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Weekly Report
On Israeli Human Rights Violations
in the Occupied
Palestinian
Territories
24- 30 October, 2002
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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
Continued Israeli Violations in the OPT and the International Community remains Silent
11 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 6 children and an old man, killed by Israeli forces
A series of Israeli incursions into Palestinian areas and a number of Palestinian civilians killed or wounded
3 Palestinians assassinated by Israeli forces in Nablus and Jenin
2 Palestinians used by Israeli forces as human shields
Continued Israeli retaliatory campaign against families of wanted Palestinians and those who carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
Continued siege of the OPT
Introduction
Israeli forces have perpetrated more human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, extra-judicial assassinations, shelling of, and incursion into Palestinian areas, and agricultural land leveling. This week, 10 Palestinian civilians, including 6 children and an old man, were killed by Israeli forces.
Israeli occupying forces shelled Palestinian residential areas. On 24 October, Israeli forces shelled the eastern neighborhood of Jenin, killing a Palestinian civilian. On the same day, Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian civilian claiming that he was close to the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, south of Rafah. Also a Palestinian civilian from Rafah was pronounced dead from serious injuries he sustained when Israeli occupying forces destroyed parts of his house on 13 October. On Wednesday 30 October, Israeli occupying forces at the separating fence between the West Bank and Israel, near Zita village in Tulkarm, shot dead a Palestinian who was close to Israeli military vehicles. The victim has not been identified.
In three incidents of apparent willful killings, Israel forces shot dead 3 Palestinian civilians. On 26 October, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child in al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah. On 27 October, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Jenin, and on 28 October, Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian in Tulkarm refugee camp. There were no apparent reasons for any of these killings.
As a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations, officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian activists, Israeli occupying forces killed killing 4 Palestinians and critically wounded a child in the West Bank this week. On 27 October, Israeli forces assassinated 2 Palestinians in Nablus and critically wounded a child. On 29 October, a Palestinian was assassinated in Tubas village, near Jenin. On 30 October, Israeli occupying forces killed a Palestinian in Kufor Qallil village, near Nablus, who was wanted by the Israeli authorities for his activities in the Intifada.
This week, Israeli occupying forces demolished 19 Palestinian houses in Rafah and in Beit Hanina, in occupied Jerusalem.
In violation of international law and humanitarian law, which prohibit collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against the families of wanted Palestinians and of those who have carried attacks against Israeli targets, both inside the Green Line and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Within this context, the Israeli forces destroyed 5 Palestinian houses this week.
This week, Israeli forces arrested dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. They 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.
Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas
Thursday, 24 October 2002
At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces demolished and destroyed a number of Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Beit Hanina, in occupied Jerusalem, claiming they had been built without licenses:
1. They destroyed a 480-square-meter farm owned by Mohammed Elias Hashem Abu Rumeila.
2. They demolished a 180-square-meter, 2-story, house under construction, owned by Faiza Ahmed al-Nashashibi.
3. They demolished a 200-square-meter house, in which 11 persons lived, owned by 'Ezziddin Abu Najma.
4. They demolished a 120-square-meter, house under construction, owned by Ibrahim Ishaq 'Oweida.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli tanks shelled Palestinian houses in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin. A Palestinian child, Ahmed Mahmoud Ja'far, 15, was killed by shrapnel in the head, and 2 children were wounded:
1. 'Aatef Hassan Nabhan, 11, wounded by shrapnel in his left hand; and
2. Ashraf Ahmed 'Ali Jalamna, 17, wounded by shrapnel in his legs.
At approximately 18:00, four Israeli tanks moved approximately 70m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, which lies adjacent to the Egyptian border. They opened fire at houses. Later, the Israeli military liaison informed the Palestinian side that a Palestinian was killed by Israeli soldiers, claiming that he got close to the border. At approximately 11:00, a Palestinian ambulance went to Rafah border crossing, where it received the victim's body. The victim was identified at hospital as Mahmoud Salem Abu Mour, 17. According to medical sources, he received several live bullets throughout his body, and sustained fractures to the limbs.
