The International Community Remains
Silent While Israeli Human Rights Violations Continue in the OPTs
· 20 Palestinians, mostly
civilians, including 8 children, a woman and an old man, killed
by Israeli forces
· Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions
into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling
· Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian
civilians as human shields
· The Israeli retaliatory campaign continues
against families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly have carried
out armed attacks against Israeli targets
· A number of Palestinians have been arrested
· The severe siege of the OPT has continued
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have continued their illegal military actions against
Palestinian civilians and their property, using various kinds of weapons.
They have invaded Palestinian areas and destroyed private and public property,
while they have maintained full control over many Palestinian areas in the West
Bank for several weeks. The Israeli military perpetrated more illegal actions
and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful
killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions,
and agricultural land leveling. This week, 20-26 February 2003, 20 Palestinians,
mostly civilians, including 8 children, were killed by Israeli forces.
On Sunday morning, 23 February 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with military
bulldozers and helicopters and covered by intense shelling, invaded the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result of this Israeli military
operation which continued until Monday morning, 24 February 2003, 7
Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 3 children, were killed.
Israeli forces shelled and moved into Palestinian areas
in the Gaza Strip. They shelled
these areas, demolished dozens of Palestinian houses and razed large areas of
agricultural land. In Rafah, Israeli
forces demolished 22 houses near the
Egyptian border, south of the town. Also this week, Israeli
forces indiscriminately shelled Palestinian residential
areas in Khan Yunis.
In 3 cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli
forces have shot dead 3 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip. In addition, two Palestinian
children were killed and more than 10 other civilians were wounded by the
Israeli shelling against Palestinian residential areas in Rafah and Khan
Yunis.
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. In this context, they destroyed 6 Palestinian houses in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, including 5 houses in Beit Hanoun.
The Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total
siege on the OPT. They have
isolated Palestinian communities from one another. They have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separated zones and
restricted the movement of people and goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in the West Bank. The Israeli decision to prevent Palestinians aged
16-35 from traveling has remained in effect.
The Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian
Areas
Israeli Offensive on the Old Town of Nablus
The Israeli occupying forces have sustained their
incursion of the old town of Nablus since Wednesday, 19 February 2003.
On Thursday, 20 February 2003, Israeli soldiers in
military bases, established on roofs of a number of houses, opened fire in all
directions, killing two Palestinian civilians – a man and his grandson. According to information available to PCHR,
at approximately 16:00, while Ahmed Mohammed Subhi Abu Zahra, 60, and his
grandson, Ahmed Munir Ahmed Abu Zahra, 16, were on their way from their house
at the eastern entrance of the old town to al-Yassamina area in the center of
the town, Israeli soldiers fired at them from a distance of approximately 50m. The grandson was killed by 4 live bullets in
the head and the chest, while his grandfather was critically wounded by 3 live
bullets in the head and the chest. The
grandfather was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts to save his life failed
and he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:00.
On Friday morning, 21 February 2003, a number of
Palestinian boys gathered at al-Shuhada’ square in the center of Nablus and
threw stones at some Israeli soldiers. In response, the soldiers opened fire,
wounding 12 passing civilians, including 5 children, with live and
rubber-coated metal bullets.
On Saturday, 22 February 2003, the Israeli
occupying forces continued their military operations in Nablus, including
firing at passing Palestinian civilians. Two Palestinian civilians were killed and two others were wounded. According to information available to PCHR,
at approximately 11:10, while Sami Murtada Mohammed Halawa, 43, was on his way
to his shop in the Bab al-Saha area in the old town, Israeli soldiers shot him
dead with a live bullet that entered the back and caused an intense hemorrhage
in the intestines. At approximately
12:00, while Walid Majed Ahmed al-Masri, 22, was on his way to buy bread from a
bakery located near his house, Israeli soldiers shot him dead with a live
bullet in the heart. Two other civilians
were wounded by the gunfire:
1. Nasser Samer Nasouh Ja’ara, 14,
critically wounded by a live bullet in the head. He was later pronounced
clinically dead, and on the following day, he passed away.
