• 9 Palestinians, including a child, were killed by Israeli forces

• Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

• 18 houses were destroyed by Israeli forces in Rafah

• Houses were raided and a number of Palestinian civilians were arrested

• More areas of agricultural land were razed in the Gaza Strip

• 2 houses in Jenin and Hebron were destroyed by Israeli forces as part of the continued campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets

• Construction of the separation wall in the West Bank continued

• Indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured

• Israeli forces have imposed a comprehensive closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip

Introduction

 On Monday, 29 September 2003, the al-Aqsa Intifada entered its 4^th year, during which time hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands have been wounded.  The al-Aqsa Intifada erupted following Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s provocative visit to al-Aqsa Mosque (the Holy Sanctuary) in occupied Jerusalem, which provoked outrage among Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims around the world. Over the last three years, Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated grave breaches of international law, including war crimes, against Palestinian civilians, in a manner unprecedented since 1967.  The third year of the Intifada witnessed an increasing escalation in Israeli war crimes as the international community remained silent and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 failed to meet their obligations to ensure respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and provide protection for Palestinian civilians.  The international silence has served to encourage the Israeli government and its occupying forces to perpetrate more war crimes with impunity against Palestinian civilians.  Over the last 12 months, Israeli occupying forces have stepped up illegal operations in the OPTs, including:

·      Incursions and redeployment into Palestinian Authority controlled areas

·      Destruction of houses and civilian property.

·      Using  Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations in the OPTs

·      The escalation of the collective punishment of the families of Palestinians who carried out, planned or facilitated attacks against Israeli targets

·      Willful killing of Palestinian civilians

·      Indiscriminate shelling using various forms of weaponry, including warplanes, tanks and machine guns

·      Collective punishment of Palestinian civilians

·      Extra-judicial assassinations against Palestinian activists

·      Arbitrary arrests and placing Palestinians in administrative detention

·      Closure of border crossings

·      Isolating Jerusalem from its Palestinian surroundings and denying access to the city’s holy sites

·      Attacks on journalists and medical personnel

·      Construction of the separation wall in the West Bank, which will cause the de facto annexation of large areas of the West Bank to Israel

·      Continued siege of the Palestinian presidential compound in Ramallah and the recent preliminary decision to deport the Palestinian President

A table showing those killed during al-Aqsa Intifada from

29 September 2000 to 29 September 2003  

]

A table showing land leveling, house demolitions and destruction to industrial and educational facilities during al-Aqsa Intifada,

from 29 September 2000 to 29 September 2003 

A table showing details of houses destroyed and demolished by Israeli occupying forces as a from of collective punishment and deterrence during al-Aqsa Intifada, from 29 September 2000 until 28 September 2003

This week, Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the (OPTs), including extra-judicial and willful killings, indiscriminate shelling of residential areas, incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions, land leveling and arrests.  Israeli authorities also seized more Palestinian land for the purpose of the construction of the separation wall while maintaining a total siege on the OPTs.  This week, 9 Palestinians, including a child, were killed and more than 30 others were wounded by Israeli occupying forces.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security establishments, Israeli occupying forces carried out two assassinations in the West Bank this week.  Four Palestinians were killed in these operations, including one non-targeted person.   

On Thursday morning, 25 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces extra-judicially assassinated two Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron.  They also wounded the brother of one of the victims as he was arrested.  Israeli occupying forces claimed that they exchanged fire with the two victims, however, eyewitnesses denied this claim.   

 On Wednesday afternoon, 1 October 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian in Tulkarm refugee camp, claiming that he was wanted for being a member of the Islamic Jihad Movement.  In addition, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded, one of whom died at hospital one hour later. 

 In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 5 incursions into Palestinian areas, destroying a number of Palestinian houses.  The largest incursion was in Rafah refugee camp near the Egyptian border on 1 October 2003.  During this incursion, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 13 Palestinian houses completely and 5 others partially.  About 270 Palestinian civilians were left homeless.  On Thursday morning, 25 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces encroached into al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  The incursion left 3 Palestinians dead, including a 3-year-old child who died from a heart attack.  6 other civilians were wounded, including a 13-year-old child.   

 This week, Israeli occupying forces shelled Palestinian residential areas in Rafah and Khan Yunis, injuring 11 Palestinian civilians, including 5 children.  

