Israeli Occupying Forces Continue to Commit Violations of Human Rights
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
· 15 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including a woman and
2 children, were killed by Israeli forces. 2 of the victims were
killed in seperate extra-judicial assassinations and 2 of the victims bled to
death
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by
indiscriminate shelling
· Israeli
forces invaded Khan Yunis refugee camp, destroying dozens of houses and injuring
20 Palestinian civilians
· 19 houses were destroyed in Rafah and Deir al-Balah and
large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Beit Hanoun and Khan Yunis were
razed
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued resulting in a number of
Palestinian civilians injured
· The
Israeli retaliatory campaign continued against families of wanted Palestinians
and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets,
resulting the destruction of 2 houses
· Palestinians
were arrested
· 3 females were arrested in the ISM offices in Beit
Sahour
· Continued
siege on Palestinian communities and a number of Palestinians were arrested at
Israeli military checkpoints
· Israeli
forces closed Beit Hanoun crossing to internationals, excluding some UN staff and diplomats
Introduction
Israeli
occupying forces have continued to conduct illegal actions and human rights
violations against Palestinian civilians, including collective punishment,
shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas and agricultural land
leveling. This
week, 8-14 May
2003, 15 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including a woman and two children,
were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
In a serious escalation in military activity, on Tuesday, 13 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces invaded Khan Yunis refugee
camp reinforced with more than 100 heavy military vehicles and supported by
Apache gunships. The 4-hour military operation left 26 Palestinian houses
totally destroyed and more than 30 others damaged, which made 36 Palestinian
families (247 persons) homeless. The operation was accompanied by intense
shelling of Palestinian residential areas, terrifying innocent Palestinian
civilians, especially children, women and old and handicapped people, who
escaped from their homes in search of refuge. Approximately 20
Palestinians, including 6 children, were also wounded. A store of
foodstuffs was also destroyed by an Israeli shell.
Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of
incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, during which
they attacked Palestinian civilians and property. This week, Israeli occupying forces demolished 10 Palestinian houses in the central Gaza
Strip town of Deir al-Balah, and 9 others in Rafah. They also razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun and the southern Gaza Strip town of
Khan Yunis.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments against Palestinian political and field activists of the
Intifada, on Thursday, 8 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated an
activist of Hamas in Gaza city. Another
Palestinian from Tulkarm died from an injury he had previously sustained during
an assassination attempt carried out by Israeli occupying forces.
In various cases of apparent willful killing, this
week, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 5 Palestinian civilians in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. Two of the victims
bled to death. A child and woman also
died from previous injuries inflicted by Israeli occupying forces. Six other Palestinians were killed while
confronting Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas.
Israeli occupying forces have imposed severe
restrictions on internationals entering the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
This week, Israeli forces arrested two members of the International Solidarity
Movement in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour. They have also imposed restrictions on entry of international into the
Gaza Strip. Internationals have been
required to submit to a number of measures before being allowed into Gaza,
including signing a declaration exempting Israel from responsibility for death,
injury or any damage that they may incur while in the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities have restricted access to
tourists, journalists, humanitarian and human rights workers and medical
personnel, making some individuals wait up to 9 hours for access from the Gaza
Strip into Israel and similar periods when traveling into Gaza as well. The
policy’s objective is to prevent internationals from witnessing the daily
crimes that are perpetrated by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians in
the Gaza Strip. It is worth noting that
Israeli forces killed an American solidarity activist and a British journalist
in Rafah (see PCHR’s press releases of 17 March and 3 May 2003).
In
violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective
punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of
Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces. In
this context, they destroyed 2 houses in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun and the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya.
Israeli
occupying forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one
another. They have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separate zones and
have restricted the movement of people and goods and have also maintained
curfews on some areas in the West Bank. Israeli occupying authorities
have prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 8 May 2003
Early in the morning, medical sources at Shifa’
Hospital in Gaza City declared that a Palestinian woman, Ekram Barham Salman
Qudaih, 23, from Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis, died from a wound
inflicted by Israeli occupying forces two weeks prior. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
08:30 on Tuesday, 29 April 2003, Israeli occupying
forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khuza’a village, opened
fire at some Palestinian farmers who were cultivating wheat from their
lands. Two women, including Qudaih, were
wounded. Qudiah was seriously wounded by
a live bullet in the neck and was moved into the intensive care unit at Shifa’
Hospital.
