Press Release

Wide-ranged reinforcements of the Israeli occupation forces,

Three Palestinian civilians, including a child, are killed

Ref: 143/2000

Date: October 23, 2000

Time: 16:00 GMT

The Israeli occupation forces have continued their killings and abuses against Palestinian civilians, escalating their actions by shelling Palestinian cities and villages. They have also strengthened the siege on the occupied Palestinian territories and have reinforced their presence at points of friction with Palestinian civilians. This afternoon, the Israeli occupation authorities re-closed Gaza International Airport.

This morning, Sae’d Adnan Al-Tanbour, 17 years, from Nablus, died from his wound by a bullet in the head in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces on October 20, 2000; and the child Ashraf Habayeb, 15 years, from the Refugee camp of Askar near Nablus, died from his wound in the head on October 16, 2000. In the refugee camp of Tulkarm, Nada Sa’d Srouji died from a heart attack, when Iaraeli soldiers chased her while she was trying to break the siege imposed on Tulkarm. The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation forces has increased to 119, and more than 3,300 have been wounded.

The Israeli occupation forces have reinforced their positions in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, specially in Khan Yunis and Deir El-Balah. PCHR’s field officers reported that the Israeli occupation forces closed all branch entrances to the two cities with cement blocks. They continued to place a roadblock on the main road linking between the northern of the Gaza Strip with its south, checking passing cars on both directions of the road. Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and Rafah witnessed intensive deployment of the Israeli occupation forces. The Israeli occupation forces swept a 4-donum area of agricultural land near an Israeli military occupation they erected recently at the road leading from Salah El-Din Street to Kissufim border crossing.

Since the morning, in the area of Erez, in the northern part of the Gaza strip, clashes have broken out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which have responded opening fire. As a result, 19 people have been wounded with live bullets and 6 with rubber-coated metal bullets. Additionally, dozens were hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces in the area. An eyewitness stated that one of the wounded was trapped by to civil-uniformed persons who decoyed him and fired at his knees. The eyewitness added that the two persons appeared as if the were Palestinians who would like to offer help for demonstrators. When Mahmoud Mansour Abu Rayya, 16 years old, from Jabalya, approached them, they fired at him. It is not clear whether the two persons were soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces, or Jewish settlers. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that 3 youths were wounded without hearing the sound of firing. He asserted that the Israeli occupation forces used silencers when firing at demonstrators.

In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military site, known as “Al-Nouria,” to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis. It is worth mentioning that some Israeli military points within the site are less than 50m away from the over-crowded refugee camp, and therefore, are a source of continuous threat to Palestinian civilians in the area. A short while ago, the child Abdel Rahman Salim Shorrab, 13 years, was wounded in the head by a live bullet shot by the Israeli occupation forces. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. Additionally, 28 civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets in Khan Yuinis. Among them is the child Deeb Ibrahim Al-Najjar, 14 years, who was wounded in the head, and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in a very critical condition. Dozens of civilians were also hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces against demonstrators and nearby houses.

In the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom near Deir El-Balah, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which responded firing live ammunition at the demonstrators. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that two people were wounded by live ammunition, and dozens were hurt due to inhaling tear gas.

Early this morning, the Israeli occupation forces fired two rockets at two houses near Salah El-Din Gate on the borders with Egypt in Rafah. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that one rocket penetrated the walls of the second floor of a house owned by Saleh Mohammed El-Shae’r, 50 years, and exploded in one of its rooms. The owner of the house told PCHR that he and his family sheltered preemptively in the ground floor few minutes before shelling, as the house was shelled during the past days. The house was severely damaged, and the room in which a rocket exploded completely burnt. The second rocket hit the external wall of a house owned by Mohammed Jamil Qeshta. No severe damages were reported as a result.

Yesterday, combat helicopters and tanks of the Israeli occupation forces fired rockets at Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and the refugee camp of Aida. Some houses and civil facilities, including a theatre and an electricity generator, were severely damaged.

PCHR warns of the new escalation by the Israeli occupation force and the killings notably targeting children. PCHR asserts that the continued military reinforcements of the Israeli occupation forces threaten directly the lives of Palestinian civilians throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. Firing rockets at houses and civil facilities is a clear evidence of the criminal acts and excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation forces.

PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community and the High Contracting Parties to Geneva Fourth Convention to give up silence and immediately intervene to stop the continued massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces. Providing international protection for Palestinian civilians is the only way that will ensure their security and safety.