Israeli Forces Continue to
Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs
· 7
Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, killed by Israeli forces
· 2
of the victims killed in another extra-judicial assassination
· Intense
Israeli shelling against Palestinian residential areas and civilians facilities
in the Gaza Strip
· 4
Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, killed in Rafah and 3 workshops
destroyed in Gaza
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· 49
houses destroyed in Rafah
· Houses
raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· A
branch campus of al-Aqsa University in Gaza was destroyed
· Construction
of the “Separation Wall” in the West Bank continued and more areas of
Palestinian land seized
· 4
Palestinian houses destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continuing
campaign of retaliation against families of Palestinians accused of involvement
in attacks against Israeli targets
· Israeli
settlers continued their attacks on Palestinian civilians and properties
· Israeli
occupying forces continued to impose a total siege on the OPTs
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces escalated their
aggression against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli
occupying forces included the use of extra-judicial assassinations and willful
killings. Throughout the week, Israeli occupying forces also conducted
incursions into Palestinian areas; shot at Palestinian civilians, including children;
indiscriminately shelled residential areas and demolished houses; and leveled
agricultural land. Israeli occupying forces have also continued
construction of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank and have continued
to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 7 Palestinian civilians, including
2 children, were killed and more than 40 others were injured by Israeli
occupying forces.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of aerial attacks against Palestinian residential areas and civilians
facilities, and destroyed dozens of houses. On Wednesday, 17 March 2004, Israeli helicopter gunships launched
missiles at Rafah refugee camp, killing 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2
children, and injuring a number of others. Israeli occupying forces also destroyed 49 houses in the camp, rendering
more than 80 families homeless. On 15
March 2004, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, after
they had surrounded the family’s house to arrest his brother.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government, on Tuesday, 16
March 2004, Israeli occupying forces carried out an assassination attempt
targeting a member of the Islamic Jihad, who survived the attempt. However, 2 other Palestinians were
killed. An Israeli helicopter gunship
attacked the targeted person’s house in al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza city.
On the same day, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a
branch campus of al-Aqsa University in Gaza. On 15 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces Israeli helicopter gunships
destroyed 3 workshops in densely populated areas in Gaza city.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted
a series of military incursions into Palestinian areas. A number of Palestinian civilians were
injured. Israeli forces also arrested 63
Palestinians.
In violation of article 33 of the Geneva Convention
Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, which
prohibits punishing any protected person for “an offence he or she has not
personally committed,” Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families
of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks
against Israeli targets, and destroyed 4 houses in the West Bank.
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank. They confiscated more areas of Palestinian
land and demolished more homes for this purpose. Although the Israeli High Court issued a
temporary injunction stopping the construction of the wall in certain villages,
Israeli occupying forces accelerated the construction of the wall in other
areas, including a part of the wall extending from “Alkana” settlement,
southeast of Qalilqya, to “Ofar” detention center, southwest of Ramallah, an
area north of Jerusalem and southeast of Qalqilya.
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying
forces imposed more restrictions on movement at border crossings and military
checkpoints following a bombing in an Israeli town on 14 March 2004. They also maintained the closure of a number
of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed at
Israeli military checkpoints. In addition, they imposed further
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians living in areas adjacent
to settlements and military locations. Such restrictions on freedom of movement
are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a
state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.
In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have also continued
to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities and imposed severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians. They have also blocked a number of roads using
cement blocks, sand barriers and trenches, erected temporary checkpoints, and
arrested a number of Palestinians.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 11 March 2004
At approximately 01:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles moved approximately 200m into al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of
Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. While subjecting the area to intense
shelling, they demolished a 300-square-meter house owned by Isma’il ‘Abdullah
Abu Mutair, in which 22 people (4 families) used to live. The same house had been partially demolished
during a previous Israeli military incursion into the area, which had forced
the families to vacate it. Israeli heavy
military vehicles withdrew from the area at 17:00 and no casualties were reported.
At approximately 02:30, 10 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 8
Palestinians:
1. Da’oud
Mohammed ‘Arar, 25;
2. ‘Alaa’
Mohammed ‘Awad, 17;
3. Mohammed
Fathi Sabarna, 19;
4. Nadim
Ibrahim Sabarna, 22;
5. Nabil
Hammad Abu Maria, 21;
6. Mohammed
Jamal Bahrain, 18;
7. Mahmoud
Zki Bahar, 20; and
8. Ahmed
Mahmoud Abu Maria, 23.