2. Mohammed Ussama Sa’id ‘Ainabousi, 18,
wounded by shrapnel in the left foot.
Israeli Offensive on the Northern Gaza Strip of Beit
Hanoun
On Sunday morning, 23 February 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with military
bulldozers and helicopters and covered by intense shelling, invaded the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. As a result of the military operation
which continued until Monday morning, 24 February 2003, 7 Palestinians, mostly
civilians, including 3 children, were killed. In violation of international
humanitarian law, Israeli forces destroyed 5 houses belonging to families of
Palestinian activists who carried out attacks on Israeli targets. They also arrested 5 Palestinians, including
Ahmed al-Khatib, a cameraman of the Reuters news agency.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
01:30 on Sunday, 23 February 2003, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy
military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved from the Erez crossing
in the northern Gaza Strip, and from the east and northeast of the town, and
invaded Beit Hanoun.
An hour later, Israeli forces surrounded a house
belonging to the family of Mosa’ab ‘Abdullah al-Sabe’ who was killed in an
armed attack near the Erez crossing on Friday, 21 February 2003. Israeli soldiers ordered the family to leave the
house. They did, but the owner remained the house and clashes broke out between
him and the Israeli soldiers. At approximately 06:00, Israeli soldiers
broke into the house, which is located in a densely populated area. The
soldiers planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. The destiny of
al-Sabe’ remained unknown until Monday evening, when his body was found in the
ruins of the house. Israeli forces also
destroyed 3 other houses in the area owned by Ibrahim, Fa’eq and Mohammed
al-Sabe’. During the invasion, Israeli soldiers seized a number of houses
and used the residents as human shields. In al-Amal neighborhood, known as
al-Boura, in the east of Beit Hanoun, Israeli forces destroyed two houses owned
by Yasser Zwaidi, allegedly wanted by the forces, and his son Ibrahim. At
approximately 06:30, Israeli forces positioned at the entrance of
the town shelled residential areas and streets in the town. The Israeli shelling was focused on the area surrounding the Hammouda
fuel station. Two Palestinians, a security man and a child, were killed
by the Israeli shelling of the area. Another child was also killed by the
Israeli shelling in another area in the town. The three victims were identified as:
1. Ahmed ‘Eid Mohammed ‘Afana, 17, from
the Tal al-Za’tar area, shot by a live bullet in the thigh, which caused an
intensive hemorrhage, while he was near the Hammouda fuel station. He died in hospital two hours after he had been
wounded.
2. Mohammed Sarhan Hawila, 28, from
Jabalya refugee camp, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force, shot
by a live bullet in the abdomen, while he was near the Hammouda fuel
station. He died in hospital 3 hours after he had been wounded.
3. Mohammed Ramadan al-Kahlout, 16, from
Jabalya refugee camp, shot by a live bullet
in the chest.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli forces, for no
apparent reason, shot dead two Palestinians – a worker and a security man –
after they had forced the two to take off their clothes. In his testimony to PCHR, an
eyewitness said:
“At approximately 12:00, I went to Beit Hanoun to see
what was going on. When I arrived at the
entrance of the town, I saw a number of boys throwing stones at Israeli
military vehicles in the area. I hid
behind a car of the Reuters news agency. I could see 3 tanks chasing 4 members of the Palestinian National
Security Force near the industrial zone north of the town. The tanks fired at the security men. A security man fell to the ground near a
texture factory in the area. Soon, a
Palestinian worker working in the industrial zone got out to check what
happened. When he saw the wounded
security man, he moved towards him to offer him help. Immediately, an Israeli soldier fired at the
worker wounding him. Six Israeli soldiers
got out of a tank and surrounded the wounded and fired at them from a close
distance – less than 2m. Then, Israeli
soldiers kicked and beat the two. They
also took off the victims clothes and left the area. A Palestinian arrived and evacuated the two victims
from the area.”
