Israeli
Occupying Force Continue to Commit Violations of Human Rights in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories

 

· 13 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including a woman and
3 children, were killed by Israeli forces

· 2 of the victims were mentally
handicapped

· 2 of the victims were killed
during the Israeli offensive on Beit Hanoun

· 15 houses were demolished and large areas of
agricultural land were razed in Beit Hanoun

· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas

· 272 donums of agricultural land in Khan Yunis were razed
and 33 houses were destroyed in Rafah

· Continued
indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas and a number of
Palestinian civilians were injured

· The
Israeli retaliatory campaign continues against families of wanted Palestinians
and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets,
resulting the destruction of 9 houses

· More
Palestinians were arrested

· Continued
siege on Palestinian communities and a number of Palestinians were arrested at
Israeli military checkpoints

· Israeli
forces have denied movement of internationals from and into the Gaza Strip  

 

 

Introduction 

Israeli occupying forces have continued to conduct
illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including
collective punishment, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house
demolition and agricultural land leveling.  This week, 15-21 May 2003, 13 Palestinians, mostly
civilians, including a woman, 3 children and 2 handicapped men, were killed by
Israeli occupying forces.

In a serious
escalation in military activity, on Thursday, 15 May 2003, Israeli occupying
forces invaded the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun reinforced with
military vehicles and supported by Apache gunships. The 5-day military
operation left 7 Palestinians dead, including 3 children, dozens injured, 8
houses destroyed and large areas of agricultural land razed. Israeli forces also caused widespread
destruction to the infrastructure of the town. Israeli forces withdrew from the
town on Tuesday morning, 20 May 2003, but re-entered the town during the
evening of the same day. They have
closed the main entrance of the town, isolating it from the outside world and
razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land. 

 

Israeli occupying
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, during which they attacked Palestinian civilians and property.  This week, Israeli occupying forces razed and burnt
272 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Khuza’a and ‘Abasan villages,
east of Khan Yunis. They also demolished
33 Palestinian houses in Rafah, in a continuation of efforts to create a buffer
zone along the border with Egypt, south of the town. 

 

In a continuation of
the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli
political and military establishments against Palestinian political and field
activists of the Intifada, on Thursday afternoon, 15 May 2003, Israeli
occupying forces unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate an allegedly wanted
Palestinian. The car, in which the targeted person was traveling, turned over
and all the passengers were able to escape. Three UNRWA staff members, who were passing by, were slightly injured.

 

This week, in various
cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces killed 6
Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The victims included 2 mentally handicapped
men and a woman who bled to death. One of the victims, an old man, died from a
heart attack, when Israeli forces chased him and other Palestinian workers.

 

Israeli occupying
forces transferred Mahmoud Suleiman Sa’id al-Sa’di al-Saffouri, 31, from his
home in Jenin to the Gaza Strip on Sunday
morning, 18 May 2003. According to the military order, al-Sa’di will spend two
years in Gaza.  Al-Saffouri
was arrested on 19 June 2002, when Israeli occupying forces waged a campaign of
arrest in Jenin refugee camp.  In
his affidavit to PCHR, al-Saffouri stated that he had been detained by Israeli
occupying forces in Salem detention center in Jenin for two days and was then
transferred to ‘Ofar detention center.  Twelve days later, he was moved to a prison in the
Negev Desert, where he was placed under a 6-month administrative detention,
which was subsequently renewed for another 6 month period. Al-Saffouri was then
transferred back to ‘Ofar detention center pending his transfer to the Gaza
Strip.  According to information available to PCHR, al-Saffouri was
neither interrogated nor charged by Israeli occupying forces during his
detention, and he was denied family visitation rights.

 

Al-Saffouri is the
brother of Haj ‘Ali al-Saffouri, who has been in incommunicado detention in
Beer Saba prison since 18 April 2002 and is accused of being a prominent leader
of al-Quds Brigade, the military wing of Islamic Jihad. The decision to expel
al-Saffouri violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949, article 33 of which provides that “No protected
person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally
committed;” article 49 prohibits “individual or mass forcible
transfers;” and article 147 considers “unlawful deportation or
transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person” as a grave breach.

