The Killing of Palestinian Civilians
and the Destruction of Their Property Continues
· 5 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 children and a
mentally handicapped man, were killed by Israeli forces
· 15 houses were demolished
and large areas of agricultural land were razed in Beit Hanoun
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a number of Palestinian
civilians were injured
· Israel
continues its campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who
allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets, resulting the
destruction of 7 houses
· More
Palestinians were arrested
· Continued
siege on Palestinian communities
Introduction
Israeli occupying forces have continued to conduct illegal actions and
human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including collective
punishment, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house
demolitions and agricultural land leveling. This week, 22-28 May 2003, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a handicapped man, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of
incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they
demolished a number of Palestinian houses and razed large areas of agricultural
land. For the second consecutive week,
Israeli forces have been positioned at the entrances of the northern Gaza Strip
town of Beit Hanoun, imposing a strict siege on the area. They razed more areas
of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of industrial
facilities. Local residents have also had great difficulties moving in and out
of the town and Israeli forces seized 4 Palestinian houses, using them as
military sites. Israeli forces invaded
Beit Hanoun on 15 May 2003 and the subsequent 5-day military operation left
dead 7 Palestinians, including 3 children, dozens injured, a number of houses
destroyed and large areas of agricultural land razed.
This week, Israeli occupying forces razed
341 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in the southeast of Gaza City and
in the villages of Khuza’a and ‘Abasan, east of Khan Yunis. They also demolished 4 Palestinian houses and
razed 34 donums of agricultural land in Rafah and Deir al-Balah.
This week, in a number of cases of apparent willful
killing, Israeli occupying forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip. The victims
included 3 children and a mentally handicapped man.
In violation of international human rights and
humanitarian law, the head of the Israeli military central command ordered the
expulsion of 5 Palestinians from Nablus and Hebron to the Gaza Strip. The
individuals in question have already been placed under administrative
detention. Israeli occupation
authorities began to apply the policy of deportation on 10 May 2002, when they
deported 13 Palestinians abroad and 26 others to the Gaza Strip, to end the siege on the Church of the Nativity in
Bethlehem. In September 2002, Israeli
occupying forces expelled Intissar and Kifah ‘Ajouri from ‘Askar refugee camp
in Nablus to the Gaza Strip, and last week, Mahmoud Suleiman al-Sa’di was
expelled from Jenin refugee camp to the Gaza Strip.
This most recent decision to expel 5 Palestinians violates international humanitarian law,
particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949: article 33 provides that
“No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not
personally committed;” article 49 prohibits “individual or mass
forcible transfers;” and article 147 considers “unlawful deportation
or transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person” as a grave
breach.
In another 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 7 houses in the West Bank.
Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total
siege on the OPT. They have
isolated Palestinian communities from one another and have partitioned the Gaza
Strip into three separate zones, restricting the movement of people and
goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in the West
Bank. Israeli occupying authorities have prevented Palestinians aged
16-35 from traveling abroad. Israeli occupying forces have recently
imposed severe restrictions on internationals leaving and entering the Gaza
Strip and have also restricted their movement within Gaza.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 22 May 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, where they raided and searched
the house of Fahmi Taher Abu Salah. They
then arrested Abu Salah’s son, Ra’ed, 23, accusing
him of having a role in the 19 May 2003 suicide bombing on ‘Affula. Hiba
Daraghma has been identified as the suicide bomber.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into
Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin where they raided two houses and arrested
two Palestinians:
1. Shadi
Khaled Mahmoud D’ib, 19; and
2. ‘Abdullah Mohammed Mahmoud D’ib, 17.
Friday, 23 May 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved
approximately 300m north of a settler road between al-Mentar crossing and
al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City. Israeli forces remained in the area until Sunday
afternoon, 25 May 2003, and they razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural
land and destroyed civilian facilities:
1. They
razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud Younis Hassan
Sa’ad.
