Israeli Occupying Forces Commit
Further Violations of International Humanitarian Law in the OPT
· 11
Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were killed by Israeli forces
· 5
of the victims were killed in extra-judicial assassinations carried out by Israeli
forces
· Israeli
forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
· Israeli
forces moved into al-Qarara village, and razed areas of agricultural land and
destroyed civilian property
· Further
areas of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip
· Houses
were raided and a number of Palestinians were arrested
· 3
apartment buildings were destroyed in al-Zahra area, south of Gaza City
· Indiscriminate
shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued, particularly in Khan Yunis
· A
house in Hebron was destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continued
campaign of collective punishment against the families of Palestinians accused
of involvement in attacks against Israeli targets
· Continued
siege on the OPTs:
– Continued
Restrictions on travel at Rafah Terminal
– Continued
denial of access of Palestinian workers to their work places
– 8
Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire at a military checkpoint
north of Khan Younis
Introduction
This week, Israeli occupying forces have escalated
violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including extra-judicial and willful killings,
indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, incursions into Palestinian
areas, house demolitions and land leveling. They have also continued to impose
a tightened siege on the OPTs. This week, 11 Palestinian civilians,
including 3 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security
establishments in violation of international humanitarian law and human rights
instruments, on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed a
Palestinian and wounded a passing civilian in Tulkarm refugee camp. Israeli military sources claimed that the
victim that was killed was wanted and that he fired at an undercover unit of
Israeli forces that came to the area to arrest him. They further claimed that the Palestinian that
was wounded fired at the unit from a nearby store before Israeli soldiers fired
at him. However, eyewitnesses denied that an exchange
of fire occurred.
This week, 4 Palestinian civilians died from injuries
they sustained on 20 October 2003 in a failed assassination carried out by
Israeli occupying forces in Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip
that targeted Palestinians, allegedly wanted by the Israeli military. The attack left dead 7 Palestinian civilians,
including a child and a physician, and injured 50 others, including 10 who sustained
serious injuries. With these recent
deaths, the number of Palestinian civilians killed in this attack is now 12.
In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces moved
into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land, destroyed civilian
facilities and searched a house. Two
Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli gunfire during the
incursion.
In another attack on Palestinian civilian property, on
26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 3 apartment buildings in
al-Zahara town, south of Gaza City. The
three buildings were owned by al-Zhafer Contracting Company and were in the
final stages of construction. Each building was composed of 13 floors,
each of which had 4 apartments; the total number of apartments that were
destroyed is 156. A number of neighboring houses and buildings were also
damaged in the explosion. In addition, 2 Palestinian civilians were
wounded by the Israeli gunfire that accompanied the incursion.
The Israeli High Court rejected an appeal submitted
by PCHR to stop the demolition of the 3 apartment buildings in al-Zahra. In an attempt to prevent the demolition of
the three buildings, on 25 October 2003, PCHR submitted a petition to the Israeli
High Court. As they had numerous times in the past, the Israeli
prosecution claimed that the three buildings were to be demolished on grounds
of security necessity.
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949 (Fourth Geneva Convention), article 33 of which
prohibits punishing any protected person for “an offence he or she has not
personally committed,” Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families
of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out
attacks against Israeli targets. In this
context, they demolished a house in Hebron and arrested two bothers of a
detainee.
The construction of the “separation wall” continued
this week. The Israeli Prime Minister
revealed an Israeli plan to construct a wall along the Jordan Valley, several
kilometers into the eastern territory of the West Bank. The Israeli Prime Minister has repeatedly
stated that Israel will retain control over the Jordan Valley in any permanent
solution with Palestinians. PCHR asserts
that the construction of the wall is a de facto annexation of
Palestinian areas, in violation of international law and humanitarian law. The wall divides the West Bank into 3
isolated territories.
As part of the systematic settlement program in the
OPTs, Israeli authorities granted “permanent status” to some “illegal
settlement outposts” in a decision that ensures that the outposts will be
provided with state funds and will not be dismantled.
In an example of excessive use of force, this week,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead 4 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip, including a mentally handicapped civilian. This week, Israeli occupying forces continued
to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Khan Yunis.
