Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

December  27, 2001 - January 02, 2002

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations

Affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists – Geneva

Member of the International Federation for Human Rights – Paris

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network

1. Six Palestinians, including three children, killed in the northern Gaza Strip;

2. The Israeli forces encroach into the villages of Qabatya and ‘Anabta in the West Bank;

3. Continued siege;

4. Dozens of Palestinians arrested;

5. Continued shelling of Palestinian residential areas leaving dozens of civilians injured;

This report covers human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) during the period 27 December 2001 – 2 January 2002. According to PCHR’s documentation, this week, 6 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces as a result of excessive use of force against demonstrators, shelling of Palestinian residential areas, and willful killings.

In 2001, Israeli occupation forces escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians and their property in the OPT. Many Palestinians were killed in the policy of assassination formally adopted by the Israeli government. The Israeli forces employed weapons such as F-16 fighter jets and Apache combat helicopters to shell Palestinian civilian and security facilities in the attempt to destroy the Palestinian infrastructure. The Israeli forces also maintained a total siege on the OPT, restricting the movement of Palestinians and causing further economic and social deterioration.

Also in 2001, the Israeli forces excessively used lethal force against Palestinian peaceful demonstrations. The kind and number of deaths and injuries registered among Palestinian civilians in clashes with the Israeli forces indicate that the Israeli forces aimed to cause as many casualties as possible. According to PCHR’s documentation, in 2001, 487 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces as a result of excessive use of force against demonstrators, shelling of Palestinian residential areas, or willful killing, or by Jewish settlers. The victims can be classified as follows:

1. 466 were killed by Israeli occupation forces.

2. 2 were killed by Israeli undercover units.

3. 2 were killed by the Israeli police.

4. 16 were killed by Jewish settlers.

5. 1 was killed by an Israeli bank guard.

In addition, 27 Palestinian civilians died after Israeli occupation forces at military roadblocks obstructed their evacuation to hospitals for emergency or regular medical treatment.

Of the total number of those killed in 2001, 33 were women, including 20 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 11 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and two who were killed in mysterious circumstances; 105 were Palestinian children under the age of 18, including 93 killed by Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers, 5 who died at Israeli military roadblocks and 7 who were killed in mysterious circumstances; 3 were journalists; 108 were members of the security services; 43 were Palestinian activists killed in political assassinations and 17 were bystanders also killed in political assassination attempts.

This week, in two separate incidents of willful killing, the Israeli forces killed six Palestinians, including three children, in the northern Gaza Strip.

Israeli occupation forces have continued to shell and invade Palestinian residential areas. This week, Israeli occupation forces intensively shelled Khan Yunis and encroached into the villages of Qabatya and ‘Anabta in the West Bank and Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.

Despite no attacks by Palestinians in the OPT this week, Israeli occupation forces raided Palestinian residential areas and arrested dozens of Palestinians, particularly in ‘Azzoun village in the West Bank.

Israeli occupation forces tightened the siege imposed on Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, further restricting movement of Palestinians.

In Ramallah at approximately 12:30, Palestinian civilians organized a peaceful demonstration that moved to areas of the city which had been invaded by Israeli occupation forces since 13 December. Soon, two Israeli armored vehicles moved forward and Israeli soldiers fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators. Five demonstrators and a foreign journalist were injured:

1. ‘Abdel-Jabbar Ahmed Abu Sneineh, 22, from Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right eye;

2. Hazem Jamil Abu ‘Eid, from Biddu village near Ramallah, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

3. Tamer Mahmoud Zuhair, 16, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, injured by a tear gas canister in the right hand;