2. They
razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Hamed Hussein Hamed
‘Aashour.
3. They
razed a 7.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Bader
Younis Khalil Sabra.
4. They
razed a 16.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hamed
Salem Hamattu Habib.
5. They
razed a 30.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and damaged
another 20-donum area of agricultural land owned by Hisham Fahmi al-Husseini
and brothers.
6. They
razed a 150-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Hisham Fahmi al-Husseini’s heirs.
7. They
destroyed stores of raw materials that stood on a 5-donum area of land owned by
‘Emad Rabah Mohye al-Din al-Hatu.
8. They
destroyed the administration building and the fence of a factory of concrete
owned by Mas’oud.
9. They
destroyed a 200-meter-long, 6-meter-high wall surrounding a factory of
concrete, an electricity generator, water motors, a pool and other equipment
owned by Salah Yassin, Ra’ed Tafesh and Sa’id Rayan.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces
destroyed two Palestinian factories in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit
Hanoun:
1. They
destroyed a 2000-square-meter brick factory owned by Jaber Mohammed Jaber
Daifallah, in which 13 workers used to work.
2. They
destroyed a 1500-square-meter brick factory owned by the heirs of Samir Mahmoud
Hassan Musleh, severely damaging another brick factory belonging to
the same owners.
Saturday, 24 May 2003
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into the villages of Beit Rima and Deir Ghassana, northwest of
Ramallah. They imposed a curfew on the
two villages and began to destroy caves.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 600m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They remained in the area until 20:00, and razed
areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed 3 houses, 4 bird farms and
an animal farm:
1. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a
room and an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salman Hassanain Qudaih.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, destroyed an
irrigation network and demolished a 250-square-meter house owned by Hudia
Salman Hassanain Qudaih.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a
40-meter-long row of wild figs owned by ‘Aadel ‘Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Qudaih.
4. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and wheat owned
by Ibrahim Suleiman Salem Qudaih.
5. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and grapes and
destroyed a room owned by Suleiman Ibrahim Khalil al-Najjar.
6. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ahmed
Salem Hassanain Qudaih.
7. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Suleiman Salman Hassanain
Qudaih.
8. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a
400-square-meter bird farm, two rooms and an irrigation network owned by Salem
Salman Hassanain Qudaih.
9. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a
300-square-meter bird farm, a room and an irrigation network owned by Naji
Hussein Ahmed al-Najjar.
10. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Aamena Ibrahim Hassanain Qudaih.
11. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a
120-square-meter house, a 100-square-meter animal farm and an irrigation
network owned by Hassan Ahmed Khalil al-Najjar.
12. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Jamila, Fadiya, Safiya, Miriam, Fatema
and Faiza Mohammed Khalil al-Najjar.
13. They
razed a 750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and 3 rooms owned by Khaled Ibrahim Ahmed
al-Najjar and his brothers.
14. They
razed a 2750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and a
25-meter-long row of wild figs and destroyed an irrigation network and a room
owned by Shehda and Yousef Mahmoud Khalil al-Najjar.
15. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Khaled Ahmed Mohammed al-Najjar.
16. They
razed a 1500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and
fruits and destroyed a room and an irrigation network owned by Fawzia
Mahmoud Ibrahim al-Najjar and her sisters.
17. They
razed a 1250-square-meter area of agricultural land and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by Asa’ad, Kamal and Su’ad Ibrahim Mohammed al-Najjar.
18. They
razed a 2250-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and
destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Ghazi Khalil Mohammed
al-Najjar and his brothers.
19. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman
Ahmed Khalil al-Najjar.
20. They
razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Ibrahim
Suleiman Hussein Abu Rujaila.
21. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds and
destroyed an irrigation network, a room and a sprinkler owned by Hammad Hassan
Hammouda Abu Rujaila.
22. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a
15-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Mohammed Hassan Hammouda Abu Rujaila.
