· Dozens of Palestinian civilians are wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets fired by the Israeli occupation forces;

· More land is leveled and more houses and civilian facilities are demolished.

The last week witnessed a very serious escalation of Israeli violations, some of which constitute war crimes under international law, against Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

At the beginning of the seventh month of clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces that erupted on September 29, 2001, the Israeli forces continued to employ excessive force against Palestinian civilians and shell residential areas in the absence of a military threat. As a result, nine Palestinian civilians were killed and dozens were wounded.[1] During clashes that erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces on Land Day (Friday, March 30, 2001), the Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, killing six and wounding dozens with live and rubber-coated metal bullets.

Nablus witnessed the bloodiest clashes. According to medical sources, the Israeli occupation forces used explosive live bullets during the clashes, killing five Palestinian civilians. Shrapnel of these bullets were found in the bodies of the killed, who are:

1) ‘Ayesh Ghazi Mustafa Zamel, 19, from Deir El-Hatab village, killed with a an explosive bullet in the head;

2) Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Marahil, 16, from Balatta refugee camp, killed with an explosive bullet in the neck;

3) Sha’ban Sa’id Salloum, 31, from Balatta refugee camp, killed with an explosive bullet in the head that cut it from the rest of his body;

4) Murad Hani Sharai’a, 20, killed with an explosive bullet in the head that exploded part of it;

5) Khaled Shehadeh Dhib Nahla, 28, from Nablus, killed with a live bullet in the abdomen.

At the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, similar clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire and killed Mohammed ‘Abdel-Muhsin El-Wawi, 21, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, with a live bullet in the head.

On April 1, 2001, a 12-year-old child from Deir Nezham village in the northwest of Ramallah, Lu’ai Mohammed Hussein El-Tamimi, was pronounced dead at Ramallah hospital. The child was wounded on March 14, 2001 with a live bullet in the head that fired by the Israeli occupation forces as they tried to burst into the village.

On Monday, April 2, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces committed another assassination. Mohammed ‘Atwa ‘Abdel-‘Al, 26, from Rafah, was killed when an Israeli combat helicopter shelled his car. During his funeral, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces in Rafah. The Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding two--including a fifteen-year-old from Al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, Sa’id Amin El-Khayat, who was critically wounded with a live bullet in the head.

The Israeli occupation forces also continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Rafah, Khan Yunis, Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Al-Bireh. The shelling resulted in wounding dozens of Palestinian civilians, including children, with shrapnel of artillery shells and live bullets. During shelling of Rafah on March 31, 2001, the two and a half year old child, Samar Fuad Abu Jazar, was wounded with two live bullets in both thighs; and the eight year old child Wala’ Mahmoud Abu ‘Obeid was wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh, when the Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately on Palestinian houses.

On March 31, 2001, Whid Nasser ‘Azer El-Dik, 54, from Ramallah, was pronounced dead at Ramallah hospital. El-Dik was critically wounded during shelling the headquarters of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) in Ramallah by the Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday, March 28, 2001. He was a guard of the nearby Palestine Technical College located near the Force 17 headquarters. He fell off the roof the campus when he tried to flee once he heard the bombings near him.

In the evening of Tuesday, April 3, 2001, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces shelled Gaza and Rafah. Khan Yunis and Ramallah were shelled from Israeli forces' positions. The shelling resulted in severe damage to a number of Palestinian security and civilian facilities. Furthermore, more than 60 wounded Palestinians were evacuated to hospitals in Gaza, Rafah and Khan Yunis. Missiles also hit a number of civilian facilities, including an UNRWA elementary school in Rafah.

During the period covered by this report (March 29-April 4, 2001), Jewish settlers escalated their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties. These attacks reached the climax in Hebron, where Jewish settlers, under full protection by the Israeli occupation forces destroyed Palestinian civilian property.

During the same period, the Israeli occupation forces razed large area of agricultural land and demolished civilian facilities, especially in the northern area of the Gaza Strip and in Khan Yunis. A significant portion of this land razing and building demolition was in the area adjacent to the northern border of the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 10:00 local time, approximately 100 Palestinian children from Nusseirat refugee camp went to Al-Shuhada’ junction leading to Netzarim settlement, south of Gaza City. This came as soon as they heard news about the death of Hussam Ghanem Al-Kronz, 24, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, who was killed by Israeli occupation forces positioned near the aforementioned settlement.[3] When those children were approximately 150m to the south of the junction, they started to throw stones at Israeli occupation soldiers positioned there. Those soldiers opened fire, wounding 10 children as follows:

2) Samir Zakaria Abu Dalal, 12, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face;

4) Mohammed Abu Shawish, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;

9) Mohammed Talal El-Sheikh, 12, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder; and

In a serious escalation in the use of excessive force and willful killings, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians during clashes that erupted in Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps, on the 25^th anniversary of the Land Day. The Israeli occupation forces killed six and injured approximately 100.

