Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

 July 18-24, 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

Israeli occupying forces have continued their full-scale offensive in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), killing more Palestinians, destroying public and private property and violating fundamental rights of Palestinian civilians, including the rights to life, free movement, access to adequate medical treatment, food, education and work. They have maintained effective control over most of the West Bank. This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted an assassination using a warplane. This week, 15 Palestinian civilians, were killed by Israeli occupying forces, including 14 who were killed in the assassination conducted by Israeli forces in Gaza.

In a continuation of the assassination policy officially adopted by the Israeli government against Palestinian activists and political leaders, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired a missile at an apartment building in a highly populated area in Gaza City, killing 14 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, and wounding more than 70, mostly children and women. Two women and their five children, and Sheikh Salah Shehada, his wife, daughter and bodyguard, were among the victims. According to statements by Israeli occupying forces, the purpose of the attack was the assassination of Hamas leader, Sheikh Salah Mustafa Shehada, 49, from Beit Hanoun. In the attack 3 houses were destroyed and 2 were severely damaged. This was the second time in one week that Israeli occupying forces used F-16 fighter jets to attack houses in highly populated areas in the Gaza Strip, in assassination attempts. It is a grave precedent and a qualitative escalation of means used by Israeli occupying forces in its assassination policy. On 14 July 2002, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet attacked a 3-story house in Khan Yunis, in an attempt to assassinate one of its residents wanted by Israeli occupying forces. He survived the assassination attempt but the house was destroyed.

As part of the policy of collective punishment adopted by the Israeli occupying forces, and as an implementation of their threats to punish families of suicide bombers and wanted Palestinians, Israeli occupying forces destroyed two houses of families of the wanted and arrested 16 members of these families in ‘Askar refugee camp and Til village in Nablus.

In a continuation of Israeli settlement activities in the OPT, on Tuesday, 23 July, Israeli occupying forces surrounded with barbwires a road and adjoining tract of agricultural land, east of “Gani Tal” settlement in the northwest of Khan Yunis, as a preliminary step to annex the area to the aforementioned settlement. This measure obstructs movement of Palestinians in the area.

The Israeli occupying forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing the Palestinian people.  Israeli forces have separated Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating economic, social and cultural rights of Palestinian civilians.  Thousands of Palestinians continue to be subjected to a tight military curfew imposed by Israeli occupying forces. In the Gaza Strip, on Monday, 22 July, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint separating Khan Yunis from its al-Mawasi area. Dozens of Palestinian civilians were not able to return home. On the following day, Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the area. On Sunday, 21 July, Israeli occupying forces closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen military checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street. This action trapped many Palestinians between the two checkpoints for several hours.

This report covers Israeli violations against Palestinian civilians in the OPT during the period 18-24 July 2002.

In a continuation of the assassination policy officially adopted by the Israeli government against Palestinian activists and political leaders, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet attacked an apartment building in a highly populated area in Gaza City, killing 14 Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, and wounding more than 70, mostly children and women. Two women and their five children, and Sheikh Salah Shehada, his wife, daughter and bodyguard, were among the victims. According to statements by Israeli occupying forces, the purpose of the attack was the assassination of Hamas leader, Sheikh Salah Mustafa Shehada, 49, from Beit Hanoun.

At approximately 23:55 on Monday, 22 July 2002, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet launched a missile at a 150-square-meter, two-story apartment building in al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza. Sheikh Salah Shehada, who is wanted by Israel, and his family were living on the upper floor of the building. The missile directly hit the building which located in a highly populated area. The house and two others were totally destroyed and several adjacent houses were seriously damaged. Fourteen Palestinian civilians, including 8 children, the youngest of whom was only 2-month-old, were killed. Two women and their five children, and Sheikh Salah Shehada, his wife, daughter, daughter and bodyguard, were among the victims. More than 70 civilians were also wounded, two of whom are in critical condition.