 

In a measure
unprecedented since the beginning of al-Aqsa Intifada, Israeli occupying forces
issued a military order expelling a Palestinian from al-Mawasi area in Khan
Yunis, giving him 24 hours to leave.  On 13 May 2003, Moqbel Shurrab, a
Palestinian farmer from al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, received a military order
that gave him 24 hours to leave, effectively expelling him from the area. The
order also gave Shurrab 7 days to appeal against the decision to expel him from
the area for 6 months. PCHR submitted
appeals to the Israeli military legal advisor and the Israeli military appeal
court to revoke the order and ensure Shurrab’s right to remain in his place of
residence. However, PCHR has not received any response. On Wednesday, 21 May 2003, the Israeli High
Court approved the Israeli military order and rejected an appeal submitted by
PCHR against the order.

In further violation of international humanitarian
law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory
measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against
Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by
Israeli forces.  In this context, they destroyed 9 houses in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip, including 4 in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

Israeli occupying
forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT.  They have isolated Palestinian communities from one
another and have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separate zones,
restricting the movement of people and goods.  They have also maintained
curfews on some areas in the West Bank.  Israeli occupying authorities
have prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.  Israeli
occupying forces have imposed severe restrictions on internationals entering
and exiting the Gaza Strip and have also restricted their movement inside
Gaza. 

 

 

Israeli Offensive on Beit Hanoun

 

On Thursday morning, 15 May
2003, dozens of Israeli heavy military vehicles invaded al-Zaytoun area in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. The invasion was accompanied by intense shelling and supported by
helicopters. During the 5-day invasion,
Israeli occupying forces killed 7 Palestinians, including 3 children, injured
dozens of others, destroyed 8 Palestinian houses and razed large areas of
agricultural land.

 

According to PCHR’s
investigations, at approximately 02:30 on Thursday, 15 May 2003, dozens of
Israeli heavy military vehicles, including bulldozers, moved approximately 2km
into al-Zaytoun area in the southwest of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun. The incursion was accompanied by
intense shelling and supported by helicopters. Israeli forces seized complete control over the area. They took position on the roofs of some
house, from which they opened fire in all directions. Other Israeli forces surrounded houses
belonging to families of Palestinians detained in Israeli jails or allegedly
wanted by Israeli forces. Then, they
raided and searched the houses using dogs. At approximately 04:45, Israeli forces planted explosives in three
houses and destroyed them and Israeli military bulldozers demolished the fourth
house. Two neighboring houses were also
destroyed and dozens of other houses were damaged.

 

As a result of the
indiscriminate Israeli shelling, at approximately 07:00, Mohammed Nabil
Mohammed al-Za’anin, 14, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and 5 other
Palestinians, including 2 children, were wounded. At approximately 08:00, a number of
Palestinian resistance men confronted Israeli forces. In the clashes, 2 resistance men were killed:

 

 1) Khalil
Mohammed Qarmout, 33, from Beit Lahia, hit by a live bullet in the abdomen; and

 2) Nidal
Mohammed Ekrayem, 24, from al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, hit by a live
bullet that entered the back and exited the chest.

 

At noon, Israeli soldiers
on roofs of houses opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were
throwing stones at Israeli forces. One
of the children, Zuhair Khaled Abu Jarad, 15, was wounded by a live bullet in
the head. He bled to death as ambulances
were not able to attend him due to the intense Israeli gunfire. 

 

Israeli forces maintained
their hold over the town by seizing control of Salah al-Din Street. Israeli military bulldozers razed large areas
of Palestinian agricultural land planted with citrus, mostly owned by the
al-Shawwa family. 

 

In the evening, Israeli
forces fired an artillery shell at a number of Palestinian boys who were
throwing stones towards these forces. ‘Abdul Qader ‘Ali Abu al-Kas, 17, was killed by shrapnel in the chest,
and 8 others were injured, including 3 children who sustained serious
injuries. 

 

The following table shows
details of the houses that were destroyed or demolished by Israeli forces in
al-Zaytoun area in Beit Hanoun on 15 May 2003:

 

On Friday, 16 May 2003,
Israeli occupying forces continued their siege on Beit Hanoun. Israeli military bulldozers razed large areas
of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed roads, factories and a site of
the Palestinian National Security force located in the southwestern part of the
town. 

 

At noon, a number of
Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones towards Israeli forces, who
immediately opened fire on the children. Five boys were wounded.