4. Guevara Bassam Musleh, 18, injured by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;

5. ‘Omar Nemer ‘Assaf, 51, injured by a tear gas canister in the right arm; and

6. Huyuku Uyshken, 36, a Japanese corespondent of the Weekly Post, suffered from tear gas inhalation.

1. Shelling of, and Incursions into Palestinian Residential and Controlled Areas

Early in the morning, six Israeli armored personnel carriers thrust approximately 200m into Al-Sha’er neighborhood, adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. Residents of the area fled their homes, fearing that the Israeli forces would demolish their houses. Dozens of Israeli soldiers entered six Palestinian houses, owned by the El-Sha’er, Zannoun, El-Hams and El-Quttati families, causing serious damage. They also stole jewels owned by a woman whose house was raided. The incursion continued until 03:00.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupation soldiers in an armored personnel carrier on Mount Al-Tour in Nablus, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at a number of Palestinian civilians at the center of the city, approximately 1500m away, seemingly without reason or provocation. Saleh ‘Abdel-Rahman Zaki El-Ashqar, 17, from ‘Askar refugee camp, was injured by a medium caliber bullet in the right shoulder and shrapnel in the back.

At approximately 15:30, Israeli occupation forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Brazil neighborhood. Raghda Khalil Mansour, 26, was injured by two live bullets in the right leg and left thigh. She was hanging washing on a clothesline on the roof of her house when she was injured.

At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupation forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire on Palestinian homes in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood. A number of houses were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area and Al-Amal neighborhood. A number of houses were severely damaged.

In the evening, in two separate incidents in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupation forces killed six Palestinians, including three children. According to initial information, the victims were killed by artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets. Israeli occupation forces apparently did not resort to less lethal means. In addition, conflicting statements made by the Israeli occupation forces raise suspicions that the deaths may have been willful killings.

According to initial investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17:40, an Israeli occupation forces tank located in “Elli Sinai” settlement, southeast of Beit Lahia, fired four artillery shells at Beit Lahia and the Bedouin Village in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli occupation soldiers then opened fire from heavy and medium machine guns. Later, the Israeli forces thrust approximately 1200m into rural areas in Beit Lahia. They took up position on a hill, on which a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces had stood before it was destroyed by the Israeli forces. Thirty minutes later, the Israeli forces stated that they had killed three gunmen who were attempting to enter “Elli Sinai” settlement and that they had recovered the bodies. An Israeli radio station reported that Israeli soldiers fired at the three Palestinians, who were all children, and that knives were found near the bodies. The bodies of the three children were handed to Palestinian officials late on Wednesday, 2 January 2002. They were identified as:

1. Mohammed Ahmed Lubbad, 17;

2. Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Madhoun, 15; and

3. Ahmed Mohammed Banat, 15.

The three were from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.

At approximately 22:00, sounds of shooting and shelling were heard at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun. Later, the Israeli military spokesman stated that Israeli occupation forces killed three Palestinians, claiming that they were attempting to sneak into Israel. The Israeli forces kept the bodies of the victims until 02:00 on the following day, when they handed them to the Palestinian side. The victims were:

1. Ismail Ahmed Abu El-Qumsan, 31, from Jabalya;

2. Mohammed Mahmoud Salah, 19, from Jabalya; and

3. ‘Ali As’ad Muhanna, 21, from Beit Lahia.

At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of “Gani Tal” settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area. A number of houses were severely damaged. No casualties were reported.

1. Arrests

This week, Israeli occupation forces made many arrests. The 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 at the entrances to Palestinian cities and villages.

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

4. During incursions into Palestinian controlled areas.

The following are significant arrests that took place this week:

At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near the eastern entrance of Qalqilya, arrested 30-year-old Nasrallah Mohammed El-Sha’er, from Qalqilya, while attempting to travel from the city together with his wife and children towards Ramallah, along a branch road. According to eyewitnesses, he was severely beaten and taken to an unknown destination.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces at Rafah Border Crossing arrested Mohammed ‘Abed Yassin, 20, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, as he was returning from Saudi Arabia.

