Israeli Forces escalate war crimes in
the OPT
· 5 Palestinian civilians, including 2 women, killed by Israeli
forces
· 4
of the victims were killed in assassinations
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas
· 12
houses were destroyed and agricultural land was razed in the Gaza Strip
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued
· Israeli
forces continue to use Palestinian civilians as human shields in military
operations
· Israel
continues its campaign of retaliation against the families
of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks
against Israeli targets
· Dozens
of Palestinian civilians were arrested
· Continued
siege on Palestinian communities
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have continued to conduct human rights
violations against Palestinian civilians, including extra-judicial killings, collective
punishment, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house
demolitions and agricultural land leveling and arbitrary arrest and detention. This week 19-25 June 2003, 5 Palestinians, including 2
women, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial killings,
or assassinations, officially adopted by the Israeli political and military
establishments against Palestinian political and field activists of the
Intifada, Israeli occupying forces carried out 2 assassination attempts, killing
3 Palestinians. The latest attempt took
place in ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis, on 25 June 2003. Two non-targeted civilians were killed. The targeted person, who is allegedly wanted
by Israeli authorities for his membership of the Hamas movement, survived the
attempt, but was wounded. 12 passing
civilians were also wounded. In another
assassination, on 21 June 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces
shot dead ‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Qader al-Qawasmi, 43, from Hebron, who was accused
by Israeli forces of being the leader of the military wing of Hamas movement in
the West Bank. On the same day, a
Palestinian civilian from Gaza city died from wounds sustained during the
assassination of a Hamas activist on 13 June 2003.
In an apparent willful killing, on 21 June 2003,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian woman, who was suffering from
psychological disturbances, in the southern Gaza Strip. The woman was left bleeding in the area for
24 hours during which time the Israeli forces did not offer medical
assistance. Later, Israeli forces
admitted that they killed the woman by mistake.
This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a
series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces
conducted 8 incursions into Palestinian areas, including in Rafah, Khan Yunis,
Deir al-Balah and Beit Lahia. During
these operations they destroyed 12 Palestinian houses and razed more than 50
donums[1] of
Palestinian land. These actions further
exacerbated the deteriorating economic situation in the Gaza Strip.
In violation of the prohibition on collective punishment
provided for in international humanitarian law, Israeli forces took retaliatory
measures against relatives of Palestinians alleged to have carried out attacks
against Israeli targets. In this context, they destroyed a house in the northern
West Bank town of Jenin.
This week, Israeli occupying forces
waged a campaign of arbitrary arrests and house raids in the West Bank. They raided houses and arrested dozens of
Palestinian civilians, including a number of university students. They also arrested dozens of relatives of
Palestinians alleged to have carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total
siege on the OPT, isolating communities from each other, and from Israel and neighboring
countries. This week, Israeli occupying forces restricted
movement of Palestinians along Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the
north and south of the Gaza Strip). They
repeatedly closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on this road for several
hours, while conducting security checks on Palestinians and their vehicles. They arrested a number of Palestinian
civilians, including a paramedic. They
have also continued to impose night curfews on Palestinian areas adjacent to
Israeli military locations in the Gaza Strip. Although, Israeli forces reopened the Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian
border, they have decreased working hours, thereby further restricting the
number of Palestinians able to travel through the border.
Extra-Judicial Killings
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial killings, or
assassinations, officially adopted by Israeli occupying forces against
Palestinian political and field activists of the Intifada, on Saturday evening,
20 June 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces assassinated
‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Qader al-Qawasmi, 43, from Hebron. Qawasmi was accused by Israel of being the
leader of the military wing of Hamas movement in the West Bank. A second assassination attempt this week
targeted Mohammed Na’im Siam, 28, a member of Hamas movement. Siam survived the attempt in Khan Younis in
the Gaza Strip, but 2 passing Palestinian civilians were killed and 12 others
were wounded.
