Continued Attempts by Israeli
Occupation Forces to Hide Evidence of Crimes in Jenin Refugee Camp and Ongoing
State Terror in the OPT
· 29
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 12 children, confirmed killed in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip
· Israeli
occupation forces redeployed around West Bank cities threatening to launch
future attacks at will
· International
missions describes the Israeli offensive on Jenin refugee camp as a war crime
· Rescue
begin to remove bodies from under ruins in Jenin refugee camp
· Israeli
forces maintained a strict siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
· Israeli
government cancels agreement to cooperate with fact-finding mission formed by
UN Secretary General
· Two
assassinations, killing 5 Palestinians
· Continued
attacks on journalists and obstruction of media coverage in the West Bank
· Strict
siege on the OPT; sick baby dies at an Israeli military roadblock
· Israeli
forces raid Palestinian towns and villages and arrest many Palestinians
Introduction
This report covers human rights
violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories (OPT) in the period 18-24 April 2002. Although Israeli
occupation forces withdrew from some cities, they surrounded and imposed a
strict siege on these cities. Israeli
forces have attacked Palestinian civilians and property. These attacks have included willful killing
and shelling and destruction of property. This week, 29 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 12 children,
were killed by Israeli occupation forces. Rescue teams have continued to remove bodies of Palestinians killed by
Israeli occupation forces during the offensive on Jenin refugee camp.
On Sunday morning, 21 April, Israeli
occupation forces declared that they had “withdrawn” from the cities of
Ramallah, al-Bireh, Nablus and Jenin, while maintaining strict sieges on the
compound of President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah and the Church of the Ntivity
in Bethlehem and redeploying in tight cordons around these cities.
The destruction and war crimes
committed by Israeli occupation forces, especially in Nablus and Jenin, are
apparent now that cities in the West Bank have become accessible to independent
observers. A number of international
missions described what happened in Jenin as more violent than an earthquake,
and a European parliamentary delegation described it as a war crime. After withdrawing from Jenin refugee camp,
Israeli forces continued their attempts to conceal evidence of human rights
violations. On Thursday evening, 18
April, Israeli occupation forces blocked two Norwegian and Swedish delegations
who were on their way to Jenin refugee camp to express their solidarity with
its residents and provide assistance in the rescue and removal of bodies. Israeli forces stopped the delegates at
al-Jalama roadblock for three hours and then forced them to go back. On Friday, 19 April, Israeli authorities
deported a mission of international experts who came to gather evidence on
violations committed by Israeli occupation forces in Jenin refugee camp. The mission came upon an invitation by PCHR,
the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
(LAW), and Adalah, in coordination with the office of the Arab member of
Knesset ‘Azmi Bishara. The mission
included five experts from Greece, Denmark and Australia. On Tuesday, 23 April, the Israeli government
canceled its agreement to cooperate with a fact-finding commission formed by UN
Secretary General Kofi Anan to investigate crimes committed by Israeli
occupation forces in Jenin refugee camp. The commission is comprised of four members: the former Finnish
President Marthi Ahtsiri as ahead, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Sadako Ogata, the former director of ICRC Cornelio Somaruga and former US army
general Bill Nash. The Israeli government has withdrawn its initial promises of
investigation. According to initial
estimations by the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Ministry of
Health, around 600 houses were totally destroyed and 200 rendered uninhabitable
in Jenin refugee camp.
In the old city of Nablus, Israeli
occupation forces destroyed the 3,000-year heritage of the city, including
numerous historical buildings. Israeli
forces destroyed the centre of the city, which included Roman and Islamic
objets d’art. They also destroyed many
buildings from the Ottoman era. Israeli
forces also destroyed many old houses and factories. They also partially destroyed the Roman wells
and a nunnery. A mosque that was built
in 1187 was also severely damaged.
In Bethlehem, Israeli
occupation forces have maintained a strict siege on the Church of the Nativity,
despite international and humanitarian calls to lift the siege.
Approximately 200 Palestinians in the church have been without medicines, water
and electricity. Bodies of two
Palestinians killed by Israeli forces two weeks ago have been blocked inside
the church. On Saturday, 20 April, Israeli occupation forces cut telephone
communications from the church. Israeli
forces have continued their attempts to move into the church. At approximately 19:30 on Monday, 22 April,
Israeli forces opened fire at the church. They also fired tear gas canisters into the church. A room in the church was burnt.
