November 28, 2001
Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (28 November 2001)
Weekly Report on Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (28 November  2001)

 

Continued
Israeli Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

 

 

  • An assassination of
    three Palestinians
    ;

 

  • Five Palestinian
    children killed by the explosion of a bomb planted by Israeli occupation
    forces
    ;

 

  • Israeli combat
    helicopters shell Palestinian security and civilians facilities in the
    Gaza Strip
    ;

 

  • Willful killings of
    two Palestinian civilians by Israeli occupation forces this week
    ;

 

  • Continued shooting at
    Palestinian civilians at Israeli military roadblock
    ;

 

  • A Palestinian civilian
    killed by a Jewish settler
    ;

 

  • More arrest campaigns
    against Palestinians; and

 

  • Continued siege on the
    OPT
    .

 

 

Introduction

 

 

This report covers
human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) in the period 22-28 November, 2001. According to PCHR’s documentation, this week,
12 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces as a result of
excessive use of forces against demonstrators, shelling of Palestinian residential
areas, and willful killing.

 

On Thursday morning, 22 November, five Palestinian
children were killed in Khan Yunis by an explosive device planted by Israeli
occupation forces. Three days later,
Israeli occupation forces admitted that the five children were killed when an
explosive device planted by the Israeli army exploded. They added that the plantation of the
explosive device was an ambush to Palestinian gunmen who used to fire from the
area at a nearby Israeli military location. 

 

As part of the ongoing declared policy of political
assassinations, Israeli occupation forces assassinated three Palestinians who
they claimed were involved in attacks against Israel. On Friday evening, 23 November, two Israeli
combat helicopters fired five rockets at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling
on a branch road, southwest of Al-Far’a village, north of Nablus. The car was totally destroyed. Three Palestinians who were traveling in the
car were killed.

 

In two occasions, two Palestinian civilians died of
willful killing by Israeli occupation forces. On 23 November, Israeli occupation forces in a military location near
Rafah Border Crossing fired at Palestinian civilian car that was traveling from
Rafah to Khan Yunis. The driver was
killed and two passengers were wounded. On 28 November, Israeli occupation forces shot dead a Palestinian
civilian near Al-Shuhada’ junction, for no apparent reason.

 

This week, two Palestinian children were killed by
Israeli occupation forces in protest activities against the occupation in Khan
Yunis and Bethelehm
.

 

Israeli occupation forces claimed that they had
withdrawn from Jenin on Tuesday, 27 November, but facts on the ground reveal
that these forces had only redeployed around the city. These forces have also maintained a strict
siege on Palestinian cities.

 

This week, Israeli occupation forces razed more areas
of Palestinian agricultural land in the Gaza Strip
.

Following are details of Israeli violations against
Palestinian civilians in the fourth week of November
:

 



 

 1. Five Children Killed by a Bomb Planted by Israeli
Occupation Forces

 

On Thursday morning, 22 November, five Palestinian
children were killed in Khan Yunis by an explosive device planted by Israeli
occupation forces
.

 

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately
07:30, a heavy explosion occurred in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the north of
Khan Yunis. Palestinian citizens and
medical personnel hurried towards the area of the explosion where they found
remaining bodily parts of five children. They were identified by their school bags. They were from one family. They were identified as:

1) Akram Na’im ‘Abdel-Karim El-Astal, 6;

2) Mohammed Na’im ‘Abdel-Karim El-Astal, 14;

3) Omar Edris El-Astal, 13;

4) Anis Edris El-Astal, 11; and

5) Mohammed Salman El-Astal, 11.

 

In addition, a farmer, Ahmed Dhib Ahmed El-Astal, 22,
was injured in the neck and the right thigh
.

 

The five children were on their way from their houses
in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area to their preparatory school in Al-Amal neighborhood
in the west of Khan Yunis. As they used
to do every day, they walked into a sandy road near
Gani Tal” settlement. When they
were around 150m away from an Israeli military location in the area, a
suspicious object exploded and killed them all.

 

Three days later, an Israeli military spokesman
admitted that the five children were killed when an explosive device planted by
the Israeli army exploded. He added that
the plantation of the explosive device was an ambush to Palestinian gunmen who
used to fire from the area at a nearby Israeli military location. 