 

On Saturday, 17 May 2003,
Israeli forces destroyed more roads, water and electricity supplies and sewage
networks. Israeli military bulldozers
razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land. Two tanks and a military bulldozer blocked Salah
al-Din Street and another road leading to Beit Lahia. A number of Palestinian boys and young men
gathered and threw stones towards the tanks and bulldozer. Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers
wounding 24 of them, 3 of whom were in serious condition. 

 

A number of Palestinian
resistance men clashed with Israeli forces. During the clashes, a resistance fighter, Khaled Ibrahim al-Ziq, 25,
from al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza city, was killed by a live bullet to the
chest. 

 

On Sunday, 18 May 2003,
Israeli occupying forces razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural
land. They also tightened the siege on
the town. Residents of the town told
PCHR’s field worker that they were suffering from a shortage of drinking water and
food supplies. Israeli forces seized the
house of Mahmoud al-Masri, expelled the family and transformed the house into a
military site. 

 

At approximately 19:00,
Israeli forces raided a number of Palestinian houses in the town and forced the
families out without allowing them to remove their belongings. Shortly thereafter, Israeli military
bulldozers completely demolished 3 houses and partially demolished a
fourth one. They also demolished parts
of the southern façade of a mosque. According to the owners of the houses, Israeli military bulldozers
started demolishing their houses without prior warning, so some children were
forced to jump through high windows to reach safety. 

 

At approximately 19:30,
Israeli forces fired at a number of Palestinian children who gathered near
Hammouda fuel station. Ziad Khaled
Nasser, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, was killed by a live bullet in the
chest, and 20 others were wounded. 

 

The following table shows
details of the houses that were demolished by Israeli forces in Beit Hanoun on
18 May 2003:

 

 

On Monday, 19 May, 2003,
Israeli forces razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land. They also opened fire on homes, wounding 24
Palestinian civilians. 

 

On Tuesday morning, 20 May
2003, Israeli occupying forces withdrew from Beit Hanoun. However, in the evening, Israeli occupying
forces returned to the town. They closed
Salah al-Din Street at the entrance of the town, and bulldozers dug large holes
into it. They also razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land. Israeli
forces were therefore in complete control of the town. 

 

The following table shows
details of the agricultural lands that were razed by Israeli forces in the
period 15-19 May 2003, according to information available to PCHR:

 

 

Shelling of, and
Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 15 May 2003

 

At approximately 03:00, an
infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved 300m into cemeteries located in
the western part of Khan Yunis. Israeli
soldiers then fired at members of the Palestinian National Security Force,
wounding one of them, Ahmed ‘Ali Mohammed al-Farra, 23, with a live bullet in
the left foot.

 

Friday, 16 May 2003

At approximately 02:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 200m into southern Rafah,
adjacent to Salah al-Din Gate on the border with Egypt. They demolished a 250-square-meter, 3-storey
house owned by Fathi Hamdan al-Sha’er, in which 29 people (4 families)
lived. 

 

In the afternoon, Israeli
soldiers in an armored personnel carrier that was patrolling Palestinian villages, northwest of Nablus,
shot dead a mentally disabled Palestinian man. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 16:30,
Taher Mahmoud ‘Ali ‘Abda, 30, from Beit Umrin village, northwest of Nablus, was
with his family on a tract of land owned by the family, in the western part of
the village. An Israeli armored
personnel carrier arrived in the area. When ‘Abda saw it, he started to run from the area. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at
him. He was wounded by a live bullet in
the chest. Israeli soldiers got out of
the vehicle. The family told the soldiers
that the victim was mentally disabled and that he ran because he was afraid of
them. Israeli soldiers called an Israeli
ambulance which removed ‘Abda to an Israeli hospital. Later that night, ‘Abda was pronounced
dead. 