The West Bank city of Nablus witnessed the bloodiest clashes. During the clashes, Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, killing five and injuring dozens. After the Friday prayer, a mass demonstration moved from the city’s largest mosque towards the city’s southern entrance where Israeli occupation forces had been reinforced in the morning by additional deployments. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, killing:

6) ‘Ayesh Ghazi Mustafa Zamel, 19, from Deir El-Hatab village, with a an explosive bullet in the head;

7) Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Marahil, 16, from Balatta refugee camp, with an explosive bullet in the neck;

8) Sha’ban Sa’id Salloum, 31, from Balatta refugee camp, with an explosive bullet in the head that cut it from the rest of his body; and

9) Murad Hani Sharai’a, 20, with an explosive bullet in the head that exploded part of it.

Furthermore, 94 Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Raffidia and Al-Ittihad hospitals in Nablus, after they were wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets or inhaled tear gas employed extensively by the Israeli occupation forces during clashes in Nablus. Of the wounded, 32 were wounded with live bullets. This includes Khaled Shehadeh Dhib Nahla, 28, from Nablus, who was critically wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen. At approximately 20:30 local time, Nahla was pronounced dead at Raffidiah hospital in Nablus. Medical sources at Raffidia hospital stated that the Israeli occupation forces used a type of explosive bullets against Palestinian civilians. These bullets partially exploded the heads of three victims. Shrapnel from these bullets were found in: the heads of Zamel, Zalloum and Sharai’a; in the neck of Abu Marahil; and in the abdomen of Nahla, whose kidney, spleen and arteries were ruptured. The same medical sources asserted that the Israeli occupation forces also used a highly effective gas with unfamiliar symptoms, similar to that used first in Khan Yunis on February 12, 2001 (for more details about the symptoms, see PCHR’s Weekly Report on February 15, 2001.) The wounded in Nablus who received live bullets were:

4) Bilal ‘Abdel-Rahim Dweikat, 38, wounded with a live bullet in the right knee;

5) Mohammed Bahjat El-Khalili, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;

11) Najib Mas’oud ‘Abdel-Karim, 19, wounded with an explosive live bullet in the left thigh; and

At the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, in the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating more than 100m away. As a result, Mohammed ‘Abdel-Muhsin El-Wawi, 21, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, was killed with a live bullet in the head. Additionally, another 16 civilians were wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens suffered from suffocation due to tear gas inhalation. Among the wounded were:

1) Mohammed Mahmoud Moqbel, 50, from Ramallah, wounded with a live bullet in the pelvis;

2) Wasfia ‘Ali El-Barghouthi, 51, from Deir Abu Mesh’al, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg and shrapnel in the abdomen;

3) Mohammed Zakaria Abu El-‘Adas, 18, from Bitounia, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;

4) Amjad Rushdi El-Hanbali, 39, from Ramallah, wounded with two live bullets in the left leg and hand; and

5) Mohammed Hussein, 23, from Qaddoura refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the head.

Also in the afternoon, a demonstration of approximately 300 Palestinian civilians moved from Nusseirat refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip towards Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction south of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces opened fire and used tear gas against civilians, wounding seven with live bullets and shrapnel. The wounded were:

1) Anwar ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Sharif, 18, wounded with a live bullet in the left side of the chest;

On Friday afternoon, a similar demonstration moved toward Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip. Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Erez industrial zone, opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators. As a result 11 civilians, mostly children, were wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets. They are:

1) Nabil Suleiman Shabat, 15, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;

2) Thae’r Fayeq Abu El-Qumsan, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;

3) Sufian ‘Abdel-Hai ‘Abed-Rabbo, 16, from Jabalya village, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;

4) Maher Salim Abu Mo’awadh, 23, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot;

5) Mohammed Fathi Abu El-‘Eish, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

6) Mahmoud Helmi El-Madhoun, 13, from Beit Lahia, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;

7) Khalil ‘Abdel-Karim Abu Zhaher, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

8) Mohammed Yousef Sahwil, from Beit Hanoun, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;

9) ‘Abdel-Karim Mohammed Abu Jabal, 10, from Tal El-Za’tar, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left arm;

10) Khalil Maher El-Masri, 23, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot;

11) Khalil Ziad Abu Jasser, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;

12) Ahmed Sahwil, 15, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with shrapnel in the right foot;

13) Ibrahim Faisal Mousa, 13, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

14) Mohammed Nizar Rayan, 13, from Jbalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen.

Also in the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet. As a result, 12 civilians were wounded with live bullets as follows:

1) the child Ibrahim Tayseer Yassin, 15, from Al-Shati refugee camp, critically wounded with a live bullet in the head;

2) the child Hani Khamis Baker, 14, from Gaza, critically wounded with a live bullet in the head.

3) Jamil Na’im El-‘Attar, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;

4) Amin ‘Abdel-Karim Mohammedein, 20, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;

5) Ahmed Khamis ‘Oudeh, 16, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left ear;

6) Hassan Mohammed Ghazal, 17, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left upper arm.