 

 2. Continued Assassinations and Extra-Judicial Killings

 

As part of the ongoing declared policy of political
assassinations, Israeli occupation forces also assassinated three Palestinians
who they claimed were involved in attacks against Israel. At approximately 19:05, on Friday
, 23 November, two Israeli combat helicopters fired five
rockets at a Palestinian taxi that was traveling on a branch road, 3km
southwest of Al-Far’a village, north of Nablus. The car was totally destroyed. Three Palestinians who were traveling in the car were killed. Their bodies were transferred to Jenin
Hospital, where two were identified as Ayman Rashid ‘Awaysa (Hashayka), 37, and
his brother Ma’moun, 26, from Tallouza village in Nablus. The third victim was later identified as
Mahmoud Mohammed El-Shouli (Abu Hannoud), 35, from ‘Assira village near
Nablus. Abu Hanoud could be identified
from traces of an injury he received in the back by Israeli occupation forces
on 26 August 2000, in a failed assassination attempt. On that day, large troops of the Israeli
forces, reinforced with helicopters, raided ‘Assira village. They indiscriminately opened fire on
Palestinian houses while they were chasing Abu Hannoud. He was moderately injured.

 

Israeli occupation forces admitted responsibility for
the assassination. A statement by the
Israeli cabinet said that
Mahmoud Abu Hannoud, born
in 1967, a Hamas military leader wanted by Israel, was killed in an operation
by security forces in Nablus district on Friday evening
.” Avi Barnz, the spokesman of
Israeli Prime Minister, admitted committing the assassination, considering that
“it was one of the most significant victories of the Israeli campaign against
terror.” He added that “the Palestinian
Authority could have arrested Abu Hannoud, but it did not do, so we liquidated
him, for he was very dangerous, even the most dangerous.”

 

 

 3. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

 

 

Friday,
November 23, 2001

 

In the afternoon, after the funeral procession of the
five children who were killed in Khan Yunis on Thursday, clashes erupted near
the city cemetery between dozens of Palestinian children and Israeli occupation
forces, stationed at “Neve Dekalim” settlement. Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on the children, killing
15-year-old Wa’el ‘Ali Radwan, from ‘Aabasan village in Khan Yunis, with a live
bullet in the head. Three civilians were
also wounded:

1) MahmoudAaref El-Faq’awi, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the head;

2) Amin Hashem Wadi, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the left leg; and

3) Khaled Jamil El-Masri, 18, wounded by a live bullet
in the face
.

 

After the Friday prayers, a peaceful demonstration
moved from the center of Ramallah towards the northern entrance of
Al-Bireh. As soon as the demonstrators
moved closer to an Israeli military roadblock, four military jeeps moved
towards them. Israeli occupation
soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1) Mustafa Fahed Ibrahim, 22, from Bitounia, wounded by
a live bullet in the left hand and a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back
;

2) Nazih Mohammed Rassem, 23, from Bitounia, wounded by
a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg
;

3) Eyad Yousef Jom’a ‘Abdullah, 17, from Deir ‘Aammar
village, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;

4) KamalAbed Hamdan, 15, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded by a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the pelvis; and

5) YousefAdnan Sarari, 18, from Ramallah, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet
in the back
.

 

In the evening, Israeli occupation forces fired at a
Palestinian taxi in Rafah, killing the driver and wounding two passengers. According to PCHR’s investigation, at
approximately 21:00, the taxi was transporting a family from Rafah to Khan
Yunis after they visited relatives in Rafah. The driver mistakenly drove towards Rafah Border Crossing. When he realized his mistake and turned the
car around towards Khan Yunis, Israeli occupation forces in a military location
near the crossing opened fire on the car without warning. The driver died of his injuries and two
passengers sustained serious injuries:

1) Ahmed Mohammed El-Hinnawi, 25, the driver, killed by
a live bullet in the head
;

2) Hadia Salameh Abu Shammala, 53, critically wounded by
a live bullet in the head; and

3) Ikram Jawad Abu Shammala, 25, wounded by a live
bullet in the left knee
. 

 

The Israeli forces denied ambulance access to the
area for around 45 minutes
. 