 

Saturday, 17 May 2003

At approximately 11:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 100m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border
with Egypt. They opened fire in the
area, wounding 3 Palestinian civilians, as follows:

 

1. Khaled
Kamel Abu Nada, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder;

2. Tamer
Hamdi Sha’at, 18, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the back; and

3. Ahmed
Fathi ‘Othman, 18, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right arm. 

 

The Israeli incursion
continued until 19:00, during which time forces demolished 6 Palestinian homes:

1. A
204-square-meter house owned by Fathi Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Zuhri, in which 22
people (3 families) lived;

2. A
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by D’iab Ahmed Hussein al-Derbi,
in which 19 people (4 families) lived;

3. A
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mahmoud ‘Ali Hamdan Barhoum,
in which 15 people lived;

4. A
200-square-meter house owned by Talal ‘Ali ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Yousef, in which 11
people (2 families) lived;

5. A
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Sufian Isma’il ‘Abdullah
al-Hams; and

6. An
80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Mohammed Shehada, in which 5
people lived. 

 

At approximately 13:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 2
bulldozers, and covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 600m into
al-Sanati area in the village of Khauza’a, east of Khan Yunis. They razed the following areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:

 

1. A
25-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Isma’il ‘Abdul
‘Aziz Qudaih.

2. A
25-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by heirs of Ahmed
Hamad ‘Abdullah Qudaih.

3. A
30-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by ‘Abdul Ghani,
Hafez and ‘Abdul Hadi al-‘Abed ‘Abdullah Qudiah.

4. A
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by heirs of
‘Abdullah al-‘Abed ‘Abdullah Qaudiah.

5. A
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Salman ‘Aabed
Musallam Qudaih.

6. A
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by heirs of Salem
‘Abed Qudaih.

7. A
10-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Shehda ‘Aabed
Musallam Qudaih. 

 

At the same time, Israeli
occupying forces, accompanied by a military bulldozer, moved approximately 100m
into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza city. They demolished 2 Palestinian homes and razed areas of agricultural
land, as follows:

 

1. They demolished a 100-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house owned by Ibrahim Hussein Abu Shughaiba, in which 2 people
lived.

2. They demolished a 100-square-meter
summer resort, razed a 250-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with
fruits and destroyed a well, all owned by Jamal Mohammed al-Haj. 

3. They razed a 250-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and demolished a
14-square-meter room owned by Mohammed Jamal Mohammed al-Haj.

4. They razed a 250-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with figs and olives and demolished a 9-square-meter
room owned by Kamal Mohammed al-Haj.

5. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and demolished 2 asbestos-roofed
rooms that stood on a 30-square-meter area owned by Hussein Mansi Subaih. 

 

At approximately 18:00,
Israeli military vehicles moved approximately 200m into southern Rafah,
adjacent to Salah al-Din Gate on the border with Egypt. They demolished a 150-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house owned by Jundiya Mohammed Qeshta, in which 2 people
lived.  

 

At approximately 22:00,
Israeli occupying forces in tanks located in military sites at the eastern
border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian
agricultural areas in ‘Abasan village. They also fired flare bombs in the area.  A flare bomb fell onto a field of wheat and a
fire broke out. Palestinian civilians
called the Palestinian civil defense and fire engines arrived quickly. However, the fire engines could not get close
enough to the affected area, because of continuing Israeli gunfire. After coordinating with the joint
Israeli-Palestinian liaison, the fire engines were allowed to approach the
affected field, three hours later. They were required to turn their lights off. They extinguished the fire, but extensive
areas of agricultural land had already been destroyed, as follows:

 

1. An
8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Mahmoud Ahmed
Hamdan Tabash;

2. An
8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Hassan Ahmed
Hamdan Tabash;

3. An
8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Hamdan Hussin
Hamdan Tabash; and

4. An
8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Suleiman Hussein
Hamdan Tabash. 

 

Sunday, 18 May 2003

 

At approximately 05:30,
Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of the “Neve Dekalim”
settlement, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Ali Mohammed Salem
Abu Namous, 18, was killed by several live bullets to the head and the
chest. PCHR’s field worker in Khan Yunis
reported that Abu Namous was on his way home from the mosque after dawn
prayers. 

At approximately 12:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3
bulldozers, and covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 600m into al-Sanati
area in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land, as follows:

 

1. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land, on which 4 greenhouses planted with
vegetables stood, and destroyed a well, an agricultural pool, 2 water pumps, a
room, an irrigation network and some agricultural equipment, all owned by heirs
of Ahmed Hamad Qudiah. 

2. They
destroyed 3 rooms, 3 agricultural pools and uprooted some olives trees on a
30-donum area of agricultural land that had been already razed, owned by ‘Abdul
Ghani, Hafez and ‘Abdul Hadi al-‘Abed ‘Abdullah Qudaih. 

3. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives, owned
by Fathi Hafez al-‘Abed Qudiah.

