians who moved
from other areas of the West Bank to the Jordan Valley. Palestinians wishing to work inside the area
must be residents of the area, and if they live outside the area, they must
obtain permits from Israeli occupying forces. In summer 2003, Israeli occupying forces made a census for residents of
the area and their homes.
In the past days, Israeli occupying forces finished
the construction of a part of the wall on the lands of Nazlat ‘Eissa village,
north of Tulkarm, and isolated more areas of land between the wall and the
Green Line. According to sources of the
local council of the village, about 900 donums of the lands of the village
planted with olives have been so far isolated. The village is now surrounded by barbwire.
In an attempt to prevent international and local
peace and solidarity activists from entering Budrus village, west of Ramallah,
on Sunday morning, 8 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces declared the
village a closed military zone. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces warned residents of the
village not to get close to the “Separation Wall.” Israeli forces had razed dozens of donums of
the village’s lands for the construction of the wall. According to Israeli plans, the wall in its
later stages will surround the village from all sides, and hundreds of donums
of land will be isolated.
At approximately 10:00 on Monday, 9 February 2004, 3
Israeli military jeeps, accompanied by a jeep of the so-called Israeli Civil
Administration, moved into Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm. An officer of the “Civil Administration”
handed written notices to 10 Palestinians ordering them to stop the
construction of their houses, claming that these houses are being built without
licenses. These houses are 4-50 meters
away from the wall.
Also on Monday morning, 9 February 2004, an Israeli
military bulldozer started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land and
dig trenches in Bitounia village, southwest of Ramallah, for the purpose of the
construction of the wall. According to
the Municipality of Bitounia, the construction of the wall in the area will
seize 1559 donums of Palestinian agricultural land.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip
and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, and imposed more restrictions on
movement at border crossings and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a
number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed
at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement
are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a
state party, and include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.
During the period covered by this
report, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen
checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the northern and
southern areas of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement of Palestinian
civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a maximum of a few
hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation and harassment by
Israeli soldiers.
On Thursday morning, 29 January 2004, Israeli
occupying forces closed the two checkpoints. They searched a number of Palestinian vehicles and arrested 2
Palestinians:
1. Mohammed Ramadan ‘Abdul Rahman Douhan,
33, a worker; and
2. Bahaa’ Mahmoud ‘Abdul Rahman Douhan,
25, a worker, who was released on the following day.
At approximately 13:00 on Monday, 2 February 2004,
the second day of the Eid, Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints
and held a number of Palestinian vehicles. Israeli forces then searched the
cars held in between and checked Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints were reopened at
20:00.
At approximately 09:00 on Tuesday, 3 February 2004,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints until 16:00, during which
they searched a number of Palestinian vehicles.
At approximately 19:30 on Wednesday, 4 February 2004,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints and held a number of
Palestinian vehicles. They searched the
vehicles held in between and arrested Yasser Ahmed Hussein Dahlan, 29, an
employee at the Palestinian Ministry of Planning.
On Monday afternoon, 9 February 2004, Israeli
occupying forces closed the two checkpoints then held and searched a number of
Palestinian vehicles. No arrests were
reported.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
tightened siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued to close al-Tuffah
military checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi of Khan Yunis since 19 January
2004. Israeli soldiers allowed
Palestinian civilians to get out of the area through the checkpoint on the
second day of the Eid, but did not allow them to come to the area through the
same checkpoint and forced them to enter the area through Tal al-Sultan
checkpoint in Rafah.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on travel through Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border,
which has been the only outlet that the Gaza Strip has to the outside world
since the beginning of the current Intifada. Palestinian pilgrims coming
back from Saudi Arabia were subject to humiliation and prolonged travel
procedures. Furthermore, many of them were forced to spend a number
of nights on the Egyptian side of the terminal waiting permission to cross into
the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence
officers often summon and interrogate Palestinian travelers and even arrest
some of them without informing the Palestinian side. A number of travelers are also denied travel
permission for no apparent reason. On Saturday, 31 January 2004, Israeli
occupying forces arrested Muheeb Salman Ahmed al-Nawati, 35, a journalist from
Gaza city, while he was on his way back to the Gaza Strip from the United Arab
Emirates.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the access of Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip to
their work places through the Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing. Palestinian workers are subject to prolonged
degrading checking procedures at the crossing. Many workers are often forced to return home because of these
procedures.