In violation of articles 16 and 18 of the Fourth
Geneva Convention of 1949, Israeli occupying forces surrounded 3 hospitals in
Nablus, broke into one and arrested a Palestinian who was receiving medical
treatment for a serious injury.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem. Israeli
occupying forces have continued to humiliate Palestinian civilians at
checkpoints, have continued to close a
number of branch roads in the Gaza Strip, and have restricted movement of goods
at commercial crossings of the Gaza Strip. They have maintained the closure of Erez crossing in the north of the
Gaza Strip for the second consecutive month, denying access of thousands of
Palestinian workers to their work places in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to
deliberately hamper movement of Palestinians at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian
border, resulting in hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including women and
children, being forced to wait on the Egyptian side of the crossing for long
periods of time without basic facilities in order to come back into the Gaza
Strip. The Israeli intelligence often
summon and interrogate or arrest Palestinian travelers at this terminal without
a legal pretext.
Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas,
and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property
Thursday, 23 October 2003
Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces moved
into al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Qarara areas in the northwest of Khan
Yunis. During the 5-hour incursion,
Israeli forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed
civilian property.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 00:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 14 tanks and 4
bulldozers, moved approximately 1km into al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Qarara areas
in the northwest of Khan Yunis. They
took position on Salah al-Din Street, near al-Qarara junction, and seized
control over the two areas. Israeli
soldiers then raided a 4-storey house belonging to ‘Abdul Karim Younis Salem
al-Astal, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force. They searched
the 18 people (6 families) living in the house and them forced them to gather in
one room on the first floor. They forced
one resident, who is mentally handicapped, to remove his clothes. Israeli
soldiers then took positions on top of the house, searched its rooms and made
holes in the walls of the house to fire out of in order to provide coverage for
the bulldozers that were razing areas of agricultural land. Bulldozers in the
area razed the following agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by heirs of ‘Othman Ahmed al-‘Abadla.
2. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and palms and
destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed ‘Othman al-‘Abadla.
3. They
razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes and palms and
destroyed a greenhouse, a water pump and an irrigation network owned by Yousef
Salman Mustafa al-Astal.
4. They
razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes and destroyed
2 greenhouses, an irrigation network, a water pump and a room owned by Mustafa
Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal
5. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with peppers and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by ‘Abed Rabbu ‘Ali Zhaher al-Astal.
6. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with eggplants and destroyed
an irrigation network owned by Jibara Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal.
7. They
razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes and zucchinis
and destroyed a greenhouse and an irrigation network owned by Yousef ‘Ali
Mohammed al-Astal.
8. They
razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with zucchinis and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Tariq Yousef ‘Ali al-Astal.
9. They
razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with cucumbers and destroyed
a greenhouse, an irrigation network and a room owned by ‘Aadel Ahmed ‘Ali
al-Astal.
10. They razed a 1.2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with carrots and destroyed an irrigation network
owned by Mohammed Ahmed ‘Ali al-Astal.
11. They razed a 4-donum area of
agricultural land planted with peppers and spinaches and destroyed an
irrigation network owned by Na’im ‘Ali al-Yamani al-Astal.
12. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with carrots and rockets and destroyed an irrigation
network owned by ‘Abdul Hakim ‘Ali Mohammed al-Astal.
13. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with cauliflowers and destroyed an irrigation network
owned by Hamdi ‘Ali Mohammed al-Astal.
14. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land planted with peppers and mallows and destroyed 3 greenhouses
and an irrigation network owned by Sauleiman, Mohammed and ‘Eid Kamel Milad
al-Astal.
15. They razed a 2-donum area of
agricultural land planted with peppers and mallows and destroyed 2 greenhouses
and an irrigation network owned by Radwan and Mohammed Ahmed Suleiman
al-Astal.
16. They razed a 2.6-donum area of
agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned
by Radwan and Ramadan Rajab al-Agha.
17. They razed a 3-donum area of
agricultural land planted with peppers and destroyed 3 greenhouses, an
irrigation network, an agricultural pool and a water pump owned by Midhat
Mallahi Badawi al-Agha.
18. They razed a 500-square-meter area of
agricultural land planted with fruits and destroyed an irrigation network and a
fence owned by Yousef Mohammed Taleb al-‘Abadla.