At approximately 01:15, Israeli occupation forces moved into Qeffin village, north of Tulkarm. They raided the house of Walid Mohammed Sabbbah. They searched the house and beat three of his sons.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupation forces raided a Palestinian house in ‘Azzoun village in Qalqilya. The soldiers damaged the house whilst searching it. According to the owner, ‘Essam Yousef Hawari, the soldiers were searching for his son Qutaiba, 23. When they left the house, the Israeli forces told Hawari to make his son surrender or they would raid the house again.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces at Rafah Border Crossing arrested ‘Ali Farraj Salem Abu Juraida, 27, a physically handicapped man from Rafah, as he was returning from Egypt.

At approximately 1:00, Israeli occupation forces raided four Palestinian houses in Qalandya refugee camp, north of Jerusalem. They arrested four men:

1. Fadi Mahmoud El-Mallah, 24;

2. Farid Sami Emteir, 20;

3. Eyad Nemer Nabhan, 28; and

4. ‘Ali Mahmoud Emteir, 18.

At approximately 02:40, around 100 Israeli occupation soldiers moved into Zkarna neighborhood in Qabatya village near Jenin, under full control of the Palestinian National Authority. They raided three houses and took up positions on the roofs of the buildings. Then, using loud speakers they called on ‘Ali Mohammed Zakarna to surrender. When he did not, the Israeli soldiers fired at his house. When he opened the door, the Israeli soldiers arrested him together with his three brothers, Nasser, 31; ‘Alla’, 20; and Bilal, 35. Bilal was later released. According to Bilal, the Israeli soldiers confiscated 22000 NIS (approximately US$ 5000) and US$ 4000 from his brother Nasser’s bag.

Later, ten tanks and four military jeeps of Israeli occupation forces, supported by two helicopters, thrust into the village to support the soldies already present.

At approximately 08:00 on Tuesday, 1 January 2002, an undercover unit of Israeli occupation forces kidnapped a Palestinian while on his way to his work, approximately 100m north of “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza City. According to an eyewitness, as soon as Sa’di ‘Abdel-Hamid ‘Ayad, 37, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, arrived at work, a number of persons in civilian uniform got out of a civilian car and forced him to get out of his car. They took him to “Netzarim” settlement. An hour before, two Israeli tanks and the civilian car were positioned approximately 200m north of the settlement. The civilian car traveled towards Gaza, while the two tanks remained in the area until the operation was carried out. An Israeli military spokesman admitted to the kidnapping.

At approximately 14:00, an Israeli military jeep intercepted a Palestinian car, in which Mahmoud Ibrahim Abu ‘Arram, 25, and his brother Yousef, 22, from Kherbet Janba village in Hebron, were traveling. The two brothers were arrested and taken to an unknown destination.

In the morning, Israeli occupation forces moved into Abu Dis town, east of Jerusalem. They imposed a curfew and searched the town. They arrested six men:

1. Jamal Khaled Abu Hilal, 22;

2. Saher Ahmed Hamarsha, 21;

3. Nader Jaffal, 25;

4. Mohammed Fayez Salah, 20;

5. ‘Ali Fayez Salah, 21; and

6. Hani Mahmoud Halabia, 22.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupation forces arrested Dr. Mustafa El-Barghouthi, member of the political bureau of the Palestinian People Party and head of the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, as soon as he exited the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem after a press conference held by the international “Popular Campaign for the Protection of the Palestinian People”. The Israeli forces claimed that El-Barghouthi was arrested for lacking necessary permission to be in Jerusalem. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli police besieged the hotel and took him to a police station after they had beaten him. At 15:30, a police car took El-Barghouthi to Al-Ram roadblock. Soon, journalists gathered around him while waiting for a taxi to travel to Ramallah. The Israeli forces attempted to arrest him again, but European solidarity delegates tried to protect him. The Israeli forces started beating members of the unarmed group, including the head of a French solidarity delegation. Nasser Jamjoum, 38, working at the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees, was injured in the back by a sound bomb fired by the Israeli forces. El-Barghouthi was taken by the Israeli forces to an Israeli police station from where he was eventually released.

PCHR calls upon:

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

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

3. 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. the international community to investigate and prosecute those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories before international courts.

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

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

7. 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.