 

Saturday,
November 24, 2001

 

At approximately 08:45, Israeli occupation forces in
a military location west of Bitounia fired at a site of Palestinian President’s
Guard (Force 17), around 150m away. A
member of the site, Mohammed Yousef Qaddoura, 26, from Ramallah, was wounded by
a live bullet in the left thigh. According to eyewitnesses, the shooting took place for no apparent
reason as the area did not witness any clashes.

 

At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in the northwest of Shweika neoghborhood in Tulkarm, fired at
Palestinian houses in the neighborhood. Ahmed Mohammed Fureij, 26, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
abdomen
.

 

Sunday,
November 25, 2001

 

In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in the vicinity of Bilal Ben Rabah mosque in the north of Bethlehem,
fired at a number of school children who were demonstrating in protest against
violations perpetrated by these forces, especially the killing of the five
children in Khan Yunis. Kifah Khaled
Mahmoud ‘Obeid, 13, from Al-Duheisha refugee camp, was critically wounded by
two live bullets in the chest and the abdomen.  Efforts made at hospital to save his life
failed. 

 

At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in an observation tower at a military roadblock on Salah El-Din
Street
the road between the north
and south of the Gaza Strip

fired at a
Palestinian taxi that was waiting at the roadblock to be allowed to move
towards Khan Yunis. A passenger,
Mohammed Hamad Bureika, 21, was wounded by a live bullet in the face. The Israeli forces claimed that the driver
moved when the traffic light was red.

 

At approximately 14:45, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in a military location near Salah Al-Din Gate at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, fired at Sa’deya ‘Abdel-Karim Hassanein, 31, pregnant,
from Rafah refugee camp, wounding her with a live bullet in the pelvis. According to medical sources, she was in
stable condition and the fetus was safe.

 

Monday,
November 26, 2001

 

At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in a military location near Salah Al-Din Gate at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, fired at a number of Palestinian boys who were 150m
away. Mabrouk Mohammed Jouda, 17, was
wounded by shrapnel in the left foot.

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2001

 

At
approximately 13:00, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military
location near Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the northern Gaza Strip,
intensively fired at the northwest of Beit Hanoun. Khaled ‘Adnan El-Kafarna, 18, was wounded by
a live bullet in the testicles. According to El-Kafarna, he was wounded when he was approximately 700m
away from the Israeli military location.

 

At
approximately 22:00, an Israeli military location at Al-Shuhada’, south of Gaza
City, junction intensively opened fire. At approximately midnight, Israeli occupation forces handed the body of
Rami Mohammed Mansour, 23, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza, to the
Palestinian side. According to medical
sources at Shifa’ Hospital in Gaza, Mansour received four live bullets in the
abdomen, the pelvis and the left thigh and leg. According to PCHR’s investigations, Mnsour was civilian and had no
political activities. The reason for his
presence in that area has not been known. However, Israeli occupation forces in the mentioned location fire at
anyone may get close to the area, without resorting to less lethal means.

 

 

4. Shelling of, and Incursions into Palestinian Cities
and Residential Areas

 

 
Saturday, November 24, 2001

 

At approximately 17:00, two Israeli tanks moved fromDogit” settlement, west of Beit Lahia in the northern
Gaza Strip, approximately 800m into Palestinian controlled areas, under the
cover of intensive shelling that targeted Palestinian houses and farms. No casualties were reported, but Palestinian
civilians were terrified.

 

At the same time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned
in the vicinity of
Nissanit” settlement, east
of Beit Lahia, intensively shelled Um Al-Nasser village. No casualties were reported, but again
Palestinian civilians were terrified.

 

At approximately 18:00, five Israeli military jeeps
thrust approximately 300m into Shweika neighborhood in Tulkarm. They opened fire on Palestinian houses. No casualties were reported, but three
civilian cars were damaged
.

 

Sunday, November 25, 2001

 

At approximately 02:45, a surface-to-surface missile
launched from an Israeli military base east of Rafah fell onto Gizan Al-Najjar
area in Khan Yunis. The missile hit a
room in a house owned by Ibrahim Khamis Duheir without exploding. The room was totally destroyed and the
owner’s son, ‘Ali, 13, was injured by shrapnel in the face.