4. They
razed a 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, watermelons and
Egyptian cucumbers, and a 250-meter-long row of wild figs, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed
Mahmoud Ahmed Qudiah. 

5. They
destroyed a 1.5-donum greenhouse planted with tomatoes, owned by ‘Ali Ahmed
Swailem Tabash and farmed by Ibrahim Khalil Salman Qudaih. 

6. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Mahmoud
Shehada Isma’il Tabash. 

7. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Suleiman
Hussein Hamdan Tabash.

8. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Maraziq
Suleiman Isma’il Abu Tair.

9. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and almonds,
and a 30-meter-long row of wild figs, owned
by Mahmoud ‘Olayan Mousa Abu Tair. 

10. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and fruits,
and destroyed an irrigation network, owned by Suleiman Mohammed Ahmed al-Najjar. 

11. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with watermelons, owned by
Sa’id Ibrahim Mahmoud Tabash.

12. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Isma’il
Mohammed Khalil Tabash.

13. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an
irrigation network, owned by Mohammed and Ahmed Mahmoud Qudaih.

14. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network and a 900-meter-long water pipeline, owned by Isma’il Mahmoud Mohammed Qudaih. 

15. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mahmoud
Yousef Mahmoud Qudaih. 

16. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network, owned by Isma’il Shehada Isma’il Tabash. 

17. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network, owned by Salman and Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Qudaih. 

18. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network, owned by Mohammed Ahmed Qudaih. 

19. They
razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives,
demolished 3 rooms and destroyed an agricultural sprinkler and an irrigation
network owned by Hassan, Mohammed and Ibrahim ‘Abdul Rahman Hamdan Abu Rujaila. 

20. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Mohammed Yousef ‘Abdul
Rahman Abu Rujaila. 

21. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Kamel Mohammed ‘Abdul
Rahman Abu Rujaila. 

22. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Khalil ‘Atwa ‘Abdul Rahman
Abu Rujaila.

23. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by ‘Abdul Malek Mohammed
‘Abdul Rahman Abu Rujaila.

24. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by heirs of Mohammed Baraka
Khalil Abu Daqqa. 

25. They
razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Ahmed, ‘Abdul Hadi, Yousef,
Mahmoud and al-‘Abed Baraka Khalil Abu Daqqa. 

26. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and olives and a
row of wild figs and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Hamdan
Maqboul Abu Farhana. 

27. They
razed parts of a greenhouse and destroyed an agricultural pool and a room owned
by Mohammed Yousef ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Rujaila. 

28. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Ahmed
Nafe’ Salem Abu Daqqa. 

29. They razed a 6-donum area of
agricultural land planted with palms and olives and a row of wild figs, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fu’ad
Joma’a Salman Abu Daqqa and brothers.

30. They
demolished a 36-square-meter room and destroyed a water pump and an
agricultural sprinkler owned by Mohammed Shehda Suleiman Abu Daqqa. 

31. They
destroyed a 200-square-meter, under-construction cow farm owned by Nabil Salman
Suleiman Abu Daqqa. 

32. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and a row of wild
figs owned by Wa’el Ibrahim Salman Abu Daqqa. 

 

At approximately 14:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including
bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent
to the border with Egypt. They remained until 20:00, during which time they
demolished 10 Palestinian houses:

 

1. A
220-square-meter house owned by Na’im ‘Awad Salim Barhoum, in which 8 people
lived;

2. A
180-square-meter house owned by Samir ‘Awad
Salim Barhoum, in which 10 people lived;

3. A
180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Kamela Mustafa Salem Barhoum,
in which 3 people lived;

4. A
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Hatem Mohammed ‘Awad Barhoum, in which 4 people lived;

5. A
300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Abdul
Halim Suleiman Mansour, in which 3 people lived;

6. A
150-square-meter house owned by ‘Aatef ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Yousef al-Ghouti,
in which 7 people lived;

7. A
170-square-meter house owned by Mohammed ‘Abdul
Hai Khaled Hussein, in which 15 people (2 families) lived;

8. A
60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Zuhair Sa’adat Fares al-Hams,
in which 6 people lived;

9. An 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house owned by Jihad Hamed ‘Abdul Hamid al-Hams, in
which 14 people (2 families) lived; and

10. An 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house owned by Mohammed Shehada ‘Ali
al-Rekhawi, in which 5 people lived. 