2 Palestinian civilians were also wounded by Israeli
gunfire during the operation:
1. Ahmed
Hamdi ‘Ali al-Astal, 25, seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the right arm
and abdomen; and
2. Zakaria
Mahmoud Mohammed al-Astal, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the left
shoulder.
Israeli forces also closed and partially destroyed a
160-square-meter house owned by ‘Abdul Hamid Mohammed ‘Othman al-‘Abadla. A number of other houses in the area were
also damaged.
During the evening, in an apparent willful killing,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a mentally handicapped Palestinian civilian,
near the fence separating Um al-Nasser village and “Nissanit” settlement in the
northern Gaza Strip.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 20:30, residents of Um al-Nasser village heard sounds of several
gunshots near the fence, which was established by Israeli occupying forces at
the northern edge of the village, and south of “Nissanit” settlement,
established on Palestinian land. Later,
Israeli military sources claimed that Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian
gunman near “Nissanit” settlement. On
the following day morning, residents of the village went to affected area to
check what happened. They found a body a
few meters a way south of the aforementioned fence. They called an ambulance to remove the
body. Soon, Israeli forces moved into
the area and checked the body. A number
of villagers were able to attend to the body and help carry it to an ambulance
that was waiting at the main road of the village. According to these villagers, the wounded was
bleeding from the chest and the back, and there were no weapons on or around
the victim. The victim was later identified
as Isma’il ‘Abdullah ‘Aabed ‘Abed Rabbu, a 35 year old, mentally handicapped
Palestinian male, from the Bedouin village.
Friday,
24 October 2003
At approximately 09:00, medical sources at
al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem announced that Mohammed Ahmed al-Sarafandi,
59, from Rafah refugee camp, died from several fractures he sustained when he
attempted to escape from his house during an Israeli incursion into the refugee
camp on 10 October 2003.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 18:00 on Friday, 10 October 2003, as Israeli occupying forces
were demolishing Palestinian houses under the cover of intense shelling, in
Rafah refugee camp, al-Sarafandi jumped from the balcony of the second floor of
his house to escape the shooting. He
fell onto the ground and sustained fractures in the spinal column. He was evacuated to Mohammed Yousef al-Najjar
Hospital in Rafah. He was transferred to
Shifa Hospital in Gaza city and from there to al-Maqassed Hospital in
Jerusalem, where he later died.
In the morning, in an apparent willful killing,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child in Deir al-Balah.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 11:00, Mohammed Isma’il ‘Olayan al-Hamaida, 11, from al-Ja’farawi
area, east of Deir al-Balah, was going to a mosque in the area together with
his two brothers. Israeli soldiers who
had been searching the area, fired at the 3 children as soon as they noticed
them. Mohammed was wounded by a live
bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated
to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah where he died on his wound.
At approximately 19:00, an armored personnel carrier
and 3 military jeeps moved into Nablus through its southern entrance. They moved forward into al-Quds Street and
Balata refugee camp, east of the city. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and streets and 2 members of the International
Solidarity Movement were wounded:
1. Mark
Thomas Norman, 24, an American citizen, wounded by shrapnel in the left thigh;
and
2. Gush
William Talph, 24, an American citizen, wounded by shrapnel in the thighs.
Saturday, 25 October 2003
During the morning, in another attack on Palestinian
hospitals and centers, Israeli occupying forces surrounded 3 hospitals in
Nablus, breaking into one and arresting a Palestinian who was receiving medical
treatment for a serious injury.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus. They surrounded 3 hospitals: Rafidya; Nablus
and the Arabi. At approximately 02:45, a
number of Israeli soldiers broke into the Arabi Hospital and entered the
intensive care unit on the third floor. They forced a nurse, Hanaa’ ‘Ashour, to retrieve the medical history of
Khaled Abu Hammad, who was surrounded by 6 Israeli soldiers. Israeli soldiers then removed medical
equipment from his body and put him on a stretcher. They took him to an Israeli military
ambulance and withdrew from the area. According to the nurse, Israeli soldiers searched various departments of
the hospital. Abu Hammad was injured in
a unexplained explosion that occurred in a civilian car in the east of Nablus
on Wednesday evening, 22 October 2003. The explosion left dead Ra’ed Sa’ad Abu Hammad and seriously injured Abu
Hammad, who was evacuated to the intensive care unit at the Arabi Hospital.