The victims were identified as:
1. Ayman Abu Sharar, 32, from Al–Boreij
refugee camp, a member of the Palestinian Border Police, shot by a live
bullet in the head; and
2. Wa’el Mohammed al-Gharbawi, 31, from
Jabalya, a worker a texture factory, shot by a live bullet in the
neck.
In the afternoon, Baraa’ Fayez al-‘Afifi, 17, from
Beit Hanoun, was critically wounded in the abdomen by a live bullet fired by
Israeli soldiers, when he was near his house in al-Zaytoun area. He was evacuated to hospital, but he succumbed to his wound two hours later.
At approximately 17:00 on Monday, 24 February 2003,
the body of ‘Abdullah Mohammed Mahoud al-Sabe’, 50, was found under the ruins
of his house which was destroyed by Israeli forces after a 7-hour siege. His body was evacuated to hospital. He had received several live
bullets throughout the body, which was also distorted by the falling of ruins.
During their invasion of the town, Israeli forces
broke into a two-storey house, in which 6 people live, owned by Jamal Mahmoud
Hassan al-Kafarna, in the northwest of the town. Israeli soldiers held the family for 28 hours
in one room without food, while they seized the house and transformed it into a
military location, from which they fired at surrounding areas.
Following are details of the houses that were
destroyed by Israeli forces in Beit Hanoun:
1. A 180-square-meter house, in which 9
people lived, owned by ‘Abdullah Mohammed Mahmoud al-Sabe’, father of Mosa’ab
al-Sabe‘ who was killed in an
armed attack near the Erez crossing on Friday, 21 February 2003;
2. A 170-square-meter, 3-storey house, in
which 3 families counting 20 people lived, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed
al-Sabe‘;
3. A 170-square-meter, two-storey house,
in which 7 people lived, owned by Yahaia Khaled al-Hamdin, who is allegedly
wanted by the Israeli forces;
4. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 7 people lived, owned by Yasser Ahmed Hussein al-Zwaidi, whose
son Ahmed allegedly is wanted by the Israeli forces; and
5. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein al-Zwaidi, who
allegedly is wanted by Israeli forces.
Two neighboring houses were severely damaged:
1. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed
house, in which 8 people live, owned by Fa’eq Ahmed Mahmoud al-Sabe’; and
2. A 145-square-meter, newly-built and
uninhabited house owned by Sa’ad Mohammed Mahmoud al-Sabe‘.
Israeli forces also arrested 5 Palestinians:
1. Ahmed al-Khatib, a cameraman of the Reuters news
agency, arrested while covering the invasion;
2. Mowaffaq Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Harbid,
27, a policeman;
3. ‘Emad Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-‘Athamna, 33, a policeman;
4. Mujahed ‘Abdullah Mahmoud al-Sabe’, 18,
whose family’s house was destroyed; and
5. ‘Ammar Bassam ‘Ali al-Masri, 22, who was released at
night.
The Israeli forces also razed the following areas of
Palestinian agricultural land:
1. A 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Mahmoud Tawfiq Hamad; and
2. A 3-donum area of agricultural land
planted with citrus owned by Mahmoud Ibrahim Tawfiq.
Thursday, 20 February 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved
approximately 70m into Khan Yunis refugee camp. Immediately, an Israeli military bulldozer demolished most of a
140-square-meter, two-storey house, in which two families counting 20 people
lived, owned by ‘Adnan and Salem ‘Ali Salem Abu ‘Obaida. On 24 February 2003, Israeli forces destroyed
the remainders of the house. The
bulldozer also partially demolished a 120-square-meter, 5-storey house, in
which 4 families counting 25 people live and put piles of ruins at its
door. It also poured piles of ruins into
a 108-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 3 families counting 17 people
live, owned by heirs of ‘Ali Hassan Abu Zaid. The house was partially demolished by Israeli forces last month.
At approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved
into Tulkarm refugee camp. They
surrounded the club area and raided a number of houses, claiming to be
searching for allegedly wanted Palestinians. A number of Palestinian gunmen took positions on a road to confront the
Israeli forces, but they were surprised by an Israeli undercover unit, which
opened fire at them before they were able to fire a single bullet. A gunman, Mohammed ‘Aaref Yousef ‘Awni, 24,
was killed by several live bullets and shrapnel in the head, the neck and the
chest.