Those killed were:

1. Iman Ibrahim Hassan Matar, 25, killed together with her 3 children while sleeping (bodies of the three children were discovered on Wednesday, 24 July, under ruins approximately 10m away from their house) :

2. Ayman Ra’ed Matar, 1½ ;

3. Mohammed Ra’ed Matar, 3;

4. Diana Ra’ed Matar, 5;

5. Muna Fahmi al-Hweiti, 30, killed together with her 2 children:

6. Subhi Mahmoud al-Hweiti, 4½ ;

7. Mohammed Mahmoud al-Hweiti, 6;

8. Dina Rami Matar, 2 months;

9. Alaa’ Mohammed Matar,10;

10. Yousef Sobhi al-Shawa, 42, killed when he was in a visit to his neighbor, who was also wounded in the head; and

11. Sheikh Salah Mustafa Shehada, 49;

12. Leila Safira, 45, his wife;

13. Iman Salah Shehada, 15, his daughter; and

14. Zaher Nassar, 37, his bodyguard.

Properties destroyed or damaged included:

1. A 160-square-meter, three-story house, in which 3 families comprising 25 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Inrahim Matar and brothers: the house was totally destroyed, six of its residents were killed and most of the others were wounded.

2. A 150-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 7 persons used to live, owned by Mahmoud al-Hweiti: the house was totally destroyed, three members of the family were killed and the others were wounded.

3. A 150-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 9 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Subhi al-Hweiti: the house was totally destroyed and five members of the family were wounded.

4. A 150-square-meter, three-story house, in which 11 persons used to live, owned by Hassan Mahmoud Hijazi: the house was partially destroyed, most of its residents were wounded, and a car near the house was destroyed.

5. A 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which 7 persons used to live, owned by Rafiq Mahmoud Hijazi: the house was partially destroyed and some of its residents were wounded.

Please note that these details have been revised from earlier press releases following developments in the last 24 hours.

This was the second time in one week that Israeli occupying forces used F-16 fighter jets to attack houses in highly populated areas of the Gaza Strip, in attempts to assassinate activists of the Intifada. It is a grave precedent and a qualitative escalation of means used by Israeli occupying forces to conduct assassinations. On 14 July 2002, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired three missiles at a 3-story house in Khan Yunis, in an attempt to assassinate one of its residents wanted by Israel. He survived the assassination attempt but the house was destroyed.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces, which had already seized control over Hebron, raided the house of Mohammed ‘Oleyan al-‘Eweiwi in al-Mahawer neighborhood in the center of the town. They seized the upper floor of the house and established a military post.

Also that morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, entered Burqin village in Jenin. They arrested three Palestinians:

1. Firas Ahmed Mustafa, 21;

2. Nader Lutfi Masad, 25; and

3. Mahmoud Khaled Subeh, 24.

In the Gaza Strip, at approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and dogs, raided Palestinian houses and farms in the northern al-Mawasi area, under Israeli security control, west of Khan Yunis. They searched the area and arrested Sami Tarraf Fayez al-Astal, 35, a farmer from Khan Yunis farming a tract of agricultural land owned by Salah al-Agha, resident of the area. According the residents of the area, al-Astal suffers from psychological disturbances.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 200m into al-Birka area to the southwest of Deir al-Balah. They demolished a 180-square-meter summer house owned by Jamal Salem al-Buheisi. They also bulldozed a 150-square-meter, iron-roofed bird farm owned by Kamal al-Buheisi.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 700m into Baten al-Samin area in the southwest of Khan Yunis. Israeli forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gadid” settlements also shelled the area. Israeli forces raided a number of houses of the families of al-Sha’er and Zo’rob. They arrested 8 Palestinians and took them to “Gadid” settlement, where they interrogated them before releasing them at approximately 18:00 on the same day. According to the owner of one of the houses that were raided by Israeli occupying forces, members of the forces stole an amount of money from the house.

At the same time, a unit of Israeli occupying forces moved from “Morag” settlement, south of Khan Yunis, and stole approximately 100m into Gizan al-Najjar area. They raided and searched a number of houses of the family of al-Najjar and arrested two Palestinians:

1. Isma’il Wahbi Mohammed al-Najjar, 38; and

2. Salim Wahbi Mohammed al-Najjar, 26.

A PCHR field officer reported that the two came from the UAE, where they work, only one month ago. They were released a few hours later.

At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, broke into the campus of Hebron University in the northwest of Hebron. They searched the campus, checking the identity of staff and students. They detained 12 of the university’s staff and students in one room for more than 2½ hours, and beat some of them, including the chairperson of the university Dr. Khulqi Khanfar. They also detained the guards. The Israeli forces broke doors, destroyed contents of, and confiscated files, from the rooms of the student union. They also damaged doors of a number of classrooms.

At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the border. Salem Mahmoud Khudeir, 70, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot, while he was standing near a mosque in al-Joneina neighborhood, approximately 1500m away from the border.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces raided and searched a school in al-Salam Street in Hebron. They also broke some doors.

