· 16 Palestinian civilians, including five children and
three women, killed by Israeli occupying forces
· A series of Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas
in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, accompanied by intense shelling and a
number of Palestinians killed or wounded
· Two new assassinations in Jenin and Bethlehem and
three Palestinians killed
· Large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the
Gaza Strip razed
· Continued Israeli retaliatory campaign against
families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against
Israeli targets
· Continued strict siege on the OPTs and arbitrary
measures at military checkpoints
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces
have committed further human rights violations against Palestinian civilians,
including apparent willful killings, extra-judicial assassinations,
indiscriminate shelling, and incursions into Palestinian areas and the razing
of agricultural land. This week, 16 Palestinian civilians, including five
children and three women were killed.
In a continuation of the
policy of assassinations, officially adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli
occupying forces committed two assassinations this week in Jenin and Bethlehem,
in which three Palestinians were killed. On 13 October, a Palestinian was killed when an explosion occurred in a
telephone cabin. An Israeli helicopter
was seen flying over the area shortly before the explosion occurred. Later, an Israeli military spokesman admitted
responsibility for the assassination. On
14 October, Israeli occupying forces shot dead two Palestinians and arrested a
third one, while they were traveling in a car on a branch road near Jenin.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli
occupying forces committed human rights violations against Palestinian
civilians in Rafah. This week, Israeli
forces moved into the town on two occasions, killing four Palestinian
civilians, including a 3-year-old child, and wounding dozens of others. They also destroyed four houses and
demolished eight others. In the first
invasion of the town on 10 October, Israeli occupying forces shot dead two
Palestinian civilians and destroyed and demolished six houses. A number of houses were also damaged. In the second invasion on 13 October, Israeli
occupying forces killed two Palestinian civilians, and wounded more than 20
others. They also destroyed and
demolished six houses, and arrested 10 Palestinian civilians. A number of houses were damaged. On 16 October, Israeli occupying forces
shelled the town intensely, killing a Palestinian civilian and wounding 14
others, mostly children.
In five incidents of
apparent willful killing, this week, Israeli occupying forces shot dead five
Palestinian civilians. On 12 October,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian farmer in ‘Abasan village,
east of Khan Yunis. In the evening of
the same day, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian woman in Nablus
and wounded her husband and son. On 13
October, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian woman in Jenin, while
she was traveling in a car on her way back to her village. On 13 and 15 October, Israeli occupying
forces shot dead two Palestinian civilians in Tulkarm.
In a step apparently aimed
at destroying the Palestinian economy and with the season of olive cultivation
having just started, Israeli occupying forces razed hundreds of donums of
Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives in the Gaza Strip.
In violation of the
international law and humanitarian law which prohibit collective punishment,
Israeli occupying forces took retaliatory measures against families of wanted
Palestinians and of those who have carried attacks against Israeli targets both
inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In
this context, Israeli occupying forces destroyed three Palestinian houses this
week, and used a Palestinian civilian as a human shield to arrest a wanted
Palestinian.
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. In the Gaza Strip, on 14 and 15 October, Israeli
occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen military checkpoints, north of
Khan Yunis. They blocked cars between
the two checkpoints, checked a number of Palestinian civilians, and arrested
three of them. Between 7 to 15 October,
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a curfew on al-Mawasi area to
the west of Khan Yunis. Many people who
exited the area before the curfew was imposed have been blocked outside the
area.
Following are details of
the human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces during the
period 10-16 October 2002:
Thursday, 10 October 2002
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported
by combat helicopters, moved approximately 200m into Block J in Rafah refugee
camp in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli
combat helicopters and heavy military vehicles shelled the area intensely. Israeli forces imposed a curfew and raided
several houses. They proceeded to
destroy two houses causing damage to a number of neighboring houses, and
expelling the occupants. In the
meantime, Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished four houses and
destroyed electricity, water and telephone networks. As a result of the Israeli shelling, four
Palestinian civilians were wounded while inside their houses, as an artillery
shell hit the 130-square-meter, two-story house leaving it burnt out. Three
families, making up 15 people, lived in the building, which is owned by Ibrahim
Mohammed Ahmed Barhoum. Residents of the house had left it when the Israeli
invasion began. At approximately 07:00,
the Israeli forces started withdrawing from the area, under the cover of
intense shelling. A Palestinian child,
Tha’er Salah al-Hout, 12, was killed by a live bullet in the left eye, while on
his way to school. At approximately
08:00, Israeli forces completed their withdrawal from the area although
shelling continued for some time afterwards. Palestinian civilians left their houses to examine the damage left by
the incursion. A number of them gathered near al-Tawhid Mosque, approximately
70m away from the border. Israeli
occupying forces opened fire at the gathering, killing 18-year-old Eihab Fathi
al-Moghayar, with a bullet in his back.
