and the International Community Remains Silent
· 13
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, killed by Israeli forces
· Israeli occupying forces invade Hebron and take
retaliatory measures against Palestinian civilians and their property
· 7 Palestinian
civilians killed in 3 extra-judicial assassinations in the West Bank
· A series of
Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas, and indiscriminately shelling of
residential areas
· Continued
Israeli retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those
who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
· Israeli forces
use Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations
· A number of
Palestinians arrested
· Continued
strict siege of the OPT
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces
have perpetrated more human rights violations against Palestinian civilians,
including willful and extra-judicial killings, shelling of, and incursion into
Palestinian areas and agricultural land leveling. This week, 14-20 November 2002, 13
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, a woman and an old man,
were killed by Israeli forces. This number
does not include Palestinians who were killed while carrying out attacks against
Israeli tartgets.
After the attack carried
out by 3 Palestinian fighters on Friday evening near “Kiryat Arba'”
settlement, southeast of Hebron, which left 12 Israeli soldiers and armed
settlers dead, Israeli occupying forces invaded Hebron. They seized complete control over the town
and imposed a curfew. They arrested
dozens of Palestinians and demolished the houses of fighters who have carried
out attacks against Israeli targets or are wanted by the Israeli forces. Israeli occupying forces have also continued
its military campaign against Nablus, which began last week. Israeli forces shelled houses and civilian
facilities and fired at Palestinian civilians killing 2 boys and a woman.
In a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassination, officially adopted by the Israeli
political and military establishments, the Israeli military this week committed
3 extra-judicial assassinations in the West Bank, killing 7 Palestinians. On Tuesday evening, 19 November 2002, Israeli
occupying forces assassinated Tariq Helmi al-Zaghal, 20, an activist of the
Fatah Movement from Tulkarm, and killed 4 Palestinian civilians. On Friday, 15 November 2002, Israeli
occupying forces shot at Mahmoud ‘Abbas Mustafa ‘Obeid, 37, from ‘Anza village
in Jenin, before the eyes of his father. They later arrested him and shot him dead. On Sunday, 17 November 2002, an undercover
unit of Israeli forces attempted to assassinate Riadh ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Abdul
Ghani, 30, from Saida village in Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers shot at ‘Abdul Ghani’s two brothers, killing one
brother and wounding the other, while he Ghani himself survived the
attempt.
This week, the Gaza Strip
was subjected to various kinds of attacks by the Israeli occupying forces. This morning, dozens of Israeli heavy
military vehicles, reinforced with combat helicopters and covered by intense
shelling, moved approximately 4km into Khuza’a and ‘Abasan villages. They destroyed the house of Talal Abu
Zharifa, who is wanted by the forces. Israeli forces used a number of Palestinian civilians as human shields
when searching houses. They also fired
at Palestinian ambulances wounding 2 paramedics and damaging 3 ambulances.
On Sunday, 17 November
2002, Israeli combat helicopters shelled the headquarters of the Palestinian
Preventive Security in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.
Meanwhile, more than 30 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved from “Netzarim”
settlement south of the city, 2 km into the city. The incursion continued until
03:00 on the following day, when Israeli forces withdrew to “Netzarim”
settlement. A number of buildings inside
the headquarters of the Preventive Security were destroyed, and a number of
houses – al-Quds Hospital of Palestine Red Crescent Society, two ambulances and
a number of private cars – were damaged. The electricity and telephone networks in the area were also
damaged. In addition, a Palestinian
journalist was wounded by shrapnel while he was filming the Israeli
incursion. On Saturday, 16 November
2002, Israeli combat helicopters destroyed an industrial workshop in a
residential area in the center of Gaza City. A number of neighboring houses and civilian facilities were severely
damaged.
On Sunday, 17 November
2002, Israeli combat helicopters destroyed an industrial workshop in Khan
Yunis. A number of neighboring houses
were damaged. This week, Israeli forces
also razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-Balah and
Beit Lahia in the Gaza Strip.