At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Qalqilya. They raided and searched a number of houses
in the town and arrested 5 Palestinians.
At approximately 04:00, a tank and a military jeep of
Israeli occupying forces moved into Qabatya village, southeast of Jenin and opened
fire at houses and streets. A
Palestinian child, Mohammed Hamad Nassar Zakarna, 14, was wounded by a live
bullet in the left shoulder while he was playing near his family’s house.
At approximately 18:00, a tank, an armored personnel
carrier and 2 military jeeps of Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus
through its southern entrance. They
moved forward until they reached al-Quds Street and Kufor Qallil village in the
south, and Balata refugee camp in the east. They opened fire at houses and streets, wounding 3 Palestinian
civilians:
Fadi Hassan
‘Atallah al-Hashash, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen;
1. Samer
Ahmed Suleiman D’iab, 37, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot; and
2. Samir
Ahmed Suleiman D’iab, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations near “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc, west of
Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the east. 2 Palestinian children were wounded by the
Israeli gunfire that continued in sporadic blasts until 05:30 on the following
day:
1. ‘Azza
Joma’a Salim Safi, 8, wounded by 2 live bullets in the right hand and foot; and
2. Nivin
‘Aadel Ahmed Safi, 6, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.
At the same time, Israeli occupying forces positioned
in military locations along “Morag-Gush Qatif” road, northwest of Rafah, opened
fire at Palestinian houses and farms in ‘Oraiba area. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Mohammed
Siam, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg while he was near his
house.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli soldiers in tanks and
those positioned in military locations along the Egyptian border, south of
Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp. 2 Palestinian children were wounded while
they were inside their house:
1. Yasser
Mohammed al-‘Absi, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the face; and
2. Mahmoud
Mohammed al-‘Absi, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand and the back.
Sunday, 26 October 2003
In another attack on Palestinian civilian property,
Israeli occupying forces destroyed 3 apartment buildings in al-Zahra area,
south of Gaza City.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on
Saturday evening, 25 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces fired approximately
15 tank shells at the three buildings and Israeli military vehicles then moved
from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City, into al-Zahra town, taking
control of the area. Israeli soldiers
planted explosives inside a Palestinian police station and destroyed it.
Soon after, Israeli soldiers ordered approximately 2000 residents of the area, to
vacate their houses and go to the nearby Nusseirat refugee camp. Once the
evacuation of the area was complete, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside
the three buildings and destroyed them. The three buildings were owned by
al-Zhafer Contracting Company and were in the final stages of
construction. Each building was composed of 13 floors, each of which had
4 apartments; the total number of apartments that were destroyed is 156.
A number of neighboring houses and buildings were also damaged in the
explosion. In addition, 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by Israeli
gunfire that accompanied the incursion:
1. Ibrahim
‘Omar Hamada, 23, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest; and
2. Nihad
Nemer Noufal, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder.
In the morning, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in
Gaza City declared that Akram Hamed Bakroun, 18, from Gaza City, died from an
injury he sustained last week. According
to PCHR’s investigation, on 22 October 2003, an Israeli tank positioned at the
border with Israel, east of Gaza City, fired a shell at Palestinian houses
located near al-Mentar crossing, east of the city. 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded,
including Bakroun who sustained a serious injury.
At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Battir village, west of Bethlehem and raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of Mohammed Nazzal al-Batma, 22, and arrested him.
At approximately 20:30, Israeli occupying forces
positioned in military locations near “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc, west of
Khan Younis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the east. 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the
Israeli gunfire that continued until the following morning:
1. Subhi
Saleh ‘Eissa Shirreer, 62, seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the
armpit and lungs and settled in the spinal column; and
2. Ibrahim
Silmi al-Qubti, 48, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.
Monday, 27 October 2003
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces
moved into Qalqilya and imposed a curfew. They surrounded Jo’aidi neighborhood, raided and searched a number of
houses and arrested 12 Palestinians.