The following are details
of the houses that were either destroyed or demolished by Israeli occupying
forces in the area:
1. Israeli
forces destroyed a 250 square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people used
to live, owned by Yahia Hassan Khalil al-Masri.
2. Israeli
forces destroyed a 247 square-meter, one-story house, in which three families
comprised of 20 persons used to live, owned by Ibrahim ‘Atallah Abu Sha’ar.
3. Israeli
bulldozers demolished an 80 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which one
person used to live, owned by ‘Aaisha Suleiman Ahmed al-Tantawi.
4. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 100 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two
persons used to live, owned by Eyad ‘Ouda Mohammed Khafaja.
5. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 120 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which nine
persons used to live, owned by Fatema ‘Abdul Nabi al-Sheikh ‘Eid.
6. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 150 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which two
families comprised of eight people used to live, owned by ‘Eid ‘Aaref ‘Abdul
Jalil Hussein.
Those wounded were:
1. Yasser
Mohammed al-Hams, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
2. Mohammed
Mousa Abu Jazar, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh;
3. Mahmoud Mousa
‘Aashour, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the head; and
4. Shadi
Mohammed al-Soufi, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.
With
the apparent intention of further weakening the Palestinian economy, as the
season of olive cultivation began, Israeli occupying forces continued their
campaign of razing areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives,
which they initiated on 7 October. Up until Sunday 13 October, Israeli
occupying forces razed more than 600 donums of agricultural land planted with
olives, located east of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip, some of which were
documented in last week’s report. Five
wells were also destroyed. Following are
details of the areas of agricultural ground razed by Israeli occupying forces,
which PCHR field workers were able to document:
1. Israeli
occupying forces razed a 22-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives
and citrus, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Daoud Mohammed Khader,
his brothers ‘Ali and Ibrahim and his niece Fatema Mahmoud Khader.
2. They razed a
3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Nabi Mohammed Fadhel al-Bursh.
3. They razed an
8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned “Mohammed ‘Eissa” Dhib ‘Abdullah Hamada.
4. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Mahani.
5. They razed a
4.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Ahmed ‘Alloush.
6. They razed a
5.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Ali Yassin al-Sultan.
7. They razed a
6-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Talal Musbah al-Zain.
8. They razed a
1.4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ziad Ahmed ‘Abdul Rahman Khader.
9. They razed an
11-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Mahani.
10. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mohammed Hassan ‘Abdul Rahman Abu al-Husni.
11. They razed a
1.4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Hosn Hassan ‘Abdul Rahman Abu al-Husni.
12. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Mustafa Hassan ‘Abdul Rahman Abu al-Husni.
13. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Joma’a Hassan ‘Abdul Rahman Abu al-Husni.
14. They razed a
1.4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Fatema Hassan ‘Abdul Rahman al-Husni.
15. They razed a
4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Shukri ‘Abdullah
‘Elwan.
16. They razed a
4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Khair ‘Abdullah
‘Elwan.
17. They razed a
3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Kamela, Huda and
Ne’ma ‘Abdullah ‘Elwan.
18. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Khadra Ahmed
Mohammed ‘Elwan.
19. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Farah Mousa
Nnabhan.
20. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Ata Nousa
Nabhan.
21. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Aatef Mousa
Nabhan.
22. They razed a
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Abdullah
Mohammed Rihan.
23. They razed a
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hamed Mohammed
Hamdi al-Jamal.
24. They razed a
2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Jamal ‘Aayesh
Joma’a al-Najjar.
25. They razed a
2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hhammouda
Joma’a al-Najjar.
26. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mohammed Joma’a
al-Najjar.
27. They razed a
1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Fathi
al-Najjar.
28. They razed a
6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Aayesh Abu
Warda.
29. They razed a
6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ahmed Abu Warda.
30. They razed a
15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by ‘Arafa Sultan Mohammed Madani.
31. They razed a
7-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Salem Salama Suleiman and brothers.
32. They razed a
1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
agricultural pool and a greenhouse owned by ‘Ouda Salama Suleiman.
33. They razed a
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed a well
owned by Shehda Mustafa Abu al-Kas.
34. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Shehda Abu
‘Obeid.