This week, Israeli occupation
forces shot dead at least 19 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children, for
no apparent reason, and without these victims having posed and threat to
Israeli forces.
In a continuation of the
policy of assassination formally adopted by the Israeli government, Israeli
occupation forces committed two assassinations in al-Nassaria village and
Hebron, killing five Palestinians.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli
occupation forces shelled and invaded Palestinian residential areas in the
middle and southern areas. Five
Palestinian civilians were killed, and dozens, mostly children were
wounded. Israeli forces also razed large
areas of Palestinian agricultural land, especially in Wadi al-Salqa village in
the middle area.
This week, Israeli forces
maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT. Israeli forces separated
Palestinian areas, transforming them into Bantustans. In the Gaza Strip,
Israeli occupation forces divided the strip into three isolated zones.
They have prevented movement of persons and goods, in violation of the
economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinians. Israeli forces have also maintained a strict
siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip for the fourth consecutive
week. This week, a sick Palestinian baby
died when Israeli occupation forces prevented her evacuation to hospital for
emergency treatment.
Shelling of and Encroachment in
Palestinian National Authority Controlled Areas
In the afternoon,
Palestinians discovered the body of Ibrahim Mohammed Wishah, 28, a member of
the Palestinian National Security Force from Gaza, in a farm in the north of
Dura village in Hebron. He had been
killed by shrapnel throughout the body. Wishah was working in a store of the Palestinian National Security Force
in Taffauh village, west of Hebron. Some
days before his body was discovered, he went back home from his work through a
mountainous road. At the time, Israeli
occupation forces had seized full control over Dura village. Israeli helicopter gunships opened fire at
mountains and farms surrounding the village. Wishah was apparently hit by gunfire from Israeli helicopters.
At approximately 18:00, an
Israeli sniper in the vicinity of the headquarters of the Palestinian
Preventive Security service in Bitounia, west of Ramallah, already seized by
these forces, fired at 9-year-old Fadhel Mahmoud Abu Zuhaira, seriously
wounding him with a live bullet in the abdomen. He succumbed to his wound on the way to hospital.
At approximately 22:00,
Israeli occupation forces moved approximately 300m into PNA controlled areas
west of “Morag” settlement in the south of Khan Yunis in the Gaza strip. During a two-hour incursion, they raided and
searched the house of Ahmed Juhaini al-Sawarka. After they left the house, they razed a 2-donum area of agricultural
land planted with vegetables, owned by Darwish al-Masri, and uprooted 20 trees
in the area. They also destroyed an
irrigation network owned by al-Sawarka. Israeli forces moved into the area again at approximately 10:00 on the
following day. They again raided and
searched al-Swarka’s house, terrifying his children.
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 200m into al-Sha’er neighborhood,
adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. During the incursion, which continued until 03:00, Israeli forces
intensely shelled Palestinian houses and mounted roofs of some houses, from
which they opened fire. A number of
Palestinian gunmen confronted the invading Israeli forces. Two gunmen and a civilian were killed:
1. Manar ‘Abdul Qader al-Sha’er, 31, hit by several
live bullets throughout the body;
2. Yousef Khamis Zannun, 41, hit by a live bullet in
the head; and
3. Murad ‘Omar Qeshta, 20, hit by two live bullets in
the abdomen.
In addition, three
Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Nasser ‘Abdul Hai Abu Lebda, 22, wounded by
shrapnel in the right thigh;
2. Mahmoud Yousef Abu Taha, 16, wounded by shrapnel
in the right foot; and
3. Maher Sabri al-Shamali, 20, wounded by shrapnel in
the right thigh.
After they had redeployed
around Qalqilya, at approximately 03:00, Israeli occupation forces moved into
the town up to its centre. They
surrounded the house of ‘Adnan Sa’id Daoud, 51, already arrested by Israeli
forces, claiming that his son was wanted. They ordered the wife and the daughter to leave the house. Then, an Israeli combat helicopter launched
two missiles at the house, totally destroying it. The house was rented by Daoud from Nemer
al-Haddad.
At approximately 06:00,
Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Netzarim” settlement, south of
Gaza, shelled Palestinian houses in al-Mughraqa area. Three houses were damaged:
1. Two artillery shells hit a 250-square-meter,
two-story house, in which five families comprised of 42 persons live, owned by
Mahmoud Mustafa al-Qassas, burning a room, cracking walls and destroying a
water tank.