At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Mohammed Najib Abu Shamsia in al-Rama neighborhood in Hebron. They searched the house and arrested the owner’s son ‘Alaa’, 24.

As part of the policy of collective punishment adopted by Israeli occupying forces, and as an implementation of their threats to punish families of suicide bombers and wanted Palestinians, in the context of the discussion on deporting them from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces destroyed the homes of a number of these houses and arrested members of these families. At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into ‘Askar refugee camp in the northeast of Nablus. They surrounded the three-story house of Mohammed Ahmed ‘Ajjouri, 62, whose son Ali is wanted by Israel. They searched the house and then destroyed it. Israeli forces also arrested ‘Ajouri and his sons Ahmed, 35, and Kifah, 32. Israeli occupying forces raided the same house on 6 June 2002, searching for the wanted son. When they did not find him, they arrested his sister Intissar, 34, and placed her under administrative detention, to be the first Palestinian woman placed under administrative detention during this Intifada.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with dozens of heavy military vehicles, moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. They raided and searched the house of Mustafa Ahmed ‘Assida, 62, whose son Nasriddin is wanted by these forces. Then they destroyed the house and arrested ‘Assida and his sons: ‘Abdul Nasser, 34, Nasrallah, 31; Kazhem, 23; and ‘Aasem, 21.

Also at the same time, Israeli occupying forces raided the house of Samih Mohammed Jabri, 54, whose son Jabri is wanted by those forces, and arrested him and his other son Hazem, 23. Israeli forces also raided the house of Mohammed Samir Zeidan, 60, and arrested him and his sons: Ya’qoub, 35; Jihad, 34; Ussama, 24; ‘Abdul Mo’ti, 19; and Zeidan, 16.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Bani Na’im village, east of Hebron. They raided an elementary school, destroying its laboratory and furniture. They also confiscated a number of computers.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded ‘Ein Qashla neighborhood in Hebron. They raided the house of Jamil Mustafa al-Qawasmi, 38, a member of the Palestinian General Intelligence, and arrested him.

Also at approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Bani Na’im Village, east of Hebron. While people were in mosques for the Friday prayers, Israeli forces fired dozens of sound bombs and tear canisters at these mosques. As a result, 18 Palestinian civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli occupying forces also fired at a number of cars, damaging two. In addition, an Israeli tank crushed a car owned by Isma’il ‘Aatallah ‘Abdullah.

At approximately 12:10, Israeli occupying forces raided and searched offices of the Islamic Charitable Society in Bani Na’im village. They beat its director and confiscated computers and diskettes.

At approximately 14:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location known as “Aloni” at the seashore southwest of Deir al-Balah opened fire for no apparent reason at al-Birka area, wounding 7-year-old Ahmed Isma’il ‘Aashour with a live bullet in the right shoulder. A PCHR field officer reported that the child was wounded while he was playing on the beach.

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 100m into al-Salam neighborhood, adjacent to the Egyptian border south of Rafah. They bulldozed a 1000-square-meter, asbestos-roofed car maintenance workshop owned by Hamadan Marzouq al-Sha’er. According to the owner, the workshop contained 40 oxygen cylinders and car maintenance machines. He also added that he had worked in the workshop for a long time, due to Israeli repeated shelling of the area. Israeli forces also destroyed a car owned by Mohammed Hassan al-Lahwani, which was in the workshop.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 400m into Abu Hajjaj area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They surrounded four houses of the family of Abu Hajja and then raided them. They forced male residents of the houses to gather in a yard, and blocked women and children in one room of each house. Then, Israeli forces searched the houses and checked the identities of the males. They arrested seven:

1. Sa’ad Khalf Hamdan Abu Hajjaj, 22;

2. Sa’id Khalaf Hamdan Abu Hajjaj, 20;

3. As’ad Khalaf Hamdan Abu Hajjaj, 18;

4. Salman Salem Hamad Abu Hajjaj, 43;

5. Salem Salman Salem Abu Hajjaj, 19;

6. Yahia Salman Salem Abu Hajjaj, 18; and

7. ‘Abdul Hadi Hamdan Salman Abu Hajjaj.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Nimsawi neighborhood east of the settlement. No casualties were reported, but houses sustained damage.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces raided ‘Aanin village near Jenin and arrested two Palestinians:

1. Bilal Husni Hassan Yassin, 19; and

2. Rasem Ward ‘Ali Yassin, 20.

At approximately 23:15, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at al-Nimsawi neighborhood east of the settlement. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Salem Salim Salem Abu Yousef, 17, wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen while he was approximately 2500m away from the settlement; and

2. Murad ‘Abdul Rahman Abu Shawish, 39, wounded by a live bullet in the right side, while he was approximately 1600m away from the settlement.

