Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

03- 09 October, 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

 

 

Continuing Israeli Violations in the OPT

  


 

Introduction

 This week, 27 Palestinian civilians, including 12 children and a woman, were killed and more than 100 others were wounded by Israeli occupying forces. The human rights violations and war crimes include willful killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas and agricultural land leveling.

 In the Gaza Strip, Rafah and Khan Yunis in the south were subjected to a series of war crimes committed by Israeli occupying forces.  Last night, Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense shelling and supported by combat helicopters, moved approximately 20m into Salah al-Din Street in Rafah refugee camp near the Palestinian-Egyptian border.  As a result of this incursion, which continued until Thursday morning, Saher Salah al-Hout, 12, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Eihab Fathi al-Mughayar, 18, was killed by a live bullet in the back.  According to a PCHR field officer, the two were killed at approximately 08:00 this morning, when Israeli forces fired at them while withdrawing from the area.  In addition, three children were wounded, and the Israeli forces destroyed 6 houses.  At the time of writing, Israeli occupying forces are shelling Palestinian residential areas in Rafah. 

 Yesterday, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border.  They leveled areas adjacent to the border, while opening fire at houses.  Two Palestinian children were killed and 10 other civilians, including 6 children, were wounded by the Israeli shelling.

 On Tuesday, 8 October, Israeli occupying forces at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah, indiscriminately shelled al-Brazil neighborhood, adjacent to the border.  Maisaa' 'Obeid Zannoun, 12, was killed by a live bullet in the chest while being inside her family's house, approximately 800m away from the border.

 On Sunday, 6 October, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and supported by combat helicopters, invaded al-Satar al-Gharbi and al-Amal areas in Khan Yunis overnight.  Israeli heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters intensely shelled the two areas.  As a result of the Israeli invasion, which continued until 04:30 on the following day, 15 Palestinian civilians, including six children and a woman, were killed and more than 80 were wounded, many of whom are still in a serious condition.  An Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile at a group of Palestinian civilians in al-Katiba area, killing a number of them.  Some of the wounded bled to death.  An Israeli military spokesman and the Israeli defense minister claimed that all the victims, except for a woman, were gun men, but according to PCHR's investigation, all victims were civilians.  On Monday morning, 7 October, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekailm" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi and Baten al-Samin neighborhoods, killing a Palestinian civilian and wounding 7 others, one of whom is in serious condition. 

 On Monday, 7 October, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Nasser Hospital, approximately 600m east.  As a result of the indiscriminate shelling, which continued for some minutes, 4 Palestinian civilians inside the hospital, including two of its staff, were wounded and buildings were severely damaged.  The hospital is clearly marked and known as one of the main medical facilities that serve the southern Gaza Strip and the Israeli forces know well the site of the hospital and subordinate buildings.  On Wednesday, 9 October, Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable military tower in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Live bullets hit two schools wounding a school child and a worker, together with 6 other civilians. 

 In 6 incidents of apparent willful killing in the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 6 Palestinian civilians, including two children, in Jenin and Nablus.  Three of the victims bled to death. 

 This week, Israeli occupying forces razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives at the season of its cultivation in the Gaza Strip, especially in Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis, and in the east of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip. 

 Israeli occupying forces continued their retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out attacks against Israeli targets.  On Wednesday, 9 October, Israeli occupying forces destroyed two houses in Salfit town, south of Nablus.  The houses are owned by families of three Palestinians detained by the Israelis who claim the Palestinian men have been shooting at settlers. 

 Israeli occupying forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights.  In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen military checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Tuesday, 8 October.  Israeli forces blocked cars, including an ambulance that was transporting a child in serious condition to hospital, between the two checkpoints and checked a number of Palestinian civilians.  This blockade continued until the evening, during which Israeli forces checked Palestinian civilians and arrested 7.  In a new step that increased the suffering of the residents of al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the area on Monday, 7 October.  They also raided a school in the area and arrested a member of its staff.  They also held a number of farmers in the sun and arrested two.  The curfew on the area is still in effect. 