23. They razed a 14-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives, wheat and fruits and destroyed two
bird farms and a 60-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Suleiman Hassan Abu
Zar and his sons.
24. They
razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and
destroyed a 400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed bird farm and a 60-square-meter
house owned by Ibrahim Mahmoud Hassan Abu Zar.
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Quds Street in Nablus and took position near the Balata refugee
camp cemetery, east of the city. A
number of young Palestinian boys gathered in the area and threw stones towards
Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli
soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 3:
1. Mohammed
Nasser Mohammed Khalil, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder;
2. Muhannad
Subhi Mohammed Faraj, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
and
3. Ghazi
‘Abbas Joma’a Abu Mustafa, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
right shoulder.
At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered by
intense gunfire, moved approximately 300m into the Gizan al-Najjar area in the
south of Khan Yunis. They demolished 2
Palestinian houses and razed an area of agricultural land:
1. They
demolished a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Nidal Zuhair
Salman al-Masri, in which 5 people lived.
2. They
demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Marwan Zuhair
Salman al-Masri, in which two people lived.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Hamdi Hamattu al-Masri.
At approximately 16:00, 5 Israeli heavy military
vehicles, covered by indiscriminate gunfire, moved approximately 100m into
Zo’rob area in the south of Rafah where they demolished two Palestinian houses:
1. They
demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Ahmed Mohammed ‘Aashour Duhair, in
which 6 people lived.
2. They
demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Meziad ‘Aashour ‘Abdul Hadi
Duhair, in which 9 people lived.
Sunday, 25 May 2003
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 600m into ‘Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salman Salman Abu Daqqa.
2. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by ‘Abdullah Mousa ‘Othman Abu ‘Anza.
3. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Midhat ‘Othman Mousa Abu ‘Anza.
4. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Farid Mahmoud Mousa Abu ‘Anza.
5. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Akram Ahmed Mousa Abu ‘Anza.
Approximately two hours later, Israeli occupying
forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
about 700m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural
land:
1. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, including a
1-donum greenhouse planted with tomatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network
owned by Ibrahim Salman Salman Abu Daqqa.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network and a 20-square-meter room owned by Salim Hamdan Qudaih and
his brothers.
3. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Ahmed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Khalil Qudaih and his brothers.
4. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a
40-meter-long row of wild figs and destroyed an irrigation network and two
rooms owned by ‘Ali Zer’ei Hamdan Qudaih.
5. They
razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and a
40-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Barham Khalil Mansour al-Barrim.
6. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and destroyed a
16-square-meter room owned by Yousef Mohammed Jaber al-Barrim.
Monday, 26 May 2003
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into Abu
Shamas area in the south of Deir al-Balah. Israeli military bulldozers demolished two Palestinian houses and razed
areas of agricultural land:
1. They
demolished a 140-square-meter, 2-storey house and destroyed an agricultural
pool and a well owned by Salem Mohammed Abu Shams.
2. They
demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people lived,
and a 200-square-meter animal farm owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Shamas.
3. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with
tomatoes stood, owned by Mohammed Suleiman Abu Shamas.
4. They
demolished a 600-square-meter bird farm owned by Mahmoud Salem Abu Shamas.
5. They
razed a 16-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes, palms, olives
and citrus, 4 greenhouses planted with tomatoes and destroyed an irrigation
system owned by Suleiman Ghanem Abu Nahia.
6. They
razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes and destroyed
agricultural equipment owned by ‘Essam Mohammed Madhi.
7. They
razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, 3
greenhouses planted with tomatoes and destroyed an irrigation system owned by
Ibrahim Hamdi Abu Nahia.
8. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes, olives and
palms owned by Hamada Yousef Abu Nahia.
9. They
razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and
palms owned by Mohammed Yousef Abu Nahia.