35. They razed a
2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Zaki Ramadan
‘Omar Juneid.
36. They razed a
1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hafez Ramadan
Juneid.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of the
“Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood. Ibrahim ‘Abdul Fattah Huneideq, 15, was
wounded by a live bullet in the foot, while he was near his house.
At approximately 17:00,
medical sources in ‘Affoula Hospital inside the Green Line, declared that Bader
Bader Rashed ‘Amru, 30, from Hebron, succumbed to a wound he sustained by
Israeli occupying forces a week earlier. According to information available for PCHR, at approximately 06:00 on
Friday, 4 October, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Jenin and took
position in Abu Baker Street. They opened
fire at passing Palestinians, wounding ‘Amru, a member of the Palestinian
National Security Force, with two live bullets to the head and the right
shoulder. He was traveling in his car
wearing civilian clothes when he was wounded. He was evacuated to a hospital in Jenin, and from there he was moved to
Affoula Hospital, where he has remained until his death.
Friday, 11 October 2002
At
approximately 03:00, medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza City declared
that Tariq ‘Abdul Karim Qudieh, 22, from Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis,
succumbed to a wound he sustained in the head by Israeli forces last week. Qudeih was pronounced clinically dead. He was
hit by shrapnel in the head when an Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile
at Palestinian civilians, who gathered after an Israeli invasion of the town,
leaving a total of 15 Palestinian civilians dead.
At approximately 14:00,
medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Fathia ‘Abdullah
Joma’a al-Soufi, 43, from Rafah, succumbed to a wound she sustained
approximately two weeks ago. According
to PCHR’s investigation, al-Soufi was seriously wounded in the head on 30
September, when a flare bomb fired by Israeli occupying forces hit her house in
Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. The flare bomb penetrated the roof of her
house and hit her in the head while she was making breakfast for her
children.
Saturday, 12 October 2002
In an apparent willful
killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian farmer in ‘Abasan
village, east of Khan Yunis. According
to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 09:00, Israeli soldiers on a tank,
positioned on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of ‘Abasan village,
opened fire at a number of Palestinian farmers and workers, who were working on
stabling water pipelines on a tract of agricultural land in al-Farrahin area,
owned by Salim ‘Abdul Rahman Qudieh, approximately 600m west of the
border. ‘Arafat Salim Qudeih, 21, the
owner’s son, was seriously wounded by a bullet to head. He was evacuated in a civilian car to
hospital, but was dead upon arrival.
In a similar incident, at
approximately 19:00, while four Israeli military jeeps were patrolling in (15)
Street in Rafidya neighborhood in Nablus, a number of Palestinian children
gathered and swore at Israeli soldiers. Immediately, Israeli soldiers chased and fired at the children, killing
Shaden Abu Hajla, a well-known female figure in Nablus, with a live bullet in
the heart. In addition, her husband, Dr.
Jamal ‘Abdul Karim Abu Hajla, 64, was wounded by shrapnel in the head, and her
son, Sa’ed Abu Hajla, 32, was wounded by shrapnel in the chest. According to the son, three were hit by live
bullets while they were sitting in the garden of their house.
At approximately 21:00,
Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 500m into Boba’ area, west of
“Kfar Darom” settlement in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They razed a
5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleimna
Mohammed Abu Salim.
2. They razed a
1-donum area of agricultural land planted with carrots, and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Othman Salama Baraka.
Sunday, 13 October 2002
In a new war crime
committed by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians and their
property, at approximately 01:00, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy
military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 200m
into Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah. They seized control of the area and imposed a curfew. They ordered residents of the area to stay in
their houses, unless there were tunnels inside. Some residents were able to leave their houses, while others were not
given the opportunity to leave. Israeli
soldiers raided the houses and mounted roofs of some of them, transforming them
into military locations from which they fired around the area. Ibrahim Mohammed Yousef al-Ghouti, 26, was
killed by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen, while he was near his house
searching for a more secure place. In
addition, four civilians were wounded. At approximately 04:20, Israeli soldiers broke into two houses. They planted bombs inside and destroyed them
both. More than 20 neighboring houses
were damaged, and 2.5-year-old Tawfiq Hussam Bureika was killed, hit by
collapsing parts of his family’s house. In addition, 19 civilians, mostly women and children, including two
pregnant women, sustained bruises and injuries. Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli occupying forces demolished
four houses and razed 10 donums of agricultural land. They also arrested 10 Palestinians, including
five brothers. According to a PCHR field
worker, Israeli forces destroyed the electricity, water and telephone
networks. After Israeli forces had
withdrawn from the area, Palestinian civilians found a statement signed by the
command of Israeli occupying forces, calling for Palestinians not to aide
“terrorists” and claiming that the destruction they caused in the area
was because Palestinian gunmen were among local residents.