At approximately 03:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 5 Palestinians,
including 3 brothers:
1. Ahmed
Isma’il Harb, 20;
2. Hani
Ahmed Abu Rezeq, 30;
3. Bassam
Mahmoud al-‘Aassi, 22;
4. Sameh
Mahmoud al-‘Aassi, 26; and
5. Hussam
Mahmoud al-‘Aassim, 24.
At approximately 04:00, 15 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses and imposed a curfew
on the village. They raided and searched
a number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 women, who were
released later:
1. Rania
‘Omar Raddad, 26;
2. Subhi
Ahmed Mahmoud ‘Ajaj, 55; and
3. Khairia
Ahmed ‘Ajaj, 48.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces moved
into al-‘Aroub refugee camp, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed
‘Abdul Raziq Abu Khairan, 35; and
2. Mohammed
‘Abbas Abu Raya, 32.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Hebron. They raided and searched ‘Abdul
Rahim Eskafi’s house and arrested his son, ‘Alaa’, 21.
At approximately 05:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Duha village, northwest of Bethlehem. They arrested Majed Mousa Mohammed al-Aa’raj,
19.
At approximately 12:00, an Israeli military jeep raided
Hawara secondary school, south of Nablus with Israeli soldiers firing in the
air. According to eyewitnesses, an Israeli officer arrested Qussai Nazem
‘Anbousi, 16, a student at the 10th grade.
At approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of Israeli
occupying forces traveling in 2 civilian cars that had Palestinian registration
moved into al-Bireh. A few minutes
later, Israeli forces moved into the town and surrounded Jamal ‘Abdul Nasser
mosque. Soon after members of the undercover unit arrested Nour Mohammed
al-Zain, 23, a grocer in a market located near the mosque.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve
Dekalim” settlements, northwest and west of Khan Yunis respectively,
opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A Palestinian civilian, Taher Hani Sha’at, 20, was injured by live
bullet shrapnel in the face, when he was on the roof his house, approximately
2500 meters away from the source of fire.
Friday, 12 March 2004
At approximately 03:20, Israeli occupying forces,
supported by 2 helicopters, moved into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of
Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Ziad ‘Adnan
Salman al-Sultan, 31, and arrested him. During this incursion, Israeli forces raided and searched a number of other
houses. They arrested 13 Palestinians,
but released them at 08:00 after interrogating them. Israeli shelling during this incursion
damaged the neighborhood civilian infrastructure.
At approximately 04:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested Ahmed Maher Hashash, 22, from Balata refugee camp.
At approximately 05:30, Israeli soldiers positioned
at the gate at the entrance to Habla village, south of Qalqilya, fired at a
number of Palestinian civilians who were on their way to their work
places. One of these civilians, Tha’er
‘Ouda ‘Abdul Latif al-Danaq, 26, was wounded by 2 live bullets in the left hand
and right foot.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in the vicinity of Bilal Ben Rabah (Rachel Tomb), north of
Bethlehem, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-‘Azza village. A Palestinian child, Hussein Mohammed Nawawra,
17, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.
Saturday, 13 March 2004
At approximately 04:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Bethlehem. They raided a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Mohammed
Ahmed Nemer al-Jarashi, 19;
2. Hamza
Isma’il al-Zawahra, 24; and
3. Ibrahim
Salama al-Zawahra, 35.
At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces
surrounded ‘Eziddin al-Qassam secondary school in Ya’bad village, southwest of
Jenin. They forced the students out and
closed the school.
At approximately 12:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve
Dekalim” settlements, northwest and west of Khan Yunis respectively, opened
fire at Palestinian houses to the east. A university student, Taghreed Farid Daifallal al-Qadi, 20, from Rafah,
was injured by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right shoulder, while live
bullets were hitting the campus of al-Aqsa University.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations near “Neteser Hazani” settlement,
northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Qarara
village, north of the town. A
Palestinian child, Murad Maher ‘Othman al-‘Abadla, 14, was wounded by a live
bullet in the left hand, when he was near his house, approximately 300 meters
away from the source of fire.
Sunday, 14 March 2004
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus and neighboring refugee camps and villages. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed
Khalil ‘Atallah, 22, from Roujib village;
2. Anas
Hussein Ramdan, 19, from ‘Ein Beit al-Maa’ refugee camp; and
3. Hamza
Yassin Shwaiki, 22, a student at an-Najah National University from Shwaika
village in Tulkarm.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli soldiers fired dozens
tear gas canisters and sound bombs at hundreds of Palestinian civilians, while
demonstrating in Beit Liqya village, southwest of Ramallah, in protest to the
construction of the separation wall on the lands of the village. A number of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation, and 16-year-old ‘Ali Salem Mohammed Mousa was hit by a sound bomb
in the chest.