Also in the morning, medical sources at Rafidya
Hospital in Nablus declared that Ahmed Saif Khader al-Hamshari, 14, from
Tulkram, died from a previous wound he had sustained by Israeli occupying
forces. According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 16:30 on Monday, 3 March 2003, Israeli
occupying forces moved into al-Balawna neighborhood in Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and
civilians. Soon, a number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles. Israeli soldiers fired at the boys wounding
4, including al-Hamshari, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
head. He remained in the hospital until
the time of his death.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 600m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They
remained in the are until 20:00, and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ref’at Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Salem Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nazem Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
4. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nazmi Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
5. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
6. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with fruits and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Samir Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
7. They
uprooted 15 palm trees and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed
Khamis Khalil Sha’at.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and helicopters and covered by intense
shelling, moved approximately 1500m into al-Mahatta area, east of Deir
al-Balah. They called on residents of
the area via megaphones to vacate the premises. Soon after, Israeli military bulldozers started demolishing a number of
Palestinian houses and razing areas of agricultural land without permitting the
families to remove their belongings. Israeli military bulldozers remained in the area until Friday morning, 9
May 2003, and demolished 10 Palestinian houses and razed 4 donums of
agricultural land:
1. They
totally demolished a 270-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by ‘Abdullah Tawfiq
Rabah al-Khald, in which 6 families (37 people) lived.
2. They
totally demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Nabil Sa’id Hussein
al-‘Adini in which 7 people lived.
3. They
totally demolished a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Sa’id
Mohammed al-Qurainawi, in which 4 families (19 people) lived.
4. They
totally demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed uninhabited house owned
by ‘Abed Rabbu Saleh ‘Aabed Abu ‘Aazem.
5. They
totally demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed uninhabited house owned
by Yousef Suleiman al-Louh.
6. They
partially demolished a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3
families (19 people) live, and an animal yard, and razed a 500-square-meter
area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms owned by ‘Aatef
Mohammed ‘Atallah al-‘Abeet.
7. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, iron-roofed house owned by ‘Abed Rabbu
‘Eid Sa’id al-‘Adini, in which 5 families (13 people) live.
8. They
partially demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned ‘Emad ‘Eid
Sa’id al-‘Adini, in which 4 people live.
9. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, iron-roofed house owned by Mohammed
‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Adini, in which 2 families (10 people) live.
10. They partially demolished a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, owned by Ahmed Kamel ‘Atallah
al-‘Abeed, in which 7 people live.
11. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives, palms and lemons owned by ‘Eid Sa’id
Hussein al-‘Adini.
12. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with palms, and destroyed a 200-square-meter barracks
of agricultural equipment, an agricultural pool and 2 water tanks owned by
Mahmoud ‘Ouda Abu Samra.
13. They demolished a 20-square-meter
garage and destroyed a car (a 1983 Peugeot 504), owned by ‘Aatef Sa’id Husein
al-‘Adini.
14. They destroyed an animal yard owned by
Zayed Sa’id Hussein al-‘Adini.
15. They demolished an agricultural room
and a water motor owned by Mar’ei Abu Samra.
At approximately 21:00, an Israeli tank took position
on a hill west of Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Israeli soldiers on the tank opened fire at
Palestinian houses and streets in the neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul Karim Jamil
‘Afana, 22, was killed by a live bullet in the chest, while he was in al-Nuzha
Street, approximately 600m away from the source of fire.
Friday, 9 May, 2003
As part of the aggressive measures being taken
against members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), at
approximately 10:30, dozens of Israeli soldiers, border police and civilian
police officers raided the Beit Sahour offices of the Palestinian Centre for
Rapprochement and the International Solidarity Movement. Israeli soldiers cut
the telephone wires and computers cables and arrested those inside: ISM member,
Kristine Line, 28, an American citizen; Australian citizen Miranda Sissons, 27,
a Human Rights Watch researcher who was making a routine visit to the premises;
and PCR’s secretary Fida’ Shafiq Eskandar Gharib, 23. The three were taken in military vehicles to
an Israeli military location in Beit Shahour and were transferred an hour later
to an Israeli interrogation center. Gharib was released after the interrogation,
but Line and Sissons were moved to a security facility pending deportation.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 600m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They razed more areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They razed a 7-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Yousef Mahdi Mohammed al-Banna.