Following are details of
the houses in the area that were either destroyed or demolished by Israeli
occupying forces:[1]
1. Israeli
forces destroyed a 250 sqaure-meter, one-story house, in which five families
comprised of 20 persons used to live, owned by Ashraf Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aziz
Zo’rob.
2. Israeli
forces destroyed a 150 square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house, in which six people used to live, owned by Yasser
Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Zo’rob.
3. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 200 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which five
people used to live, owned by Hamda Mansour Hadian Duheir.
4. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 230 square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which seven
people used to live, owned by ‘Aliaa’ Mansour Hadian Duheir.
5. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 150 square-meter, two-story house, in which two people
used to live, owned by Sarari Joma’a ‘Abdul Qader Duheir.
6. Israeli
bulldozers demolished a 200 square-meter, one-story house, in which eight
people used to live, owned by Mohammed Mansour Hadian Duheir.
Following are details of
areas of agricultural land that were razed by Israeli occupying forces:
1. They razed a
1 donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse stood, owned by ‘Abdul
Hadi ‘Aashour Duheir.
2. They razed a
1 donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse stood, owned by
Mohammed Mansour Duheir.
3. They razed a
4 donum area of agricultural land, on which 4 greenhouses stood, owned by
Shaker Nasser Duheir.
4. They razed a
4 donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and onions owned by
Shehda Ahmed Zo’rob.
Those wounded by the
Israeli gunfire were:
1. Ramzi ‘Ali
Isma’il Zo’rob, 24, critically wounded by two live bullets in the chest and the
left forearm;
2. Refa’at
Mohammed Zo’rob, 23, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the right
arm;
3. ‘Aadel
Ibrahim Zo’rob, 37, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and
4. ‘Ammar
Ibrahim Zo’rob, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.
Those arrested by Israeli
occupying forces were:
1. Zuhair Sabri
Rajab Bureika, 45;
2. ‘Aatef Sabri
Rajab Bureika, 30;
3. Khaled Sabri
Rajab Bureika, 22;
4. Ghassan Sabri
Rajab Bureika, 30;
5. Mohammed
Sabri Rajab Bureika, 18;
6. Riad Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Zo’rob, 50;
7. ‘Alaa’ Riad
Hussein Zo’rob, 18;
8. Walid Salem
Zo’rob, 40;
9. Sami Mahmoud
Zo’rob, 30; and
10. Salim Ibrahim Saqer, 40.
At approximately 13:00,
Israeli forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m
into al-Farrahin area in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. Shortly an Israeli armored military bulldozer
demolished three bird farms that stood on a 800 square-meter of land owned by
Fu’ad Mohammed Ahmed Abu Farhana. It
also demolished a 40 square-meter building that served as offices, and destroyed
a water network and a number of water tanks. A PCHR field worker reported that the three farms had stopped working
for more than a year, as they had been repeatedly fired at by Israeli forces
from military locations on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip.
Also at approximately
13:00, a civilian car driven by Muthanna Mohammed Ahmed ‘Obied, in which 10
civilians were traveling, was on its way from Jenin Kufor Ra’ei village through
a branch road. When the car exited the
branch road towards the Nablus-Jenin road, a number of Israeli soldiers, who
were concealed in neighbouring fields, appeared and fired at the car without
any prior warning. Yusra ‘Abdul Rahman
Sawalha, 45, who was traveling in the car, was killed by a live bullet in the
chest. In addition two women were
wounded:
1. Samah ‘Aayed
Faleh Sa’abna, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the side; and
2. Rahma Rida
Mursehd, 55, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 15:00,
Israeli occupying forces from 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. Mahmoud Saleh al-Mubasher, 19, was wounded by
shrapnel in the left ear while he was near his house. Live bullets hit UNRWA elementary schools and
the Nasser Hospital building, damaging them, but no casualties were
reported. The hospital was shelled by
Israeli forces last week, and four Palestinian civilians, including two medical
personnel, were wounded.
At approximately 20:00,
Israeli occupying forces moved into the eastern part of Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones towards Israeli heavy military vehicles that were positioned 200m
away from them. Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 18-year-old Taher Mohammed
Hassan Qennab with a live bullet in the left leg. When he fell onto the ground, Israeli
soldiers fired at him again, killing him with three live bullets in the neck,
the chest and the right knee.