At approximately 17:50, Israeli soldiers positioned
in a military location near “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were playing
football on al-Sabra playground, approximately 600 meters to the north. Ayman Mohammed ‘Ouda Abu Zaher, 19, was
wounded by 2 live bullets in both thighs. Abu Zaher’s brother was killed by Israeli occupying forces in a similar occurrence
on 23 February 2003.
Monday, 15 March 2004
At approximately 00:00, an Israeli infantry unit
moved into al-Qarara village, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house
belonging to Huda Nassar Ahmed Abu Zaher, 29, and also raided a house belonging
to her father. They forced the family to
evacuate and used the owner and one of his sons as human shields while
searching the house. Israeli forces then
arrested Huda and her sister, Rasha, 17, interrogated the two, and released
them at noon. Israeli forces claimed
that they were looking for wanted Palestinians who had allegedly sheltered in
Huda’s house.
In the early morning, Israeli helicopter gunships
attacked 4 Palestinians civilian facilities located in a densely populated area
in Gaza city.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:00, Israeli helicopter gunships launched a number of missiles
at 3 workshops in the densely populated al-Nasser and al-Zaytoun neighborhoods
in Gaza city. Six missiles completely destroyed a metal workshop owned by
Mohammed ‘Abdul Qader al-Fassih in al-Zaytoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza
city. In addition, three other missiles completely destroyed two metal and
advertisement equipment workshops owned by Hani and Ahmed Rabi’ Rezeq in
al-Nasser neighborhood in the north of Gaza city, located on the first floor of
a 2-storey building owned by Ahmed Khader Abu Hamza. A number of neighboring
houses were damaged. One missile also hit the third floor of a building
of Palestine Limited Bank, severely damaging it. Four Palestinian
civilians, including 2 children, were injured, and electricity and water
networks were damaged. Israeli occupying forces claimed that the targeted
workshops were allegedly used to manufacture “mortars.”
In an apparent willful killing, Israeli forces shot
and killed a Palestinian civilian in Rafah, claiming that he attempted to
escape while they raided the family’s home to arrest his brother.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 02:30 on Monday, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Shouka
neighborhood located in the east of Rafah, and surrounded ‘Aayesh Shabib
al-Rumailat’s house. Israeli soldiers called through megaphones on
residents of the house to evacuate, and ordered the owner’s son, Mustafa, 26,
to surrender. While members of the family were evacuating the house
through its 3 doors, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the owner’s other son,
Mos’ad, 27, instantly killing him with several live bullets throughout the
body. After killing Mos’ad, Israeli soldiers raided and searched the
house and arrested Mustafa, claiming that he is wanted.
At approximately 03:00, 7 Israeli military jeeps moved
into Zawata village, northwest of Nablus. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians,
including 2 brothers:
1. Jalal
‘Abdul Latif Zawatia, 22;
2. Faraj
Mohamemd Ahmed Abu Zar, 23;
3. Mus’ab
Mohammed Ahmed Abu Zar, 18; and
4. Tariq
Ahmed Abu al-‘Ola, 21, a student at an-Najah National University in
Nablus.
At approximately 03:15, 7 Israeli military vehicles
moved into ‘Aaida refugee camp, north of Bethlehem. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Ameer
Ahmed al-Ameer, 23;
2. Mohammed
Sa’ad Karaja, 23; and
3. Fadi
Nasrallah, 24.
At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Kufor Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses
and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Isma’il
Khalil Shawahna, 20; and
2. Ibrahim
Rafiq Shawahna, 19.
At approximately 06:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Harmala village, southeast of Bethlehem. They raided and searched Khalil Yousef
al-Zeer’s house and arrested his son, Hisham, 18.
At approximately 11:00, 15 Israeli military jeeps
moved in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the
jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired at the children, and wounded 16-year-old Ibrahim Zukam Kamal Marshoudi
with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand. In addition, 3 passing civilians, including a
woman and a child, were injured:
1. Hassan
Mohammed ‘Ali Kharioush, 27, injured by shrapnel in the left hand;
2. Da’d
Eyad Abu Mustafa, 12, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet that broke 3 of
her teeth; and
3. Manal
‘Ali Abu Salata, 33, injured by a sound bomb in the right foot.