In another use of excessive force, Israeli occupying
forces opened fire at 8 Palestinian men who were for hunting birds in the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. One of the young men was killed and 4 others were arrested.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 08:20, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved
approximately 1 kilometer into the southeast of Beit Hanoun. Israeli soldiers then opened fire at 8 young
Palestinian men who were for hunting birds in the area. 2 young men were wounded and 3 others were
able to flee. Israeli soldiers then surrounded
the young men still in the area, and were joined a few minutes later by backup
forces, accompanied by 2 bulldozers, which razed land as they entered the area.
The Israeli forces then arrested 4 of the young men, including one of the wounded
and left the other wounded individual in the area, who bled to death. He was
later identified as Karim ‘Olayan Hussein al-Kafarna, 26. Upon coordination
with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, a Palestinian ambulance removed his
body from the area at approximately 11:30. According to medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet in the
chest. The men who were arrested were
identified as:
1. Mohammed
Marwan Mohammed Abu ‘Ouda, 18;
2. Mahanna
Mohammed Salman Abu Jarad, 19;
3. Shukri
Mohammed Salman Abu Jarad, 17; and
4. ‘Abdul
Rahman Jaber ‘Ali Daraj, 18, who was wounded.
Tuesday, 28 October 2003
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces,
reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved
approximately 200m into al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan Younis. Under the cover of intense gunfire, they
demolished a bird farm and razed areas of agricultural land:
1. They
razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with mallows, olives and
palms and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Khadra Fadhel al-Astal.
2. They
razed a 750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and
destroyed a 150-square-meter bird, a fence and an irrigation network owned by
Ziad ‘Abdul Ra’ouf ‘Abdul Ghafour.
Wednesday, 29 October 2003
At approximately 09:45, a tank and a military jeep of
Israeli occupying forces moved into Nablus through its southern entrance and took
up position in the center of the city. They fired tear gas canisters at a girls’ elementary school. As a result, dozens of school children
suffered from tear gas inhalation. Some
of the children were evacuated to hospitals, while others received medical treatment
at the school.
At approximately 10:15, Israeli occupying forces positioned
at Tal al-Sultan checkpoint at the entrance to al-Mawasi area and in military
locations near “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc, west of Rafah, opened fire at
Palestinian houses and streets in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood to the east. 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded by the
Israeli gunfire that continued for about 2 hours:
1. Tariq
‘Abdul Maqsoud al-‘Arja, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the neck;
2. Ibrahim
‘Awadh al-‘Arja, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
3. Mahmoud
‘Abdul Ghani al-‘Arja, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg;
4. Ibrahim
‘Awadh al-‘Arja, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the head;
5. Mahmoud
‘Abdul Ghani al-‘Arja, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg;
6. ‘Abdul
Rahman ‘Abdul Fattah Abu al-‘Eish, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right
shoulder; and
7. ‘Adnan
Jamil al-Mawafi, 16, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.
At approximately 16:00, about 20 Israeli military
vehicles moved into the northern part of Jenin. At approximately 16:45, an Israeli tank fired 2 shells at 2 carpet
stores owned by Riadh al-Khalili in al-Kharrouba neighborhood, causing
extensive damage.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a
Palestinian child during an incursion into Balata refugee camp, east of
Nablus.
According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 20:00, 3 Israeli military jeeps moved into Nablus through its
southern entrance. They moved towards the western entrance to Balata refugee
camp, east of the city, where a number of Palestinian children gathered and
threw stones at the military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, killing Bahaa’
Jaber Mohammed al-Zubaidi, 12, with a live bullet in his left side. According to medical sources, the child was
hit by an explosive bullet.
Extra-Judicial Assassinations
In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial
assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security
establishments in violation of international humanitarian law and other human
rights instruments, on Tuesday, 28 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces
killed a Palestinian and wounded a passing civilian in Tulkarm refugee
camp. Israeli military sources claimed that
the victim was wanted by Israeli authorities and that he had fired at an
undercover unit of Israeli forces that had come to the area to arrest him.
Israeli forces also claimed that another Palestinian fired at the unit, and
Israeli soldiers returned fire and wounded him. However, eyewitnesses denied these claims.
According to investigation conducted by PCHR, at
approximately 14:00, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces infiltrated
Tulkarm refugee camp, using a Palestinian registered civilian car. As soon as the car arrived at the western
entrance of the camp, Israeli soldiers shot dead Ibrahim ‘Aaref al-Na’nish, 30.