At approximately 23:00, medical sources at the European Hospital in Khan Yunis declared that Tawfiq Hafezh Baraka, 60, from Rafah, had succumbed to serious injuries he had sustained on 13 October, when Israeli occupying forces destroyed two Palestinian houses in the Zo'rob area in Rafah. He had been treated in the intensive care unit for serious injuries to the head and various fractures.
Friday, 25 October 2002
At approximately 00:00, an armored personnel carrier and a military bulldozer, belonging to the Israeli occupying forces, moved approximately 500m into al-Birka area in the southwest of Deir al-Balah. The bulldozer razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:
1. It razed a 7-donum area planted with grapes and destroyed a 250-meter-long fence owned Khalil Shaldan al-Najjar.
2. It razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with eggplants and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salem al-Ra'ei.
3. It razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land and a fence owned by Fu'ad Abu Mosabbeh.
4. It razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mustafa Salim Abu Salim.
5. It razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and guavas and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hamda 'Ata Abu 'Amra.
6. It razed a 0.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with peppers and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Ahmed al-Najjar.
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land in the Boba' area, approximately 500m west of the "Kfar Darom" settlement in the east of Deir al-Balah:
1. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a 28-meter-long fence and an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim 'Abdullah Khattab.
2. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Hilal Abu 'Amra.
3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Nasser Abu al-Hussein.
At the same time, six Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 150m into Block O in Rafah refugee camp, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished two Palestinian houses, which had already been evacuated due to repeated Israeli shelling:
1. A 120-square-meter house, in which 2 families, numbering 6 persons, used to live, owned by 'Ali Khalil Rashid Abu Lebda; and
2. A 70-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 persons used to live, owned by Nabil Shehada Abu Lebda.
Also, Israeli occupying forces, in the vicinity of the "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City, initiated the establishment of a new military location approximately 700m west of the settlement, and approximately 100m east of the coastal road linking between Gaza City and the central Gaza Strip. Israeli forces established sand barriers around the location and set up 2 mobile homes. There are fears that the new military location may be used to arrest and assassinate Palestinian activists, especially as the coastal road is the only road linking Gaza City to the central Gaza Strip, as the main road has been closed for several months.
Saturday, 26 October 2002
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border, searching for alleged tunnels. In the afternoon, dozens of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones towards Israeli forces, which responded by firing indiscriminately. Salem 'Abdul Qader 'Eissa al-Sha'er, 14, was critically wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen, while he was near his house. He was evacuated to hospital, where he underwent surgery, but died from his wound at approximately 21:00.
At approximately 16:00, Israeli tanks at the Palestinian-Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block J of the Rafah refugee camp. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:
1. Mohammed Munir Hassouna, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;
2. Mohammed Yousef al-Zahouq, 40, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh and shrapnel in the neck; and
3. Salman Ahmed Abu Zuhri, 54, wounded by shrapnel in the left arm.
At approximately 21:30, 15 Israeli heavy military vehicles, supported by 2 combat helicopters and covered by gunfire, moved approximately 200m into al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. A number of Israeli soldiers raided empty Palestinian houses, located near the border, and demolished some of their walls. These houses have been repeatedly shelled by Israeli forces during the Intifada. At approximately 23:00, Israeli forces opened fire at the houses, wounding 3 Palestinian civilians:
1. Mahmoud Isma'il Mansour, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder;
2. Khaled Ibrahim Barbakh, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen; and
3. Walid Tawfiq Barbakh, 16, seriously wounded by shrapnel in the neck.
The Israeli incursion into al-Brazil neighborhood continued until 03:00 on the following day, during which Israeli forces demolished a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families, numbering 13 persons, used to live, owned by Mohammed Hassan Saleh Hassan. They also damaged 4 other houses:
1. A 150-square-meter, 2-story house, in which 3 families, numbering 8 persons lived, owned by Khalil Ibrahim Kahalil Mousa;
2. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 families, numbering 20 persons lived, owned by Su'ad 'Abdul Majid Ahmed al-Shaf'ei;
3. A 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 families, numbering 23 persons lived, owned by Jaber 'Abdul Majid Mohammed 'Aabed; and
4. A 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families, numbering 14 persons lived, owned by Su'ad 'Abdul Majid Ahmed al-Shaf'ei.