At approximately 15:45, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened
fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town. A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud Ibrahim
al-Saiqali, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, while near his
house in Kherbat al-‘Adas area, approximately 1500m away from the border.
Saturday, 22 February 2003
At approximately 14:00, Israeli heavy military
vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 200m into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. In another attack against religious sites, the bulldozers demolished the
Salah al-Din Mosque, which had been partially destroyed last year. It also demolished 6 Palestinian houses:
1. A 300-square-meter house, in which two
families counting 11 people lived, owned by Talal ‘Ali ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Yousef;
2. A 204-square-meter house, in which 3
families counting 22 people lived, owned by Fathi Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Zuhri;
3. A 220-square-meter house, in which two
families counting 8 people lived, owned by Sufian Isma’il ‘Abdullah al-Hams;
4. A 300-square-meter house, in which 7
people lived, owned by Munir ‘Abdul Salam ‘Abdul Rahman Hassouna;
5. A 300-square-meter house, in which 11
people lived, owned by ‘Ali Khaled Hassouna; and
6. A 90-square-meter house that served as
a summer resort owned by Aamena Mohammed Ahmed al-Mudallal.
Sunday, 23 February 2003
At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 800m into ‘Oraiba
area northwest of Rafah. They forced the
100 residents of the area out of their houses and gathered them near barbwires, surrounding the “Gush Qatif” settlement
block, until 18:30. Then, Israeli forces
demolished two Palestinian houses and razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They partially demolished a
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by
‘Abdul Shafi Salman Ibrahim ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
2. They partially demolished a
120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 18 people lived, owned by
‘Atwa Ahmed Daoud ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
3. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned
by Salem Ghanem Salem al-Hashash.
4. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with vegetables stood,
owned by Ahmed ‘Eid ‘Ayad al-Hashash.
5. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted
with vegetables stood, owned by Nasser ‘Ayad Yahia al-Hashash.
6. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Atwa Mohammed ‘Atwa al-Hashash.
7. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land planted with potatoes owned by Kamel Farid Salama al-Hashash.
8. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Abdul Shafi Salman ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
9. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by Mahmoud Ibrahim ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
10. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by Tawfiq Mahmoud ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
11. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with vegetables stood,
owned by Nasser Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
12. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Oudetallah Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
13. They razed a 1.5-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Atiya Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
14. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Ali Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
15. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by ‘Awadh Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
16. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned
by Ahmed Daoud ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
17. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned
by Daoud Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shelled
Palestinian residential areas in Khan Yunis, killing a Palestinian child and
wounding a young man. In his testimony
to PCHR, one of the child’s friends said:
“At approximately 16:00, I was with some friends,
including Mahmoud Mohammed ‘Ouda Abu Zaher, 16, in al-Sabra playground west of
al-Nimsawi neighborhood, approximately 700m north of a military location in the
vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis. While we were playing, we saw 3 Israeli
soldiers getting up on concrete blocks surrounding the military location. They opened fire at the area. A few minutes later, live bullets began to be
directed towards the playground. We
tried to hide behind walls, but the Israeli soldiers continued to fire at
us. We changed our clothes. Mahmoud went to look for his shoes. Soon, I heard the sound of a live bullet
coming from the Israeli military location. I saw Mahmoud putting his hand on his chest and running east. Then, he cried and fell onto the ground. I ran to him. He was bleeding from the chest and the back. I was shocked. I cried and called on the young men who were
in the area. They evacuated him to
Nasser Hospital. They told me later that
he passed away.”
According to medical sources at Nasser Hospital,
Mahmoud was shot by a live bullet that entered the chest and exited the
back. In addition, two other civilians
were wounded:
1. ‘Alaa’ Ayman Shihda Abu Rezeq, 12, wounded by a live
bullet in the right foot while near his house; and
2. Mahmoud Salim al-Madhoun, 45, wounded
by a live bullet in the right shoulder.