Saturday, 20 June 2003
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 22:30 on
Saturday, 20 June 2003, al-Qawasmi left al-Ansar mosque in al-Salam Street in
the West of Hebron after the evening prayer. He was reportedly unarmed. When
he was approximately 70m away from the mosque, members of an Israeli undercover
unit got out of 3 Palestinian-plated cars. Without prior warning, they opened fire at al-Qawasmi from a close
distance, killing him. According to
eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers fired at the victim continuously for more than 5
minutes. Then the forces surrounded him
and fired at his body from close range. Israeli forces surrounded the mosque and opened fire preventing worshippers
from leaving. They closed the area and
imposed a curfew, denying access for Palestinian ambulances. After approximately an hour and a half, they
transferred al-Qawasmi’s body to an unknown destination.
The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources
on its Arabic website as saying that “an Israeli undercover unit arrived
to the place in Hebron where al-Qawasmi was present to arrest him. He fired at soldiers, so they returned fire
and killed him.” At the beginning
of the weekly meeting of the Israeli cabinet on Sunday, 22 June 2003, Israeli
Prime Minster Ariel Sharon praised the assassination, saying: “I would
like to thank security services for the success of the important operation of
yesterday in Hebron.” Sharon
described the operation as “very important to achieve security for the
citizens of Israel.” He added that
“if Palestinians do not assume security responsibility in proposed areas,
Israel will continue its operations to achieve security for its citizens.”
Wednesday, 25 June 2003
According to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitnesses’ statements, at
approximately 18:00 on Wednesday, 25 June 2003, an Israeli helicopter gunship
launched 3 missiles at a civilian car, a Peugeot, which was traveling on a
residential road linking the ‘Abasan and Khuza’a villages, east of Khan Yunis. The first 2 missiles missed the target and
exploded ahead of the car. While the
driver was trying to move back, a third missile hit the front of the car. Palestinian civilians hurried towards the
car, and took out the driver, Mohammed Na’im Siam, 28. Siam is wanted by Israeli occupying forces for
being a field leader of the military wing of the Hamas movement. He sustained multiple shrapnel wounds
throughout the body.
Shrapnel from the missiles hit a passing taxi, a yellow Mercedes, in
which 5 Palestinian civilians were traveling. The driver and a girl who was sitting in the back seat were killed:
1. Akram
‘Ali Farhan, 29; and
2. Nivin
Ahmed ‘Abdul Malek Abu Rujaila, 19.
In addition, 12 civilians passing by were wounded;
two remain in a serious condition.
A Palestinian Civilian Dies from Wounds Sustained in a Previous
Extra-Judicial Killing
On Saturday morning, 21 June 2003, medical sources at Shifa’ Hospital in
Gaza city declared that Hassan ‘Atiya Abu ‘Eida, 54, from al-Sabra neighborhood
in Gaza city, had succumbed to a wound he sustained on 13 June 2003, when
Israeli helicopter gunships assassinated Fu’ad al-Liddawi, a member of Hamas
movement. More than 30 Palestinian
civilians, including a number of children, were wounded in the attack. Abu ‘Eida sustained multiple shrapnel wounds
throughout the body. He was transferred
to an Israeli hospital where he received medical care until his death.
Shelling of, and Encroachment, into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 12 June 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 400m into Gizan Abu Rashwan area in the southwest of Khan
Yunis. They raided a 360-square-meter,
2-storey uninhabited house owned by ‘Omar Ramadan Nasser Rashwa. They planted explosives inside the house and
destroyed it. They also razed areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds and
destroyed an irrigation network and an agricultural pool owned by ‘Omar Ramadan
Rashwan.
2. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Munir ‘Abdullah al-Sha’er.
At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with 3 heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 200m into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural
land planted with citrus owned by No’man Hussein Hassan Hammouda. PCHR’s field worker in the northern Gaza
Strip reported that Israeli forces withdrew from the area, but returned later
and took position atop of a hill where the razed land was located.
Simultaneously, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m
into the east of the northern Gaza Strip of Beit Hanoun. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural
land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef
‘Abdul Nabi Abu ‘Eida.
At approximately 17:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 200m into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza city. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural
land planted with olives and fruits and destroyed agricultural equipment owned
by Ra’fat Suleiman Shahin.
Friday, 20 June 2003
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and under cover
of intense gunfire, moved approximately 300m into al-Rabwat area in the
northwest of Khan Yunis. They razed areas
of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a fuel station:
1. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land and destroyed a water pump owned by
‘Olayan Mousa al-Falouji.
2. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, palms and lemons
owned by Fu’ad Mousa Hussein al-Agha.
3. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Fu’ad Mousa Hussein al-Agha.
4. They
demolished a fuel station owned by Mohammed Hammad Abu ‘Owaili.
In addition, 3 houses and a school were severely
damaged.
At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 700m into Palestinian areas north of “Kfar Darom”
settlement in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They razed an area of agricultural land and demolished a number of
civilian facilities:
1. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed
a 60-meter-long fence owned by Mosa’ed Mohammed Abu al-Aa’war.
2. They
demolished a 70-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Yasser Abu al-Aa’war, in
which 5 people lived.
3. They
demolished an 800-square-meter, asbestos-roofed bird farm owned by Mohammed
Ahmed Abu Salim.
4. They
demolished a 30-meter-long fence owned by Yasser ‘Ouda Abu al-Aa’war.
Saturday, 21 June 2003
At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved approximately
150 into Palestinian areas north of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the southeast
of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of
Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a house:
1. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, palms and citrus
owned by Mohammed Hamed ‘Akkila and brothers.
2. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and
destroyed a well, a water pump, a 20-square-meter room and a 16-square-meter
bird farm owned by Mahmoud ‘Ouda Abu Samra.
3. They
demolished a 50-square-meter house and a 70-meter-long fence and uprooted 30
olive trees owned by Farhana Ghaith al-Louh.
4. They
demolished an 8-meter-long fence owned by Mohammed Suleiman Sa’id.
Sunday, 22 June 2003
At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with 2 tanks and a bulldozer, moved approximately 500m into the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, which has been under an Israeli
military siege for 2 months. They
demolished a fence surrounding a 300-square-meter, under-construction house
owned by Majed Salama al-Kafarna.
At approximately 16:40, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Zuhair Zannoun, 16, was wounded by
shrapnel in the lower limbs. PCHR’s
field worker in Rafah reported that the child was approximately 300m away from
the source of fire.
A few minutes later, Israeli forces shelled Block O
in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian
woman, Siham Mohammed Abu Taha, 40, was wounded by shrapnel in the face. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah reported that
she was wounded whilst inside her home.
Monday, 16 June 2003
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with about 20 heavy military vehicles, including bulldozers, and
helicopters moved approximately 2km into al-Satar al-Sharqi area in the north
of Khan Yunis. They raided 2 Palestinian
houses belonging to Mohammed Mustafa al-Astal and ‘Abdul Bari Mohammed Mousa
al-Astal. They forced the 20 residents
of the houses outside. They searched the
houses using 2 of the residents as human shields. During the incursion, Israeli military
bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
agricultural pool owned by heirs of Mohammed Mohammed Qassem al-Astal.
2. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by
Ibrahim Ahmed al-Astal.
3. They
razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olive owned by
Ahmed Mustafa al-Astal.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, and under cover
of intense gunfire, moved approximately 200m into the Khan Yunis refugee
camp. They demolished 4 Palestinian homes:
1. A
230-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Sabri and Kayed Hussein Ahmed
Abu Mousa;
2. A
120-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Lafi Hassan Abu Lafi.
3. A
140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by ‘Ali and Sa’di Jaber Mohammed
Abu Khurais; and
4. A
100-square-meter house owned by Mohammed and Ahmed Hussein Abu Khurais.
A number of other houses were also damaged.
Tuesday, 24 June 2003
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military positions in “Gani Tal” and “Qatif” settlements,
opened fire at al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Rabwat areas in the north of Khan
Yunis. A Palestinian girl, Islam Subhi
al-Farra, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand while she was inside
her home, which is located approximately 700m away from the military positions.
Wednesday, 25 June 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with more than 20 heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved
approximately 400m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the
Egyptian border. They demolished 5
Palestinian houses and razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They
totally demolished a 150-square-meter house owned by Hussam Mohammed ‘Abdul Hadi,
in which 9 people lived.
2. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Jaber Mohammed Ghunaim,
in which 8 people lived.
3. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Fathi ‘Ali ‘Abdul ‘Aal,
in which 8 people live.
4. They
partially demolished a 300-square-meter house owned by Rabah Hamed Salah, in
which 7 people live.
