· 8 Palestinian civilians, including a 12-year-old
child, killed by Israeli occupying forces
· Two new extra-judicial assassination by Israeli
forces in Jenin and 3 Palestinians killed, one of whom was used by Israeli
forces as a human shield
· Israeli occupying forces launch a wide scale
retaliatory campaign against families of Palestinians who carried out armed
attacks against Israeli targets
· Continued Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas,
resulted in destruction of public and private property, and the arrest of many
Palestinians
· Continued strict siege on the OPT and the division of
the Gaza Strip into four separate zones
Introduction
Israeli
occupying forces this week continued their full-scale offensive in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPT), killing more Palestinians and destroying more
public and private property. They
committed two new assassinations, in which three Palestinians were killed. This week, eight Palestinian civilians,
including a 12-year-old child, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
For the 55th
consecutive day, Israeli occupying forces have maintained control over Nablus,
imposing a strict siege and curfew on the city. In the last three weeks, Palestinians were able to exit their homes only
once. Since Israeli occupying forces
resumed their offensive on the city on Friday, 2 August, they have lifted the
curfew imposed on the city only once on Friday, 9 August, and only for four
hours. Israeli occupying forces have
prohibited any movement in and out and of the city. They have raided houses and arrested many
Palestinians. All aspects of daily life
in the city have been paralyzed, which caused large losses to the city’s
economy, which mainly depends on trade. Students of an-Najah University, whose number exceeds 12000, have not
been able to take their final exams, and many students who passed the exams of
the General Certificate of Education (Tawjihi) have not been able to receive
their transcripts in order to apply for universities.
Israeli occupying forces
have continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields. This week, they used a Palestinian civilian
from Tubas village near Jenin as a human shield while assassinating a
Palestinian activist. Israeli forces
used this method on a wide scale during their offensive on Jenin, Nablus and
Ramallah in April. Lawyers of the
Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
(LAW) and ‘Adalah submitted an appeal to the Israeli High Court against the use
of Palestinian civilians as human shields and against endangering their lives,
but the court rejected the appeal, giving Israeli occupying forces the green
line to use it more. On Monday, 12
August, Israeli forces assassinated a Palestinian before the eyes of his family
in al-Yamun village, west of Jenin. The
Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot said on its Arabic web site that Israeli
forces assassinated a Palestinian, apparently wanted for his activities in
al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
In violation of
international law and international humanitarian law which prohibit collective
punishment, Israeli occupying forces took retaliatory measures against families
of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets both inside
the Green Line and in the OPT. On 8 and
13 August, Israeli occupying
forces destroyed seven houses in Bethlehem, Hebron and Jenin. On Monday, 12 August, an Israeli military
court decided to expel three members of these families to the Gaza Strip: Kifah
‘Ajouri and his sister Intissar, and ‘Abdul Nasser ‘Assida.
Israeli occupying forces
encroached into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, specifically in Beit
Lahia. On Thursday, 8 August, Israeli
occupying forces invaded Beit Lahia. They
shelled houses, killing a Palestinian civilian and wounding five others. They also raided and searched houses and
arrested six Palestinian civilians. This
week, Israeli occupying forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural
land in the Gaza Strip, particularly in Khuza’a village near Khan Yunis, Beit
Hanoun and Gaza.
In an
apparent willful killing on Saturday, 10 August, Israeli occupying forces fired
at a vehicle of electricity maintenance in Nablus, killing its 45-year-old
driver.
Israeli occupying forces
have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing
Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas,
transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians’ economic,
social and cultural rights. Thousands of Palestinians continue to be subjected
to a tight military curfew imposed by Israeli occupying forces. In the Gaza
Strip, on 11 and 12 August, Israeli occupying forces held Palestinian cars
between Abu Houli and al-Matahen military checkpoints, north of Khan
Yunis. They forced Palestinian civilians
out of the cars, checked them and held them for hours.
This report covers Israeli
violations against Palestinian civilians in the OPT during the period 8-14
August 2002.