2. They razed a 2.5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Hassan Mahdi Mohammed al-Banna.
3. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by al-Sayed Mahdi Mohammed al-Banna.
4. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Zuhair Salman Hamdan al-Masri.
5. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Mohammed al-Akhras.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including two bulldozers, moved
approximately 800m into the east of Beit Hanoun. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They razed a 15-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by the family of Ahmed Nafe’ Abu
‘Aabed.
2. They razed a 7-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Ibrahim Ahmed Nafe‘.
3. They razed a 20-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Suleiman Mohammed al-Shami.
4. They razed a 7-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Jamal Mohammed al-Qarra.
Saturday, 10 May 2003
At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 600m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed more areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and a 100-meter-long
row of wild figs owned by Ahmed Suleiman ‘Ali al-Najjar.
2. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and a
50-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Mohammed Suleiman ‘Ali al-Najjar.
3. They
razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds, olives and
wheat and a 100-meter-long row of wild figs, and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Khalil Hamdan al-Najjar.
4. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and a
50-meter-long row of wild figs owned by ‘Atiya Mahmoud Hamed Abu ‘Ali.
5. They
razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Naji
Mahmoud Ahmed al-Barrim.
At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces,
accompanied by two military bulldozers, moved approximately 1km into the east
of Beit Hanoun. They razed more areas of
Palestinian agricultural land including:
1. A
14-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Hamed Bakeer
al-Yazji.
2. A
6-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Subhi Mohammed
al-Yazji.
Sunday, 11 May 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer and covered by
intense shelling, moved approximately 200m into Khan Yunis refugee camp. They leveled the remains of 3 Palestinian
houses they had partially demolished in February and March 2003. The houses belonged to Ibrahim Abu ‘Awadh,
Khaled Abu Louz and the family of Hassan Abu Zaid. The west facing façade of a 150-square-meter,
two-storey house owned by Nabil and Jaber ‘Ali Abu Shuqair, in which 2 families
(14 people) live, was severely damaged by the Israeli shelling. Three hours later, Israeli forces withdrew
from the area, covered by intense shelling. A Palestinian civilian, Ziad ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu Shuqair, 25, was injured
by shrapnel in the left ear.
At approximately 16:45, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with two tanks, 3 armored personnel carriers and two helicopters and
covered by intense gunfire, moved into Jabal Abu Zhuhair and Khellat al-Souha
in the west of Jenin. A Palestinian child, Ahmed Jamal Rahhal, 10, was
wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. Israeli forces arrested 3 allegedly wanted Palestinians and then
withdrew from the two areas.
Monday, 12 May 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved approximately
200m into al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods in the south of Rafah, adjacent
to the border with Egypt. Until 06:00,
Israeli forces destroyed 3 Palestinian houses totally and 6 others partially:
1. They totally demolished a
150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Mohammed Suleiman Mohammed Abu
Mohsen, in which 3 families (15 people) lived.
2. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, owned by Ibrahim ‘Abdullah Ibrahim Abu
‘Abada, in which 3 families (11 people) lived.
3. They totally demolished a
250-square-meter house, in which 2 families owned by Nassar Hussein Mohammed
al-Sha’er (12 people) lived.
4. They partially demolished a
220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by
‘Abdul Ghani ‘Abdul Rahim Abu al-Fool.
5. They partially demolished a
150-square-meter house, in which 9 people live, owned by Nazhir Zuhdi Yousef al-Jammal.
6. They partially demolished a
300-square-meter house, in which 11 people lived, owned by Talal ‘Abdul Hamid
Hassan Timraz.
7. They partially demolished a
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 people live, owned by
Mohammed ‘Atiya Majed al-Tahrawi.
8. They partially demolished a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people live, owned by Kamal
Mohammed ‘Ali Abu Mutair.
9. They partially demolished a
200-square-meter house, in which 9 people live, owned by Sami Rajab Fayez Abu
Taha.