 Israel continues to implement plans to annex even more Palestinian land in violation of international law. In one example, Israeli occupying forces continue construction of the separation wall in the West Bank.  According to Israeli media reports, on Monday, 29 September 2003, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon informed the Likud Party block in the Knesset that the tract of the separation wall currently being planned will be built east of “Ariel” settlement (south of Nablus) and east of “Qidumim” settlement (southwest of Nablus).  This tract of the separation barrier encroaches approximately 30km into Palestinian territory in the West Bank.  The result is inevitable Israeli annexation of large areas of Palestinian land in Tulkarm and Qalqilya Districts as these areas are cut off from the rest of the West Bank.  In the meantime, the UN Special Rapporteur, John Dougard, issued his report on the human rights situation in the OPTs.  The report states that Israel is determined to create a situation on the ground that can result in the de facto annexation of Palestinian land, and that the separation wall will isolate about 210,000 Palestinians living in areas between the wall and the Green Line from their lands, schools, work places and hospitals. 

 Israeli archaeologists warned of the damage to historical sites incurred by land leveling for the purpose of the construction of the wall.  According of inhabitants of al-Sawahra village, southeast of Jerusalem, on Friday, 26 September 2003, they saw staff members of the Israeli archaeologist authority removing a number of ancient monuments from the area.  While PCHR remains concerned for the consequences of the construction of the wall, it calls upon the international community, particularly the UNESCO to immediately intervene to protect Palestinian historical sites from destruction and robbing by Israeli occupying forces.          

 In violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 1949, article 33 of which prohibits punishing any protected person for “an offence he or she has not personally committed,” Israeli forces continued to take retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.  In this context, they destroyed 2 Palestinian houses in Jenin and Hebron. 

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on the OPTs, particularly in the West Bank, restricting movement of Palestinian civilians.  In the Gaza Strip, this week, Israeli occupying forces at Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints, north of Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) restricted movement of Palestinian civilians traveling between the north and south of the Gaza Strip.  They also obstructed travel procedures at Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border.  

 In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued to tighten their military siege on Palestinian communities.  They have denied Palestinian farmers attempting to access their agricultural lands in order to cultivate their olives and other crops.  Also this week, a Palestinian woman died from a heart attack as ambulances were not able to attend her on time.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

Thursday, 25 September 2003

 In the morning, Israeli occupying forces encroached into al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  The incursion left 3 Palestinians dead, including a 3-year-old child who died from a heart attack.  6 other civilians were wounded, including a 13-year-old child.

 According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 02:45, Israeli occupying forces reinforced with military vehicles, moved into block 1 of al-Breij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  Israeli forces advanced 4 kilometers into the area from nearby “Netzarim” settlement and surrounded the homes of 2 allegedly wanted Palestinians. The first house belongs to Nour ‘Abdul Qader Saji’ Abu ‘Armaneh, 20 and was home to 9 people, while the second house belongs to Faris Ibrahim Khalil Shaheen, 27.  Israeli occupying forces claimed that both men were wanted.

 Shaheen and his family were not at home at the time of the incident, however Abu ‘Armaneh managed to escape from his house after it was surrounded by Israeli occupying forces and fled to a neighboring house belonging to an uncle, Hatem.  Israeli forces followed him and surrounded his uncle’s house, but he managed to flee again to the home of another uncle, Ashraf.  Israeli occupying forces followed Abu ‘Armaneh and raided the second house, detaining 11 residents together in one room.  Abu ‘Armaneh was killed following an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers on the second floor of the house.

 Israeli occupying forces took both of Abu ‘Armaneh’s uncles to the Nahal ‘Oz area for interrogation.  Both men were assaulted before they were released and are currently receiving medical attention.

 During the Israeli incursion into al-Bureij refugee camp, a number of Palestinians confronted the Israeli occupying forces.  The confrontation resulted in the killing of Mohammad Basheer Mohammad ‘Aqel, 25, from Nusseirat refugee camp.  6 other Palestinians sustained various injuries. The incursion was accompanied by heavy and indiscriminate shelling from Israeli helicopter gunships, which damaged a number of electricity transmitters and severed the flow of electricity to large portions of the southern Gaza Strip.

 At approximately 06:00, upon the withdrawal of Israeli occupying forces from the refugee camp, medical sources declared that Lina Hassan Hamoudeh ‘Essa, 3, died from a heart attack following heavy Israeli shelling in the area.