2. An artillery shell hit a 15-square-meter,
under-construction house, owned by Salim Hindi Abu Shalluf, making holes in the
roof and walls.
3. An artillery shell hit a 120-square-meter,
one-story house, in which 13 persons live, owned by Selmi ‘Oudeh Abu Shalluf,
damaging its façades and its furniture and wounding the owner’s four children:
(a) Midhat, 1½, with shrapnel in the back;
(b) ‘Oudeh, 3, with shrapnel in the head;
(c) Asmahan, with shrapnel in the back; and
(d) Amani, with shrapnel in the right leg.
At approximately 12:30,
Israeli occupation soldiers on a tank fired at 15-year-old Mohammed Khalil
Kasra, from Ramallah, from close range, wounding him with a live bullet in the
head. They left him bleeding to
death. According to investigations
carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and
the Environment (LAW), Kasra was killed for no apparent reason, while he was
going to a bakery to buy bread.
At approximately 21:30,
Israeli occupation forces raided the house of Mahmoud Khalil Abu Samra, only
20m north of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah. Soon, they detained Abu Samra, his wife and
his two-year-old child in one room. Some
Israeli soldiers took positions on the roof of the house, while others remained
inside it. They remained there for two
days, allowing the family to have their living needs only under their
observation. They damaged the furniture
of the house. Before raiding the house,
Israeli forces demolished a 2-donum bird farm, owned by Fawzi Khalil Abu Samra,
only 10m away from the house.
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal neighborhood in the
west of Khan Yunis. Fadhel Tahsin
Barbakh, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh while at
home. In addition, a number of houses
were damaged.
At approximately 04:00,
Israeli occupation forces in a military location near al-Mentar crossing, east
of Gaza, for no apparent reason, opened fire at Palestinian houses in
al-Shojaeya neighborhood in the east of the city. Nasser Sa’id al-‘Ejel, 46, was wounded by a
live bullet in the left foot, while near his house.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli occupation forces positioned near Salah al-Din Gate at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, shelled adjacent Palestinian houses. In the meanwhile, Israeli bulldozers leveled
a number of houses and shops that they had already demolished. The shelling continued until 20:00, during
which 14 Palestinians, mostly children, were wounded:
1. ‘Abdul Rahman ‘Abdul Ghaffar al-Masri, 24, wounded
by shrapnel from an explosion of a mysterious object throughout the body;
2. Mohammed Kamel Abu Jazar, 18, wounded by shrapnel
from an artillery shell in the left elbow;
3. Mohammed Tawfiq Abu Muhsen, 22, wounded by
shrapnel in the face and eyes;
4. Shadi Salem al-Sha’er, 16, wounded by shrapnel in
the right shoulder;
5. Mohammed Kamel al-Shakhrit, 16, wounded by a live
bullet in the left knee;
6. Jamil Isma’il al-Faramawi, 16, wounded by shrapnel
in the face and the left shoulder;
7. ‘Ali Fawzi Abu Hussein, 16, wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body;
8. Ra’ed Mohammed Ghabbun, 18, wounded by shrapnel in
the right forearm;
9. Tamer Ahmed al-Sawalma, 18, wounded by shrapnel in
the left thigh;
10. Ramzi Samih Musleh, 18, wounded by a live bullet
in the abdomen;
11. Ahmed Jihad al-Qadhi, 18, wounded by shrapnel in
the left leg;
12. ‘Abdul Rahman Sa’id Abu Zeid, 40, wounded by
shrapnel in the left leg;
13. ‘Abdul Karim Mahmoud Abu Taha, 12, wounded by
shrapnel in the left leg; and
14. Mohammed
Ziad al-Qutati, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand.
A number of Palestinian
houses in Block O area, Qeshta neighborhood and ‘Omar Ben al-Khattab Street
were also severely damaged. Residents of
Rafah though that its was a wide scale Israeli incursion as the shelling continued
for a long time. So, many people left
their houses.
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupation forces on a settler road between al-Shuhada’ junction and
al-Mentar crossing, for no apparent reason, opened fire at Palestinian farms in
the east of Gaza. Maher Harb Abu Namus,
29, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot while farming.