Israeli forces also razed a 40-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Musleh ‘Abdul Hamid Qeshta.
In al-Brazil neighborhood, at approximately 04:00, a
number of Palestinian resistance men clashed with the invading Israeli forces
who opened intense fire. Two resistance
men were killed:
1. Mohammed
‘Abdullah Abu ‘Armana, 19, hit by several live bullets throughout the body; and
2. Salim
Saleh al-‘Arja, 20, hit by a live bullet in the neck.
Tuesday, 14 May 2003
At approximately 17:00, Israeli
occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses
in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A
Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Fu’ad Tawfiq Barbakh, 22, was wounded by a live
bullet in the abdomen, while he was walking in the neighborhood, approximately
500m away from the source of fire.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved
approximately 500m into the east of Beit Hanoun. They razed large areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Mohammed ‘Ali ‘Ouda.
2. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Subhi ‘Abed Salama Sa’ada.
3. They razed an 8-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Mohammed Ahmed ‘Awdallah Sa’ada.
4. They razed a 3.5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Isma’il ‘Awdhallah Sa’ada.
5. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by ‘Abdullah ‘Awadallah Sa’ada.
6. They razed a 5-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Harb Rashid Abu ‘Ouda.
7. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Sami Ibrahim Sa’ada.
8. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Shehada Ibrahim Sa’ada.
9. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ahmed Ibrahim Sa’ada.
10. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Ibrahim Sa’ada.
11. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Sa’ada.
12. They razed a 7-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Mohammed Mohammed Ibrahim
al-Masri.
13. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Shahin Ramadan al-Masri.
14. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Ramzi Hammouda Ramadan Hamad.
15. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Farouq Ahmed al-Qaraman.
16. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Mohammed Ahmed al-Qaraman.
17. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by So’ud Ahmed al-Qaraman.
18. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Sultan Ahmed al-Qaraman.
19. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by ‘Ali Ahmed al-Qaraman.
20. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by ‘Awadh Mohammed Ahmed al-Qaraman.
21. They razed a 12-donum area of
agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Jamal Yousef al-Qaraman and
brothers.
In a serious escalation in military activity, Israeli
occupying forces invaded Khan Yunis refugee camp reinforced with more than 100
heavy military vehicles and supported by Apache gunships. The 4-hour military
operation left 26 Palestinian houses totally destroyed and more than 30 others
damaged. The operation was accompanied by intense shelling of Palestinian
residential areas, terrifying innocent Palestinian civilians, especially
children, women and old and handicapped people, who escaped from their homes in
search of refuge. Approximately 20 Palestinians, including 6 children,
were also wounded.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
21:30 on Tuesday, 13 May 2003, more than 30 Israeli heavy military vehicles,
including 3 bulldozers, moved into al-Sad al-‘Aali and al-Qatatwa in the
northwest and west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. The Israeli military vehicles
moved from two directions: from the so-called “al-Nouria” military
location, west of the camp, and from military locations in the vicinity of al-Tuffah
military checkpoint and “Neve Dekalim” settlement. Two US-made
Apache gunships flew over the area to cover the incursion. Israeli forces
also fired flare bombs. According to eyewitnesses, dozens of Israeli
tanks moved from other directions and surrounded the entire Khan Yunis
district.
Israeli occupying forces shelled houses in al-Sad
al-‘Aali and al-Qatatwa areas. Israeli forces
deployed in the quarter inhabited by the Abu Mustafa family
and called on the residents of the area through megaphones to evacuate their
houses, signaling that they would be demolished. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in two houses belonging to the
Abu Mustafa family and detonated them:
1. A 250-square-meter, 3-storey house, in
which 3 families (24 people) lived, owned
by ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa; and
2. A 220-square-meter, 3-storey house, in
which 2 families (16 people) lived, owned
by Isma’il Hussein Hassan Abu Mustafa.