 

At
approximately 03:00, an Israeli combat helicopter fired three rockets at a site
of the Palestinian Marine Police in the west of Beit Lahia. A part of the site that served as offices was
totally destroyed, but no casualties were reported.

 

At the same time, two Israeli combat helicopters
fired four rockets at the office of Fatah Movement in Deir El-Balah. Two rooms burnt, but no casualties were
reported
.

 

Also at the same time, an Israeli combat helicopter
fired eight rockets at a site of the Palestinian Military Intelligence in Gizan
Al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. The site was totally destroyed, but no casualties were reported
.

 

At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in the vicinity of

Neve Dekalim”
settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses and civilian
facilities in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three artillery shells hit an UNRWA school, causing severe danamage.

 

At midnight, the Israeli forces again shelled Khan
Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell
hit a Palestinian house of Huneideq family, wounding five members of the family
:

1) Hamattu Fayeq Huneideq, 1½, wounded by shrapnel in
the head;

2) Hiba Fayeq Huneideq, 3, wounded by shrapnel in the
head
;

3) SaharAli Huneideq, 13, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

4) HayatAli Huneideq, 13, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

5) SamarAli Huneideq, 16, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body

 

Monday, November 26, 2001

 

At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis, shelled
Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. An artillery shell hit a house owned by Sabri El-Qedra, wounding his
child Mohammed, 2, with shrapnel in the face, the head and the back, and damaging
one room and the asbestos roof. Another
artillery shell hit a house of ‘Ennaba family, wounding Zakeya Musleh ‘Ennaba,
30, with shrapnel in the right shoulder, and her child Sa’deya Saleh ‘Ennaba,
14, with shrapnel in the right foot and side.

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned in a military location, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian
houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three
artillery shells hit an UNRWA school causing severe damage. A fourth

artillery
shell hit a house owned by Bassam Ibrahim Khalaf, destroying its roof. No casualties were reported
.

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2001

 

At approximately 02:20, a unit of Israeli occupation
forces, reinforced with personnel carriers, a helicopter and a reconnaissance
plane, moved into Al-Rama neighborhood in the northeast of Hebron, under full
control of the Palestinian National Authority. They raided a house of El-Sa’id family. They kidnapped five members of the family and took them to “Keriat
Araba” settlement, east of the city. The
five had been detained for hours, before four of them were released. The fifth, Ussama Mohammed El-Sa’id, 24, was
kept in custody.

 

At approximately 08:00, two Israeli tanks thrust
approximately 1,000m into Salah El-Din Street
the road between the north and south of the Gaza Stripsouth of Gaza City. They fired heavy and medium caliber bullets to cover the incursion. Approximately half an hour later, the two
tanks withdrew towards Al-Shuhada junction where they originally came
from. The area was completely quiet when
the incursion took place.

 

 

5. Attacks by Jewish Settlers on Palestinian Civilians

 

Sunday, November 25, 2001

 

At approximately 17:50, a number of Jewish settlers
from
Kharsina” settlement, east of Hebron, beat Ziad
‘Abdel-Rahim El-Qeimari, 15, from Al-Baqa’a neighborhood. As a result, he suffered from bruises and
injuries in the back and the face.

 

Wednesday, November 28, 2001

 

In the morning, Ibrahim Mousa Yousef El-Hanani, 80,
from Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus, was killed when a Jewish settler ran
over him on bypass road between “Allon Moreh” settlement and Nablus-Jerusalem
road. According to investigations
carried out by the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the
Environment (LAW), at approximately 06:50, while El-Hanani was crossing the
road after Israeli occupation soldiers at a roadblock allowed him to pass
towards Nablus, an Israeli car ran over him, seriously injuring him. Israeli soldiers prevented Palestinian
civilians from offering help to the old man. He soon died.

 

 

6. Land Leveling and Civilian Facility Destruction

 

Saturday,
November 24, 2001

 

Israeli
occupation forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed
some civilian facilities, southwest of “Kfar Darim” settlement, est of Deir El-Balah:

1) They razed a 12-donum area of agricultural land
planted with olives, palms and vegetables and destroyed a brick factory, owned
by Ahmed Sa’id ‘Abdullah El-Tawashi.

2) They bulldozed a 300-square-meter, two-story house,
owned by Sarah
OmarAli El-Tawashi.