 

During the incursion, a
number of Palestinian homes were also damaged by Israeli gunfire. 

 

Monday, 19 May 2003

 

At approximately 14:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 500m into Palestinian agricultural areas located north of the
“Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central
Gaza Strip. They remained
until 17:00, during which time they razed areas of agricultural land,
demolished a home and various civilian facilities:

 

 1. They demolished a 150-square-meter,
iron-roofed house, owned by Zeina Salama al-Zurai’ei, in which 3 people lived.

 2. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Hussein Mohammed al-Louh.

 3. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Jamal Mohammed al-Louh.

 4. They destroyed a 70-meter-long fence of
barbed wire, an iron gate, a 100-meter-long water pipeline, and uprooted 10 olive trees owned by Hammad Mohammed
al-‘Azab.

 5. They destroyed a room and a
35-square-meter summer resort, owned by Ahmed Mohammed al-‘Azaiza. 

 6. They uprooted 5 olive trees owned by
‘Eid ‘Ali al-Jayawi. 

 

Tuesday, 20 May 2003

 

At approximately 10:30,
Israeli occupying forces on a hill located approximately 600m west of the Tal
al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian homes in
the neighborhood. A Palestinian girl,
Suhad Hussein Subeh, 23, was seriously wounded by a live bullet to the abdomen,
while she was walking on al-Nuzha Street. 

 

At approximately 13:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles moved
approximately 200m into southern Rafah, adjacent to the Salah al-Din Gate on
the border with Egypt. This incursion
continued until 19:00, during which time Israeli forces demolished 5
Palestinian homes, as follows:

 

1. They completely demolished a
200-square-meter home owned by Kamal Mohammed Mohammed al-Sha’er, in which 10
people lived.

2. They partially demolished a
250-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Ayman Mahmoud Mohammed al-Sha’er, in
which 33 people (5 families) lived, rendering it uninhabitable. 

3. They partially demolished a 160-square-meter
house owned by Mohammed Khalil Mohammed Qeshta, in which 7 people lived,
rendering it uninhabitable. 

4. They partially demolished a
200-square-meter house owned by ‘Ata ‘Atiya Mohammed al-Sha’er, in which 25
people (4 families) lived, rendering it uninhabitable. 

5. They partially demolished a
300-square-meter house owned by Salah Salem Mohammed al-Sha’er, in which 11
people (2 families) lived, rendering it uninhabitable. 

 

Wednesday, 21 May
2003

 

At approximately 01:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 200m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border
with Egypt. They demolished 10
Palestinian homes and razed several areas of agricultural land:

 

 1. They totally demolished a 140-square-meter,
asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Abdul Fattah Ahmed al-Haj Yousef, in which 14
people (2 families) lived.

 2. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Saleh Ibrahim al-Sarafandi, in
which 8 people lived.

 3. They totally demolished a
160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Nemer Mohammed Mansour
Barhoum, in which 12 people (2 families) lived.

 4. They partially demolished a
300-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Khalil Abu Zuhri, in
which 35 people (7 families) lived.

 5. They partially demolished a
600-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Turki Mahmoud ‘Oudetallah
al-Sha’er, in which 23 people (4 families) lived.

 6. They partially demolished a
250-square-meter house owned by Hashem Yousef al-Haj Yousef, in which 9 people
lived.

 7. They partially demolished a
200-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Mousa Mustafa Ahmed al-Sarafandi, in
which 19 people (2 families) lived.

 8. They partially demolished a
400-square-meter, 5-storey house owned by Fayeq Ahmed ‘Abdu al-Banna, in which
50 people (8 families) lived.

 9. They partially demolished a
145-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Hamdan Khalil Khalil Abu Siam,
in which 9 people lived.

 10. They
partially demolished a 150-square-meter house owned by Mohammed ‘Aadel Mohammed
Rabi’, in which 12 people lived. 

 11. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land owned by Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim
Kabaja.

 12. They
razed a 550-square-meter area of agricultural land owned by Isma’il Ibrahim
‘Abdullah al-Bardawil. 

 

In the afternoon, Israeli
occupying forces killed a 38-year-old woman and a student in Qarwat Bani Zaid
village, northwest of Ramallah. This
killing came less than one month after a similar killing in the same village,
which left 2 Palestinians dead, including the woman’s brother. 