As a result, 11 neighboring houses were totally
destroyed:
1. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 17 people lived, owned by ‘Abed Rabbu Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa;
2. An 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 1 persons lived, owned by Ra’ed Saleh Ibrahim Abu Mustafa;
3. A 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 11 people lived, owned by Saleh Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa;
4. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 3 people lived, owned by Ayman ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim Abu Mustafa;
5. A 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 4 people lived, owned by Anwar ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim Abu Mustafa;
6. A 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 6 people lived, owned by ‘Abdul Karim Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa;
7. A 50-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 1 person lived, owned by Zainab Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa;
8. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 10 people lived, owned by ‘Abdullah Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu Mustafa;
9. A 110-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 4 people lived, owned by Suleiman Salama Abu Mustafa;
10.A
100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 people lived, owned by
Akram ‘Abdul Karim Abu Mustafa; and
11.A
144-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 7 people lived, owned by ‘Ali
Ibrahim ‘Abdullah Abu Mustafa.
In addition, more than 30 others
were severely damaged. Soon after,
Israeli military bulldozers totally demolished 9 houses and 2 others partially:
1. They totally demolished a
250-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 2 families (25 people) lived,
owned by Ramzi and Khaled Shehada Abu Sahloul.
2. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 2 families (12 people) lived,
owned by Nahedh and Rami Shehada Abu Sahloul.
3. They totally demolished a
130-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Mohammed
Samri Ibrahim al-Aa’raj.
4. They totally demolished a
180-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 10 people lived, owned by ‘Aqab
Samri al-Aa’raj.
5. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 2 families (11 people) lived,
owned by Ra’fat and Mahmoud ‘Ali al-Aa’raj.
6. They totally demolished a
130-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Ayman
‘Atiya Mohammed Abu Sahloul.
7. They totally demolished a
180-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 2 families (16 people) lived, owned
by Sa’id Samri al-Aa’raj.
8. They totally demolished a
250-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 3 families (16 people) lived,
owned by Ahmed ‘Ali al-Aa’raj.
9. They totally demolished a
100-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Akram
Samri al-Aa’raj.
10.They
partially demolished a 100-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 8 people
lived, owned by Khaled Ibrahim Joma’a Abu Nemer.
11.They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 11 people
lived, owned by Ra’fat ‘Ali Ibrahim al-Aa’raj.
The electricity and telephone towers and branch roads
on al-Bahar Street, the refugee camp’s main street, were severely
damaged.
In al-Qatatwa area in the west of the camp, Israeli
occupying forces demolished 6 houses:
1. They totally demolished an
80-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 5 people lived, owned by Nasser
Jaber Abu Zarqa.
2. They totally demolished an
80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people lived, owned by Salem
Hussein Abu Zarqa.
3. They totally demolished a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families (13 people) lived, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Zayed Abu
‘Obaida.
4. They totally demolished a
250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed uninhabited house owned by Jihad Hussein Abu
Mousa.
5. They partially demolished a
100-square-meter house, in which 2 families (14 people)
lived, owned by ‘Ali Suleiman Ibrahim Abu Zarqa.
6. They partially demolished a
100-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 2 families (20 people) lived, owned by ‘Ali Jaber Mohammed Abu
Khurais.
They also fired a shell at a store of foodstuffs
located below a 5-storey apartment building owned by Fayez ‘Ouda Abu ‘Akar. The store was severely damaged and four Palestinian civilians
were also wounded by the Israeli shelling.
At approximately 23:45, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched a missile at about 50 Palestinian civilians, including women and
children, who had escaped from their home to seek refuge when they
thought that Israeli forces had withdrawn from the area. As a result, 16 civilians, including 6 children, were injured. One of
them, ‘Alaa’ Mohammed Madhi, 16, sustained serious injuries. According to residents of the two areas, Israeli
occupying forces withdrew at approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 14 May 2003,
leaving widespread destruction. According to medical sources, ambulances faced
difficulties in attending the wounded as Israeli forces were firing
indiscriminately.
Wednesday, 14 May 2003
Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot
dead 3 Palestinians, including 2 security men, in al-Mughraqa village, south of
Gaza City, and injured 2 others.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
01:00, 15 Israeli soldiers moved approximately 1km into al-Mughraqa village,
south of Gaza City. They took position
approximately 150m north of the location of the Palestinian National Security
Force. Four Palestinian security men got
out of the site to check what was going on. When they saw the Israeli soldiers, they attempted to confront them. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
the Palestinian security men, killing two:
1. Mohammed
Khalil Thabet, 22, from Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip; and
2. Mohammed
Mustafa Wishah, 24, from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.