5. They
partially demolished a 300-square-meter house owned by Walid Hamed Salah, in
which 7 people live.
6. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Awadh
Mohammed Hassan al-Sha’er.
7. They
razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Saleh
Sa’id al-Bashiti.
8. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Husni
Suleiman al-Sha’er.
9. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Rami
Suleiman Saleh al-Sha’er.
10. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Salem Mahmoud al-Sha’er.
11. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hamdan Marzouq al-Sha’er.
12. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with fruitful trees owned by ‘Olayan Hamed
Salah.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
In an apparent willful killing, on Saturday evening, 21 June 2003, in
Rafah, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian woman who was suffering
from psychological problems. The woman
was left bleeding for 24 hours during which time the Israeli forces did not
provide medical assistance. Later,
Israeli forces admitted that they shot her by mistake.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 21:55, Israeli
soldiers stationed in a military position on the Rafah-Khan Yunis road, north
of the junction leading to “Morag” settlement, north of Rafah, opened
fire on a Palestinian woman who was approximately 100m away. At approximately 09:00 on Sunday, 22 June
2003, the Palestinian liaison was informed by the Israeli liaison that there
was a body in the area. After coordination
with the Israeli side, at approximately 20:30, a Palestinian ambulance moved
towards the area. The ambulance stopped
50m away from the aforementioned junction. Then, the driver and a paramedic got out of the ambulance and went
towards the body. They carried the body
to the ambulance and transported it to the Martyr Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital
in Rafah. There, the victim was
identified as Su’ad ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Eshtaiwi al-Buhdari, 27, from al-Shaboura
refugee camp in Rafah. According to
medical sources, she was hit by 3 live bullets to the head, the abdomen and the
pelvis. The body was in a state of decomposition
as it had been lying in the open for almost 24 hours. According to the victim’s family and
neighbors, Su’ad was suffering from psychological disorders and often left home
for several hours. The Israeli daily
Yediot Aharanot reported on its Arabic website that Israeli forces had stated
that they would initiate an investigation into the incident.
Collective Punishment against Relatives of Those Alleged to Have Carried
out Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families
of Palestinians alleged to have carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At approximately 04:00 on Tuesday, 24 June 2003, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Deir Abu Dha’if,
east of Jenin. They surrounded a 90-square-meter
house belonging to the family of Jalal Khalil Mohammed Mahamid, who carried out
a bombing in Wadi ‘Aara inside the Green Line earlier this year. Israeli soldiers gave the 10 residents of the
house 10 minutes to evacuate their furniture. Then, they planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it.
Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions
This week, Israeli occupying forces
waged a campaign of arrests and house raids in the West Bank. They raided houses and arrested dozens of
Palestinian civilians, including a number of university students. They also arrested dozens of relatives of
Palestinians alleged to have carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 03:00 on
Monday, 23 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military
vehicles, moved into Bir Zeit village, north of Ramallah. They raided apartments belonging to
university students and a number of houses. They arrested about 80 university students.
Late on Tuesday, 24 June 2003, after having seized complete control over
Hebron, Israeli occupying forces arrested dozens of alleged Hamas activists. They raided houses in Wadi al-Hariya, Abu
Snainah, al-Haras, al-Jama’a, Wadi Abu Katila, Ras al-Joura, ‘Eissi and Be’r
al-Mahjar neighborhoods. Many residents
reported humiliating treatment by the Israeli forces during the house
raids. The Israeli forces also used dogs
to search properties. The campaign of
arrest targeted civilians of various ages and of both sexes. The wife, father, 5 brothers and 5 children,
the oldest of whom is 12 years old, of
‘Abdullah ‘Abdul Qader al-Qawasmi, who was assassinated by Israeli occupying
forces on Saturday, 21 June 2003, were among those arrested. Israeli forces also arrested the father and
brothers of Hazem al-Qawasmi, who was killed while carrying out an armed attack
one month ago.
* * * * *
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 take effective measures to protect
Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance
with their obligations under article 1 and article 146.
3. Upon the international community to
investigate and prosecute those 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.
“END”
Public
Document
**************************************
For more
information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 –
2825893
PCHR, 29 Omer
El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:[email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