They claimed that he was a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing
of the Fatah movement. When the incident occurred, Al-Na’nish was sitting on
the roadside between the camp and the town of Tulkarm. A passing civilian, Mo’ath Fu’ad Joma’a
al-Heel, 17, was also wounded by 2 live bullets in both thighs. Soon after, a tank, an armored personnel
carrier and 7 military jeeps came to the area to cover the withdrawal of the
undercover unit. A Palestinian ambulance evacuated the victim’s body to Dr.
Thabet Hospital in Tulkarm, where it was determined that the victim had been
hit by approximately 20 live bullets to the head, the chest and the abdomen.
4 Palestinian Die from Previous Injuries
This week, 4 Palestinian civilians died from injuries
they sustained on 20 October 2003 in a failed assassination carried out by
Israeli occupying forces in Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip,
targeting allegedly wanted Palestinians. The attack left dead 7 Palestinian
civilians, including a child and a physician, and injured 50 others, including
10 who sustained serious injuries. Thus,
the number of Palestinian civilians killed in this attack now stands at 12.
At approximately 17:00 on Thursday, 23 October 2003,
Ibrahim Joma’a al-‘Abed Khabbaza, 19, died from an injury he sustained in the
Nusseirat attack and at approximately 23:00, Mohammed Tawfiq Mahmoud Hathat,
23, died from an injury he sustained in the same attack. At approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 25
October 2003, Mas’oud ‘Ali ‘Ayash, 34, died from an injury he sustained in the
attack on Nusseirat and at approximately 04:00 on Wednesday, 29 October 2003,
Salah ‘Abdul Fattah Hassan Asa’ad, 17, died from an injury he sustained in the
same attack.
Collective Punishment against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli
Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law, in
particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons
in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected
person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces
took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered,
facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.
At approximately 01:40 on Thursday, 23 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Hawooz area in the west of Hebron. They surrounded a 200-square-meter house
owned by Ziad Rafiq Ya’qoub Qannibi, 55. They forced the 8 residents of the
house, including 6 children, to vacate the building and moved them
approximately 150m away from the house. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives inside the house and destroyed
it, damaging 4 stores that were situated under the house and owned by Hashem
‘Omar Ahmaru and Mohammed Shaher Yousef Bader. The owner’s son, Rafiq Qannibi,
23, was killed while carrying out an armed attack on an Israeli settlement in
Tal al-Rumaida neighborhood in the center of Hebron on Wednesday, 22 October
2003.
At approximately 03:00 on Tuesday, 28 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces moved into ‘Eissi neighborhood in the south of
Hebron. They raided and searched a house
belonging to the family of ‘Ezzat al-Shwaiki, who is serving a sentence to an
18-month imprisonment in an Israeli jail. During the raid, Israeli forces
arrested al-Shwaiki’s two sons: Akram and ‘Abdul Qader, 32 and 35 respectively.
Continued Siege on the OPT
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe
restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the
West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Gaza Strip
Israeli forces have continued to harass Palestinian
civilians traveling throughout the Gaza Strip and have continued to impose
closures on a number of branch roads. Harassment of Palestinians is especially
rampant at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street (the
main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).
At approximately 01:45 on Wednesday, 29 October 2003,
Israeli occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints. The
closure remained in effect until 19:15, leaving hundreds of Palestinian
civilians stranded and unable to break their fast with their families, as is
traditional during the holy month of Ramadan. At the time of closure, Israeli
forces held and searched dozens of Palestinian vehicles between the two
checkpoints, during which time they arrested 1 Palestinian. After concluding the search procedures,
Israeli forces reopened the two checkpoints and allowed Palestinian civilians
to travel towards Khan Yunis. Sooner after the road re-opened, Israeli soldiers
opened fire at Palestinian civilians and vehicles, wounding 8 civilians:
1. Mohammed
Talal Mohammed Zo’rob, 30, from Rafah, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot;
2. Hussam
Rezeq Abu ‘Azab, 40, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the left foot;
3. Ashraf
Jamil Abu Shab, 26, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the feet;
4. Shadi
Salem Harb al-Bansh, 23, from Rafah, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot;
5. Maher
Khamis Haikal, 30, from Khan Yunis, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;
6. Saber
Mustafa al-‘Aaloul, 18, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the left foot;
7. Nour
Mohammed ‘Ouda, 19, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen; and
8. Anwar
Ahmed Abu Daqqa, 33, from Khan Yunis, wounded by a live bullet in the left
foot.