At approximately 09:00,
Israeli occupation forces in a military location near Salah al-Din Gate at the
Egyptian border, south of Rafah, shelled adjacent Palestinian houses. The shelling continued until 17:00, during
which six Palestinian children were wounded. Among the wounded was 4-year-old Ahmed Yahia Zannun, who was critically
wounded in Kherbat al-‘Adas area, approximately 2km north of Salah al-Din
Gate. In his testimony to PCHR, an
eyewitness said:
“At approximately 13:15 on
Sunday, 21 April 2002, I was on my way back home from ‘Abdullah Abu Sitta
School in Khan Yunis. When I arrived at
Kherbat al-‘Adas area, where I live, I was hearing sounds of intense shooting. Then, I saw a woman and three children
walking in front of me. Suddenly, one of
the children fell onto the ground. His
mother carried him and ran towards the centre of the town. A relative of mine, Mohammed al-Nahhal, who
was in the area, took the child who was bleeding from the head and evacuated
him in a civilian car to hospital. I
went home. Approximately an hour later,
my relative returned. His clothes were
full of blood. He was very tired, so I
took him to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah where he received medical
treatment. In the hospital, I knew that
the child’s name is Ahmed Yahia Zannun, 4, from Kherbat al-‘Adas area, and he
was transferred to the European Hospital in Khan Yunis as he was in critical
condition.”
According
to medical sources, the child was wounded by a live bullet in the head. The others who were wounded are:
1. ‘Emad ‘Omar al-Mughayar, 16, wounded by shrapnel
in the right leg;
2. Hussein Ahmed Shaqfa, 15, wounded by a live bullet
in the right thigh;
3. Mohammed Rasmi Abu Taha, 14, wounded by shrapnel
in the chest;
4. Mustafa Sa’di Siam, 15, wounded by shrapnel in the
head; and
5. Yousef Saleh Abu Jazar, 11, wounded by a live
bullet in the left foot.
At approximately 10:15,
Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and two
bulldozers, moved into Um al-Silk area in the south of Khan Yunis. They razed 20 donums of Palestinian
agricultural land:
1. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes and destroyed an agricultural network owned by Ahmed
Suleiman al-Sha’er.
2. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with peppers and destroyed an agricultural network owned by Hamdi
Hussein al-Sha’er.
Israeli forces also uprooted
20 olive trees and demolished a 10-meter-long fence on a tract of agricultural
land owned by Mohammed Mahmoud Zo’rob. They also detained and interrogated four laborers for four hours.
At approximately 22:00,
Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Kfar Darom” settlement, east of
Deir al-Balah, fired two artillery shells at al-Heker area, west of the
settlement. One of the shells fell onto
a road in the area, while the other shell fell into the yard of a house of the
al-‘Odeini family. Anwar Ahmed
al-‘Odeini, 7, was wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder. The shell hit an olive tree before it hit the
yard. PCHR’s field worker in the central
Gaza Strip reported that the area was completely quiet when Israeli forces
shelled it.
In an apparent willful
killing, Israeli occupation shot dead two Palestinian civilians in al-Boreij
refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 23:00, around 60
Israeli occupation soldiers moved approximately 1km into the northeast of
al-Boreij refugee camp. At the time, two
Palestinian civilians, Khaled Ahmed Fureij al-Nabahin, 32, and Akram Mohammed
Suleiman al-‘Awawda, 24, were on their way back home. When they noticed Israeli soldiers in the
area, they moved back and ran in attempt to escape, but Israeli soldiers
immediately opened fire at them. Al-Nabahin was wounded in the chest, while al-‘Awawda was able to escape
to his house. He mounted the roof and
asked his relatives for help, but Israeli soldiers shot him dead with two live
bullets in the head. A bystander moved
towards al-Nabahin who was still alive and pulled him with the assistance of
another woman. Al-Nabahin was crying for
help. An ambulance came to the area, but
Israeli forces opened fire intensively and medical personnel were not able to
offer al-Nabahin help. They were able to
reach him only at 01:00, by which time he had died. Al-‘Awawda is brother of Tariq Mohammed
Suleiman al-‘Awawda who was killed together with his aunt and her three
children in an explosion of a landmine on 15 March 2002.
At approximately 11:30,
Israeli occupation forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the
south of Khan Yunis, west of “Morag” settlement:
1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hamdan
Madhi.
2. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Suleiman
Mohammed Madhi.
3. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land
planted with potatoes and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Samir
Isma’il al-Sha’er.