7) Mohammed Ahmed Helles, 19, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;

8) Fahmi Mahmoud El-Shawa, 17, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right forearm;

9) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahim El-Dabash, 16, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with shrapnel in the head;

10) Sami Fathi Abu ‘Amr, 15, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;

11) Mohammed Khalil Barakat, 16, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a bullet in the right arm; and

12) Khamis Hassan El-Fishawi, 25, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the head.

At approximately 8:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, opened fire on a number of Palestinian boys who were demonstrating approximately 150m south of the junction. As a result, five were wounded as follows:

1) ‘Abdel-Razeq Ya’cob El-Qatrawi, 13, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;

2) Mohammed Saleh El-Helo, 18, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face;

3) Khalil Mahmoud Ramadan, 12, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

4) Nour Hamad Abu Maktouma, 13, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;

5) Hammouda Mohammed Hammouda, 14, from Nusseirat refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.

Also at approximately 8:00 local time, approximately 200 Palestinian civilians, mostly school children, came from Jabalya and Beit Hanoun to demonstrate near the entrance of Erez industrial zone which is in the north of the Gaza Strip and under control by the Israeli occupation forces. Israeli soldiers opened fire at demonstrators during clashes that lasted until the afternoon, wounding:

1) Ziad ‘Arafat ‘Abdel-Dayem, 33, a medic from Beit Lahia, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;

2) Wae’l Zamel Al-Weheidi, 33, from Jabalya, seriously with two live bullets in the chest and the abdomen;

3) Ossama Ahmed Hammad, 16, from Beit Lahia, with a live bullet in the right thigh;

4) Tariq Mohammed Abu Eshkian, 20, from Beit Lahia, with a live bullet in the left foot;

5) Ahmed Jamal Mohammed Dhiab, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the right knee;

6) Ashraf Jamal Zeidan, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left thigh;

7) Mohammed Mohammed Samir El-Leddawi, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left thigh;

8) ‘Abdel-Salam Amin Mousa, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left knee;

9) Sae’d Mohammed ‘Awadallah, 25, from Jabalya refugee camp, with two live bullets in the right leg and arm;

10) Ramzi Ibrahim Abu Namous, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left leg;

12) Adam ‘Omar El-Kahlout, 18, from Beit Lahia, with a live bullet in the buttocks;

13) Yousef Ibrahim Abu Sa’da, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left thigh;

14) Hussein Na’im ‘Abbas, 25, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left leg;

15) ‘Abdel-Khaleq ‘Adel Zhaher, 13, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left leg; and

16) Haitham Isamail Mahanna, 23, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left leg.

Furthermore, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered from suffocation and breathing difficulties due to tear gas inhalation, including Hazem Ismail Ghaben, a 33-year-old Palestine Red Crescent Society medic from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City.

In Rafah, Shaker Mohammed Shaker Shahin, a 54-year-old UNWRA ambulance driver from Khan Yunis, was wounded with shrapnel in the left forearm while he was driving the ambulance near the border in Rafah. In his testimony to PCHR, Shahin said that, immediately after being informed of clashes in the area, he and an accompanying nurse, he drove the ambulance from the UNRWA clinic in Rafah towards the Brazil refugee camp next to the border. He added that he and his colleague offered medical assistance to five civilians who were lightly wounded with shrapnel of live bullets fired by the Israeli forces. He stated that at approximately 9:00 local time, he was wounded with shrapnel in the forearm when he was inside the ambulance, approximately 40m away from the border.

In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired upon a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. As a result, the 13-year-old child from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, Mohammed Rafiq El-Sedoudi, was wounded with a live bullet in the left knee.

Clashes also erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at the southern entrance of Nablus. The Israeli forces opened fire, wounding Nafez Mohammed ‘Eissawi, 30, from Balatta refugee camp, with a live bullet in the left shoulder.

In the morning, a 12-year-old child from Deir Nezham village in the northwest of Ramallah, Lu’ai Mohammed Hussein El-Tamimi, was pronounced dead at Ramallah hospital. The child was wounded on March 14, 2001 with a live bullet in the head fired by the Israeli occupation forces. On March 14, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians in Deir Nezham village who were attempting to stop these forces from storming into their village. As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians were wounded, including the child El-Tamimi, who was shot from a distance of approximately 200m. The Israeli forces then prevented his evacuation to a hospital for approximately 65 minutes, which resulted in further deterioration in his condition. The child was clinically dead from 14 March until he physically died the morning of April 1, 2001.

Also in the morning, a number of Palestinian civilians, mostly school children, demonstrated more than 100m away from a military site of the Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that during the clashes that lasted until the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrators. As a result, three civilians were wounded as follows:

1) Mohammed Ahmed Abu Jalhoum, 13, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

2) Mohammed Sa’id El-Zahhar, 16, from Al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with shrapnel in the eyes; and

3) Tal’at Saleh Abu ‘Asser, 22, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating more than 100m away. As a result, a 13-year-old child from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood, Mohammed Riadh Joma’ Shamali, was wounded with a live bullet in the left leg.