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces raided Deir al-Ghosoun village in Tulkarm and arrested four Palestinians, including three brothers:

1. Mahmoud Nemer Hamdan, 30;

2. Mohammed Nemer Hamdan, 28;

3. Bassam Nemer Hamdan, 25; and

4. Ahmed ‘Aabdullah Hamdan, 26.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Kufor al-Labad village in Tulkarm. They opened fire at Palestinian houses and farms, wounding Mohammed Ahmed Ershid, 35, with three live bullets in the left foot, while he was driving his car near his house.

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the west and southwest of the settlement. The Israeli gunfire continued sporadically until 05:30, during which three Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. ‘Arafat Ahmed Abu al-Rish, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the head and the limbs;

2. Ramzi Mohammed al-Ja’abir, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the limbs; and

3. Khadra Jubeil Zo’rob, 55, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border south of Rafah shelled Palestinian houses in Block O in Rafah refugee camp. Seven Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. ‘Aabdullah Ibrahim al-Hamaida, 25, wounded by shrapnel in the head;

2. Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Abu Jazar, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the back;

3. Hatem ‘Ali al-Ghoul, 28, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the right thigh;

4. Samira Shehada Abu Lebda, 45, wounded by shrapnel in the left leg;

5. Mohammed Riad Mansour, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the head;

6. Shaker Jamal Jouda, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right forearm; and

7. Yahia Mahmoud al-Mallahi, 20, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder.

In addition two houses were damaged:

1. Three artillery shells hit a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, owned by Fattum Hassan Kassuha, destroying the roof and a number of windows and doors.

2. Three artillery shells hit a 120-square-meter house, in which 4 persons live, owned by ‘Ali Rashid Abu Lebda, destroying some of its walls.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces re-imposed a curfew on Jenin and its refugee camp, three hours before the time they had specified. They opened fire at Palestinian civilians who were trying to return home. Three civilians were wounded:

1. Ahmed Subhi al-Wahesh, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the chest;

2. ‘Alaa’ Hassan al-Wishahi, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the back; and

3. Sari Fadi Mousa, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the back.

At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces shelled Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah. Two Palestinian brothers were wounded:

1. Mohammed Ahmed Rusrus, 52, wounded by shrapnel throughout the body; and

2. Yassin Ahmed Rusrus, 48, wounded by shrapnel in the right knee.

In addition, two houses were damaged:

1. Eight artillery shells hit a 300-square-meter, two-story house, in which 5 families comprising 36 persons live, owned by Mohammed Ahmed Rusrus, making large holes in walls and wounding the aforementioned brothers.

2. Seven artillery shells hit a 220-square-meter, two-story house, in which 3 families comprising 20 persons live, owned by ‘Omar Yousef al-Mallahi, making large holes in walls.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces on tanks and armored personnel carriers opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who broke the curfew imposed on Jenin refugee camp. Three civilians were wounded:

1. Mohammed ‘Abdullah al-Sa’di, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand that cut three fingers;

2. ‘Alaa’ Samir Ghanem, 20, wounded by a live bullet that entered the chest and settled in the pelvis; and

3. ‘Alaa’ Mohammed al-Naji, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand that cut the thumb.

At approximately 18:00, while Hussein ‘Aabdul Rahman Hassan Sweidan, 55, a Palestinian farmer from ‘Azzun village east of Qalqilya, was farming his agricultural land adjacent to Nablus-Qalqilya road, an Israeli military jeep came arrived at the area, and Israeli nsoldiers fired at him from a close distance. He was critically wounded by a live bullet in the forehead. He was evacuated to hospital where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday, 23 July.

In the morning, Israeli occupying soldiers in a military location inside “Beit Eil” settlement, north of Ramallah, fired at a car of the Palestinian Ministry of Interior that deliver the Ministry’s mail. The driver, Rebhi ‘Abdullah Mohammed Shehada, 55, from Ramallah, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand and by fragments of glass in the face and the chest.

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.