At approximately 01:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 1km into the east of Wadi
al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah, under the cover of intense
shelling. They razed large areas of
Palestinian agricultural land and some civilian facilities:
1. They razed a 5-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with corn and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Hammad ‘Awad Abu Meghasib.
2. They razed a 5-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with vegetables and corns and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Khaled ‘Awad Abu Meghasib.
3. They razed a 3-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with okras and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Mousa ‘Abdel Karim Abu Meghasib. They
also seized his house and mounted its roof up to 16:00. They also killed birds and animals in a farm
adjacent to the house.
4. They razed a 3-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with straws and vegetables and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ziad ‘Awad Abu Meghasib.
5. They razed a 1-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Hammad ‘Awad Abu Meghasib.
6. They razed a 5-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with corns and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Ibrahim Salama Abu Jureiban. They
also planted a mysterious object on the land.
7. They razed a 3-donum area of Palestinian agricultural
land planted with corns and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yahia
Mousa Abu Jureiban.
8. They razed a 3-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with citrus and palms and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Fa’eq Hussein Abu Meghasib. They also destroyed two 30-litre water tanks.
9. They razed a 13-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with almonds, olives and wheat and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Abdul Hadi and Salim Abu Meghasib. They also damaged his tractor.
10. They razed a 2.5-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with straws and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Na’ima Hussein Abu Meghasib.
11. They razed a 4-donum area of Palestinian
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Mohammed ‘Abdul Majid Abu Meghasib. They also demolished a 60-meter-square house that served as a summer
resort.
12.They destroyed a road, 2km long and 2m wide.
13.They destroyed a 30-meter-long water line.
Wednesday, 24 April 2002
At approximately 12:00, an
undercover Israeli unit moved into Jaba’ village, south of Jenin, in a civilian
truck, disguised as vegetable sellers. As soon as they got closer to the house of Ibrahim ‘Abda in the west of
the village, they jumped out of the truck and surrounded the house. Soon, four armored vehicles and two
helicopters of Israeli forces came to the area. Palestinian civilians threw stones towards Israeli forces, which soon
opened fire. Majdi Naji Mohammed
Khalilia, 14, was killed by a live bullet in the abdomen, and four young men
were wounded.
In a continuation of the
assassination policy formally adopted by the Israeli government, on Thursday,
18 April, Israeli occupation forces carried out an assassination attempt that
targeted Hussam ‘Aatef Badran, 26, from ‘Askar refugee camp in Nablus. Three Palestinians were killed and a fourth,
Khaled Ahmed Hamdan, was wounded and was arrested together with Badran. Israeli forces also kept the bodies of the
three victims.
At approximately 14:00 on
Thursday, 18 April, six Israeli combat helicopters flew over al-Nassaria
village, east of Nablus, while Israeli occupation forces surrounded the
area. Approximately half an hour later,
the Israeli combat helicopters launched six missiles at a Palestinian house in
Kherbat Beit Hassan, east of the village. Then, Israeli occupation forces opened fire at farms surrounding the
area, while combat helicopters fired at the area from heavy machine guns. As a result of the shelling and gunfire that
continued until 17:30, three Palestinians were killed:
1. Fawzi Ibrahim Mufleh Hilal, 38, from Kherbat Beit
Hassan;
2. ‘Atta Ibrahim Samhan, 51, from Kherbat Beit
Hassan; and
3. ‘Aadel Mohammed Abu Kheit, 35, from ‘Askar refugee
camp.
Later, Israeli occupation
forces declared that they had killed two aides of Badran, whom they described
as an activist of Hamas. Israeli forces
repeatedly raided Badran’s house, searching for him, but he was never at home. His brother was arrested for this reason.
On Monday night, 22 April,
Israeli occupation forces assassinated two Palestinians:
1. Marwan Zallum, 42, a prominent leader of the
Palestinian resistance in Hebron; and
2. Samir Abu Rajab al-Tamimi, 45, a member of the
Palestinian Presidential Guard (Force 17).
At approximately 23:45, an
Israeli combat helicopter launched two missiles at a civilian cat in al-Salam
Street in the west of Hebron. Zallum and
al-Tamimi were killed and the car was totally destroyed. On its web page, the Israeli daily Yediot
Aharanot said that Israeli combat helicopters shelled the car of Marwan
Zallum, identified as the leader of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades in Hebron, killing
him.