At approximately 18:00 local time, Hassan Mousa El-Akhras, 20, from Rafah, was wounded with a live bullet in the left shoulder fired by the Israeli occupation forces. According to PCHR’s investigation, El-Akhras is mentally handicapped. He was approximately 100m away from the border, adjacent to Brazil refugee camp when he was shot. Clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces were occurring in the area, but El-Akhras was not participating in them. According to PCHR’s documentation, El-Akhras was wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh fired by the Israeli occupation forces on October 13, 2000.

In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new assassinated Mohammed ‘Atwa ‘Abdel-‘Al, 26, from Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, was killed. This crime, the latest in a growing record of assassinations and extra-judicial killings during the past six months, represents a serious escalation against Palestinian civilians. The Israeli government has openly declared a policy of extra-judicially killing and assassinating and Palestinians.

At approximately 12:40 local time, Israeli combat helicopters flew over Rafah and fired three rockets at a a white civilian car, a Peugeot Thunder. At the time, the car was on Khaled Ben Al-Walid Street in Al-Barazil neighborhood, adjacent to the border in the south of Rafah. The two direct hits on the car killed its driver Mohammed ‘Atwa ‘Abdel-‘Al. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the car was completely destroyed and that ‘Abdel-‘Al’s body completely burnt. ‘Abdel-‘Al’s body was removed from the scorched vehicle to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah. Furthermore, a taxi behind ‘Abdel-‘Al’s car was destroyed. Its driver ‘Omar Sahqfeh miraculously survived because he and the passengers fled as soon as they heard the first explosion. Additionally, two passing civilians, including an 11-year-old child who was on her way back from school, were evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah after they suffered a nervous breakdown.

It is worth mentioning that the policy of assassination and extra-judicial killing carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians resulted in killing 17 Palestinians in the past six months. This includes six civilian bystanders who were not targets.

This incident increased tension in Rafah and throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories. During the funeral ceremony of ‘Abdel-‘Al in Rafah, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces, near Salah El-Din Gate on the border in Rafah. The Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding a 15-year-old child from Al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah, Sa’id Amin El-Khayat, , with a live bullet in the head. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City in critical condition. Furthermore, the child Fadi ‘Ali Joudeh, 13, was wounded with shrapnel throughout the body.

In the afternoon, similar clashes erupted near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, during which Nedal ‘Ezzat El-Sheikh Khalil, 17, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, where medical sources stated that his spleen and right kidney were reuptured.

Before this, in the morning, Ashraf Mohammed El-Sayed, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, was wounded with a live bullet in the right hand, when the Israeli occupation forces fired at a number of Palestinian youth who were demonstrating near Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip.

At approximately 11:00 local time, after an exchange of fire with a number of armed Palestinians, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on military observation towers in the west of Kfar Darom settlement in Deir El-Balah, indiscriminately opened fire on Palestinian civilians in the area. As a result, Ibrahim Ahmed Abu El-Rous, 31, from Deir El-Balah, who was passing by the area, was wounded with shrapnel in the left forearm and in the head behind the left ear. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment.

At approximately 13:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned on military observation towers in the north of Kfar Darom settlement, fired at Hazem Subhi El-‘Abit, 18, from Deir El-Balah, wounding him with a live bullet in the left foot. He was evacuated to the Palestine Red Crescent Society Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City.

At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the east of Kfar Darom settlement in Deir El-Balah, fired at Salma Hussein Abu Meghsib, 73, from a distance of approximately 400m, wounding her with a live bullet in the right hand. At the time, she was returning to her home.

At approximately 10:00 local time, approximately 70 school students from Nuseirat organized a peaceful march that moved towards Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City. Some of those students started to throw stones at Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at the junction. Those soldiers opened fire, wounding four students as follows:

1) Wasfi Nahedh Wasfi Weshah, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left arm, and was evacuated to Palestine Red Crescent Society Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City for treatment;

2) Lu’ai Yousef Zaqout, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the chest, and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment;

3) Bilal Jehad El-Qattawi, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand, and was evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir El-Balah for treatment; and

4) Hassan Nassar, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the face, and was evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir El-Balah for treatment.

In the afternoon, similar clashes erupted near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, during which a 15-year old from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, Rami Rafiq Ismail ‘Enaya, was wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh. He was evacuated to the Palestine Red Crescent Society Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City for treatment.

At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli tanks positioned at the border in Rafah opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses near Al-Nour mosque in the Brazil refugee camp, adjacent to the border. As a result, four Palestinian civilians, including a 3-year-old child, were wounded near their homes, located 5-100m away from the border. The wounded were:

1. Hadil Jehad Abu El-S’oud, 3, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;

In addition, a number of houses were damaged after their walls were hit with bullets.

In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Abu Sneineh neighborhood in Hebron. At approximately 16:00 local time, the Israeli forces stormed at least 150m into the neighborhood which is located in an "area A"--an area under full control by the Palestinian National Authority. Fifteen minutes later, they withdrew to nearby Israeli military sites.