Sunday, 27 October 2002
At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces started demolishing 7 of the Palestinian houses in Block O in the Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border:
1. A 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 15 persons lived, owned by Yousef Kamel Hussein Abu Jazar;
2. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 persons lived, owned by Mohammed 'Abdul 'Aziz 'Ali 'Awadh;
3. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families, numbering 15 persons lived, owned by Rajab Rashid 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Najjar;
4. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 persons lived, owned by Naji 'Abed Rabbu Mosallam Abu Saleh;
5. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 persons lived, owned by Yasser 'Abed Rabbu Mosallam Abu Saleh
6. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in 7 persons lived, owned by Ibrahim 'Abdul Rahman Khalil Shaqfa;
7. A 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 families, numbering 14 persons lived, owned by Hussein Khalil Hussein al-Najjar.
Those houses were evacuated after Israeli forces warned their residents, on 22 October, that their houses would be demolished.
At about 23:00, 5 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 100m into the north of Rafah. They destroyed a number of wells, greenhouses, agricultural pools and agricultural equipment.
Monday, 28 October 2002
At approximately 14:00, Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished 3 Palestinian houses and destroyed a number of agricultural facilities in Rafah:
1. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 persons lived, owned by Suleiman Mousa Zayed Abu Jazar;
2. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 persons lived, owned by Rezeq Mousa Zayed Abu Jazar;
3. A 200-square-meter, iron-roofed house, in which 3 families, numbering 12 persons lived, owned by Saleh Qandil Mohammed Abu al-'Awawid;
4. 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables and an 80-square-meter agricultural store owned by Mahmoud Hassan Abu 'Ajlan;
5. A 1000-square-meter greenhouse planted with vegetables owned by Ibrahim Mahmoud Sha'ban Abu Jazar;
6. A 1000-square-meter greenhouse planted with vegetables owned by Eyad Ibrahim Mahmoud Abu Jazar;
7. A 1000-square-meter greenhouse planted with vegetables, a 29-square-meter agricultural store, an agricultural pool and 2 water motors owned by Mahmoud Sha'ban Abu Zaid Abu Jazar;
8. A 1000-square-meter greenhouse planted with vegetables and an agricultural pool owned by Salim Ahmed Sha'ban Abu Zaid;
9. A 1000-square-meter greenhouse planted with vegetables, an agricultural pool and a water pump owned by Kuzama 'Abdul Shakur Sa'id al-Tawil; and
10. A 4000-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by 'Abdul Shakur Sa'id Mohammed al-Tawil.
Tuesday, 29 October 2002
At 20:30, Israeli tanks moved approximately 700m into Palestinian areas south of the "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City. They shelled Palestinian houses in al-Zahraa' town, damaging two of them.
At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of the "Neve Dekalim" and the "Gani Tal" settlements, west of Khan Yunis shelled Palestinian houses in the al-Amal neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, 'Emad Kamel Mohammed Fares, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in his left foot while he was sitting with other civilians in the street. A number of houses were also damaged.
Wednesday, 30 October 2002
At approximately 01:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with special units and supported by combat helicopters, invaded Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip. The special units raided and searched 4 Palestinian houses, terrifying their residents. Israeli forces forced the residents of two of these houses out and then destroyed the houses. They also arrested 15 Palestinians, one of whom was wounded when Israeli soldiers fired at him inside his house.