At noon, Israeli occupying forces fired live
ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at hundreds of
Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists who demonstrated
in Deir Qiddis village, southwest of Ramallah, who were protesting against the
construction of the “Separation Wall” on village lands. Dozens of civilians suffered from tear gas
inhalation, and 5 other civilians were injured by rubber-coated metal bullets:
1. Mohammed
‘Ali ‘Omar Nasser, 62, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;
2. Mo’taz
‘Awad ‘Abdul Qader, 32, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the hand;
3. Asa’ad
Mohammed ‘Ali Nasser, 27, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
shoulder;
4. Fahed
Mahmoud ‘Ali Nasser, 24, injured by several live bullets throughout the body;
and
5. Mohammed
‘Ouda ‘Abdullah, 34, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back.
At approximately 15:00, 15 Israeli military vehicles
moved into al-Zababda village, southeast of Jenin. They surrounded the building of the
municipality, while representatives of a number of local institutions and Fatah
movement were holding a meeting with the Undersecretary of the Palestinian
Ministry of Local Government, Dr. Hussein al-Aa’raj, and the Governor of Jenin,
Ramadan al-Batta. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at passing Palestinian civilians in the
area, wounding 27-year-old Muhannad Khaled al-Sharqawi with a live bullet in
the left shoulder. Israeli soldiers also
raided the building and arrested 6 meeting participators:
1. Mufid
Saleh Turkman, 35;
2. ‘Abdul
Hamid Mustafa Turkman, 32;
3. Ma’moun
Raj Hassan al-Far, 30;
4. Farouq
Abu al-Rub, 35, the Mayor of Mesalia;
5. Mo’ayad
‘Afif Bazzour, 30, the Mayor of Raba; and
6. Jamal
Mohammed Abu ‘Erra, 36, a member of the local council of ‘Aqqaba.
At approximately 17:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and imposed a curfew. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers
positioned at al-Walaja checkpoint, northwest of Bethlehem, held 40 residents
of the village and prevented them from traveling back to the village. Israeli occupying forces had sporadically
imposed curfews on Housan since 22 February 2004.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 200 meters into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah,
adjacent to the Egyptian border. While
indiscriminately shelling the area, they demolished one Palestinian house
completely and a second one partially:
1. They
completely demolished a 150-square-meter house owned by Subhi Isma’il ‘Ayada
Abu ‘Arar, in which 10 people lived.
2. They
partially demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Najah
Mohammed Taha al-Sane’, in which 4 people live.
At approximately 20:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 200m to the west of “Kfar Darom”
settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They raided an uninhabited 2-storey house owned by Salim Hussein
al-Zurai’ei, and transformed its roof into a military site until 04:00 on the
following day.
Tuesday, 16 March 2004
At approximately 01:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of Amjad Bader
Shuraitah, 23, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:00, 4 Israeli military jeeps
moved into al-Sammou’ village, south of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Aadel
‘Abdul Hamid Badarin, 24, and arrested him.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Ishaq Isma’il Houshia, 26, and
arrested him as well.
At approximately 02:30, 9 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Halhoul village, north of Hebron. They raided and searched a house belonging to the family of ‘Emad
Mohammed Khalawi, 28, and arrested him.
At approximately 02:40, 9 Israeli military jeeps
surrounded a house belonging to the family of the deceased Amjad Ibrahim
al-Qawasmi in ‘Ein Sara neighborhood in the north of Hebron. Israeli soldiers forced the family to evacuate,
and searched the house and stores belonging to the family, and damaged their
contents. No arrests were reported.
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces destroyed the educational
studies campus of al-Aqsa University, located near al-Shuhada (Netzarim)
junction, south of Gaza city. According to investigations conducted by
PCHR, at approximately 02:30 on Tuesday, dozens of Israeli military vehicles
moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza city, towards al-Shuhada
junction. Israeli forces then moved at least 1 kilometer to the north
inside al-Zaytoun neighborhood, took position near a concrete factory, and
imposed a siege on the area, which included the educational studies campus of
al-Aqsa University and neighboring houses. According to a number of
residents of the area, Israeli soldiers forced them out of their homes and
planted explosives inside the campus of al-Aqsa University, destroying
it. In addition, a number of neighboring houses were damaged and two
members of the Palestinian National Security Force were injured:
1. ‘Emad
Jihad Abu Nasser, 20, from Deir al-Balah, seriously injured by a live bullet in
the back; and
2. Mohammed
Saleh Musleh, 21, from Beit Lahia, injured by a live bullet in the limbs.