Not only did the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians who peacefully demonstrated, but also they fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities, thus wounding more civilians and causing severe damage to properties.

At approximately 16:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Taktouri, Al-Sheikh, Bab Al-Zawia, Al-Karantina, Abu Sneineh, Khllet Hadour, Sh’aba and Nemra neighborhoods in Hebron. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Ramay Yishai and Avraham Avino settlements inside Hebron, and the Kharsina and Hagai settlements east and southwest of Hebron, participated in the shelling. The intensity of the shelling on a scale unprecedented since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada. Fourteen Palestinian civilians, including three brothers and four children, were wounded as follows:

3) ‘Amer Rezeq Abu El-Fillat, 18, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;

In addition, dozens of Palestinian houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged.

At approximately 18:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site near Kishori factory in Tulkarm, shelled the southern neighborhood in the city. The shelling, in which heavy, medium and light machine guns were used, resulted in wounding three Palestinian civilians with shrapnel; another civilian was wounded with a live bullet in the right hand. Additionally, a number of houses and buildings were severely damaged. The wounded were:

At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement, in the northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses to the west of Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in Khan Yunis. This shelling coincided with similar shelling from Israeli occupation forces' postions in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, that targeted Palestinian houses in the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp, and Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood in the southwest of the city. The shelling, which lasted until 2:30 local time Saturday, resulted in damaging dozens of houses, whose residents left due to the frequent shelling.

At approximately 8:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border in Rafah fired a hail of bullets on Al-Joneina neighborhood in Rafah, located approximately 1,000m from the border. This shooting wounded two children with live bullets who were near their families’ homes at the time. They were:

1) Wala’ Mahmoud Abu ‘Obeid, 8, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and

In the evening, Whid Nasser ‘Azer El-Dik, 54, from Ramallah, was pronounced dead at Ramallah hospital. El-Dik was critically wounded during shelling the headquarters of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) in Ramallah by the Israeli occupation forces on Wednesday, March 28, 2001. He was a guard of the nearby Palestine Technical College near the aforementioned headquarters. He fell off the roof the campus when he tried to flee after hearing the nearby bombings.

At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Bilal mosque (Rachel Tomb area) in Bethlehem and in Gilo and Abu Ghuneim Mount settlements, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at: a Palestinian house in Al-Mahd Street, the Paradise Hotel in Bethlehem, and a number of houses in ‘Aida and Al-‘Azzeh refugee camps. As a result, seven Palestinian civilians were wounded, including Jessica ‘Abboud Safar, 4, who was wounded with shrapnel in the eye, the chest, the abdomen and pelvis. She was in critical condition and lost her right eye.

Also at approximately 15:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Kherbet El-‘Adas area in the northeast of Rafah. As a result, Fathi Salameh Hamdan Duheir, 55, was wounded with a heavy caliber bullet in the back. In his testimony to PCHR, Duheir said that he was in a balcony of his house when he was wounded. He was evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, where he underwent surgery to extract the bullet.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the border in Rafah, opened fire on Palestinian houses in Brazil refugee camp in Rafah. As a result, the 13-year-old child Hiba ‘Aawdh Joheish, was wounded with shrapnel of live bullets in the right hand, while she was inside her family’s house, adjacent to the border.

At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement in the west of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at a number of Palestinian houses in Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood in the city. Housing units owned by Al-Farra Company and the fence of the western cemetery of the city were also hit.

In the evening, the Israeli occupation forces escalated their aggression when they resorted to combat helicopters and heavy guns to shell a number of Palestinian cities. They shelled sites of the Palestinian security services as well as security and civilian facilities in the cities of Rafah, Khan Yunis, Gaza and Ramallah.

At approximately 19:45 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces started to shell Rafah. Land-land missiles were also seen flying over the city before hitting their targets. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported the shelling, which lasted up to 20:30 local time, resulted in the following damage:

1) A missile hit an electricity transmitter near the headquarters of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service, and cut electricity to the city.

2) A missile hit the headquarters of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service, causing severe damage. No injuries among its members were reported.

3) A missile fell onto the yard of Al-Zahra’ UNRWA elementary school behind the headquarters of the Palestinian Military Intelligence Service, but it did not explode.

4) Two land-land missiles hit the main police station of the city, causing severe damage to one of its buildings. It also resulted in damage to the adjacent conference hall of Rafah governate whose windows were destroyed.

5) Three missiles fell onto agricultural area in Kherbet El-‘Adas neighborhood in the northeast of Rafah, but they did not explode.

6) A missile fell near a housing building in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood, but it did not explode.

At approximately 20:00 local time, combat helicopters that flew over Gaza City started to shell the city. The shelling lasted for 30 minutes and targeted the building of the musical band of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) in Ansar Compound. The building and a maintenance facility of Force 17 also were completely destroyed. Furthermore, a number of missiles fell near sites of the Palestinian Marine Police and Civil Defense at the seashore, but no damage was reported.