In his testimony to PCHR, Isma’il Mahmoud al-Basiouni, 56, said:
“At approximately 01:30, dozens of Israeli soldiers and special units, whose faces were colored, raided and searched my house. They fired at my son Maher, 25, wounding him in the right leg. They also arrested him together, with his brother, Akram, 21. Then, Israeli soldiers destroyed the house.”
Following are the names of those who were arrested by Israeli occupying forces:
1. Maher Isma'il Mahmoud al-Basiouni, 25;
2. Akram Isma'il Mahmoud al-Basiouni, 21;
3. Akram Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 42, a lecturer in the Islamic University in Gaza;
4. Mahmoud Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 40, an employee in the public sector;
5. Ussama Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 37, a tailor;
6. Mohammed Ussama Mohammed 'Edwan, 17, a secondary school student;
7. 'Ali Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 37, an agricultural engineer;
8. Amin Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 33, unemployed;
9. Anwar Mohammed Mahmoud 'Edwan, 27, a teacher;
10. Zakaria Ahmed 'Abed Rabbu al-Kafarna, 36, an accountant;
11. Ziad Ahmed 'Abed Rabbu al-Kafarna, 24, an agricultural engineer;
12. Zaher Ahmed 'Abed Rabbu al-Kafarna, 22, a university student;
13. Zaid Ahmed 'Abed Rabbu al-Kafarna, 19, a university student;
14. Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein Zweidi, 45, a tailor; and
15. Rami Ibrahim Ahmed Zweidi, a tailor.
At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Rima village, west of Ramallah. They raided a 9-story building owned by Rasem Salim 'Abdul 'Aziz al-Rimawi in order to arrest the owner's son Tamer, 23. According to the owner's daughter-in-law, Israeli forces raided and damaged 4 other houses. They also beat Faris Rasem al-Rimawi and detained him for 2 hours.
At approximately 04:00, 10 Israeli heavy military vehicles moved about 200m into al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah. The Israeli incursion into the area continued until approximately 06:30, during which Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished parts of al-Nour Mosque, which has been subjected to Israeli shelling and attacks since the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada, so people have not been able to pray there since last March. The Israeli bulldozers also demolished 6 Palestinian houses, 3 completely and the other 3 partially:
1. They completely demolished a 165-square-meter house, in which 7 persons used to live, owned by Khalil Ibrahim Mousa Rabi’.
2. They completely demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 families, numbering 22 persons used to live, owned by Jamila ‘Ateya al-Sayed al-Satari.
3. They completely demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 families, numbering 16 persons used to live, owned by ‘Abdullah Mousa Rabi’ al-Satari.
4. They partially demolished a 150-square-meter, 2-story house owned by Jaber ‘Abdul Jabbar Mohammed al-Qutati.
5. They partially demolished a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families, numbering 14 persons used to live, owned by Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed al-‘Aajez.
6. They partially demolished a 300-square-meter house, in which 11 persons used to live, owned by Kamel Mahmoud ‘Abdul Hadi Darwish.
Residents of these houses had already left them due to repeated Israeli attacks. Israeli forces also destroyed 3 auxiliary roads and the sewage network of the area.
At approximately 17:10, Israeli tanks at the Egyptian border, facing the al-Brazil neighborhood in Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in the area. A Palestinian civilian, Taiseer 'Awadh 'Abdul 'Aal, 18, was wounded by shrapnel in his back while he was near his house.
In the evening, Israeli occupying forces, in military locations west of Rafah, shelled Palestinian houses in the Tal al-Sultan neighborhood, wounding 20-year-old Mohammed Ahmed Khureis with shrapnel in his head.
Assassinations
In a continuation of extra-judicial assassinations, officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments, and in blatant disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupying forces committed three extra-judicial assassinations that left 4 Palestinians dead this week.