At
approximately 03:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into al-Qawasmi
neighborhood in Beit Lahia, approximately 1500m south of “Nissanit” settlement
in the northern Gaza Strip. They took
position near al-Shaimaa’ School in the centre of the town. They indiscriminately opened fire at the
area, wounding six Palestinian civilians, including 26-year-old ‘Aadel Reziq
Gaben, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head and succumbed to
his wound at hospital in the afternoon. The other civilian wounded were:
1. Amin Hani Zuhod, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the
right hand;
2. Shadi Mahmoud Abu Jari, 14, wounded by a live bullet
in the left foot;
3. Reziq Jaber Rajab, 17, wounded by a live bullet in
the left leg;
4. Mahmoud Rajab Subeih, 18, wounded by a live bullet in
the right foot; and
5. ‘Abed Sa’di Ahmed Zayed, 27, wounded by a live bullet
in the right foot.
Israeli occupying forces
raided and searched houses and arrested six Palestinians:
1. Amir Badawi al-Hilu, 22;
2. ‘Abdel Rahman Fadhel al-Hilu,
37;
3. Mustafa Mohammed al-Hilu, 35;
4. Wissam Reziq al-Balli, 22;
5. Hussam Reziq al-Balli, 25; and
6. Reziq Mohammed al-Balli, 58.
A PCHR field worker
reported that they were all released on the following day.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Um al-Nasser village to the south of
“Nissanit” settlement, north of Beit Lahia. Israeli forces raided and searched houses. They arrested four Palestinian civilians, but
released them several hours later.
At approximately 13:00, an
Israeli military jeep moved into the centre of Ramallah when the curfew imposed
on the town was temporarily lifted. A
number of Palestinian boys threw stones at the jeep. Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition,
rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the stone throwers. An hour later, an Israeli soldier got out of
the jeep and fired at 14-year-old ‘Azzam Mohammed Mousa from a distance of
approximately 100m, wounding him with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 01:45,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Qalqilya, opening fire at
Palestinian houses. A Palestinian
civilian, Ibrahim ‘Abdul Rahim Da’mas, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the
shoulder, and Israeli forces arrested him together with two other
civilians.
At approximately 03:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 500m into Wadi al-Salqa
village, east of Deir al-Balah. Israeli
forces raided houses and arrested three Palestinian civilians, two of whom were
later released, while the third, Sami Ahmed al-Kurd, 25, remained in
custody.
At approximately 10:30,
medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza declared that Khader Mohammed
al-Sue’idi, 67, from al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza, succumbed to a wound he
sustained on 22 July 2002, when Israeli F-16 fighter jets bombed the house of
Shiekh Salah Shehada, adjacent to his house, killing 14 Palestinian civilians
and wounding dozens.
At approximately 14:00
Israeli occupying soldiers on a tank, for no apparent reason, fired at Hassan
‘Ali Jaber Dhumeiri, 40, from Tulkarm refugee camp, while he was farming his
agricultural land, approximately 150m away. Dhumeiri was wounded by a live bullet in the right side. He was evacuated to hospital, but he
succumbed to his wound around 20 minutes later.
At approximately 15:30,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the
northwest of Khan Yunis. They resumed
razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land, an action that began last week:
1. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Suleiman Mustafa al-Astal.
2. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with peppers and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Ali
al-Astal.
In the evening, medical
sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza declared that Hassan ‘Ali al-‘Aassi, 24,
from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, succumbed to a wound he sustained
on Wednesday, 7 August. According to PCHR’s
investigation, al-‘Aassi was wounded by a live bullet in the head, when Israeli
heavy military vehicles invaded Beit Lahia and shelled Palestinian houses. A Palestinian civilian was killed and
al-‘Assi was seriously wounded in the head.