In violation of
international humanitarian law, which prohibit collective punishment, Israeli
forces continued their retaliatory campaign against families of wanted
Palestinians and those who carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
In this context, they destroyed a house in Tulkarm and 3 houses in Balata
refugee camp, east of Nablus, in addition to the houses that were destroyed in
Hebron. In addition, the Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed
on the OPT and have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons. Futhermore, they have imposed curfews on
several areas.
Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
After the, attack near
“Kiryat Arba'” settlement southeast of Hebron on Friday, 15 November
2002, that left 12 Israeli soldiers and armed settlers dead, Israeli occupying
forces invaded Hebron. They seized
complete control over the town and imposed a curfew.
According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 18:00 on Saturday, 16 November 2002,
Israeli forces, reinforced with dozens of heavy military vehicles, invaded the
parts of Hebron that are under the control of the Palestinian National
Authority. They imposed a curfew and
seized a number of houses, transforming them into military sites. On Sunday
morning, 17 November 2002, the Israeli forces furthermore destroyed 5
Palestinian houses:
1. They destroyed a 250-square-meter, 2-story house,
located near the place of the attack in Wadi al-Nasara neighborhood, owned by
Mohammed Shukri Jaber, claiming that the fighters who carried out the attack
had shelter in it.
2. They destroyed a 200-square-meter, 2-story house,
located in Wadi al-Karam neighborhood, owned by the family of D’iab
al-Muhtasseb, one of the fighters who carried out the attack.
3. They destroyed a 2-story house in Qaizoun
neighborhood owned by Mohammed Ayoub Seder who is wanted by them for his
activities in the Islamic Jihad. Seder
was subjected to a failed assassination attempt by Israeli occupying forces one
year ago.
4. They destroyed a 200-square-meter house in Abu
Ekteila neighborhood owned by Mohammed Musbah al-Haimouni, claiming that his
sons are members of Islamic Jihad.
5. They destroyed 150-square-meter house in Yatta
village, south of Hebron, owned by Khalil Yousef Abu ‘Arram who has been
detained by the Israeli military for his activities.
At approximately 06:00,
Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved into Wadi al-Nasara
area. They razed 50 donums of
Palestinian agricultural land owned by the families of Da’na and Jaber. They also started establishing a new
settlement center in the area by placing 2 mobile homes, a service tent, an
electricity generator, 2 water tanks and 2 escort points. The Israeli bulldozer also initiated the
establishment of a new settlement road to connect “Kiryat ‘Arba'”
settlement with the Ibrahimi Mosque. The
road is expected to be 1km long and 25m wide.
At approximately 10:00 on
Wednesday, 20 November 2002, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of
the family of Akram ‘Abdul Muhsen al-Hanini, who participated in the Friday
attack on Israeli soldiers, located in al-Jawazat neighborhood in the center of
Hebron. They forced the 7 residents of
the 200-square-meter house out and destroyed it.
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve
Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in
Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian
civilian, Shadi Manar Abu ‘Obaida, was wounded by shrapnel in the left hand,
while he was inside his house, approximately 300m away from the source of
fire.
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 3 tanks and a military bulldozer,
moved approximately 300m into Boba’ area in the south of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land, on
which 5 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Jamal ‘Abdul Salam Yousef al-Masri.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on
which 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes and peppers stood, and destroyed an
irrigation network, a 100-meter-long fence, a 240-square0-meter animal farm, a
24-square-meter store and 12 palm trees owned by ‘Faisal ‘Abdul Salam Yousef
al-Masri.
3. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on
which 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, and destroyed an irrigation
network, a well and a water pump owned by ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Hassan Sakher.
At approximately 16:30,
Israeli occupying forces moved into the same area again and razed more areas of
agricultural land:
1. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land, on
which 4 greenhouses planted with peppers stood, and destroyed a well, a water
pump, a 400-meter-long fence, a 30-square-meter store and 3 palm trees owned by
Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Bashir.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with eggplants and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef
‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-‘Aklouk.