In an excessive use of
force, Israeli occupation forces shot dead a Palestinian child from close range
while he was walking near “Dogit” settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. According to eyewitnesses, at approximately
17:00, 14-year-old Haitham As’ad Ahmed Abu Shouqa, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood
in Gaza, was walking on the coast, approximately 300m southwest of “Dogit”
settlement, north of Beit Lahia. When he
was near an Israeli military site adjacent to the settlement, a number of
Israeli soldiers chased him and one of them fired at him from a distance of
less than 50m. The child fell onto the
ground bleeding. He was left bleeding
for more than 10 minutes before Israeli soldiers took him to the settlement. He was delivered to the Palestinian liaison
forces dead at approximately 21:00. According to medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital, the child was shot by
two live bullets in the head and the chest.
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupation forces raided al-Mazra’a al-Sharqia village, northeast of
Ramallah. They opened fire at
Palestinian houses in the village, wounding 20-year-old Amal Mahmoud ‘Azzam,
with shrapnel in the left thigh, while she was inside her house.
At approximately 16:00,
Israeli occupation forces positioned near al-Mentar crossing, southeast of
Gaza, fired at some Palestinian young men who were demonstrating approximately
200m away. Two demonstrators were
wounded:
1. Mustafa Ahmed
Madhi, 19, from al-Zayroun neighborhood in Gaza, wounded by a live bullet in
the right thigh; and
2. Ashraf
Mustafa al-Taramsi, 27, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza, wounded by a
live bullet in the abdomen.
At approximately 13:10,
Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of
Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian boys who were demonstrating after
the funeral procession of Mohammed Wadi and ‘Abdullah Abu ‘Oudeh. Akram Sami Safi, 16, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 21:30,
Israeli occupation soldiers in a military jeep opened fire at a civilian car
that was traveling on a road between Ramun and Deir Dibwan villages, northeast
of Ramallah. Two Palestinian civilians
who were travelling in the car were wounded:
1. Munif Wajdi
‘Allan, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen; and
2. Ziad Jamil
Dahdoul, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the shoulder.
At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupation forces at Qalandya roadblock, north of occupied Jerusalem,
fired at an ambulance of Khaled Hospital in Ramallah. The ambulance was hit by several live
bullets. The driver and a patient were
also wounded by shards of glass.
In an apparent willful
killing, in the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces shot dead Nasser ‘Abdul
Razeq Badran, 33, from Deir al-Ghosoun village, north of Tulkarm. He was left bleeding to death, without
Israeli forces allowing an ambulance to reach him. According to the victim’s relatives, at
approximately 16:00, when the curfew imposed on the village was lifted, he went
to his farm in the east of the village. Israeli forces fired at him, wounding him with two live bullets in the
lungs and the left leg. Israeli forces
prevented an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society from evacuating him to
hospital. An Israeli soldier even told
the ambulance driver that they wanted Badran dead. His body was taken to Dr. Thabet Thabet
Hospital. He was handcuffed and there
were signs of torture on his face as his lower lip was removed.
At approximately 07:00,
Israeli occupation forces at the northwestern entrance to Hebron fired at a
Palestinian taxi, in which four Palestinian civilians were traveling coming
from the western villages of Hebron. The
driver and an occupant were wounded:
1. Yasser
Mohammed al-Dababsa, 29, from Nouba village, wounded by shrapnel in the chest
and the left hand;
2. Isma’il
Mohammed al-‘Adam, 26, from Beit Oula village, wounded by shrapnel in the head,
the mouth and the left shoulders.
An
ambulance was able to evacuate them to hospital only 90 minutes later.
In the afternoon, two
Palestinian young men from ‘Assira village, north of Nablus, where killed by
Israeli occupation forces that had already raided the village. The two were wanted by Israeli forces for
being members of Hamas. They are:
1. Eyad Hamdan
Hamadna, 22; and
2. Taher Mohamed
Taher Jarar’a, 22.
According to investigation
carried out by LAW, at approximately 15:00 on Sunday, 21 April, Israeli
occupation forces moved into ‘Assira village and searched houses for the wanted
whom they think had escaped to the village during the Israeli offensive on
Nablus. On the following day, Israeli
forces expanded their search to include mountainous areas surrounding the
village. They found the two Palestinian
young men and soon they killed them. Israeli
forces kept the two bodies. They also
arrested two young men in the village.