 

Following are details of human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces in the period 3-9 October 2002:

 

 

Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 3 October 2002

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, invaded and seized control over Juhor al-Dik area, southeast of Gaza City.  More than 100 Israeli soldiers were deployed in the streets.  They raided and searched houses and arrested more than 100 Palestinians.  They handcuffed and blindfolded them and transported them to "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City.  The detainees were put in tents where they were interrogated.  At approximately 10:00, they were released, excluding six who were taken to Israeli prisons:

 

1.          Kamal Suleiman al-Nabahin, 35, a worker;

2.          Joma'a Juhaini al-Sweirki, 35, a worker;

3.          Khaled Eshteiwi al-'Oudat, 40, a car trader;

4.          Mustafa Juhaini al-Sweirki, 32, a worker;

5.          Marwan Mustafa al-Nabahin, 21, a worker; and

6.          Mousa Mohammed al-Bahaisa, 25. 

 

Israeli forces also bulldozed two bird farms located on a 500-square-meter area of land owned by Salim 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu 'Ayash. 

 At approximately 07:30, two Israeli tanks moved into al-Basatin neighborhood in the north of Jenin.  Israeli soldiers on tanks opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were in the central market of the town, seriously wounding 44-year-old Ahmed Hassan Khalil Esteiti from Jenin refugee camp, with a live bullet in the head.  He succumbed to his wound upon arrival at hospital.  Esteiti was selling vegetables as he had a shop in the market.  In addition, three other civilians, including a man and his child, were wounded:

 

1.       'Abdullah Musleh 'Abdullah Esteiti, 34, wounded by shrapnel in the right hand and foot;

2.       Ahmed Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Marar, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the right elbow, armpit and ankle; and

3.       Mahmoud Mohammed Abu Marar, 42, wounded by shrapnel in the right elbow, armpit and ankle. 

 

In a similar attack that took place on 21 June 2002, Israeli occupying forces shot dead three Palestinian civilians and wounded 14 others in Jenin central market, one of whom died later. 

 At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of "Morag" settlement, south of Khan Yunis, opened fire at a civilian car, in which three Palestinian civilians from the al-Najjar family were traveling on their way to their agricultural land, approximately 300m north of the settlement.  No casualties were reported, but the car was damaged by live bullets. 

 At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis.  Israeli soldiers raided and searched two houses in the area and arrested 4 Palestinians, two brothers and a man and his son:

 

1.       Nasser Zowayed al-Lahham, 38;

2.       Sami Zowayed 'Abdul Rahman al-Lahham, 35;

3.       Ahmed 'Othman Tubasi al-'Agha, 50; and

4.       Naji Ahmed 'Othman al-Agha, 20. 

 

Israeli soldiers handcuffed the four Palestinians and took them to "Nitser Hazani" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis.  The four were interrogated for 4 hours, during which they were beaten.  They were released late at night. 

 

Friday, 4 October 2002

 At approximately 11:00, two Israeli tanks moved into Jenin through its northwestern entrance opening fire at Palestinian civilians and houses.  When they arrived at the northern entrance of Jenin refugee camp, a number of Palestinian gun men confronted them.  A gun man, Sami Mohammed Salem Jalamna, 20, was killed by a live bullet in the abdomen.  In addition, 4 passing Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:

 

1.       Nizar Nazhem Mustafa 'Aboushi, 71, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

2.       Mahmoud Fahmi Salah al-Din, 22, wounded by shrapnel in the left eye;

3.       Tayseer Ghazi Hussein, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the legs; and

4.       Bahaa' Hakam 'Arqawi, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg. 

 

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m into Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis.  Immediately, two Israeli armored military bulldozers razed site 8 of the Palestinian National Security Force, a 250-square-meter, iron-roofed site.  They also razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

 

1.          They partially razed a 1-donum greenhouse planted with tomatoes and destroyed an agricultural pool, a sprinkler, a water motor and an irrigation network owned by Fayez 'Obeid 'Abdullah Qudeih. 