Those wounded were:

1.     Saleh ‘Abdul Halim Noufal, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

2.     Mohammed Saleh al-Tawil, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot;

3.     Hussam Jihad Farajallah, 22, wounded by 2 live bullets in the left shoulder and side;

4.     Eihab ‘Ali Shaheen, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

5.     Shadi Jaber ‘Afana, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot; and

6.     ‘Abdul Halim Saleh Noufal, 37, wounded by shrapnel in the feet. 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations between “Gani Tal” and “Neve Dekalim” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Nimsawi neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded near their houses:

1.     Mustafa Mohammed ‘Awadh, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh; and

2.     Joma’a ‘Abdul Hadi Dahlan, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. 

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1.     Mohammed Sufian ‘Aabdin, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder; and

2.     Yousef Zayed Abu Mukhaimer, 42, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand. 

At approximately 23:00, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza city declared that ‘Ezzat Salem Abu Swaireh, 68, from Nusseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, died from an injury he sustained on 18 September 2003.  According to PCHR’s investigation, Abu Swaireh was seriously wounded when Israeli occupying forces encroached into Nusseirat refugee camp and shelled the house of his son, Jihad, allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  Jihad was killed, while his father and brother were wounded.

Friday, 26 September 2003

 At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were playing in the street in Yibna refugee camp.  One of the children, Ayman Na’im Barhoum, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the pelvis. 

 At approximately 14:30, medical sources at al-Maqassed Hospital in Jerusalem declared that Ibrahim Khalil Abu al-Rub, 23, from Jenin, died from an injury he sustained last week.  According to PCHR’s documentation, on 19 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces that had moved into Jenin on the preceding day opened fire at Palestinian houses and markets in the town.  Abu al-Rub was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the neck.  Five other Palestinians were also wounded by Israeli gunfire.  Abu al-Rub was first evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus and was transferred to al-Maqassed Hospital on 23 September 2003. 

Saturday, 27 September 2003

 At approximately 06:15, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” and “Gadid” settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Baten al-Samin and al-Amal neighborhoods to the east.  9-year-old Amani Fu’ad Barbakh was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.  She was wounded while she was near her house, approximately 700m away from the source of fire. 

 At approximately 10:20, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Yibna refugee camp, adjacent to the border.  10-year-old Mohammed Hamdan Barhoum, 10, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. 

 At approximately 15:40, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military location at the entrance to “Morag” settlement, north of Rafah, opened fire at nearby Palestinian houses.  A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Mahmoud Badawi, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. 

Sunday, 28 September 2003

 At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved approximately 1km into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza city.  They destroyed a 700-meter-long road that links between the village and a number of civilian facilities and leads to 8 houses, in which 60 people live.  They also uprooted 15 olive trees, and destroyed a 500-meter-long water pipeline owned by Khalil ‘Abed Dalloul.  

 At approximately 10:00, Israeli soldiers in a tank and a military jeep opened fire at a number of Palestinian civilians who were walking on a muddy road northeast of Nablus.  Mohammed Taher Ibrahim al-Saleh, from al-Bathan village, northeast of Nablus, was wounded by shrapnel from live bullets in the right hand. 

 At approximately 13:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 2 tanks and a bulldozer, moved approximately 100m into the eastern portion of al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and olives owned by Jamal Hassan Yousef Abu Shanab. 

 At approximately 13:30, an Israeli military jeep moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus.  It parked on the main road and Israeli soldiers began provoking Palestinian civilians.  A number of school children who were leaving their schools at the end of the school day gathered and threw stones at the soldiers.  Immediately, Israelis soldiers fired at the children, wounding 12-year-old Mohammed Yousef Sari Nasasra with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg.

 At approximately 20:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza city, into Palestinian farms in Sheikh ‘Ejlin area in the south of the city.  Then the Israeli soldiers ambushed a Palestinian civilian, Hamed Shehada Abu ‘Awad, 17, while he was going back home.  They stopped Abu 'Awad, beat him and interrogated him.  When he protested against such practices, the officer of the unit poured an unknown liquid into his mouth, which numbed his face and made it impossible to speak.  The effects of the liquid lasted for two hours.  After the ordeal, Abu awad partially lost his consciousness.  The Israeli soldiers took him to his house, searched the entire structure and threatened to demolish the home if "Netzarim" settlement was ever attacked.  In addition, the soldiers denied an ambulance access to the area in order to evacuate Abu ‘Awad to the hospital.  Instaed, they forced him to walk approximately 200m to the main road in the area.  The Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the area at approximately 04:00 on the following day.    

Monday, 29 September 2003

 At approximately 11:00, an Israeli force comprised of a tank, an armored personnel carrier and 3 military jeeps moved into al-Sabbat neighborhood in the eastern region of Jenin.  A number of Palestinian civilians gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers began firing at the stone throwers and surrounding hou