Monday, 14 October 2002
At approximately 18:30,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations at the eastern border of the
Gaza Strip, east of Beit Hanoun, shelled Palestinian residential areas adjacent
to the border. Manwa Salim Sa’id al-Tarabin,
50, was wounded by shrapel from a fletchette shell in the left leg. A PCHR field worker reported that the shell
penetrated the wall of a room in the house of ‘Alaal Dalloul, in which
al-Tarabin had sheltered, as her house is reputedly shelled by Israeli
forces.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli
occupying soldier on a moveable observation tower at the eastern border of the
Gaza Strip, east of ‘Abasan village in Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
residential areas and agricultural land. Suleiman Mahmoud Qassem, 17, was wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in
the right thigh, while he was in his house in Bani Suhaila village,
approximately 1500m from the border. A
number of houses were also damaged.
Tuesday, 15 October 2002
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 400m into al-Birka area in
the south of Deir al-Balah. An Israeli
armored military bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land listed
below.
1. It razed a
1.5 donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives, on which a
greenhouse stood, owned by Sha’ban ‘Abdul Karim al-Salqawi.
2. It razed a 1
donum area of agricultural land planted with onions owned Hassan Ahmed
al-Salqawi.
At approximately 23:30,
Israeli forces moved into the eastern district of Tulkarm. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and
threw stones towards Israeli forces, which responded by opening fire at the
stone throwers. Mahmoud Sabri Khalil
Tammouni, 18, was critically wounded by three live bullets in the abdomen. He was evacuated to hospital, but efforts
made to save his life were in vain.
Wednesday, 16 October 2002
At approximately 16:00,
Israeli forces in a military location near Salah al-Din Gate at the
Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian
residential areas adjacent to the border, wounding 15 Palestinian civilians in
their houses and on the street, one of whom succumbed to his wound later that
night. The Israeli gunfire, which
continued until 18:00, affected an UNRWA elementary school, approximately 1500m
north of the border. According to a PCHR
field officer, Ahmed Salama ‘Asfour, 53, was critically wounded by a heavy
caliber bullet in the head, while he was passing in ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab
Street, approximately 600m away from the border. He was going shopping in preparation for his
daughter’s wedding, which was to be held
this weekend. He was evacuated to Abu
Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah but so critical was his condition that he
was moved to the Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza, but all efforts made to save his life
failed and he succumbed to his wound at approximately 21:30.
The others wounded were:
1. Ahmed Salah
Abu Sha’ar, 12, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the left shoulder and the
chest while at school;
2. ‘Abdullah
Suleiman Radwan, 34, wounded by shrapnel in the right eye;
3. Akram Kamel
Darwish, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the back;
4. Ra’ed ‘Awni
Duheir, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
5. Ahmed Mahmoud
al-Sha’er, 3, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
6. Jamal Sha’ban
Radwan, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the right eye;
7. Hani ‘Ouda
al-Nahhal, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;
8. Khalil Khaled
Mansour, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the legs;
9. Mohammed
Mahmoud al-Nujili, 21, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the legs;
10. Jihad ‘Essam Hammad, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the
right leg;
11. Mahmoud Mohammed al-Sidoudi, 15, wounded by shrapnel
in the buttocks;
12. Mansour Mohammed Mo’ammar, 11, wounded by shrapnel in
the back;
13. Ghada Yousef Qeshta, 7, wounded by two live bullets
in the left leg; and
14. Lutfi Lutfi al-Barahma, 17, wounded by shrapnel in
the back.
In a continuation of the
policy of assassination officially adopted by the Israeli government, this
week, Israeli occupying forces committed two new assassinations, in which three
Palestinians were killed in Bethlehem and Jenin.
The first assassination
took place on Sunday evening, 13 October, in which Mohammed Taleb Eshteiwi
‘Ebayat, 27, from Bethlehem, was killed. According to information available for PCHR, ‘Ebayat went in the evening
to Beit Jala Hospital with his sick mother. At approximately 20:10, he exited the hospital to make a phone call from
a public phone. As soon as he entered the
phone cabin, a heavy explosion occurred and he was instantly killed. According to eyewitnesses, the sound of the
explosion was heard from a distance of several kilometers, while the explosion
threw ‘Ebayat’s body about 15m away from the phone cabin. An Israeli helicopter
was seen flying over the area shortly before the explosion occurred. Later, an Israeli military spokesman admitted
responsibility for assassinating ‘Ebayat, according to the Israeli radio in
Arabic. ‘Ebayat was wanted by Israeli
occupying forces for his activities in the Intiafada.