2.          They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fathi Ahmed Qaudeih.

3.          They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Salem Samara.

4.          They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Rasmi Hussein Subeh.

5.          They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nizar Salman Subeh.

6.          They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fathi Hassan Hussein Qudeih.

7.          They razed a 1150-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and a 20-square-meter room owned by 'Abdul Rahman Hussein Qudeih.

8.          They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, lemons and sycamores and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ayman Suleiman Ibrahim Qudeih. 

9.          They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Subhi Hussein Qudeih.

10.        They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Salman Hussein Qudeih.

11.        They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Suleiman Subhi Qudeih.

12.        They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Suleiman Subhi Qudeih.

13.        They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud Suleiman Subhi Qudieh.

14.        They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Samir Khalil Salman Qudeih.

15.        They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Samir Ahmed Hamed Qudeih.

16.        They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by heirs of Ahmed Musallam 'Abdullah Qudeih.

17.        They razed a 200-meter-long raw of wild figs surrounding a tract of land owned by 'Abdullah Mansi Qudeih.

18.        They razed a 150-meter-long raw of wild figs surrounding a tract of land owned by Hassan Mahmoud Abu To'eima. 

19.        They razed a 200-meter-long raw of wild figs surrounding a tract of land owned by Salem, 'Oleyan and 'Ali Zer'ei Qudeih. 

 

Saturday, 5 October 2002

 At approximately 09:30, a number of school children in 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp broke the curfew imposed by Israeli occupying forces on Nablus and its refugee camps and went to their schools.  When Israeli forces intercepted their way, they gathered at the southern entrance of the refugee camp and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicles.  Israeli forces fired at the children, killing 14-year-old 'Ammar Rajab Hashem al-Namrouqi with a live bullet in the head. 

 At approximately 18:45, two tanks and two Israeli armored personnel carriers moved into Jenin through its northwestern entrance to re-impose a curfew on the town.  When they arrived at the industrial zone, Israeli soldiers opened fire at a taxi driven by Tawfiq Yousef Hamarsha, 54, who was on his way home.  He was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.  At approximately 16:30 on the following day he was pronounced dead in an Israeli hospital, to which he was evacuated. 

 

Sunday, 6 October 2002

 At approximately 21:30, Israeli forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabaliya, opened fire at Palestinian agricultural land and animal farms 800m west of the border.  An animal farm owned by 'Abdul Majid Musbah Abu Safia was hit by heavy and medium caliber bullets.  As a result, three cows were killed and some others were injured, while the farm was severely damaged.    

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 23:55, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with more than 40 heavy military vehicles and supported by combat helicopters, moved from military posts in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement towards al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis and al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the town.  Israeli tanks and infantry units were deployed in the streets of al-Amal neighborhood.  The soldiers reportedly opened fire indiscriminately.  In al-Amal neighborhood, Israeli occupying forces were deployed near the family home of Rafe' Salah Salama, a Palestinian activist who is allegedly wanted by Israel.  When his mother, Rahima Hassan 'Ali Salama, 50, heard Israeli soldiers in the area, she opened the door fearing that Israeli soldiers may break into the house suddenly, but an Israeli soldiers shouted at her and she shut the door.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the door, wounding the mother with several live bullets throughout the body, and her child Mahmoud, 15, with shrapnel.  Then, Israeli soldiers broke into the house and prevented the family from offering help to the wounded.  Israeli soldiers handcuffed the men in the house and detained the women in the house in one room.  They remained in the house for two hours, conducting searches.  The soldiers also denied access for ambulances to the area to evacuate the wounded.  The mother bled to death and the child was evacuated to hospital in a civilian car at approximately 03:30.  Another Palestinian civilian, 'Abdul Fattah 'Ali Suleiman al-Sallout, 40, was wounded in the chest by a heavy caliber bullet fired by an Israeli combat helicopter while he was in his home in al-Amal neighborhood.  He was evacuated in a civilian car to hospital, but died later of his wounds.  In the same area, an Israeli attack helicopter fired a missile at four Palestinian civilians from the Abu al-Khair family while they were on the roof of their 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house.  The four were wounded, one of whom was in a serious condition.  Children in the house narrowly escaped before the missile penetrated the roof and entered the room they had been sleeping in shortly before the attack.  A number of neighboring houses were also damaged.  Those wounded were:

1.          Nemer Nasser 'Awadh Abu al-Khair, 17, wounded by shrapnel in the right arm;

2.          Sami Mohammed 'Awadh Abu al-Khair, 20, seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

3.          Majed 'Awadh 'Ali Abu Al-Khair, 37, wounded by shrapnel in the feet; and

4.          Nasser 'Awadh 'Ali Abu al-Khair, 40, wounded by shrapnel in the feet. 

The wounded were moved to the house of their neighbor, Dr. Jawad al-Tibi, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, who offered them first aid, as Israeli occupying forces denied ambulances access to the area.  It was eventually possible to evacuate them the following day morning.  In addition, three civilians in the area were wounded. 

In al-Satar al-Gharbi area, Israeli heavy military vehicles, jeeps and infantry units moved towards Jamal 'Abdul Nasser Street, which links the al-Satar al-Gharbi area and the center of Khan Yunis.  From there, Israeli forces moved forward towards al-Katiba area in the north of the town, and then to the center of the town.  Later, Israeli forces moved back and took up position near al-Katiba Mosque.  Israeli soldiers raided a five-story apartment owned by 'Eissa 'Aashour, and forced 4 families comprising of 25 persons living in the upper floors to move down to the first floor.  They held all of them in one flat and took one of the residents, Sa'ad al-Kilani, 38, and used him as a human shield while searching the house.  Then, they mounted the roof of the building and transformed it into a military post from which they fired at neighboring houses and streets. 

At approximately 03:30, Israeli tanks positioned in al-Katiba area opened fire indiscriminately, killing 18-year-old Jamal Fathi Muhareb with several live bullets in the neck and the chest.  Approximately 20 minutes later, Israeli heavy military vehicles started pulling back towards the aforementioned settlement.  Soon, dozens of Palestinian civilians exited their houses to check what happened in their area.  When they gathered at a junction, an Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile at the group, killing 10 civilians, including 4 children.  More than 80 people were wounded, 13 critically, three are clinically dead.  Those killed were:

1.          Mohammed Hassan al-Astal, 15, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

2.          'Abdullah Walid Salah, 16, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

3.          Ahmed 'Abdul Ra'ouf al-Astal, 16, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

4.          Fares 'Abdul Nasser Daoud al-Zaqzouq, 17, killed by shrapnel in the head;

5.          Haitham Mousa Abu al-Naja, 27, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

6.          Ussama Mohammed 'Ali 'Aabdin, 23, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

7.          Eihab Helmi Dhib Khalaf, 22, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

8.          Ayman Mohammed Saqer, 35, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

9.          Mohammed Mustafa Sadiq, 20, killed by shrapnel throughout the body;

10.        Nidal Kifah Barbakh, 16, critically wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and was pronounced dead on the following day afternoon. 

Those clinically dead are:

1.          Mohammed Hashem al-Astal, 35, hit by shrapnel in the head;

2.          Mahmoud Jadallah al-Astal, 16, hit by shrapnel in the head; and

3.          Tariq 'Abdul Karim Qudeih, 22, hit by shrapnel in the head. 

Monday, 7 October 2002

At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Gan Aur" and "Gadid" settlements, southwest of Khan Yunis, and "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of the town, shelled Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi and Baten al-Samin neighborhoods, killing 23-year-old Mohammed Farhan Shaloula with a live bullet in the back, and wounding 7 others.  Live bullets and artillery shells also hit Nasser Hospital, approximately 600m east of "Neve Dekalim" settlement.  Four Palestinian civilians, including two members of the hospital staff, were wounded.  Those wounded in these incidents were:

1.          Nafe' Burhan al-Bura'ei, 22, a maintenance worker at the department of nephritic diseases, critically wounded by a live bullet in the head while near the department.  He was evacuated to Shifa' Hospital in Gaza and then to an Israeli hospital.