 

According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00, an Israeli military jeep moved into
the village, while children were leaving their schools. A number of school children gathered and
threw stones towards the jeep. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding
Hakim ‘Arar, 16, with a live bullet in the right thigh. Soon, 4 other Israeli military jeeps moved
into the village. Israeli soldiers
opened fire at villagers. At
approximately 15:00, Ramez ‘Aayed Khalil ‘Arar, 18, was wounded by a live
bullet in the heart. When he fell onto
the ground, Rasmia Hamdallah ‘Arar, 38, hurried to offer him help, but Israeli
soldiers fired at her. She was wounded
by a medium caliber bullet in the abdomen. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the two victims
from a distance of approximately 300m. Israeli soldiers also prevented the passage of civilian cars that were
attempting to evacuate the two victims to hospital. Later, an ambulance evacuated them to
hospital, but they died on the way. 

 

Shooting at
Palestinian Civilians

 

Thursday, 17 May 2003

 

In the afternoon, Israeli
soldiers positioned near “Ofar” military location, west of Ramallah,
fired at a civilian car that was traveling from Rafat village to Bitounia
village, seriously wounding a Palestinian civilian. 

 

According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 15:30, Wa’el Ja’far Hassan Saleh, 20, from
Bitounia village, was traveling in his private car back home from Ramallah
through Rafat road. When he reached the
area opposite the “Ofar” military location, he stopped the car to let one of
his companions drive it instead of him. When the two got out of the car to exchange seats, Israeli soldiers near
the military location fired at them without prior warning. Saleh was seriously wounded by a live bullet
in the right shoulder. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at Saleh from a distance of approximately
60m. 

 

In the evening, Israeli
soldiers shot dead a Palestinian civilian suffering from psychological problems
and held on to his body. They delivered
the body to the Palestinian side the following morning after mutilating it. 

 

According to PCHR’s
investigation, at approximately 23:00, Israeli soldiers in a military location
in Tal Zo’rob area in southwest Rafah, opened fire at a Palestinian civilian,
who was approximately 150m north of the military location, killing him
instantly. Late that night, Israeli forces
informed the Palestinian liaison that they were keeping the body of a
Palestinian man. On Friday morning, 16
May 2003, the body was delivered to the Palestinian side. According to medical sources, the victim was
hit by several live bullets throughout the body, and there were cigarette burns
on his back, as well as wounds inflicted by sharp tools all over his
limbs. Later, the victim was identified
as Ahmed Mohammed Isma’il al-Nawajha, 23, from Rafah refugee camp. His family told PCHR’s field worker in Rafah
that he was suffering from psychological problems and that he often wandered
aimlessly. 

 

The Israeli daily, Yediot
Aharanot, quoted Israeli military sources on its Arabic web site as stating
that the victim “got close to an Israeli military location,
so Israeli soldiers fired warning bullets in the air before they shot him
dead.”

 

Friday, 16 May 2003

 

At approximately 12:50,
Israeli soldiers at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis,
fired at a number of Palestinian farmers who were cultivating wheat in Khuza’a
village, east of Khan Yunis. A farmer,
Suleiman Salem Ahmed Qudaih, 50, was wounded by a live bullet in the left
foot. 

 

Sunday, 18 May 2003

 

In the morning, an elderly
Palestinian man died when Israeli soldiers chased and fired at Palestinian
workers who were on their way to work inside the Green Line. 

 

According to eyewitnesses,
at approximately 05:00, Mustafa Sa’id Nazzal, 65, from ‘Arraba village,
northeast of Jenin, was on his way to work in Sandala village, located inside
the Green Line. Two Israeli tanks chased
and fired at the labourers. After he ran
for approximately 2km, Nazzal became tired. He sat on the ground to drink some water and collapsed immediately. The other workers called for an ambulance
which evacuated him to hospital in Jenin, but he was already dead. According to medical sources, Nazzal died
from a heart attack. 

 

A Failed
Assassination Attempt

 

In a continuation of its
policy of extra-judicial assassinations, on Thursday afternoon, 15 May 2003,
Israeli occupying forces made a failed attempt to assassinate an
allegedly wanted Palestinian. The car,
in which the targeted person was traveling, turned over, but all the passengers
were able to escape. Three members of UNRWA
staff, who passed by the area, were slightly injured. 