3. They destroyed a 100-meter-long fence that surrounded
a tract of land owned by Bassem Mohammed Abu Qureinat.
4. They uprooted 10 olive trees owned by Hafezh Suleiman
Baraka.
5. They uprooted 3 olive trees owned by Jamil Jaber
Baraka.
At approximately 12:00,
Israeli occupying soldiers on tanks and armored personnel carriers opened fire
at a number of Palestinian boys who gathered in the al-Sheikh Musallam area in
the old city of Nablus. Jalal Mohammed
Taher ‘Oweijan, 17, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest. He succumbed to his wound upon arrival at
hospital.
At approximately 15:30,
around 100 Israeli soldiers, accompanied by military vehicles and dogs, moved
from “Kfar Darom” settlement, east of Deir al-Balah, and raided the
house of Ahmed Khalil Abu Samra, approximately 20m northeast of the
settlement. Israeli soldiers called on
residents of the house to get out, but they refused. Soon, more than 30 Israeli soldiers broke
into the house. They held its 17
residents in the hall while they searched the house and severely damaged its
furniture. An hour later, they withdrew
from the house back to “Kfar Darom” settlement. The same house was
raided by Israeli occupying forces on 12 November 2002, when they arrested the
owner’s son.
At approximately 12:00,
Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately
800m into the north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. Two Israeli armored military bulldozers
demolished site (6) of the Palestinian National Security Force, which was
partially destroyed earlier this year. They also demolished 3 buildings:
1. A 15-square-meter, iron-roofed store owned by Nabil
Mohammed Sa’id al-‘Attar.
2. A 100-square-meter, 2-story building that included a
well, a store and a summer resort.
3. A 110-square-meter building that included a well and
a store.
At approximately 18:00, a
number of Palestinian children gathered in Koroum ‘Aashour area in the old town
of Nablus and threw stones at Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
the stone throwers, killing 15-year-old ‘Emran Isma’il al-Shilla with a live
bullet in the chest.
At approximately 21:00, 8
Israeli soldiers moved from “Kfar Darom” settlement, east of Deir
al-Balah, into Boba’ area in the south of the town. They raided the house of Fadhel Yahia Fadhel
al-Qedra and held the 7 residents of the house and 2 guests in one room while
they searched the house. They then closed the windows and stayed in the house
hiding. On Saturday morning, 16 November 2002, 4 Palestinian farmers went to
their farms in the area. Israeli
soldiers arrested them and held them in the house. At approximately 22:00, an Israeli tank came
and took the 4 detainees to “Kfar Darom” settlement. The detainees are:
1. Riadh Tawfiq Baraka, 22;
2. Marzouq Hamed Baraka, 38;
3. ‘Arafa Hamdi Baraka, 25; and
4. ‘Abdullah Mousa Abu Jazar, 35.
Monday morning, 18 November
2002, an Israeli tank and a bulldozer arrived at the area. The tanks stopped in the front of the house,
while the bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. It razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted
with palms and olives owned by Nabil Yousef al-Qedra.
2. It razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on
which 2 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, destroyed an irrigation
network and a 16-square-meter store, and uprooted 3 palm trees.
At approximately 02:25, two
Israeli combat helicopters launched 4 missiles at a turnery workshop in
al-Daraj neighborhood in the southeast of Gaza City. The 200-square-meter workshop, owned by
Hisham Sa’id Younis al-Masri, was completely destroyed. A neighboring store owned by Khaled Sa’id Younis
al-Masri was also completely destroyed. In addition, a metal formation workshop owned by Tawfiq Sa’id Younis
al-Masri, 12 houses and electricity and telephone services were severely
damaged.