2.          Jibril 'Ateya 'Aabed, 45, a driver of the hospital, wounded by a live bullet in the chest.

3.          Munther Radwan al-Masri, 27, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh while at hospital. 

4.          'Aadel Yousef Eslayeh, 36, wounded by shrapnel in the face while at hospital. 

5.          'Aamer Khader Khalaf, 39, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;

6.          Samah Salman Abu 'Aathra, 20, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

7.          Isma'il Na'im Matar, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the head;

8.          Yousef Isma'il Mahmoud Ahmed, 46, wounded by shrapnel in the right leg;

9.          Jihad Yousef Isma'il Ahmed, 9, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;

10.        Shirin Hassan al-Banna, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh; and

11.        Hani Hamed al-Najjar, 11, wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

In his testimony to PCHR, Jebril Jaber 'Aabed, a driver of Nasser Hospital, said:

 "I was called to hospital at approximately 01:30 on Monday, 7 October 2002, after the hospital declared a state of emergency when Israeli occupying forces invaded parts of Khan Yunis.  I carried out my duties until Israeli tanks withdrew from those areas.  At approximately 08:15, while I was in the facility designed for ambulances in the eastern part of the main building of the hospital, I felt that a live bullet hit me in the chest.  I also heard sounds of live bullets hitting walls.  Immediately, those who were near me moved me to the reception department, where I received medical treatment."

 At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 800m into Palestinian agricultural land east of Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip.  At the time of writing, they have razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land planted with olives at the season of its cultivation:

 

1.          They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Musbah Mohammed Halawin.

2.          They razed a 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhib 'Abed Rabbu Yassin Sultan.

3.          They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yousef Ahmed 'Abdullah al-Mutawaq.

4.          They razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Ramadan 'Omar Juneid.

5.          They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Essam Mohammed Hussein al-Nuthor.

6.          They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Khaled Hussein Halawin.

7.          They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Musbah Mohammed Musbah Halawin.

8.          They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Bashir Mohammed Khader.

9.          They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Zayed Ziad Khader.

10.        They razed a 9-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Yassin Yousef Khader.

11.        They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Abu Ahmed al-Shurafa.

12.        They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by al-'Abed Musleh Khader. 

13.        They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Abdullah Khalil al-Zain.

14.        They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Hassan Maqat.

15.        They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mousa 'Arafat Dardouna.

16.        They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhiab Mustafa Dhamida.

17.        They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Dhib Hassan al-Batash.

18.        They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Dhib Hashem Juneid. 

19.        They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed al-Adham. 

 

Tuesday, 8 October 2002

 At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with two tanks and an armored personnel carrier and covered by intense shelling, moved into al-Bassatin neighborhood in the center of Jenin.  They opened fire at a bus of the Arab American University, wounding 8 Palestinian civilians, including 6 students:

 

1.          Mohammed Yousef 'Arqawi, 17, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the chest;

2.          Rasha Suleiman Salfiti, 18, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the right leg;

3.          Fidaa' Bilal Komayel, 14, wounded by shrapnel in the legs;

4.          'Abdul Karim Qaddoura Mousa, 12, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

5.          Somoud Yousef 'Azzouqa, 14, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

6.          Alaa' 'Aadel Abu Zeid, 14, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body;

7.          Ahmed 'Abdul Halim, 37, wounded by a live bullet in the left side; and

8.          Sa'id Mustafa Jobe'I, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand.

 

At approximately 14:10, medical sources at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that 35-year-old Mohammed Hashem al-Astal succumbed to a wound he sustained in the head, when an Israeli combat helicopter fired a missile at a group of Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis, during an Israeli invasion of the town.