At approximately 23:00,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Gani Tal”
settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled al-Rabwat area and al-‘Araishia
neighborhood in the northwest of the town. An hour later, the Israelis intensified the shelling of the two areas
and other surrounding Israeli military locations also opened fire. Eight Palestinian civilians, including two
spouses and their children, and a woman and her child, were wounded while
inside their houses:
1. Salwa Mohammed Abu al-Hassan, 30, wounded by shrapnel
in the right foot;
2. Kamal Jamil Abu al-Hassan, 38, wounded by shrapnel in
the back;
3. Mohammed Kamal Abu al-Hassan, 8, wounded by shrapnel
in the right foot;
4. Aamal Kamal Abu al-Hassan, 5, wounded by shrapnel in
the head;
5. Ahmed Kamal Abu al-Hassan, 3, wounded by shrapnel in
the right thigh;
6. Rihab Shihda Abu Sahlul, 28, wounded by shrapnel in
the back and the right hand;
7. Yusra Khaled Abu Sahlul, 4, wounded by shrapnel in
the face and the mouth; and
8. ‘Emad Khalil al-Buzom, 29, wounded by shrapnel in the
left thigh.
In addition, a number of
houses were damaged:
1. a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which a
family comprising seven persons live, owned by Kamal Jamil Abu al-Hassan;
2. a 180-square-meter, four-story house, in which three
families comprising 20 persons live, owned by Majdi Ahmed Abu Sahlul;
3. a 165-square-meter, three-story house, in which four
families comprising 23 persons live, owned by Majed Ahmed Abu Sahlul;
4. a 150-square-meter, three-story house, in which four
families comprising 20 persons live, owned by Rami Majdi Abu Sahlul; and
5. a 160-square-meter, one-story house, in which two
families comprising 15 persons live, owned by Mohammed Salman Abu Sahlul.
At approximately 07:00,
medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza declared that Ayman ‘Atteya Abu
Meghassib, 12, from Dier al-Balah, succumbed to a wound he sustained on 7
August, when Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of
“Kfar Darom” settlement in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip opened fire
at Palestinian houses and farms west of the settlement. Abu Meghassib was wounded by a live bullet in
the head, while he was playing near his house in Heker al-Jame’ area,
approximately 900m west of the settlement.
At approximately 12:00, an
Israeli military jeep moved into the centre of Ramallah, when the curfew
imposed on the town was temporarily lifted. Dozens of Palestinian boys threw stones at the jeep. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired live
ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the stone throwers and
passing civilians, wounding six:
1. Mohammed ‘Abdul Majid ‘Oleyan, 16, from al-Bireh,
critically wounded by a live bullet in the head;
2. Ka’en Salah Dar ‘Awadh, 20, from al-Bireh, wounded by
a live bullet in the right foot;
3. Hussein ‘Aamer al-Barghouthi, 16, from ‘Aabud
village, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;
4. Fadi Karim al-Asmar, 14, from Ramallah, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
5. Munther ‘Abdullah Masalma, 31, from Sinjel village,
wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg; and
6. Shadi ‘Abdullah Erhimi, 27, from Beit Rima village,
wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand.
In an apparent willful
killing, Israeli occupying soldiers on an armored personnel carrier positioned
at an Israeli military checkpoint in Nablus opened fire at a vehicle of the
electricity maintenance department of Nablus Municipality, killing its
driver.
According to available
information, at approximately 14:00, while Ahmed Jihad ‘Abdul Rahim Qureini,
54, from ‘Askar refugee camp, was traveling in a vehicle of electricity
maintenance from Nablus Municipality towards the east, Israeli occupying
soldiers in Faisal Street stopped him. He stopped behind an ambulance and another ambulance stopped behind
him. After Israeli soldiers ordered the
first ambulance to move, they pointed to Qureini to move. He moved slowly. Soon, Israeli soldiers on an armored
personnel carrier opened fire at the vehicle, killing him with a live bullet in
the head. Israeli occupying forces
already permitted movement of medical, emergency and service personnel in the
town. However, they opened fire at this
vehicle for no apparent reason.
At approximately 14:10,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian,
Ibrahim ‘Abdul Mun’em ‘Arram, 23, from Rafah, who was visiting his relatives in
the area, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. He was approximately 400m away from the
aforementioned settlement when he was wounded.
At approximately 23:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Palestinian agricultural land,
approximately 200m west of “Kfar Darom” settlement, east of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with vegetables owned by Mohammed Salem Abu Dawaba.
2. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with vegetables owned by Khaled Mohammed Abu Jarir.
3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land
planted with palms owned by Ahmed ‘Eid Abu ‘Amra.
4. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with palms and olives owned by ‘Atteya Ahmed al-Fallit.
5. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with vegetables owned by Sabri Mustafa al-Fallit.
6. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with vegetables owned by Maher al-Fallit.
7. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural
land planted with palms owned by Ibrahim Ahmed al-Fallit.
8. They destroyed a 50-meter-long fence surrounding a
tract of land owned by ‘Emad Salem al-Fallit.
At approximately 01:15, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400m into Gizan
al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis, north of “Morag” settlement. Israeli soldiers, who covered their faces
with black masks, raided three Palestinian houses owned by Reziq Salama
al-Sha’er, Sami al-Bahaisa and Kamel Abu Nemer. They held women and children in one room in each of the houses and
interrogated the men after having checked their identities. Then, they searched the three houses. During their incursion, Israeli soldiers
arrested 13 Palestinian civilians who were on their way back home after a
wedding party. Israeli soldiers
handcuffed and interrogated them. They
also beat some of them. Soon, Israeli
military reinforcements were brought to the area apparently to cover the
withdrawal of the infantry unit, while two helicopters were flying over the
area. Upon their withdrawal, Israeli
soldiers arrested two Palestinians and took mobile phones and identity cards of
two other Palestinians.
At approximately 02:30,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 350m into al-Qatbania area
adjacent to the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Beit Hanoun. Until Tuesday morning, 13 August, they razed
20 donums of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Rahman
Mohammed al-Hweihi.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Awadh
Mohammed Hamad.
3. They razed a 14-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Saqer
Abu ‘Amsha.
4. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Mohammed al-Masri.
5. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Isma’il
Mohammed Hweihi.
At approximately 08:45,
Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a military bulldozer and covered by
indiscriminate shelling, moved into Palestinian agricultural land in the north
of Beit Lahia, southwest of “Dogit” settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. They razed a tract of agricultural land,
damaged another and demolished three buildings:
1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on which
three greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned by Suleiman Salama Abu
Halima. They also damaged an 18-donum
area of agricultural land planted with vegetables.
2. They demolished a 150-square-meter, two-story
building, partially demolished earlier this year, owned by ‘Abdullah
al-Turazi.
3. They demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which two persons used to live, owned by Haidar ‘Abdul Rahim
Zindah.
4. They demolished a 220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
building owned by heirs of Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahim Zindah.
At approximately 19:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and three
helicopters, invaded Jaba’ village, south of Jenin. They opened fire at houses, wounding six Palestinian
civilians:
1. Fadi Naji Khalilia, 17, wounded by a live bullet in
the right leg;
2. Amjad Husni Khalilia, 24, wounded by a live bullet in
the left leg;
3. Rasmia Dhib Salama, 38, wounded by shrapnel in the
right upper arm;
4. ‘Arafat Khaled Fakhuri, 35, wounded by a live bullet
in the right hand;
5. Jihad Tawfiq Hamada, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the
left leg; and
6. ‘Abdullah Mohammed ‘Alawna,40, wounded by a live
bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 12:30,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 700m into Kuza’a village,
east of Khan Yunis. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses and agricultural land, destroying a 32-square-meter
agricultural store owned by Sa’adat Suleiman Rouk and damaging a school. They also razed 40 donums of agricultural
land:
1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by heirs of Mahmoud al-Barrim and farmed by Younis
Mahmoud al-Barrim. They also razed a
100-meter-long row of wild figs.
2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Barham Khalil
al-Barrim.
3. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and destroyed a 16-square-meter agricultural store owned by
Salah al-Shami and Fu’ad Abu Daqqa.
4. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Shehada Ahmed Qudeih.
5. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planed
with olives and vegetables and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud
Suleiman Qudeih.
6. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by heirs of Shehada Ahmed Qudeih.
7. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and a 70-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Salem
Suleiman Qudeih.
8. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and a 150-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Khalil
Khalil Abu Rouk.
9. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and vegetables and destroyed a 25-square-meter agricultural
store owned by Ibrahim Suleiman al-Najjar.
10. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives and vegetables owned by Ibrahim Ahmed al-Qarra and
brothers.
11. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land and
destroyed a 400-meter-long water pipeline owned by Mohammed Suleiman Abu
Rouk.
12. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with palms owned by Yousef Suleiman Qudeih.
13. They razed a 600-meter-long row of wild figs
surrounding a tract of agricultural land owned by Salman Suleiman al-Qarra.
At approximately 01:00,
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. Samir Fayez Huneideq, 28, was wounded by
shrapnel in the legs, and his child Ghada was wounded by shrapnel in the right
leg, while they were inside their house, approximately 100m away from the
aforementioned settlement. In addition,
a number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli occupying forces started razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land
in Abu Tablein and al-Mansura areas along the road linking between al-Maentar
crossing and al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City.
1. They have razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Jamal Ahmed Mohammed al-Balbissi.
2. They have razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed al-Balbissi.
3. They have razed a 20-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by heirs of Rashad Rashed Mohamemd al-Dousi.
4. They have razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by Salama Hamed Salama Sa’ad.
In a continuation of the
assassination policy officially adopted by the Israeli government, on Monday,
12 August, Israeli occupying forces committed two extra-judicial
assassinations, in which three Palestinians were killed, one of them was used
by Israeli forces as a human shield.
At approximately 13:00 on
Wednesday, a civilian car, white Volkswagen, arrived at the eastern quarter of
Tubas village in the northern West Bank. Eight to ten persons in military uniform, Israeli soldiers, got out of
the car. They opened fire at Palestinian
houses indiscriminately, wounding ‘Ezzat Tayseer Abu Muhsen, 10, with two live
bullets in the legs. Then, they arrested
him and took him to an unknown destination. They also surrounded the house of Mohammed ‘Abdul Elah Abu Muhsen. Three minutes later, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with tanks and bulldozers and supported by two combat
helicopters invaded the village. Israeli
forces forced Nidhal ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Abu Muhsen, 19, and his uncle Younis Ahmed
Ibrahim Daraghma, 22, to exit their houses and took them to the cemetery of the
village. They handcuffed Daraghma and
took Abu Muhsen to Abu al-Hassan driving school, after they forced him to put
on a bullet proof suit, similar to that used by Israeli soldiers. They let a dog follow him. They forced him to go to houses in the area
and tell their residents to leave. At
approximately 14:15, residents of the area heard sounds of successive
explosions, after which smoke rose from the house of Mohammed ‘Abdul Elah Abu
Muhsen. At approximately 14:30, an
Israeli bulldozer destroyed the main road and another one swept the house of
Abu Muhsen. Such destruction continued
until 17:30 when Israeli forces withdrew
from the village, medical and rescue personnel and civilians hurried to the
area to check what happened. They
discovered a head and a chest of a man in the 40s. He was later identified as Nasser Kahed
Jarra, 44, from Wadi Burqin village, west of Jenin, wanted by Israeli occupying
forces. People started searching for
Nidhal Abu Muhsen. There were reports of
his death. At approximately midnight,
Israeli occupying forces delivered his body to the Palestinian side. Jarra was married and father of three
children. He spent eight years in Israeli
jails for his political activities. He
survived two assassination attempts, one in which he lost his right leg and
hand.
Earlier this week, at
approximately 03:00 on Monday, 12 August, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles and special units, moved into al-Yamun village,
west of Jenin. They surrounded the house
of Mohammed Hassan Fureihat and ordered its 13 residents through loudspeakers
to leave it. They checked the family and
their identity cards and the Israeli soldiers took one of the family members,
Ghazal Mohammed Hassan Fureihat, 21. Then, the family heard sounds of dozens of live bullets. An Israeli soldier told the family that other
Israeli soldiers shot dead their son. When Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the village, Fureihat’s body
was moved to hospital. According to
medical sources, he was hit by six live bullets in the chest, the pelvis and
the thighs. The Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot said on its Arabic web page that Israeli forces killed a Palestinian
in al-Yamun village, apparently wanted for his activities in al-Aqsa Martyrs
Brigade.