At approximately 19:20, Israeli occupying forces,
covered by intense gunfire, moved into Beit Fourik village, east of
Nablus. A number of Palestinian boys
gathered and threw stones towards Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
stone throwers, wounding 4 of them and a woman:
1. Ibrahim
Mujahed Hanani, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the head;
2. Mustafa
Faisal Mulaitat, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the head;
3. Hamada
‘Abdul Rahman Khatatba, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;
4. Yasser
Bassam Hanani, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg;
and
5. Aamena
‘Aaref Hanani, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
Later in the evening, Israeli occupying forces killed an 11-year-old
Palestinian child in Qarwat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah.
This killing came less than one week after a similar killing in the same
village, which left 2 Palestinians dead.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 16:00, two Israeli military jeeps moved into the village,
firing in the air. A number of
Palestinian children gathered and threw stones towards the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the
children. Approximately half an hour
later, while Tamer Nizar Fathi ‘Arar, 11, was pointing to other children
warning them that Israeli soldiers were close, an Israeli soldier fired at him
wounding him with a live bullet in the head. He was evacuated to hospital, but was later pronounced dead. According to medical sources, ‘Arar was shot
by an explosive live bullet in the head.
Tuesday, 27 May 2003
At approximately 02:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 200m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. They raided the house of Mohammed
Samir Ahmed al-Astal and held the 8 residents of the house in one room. Israeli soldiers searched the house. Two hours later, they withdrew from the area
after threatening to raze agricultural areas if they were attacked.
In the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian school
child in Tulkarm while he was on his way back home from school.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 10:30,
while a number of Palestinian school children were on their way back homes from
schools after having completed their final exams, Israeli soldiers in a
military jeep on patrol in the center of Tulkarm fired in the air to terrify
them. A number of school children
gathered and threw stones towards the jeep. Immediately, Israeli soldiers got out of the jeep and fired at the
children. Mohammed Nassim Amin Mahmoud,
16, from Tulkarm, was wounded by two live bullets in the chest. Israeli soldiers surrounded him and denied a
Palestinian ambulance access to him. Approximately 10 minutes later, the jeep withdrew, but the child was
dead.
At approximately 11:00, a number of Palestinian boys gathered in the
main street in Tulkarm refugee camp. They threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles that were patrolling
in the camp. Israeli soldiers immediately fired at the stone throwers, wounding
two:
1. Ahmed
‘Aatef Abu Zaina, 15, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the
head; and
2. Anas
Ziad Saleh Farhana, 16, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the right eye.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying
forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim”
settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled apartment buildings in al-Nimsawi
neighborhood. A number of flats were
severely damaged, and two Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed
Farouq Hashem Abu al-Husain, 40, wounded by a live bullet in the hips;
2. ‘Ali Mohammed Abu Zayed, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the hip.
At approximately 18:30, Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned in the
vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened
fire on Palestinian houses and farms in al-Rabwat area. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Subhi
Mohammed al-Astal, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder,
while he was in the car maintenance workshop where he works, in ‘Abdul Nasser
Street, approximately 800m away from the source of fire.
Wednesday, 28 May 2003
At approximately 02:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces
moved approximately 200m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. They raided the house of ‘Aatef
Hamed al-Astal and held the 9 residents of the house in one room, while
they searched the house. Two hours
later, they withdrew from the area.
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy
military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into Gizan
al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They ordered the residents of 3 Palestinian houses to vacate the
premises. Israeli soldiers checked their
identity cards and then ordered the women and children to return to the
houses. They then forced Sami ‘Ataya
al-Bahabsa, 48, Isma’il Subhi Abu Khudair, 30, and Saleh Hussein al-Jarabee’
Abu ‘Azzoum, 30, to stand near the military vehicles, apparently to serve as
human shields. Throughout the following
3 hours, Israeli forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and
destroyed an irrigation system owned by Rezeq Salama Salman al-Sha’er.
2. They
razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and
destroyed an irrigation system owned by sons of Mohammed Salama Salman
al-Sha’er.
3. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, destroyed an
irrigation system and damaged a deserted house owned by Salem Naji Salem
al-Hawari.
4. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an
irrigation system owned by Mohammed Naji Salem al-Hawari.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Friday, 23 May 2003
In the evening, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian civilian who
was known to have mental health problems, near the eastern border of
the Gaza Strip, east of al-Boreij refugee camp.
According to PCHR’s investigation and a statement given by the victim’s
father, at approximately 17:00, Hamdi ‘Atiya Abu Khousa, 28, from al-Boreij
refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, left his house without informing his
family of his whereabouts. At approximately 20:00, shots were heard near the
border with Israel, east of the camp. After Abu Khousa did not return, his father assumed that he may have
been hit during the shooting, so he called the Palestinian liaison, who in turn called the Israeli liaison, but
received no response. On Saturday
evening, Abu Khousa’s father telephoned al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir
al-Balah to inquire whether the body of a young man had been brought to
hospital. He was then informed that a
body would by handed by Israeli forces to a Palestinian ambulance at Abu Houli
military checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah, and that the body would be brought
to the hospital. At approximately 18:00,
the father returned to the hospital, where he was informed that the body was
that of his son. According to medical
sources, the victim was shot by a live bullet in the chest and several live
bullets in the upper limbs.
Monday, 26 May 2003
At noon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a young Palestinian man
close to the northern border of the Gaza Strip. The victim, along with another
young man, was allegedly attempting to infiltrate into Israel to find a job.
According to PCHR’s investigation, at noon, Rafiq Ejmei’an al-Banash,
21, and his friend, Sehda ‘Ayad al-Bahri, 20, both from Beit Hanoun, went to the northern border of the
Gaza Strip, in an attempt to cross over into Israel to find jobs. When
they were close to the border, at approximately 14:00, they were seen by
Israeli soldiers at the Erez crossing and immediately fired upon. Al-Banash was
killed by several live bullets and al-Bahri was arrested. Israeli forces kept al-Banash’s body until
midnight. An Israeli military spokesman
claimed that Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian gunman and arrested
another, but al-Banash and al-Bahri’s families denied this claim.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those
Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families
of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
At approximately 02:25 on Friday, 23 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Safeh area in Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They surrounded a 150-square-meter, 2-storey
house owned by ‘Aazem Sa’id Hassan Daraghma, 50, in which 2 families (10
people) live. Daraghma is the father of
Hiba Daraghma, 19, who was killed in a bombing in the Israeli town of ‘Affula
on 19 May 2003.
According to information available to PCHR, Israeli soldiers surrounded
the house of ‘Abdul Fattah Maslamani, approximately 30m west of Daraghma’s
house. They knocked on the door and when
Maslamani opened the door, Israeli soldiers ordered him and his 18-member
family out. They forced Maslamani and
his family to move away from the area and they also fired at the street lights.
At approximately 02:50, a heavy blast was heard in the area. Half an hour later, Israeli forces withdrew
and when Maslamani returned to his home, he found that Daraghma’s house had
been totally destroyed.
Israeli forces arrested Daraghma and his wife, Fatema Ibrahim Abu Salah,
47, and took them to al-Maleh, east of Tubas. They were then taken to the forensic medicine institute in Abu Kabeer,
where they were made to give blood samples. They were then taken to ‘Affula police station, where they were
interrogated about their daughter and their son, Baker, who is detained in
Shatta prison. The wounds that Baker
sustained from a live bullet in the abdomen inflicted before he was arrested
continue to pose a threat to his health. At approximately 16:00 on 20 May 2003, Israeli forces transferred
Daraghma and his wife to al-Jalama military checkpoint, north of Jenin. They were released after being told them that
their house would be demolished.