 At approximately 20:30, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City declared that 16-year-old Mahmoud Jadallah al-Astal succumbed to a wound he sustained in the head in the same missile attack.

 At approximately 19:00, Israeli occupying forces at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah, indiscriminately shelled al-Brazil neighborhood, adjacent to the border.  Maisaa' 'Obeid Zannoun, 12, was killed by a live bullet in the chest while in her family's house, approximately 800m away from the border.  In her testimony to PCHR, her mother said:

 "At approximately 19:00 on Tuesday, 8 October 2002, my husband, children and I were inside our house, approximately 800m away from the border south of Rafah.  My husband was praying and I was preparing the beds for the children.  My daughter Maisaa' was at the door of a room opposite to Salah al-Din Gate on the border, where an Israeli military position is located.  She was playing with her brother Mahmoud, 9.  I heard sounds of shooting coming from Salah al-Din Gate and suddenly, my daughter cried.  I saw her falling with her hand on her chest.  My husband hurried and carried her, but he was not able to see her bleeding, so her uncle Eyad came and took her in a civilian car to hospital, where she soon died."

 

Wednesday, 9 October 2002

 At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying soldiers on a moveable military tower in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Live bullets hit two schools wounding a child and a worker, together with 6 other civilians:

 

1.       Ahmed Khamis Killab, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot while at school;

2.       Kamel Hafezh Hammouda Sadiq, 55, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh while working at school;

3.       Fidaa' Mohammed Joma'a Zo'rob, 9, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;

4.       Ramez Ussama 'Obeid, 5, wounded by shrapnel in the face;

5.       Anas Ghassan al-Najjar, 8, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

6.       Mohammed Hassan Abu Zhaher, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

7.       Zuhair Mohammed Gannan, 36, wounded by a live bullet in the right arm; and

8.       Ashjan 'Atallah al-Bardawil, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

 

At approximately 15:00, 4 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 50m into Block L in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Palestinian-Egyptian border.  They leveled areas adjacent to the border, while opening fire at houses.  Two Palestinian children were killed and 9 other civilians were wounded.  Those killed were:

 

1.          Ahmed Fu'ad Radwan, 16, wounded by two live bullets in the chest and the right thigh; and

2.          Mohammed Mousa 'Aashour, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the chest.

 

Those wounded were:

 

1.          Sa'id 'Abdul Wahed Abu 'Aathra, 38, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

2.          Midhat Ziad Abu Muhsen, 23, critically wounded by shrapnel in the back;

3.          'Abdullah Mustafa Abu Jazar, 12, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;

4.          Ahmed Ibrahim al-Jazzar, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh;

5.          'Emad 'ouda Kabaja, 18, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left arm;

6.          Midhat Jouda Abu al-S'oud, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;

7.          'Ammar Salman Abu Jazar, 12, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left arm;

8.          Ahmed Mohammed al-Kurd, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and

9.          Yousef Mohammed Shahin, 14, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. 

 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town.  Ibrahim Hisham Abu Khammash, 1.5, was critically wounded by a live bullet in the chest when he was in his home.

 

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians:

 

Friday, 4 October 2002

 At approximately 13:00, an Israeli military jeep moved into the north of Nazlat Zeid village, southwest of Jenin, and imposed a curfew.  Mohammed 'Ali Najib Zeid, 16, was studying in his colleague's house.  When he opened the window of the room he was in, he saw the Israeli jeep stopping about 50m away from the house.  An Israeli soldier ordered him to shot the window, but an Israeli soldier fired at him wounding him in the left side.  The owner of the house, Samir Khaled Zeid, tried to help him, but he could not stop blood, so he took him in his car and drove towards a hospital in Jenin, but Israeli soldiers prevented him from moving.  He resorted to a road leading to Toura village, where an Israeli military checkpoint is erected.  Israeli soldiers there denied him passage.  He moved towards an Israeli military checkpoint north of Ya'bad village, but Israeli soldiers again denied him passage, and denied him access to an ambulance. After a long debate, Israeli soldiers took the child to an Israeli ambulance.  According to the victim's father, the Israeli ambulance did not offer his child any medical help, so he succumbed to his wound at approximately 14:30.  Then, his body was delivered to a Palestinian ambulance. 