The destroyed campus stood on a 5.5-donum area of land. One of its
buildings consisted of two flours and stood on a 1272-square-meter area of
land, and another building consisted of one floor and stood on a
500-square-meter area of land. These buildings included 16 classrooms, 6
offices, 3 laboratories, a library and a cafeteria. The campus used to
serve about 3000 students, and the university administration has been forced to
transfer those students to other campuses since 18 January 2001, due to
repeated Israeli military attacks on the campus. According to university
sources, the losses resulting from this destruction are estimated
preliminarily to be more than US$ 700,000, not including the price of the land
on which it stood and equipment inside.
Israeli military bulldozers also razed a 30-donum area of agricultural
land planted with citrus owned by Nahid Munieer al-Rayes.
At approximately 03:00, 10 Israeli military jeeps
moved into Bethlehem. They raided a
number of houses and arrested 3 Palestinians:
1. Mousa
Hussein al-Hanouti, 18;
2. Haroun
Saleh Qassem, 18; and
3. Hassan
Souman, 18.
At approximately 08:00, a number of Israeli military
jeeps moved into Ramallah and al-Bireh. Israeli soldiers raided and searched a house belonging to the family of
Bassel Abu Humaid, 33, in al-Quds Street, and arrested him.
Wednesday, 17 March 2004
At approximately 00:00, an infantry unit of Israeli
occupying forces moved into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip. They raided and searched Mas’oud
Suleiman al-Sa’aida’s house and held its 9 residents in one room, then transformed
the house into a military site.
In the early morning, Israeli occupying forces committed
gross violations of international law in Rafah refugee camp. Four Palestinian civilians, including 2
children, were killed, 16 other civilians were wounded and 49 houses were
destroyed when Israeli occupying forces, supported by helicopters, attacked the
camp.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 01:00, dozens of Israeli heavy military vehicles were positioned
at the Egyptian border opposite Block O in Rafah refugee camp. A number of Palestinian civilians and members
of the Palestinian resistance gathered in the alleys for the camp, expecting that
the Israeli heavy military vehicles would move into the camp. At approximately 02:00, an Israeli helicopter
gunship launched a missile at them, injuring 6 of them. Four of the injured were in a serious
condition and one of them, Faraj Sa’id Ahmed Abu Jazar, 24, died upon arrival
at the hospital. About half an hour
later, the helicopter gunship launched another missile at the area. Three Palestinian civilians were also hit by
shrapnel, and one of them, Mahmoud ‘Abdul Fattah Abu Nahel, 32, died
instantly. Israeli heavy military
vehicles then moved approximately 300 meters into the camp, opening fire at
houses. At approximately 10:00, an
Israeli helicopter gunship launched a missile at a number of Palestinian
children in a street in the camp, killing two:
1. ‘Othman
Musbah Mowafi, 14; and
2. ‘Alaa’
Wa’el al-Nujeeli, 15.
During this incursion, which continued until 21:30,
Israeli occupying forces destroyed 31 Palestinian houses completely and 18
others partially. Subsequently, more
than 80 families have become homeless. In addition, 8 other civilians, including 3 children, were injured by
the Israeli shelling.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Nablus and the neighboring Balata refugee camp. They raided and searched Abu Sharekh
apartment buildings and arrested 3 students of an-Najah National University in
Nablus:
1. Mohammed
Nasasra, 22, form Beit Fourik village;
2. Ra’ed
Sadqi Subeh, 21, from Bourqin village; and
3. Tha’er
al-Baik, 21, from Nablus.
At approximately 03:15, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Duha village and al-Duhaisha
refugee camp. They raided and searched a
number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Fahed
Mahmoud ‘Olayan, 23, from al-Duha village; and
2. ‘Ali
Sameeh al-Afandi, 21, from al-Duhaisha refugee camp.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Qalqilya. They raided and
searched a house belonging to the family of Eyad Khaled Qatqat, 38, and
arrested him.
At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved in Khellat al-Nasrani area in the south of Hebron. They surrounded a 4-storey apartment building
and forced its residents out. Israeli
soldiers checked the ID cards of these residents and searched the
building. They arrested 2 Palestinians:
1. Nasser
D’ib Mosawda, 35; and
2. Ahmed
Hani al-Sharbati, 27.
At 06:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, including
2 bulldozers, moved into al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza Strip. They damaged the fence of Shamekh Ahmed
Kalloub’s house. They also established a
sand barrier at the eastern road of the camp. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the
Israeli military vehicles and Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters. At approximately 08:00, the Israeli military
vehicles withdrew from the area.