When the gunfire stopped, Fadel ‘Aashour Abu ‘Otaiwi,
24, a member of a Palestinian resistance group, left his house, assuming that
the Israeli soldiers had withdrawn from the area. However, the soldiers were still within the
vicinity of his home and he was killed during a skirmish. Israeli soldiers then opened fire
indiscriminately in the area, wounding two Palestinians:
1. Shadi
Jawad Siam, 30, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, wounded by
a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2. Mahdi
‘Aaref al-Wehaidi, 37, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the old town of Nablus and opened fire at Palestinian houses. A number of Palestinian resistance men
confronted the Israeli forces. A Palestinian resistance man, Tayseer Yousef ‘Abdul Rahim Abu Shihab,
22, was killed by a live bullet in the chest.
At noon, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin
and its refugee camp to arrest allegedly wanted Palestinians. They opened fire
at Palestinian houses. Six Palestinian
civilians –
5 children and a woman – were wounded. Two of the wounded were in a serious condition, and one of them, Dhia’
Nassif Qawadri, 14, who was wounded by a live bullet in the neck, was later
pronounced dead at hospital. Israeli
forces also arrested 3 Palestinians.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments against Palestinian political and field activists of the
Intifada, on Thursday, 8 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces
assassinated a Hamas activist in Gaza City. Another Palestinian from Tulkarm died from an injury he had previously
sustained during an assassination attempt carried out by Israeli occupying
forces.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
12:15 on Thursday, 8 May 2003, two Israeli Apache gunships
were seen flying over Gaza City. A few minutes later, the helicopters
launched 4 missiles at a civilian car (a white Peugeot 205) traveling along
Bour Sa’id Street, off al-Wehda Street, towards the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood
in the north of Gaza City. Two missiles hit the car, destroying it and
killing the driver. The other two missiles landed in the street, but no
casualties were reported. The driver was later identified as Eyad ‘Eissa
al-Baik, 27, from Jabalya refugee camp.
In the last 45 days, 18 Palestinians, including 10
non-targeted individuals, have been killed in assassinations by the Israeli
occupying forces.
On Monday morning, 12 May 2003, Malek Zuhdi Salim
Yassin, 63, from Tulkarm, was pronounced dead in a Saudi hospital from a
previously sustained injury.
According to information available
to PCHR, on Thursday, 6 September 2001, Israeli occupying forces assassinated
‘Omar Mahmoud Subeh, 22, from Tulkram, and Mustafa ‘Aahed ‘Anbas, 19, from
Tulkarm refugee camp. At approximately 12:20, an Israeli combat
helicopter launched 3 missiles at a civilian car, in which the victims were traveling,
at the eastern entrance of Tulkarm. The car was hit by 2 missiles and the
two were killed instantly. The third missile fell onto the street,
wounding a number of Palestinian civilians. Two passengers, Ra’ed
Mohammed El-Karmi, 26, from Tulkarm, and Hazem Wa’el Subhi Khattab, 20, were
injured. Three passing Palestinian civilians were also injured. One of them was Yassin who was injured by
shrapnel in the face and the abdomen. He
was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, and from there he was transferred
to a Saudi Hospital, where he remained until his death.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Thursday, 8 May 2003
At approximately 01:30, Israeli soldiers at al-Tuffah
checkpoint leading into al-Mawasi area in the west of Khan Yunis opened fire at
a Palestinian civilian who was near the checkpoint. He was wounded by several live bullets
throughout the body. He bled to death as
Israeli soldiers did not offer him any medical aid. The Israeli liaison forces then contacted
their Palestinian counterparts about the incident. Soon, a Palestine Red Crescent Society
ambulance moved towards the area. According to the medical personnel, they found the body of a young man who
was wearing a white robe, approximately 30m away from the Israeli military checkpoint. There were no weapons located near the body.
Israeli soldiers took the body from the medical personnel and it was delivered
back to the medical personnel again at approximately 06:30. Approximately 6 hours later, the victim was
identified as Mohammed ‘Ata Hafez, 18, from Gizan al-Najjar area in the south
of Khan Yunis. According to his family,
he was known to have mental health problems.
Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources on its Arabic web
page as saying that “Israeli forces fired at a Palestinian who got
suspiciously close to a military checkpoint west of Khan Yunis.” However, Israeli forces could have used less
lethal means against the young man.
In an apparent willful killing, at noon, Israeli soldiers
at a military checkpoint north of Nablus shot dead a 34-year-old Palestinian
civilian. According to information
available to PCHR, a number of Palestinian civilians, including teachers,
gathered near a roadblock of the Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17) in
the north of Nablus, on the road linking between the city and ‘Asira
village. Israeli soldiers had already
erected a military checkpoint, approximately 200m away and denied Palestinian
civilians passage after holding their identity cards. A teacher, Ensaf al-Risha went towards
Israeli soldiers and asked them to allow the passage of female teachers, but
they refused. An Israeli soldier also
asked her to tell Zaher Hamad As’ad al-Shouli, 34, from ‘Asira village, north
of Nablus, that he would be killed. Al-Shouli used to transport goods on his donkey and guide people on
mountain roads. At approximately 13:30,
while the teacher was on her way to the gathering of civilians, she heard the
sound of a live bullet coming from the Israeli military checkpoint. Immediately, al-Shouli fell onto the
ground. He was evacuated in a taxi to
Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but he succumbed to his wound on the way to
hospital. According to medical sources,
al-Shouli was hit by a live bullet that entered the neck and settled in the
chest. According to eyewitnesses, the
Israeli soldier who fired the live bullet was approached and asked why he had
killed a human being, but he replied that he only fired a live bullet in the air. Shortly after that, the soldier threw down
the identity cards he had collected and went to a military location on Jarzim
Mount, north of Nablus. According to
eyewitnesses, the soldier fired at al-Shouli from a distance of less than 200m. On the previous day, Wednesday, 7 May 2003,
an Israeli soldier at the same checkpoint had threatened al-Shouli that he
would kill him if he continued to transport goods and guide people.
Monday, 12 May 2003
At approximately 07:00, Israeli soldiers on a tank
positioned on a hill inside “Tal Qatif” settlement, northwest of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian farmers who were cultivating wheat on their
agricultural land in al-Satar al-Gharbi area, approximately 150m east of the
settlement. One of the farmers, Hassan
Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal, 18, was wounded by several live bullets, while the
other farmers were able to escape. Residents of the area hurried towards the agricultural lands when they
realized that a young man was wounded. One of them, Ahmed Samir Ahmed al-Astal, 31, moved towards the wounded
man. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired
at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the left hand, forcing him to
retreat. About 40 minutes later, medical
personnel were permitted to reach the area. They evacuated the young man to hospital, but he was dead. According to medical sources, the victim
received 5 live bullets in the chest, the abdomen and the limbs.
Collective
Punishment against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried
out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation
of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment,
Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who
have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 02:30 on Saturday, 10 May 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 1km into the northern Gaza Strip
town of Beit Hanoun. Immediately,
Israeli soldiers surrounded 200-square-meter house, in which 7 people live, owned by Mahmoud ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mohammed
al-Zwaidi. They broke into the house and
forced its residents out without allowing them to remove their belongings. They also ordered residents of neighboring
house through megaphones to get out and leave the area. Then, Israeli soldiers planted explosives
inside the house. At approximately
04:20, they destroyed the house, causing severe damage to 6 neighboring houses. Israeli occupying forces claim that the
owner’s son, Hussam, is wanted.
On Tuesday morning, 13 May 2003, Israeli occupying
forces raided al-Zawia village, southeast of Qalqilya. They surrounded a 160-square-meter house, in
which 10 people live, owned by Rashid ‘Abdullah ‘Olayan Mawqeda. They forced the family out without allowing the
removal of furniture. Then, Israeli
soldiers planted explosives inside the house and detonated it. Mawqeda is the father of Ra’fat Mawqeda, a
Hamas activist who was arrested in October 2002, while on his way to carry out
a bombing in a café in Tel Aviv.
* *
* * *
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to
protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in
accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146, to ensure
respect for the Convention.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute before international courts those believed to have
committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout
the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