 

Monday, 7 October 2002

 At approximately 15:30, while 41-year-old Ahmed Saleh Isma'il 'Eid, from Jainasafout village in Qalqilya was on his way home from Nablus, passing by an Israeli military checkpoint near Jeet village on Nablus-Qalqilya road, Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint opened fire at him for no apparent reason.  He was wounded by two live bullets in the abdomen and pelvis.  He bled for about an hour, without Israeli soldiers offering him help.  At approximately 16:30, an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society arrived at the area and evacuated him to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but he succumbed to his wounds on the way to hospital.  According to eyewitnesses, the area was completely quiet when Israeli soldiers fired at him. 

 

Tuesday, 8 October 2002

 At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations southeast of "Nissanit" settlement, north of Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, fired at a number of Palestinian children who demonstrated approximately 50m north of the military locations and threw stones at Israeli soldiers.  Eight children were wounded:

 

1.          'Ammar Yousef al-'Otal, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the left knee;

2.          'Abdul Mo'ti Na'im Mosa'ad, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the arm;

3.          Hassan al-Romeilat, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg;

4.          Nassim al-Manaia'a, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the buttock;

5.          Mohammed al-Sharatha, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back;

6.          Sakher Subeih, 14, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;

7.          Mohammed al-Da'our, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg;

8.          Bassel Qarmout, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh; and

9.          Ahmed Hammouda, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right arm.

 

Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians

 While the season of olive cultivation started, on Sunday, 6 October 2002, settlers shot dead a Palestinian young man in 'Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus, while he was with other villagers in their olive farms. 

 At approximately 10:00, while a number of Palestinian farmers from 'Aqraba village were cultivating olives in their agricultural land in the northeast of their village, they were surprised by a number of settlers from "Eitamar" and "Ged'oun" settlements, established on lands that belong to villages of Nablus.  The settlers opened fired at the farmers, wounding Hani Yousef Bani Murra, 26, with a live bullet in the right thigh.  His colleagues were not able to evacuate him to hospital for two hours, as settlers continued to fire at them.  He was then taken to a medical center in the village, but he succumbed to his wound.  In addition, Fadi Fadhel 'Aadel Bani Jaber, 26, was wounded by a live bullet in the right elbow.  Earlier this year, on 17 October 2000, settlers from the same two settlements shot at number of Palestinian farmers in Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus, killing 18-year-old Farid Mousa 'Eissa Nasasra, 28, with a live bullet in the side.

 

Retaliatory Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Attacks against Israeli Targets

 At approximately 03:00 on Wednesday, 9 October 2002, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 11 heavy military vehicles, moved into Salfit town, south of Nablus.  They surrounded two houses and forced their residents out.  Then, they destroyed the two houses:

 

1.          A 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which two families comprising of 10 persons used to live, owned by 'Abbas Khader 'Ali 'Abdul Fattah. The Israelis forces claim that a member of the family, Bilal Khader 'Abdul Fattah who has been detained by Israeli occupying forces for several months, has fired at settlers.

2.          A 100-square-meter, two-story house, in which 8 persons used to live, owned by Hussein Ahmed al-'Arja and rented by Rashid Qassem al-Besher. The Israeli Army claims that al-Basher's two sons, Maher, 24, and Ahmed, 27, who are both detained by Israeli occupying forces, have fired at settlers. 

 

 

*****

  

 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 the respect of the Convention.

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

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.