At approximately 09:25, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in the vicinity of “Netser Hazani” settlement, northwest of Khan
Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and farms in al-Satar al-Gharbi area
and al-Qarara village to the east. A
Palestinian woman, Hanan Hassan Mohammed Abu Mughassib, 35, was wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh, when she was inside her home, approximately 300
meters away from the sources of fire. An
UNRWA elementary school was also damaged.
At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Housan village, west of Bethlehem. They raided a 2-storey house owned by Mahmoud Ahmed Hamamra. They forced the family to vacate the second
floor of the house and transformed it and the roof into a military site.
Extra-Judicial Assassination
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli government, on Tuesday, 16
March 2004, Israeli occupying forces carried out an assassination attempt
targeting a member of the Islamic Jihad, who survived the attempt. However, 2 other Palestinians were
killed.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 17:50 on Tuesday, 16 March 2004, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched a missile at a house in the densely populated al-Nasser neighborhood
in Gaza city. According to Israeli
sources, the attack targeted Mohammed ‘Ali Kharroub, a member of the Islamic
Jihad, who was able to escape after being injured. The attack killed 2 Palestinians:
1. Husni
Nidal al-Salfiti, 24; and
2. Nasser
Yassin, 40, who was with Kharroub.
In addition, 7 civilian bystanders, including a
child, were injured:
1. Adham
‘Abdul Qader Hashem, 26;
2. Subhi
Husbi Abu Karsh, 31;
3. Mohammed
‘Abdul Ghani al-Sabbah, 18;
4. Ra’fat
Shubair, 3;
5. Bassam
‘Abdul Majid, 26;
6. Hamdi
al-Biltaji, 25; and
7. ‘Awni
R’fat Hamdouna, 40.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At approximately 02:00 on Thursday, 11 March 2004,
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Walaja village, northwest of
Bethlehem. They surrounded a
150-square-meter, 2-storey house belonging to the family of Hatem Zakaria
Mahmoud al-Aa’raj, 21. They forced the 8
residents of the house out, planted explosives inside the house, and at
approximately 04:00, destroyed the house. Al-Aa’raj had been arrested by Israeli occupying forces 3 days
earlier.
At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, 17 March 2004,
Israeli occupying forces moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They surrounded a 150-square-meter house
owned by Aamena Hassan ‘Awad Abu Kharma. They raided the house and gave the woman and her family of six 30
minutes to vacate their furniture. Israeli
forces proceeded to plant explosives inside the house and destroyed it. Three of the owner’s sons have been detained
by Israeli occupying forces: Mohammed, 23; Ahmed, 21; and ‘Adnan Sari Mohammed
Hussein, 17. A fourth son, Mahmoud, 20,
is allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying authorities. Two neighboring houses were damaged by the
destruction of the house.
At approximately 01:15 on the same day, 5 Israeli
military jeeps moved into Madama village, south of Nablus. They surrounded a 200-square-meter, 2-storey
house owned by Tayeb ‘Ali Faraj. They
forced the 14 residents of the house out and checked their ID cards. Israeli forces informed the owner that his
house would be destroyed. Then, Israeli
soldiers planted explosives inside the house, and at approximately 04:15,
destroyed it. Israeli occupying forces
claimed that the owner’s son, Yamen, 25, a student at an-Najah National
University in Nablus, is allegedly the leader of the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine in Nablus.
At approximately 02:00 on the same day, 6 Israeli
military jeeps, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Silwad village,
northeast of Ramallah. They surrounded a
120-square-meter house belonging to the family Yasser Hassan Mahmoud Hamed, 23,
who had been detained by Israeli occupying authorities for being a member of
the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). They forced his wife and child out then demolished the house.
Continued Construction of the “Separation
Wall”
Israeli occupying forces have continued construction
of the “Separation Wall” inside the West Bank. They confiscated more area of Palestinian
land and demolished more homes for this purpose. Although the Israeli High Court issued a
temporary injunction stopping the construction of the wall in certain villages,
Israeli occupying forces accelerated the construction of the wall in other
areas, especially north of Jerusalem and southeast of Qalqilya.