 

According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 13:30, a civilian car with a Palestinian
license plate was seen chasing another civilian car, a white Mazda, which was
traveling from al-Ersal Street to ‘Ein Mesbah area, north
of Ramallah. Bullets were fired from the
first car at the second car, which turned over, but the passengers were able to
escape. During the chase, an UNRWA
vehicle passed by the area. The vehicle
was hit by several live bullets. Three
members of UNRWA staff were slightly injured:

 

1. Mustafa ‘Othman ‘Orabi Nahla, 41, from Ramallah, injured by shrapnel
in the back;

2. ‘Ayad ‘Omran Ahmed Rabi, 28,
from Ramallah, injured by shrapnel in the eyes; and

3. Jamila Mohammed Taha Faqeeh, 45,
injured by shrapnel in the back. 

 

Later, the Israeli daily
Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources on its Arabic web page as
saying that an Israeli military undercover unit carried out a failed
assassination attempt on Darwish al-Dahdar, 40, from Bitounia village,
southwest of Ramallah.

 

Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets

In violation of international humanitarian law, which
prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against
families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli
forces. 

 

At approximately 03:00 on
Friday, 16 May 2003, about 50 Israeli soldiers moved into Wadi al-Tuffah area
west of Nablus. They surrounded a
160-square-meter house owned by Salah Hussein Ahmed al-Qaru, in which 4 people
lived. Using megaphones, they ordered
the family to leave the home. Israeli soldiers then raided the house and forced
the family out. They gave the family 10
minutes to remove furniture. At
approximately 04:00, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the house and
destroyed it. Al-Qaru is the father of
Radwan al-Qaru, 19, who was killed while carrying out an armed attack against
“Boqeia” settlement in the Jordan Valley. 

 

At approximately 18:00 on
Sunday, 18 May 2003, 10 Israeli military vehicles surrounded the house of Jawad ‘Omran al-Qawasmi, 48, and the construction site
belonging to his son Fu’ad, 21, who carried out a bombing against Jewish
settlers in Hebron on Saturday, 17 May 2003. Israeli forces closed all roads leading to the area. They raided the house and construction site
and forced the family out. They also
arrested 5 Palestinians from the construction site. At approximately 19:00, Israeli forces
destroyed a minibus owned by the family. At approximately 05:10 on the following day, Monday, 19 May 2003,
Israeli forces destroyed al-Qawasmi’s 250-square-meter, 3-storey house, where
11 people lived. 

 

On Wednesday morning, 21
May 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles,
moved into al-Jabal al-Shmali area in Nablus. They surrounded a 300-square-meter, 2 storey house, in which 5 families
– including the family of Ref’at Khelfa – live. They then forced the families out of the building and planted and
detonated explosives in Ref’at Khelfa’s flat on the first floor, destroying the
entire first floor. Khelfa is the father of Baraa’ Khelfa who was killed in a
bombing in Tel Aviv on 15 January 2003. 

 

Also on Wednesday at
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Yassamina area in
the old town of Nablus. They surrounded
the house of Zulaifa Ragheb Mahmoud Hassan, blew up the door and forced her out
without allowing her to remove her belongings and documents. They also forced out Hassan’s neighbor who
lives with his family on the second floor of the house. At approximately 03:40, Israeli forces
destroyed the first floor, which also caused severe damage to the second floor. Mrs. Hassan is the mother of ‘Abeer ‘Abdullah
Hamdan, who was killed in an unexplained explosion on 1 September 2001, while
she was traveling in a taxi from Tulkarm to Nablus. 

 

At the same time, Israeli
forces moved into Hindaza neighborhood in Bethlehem. They surrounded a 100-square-meter house
belonging to the family of Sa’ad ‘Abdullah Nawawra, 23, who has been detained
by Israeli forces for 6 months. They
forced Nawawra’s three sisters out of the building and at approximately 05:00,
Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it.

 

In addition, Israeli forces
also destroyed 4 houses during their offensive on Beit Hanoun (see above).

 

 

* * * * *

PCHR calls:

1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

2. Upon
the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to
reconvene to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under
article 1 and article 146, to ensure respect for the Convention.

3. Upon
the international community to investigate and prosecute before international
courts those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.

4. Upon
the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its
field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

5. Upon
the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association
Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.

6. Upon
the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for
the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate
as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the
entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.