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, restricting the
movement of Palestinian civilians in and out of the area. On Saturday, 25
October 2003, Israeli occupying forces arrested ‘Eid Ahmed Mohammed al-Astal,
20, at Tal al-Sultan checkpoint, west of Rafah, as he was exiting al-Mawasi
area and on Sunday, 26 October 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed more
restrictions on the movement of Palestinians through al-Tuffah checkpoint at
the entrance to al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Yunis. Palestinians under the age of 35 have been
prevented from crossing the checkpoint. Consequently, approximately 30 university students have been unable to
reach their universities.
Israeli occupying forces have also restricted the
movement of goods at commercial crossings in the Gaza Strip. They have continued to close Erez crossing in
the north of the Gaza Strip for the second consecutive month, denying thousands
of Palestinian workers access to their places of work in Israel. Israeli occupying forces have also continued
to deliberately hamper work at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including
women and children, have been crowded on the Egyptian side of the crossing waiting
to be allowed entry to the Gaza Strip. Israeli authorities often summon and
interrogate or arrest some Palestinian travelers.
The West Bank
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank and have continued to
close military checkpoints. They have also erected a number of temporary
checkpoints on the main, branch and dirt roads, throughout the West Bank.
Occupied Jerusalem
Israeli occupying forces have tightened the siege
imposed on Jerusalem, which has particular religious significance to
Palestinian Muslims during the month of Ramadan. Despite this, Israeli
occupying forces have denied access for Palestinians from elsewhere in the OPT
to Jerusalem. In violation of the right
to freedom of worship, Israeli occupying forces denied Palestinians under the age
of 35 access to al-Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers. PCHR is concerned that this measure may
continue throughout the duration of Ramadan.
Nablus
Israeli occupying forces have continued to close
military checkpoints around the city. Israeli soldiers at Hawara, Beit Fourik, Beit Eiba and Surra checkpoints
have denied the passage of most Palestinian civilians.
Jenin
For the 4th consecutive week, Israeli
occupying forces have continued to close the northern and central Jordan
Valley, denying access of Palestinian farmers to their agricultural lands in
the area. These Israeli measures have
isolated the villages of Bardala, Kardala and ‘Ein al-Baida and the Bedouin
communities in al-Maleh and al-Himma. Israeli soldiers at al-Hamra checkpoint on the road linking the north of
the West Bank with Jericho. Palestinians traveling to Jordan have been denied
passage through the checkpoint, and have been forced to use a dirt
branch-road.
Tulkarm
For the 4th consecutive week, Israeli
occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on the district and
Al-Kafriayt area, south of Tulkarm, has been isolated for the 4th
consecutive week. Israeli occupying
forces have continued to enforce the closure of the gate established at the
entrance to Baqa al-Shaqia village, north of Tulkarm, for the 20th
consecutive day, preventing Palestinian civilians from moving in or out of the
village. As a result there has been a shortage of foodstuffs and basic services
and the head of the local village council, Mo’ayad Hussein, reported that
Israeli occupying forces denied entry to personnel from the Palestinian Energy
Authority, thus preventing them from carrying out work on the village’s
electricity network.
Qalqilya
Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a
strict siege on Qalqilya for the 25th consecutive day. The “separation wall” has surrounded the town
from all directions and Israeli forces
have established one gate that controls the movement of Palestinians to and
from the town.
Jericho
Israeli soldiers positioned at the southern entrance
to the town have continued to restrict the movement of Palestinians civilians,
including those traveling to Jordan. Palestinian vehicles are not permitted to
travel on the main road, and are forced to travel on an agricultural
branch-road. On Thursday evening, 23 October 2003, Israeli military jeeps
chased and fired at Palestinian vehicles traveling on the agricultural
branch-road.
*************
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”
Public
Document
**************************************
For
more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776
– 2825893
PCHR,
29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail:pchr@pchrgaza.org, Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org