On Thursday, 11 March 2004, an officer of the
so-called Israeli Civil Administration handed a military order to
representatives of local councils of the villages of Deir Ballout, Masha, Rafat
and al-Zawia in Qalqilya, according to which thousands of donums of agricultural
land of these villages were to be confiscated with a map enclosed specifying
the lands to be confiscated. According
to the local council of Deir Ballout village, more than 90% of the village
lands would be seized for the purpose of the construction of the wall. On Sunday morning, 14 March 2004, Israeli
occupying forces started to survey the seized land of Deir Ballout village to
initiate the construction of the wall in the area.
On Sunday afternoon, 14 March 2004, an Israeli
military bulldozer razed 26 donums of Palestinian agricultural land planted
with vegetables in Artah neighborhood and Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm,
near the wall. The leveled areas of
land belong to Mahmoud Asa’add ‘Aalia, ‘Abdul Karim ‘Omar and ‘Abdul Rahim
al-‘Abed.
On Monday morning, 15 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces began construction of a part of the wall in Dhiat al-Barid area, north
of Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli occupying forces erected 3 meter high cement walls, extending from a
military checkpoint at the entrance of Dahiat al-Barid to Qalandya checkpoint,
south of Ramallah. The construction of
the wall in the area will isolate Dahiat al-Barid, al-Ram village, Qalandya
refugee camp, Kufor ‘Aqab village and Samiramis neighborhood from
Jerusalem. This will leave negative
impacts on residents of these areas at the social, economic, cultural,
educational, religious, health, and environmental levels.
Continued Siege on the
OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli occupying forces have continued
to impose a tightened siege on the Gaza Strip, and imposed more restrictions on
movement at border crossing and military checkpoints. They have also maintained the closure of a
number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed
at Israeli military checkpoints. Such restrictions on freedom of movement
are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a
state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights.
Israeli occupying forces positioned at
the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road
between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct movement
of Palestinian civilians. The two checkpoints, which are open for a
maximum of a few hours each day, have become notorious for acts of humiliation
and harassment by Israeli soldiers.
At approximately 08:30 on Saturday, 13 March 2004,
Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints for three hours. During this closure, they held and searched a
number of vehicles in between.
On Monday afternoon, 15 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces closed the two checkpoints. They
held dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between and checked passengers.
At approximately 11:00 on Tuesday, 16 March 2004,
Israeli occupying forces closed the two checkpoints, and held and searched
dozens of Palestinian vehicles in between. Until 17:00, they arrested 5 Palestinians.
On Monday morning, 15 March 2004, as a form of
collective punishment against Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupying forces
closed Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip and denied access of
Palestinian workers to their work places in Israel, following a bombing inside
Israel. They also imposed further
restrictions at the movement of internationals through the crossing. Under the new procedures, internationals will
not be able to cross the crossings in their vehicles; rather they have to walk
through the route devoted to workers.
On the same day, Israeli occupying forces closed Sofa
crossing, northeast of Rafah, and Karni crossing, east of Gaza city, denying
access of workers to their workplaces and prohibiting commercial transactions
from and into the Gaza Strip.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip. They have continued to close Tal al-Sultan
checkpoint at the entrance to the area in Rafah and impose restrictions on
movement of Palestinian civilians through al-Tuffah checkpoint at the entrance
to the area in Khan Yunis. On Thursday,
11 March 2004, Israeli forces fired at Palestinian civilians who were waiting
at al-Tuffah checkpoint to enter al-Mawasi area. The checkpoint was opened at 16:00. On Monday, 15 March 2004, Israeli forces
allowed Palestinian civilians to exit from the area, but did not allow them to
go back homes. On the following day,
they allowed movement for women only.
Palestinians living in
al-Mawasi area, of which there are approximately 15,000, live under extremely
tight restrictions, which also apply to the entry of foodstuffs into the area
and access to schools and farms. It takes residents of the areas several
hours to cross Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints. Palestinians
living outside the area are prohibited from entering. Israeli forces have
assigned numbers to residents of the area numbers to be added to their identity
cards and prevented without such numbers from entering the area. Women
from the area married to men living outside the area cannot visit their
families.
They have also continued to
impose a tightened siege on al-Sayafa area in the northern Gaza Strip. On
9 March 2004, they started to issue magnetic cards to 262 Palestinian civilians
living in the area and farmers living outside the area. Moving from and
into the area will be through those magnetic cards. On 16 March 2004, Israeli forces denied
access of an UNRWA delegation to the area.
In the same context, on 11
March 2004, Israeli occupying forces issued magnetic cards for 93 Palestinian
civilians, who are over 12 years old, in al-Ma’ni area near “Kfar Darom”
settlement in the central Gaza Strip. These civilians will be able to move from and into the area only using
these magnetic cards.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities. They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of
Palestinian civilians. They have blocked
a number of roads using cement blocks, sand barriers and trenches, and imposed
curfews on a number of villages.