According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 14:15 on Sunday, 27 October, a civilian car (a grey Subaru with a Palestinian license plate) containing a 4-member Israeli undercover unit, moved into Ras al-‘Ein neighborhood in Nablus. The undercover Israeli soldiers, who were wearing civilian clothes, jumped out of the car and openly shot dead Ahmed Mahmoud Joudatallah, 23, and ‘Alaa’ Munther Khudeiria, 24, both from Nablus, at a range of 20 meters. Each was killed with more than 10 live bullets.
When they withdrew from the area, Israeli soldiers opened fire indiscriminately at Palestinian civilians and their cars, critically wounding 7-year-old Yazan Mohammed Fatayer with a live bullet to the head. Another civilian, who was not identified, was wounded by a live bullet to the head. Israeli occupying forces claim that Joudatallah and Khudeiria were wanted for their activities in the Islamic Jihad and Fatah Movement respectively.
On Tuesday morning, 29 October, Israeli occupying forces assassinated 'Aassem Sidqi Mohammed Sawafta, 19, from Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. According to the victim's brother 'Adnan Sidqi Sawafta, at approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, surrounded the house of his cousin Mon'em Hussein Sawafta (who lives abroad) where his brother 'Aassem, wanted by Israeli forces, was living. Israeli forces used the victim's father and brother as human shields and took them to the cousin's house. Soon, Israeli forces opened fire at the house from a distance of less than 5 meters. After parts of the house were destroyed, Israeli forces broke into it and again fired at the victim from a very close distance, killing him instantly. Then, Israeli forces took the victim's body to an unknown destination.
At approximately 21:20 on Wednesday, 30 October, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 'Aa'ed Baker Mohammed Mansour, 35, with several live bullets in the upper part of the body, while he was on his way to his house in Kufor Qallil village near Nablus. Mansour is wanted by Israeli occupying forces for his activities in the Intifada.
Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international and humanitarian law, which prohibit collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.
Monday, 28 October 2002
Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 4 Palestinian houses, one in the eastern neighborhood in Jenin, owned by families whose sons either had carried out bombings inside the Green Line or were wanted by Israeli forces for their resistant activities:
1. They destroyed a 90-square-meter house, in which 7 persons lived, located in a several-story apartment building, owned by Salah Ahmed al-Asmar. Israeli forces claim that the owner’s son Ashraf carried out a bombing in Gudeira inside the Green Line on 22 October 2002. as a result of such destruction, 6 houses in the same building were damaged:
a. A 110-square-meter house, in which 5 persons live, owned by ‘Ali Fawzi Samara;
b. A 120-square-meter house, in which 6 persons live, owned by Samer D’ib Marshoud;
c. A 120-square-meter house, in which 7 persons live, owned by Ghazi Mahmoud Ekhash;
d. A 220-square-meter house, in which 7 persons live, owned by Jamil Hussein Hardan;
e. A 120-square-meter house, in which 3 persons live, owned by ‘Adnan Mohammed Jarrar; and
f. A 90-square-meter house, in which 6 persons live, owned by ‘Omar Mohammed al-Jamal.
According to Fawzi Mohammed Samara, Israeli occupying forces raided and searched these houses at approximately 00:30. Then, they forced their residents 200m away without allowing them to remove any of the contents. At approximately 04:00, Israeli forces destroyed the house of Salah al-Asmar, meaning 6 houses altogether were damaged.
2. At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a 340-square-meter, 2-story house, in which 4 families, numbering 20 persons lived, owned by the family of ‘Abdul Karim Rateb Younis ‘Oweis, 32, in Khellat al-Sawaha neighborhood in Jenin. Israeli forces residents of the house out and destroyed it. They claim that ‘Oweis, who has been detained by them since February 2002 was a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade of the Fatah Movement.
3. At the same time, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 90-square-meter house, in which 5 persons lives, owned by ‘Ali Suleiman al-Sa’di al-Saffouri, who has been detained by them for several months, for his resistant activities against the Israeli occupation.