At approximately 14:30,
Israeli occupation forces positioned at the entrance to ‘Askar refugee camp,
east of Nablus, opened fire from heavy machine guns at some Palestinian
civilians who were coming back from Nablus to their houses in the eastern
villages of the city. Jibril Ma’ruf
‘Alawna, 35, from ‘Azmout village, was killed by a heavy caliber bullet in the
head. According to eyewitnesses,
‘Allawna, a teacher, was on his way back home from his work. He resorted to an agricultural road due to
the siege imposed on Nablus by Israeli occupation forces. Soon, Israeli forces shot him dead.
At approximately 14:45,
Israeli occupation forces opened fire at some Palestinian children in Beit
Fajjar village, south of Bethlehem, who were playing near the entrance of the
village. Amin Ziad Thawabta, 14, was
seriously wounded by a live bullet in the right armpit. Israeli occupation forces denied the access of
an ambulance to the area on time. Later,
he was evacuated to a hospital in Hebron, but soon he succumbed to his wound.
In an excessive and
disproportionate use of force, at night, Israeli occupation forces killed three
Palestinian children who were on their way to “Netzarim” settlement, south of
Gaza. According to PCHR’s investigation,
at approximately 23:00, three Palestinian children from Gaza, all of them are
classmates, moved towards “Netzarim” settlement, carrying sharp tools. When they were approximately 200m away from
the settlement, Israeli occupation forces in an adjacent military location
opened fire at them. They were hit by
heavy and medium caliber bullets throughout their bodies and were left in the
area for more than 16 hours. It is not
clear whether they died soon or were left bleeding to death. At approximately 15:00 on the following day,
their bodies were taken in a Palestinian ambulance to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza. According to medical sources at the hospital,
the three children were hit by several heavy caliber bullets, and their bodies
were distorted as the head of one of them was cut from the rest of his
body. The children were not members of
any political faction, suggesting that they apparently went to the settlement
by self-initiative in reaction to Israeli practices against the Palestinian
people. The sharp tools they had did not
pose any serious threat to lives of Israeli soldiers positioned in
heavily-fortified locations. However,
Israeli forces did not resort to less lethal means against them, and did not
try to arrest them.
At approximately 04:00,
while some Fatah leaders from Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron, were
apparently holding a meeting in a cave in the north of the village, Israeli
occupation forces, supported by a combat helicopter surrounded the cave. Israeli forces and the helicopter opened fire
at the Fatah leaders without having resorted to less lethal means. Two of them were killed:
1. Ya’qub
Mohammed Es’eifan al-Taraira, 35, Secretary of Fatah movement in the village;
and
2. Mohammed
‘Abdul Halim al-Taraira, 43, a teacher.
Israeli
forces took their bodies. Two were also
wounded and arrested by Israeli forces:
1. Firas ‘Ali
‘Abdullah Manasra, 30; and
2. Najeh Mahmoud
al-Taraira, 30.
In Saturday afternoon, 20
April, three Palestinian children, two brothers and their nephew, from ‘Awarta
village, southeast of Nablus, were killed when an Israeli military vehicle
deliberately hit the car they were traveling in.
According to investigation
carried out by LAW, at approximately 14:00, while Bassam Shehada ‘Awad, 50,
from ‘Awarta village, was driving his car at the entrance of the village, with
his three children and his nephew traveling in the car, he was surprised by an
Israeli military vehicle hitting his car deliberately from the back for more
than once. The car was forced off the
road and flipped over. Two of his
children and his nephew were killed:
1. Ahmed Bassam
Shehada ‘Awad, 14;
2. Ra’fat Bassam
Shehada ‘Awad, 12; and
3. Faraj Hekmat
‘Edwan, 4.
‘Awad and his third child
were also seriously wounded.
Attacks on the Press
On Saturday evening, 20
April, Israeli occupation forces arrested Mahmfouzh Abu Turk, 54, from occupied
Jerusalem, a cameraman of Reuters. Abu
Turk was on his way back home after he had covered incidents in Jenin. When he arrived in Ramallah, Israeli forces
arrested him.
On Sunday, 21 April, Israeli
occupation forces raided the offices of the local weekly Palestine in
Ramallah. They destroyed the equipment
and furniture of the offices.