Jerusalem
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians as they started to construct a part of
the “Separation Wall” north of Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, on Monday noon, 15 March 2004, Israeli
soldiers positioned at Dahiat al-Barid military checkpoint at the northern
entrance to the city chased and beat a number of school children who protested
the erection of cement walls in the area. They also fired tear gas canisters at the children.
Ramallah
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians. On Thursday morning, 11 March 2004, Israeli occupying forces closed the
main roads of al-Jalazoun and Surda, north and northwest of Ramallah
respectively. According to eyewitnesses,
Israeli forces reinforced their presence around the town. At approximately 13:45 on Monday, 15 March
2004, Israeli forces closed Qalandya checkpoint, south of Ramallah, and denied
movement of Palestinian civilians, including patients. They attacked an old woman when she wanted to
cross the checkpoint.
Bethlehem
On Saturday morning, 13 March 2004, Israeli occupying
forces closed al-Furaidees checkpoint, southeast of Bethlehem, and denied
access of Palestinian civilians from neighboring villages to the town. On Sunday morning, 14 March 2004, Israeli
occupying forces denied access of Palestinian workers from Bethlehem to their
work places in Jerusalem and inside the Green Line.
Tulkarm
Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on
the movement of Palestinian civilians between the town and neighboring
villages. On Tuesday morning, 16 March
2004, Israeli occupying forces erected a number of military checkpoints on the
roads leading to the town and denied access of Palestinian civilians from
neighboring villages to the town.
Qalqilya
On Saturday, 14 March 2004, Israeli forces erected more
checkpoints on the roads linking between Qalqilya and other Palestinian
communities in the West Bank. On
Tuesday, 16 March 2004, Israeli forces denied access of Palestinian workers
from the southern villages of the district to their work places inside the
Green Line. On Wednesday morning, 17
March 2004, Israeli forces arrested Mahmoud Suleiman Fayeq, 33, from Sineeria
village in Qalilya, when he was in ‘Azzoun village.
This week, Israeli forces positioned at military
checkpoints in the West Bank arrested 6 Palestinians, including 11-year-old
‘Abdullah al-Qara’an, from Balata refugee camp. They claimed that the child was carrying 3 bags, and they discovered a
bomb in one of those bags, which he carried unknowingly.
Israeli Settlement Activities and Attacks by Settlers
against Palestinian Civilians and Property
In addition to the construction of the
“Separation Wall”, this week, Israeli occupying forces carried out a
number of settlement activities in the West Bank.
On Sunday morning, 14 March 2004, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Ma’aleh Shomron” settlement, east of Qalqilya, razed more than
150 donums of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives in Kufor
Thuluth village, east of Qalqilya.
On the same day, a number of armed settlers from
“Lassifer” settlement east of Yatta village, north of Hebron, seized a 60-donum
area of agricultural land owned by the Abu Malash family, in the south of the
village.
On Monday morning, 15 March 2004, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Bitar Elite” settlement, southwest of Bethlehem, accompanied by
a number of Israeli soldiers, raided Wa’r al-Sane’ area in the west of Housan
village, west of Bethlehem. They razed a
5-donum area of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives owned by
Isma’il and Ahmed Mohammed al-Qarout.
On Tuesday moring, 16 March 2004, a number of Israeli
settlers from “Karme’eil” settlement east of Yatta village, south of Hebron,
razed more than 10 donums of Palestinian agricultural land. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli forces
provided protection for those settlers while they were razing the land.
Also on Tuesday morning, a number of Israeli settlers
from “Mafdal ‘Ouz” settlement, north of Hebron, razed a 13-donum area of
Palestinian agricultural planted with grapes in Beit Ummar village, and seized
it.
On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from
“Eitamar” settlement, southeast of Nablus, beat Mahmoud Na’im Qawariq, from ‘Awarta
village, and threatened to kill him. According to eyewitnesses, the settlers chased Qwariq and his family
while they were on their way to their agricultural land in the area. The family called for help and immediately
dozens of Palestinian civilians helped the family stop the attack.
*****
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.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute those responsible for grave breaches perpetrated in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence,
expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the
Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon the European Union to activate
Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel
must respect human rights.
6. Upon the international community to
provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose
living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued
siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
“END”
Public Document
**************************************
For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on
+972 8 2824776 – 2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip.
E-mail:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