The Israeli restrictions at Beit Hanoun crossing are
not limited to workers; rather they also affect patients who are transferred to
hospitals in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel. According to a statement by the Palestinian
Ministry of Health, on Monday, 9 February 2004, Israeli occupying forces denied
the passage of patients through the crossing. They subjected female patients to a humiliating inspection and then
forced all patients to travel back to the Gaza Strip. The ministry additionally asserted that
Israeli occupying forces deny the access of Palestinian ambulances to the
crossing and force patients to walk on the routes devoted to workers. These measures leave disastrous impacts on
these patients.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They have also
imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians during the
Islamic Eid holiday. Many Palestinian employees were not able to return
to their homes before the Eid.
Ramallah
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians to and from the town. PCHR’s field workers reported that Israeli
soldiers positioned at Qalandya military checkpoint, south of the town,
restricted movement of Palestinian civilians on the eve of the Eid. They held many students and young men and
denied passage of all of those who did not have checkpoint permits. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians were forced
to wait in long lines at the checkpoint. Israeli forces also re-erected a military checkpoint on
al-Bireh-Qalandya main road, less than 1500m away from Qalandya
checkpoint. Israeli soldiers positioned
at Ne’alin military checkpoint, which leads to 11 villages, and at Biddu
checkpoint, which lead to 10 other villages, continued to obstruct movement of
Palestinian civilians living in these villages.
Bethlehem
Bethlehem was subjected to a number of Israeli
military incursions. Israeli occupying
forces reinforced their presence at the entrances to the town. According to eyewitnesses, on the Eid
morning, Israeli forces closed all entrances to the town.
Hebron
On Thursday morning, 29 January 2004, Israeli
occupying forces erected a number of checkpoints at the main junctions and
closed the iron gates at the northern entrance to the town. They also erected a number of checkpoints at
Ethna-Tarqoumia junctions, west of the town.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose
severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. Israeli soldiers positioned at Hawara
checkpoint, south of the city, and Beit Eiba checkpoint, west of the city,
force Palestinian civilians to enter rooms designed for electronic search. They have also continued to prevent
Palestinian civilians, who are under 35 years old, including students, from
crossing military checkpoints. Israeli soldiers at ‘Awarta military checkpoint, southeast of
Nablus, have continued to deny the passage of trucks, and only allow the
transfer of goods from one truck to another at both sides of the
checkpoints. These Israeli measures have
negatively affected commercial transactions between the city and other towns
and villages.
Jenin
According to eyewitnesses, on Friday morning, 6
February 2004, Israeli soldiers positioned at al-Hamra checkpoint in the
northern Jordan Valley and at Tayaseer checkpoint, east of Tubas, began to
prohibit the passage of Palestinian trucks without special permits. These trucks transport agricultural goods
between the northern and southern areas of the West Bank. This Israeli measure is likely to cause
further damage to the Palestinian agricultural sector.
Salfit
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians through Deir Ballout checkpoint, which is
stationed between Salfit and Ramallah, and through Jisr al-Zawia, which is
stationed between the town and neighboring villages.
Israeli occupying forces have also continued to use
military checkpoints to ambush and arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. On Saturday morning, 7 February 2004, Israeli
forces arrested Eyad ‘Omar Balawna, 23, from Tulkarm refugee camp, while he was
traveling from the camp to Bala’a village, east of Tulkarm. Balawna was arrested at a sudden checkpoint
erected by Israeli forces at the entrance to the refugee camp. On Sunday afternoon, Israeli forces arrested
Mukhles Ibrahim Mohammed Samara, 23, from ‘Azmout village, east of Nablus. Samara was arrested at a sudden military
checkpoint erected by Israeli forces at Salem-Deir al-Hatab junction, east of
Nablus.
Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property
In addition to the construction of the
“Separation Wall” inside the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have
continued other settlement activities in the West Bank, and settlers have
continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.
In Hebron, Israeli settlers from “Socia”
settlement, which was established on the lands of Yatta village, south of the
town, attacked Palestinian farmers in Kherbat Qwaiwees. According to eyewitnesses, on Thursday
morning, 29 February 2004, armed settlers attacked a number of Palestinian
farmers and shepherds living in caves and muddy houses in the area and forced
them to leave their homes. The
Palestinians who were forced to leave their houses are: Khaled Hussein Mahmoud;
‘Ali Mohammed Jibril; ‘Omar Hussein Jibril; ‘Essam ‘Eissa Makhamra; Na’im
Hussein Jibril; ‘Eissa Younis Makhamra; Yousef Mohammed Jibril; Taher Ahmed
Makhamra; and ‘Eissa Ahmed Makhamra.
On Friday morning, 6 February 2004, Israeli occupying
forces started to raze areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the southwest
Kufor al-Labad village, east of Tulkarm, for the purpose of establishing a
settler road that will link “Avni Hevetz” settlement, which was
established on village lands, and a settlement post, which was established on
Dairban Mount two years ago. These areas
of land are owned by the Abu Baker and Jebara families.
On Saturday, 7 February 2004, Israeli settlers living
in settlement posts inside Hebron and in settlements located to the east of the
town launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians in Wadi
al-Nasara and Tal Rumaida neighborhoods.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 10:00, 12-15 Israeli settlers moved from “Kiryat Arba”
settlement, east of Hebron, and attacked Palestinian civilians in Wadi
al-Nasara neighborhood in the southeast of the town with stones and iron
bars. According to Munther Da’na, 26,
Israeli settlers attacked a number of civilians in the area, including children
and old people, in an attempt to prevent them from using a road known as
“Prayers Road”, which links between “Kiryat Arba”
settlement and the Ibrahimi Mosque. As a
result of these attacks, a Palestinian woman, Rifqa al-Haimouni, 75, was
injured in the head. Windows of 4
houses, owned by Farid al-Razem, Shukri Da’na, Munther Da’na and ‘Abdul Hafez
Da’na, were broken.
At approximately 15:45, a number of Israeli
settlement living in “Ramat Yishai” settlement post in Tal Rumaida
neighborhood in the center of Hebron, attacked Palestinian civilians and houses
with stones and iron bars. As a result,
3 Palestinian civilians sustained injuries and bruises:
1. ‘Aadel ‘Abdul Khaliq Es’ayed, 32;
2. Ashraf Tayseer Hamed Abu ‘Eisha, 9; and
3. Sharif Tayseer Hamed Abu ‘Eisha,
6.
At approximately 03:00 on Monday, 9 February 2004,
Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a number of settlers, raided Kherbat
Janba in the east of Yatta village, south of Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces
forced out Palestinians living in caves and tents in the area and searched these
caves and tents, then asked the 36 families (350 people) living in them to
leave the area.
‘Abdul Hadi Hantash, an expert in Israeli settlement
activities, told a PCHR field worker that Israeli occupying forces and
extremist settlers exert pressure on Palestinian civilians living in areas
located to the east of Yatta village, in order to expropriate more than 37000
donums of land for the purpose of settlement expansion. He added that such Israeli plans began in
November 1998, when Israeli occupying forces expelled hundreds of Palestinian
families from areas located to the east of Yatta village.
*****
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 legal obligations, including as defined in
article 1.
3. Upon the High Contracting Parties to search
for and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches perpetrated in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, as defined in article 146 of the Convention.
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:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