These operations resulted in wounding dozens of Palestinian civilians. Forty-eight Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah, most of them were wounded with shrapnel and the rest suffered from suffocation and nervous breakdowns. Those who wounded with shrapnel were:

4) Mohammed As’ad El-‘Ennabi, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg and the right hand;

7) Rami Mohammed Madhi, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the left knee;

17) Mo’men ‘Ali Abu ‘Assaker, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the right foot;

28) Ahmed Taha Abu Rezeq, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the left forearm and leg;

Palestinian civilians in the targeted areas in Gaza City were terrified. Ten of them were transferred to Shifa' hospital in the city, suffering from bruises after having fell down during the shelling of the city.

At approximately 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and farms, in the north of Khan Yunis. As a result, two 180-square-meter houses that were under-construction and owned by ‘Abdel-Hakim Mohammed Ahmed El-Shanna and Mohammed Hashem El-Majaydeh, were severely damaged. In addition, greenhouses were damaged after having been hit with artillery shells and live bullets. They are owned by ‘Adel Mousa El-Astal, Dhib Ahmed El-Astal and Khamis Mousa El-Astal.

In the morning, Rami ‘Adnan El-Jamal, 22, from Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah, was wounded with shrapnel of live bullets in the head and the right hand, when the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian houses in the neighborhood. El-Jamal was in front of his house, approximately 500m to the north of a military site of the Israeli occupation forces on Tal Zo’rob, the source of fire.

At approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian house Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood in Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, in the west of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets up to 22:30 local time. The shelling resulted in severe damage to a number of houses and buildings. Furthermore, four Palestinian civilians were wounded with shrapnel, while they were on the street, approximately 150m away from Al-Tuffah roadblock. They were:

1) Akram Semari El-‘Araj, 28, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right leg;

2) Walid Semari El-‘Araj, 25, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the left forearm;

3) Shaima’ Mohammed El-‘Araj, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right arm; and

4) Wae’l Fayez Mo’ammar, 20, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right arm.

In the evening, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on Jarzim Mount, to the south of Nablus, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Khellet Al-‘Amoud, Khellet Al-Rohban and Al-Horsh neighborhoods in Nablus, causing damage to a number of houses.

At approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on Jarzim Mount, to the south of Nablus, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Khellet Al-‘Amoud Neighborhood, Balatta refugee camp, Al-Kabrit Street and Amman Street, wounding:

At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Netzarim settlement, to the south of Gaza City, opened fire on Palestinian farms in Al-Moghraqa area, to the south of the settlement. As a result, farmer Mousa Mohammed Abu ‘Oreiban, 38, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen. His entrails were also ruptured. He was evacuated to the Palestine Red Crescent Society Al-Quds hospital in Gaza City for treatment. At the time, Abu ‘Oreiban was farming approximately 500m to the south of Netzarim settlement when he was wounded.

1) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Nazhmi Mohammed Ibrahim Hamad. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

2) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Jamil Ibrahim Kahalil Hamad. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

3) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Ibrahim Khalil Hamad. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

4) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by the heirs of Khalil Ibrahim Khalil Hamad. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

5) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by the heirs of Mohammed Hassan Abu ‘Oudeh. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

6) They razed a three-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Mousa Saqer Hussein Abu ‘Amsha. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

7) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman Hweihi. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

8) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with sugar canes, owned by Ibrahim Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman Hweihi. In addition, an 80-square-meter rabbit farm, an agricultural pool and a water pump were destroyed.

9) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Mohammed Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman Hweihi. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

10) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Shawqi Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman Hweihi. In addition, an irrigation network and a water pump were destroyed, and storing room was demolished.

11) They razed a four-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Halima ‘Abdullah Ismail Hweihi. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

12) They razed a three-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Rmadan Mahmoud El-Bo’. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

13) They razed a three-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Hassan Mahmoud El-Bo’. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.

14) They razed a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with barley, owned by Jaber Hassan Na’im.

15) They started tom raze a 61.5-donum area of agricultural land, planted with citrus, owned by Ragheb ‘Abdel-Rahman Murtaja. They razed 18 donums of this tract of land.

At the same time, the Israeli occupation forces razed areas of agricultural land near the border in the southeast of Beit Hanoun. They razed:

1) a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ziad, Yousef and Sa’id Ahmed Mohammed El-Motawaq;

2) a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Mohammed ‘Abdullah El-Motawaq; and

3) a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Taher Abu El-Husni.

They also completed razing a 65-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Saqer Mohammed El-Da’our. On March 23, 2001, 40 donums of this tract of land were razed, and on March 29, 2001, another 20 donums were razed, so only five donums remained untouched.

At approximately 10:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces demolished five houses and three agricultural barracks in Foroush Beit Dajan village in the Jordan Valley, without prior notification. The house that were demolished were as follows:

1) a 60-square-meter house with a grocery store, owned by Khader Ibrahim Abu Salameh;

At approximately 7:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces demolished an building under-construction in Al-Eizareya village in Jeruslaem, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Sa’id El-Jamal. The building was located on a 400-square-meter area and was designed to include a school, a kindergarten and recreational facilities.