3) They
bulldozed a 350-square-meter, one-story house, in which seven people used to
live, owned by Suleiman

Omar
El-Tawashi
.

 

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

 

Three Israeli tanks and two bulldozers moved
approximately 300m into the north of Al-Qarara village, north of Khan
Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian
agricultural land:

1) They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land on
which three greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned by Mustafa Mousa
Abu
Eida.

2) They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land on
which two greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, owned by Fawaz Abu
Eida.

 

 

2. Arrests by Israeli Occupation Forces

 

 

This week, Israeli occupation forces arrested many
Palestinians. These 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 and at the entrances to Palestinian cities and villages
.

3) In Palestinian towns and villages, often during house
raids
.

4) Interception of Palestinian fishing boats.

 

The following table lists significant arrests that
took place this week
:

 

No.

Name

Age

Place of Residence

Date of Arrest

Manner of Arrest

1.  

Mohammed El-Sayed El-Najjar

55

Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis

November 22

Arrested at his house

2.  

IbrahimAbdullah El-Najjar

28

Al-Mawasi, Khan Yunis

November 23

Arrested at a military roadblock in Al-Mawasi

3.  

Mohammed Walid AbuErra

20

Aqaba, Jenin

November 24

Kidnapped by an Israeli undercover unit

4.  

Sa’id Yousef ‘Oudeh

25

Kufor Al-Dik, Salfit

November 24

Arrested at his house

5.  

Hamada
Abdullah
El-Dik

23

Kufor Al-Dik, Salfit

November 24

Arrested at his house

6.  

Mahmoud GhassanOudeh

21

Hawara, Nablus

November 24

Arrested at his house

7.  

Mahmoud Sa’id Khamous

22

Hawara, Nablus

November 24

Arrested at his house

8.  

Abdel-QaderAli Soufan

29

Hawara, Nablus

November 24

Arrested at his house

9.  

Aadel Sa’id Abu Riala

29

Al-Shati, Gaza

November 25

Arrested at Deir El-Balah seashore

10.  

Tawfiq Sa’id Abu Riala

19

Al-Shati, Gaza

November 25

Arrested at Deir El-Balah seashore

11.  

Nayef Jaber El-‘Ajrami

39

Jabalya

November 26

Arrested at Erez industrial zone

12.  

Hussam Mohammed El-‘Ajrami

22

Jabalya

November 26

Arrested at Erez industrial zone

13.  

Marwan Mohammed El-‘Ajrami

25

Jabalya

November 26

Arrested at Erez industrial zone

14.  

Mohammed MohammedAbdel-Rahim

37

Udala, Nablus

November 27

Arrested at his house

15.  

Ra’ed Sayel Muhsen

33

Udala, Nablus

November 27

Arrested at his house

16.  

Bilal HusseinAli

30

Udala, Nablus

November 27

Arrested at his house

17.  

Majdi Khalil Hamayel

22

Bita, Nablus

November 27

Arrested at his house

18.  

Amjad
Abdel-Rahman Hamayel

26

Bita, Nablus

November 27

Arrested at his house

19.  

Ussama Mohammed El-Sa’id

24

Al-Rama, Hebron

November 28

Arrested at his house

20.  

Eissa Yousef El-Sweiti

24

Beit
Awa, Hebron

November 28

Arrested at his house

21.  

Jalal Yousef El-Sweiti

22

Beit
Awa, Hebron

November 28

Arrested at his house

22.  

Bilal Yousef El-Sweiti

20

Beit
Awa, Hebron

November 28

Arrested at his house

23.  

Mohammed Yousef El-Sweiti

17

Beit
Awa, Hebron

November 28

Arrested at his house

 

 

****

 

PCHR calls:

 

1) Upon governments that participated in the World
Conference Against Racism in Durban in South Africa to adopt crucial decisions
condemning practices by Israel and its belligerent occupation forces in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, which can only be described as apartheid
against the Palestinian people.

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

3) 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.

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

5) Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its
activities, and intensify its field observations throughout the Occupied
Palestinian Territories
.

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

7) 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 the Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian
Territories.

 

v For more information on the Al-Aqsa Intifada see: www.pchrgaza.org