At approximately 22:45 on Sunday, 25 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces
moved into ‘Aqabat Taffouh area in the north of Hebron. They surrounded a 300-square-meter, 2-storey
house owned by ‘Abdul Fattah Mustafa al-Ja’bari, in which 12 people live and
forced the family out. Half an hour
later, Israeli soldiers allowed four of al-Ja’bari’s relatives into the house,
and gave them 10 minutes to remove the furniture. They were only able to remove some documents
and clothes. Israeli soldiers then
planted explosives on the upper floor of the house, and shortly after midnight,
they detonated it, damaging the ground floor. Al-Ja’bari is the father of
Mujahed al-Ja’bari, 18, who was killed while carrying out a bombing in East
Jerusalem on 18 May 2003. The father and
his two sons: Hud’aifa, 16; and Munir, 21, were arrested by Israeli forces
after the bombing.
At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 26 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces
surrounded a 7-storey apartment building owned by Suleiman Mohammed al-Qawasmi
in Wadi Abu Ektaila neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They called via megaphones for the residents
to evacuate the building. Israeli forces
then summoned al-Qawasmi from his nearby house and informed him that they would
destroy a flat on the third floor of the building, which is rented by the
family of the deceased Bassem Jamal al-Takrouri. At approximately 03:30, Israeli soldiers
ordered 4 people to remove furniture from al-Takrouri’s flat. At approximately 04:10, Israeli soldiers
planted explosives inside the flat and destroyed it, damaging other flats in
the process. Bassem al-Takrouri was
killed while carrying out a bombing in occupied Jerusalem on 18 May 2003.
At approximately 04:00 on Tuesday, 27 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces
moved into al-Zhahiriya village, west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Fayez Isma’il
al-Battat. They forced the 7 residents
of the 200-square-meter house out without allowing them to remove their
furniture and belongings. Israeli
soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. Al-Battat is the father of Shadi al-Battat who
was killed while carrying out an armed attack against Israeli forces on 1 April
2002.
At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 28 May 2003, Israeli occupying
forces moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Lutfi Mahmoud
Hanani in the east of the village. They
forced the 6 residents of the 120-square-meter house out of the premises
without allowing them to remove their furniture. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in
the house and destroyed it. Hanani is
the father of Mohammed Hanani who was killed while carrying out an armed attack
against “Mitser” settlement in November 2002.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Til village,
southwest of Nablus. They surrounded the
house of Ibrahim Sa’id Ibrahim Ramadan and forced out the 8 residents of the
130-square-meter house after giving them 5 minutes to remove their
furniture. Israeli soldiers then planted
explosives in the house and destroyed it. Ramadan is the father of Sa’id Ramadan who was killed while carrying out
an armed attack in Jerusalem last year.
Orders To Expel Palestinian Detainees from the West Bank to the Gaza
Strip
On Thursday, 22 May 2003, Israeli occupation authorities informed Ragheb
Rateb Fayez Bader, 35, from Tallouza village, northeast of Nablus, and Nader
Mohammed Mustafa Sawafta, 29, from Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, that the
head of the Israeli military central command had issued a decision to expel
them to the Gaza Strip for two years. Bader and Sawafta have since been placed under administrative detention. They are known as members of the Hamas
movement.
On Sunday, 25 May 2003, Israeli occupation authorities informed 3 other
Palestinian detainees of a similar decision to expel them to the Gaza
Strip. They are: Sameer Mohammed Mahmoud
Buhais, 29, from Yatta village, south of Hebron; Walid Khaled Hassanain
‘Ali, 32, from Skaka village, south of Nablus; and Bahaa’ Saleh ‘Ali al-Qadhi,
22, from Sourif village in Hebron. The
three are members of the Fatah movement, who have been placed under a 6-month
administrative detention.
* *
* * *
PCHR calls:
1. Upon the international community to
provide immediate and independent international protection for
the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
2. Upon the High Contracting Parties to
the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective
measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article
146, to ensure respect for the Convention.
3. Upon
the international community to investigate and prosecute before international
courts those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
4. Upon
the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its
field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
5. Upon
the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association
Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.
6. Upon
the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for
the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate
as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the
entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“END”