At approximately 8:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to raze areas of agricultural land in Al-Qatbania area, adjacent to the border in the east of Beit Lahia in the north of the Gaza Strip. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported this lasted up to 18:00 local time, and affected more than 130 donums of agricultural land, as follows:

1) They razed an eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, almonds and vegetables, owned by Jamil Dhiab Ibrahim ‘Abed. In addition, they destroyed an irrigation network.

2) They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, barley and vegetables, owned by Ibrahim Salem Abu Sel’a.

3) They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, owned by Hussein Ibrahim Abu Sal’a.

4) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, owned by Rabi’ and Samir ‘Abed Rabi’ Sultan;

5) They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, olives and fruits, owned by Majed ‘Atteya El-Qanou’.

6) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Ismail Ahemd El-Motawaq.

7) They razed a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Faraj El-Qanou’.

8) They razed a seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman Ahmed ‘Abdel-Rahman Khader. In addition, they destroyed an irrigation network.

9) They razed a seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Mohammed Ahmed ‘Abdel-Rahman Khader. In addition, they destroyed an irrigation network and a sprinkle pump.

10) They razed a ten-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Mohammed Jamil Dardouna and brothers.

11) They razed a seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Mousa Reihan. In addition, they destroyed an irrigation network.

12) They razed a twelve-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by ‘Atteya Ghoneim.

13) They razed an eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, owned by ‘Ashour ‘abdel-Hai Mas’oud.

14) They razed a ten-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits, owned by Mohammed Mohammed Hussein Dardouna.

15) They razed an eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Rabi’ Badawi.

16) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Sedqi El-Khatib.

17) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by ‘Ali Ahmed Yassin Sultan.

18) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by ‘Ali El-Borsh.

19) They razed a ten-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Riad Ghali Sha’ban Kahader and partners.

20) They razed a three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Halima Ahmed ‘Abdullah Dardouna.

21) They razed a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Hussein Dardouna.

22) They razed a seven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by ‘Abdel-Rahim Mohammed Hussein Dardouna.

23) They razed an eleven-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Tayseer and Tahsin Hassan Sami El-‘Ottal. In addition, they destroyed an irrigation network and a 16-square-meter storing room.

At midnight, the Israeli occupation forces stormed Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the north of Khan Yunis, and climbed onto the roof of a two-story house that had been evacuated last November due to frequent shelling by the Israeli forces, owned by Ref’at ‘Abdel-Ghafour. At the same time, a bulldozer of the Israeli forces started to demolish a site of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17), which was evacuated approximately two months ago. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces also demolished a balcony and a wall of 180-square-meter house, whose 16 residents left last November due to frequent shelling. It is owned by Mustafa ‘Oleyan El-‘Aqad. They also uprooted a number of olive and palm trees around the house and closed a dirt road between Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area and Al-Amal neighborhood.

The Israeli occupation forces demolished a 140-square-meter, house under-construction in Al-Za’im village in Jerusalem, owned by Ghaleb Mohammed El-Razem.

The Israeli occupation forces also demolished three houses under-construction in Al-Eizareya village in Jerusalem. They were:

3) The house of Khaled ‘Eissa El-‘Atta, established on a 90-square-meter area.

At approximately 23:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to raze areas of agricultural land, to the northeast of Kfar Darom settlement in the east of Deir El-Balah. PCHR’s field officer in the middle area of the Gaza Strip reported this lasted until 5:00 local time on the following day and affected 30donums of agricultural land as follows:

1) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land, on half of which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, and the other half was planted with olives, owned by Hussam Mohammed Abu Samra.

2) They razed a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, on two donums of which two greenhouses stood, owned by Hisham Mohammed Salem Abu Samra.

3) They razed a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables, and uprooted 13 palm trees, owned by Kahled Ahmed ‘Obeid.

4) They razed a one-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables, and uprooted five olive trees, owned by Jaber Mohammed Abu Mosabbeh.

5) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sae’d Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

6) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Salim Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

7) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Shaher Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

8) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sami Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

9) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Nawal Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

10) They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Suleiman Mohammed El-‘Azayzeh.

11) They razed a ten-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, and uprooted 20 palm trees, owned by Khalil Suleiman El-‘Azayzeh.

12) They razed a one-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned by Mohammed Ahmed El-Ma’ni.

Early in the morning, the Israeli occupation forces demolished parts of a 250-square-meter, one-story house, to the west of Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, owned by Suleiman Salim El-Khoratti. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that they demolished a room, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a 20-meter fence.

At approximately 8:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces demolished four Palestinian houses in ‘Anata village in Jerusalem, as follows:

At approximately 9:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces demolished four houses in Wadi Al-Fardous area in the east of Hebron, as follows:

3) a 500-square-meter house, owned by Na’im ‘Abdel-Mon’em Naji El-Fakhouri; and

In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces demolished a 100-square-meter house in Al-Khader village in Bethlehem, owned by Mohammed Suleiman Mohammed Salah.