On Monday, 22 April, Israeli
occupation forces confiscated press cards of 24 journalists and reporters in
Bethlehem working for foreign televisions and press agencies. An Israeli military jeep stopped the
journalists while they were on their way to the Church of the Nativity. Israeli soldiers took the journalists’ press
cards issued by the Israeli governmental press bureau and told them the cards
would be brought back to them in their hotel when they come back. The journalists were covering incidents in
Daraj al-Sawaqa area near the Church of the Nativity. Israeli forces stopped and surrounded them
and forced them to deliver their press cards. They also forced the journalists to go back to Star Hotel and ordered
them not to go out. Israeli forces also
transformed the hotel into a military location.
On the same day, Israeli
occupation forced opened fire at the car of Mohammed Mousa Manasra, 52, a
journalist from Bethlehem. According to
Manasra, Israeli soldiers in the market area in the centre of Bethlehem fired
at his car, which was clearly marked as a press car. Manasra was traveling with his family. The car was hit by several live bullets, but
no casualties were reported.
Israeli occupation forces
have attacked Palestinians civilians who tried to cross Israeli military
roadblocks and denied their passage. This week, a baby, Dina Nasser Eshtayeh, 5 days old, died as Israeli
forces at a military roadblock denied her access to hospital for emergency
treatment. According to her father,
Nasser Eshtyeh, a journalist, on Thursday evening, she was sick. He took her to a physician who told him that
she was suffering from irregular heart rate and that she must be taken to
hospital for oxygen. Soon, the father
called an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society to move her to a hospital
in Nablus. At approximately 23:30, the
ambulance arrived at the entrance to Salem village. Israeli occupation soldiers at the entrance
of the village searched the ambulance. They allowed the passage of the ambulance at midnight. However, an Israeli tank stopped it in Faisal
Street for 35 minutes. Then, as the
ambulance proceeded to hospital the baby died 3 minutes before arrival at the
hospital. Physicians told her father
that they could have saved her life if she had been brought to hospital
earlier.
This week, Israeli occupation
forces arrested a number of Palestinians. The arrests took place in the
following circumstances:
1. At international border crossings, under the
control of Israeli occupation forces.
2. At Israeli military roadblocks on main and branch
roads at the entrances to Palestinian cities and villages.
3. In Palestinian towns and villages, often during
house raids.
4. During incursions into Palestinian controlled
areas.
The following are significant
arrests that took place this week:
In the morning, Israeli
occupation forces moved into Kufor al-Lubbad village, east of Tulkarm, and
imposed a curfew. The raided houses and
arrested a Palestinian, Mohammed ‘Aadel Khalaf, 30, after they had severely
beaten him.
Israeli occupation forces
raided Marda village, north of Salfit, and arrested two Palestinians:
1. ‘Afif Fayadh al-Khuffash, 24; and
2. Zahi Rashed Mansour, 24.
At approximately 04:30,
Israeli occupation forces moved into Qalandya refugee camp, north of occupied
Jerusalem, and imposed a curfew. Then,
they raided houses and arrested 15 Palestinians, including:
1. Naasser Mohammed Abu Humeid, 28;
2. Nasser Mohammed Abu Humeid, 26;
3. Samir ‘Abdullah Salem, 23;
4. Ibrahim ‘Abdullah Salem, 20; and
5. ‘Aatef Fakhri al-Hamouz, 29.
In the morning, Israeli
occupation forces arrested five Palestinians at their houses in Yatta village,
south of Hebron:
1. Ibrahim Khalil Abu Sabha, 31;
2. Khalil Bajes Abu Sabha, 18;
3. Yusri Mohammed Nawaj’a, 23;
4. Khaled Nemer Nawaj’a, 25; and
5. Musallam ‘Ali Shureiteh, 50.
At approximately 02:00,
Israeli occupation forces moved into Surif village, north of Hebron. They raided houses and waged a campaign of
arrests in which they arrested 91 Palestinians.
At approximately 19:00,
Israeli occupation forces arrested Mahmoud ‘Abdul Latif al-‘Assar, 50, deaf and
dumb, from Jabalya refugee camp, while he was walking in al-Sayafa area, north
of Beit Lahia. They took him to “Dogit”
settlement. According to eyewitnesses,
an Israeli tank moved towards al-‘Assar and Israeli soldiers arrested him and
took him to the settlement. He was
released two hours later. An ambulance
of Palestine Red Crescent Society took him to hospital. According to medical sources, there were
signs on his body that he was beaten.
*****
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.
“END”