At approximately 07:30,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into
Jenin refugee camp. They surrounded a
number of houses in the center of the refugee camp, including the house of
Sheikh Bassam Ragheb al-Sa’di, wanted by the Israeli forces for alleged
activities in Islamic Jihad. Israeli
soldiers noticed al-Sa’di’s son Ibrahim, 17, passing near a house with a gun in
his hands. Immediately, they fired at
him without warning. He was killed by a
live bullet in the chest. According to
eyewitnesses, the son passed by the area accidentally and he did not fire at
the Israeli soldiers, rather he was trying to get away from them. The victim’s brother, ‘Abdul Karim, was
killed by Israeli soldiers in similar circumstances on 5 September 2002.
In addition, two
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Wasim Mohammed Saleh Hawashin, 16, critically wounded
by a live bullet that entered the left shoulder and exited the neck; and
2. Asa’ad ‘Abdul Hafizh Hassan Abu ‘Aabed, 35, wounded
by a live bullet in the right hand.
At approximately 08:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately
300m into al-Mughraqa area, south of Gaza City. Soon, an Israeli military bulldozer razed a 2-donum area of agricultural
land planted with olives owned by Nafez ‘Azzam. An electricity transmitter was also hit by Israeli gunfire, so electricity
was cut from the whole area.
At approximately 11:00, the
Israeli forces, that had already seized complete control over Nablus, opened
fire at Palestinian houses in al-Quds Street. An artillery shell hit the house of the Shara’ab family. Samar Mahmoud Shara’ab, 21, was killed by
shrapnel from the shell, while she was on the balcony. According to her family, they heard the sound
of an explosion in their house. Later they found their daughter dead on the
balcony.
At approximately 21:00,
while Mousa Radhi al-Mahariq, 65, from al-Sammou’ village in Hebron, was in a
tent he had set up in the ‘Azzoun village, south of Qalqilya, where he worked
as an animal grazer. He heard noise outside and thought that thieves were
stealing his animals. When he looked
through the opening in his tent, a number of gunmen fired at him. He was seriously wounded and bled to
death. Later, it was revealed that the
gunmen were Israeli soldiers who guard the vehicles used in the construction of
the “security fence” separating between the West Bank and
Israel. Late at night, the body of the
old man was evacuated to hospital. According to medical sources, he was shot by 3 live bullets in the chest
and the abdomen.
At approximately 01:00, 3
Israeli combat helicopters launched 4 missiles at a metal formation workshop in
Khan Yunis. The 500-square-meter
workshop, owned by Mohammed Khalil Fureina was severely damaged. About 7 minutes later, the Israeli
helicopters launched 3 missiles at the workshop, completely destroying it. A number of neighboring houses and the
electricity network in the area were also damaged in the attack. The Israeli helicopters also launched an 8th
missile at a tract of agricultural land on Jorat al-Lout area in the south of Khan
Yunis, owned by Yahia Salim Qeshta. The
missile did not explode. The affected
workshop was also shelled by Israeli occupying forces on 6 September 2002, but
had been repaired.
At approximately 15:00, a
number of Palestinian boys gathered at the main road in Nour Shams refugee
camp, east of Tulkarm. They threw stones
at Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers which had already invaded the
camp. Immediately, Israeli soldiers
fired at the stone throwers, wounding 2:
1. Mohammed ‘Aadel Abu Talal, 16, seriously wounded by a
live bullet in the right side; and
2. Qaisar Kamal Suleiman, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the
shoulder.
At approximately 16:20,
Israeli occupying soldiers on observation towers in the vicinity of “Netzarim”
settlement, south of Gaza City, opened fire at the coastal road in the
west. A Palestinian civilian, Fares
Mohammed al-Weheidi, 52, from Gaza City, was wounded by a live bullet in the
right arm, while he was traveling towards Gaza City.