On the same day also, the Israeli occupation forces demolished two houses and a number of agricultural facilities in Jenin. The demolished houses were:

1) a 216-square-meter, house under-construction in the east of Jenin, owned by ‘Adel ‘Abed; and

2) a 150-square-meter house in ‘Arrabeh village, owned by Nazhmi Qassem Abu Hannana.

4. Other Assaults and Arrests by the Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian Civilians

On Sunday, April 1, 2001, at approximately midnight, the Israeli occupation forces raided on a roadblock of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) at the entrance of Jaljilya village in the north of Ramallah, which is under full control of the Palestinian National Authority. The Israeli forces arrested five of the roadblock’s members and a resident of the village. In the morning of Tuesday, April 3, 2001, the Israeli forces released three of the detainees, including two members of Force 17.

On Monday, April 2, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces arrested Head of the Palestinian Marine Police in the West Bank Colonel ‘Essam El-Beleidi, 51, at Al-Karama crossing, when he returning to the West Bank from abroad.

Also on Monday, April 2, 2001, at approximately 7:00 local time, three military jeeps of the Israeli occupation forces burst into the Western Hills area in the Al-Satar Al-Gharbi neighborhood in the north of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the jeeps came from Gani Tal settlement in the northwest of Khan Yunis and entered approximately 300m inside areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority. However, Palestinian civilians confronted them and forced them to withdraw from the area.

On Wednesday, April 4, 2001, at approximately 17:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces burst into Al-Qarara area, to the east of Al-Matahen junction, in the north of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli forces entered approximately 200m inside the area, and mounted on a house, owned by Taher Ibrahim ‘Abdin, who lives abroad. The Israeli forces remained in the area up to approximately 22:00 local time.

At approximately 17:00 local time, a number of Jewish settlers from Beit Hadassa settlement inside Hebron, attacked the house of Nabil El-Halabi near the aforementioned settlement with stones and Molotov cocktails. The house was severely damaged.

At approximately 6:00 local time, Jewish settlers set fire to three Palestinian commercial stores in the old city of Hebron. These stores, owned by the families of El-Shweiki and Abu Sneineh, were completely scorched. Jewish settlers also set fire to a bakery owned by ‘Azmi El-Shweiki and Mohammed Abu Sneineh, which was completely burnt. According to eyewitnesses, settlers also obstructed the passage of fire engines of Hebron Municipality into the affected area.

At approximately 18:00 local time, a number of Jewish settlers burst into a commercial store owned by ‘Abdel-Fattah El-Qasrawi in Hebron. They broke its doors and plundered its goods.

At approximately 22:00 local time, Jewish settlers set fire to three Palestinian civilian cars near Kharsina settlement in the east of Hebron. The cars were completely burnt.

At approximately 1:00 local time, a number of Jewish settlers living in the so-called Avraham Avino settlement center in Hebron exploded gas filled jars in front of Palestinian commercial stores and the aforementioned mentioned bakery during a curfew imposed on the area by the Israeli occupation forces. The bakery, which was burnt by settlers on the previous day and the two stores were completely destroyed. In addition, a nearby mosque was partially damaged.

In the evening, a number of Jewish settlers from Keryat Arba’ settlement, in the east of Hebron, set fire to a civilian car owned by Wahid Qafisha while it was in front of his house in Sh’aba area, adjacent to the settlement. The car completely burnt.

In the morning, during curfew imposed on the part of Hebron under control by the Israeli occupation forces, Jewish settlers burst into Al-Aqtab mosque adjacent to the so-called Avraham Avino settlement, inside Hebron. They broke its doors and windows and partially damaged its furniture. They also stole a number of carpets and volumes of the Quran.

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to immediately intervene to stop Israeli occupation forces' killings and criminal acts against Palestinian civilians. Although PCHR is satisfied with the establishment of a commission of inquiry by the UN High Commission for Human Rights, it hopes that during its 57^th session, the Commission will fulfill its responsibilities and implement measures to put an end to Israeli violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. PCHR calls in particular for:

1. The provision of immediate international protection for Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories against crimes and attacks committed by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers.

2. The reconvening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention.

3. Use by the EU of effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights.

4. The provision of humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are rapidly deteriorating due to the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire occupied Palestinian territories.

[1] Bloody clashes that erupted near Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip, in which two Palestinian civilians were killed and another 17 were wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets on Thursday, March 29, 2001, are not covered in this report. They were covered in the last Weekly Report issued on that day.

[2] For details about clashes of Erez area in the north of the Gaza Strip in the morning, resulted in killing two Palestinian civilians and wounding another number, see PCHR’s Weekly Report on March 29, 2001.

[3] For further information about the killing of Al-Kronz, see PCHR’s Weekly Report on March 29, 2001.