Less than 24 hours later,
Israeli occupying forces committed another assassination in Jenin. According to information available for PCHR,
at approximately 17:00 on Monday, 14 October, three Palestinians: Wassim Ahmed
Saba’na, 23; Mohammed Faisal Tawfiq Nazzal, 24, both from Jenin; and Mohammed
Nafe’ Mousa, 27, from Marka village, were traveling in a civilian car on branch
road between the villages of Kufor Qoud and Kafirat, southwest of Jenin. When they arrived in the al-Manshia area a
civilian car that had a Palestinian number intercepted them. Eight veiled and armed people, an undercover
unit of the Israeli occupying forces, got out of the car. Three Israeli helicopters flew over the area
and four Israeli armored personnel carriers arrived to reinforce the undercover
unit. At approximately 19:30, the
Israeli liaison phoned its Palestinian counterpart, informing that Israeli
forces killed two Palestinians, and requesting an ambulance to come to a
Israeli military base, south of Jenin, to retrieve the bodies. The two bodies were moved to hospital in
Jenin, where the two victims were identified as Wassim Ahmed Saba’ana, who was
shot by seven live bullets in the head, the chest, the back and the left
shoulder and leg, and Mohammed Mousa Nafe’, 27, who was shot by two live bullets
in the head and the chest. The third
Palestinian was seriously wounded and arrested. The three were activists of the Islamic
Jihad in Jenin.
Collective Punishment Measures
against Families of Palestinians Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international law and humanitarian
law, which prohibit collective punishment and punishing any protected person
for an offense he or she has not personally committed, Israeli occupying forces
took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried
attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and
those wanted by those forces.
At approximately 11:00 on
Monday, 14 October, Israeli occupying forces moved into Maraqa village, east of
Jenin. They surrounded the house of
Anwar Ibrahim Abu Jalboush and opened fire at the house. A Palestinian civilian was wounded inside the
house. Israeli forces arrested three
Palestinians:
1. Wa’el Kamel
Ahmed Abu Jalboush, 26, who was wounded by two live bullets in the legs;
2. Muntasser
Ahmed Mustafa Mousa, 24; and
3. Salah
Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Jalboush, 25.
At approximately 17:00 on
the same day, Israeli occupying forces moved into the same village again, and
destroyed a 150-square-meter, two-story house, owned by Anwar Abu Jalboush,
claiming that wanted Palestinians had shelter in it.
At approximately 04:00 on
Tuesday, 15 October, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of ‘Abdul
Hadi Suleiman Ahmed Habiba, 52, in Sanour village, southwest of Jenin. They forced the 10 residents of the house out
onto the street. They used the owner and
his wife, Zeinab Ahmed Saleh Habiba, 50, as human shield to enter the house of
his son Nasser, 24. Israeli soldiers
ordered the two spouses to call on their son to surrender. When he exited, Israeli soldiers handcuffed
the father and four of his sons and detained them for three hours. Then, Israeli forces moved the family 500m
away and partially destroyed the first floor of the family’s house. Upon their withdrawal, Israeli forces
arrested Nasser Habiba and Najeh Hussein Qe’dan, 34.
At approximately 17:00,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Qabatya village, east of Jenin. They surrounded the house of Yousef Mohammed
‘Abdullah Tazaza’a and demolished it, claiming that the owner is wanted by
them.
Israeli forces have
maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing
Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas,
transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians’ economic,
social and cultural rights.
On Monday and Tuesday, 14
and 15 October, Israeli occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen
checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street linking between the
north and south of the Gaza Strip. They
searched cars and checked Palestinian civilians. They detained some civilians in an Israeli
military location where they were interrogated. Israeli soldiers beat some of the detainees and cut identity cards of
some, including Mohammed Abu Fayadh, a journalist of the Palestinian News
Agency (Wafa). Then, Israeli forces
arrested three Palestinians. According
to some people, they were forced to spend the night at the checkpoints in very
tough conditions.
From 7th to 15th
October, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on al-Mawasi area in the
west of Khan Yunis, disrupting all daily activities. More than 1000 school children were not able
to go to school, and university students were not able to exit the area or to
attend their universities. Many people,
including women and children, who were outside the area when the curfew was
imposed were not able to return home.
*****
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.
[1] PCHR has a list of the houses that were damaged and names of those who
were injured as a result of destroying houses.