At approximately 22:40,
Israeli combat helicopters launched 3 missiles and opened fire at the
headquarters of the Palestinian Preventive Security in Tal al-Hawa neighborhood
in the south of Gaza City. Meanwhile,
more than 30 Israeli heavy military vehicles, accompanied by military
bulldozers moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of the city, towards the
area, which is approximately 2km away from the settlement, through the coastal
road. A number of tanks took position
near the southwestern gate of the headquarters, while a bulldozer demolished
the gate and parts of the fence. Then,
Israeli tanks broke into the headquarters opening fire indiscriminately. Israeli forced destroyed the internal doors
of the building. The incursion and
destruction of the buildings continued until 03:00 on the following day, when
Israeli forces withdrew back to “Netzarim” settlement. A number of buildings inside the headquarters
of the Preventive Security were destroyed, and a number of houses – al-Quds
Hospital of Palestine Red Crescent Society, two ambulances and a number of
private cars – were damaged. The
electricity and telephone networks of the area were also damaged. In addition, Shams ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Oudetallah,
a cameraman of Reuters news agency, was wounded by shrapnel in the left hand,
while he was filming the Israeli incursion, approximately 1km away from the
Israeli forces.
At approximately 05:30,
Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 400m into the north of Beit Lahia
in the northern Gaza Strip. They razed
areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on
which a greenhouse planted with tomatoes stood, owned by ‘Abdul Salam Abu
Jarad.
2. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land, on
which a greenhouse planted with tomatoes stood, owned by Wahba Abu Rabi’.
3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on
which a greenhouse planted with tomatoes stood, owned by Ibrahim al-Maslami.
4. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land
planted with strawberries owned by ‘Abdul ‘Alim Abu Jarad.
5. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes owned by Nasser al-Baddi.
Tuesday,
19 November 2002
At approximately 15:30,
Israeli occupying forces demolished a number of Palestinian houses in Sheikh
‘Ejlin area, north of ‘Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City. Residents of the houses had already evacuated
them due to regular Israeli attacks against them. Following are details of the houses:
1. Israeli forces demolished a 150-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house, in which 7 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Kamal
Mas’oud.
2. They demolished a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 18 persons used to live, owned by the heirs of Yahia Subhi
al-Daya.
3. They demolished a 120-square-meter, 1-story house, in
which 7 persons used to live, which stood on a 1000-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives, grapes and figs, owned by Ahmed ‘Ali
Mohammed al-Nu’eizi.
4. They demolished a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, which stood on a 1000-square-meter area of agricultural land planted
with olives, lemons and guavas, owned by Yassin ‘Ali Salem al-Hattab.
5. They demolished a 70-square-meter, iron-roofed house,
which stood on a 1500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with
olives, grapes and figs, owned by Kamal Mohammed ‘Ata Lafi.
6. They demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, which stood on a 1270-square-meter area of agricultural land planted
with olives, grapes, figs and fruits, owned by Fathi ‘Ateya Mohammed Lafi and
brothers.
7. They demolished a 120-square-meter, 1-story house,
which stood on a 1000-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with
olives, grapes and figs, owned by Bassem al-Hilu.
8. They demolished a 60-square-meter, iron-roofed house,
which stood on a 1000-square-meter area of land, owned by Jihad Jindia.
9. They demolished a 50-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, which stood on a 1000-square-meter area of land planted, owned by Maher
al-Turk and Mohammed al-Sawafiri.
In the morning, school
children organized protests against the extra-judicial assassination committed
by Israeli forces in Tulkarm on Tuesday evening, 19 November 2002, which left 5
Palestinian dead. A number of school
children gathered near al-Asma’ei School in the center of the town and threw
stones at Israeli military jeeps. Israeli soldiers fired at them and one of the soldiers pointed his gun
at 14-year-old ‘Amru Suleiman Fayeq al-Qudsi, who was on the roof of a nearby
house throwing stones. The soldier shot him dead with a live bullet that
entered the back and exited the abdomen.
At approximately 13:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by intense shelling, moved
approximately 100m into Um al-Qurreis area in the north of Rafah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by ‘Abdul Ghani Hassan Abu Jazar.
2. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives owned by ‘Abdullah Salim Abu Jazar.