Monday, 24 February 2003
At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered by
intense shelling, moved approximately 70m into Khan Yunis refugee camp. Immediately, the bulldozer leveled the piles
of sands the Israeli forces had put there the previous days. They raided the house of ‘Adnan and Salem
‘Ali Salem Abu ‘Obaida which was mostly destroyed by Israeli forces in a raid
on 20 February 2003. They planted
explosives in the remains of the house and destroyed it. Israeli forces also raided a
120-square-meter, 3-storey uninhabited house owned by ‘Aadel ‘Ali Salem Abu
‘Obaida. They planted explosives in the
house and destroyed it. A number of
neighboring houses and the electricity and telephone supplies were
damaged.
At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee
camp. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed
Suleiman Abu Sahloul, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.
At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Daekalim” and
“Gadid” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the cemetery
area and al-Nimsawi and Baten al-Samin neighborhoods. A Palestinian child, ‘Othman ‘Abdul ‘Azhim
al-Lahham, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder, while
playing near his family’s house in Baten al-Samin neighborhood.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered
by intense shelling, moved approximately 100m into al-Sha’er neighborhood near
Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. During the 7-hour incursion, Israeli forces
demolished 4 houses totally, one house partially and two bird farms:
1. They totally demolished a
130-square-meter, two-storey house, in which two families counting 22 people
lived, owned by Ibrahim ‘Ouda Mohammed Abu Shatat.
2. They totally demolished
250-square-meter house, in which 5 people lived, owned by ‘Omar Salama Mohammed
al-Sha’er.
3. They totally demolished a
200-square-meter house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Zakiya Ibrahim Mousa
al-Mo’ashar.
4. They totally demolished a
210-square-meter house, in which 3 families counting 22 people lived, and a 250-square-meter bird
farm over its 500 birds owned by Hakema Ibrahim Mohammed al-Sha’er.
5. They partially demolished a
150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which one person lives, owned by
Jundiya Mohammed ‘Abdul Hadi Qeshta.
6. They razed a 1-donum area of
agricultural land planted olives, lemons and palms and demolished a
100-square-meter bird farm owned by Mohammed Hassan Mohammed al-Sha’er.
The Israeli forces claimed to be searching for
underground tunnels.
Tuesday, 25 February 2003
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces in
military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west
of Khan Yunis, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. An artillery shell hit the
living room of a 90-square-meter, tin-roofed house, in which two families
counting 10 people live, owned by Miriam ‘Ali Ahmed Abu Sahloul. The house is located approximately 200m away
from the settlement. Seven residents of
the house were having breakfast in the living room. Six of them, including 3 women and a child,
were wounded:
1. Miriam ‘Ali Ahmed Abu Sahloul, 50,
wounded by shrapnel in the back;
2. Kaida ‘Ali Ahmed Abu Sahloul, 48,
wounded by shrapnel in the back;
3. ‘Aa’esha Suleiman Salem Abu Sahloul, 31, wounded by
shrapnel in the thigh and shoulder;
4. Fatema Muhareb ‘Ali Abu Sahloul, 22,
wounded by shrapnel in the neck;
5. Hiba Muhareb ‘Ali Abu Sahloul, 13,
wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the right foot; and
6. Mohammed Suleiman ‘Ali Abu Sahloul, 18,
wounded by shrapnel in the left hand.
Three other Palestinian civilians were wounded by the
Israeli shelling:
1. Yassamin Mohammed al-‘Aa’raj, 18,
wounded by shrapnel in the left arm;
2. Samira Mahmoud Hassan Abu Daoud, 36,
wounded by shrapnel in the back; and
3. Hussein Ragheb Safi, 56, wounded by
shrapnel in the back.
In the morning, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital
in Nablus declared that ‘Alaa’ Jawdat Abu Sharekh, 25, from Nablus, succumbed
to a wound he sustained on Sunday, 16 February 2003. According to information available to PCHR,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with armored
personnel carriers, surrounded the al-Anwar commercial compound in Sufian
Street in the center of Nablus, which includes the office of Tayseer Khaled.