Collective Punishment
Measures against Families of Palestinians Who Carried out Armed Attacks against
Israeli Targets
In violation of
international law and international humanitarian law, in particular Article 33
of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits punishment of any protected
person for an offense he or she has not personally committed, and Article 9 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which provides that “no one shall be
subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”, Israeli occupying forces
took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out
attacks against Israeli targets both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.
At approximately 03:30,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into
Artas village, west of Bethlehem. They
surrounded the 120-square-meter, three-story house of ‘Ali Ahmed Abu Swai at
the entrance of the village. They forced
its 12 residents out and destroyed it. Abu Swai is the father of Daoud Abu Sawi who carried out a bombing in
Jerusalem on 15 December 2001.
At approximately 05:00,
Israeli occupying forces surrounded the 372-square-meter, three-story house of
Ishaq ‘Abdullah al-Nabtiti in al-Duha village, south of Bethlehem, and
destroyed it. Al-Nabtiti is father of Akram al-Nabtiti who carried out a
bombing in Jerusalem on 17 March 2002.
At the same time, Israeli
occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, invaded Tubas
village, east of Jenin. They surrounded
the house of Mohammed Suleiman Fuqaha, 50. They forced the nine residents of the 180-square-meter house out and
totally demolished it. Upon their
withdrawal from the village, they arrested Fuqaha, father of Mazen Fuqha, who
was arrested on 5 August 2002, whom Israeli occupying forces accused of
planning a bus bomb at Miron junction in the north of Israel on 4 August 2002.
At approximately 07:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into
Beit Jala. They surrounded the house of
Mousa Ahmed ‘Allan in al-Jadawel area. They forced residents of the 280-square-meter, three-story house out and
destroyed it. ‘Allan is father of ‘Ali
‘Allan who is wanted by Israeli occupying forces for his activities in the
Intifada.
Tuesday, 13 August 2002
At approximately 04:00,
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Duha village, southwest of Bethlehem. They raided the house of lawyer ‘Abed Rabbu
Ibrahim Budeir, 63. They forced
residents of the 180-square-meter, one-story house out and destroyed it. Budeir is father of ‘Eissa Budeir who carried
out a bombing in Rishon Litzion on 22 May 2002.
At the same time, Israeli
occupying forces moved into Um al-Daraj quarter in al-Zhahiria veillage, south
of Hebron. They surrounded the house of
Musbah ‘Abdul Fattah al-Battat. They
forced the six residents of the 160-square-meter, one-story house out and destroyed
it. Two adjacent houses were also
damged. Al-Battat is father of Mohammed al-Batta, who was killed in an exchange
of fire with Israeli occupying forces in Beir al-Saba’ in the south Israel.
Wednesday, 14 August 2002
At
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military
vehicles, moved into al-Zhahiria village, south of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Khalil Jibril
Mahmoud al-Tal. They forced the five
residents of the 200-square-meter, two-story house out and demolished it. An adjacent house was also damaged. Al-Tal is father of Khalil al-Tal who was
killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli occupying forces in Beir al-Saba’ in
the south of Israel.
At approximately 14:10,
after the funeral procession of Hussam Hamdan, who was assassinated by Israeli
occupying forces, Israeli soldiers on a moveable observation tower in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, fired live ammunition
and tear gas at Palestinian civilians who participated in the procession. Jamil Mustafa Mohammed Jadallah, 15, was
wounded by a live bullet in the back, and many others suffered from tear gas
inhalation.
Saturday, 10 August 2002
In
the afternoon, Israeli occupying soldiers at Surda military checkpoint fired
live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas and sound bombs at
hundreds of Palestinian civilians who were traveling from villages north and
northwest of Ramallah to the town. Two
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Hazem Rabah Ese’id, 30, from Abu Dis village east of
Jerusalem, wounded by a sound bomb in the face; and
2. Rami ‘Aayed Mustafa, wounded by a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the neck.
*****
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to provide immediate
and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect
Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance
with their obligations under article 1 and article 146, to ensure the respect
of the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to investigate and
prosecute those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories before international courts.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its
activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the
Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect
human rights.
6. Upon the international community to provide
humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living
conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege
imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