In a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli
political and military establishments, Israeli forces this week carried out 3
assassination attempts, which left 7 Palestinians dead.
At approximately 16:45 on
Friday, 15 November 2002, the time when people start eating in the holy Ramadan
Month, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with more than 30 military vehicles
surrounded the house of ‘Abbas Mustafa ‘Obeidin ‘Anza village, south of
Jenin. About 30 Israeli soldiers got out
of the military vehicles. Then, an
Israeli soldier fired a live bullet in the air. Immediately, the owner of the house got out. When he saw Israeli soldier, he told them
that his son Mahmoud was at home and that he would surrender. When the son got out of the kitchen, Israeli
soldiers fired at him, wounding him with 2 live bullets in the legs. Then, Israeli soldiers ordered the father to
pull his son out of the house which he then did. When they came near an Israeli military jeep,
an Israeli officer ordered the father to go back home and shut the door. When the father shut the door, he heard
sounds of shooting. Then, Israeli forces
withdrew from the area. At approximately
21:45, the son’s body was evacuated to hospital in Jenin. According to Palestinian medical sources, the
victim was shot by 5 live bullets in the mouth, the neck and the legs. Israeli occupying forces claimed that ‘Obeid
was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of the Fatah
Movement. Upon their withdrawal from the
village, Israeli forces arrested Anwar Saleh ‘Ammour, 21.
On Sunday, 17 November
2002, shortly before the time of eating in the holy Ramadan Month, an Israeli
undercover unit in civilian clothes stole into Saida village, north of
Tulkarm. Israeli soldiers surrounded the
house of ‘Abdul Rahman Yousef ‘Abdul Ghani in the center of the village. Soon, other units of the Israeli forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, arrived at the area to sustain the
undercover unit. Then, an Israeli
officer called on the owner’s son, Riadh, 30, through loudspeakers to get out
of the house and surrender. When his
brothers Mohammed, 25, and ‘Emad, 29, came out, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
them without prior warning. Mohammed was
killed by several live bullets throughout the body, while Emad was wounded by 2
live bullets in the legs. Israeli forces
held the 2 brothers for 2 hours before allowing an ambulance of Palestine Red
Crescent Society to evacuate the wounded son to hospital. Israeli occupying forces claimed that they
came to arrest the eldest son, Riadh, who is allegedly a member of al-Aqsa
Martyrs Brigade, but he attempted to escape, so Israeli soldiers fired at him,
wounding his two brothers. However,
eyewitnesses refuted this claim and asserted that Riadh was not at home when
Israeli forces surrounded the house and fired at his two brothers.
At approximately 16:40 on
Tuesday, 19 November 2002, an Israeli undercover unit traveling in civilian
cars with Palestinian number plates and wearing civilian clothes moved into the
eastern part of Tulkarm at the time of eating in the holy Ramadan Month. They surrounded a 4-story apartment building. A number of activists of the Fatah Movement
were in one flat getting ready to eat. Some Palestinian civilians discovered the unit and warned other
people. Soon, a number of Palestinian
boys gathered and threw stones at the unit. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the boys killing 16-year-old
Eihab ‘Allam al-Zaqla with a live bullet in the chest. The Fatah activists attempted to escape, but
Israeli soldiers fired at them. Tariq
Helmi al-Zaghal, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. Israeli soldiers surrounded him and asked him
for his identity card. When they checked
the card, they shot him dead with a live bullet in the neck. According to medical sources, the victim was
handcuffed.
Soon, more Israeli forces
came to the area and opened fire in all directions. Ziad Rashed Sadiq Mashaqi, 40, from Yassid
village, northwest of Nablus, was shot dead by Israeli forces with a live
bullet in the neck, when he looked from the roof of the building where he was
working as a guard. At approximately
17:30, Israeli soldiers opened fire at a civilian car without prior
warning. The driver, Sha’ban Shaker
Budeir, 40, from Far’oun village, south of Tulkarm, was killed by 3 live
bullets in the chest and the right shoulder and forearm, and Ahmed ‘Ali Hussein
Jayousi, 37, from Tulkarm, who was traveling in the car, was killed by 3 live
bullets in the neck, the right arm and the left hand. In the Israeli operation, 10 Palestinian
civilians, including 5 children, were wounded, one of whom was arrested.
The Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources on its web page as saying that
“Tariq al-Zaghal, who was inside the building, was suspected of having
transported the man who carried out a bombing in a wedding hall in Gudeira in
the north of Israel, which left 6 Israeli dead.” The sources also claimed that “two
activists of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Jihad Jallad and Hani Nidhal, were also
in the building and surrendered to the Israeli military.”
Collective Punishment Measures
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 attacks against Israeli
targets and those wanted by the Israeli forces.
At approximately 01:00 on
Thursday, 14 November 2002, Israeli forces reinforced with heavy military
vehicles, surrounded the house of Samir Farid Hussein Safaqa, 48, in the south
of Tulkarm. They forced the 11 residents
of the 150-square-meter, 2-story house out and destroyed it. Saqafa is the father of Tariq Saqafa who was
killed on 30 October 2002 while carrying out an armed attack against “Harmish”
settlement, north of Tulkarm, which left 3 Israeli soldiers dead. Four neighboring houses were severely damaged
as a result of the destruction of the house.
At approximately 01:30 on
Monday, 18 November 2002, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of
Isma’il and Ibrahim Hussein ‘Atallah in Balata refugee camp, east of
Nablus. They forced 17 residents of the
180-square-meter house out and destroyed it. The two carried out 2 bombings inside Israel.
At approximately 03:00 on
Monday, 18 November 2002, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of
Nabil Khamis al-Sawalhi in Balata refugee camp. They forced the 14 residents of the 70-square-meter house out and
destroyed it. The owner is the father of
Khaled al-Sawalhi who carried out a bombing in Israel.
Israeli forces have maintained
the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing Palestinian people.
Israeli forces have furthermore partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming
them into cantons, and have imposed curfews on some areas, violating
Palestinian civilians’ economic, social and cultural rights. The Gaza Strip is still partitioned into
three isolated zones.
On Saturday, 17 November
2002, Israeli occupying forces imposed additional restrictions on Palestinian
civilians living in the al-Sayaf area, located between “Elli Sinai”
and “Dogit” settlements in the northern Gaza Strip. The new restrictions on the 29 Palestinian
families living in the area violate their right to free and secure movement. The new punitive measures include:
· Prohibition of the entry of goods throughout the week
except on Monday and Thursday, while foodstuffs and basic needs are allowed
entry into the area at 06:30-08:00 and at 14:00-17:00.
· There must be at least 3 Palestinians on any cart
traveling into and from the area (only 14 carts are allowed to move in the
area).
On Friday, 15 November
2002, Israeli occupying forces decided to prevent 17 Palestinian students
living in the northern al-Mawasi area from crossing the Israeli military
checkpoint separating al-Mawasi area from Deir al-Balah, beginning from
Saturday, 23 November 2002.
Education in the only
school in al-Mawasi area has been disrupted as Israeli occupying forces have
prevented 21 teachers living outside the area from entering the area since the
beginning of last month.
At approximately 12:00 on
Monday, 18 November 2002, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint
separating Khan Yunis from the al-Mawasi area. Hundreds of people were not able to get home and were forced to spend
the night at houses of their relatives and friends. The checkpoint was reopened on the following
morning according to strict conditions imposed recently by Israeli forces,
which include that a person can only cross the checkpoint if he or she is at
least 40.
This week Israeli forces
have regularly closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah
al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza
Strip. On Tuesday, 19 November, Israeli
forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints, and stopped a
number of cars between them. Israeli
soldiers searched cars and checked the identity cards of passengers. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians were
deprived of eating with their families in the holy Ramadan Month.
*****
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 in order to take
effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under Article 1, 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 observations
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.