Khaled is a member of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO) and member of the Political Bureau of the Democratic Front
for the Liberation of Palestine. The Israeli army came to arrest
him. A number of Palestinian boys and young men gathered near the
building and threw stones at the Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli
soldiers opened fire, killing 3 passing Palestinian civilians and wounding 18
others, including Abu Sharekh, who was wounded by a live bullet in the
head. He remained in hospital until he passed away.
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved
approximately 100m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Kamal
Mohammed Salama al-Sha’er.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Khaled
Mohammed Salama al-Sha’er.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by ‘Omar
Mohammed Salama al-Sha’er.
4. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and partially
destroyed a greenhouse owned by ‘Abdul Shafi Rezeq Salama al-Sha’er.
At approximately 14:45, Israeli occupying forces
positioned near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian, Hamada ‘Abdul Fattah ‘Abdul
Rahman Abu Shawish, a policeman, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the right
arm. PCHR’s field worker in Rafah
reported that Abu Shawish was wounded while in a police station, approximately
800m north of the border.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shelled the
Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah, killing a Palestinian child
and wounding 9 other civilians. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 17:00, Israeli
occupying forces in a military location at the entrance of al-Mawasi area, in
the west of Rafah, shelled the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood for no apparent
reason. A number of artillery shells hit
a number of houses, severely damaging them. An artillery shell fell onto al-Nuzha Street, approximately 500m away
from the source of fire. The shell
exploded near some children and young men who were near the house of Khalil Abu
‘Elwan. The owner’s son, Ahmed, was
killed by shrapnel in the back. In
addition 9 civilians, including 4 children, were wounded:
1. Mohammed Rateb Abu ‘Asaker, 15, wounded
by shrapnel in the left foot;
2. Dhiaa’ Saleh al-Hanadi, 20, wounded by
shrapnel in the left thigh;
3. Yasser Mohammed Dhaif, 18, wounded by
shrapnel in the pelvis;
4. Mohammed Ahmed Matar, 15, wounded by
shrapnel in the right arm;
5. Jihad Hami al-‘Aaidi, 13, wounded by
shrapnel in the left leg;
6. Ibrahim ‘Ouda Barhoum, 20, wounded by
shrapnel in the left leg;
7. Ma’ath Joma’a Abu ‘Asaker, 8, wounded
by shrapnel in the left foot;
8. Yousef Fathi Saleh, 24, wounded by
shrapnel in the left shoulder; and
9. Hiam Ahmed al-Khatib, 30, wounded by
shrapnel in the right knee.
Wednesday, 26 February 2003
In the morning, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital
in Nablus declared that Fathi Mahmoud Abu Jibara, 60, from Qalqilya, succumbed
to a wound he sustained by Israeli forces on 11 February 2003, the first day of
al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice). According to information received from LAW,
The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights & The
Environment, based in the West Bank, at approximately 17:00, Israeli
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Qalqilya.
They surrounded the house of ‘Abdullah Ibrahim Yassin in Abu ‘Obaida Street,
claiming that they were searching for wanted Palestinians. Israeli forces
opened fire at houses and the market. The market was crowded with people
on the first day of the Islamic feast. A Palestinian child, Husni Majdi
al-Ghoul, 8, was killed by several live bullets in the chest, while he was
playing with his friends near his family’s house. In addition, 6
civilians were wounded, including Jibara who was critically wounded by a live
bullet in the head. He received medical
care in Rafidya Hospital until he passed away.
At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy
military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into Imam
‘Ali Street near Zo’rob square in the south of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian
border. During the incursion which
continued until 23:00, Israeli forces demolished 9 Palestinian houses and an
animal farm:
1. They
totally demolished 175-square-meter house, in which 6 people lived, owned by
‘Eissa Suleiman Mabrouk Buraika.
2. They
totally demolished a 100-square-meter house, in which two families counting 12
people lived, owned by Tawfiq Hafezh Mahmoud Buraika.
3. They
partially demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12
people live, owned by Shawqi Suleiman Mabrouk Buraika.
4. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 4 families
counting 16 people live, owned by Sami Mahmoud Mohammed Zo’rob.
5. They
partially demolished a 180-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which two families
counting 19 people live, owned by Jamil Hussein ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Zao’rob.
6. They
demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed family meeting compound, owned
by ‘Abdul Hadi ‘Aashour Dhuhair.
7. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, 3-storey house, in which 3 families
counting 12 people live, owned by ‘Abdul Hadi ‘Aashour Dhuhair.
8. They
partially demolished a 200-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which 3 families
counting 20 people live, owned by Khaled Mansour Hadian Dhuhair.
9. They
partially demolished a 180-square-meter, 2-storey house, in which 2 families
counting 4 people live, owned by Shaker Nasser Dhuhair.
10. They demolished a 200-square-meter animal farm over
its contents, owned by Mousa Suleiman Buraika.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Thursday, 20 February 2003
At approximately 14:30, Israeli soldiers on an
observation tower in the vicinity of the “Dogit” settlement, in the
northern Gaza Strip, fired at 9-year-old Aamena ‘Eid Abu Khousa, while she was
near a tent set up in the place of her family’s house in al-Sayafa area. The
house was demolished by Israeli forces approximately one month ago. She was wounded by a live bullet in the back.
Friday, 21 February 2003
In an apparent willful killing, in the evening,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a 23-year-old Palestinian, after having
stopped his car and he apparently had attempted to escape. According to information available to PCHR,
at approximately 19:00, Ahmed Khaled Najjar, from the Shwieka area, north of
Tulkarm, was traveling in a private car towards the Zinnaba area, east of
Tulkarm. He was sitting next to the driver in the front of the car. When the car arrived at the Morabba’at
Hannoun area between the Zinnaba area and Tulkarm refugee camp, the two
travelers were surprised by the presence of an Israeli tank and a military jeep
which was parked there. Israeli soldiers
ordered the driver to stop. Then, they
ordered him and Najjar to get out of the car with their hands raised. Immediately, the driver heard sounds of
shooting. He knew later that Najjar was
killed by several live bullets throughout the body. His body was found a few meters away from the
car. The body was evacuated to
hospital. According to medical sources,
Najjar was shot by 4 heavy caliber live bullets in the heart, the chest, the
neck and the back.
Sunday, 23 February 2003
In another apparent willful killing, in the evening,
Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian worker who was on his way back home from
Tayba inside the Green Line. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 17:00,
while Mo’ayad Mustafa Saleh Salama, 23, from Tulkarm, was on his way back home
from work in Tayba using an agricultural road liking the Tayba and Kherbat Jibara
areas, south of Tulkarm, Israeli soldiers shot him dead with a live bullet in
the abdomen. His body was evacuated to
hospital. According to medical sources,
he was shot by an explosive live bullet in the abdomen.
Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported
on its Arabic web site that initial investigation conducted by the central
command of the Israeli army revealed: “The deceased raised the suspicions
of soldiers who were on duty in the area, so they fired warning bullets in the
ear. However, the Palestinian attempted
to escape, so the soldiers shot him dead. No weapons were found near his body and the army is still trying to
identify him.”
Salama was the second Palestinian in only two weeks
to be killed this way in the area, as on Thursday, 6 February 2003, Israeli
soldiers shot dead ‘Abdul Baqi Mohammed ‘Abdul Baqi Musallam, 25, from Talfit
village, southeast of Nablus, with a live bullet in the heart.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians
and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against
families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 02:00 on Friday, 21 February 2003, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with tanks and a military bulldozer, moved into Ethna
village, south of Hebron. They
surrounded the house of Mohamemd D’ib al-Batran, 28. They planted explosives in the
130-square-meter, 3-storey house and destroyed it. They also arrested the owner’s relative,
Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz al-Batran, allegedly wanted by Israeli forces for being a
member of the Islamic Jihad.
On Sunday, 23 February 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 5
Palestinian houses in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. For more details, see the section on shelling
of, and encroachment into Palestinian areas.
********
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 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
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”