4. At approximately 05:30, Israeli occupying forces destroyed the house of Fawzi Hassanein, in which 10 persons lived. They claim that the owner’s son, Mohammed, carried out a bombing in Gudeira inside the Green Line on 22 October 2002.
Tuesday, 29 October 2002
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 220-square-meter house (owned by Ahmed Mousa Jalajia), in which 13 persons lived, in the Jenin refugee camp. They forced residents of the house out and destroyed it and all its contents. Israeli occupying forces claim that the owner is wanted for his resistant activities against the Israeli occupation.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Friday, 25 October 2002
At approximately 16:45, Israeli occupying soldiers in a military location south of “Erez” industrial zone in the northern Gaza Strip fired at Palestinian houses to the south. A Palestinian civilian, Mazen Mahmoud ‘Aayesh al-Husari, was wounded by a medium caliber bullet in the right side, while he was inside his house, approximately 1km away from the source of fire.
Sunday, 27 October 2002
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying soldiers, positioned atop of a Palestinian house in Jenin refugee camp, fired at Akram Rajeh Bayer, 15, while was on his way to a neighboring shop. He was critically wounded by a live bullet in the neck.
At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces, positioned atop of a Palestinian house in Jenin, shot dead 17-year-old Fu’ad Ahmed Hussein Abu Ghali with a live bullet to the heart. Abu Ghali was near his house and no clashes were reported at the time when he was shot.
Monday, 28 October 2002
At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying soldiers shot dead 17-year-old Ahmed Majed ‘Anbas, from Tulkarm refugee camp, with a live bullet that entered his back and exited his chest, while he was at the entrance of the northern West Bank town, which was under a curfew imposed by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers shot ‘Anbas from a distance of approximately 150m for no apparent reason.
At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces fired at two Palestinian young men near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, east of Beit Hanoun, claiming that they were attempting to steal into Israel. One of them was wounded, while the other was arrested. Later, the two young men were identified as 'Alaa; D'ib Mohammed al-'Attar, 25, who was wounded by several live bullets to his legs, and Khaled Shehda al-Bahri, 19, both from Beit Lahia.
Tuesday, 29 October 2002
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces fired at 14-year-old Jihad Mustafa Mahmoud Daraghma, from Tubas village near Jenin, wounding him with a live bullet to the head, while he was playing near his family's house.
Continued Total Siege
Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, collectively punishing Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, and have imposed curfews on some areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights. The Gaza Strip is still partitioned into three isolated zones.
Thursday, 24 October 2002
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces at the gate of besieged al-Sayafa area arrested Salah Mahmoud Saleh Edhlayel, 24, from Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, while he was on his way to his family’s farm. Israeli forces took him to “Erez” area, claiming that he forged his identity card. He was released in the evening as they discovered that his identity card was decayed rather than forged.
Saturday, 26 October 2002
At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, which links between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. The closure continued until approximately 09:30, during which Israeli forces prevented any Palestinian movement through the two checkpoints and searched a number of cars.
Monday, 28 October 2002
At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces searched a number of cars between al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints. They forced some Palestinians out of the cars and checked them. Then, they arrested 22-year-old Tamer Abu Khammash, a university student. At approximately 13:00, Israeli forces arrested Nafez Eslayeh, who woks in the Palestinian civil liaison in Rafah.
Wednesday, 30 October 2002
At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at Palestinian agricultural lands located southeast of "Elli Sinai" settlement in the northern Gaza Strip, so many Palestinian farmers were not able to go to their lands.
At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces besieged more than 30 Palestinian farmers and their families in their agricultural lands located southeast of "Elli Sinai" settlement in the northern Gaza Strip. Israeli forces gathered them in one place, checked their identity cards and then released them.
Late at night, Israeli occupying forces at the separating fence between the West Bank and Israel near Zita village in Tulkarm shot dead a Palestinian who got close to Israeli military vehicles. The victim has not been identified.
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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 in order to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under Article 1, to ensure the respect of the Convention.
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 observations 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.
