Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

 02-08  January, 2003

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

 

 

The International Community Remains Silent While Israeli Human Rights' Violations Continue in the OPT

  


 

Introduction

 Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions, and agricultural land leveling.  Between the 2-8 January 2003, 6 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers.

This week Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip.  They destroyed dozens of Palestinian houses and civilian facilities and shelled residential areas, killing 4 Palestinians.  Within the period 2-4 January 2003, Israeli forces demolished 30 Palestinian houses totally and 7 others partially, destroyed a gas station and razed seven donums of agricultural land in Rafah.  Furthermore, Israeli forces demolished 9 Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis.  Consequently, more than 300 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have become homeless.  Israeli forces also razed 29 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. 

Israeli forces again attacked Palestinian civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip. On Monday 6 January 2003, Israeli combat helicopters destroyed a Palestinian workshop in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, and damaged a number of civilian facilities.  A missile hit a house and narrowly missed causing a tragedy because, fortunately, most of the family had been outside.  On the same day, Israeli forces destroyed a factory of electric tools in Gaza, where 40 Palestinians used to work. 

In violation of international and humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have allegedly carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and other Palestinians wanted by Israeli forces.  In this context, the Israeli military destroyed five houses in Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarm and Rafah.  They also tried to demolish a sixth one in Ramallah, but bulldozers faced difficulties in reaching it. 

In an apparent willful killing, on Wednesday morning, 8 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at the family of Mowaffaq Ahmed 'Ajaj in Saida village, north of Tulkarm, killing his son Ahmed, 18, with a live bullet to the head. 

 In yet another attack from Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, on Thursday, 2 January 2003, an Israeli settler ran down an old Palestinian man with his car in Qalqilya.    

Israeli forces have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT, thereby collectively punishing the Palestinian people. Israeli forces have partitioned Palestinian areas, transforming them into cantons, violating Palestinian civilians' economic, social and cultural rights.  They have also imposed curfews on several different areas.  This week, Israeli occupying authorities prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.  


The Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 2 January 2003

 Israeli occupying forces instigated another illegal action by destroying 25 refugee houses in the Rafah refugee camp, rendering more than 200 people homeless. According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 01:00, approximately more than 30 heavy vehicles moved about 200m into Block J in the Rafah Refugee camp, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border. They shelled the area intensely. The armored bulldozers demolished the houses along with all the furniture and belongings inside. 13 houses were totally demolished while 3 others were partially demolished rendering 33 families, comprised of 181 people, homeless. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that residents of the houses were surprised by the demolition, as they were given no earlier warnings and so were unable to evacuate their furniture and belongings.

 

Following are details of the houses that were totally demolished:

 

   1. a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Suleiman 'Ali Hammad Khafaja;

   2. a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Salah 'Abdul Latif 'Abdul Salam Jaber;

   3. a 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families numbering 17 persons lived, owned by Fatema Ahmed Mohammed Barhoum;

   4. a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 9 persons lived, owned by 'Omar Ibrahim Khalil Abu Siam;

   5. a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 12 persons lived, owned by Tawfiq Ibrahim Khalil Abu Siam;

   6. a 125-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 families numbering 26 persons lived, owned by Ahmed 'Abdullah Mohammed Jarad;

   7. an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 people lived, owned by Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Abu Hamra;

   8. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Ibrahim Nemer Nasser;

   9. a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families numbering 15 persons lived, owned by Aamena Saleh 'Abdul 'Aziz Abu Muhsen;

10. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Joma'a Khalil 'Ali Barhoum;

11. a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 people lived, owned by Mohammed Humaid Mohammed al-Soufi;

12. a 240-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by 'Ouda Mohammed Khafaja; and

13. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 families numbering 25 persons lived, owned by Mustafa Suleiman Isma'il Abu Khatla. 

 

Following are details of the houses that were partially demolished:

 

   1. a 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 7 persons live, owned by Salah 'Abdul Latif 'Abdul Salam Jaber;

   2. a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people live, owned by Ahmed Hammad Mohammed al-Soufi; and

   3. a 180-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 15 people lived, owned by Yousef Humaid al-Soufi. 

 

Approximately 90 minutes later, the armored vehicles moved east to Block L, which is adjacent to the border with Egypt. The soldiers called upon the residents to evacuate their houses using megaphones.  The bulldozers then demolished 9 Palestinian houses rendering 25 families, comprised of nearly 132 family members, homeless:

    1. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 families numbering 17 persons lived, owned by Hamed Hamed Ibrahim al-Najjar;

   2. a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 families numbering 24 persons lived, owned by Hammad Hamdan Ahmed Abu Taha;

   3. a 295-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 families numbering 26 persons lived, owned by 'Abdul Rahman Mohammed 'Abdul Rahman Hamad;

   4. a 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 13 persons lived, owned by 'Aatef Mahmoud Khalil al-Sha'er;

   5. a 100-square-meter house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Hassan Rajab Shaqfa;

   6. a 110-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 15 people lived, owned by Jamal Mahmoud Khalil al-Sha'er;

   7. a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 11 persons lived, owned by Anwar Ahmed Khalil al-Sha'er;

   8. a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 people lived, owned by Hani 'Abdul Hamid Mustafa al-Hams; and

   9. a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Joma'a Khalil Yousef al-Mughayar. 

At approximately 14:25, Israeli occupying forces from a military location near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, Ayman Sa'ad Abu Taha, 36, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, while he was walking about 400m away from the border.   

At approximately 22:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the al-Sayafa area in the north of Beit Lahia, which has been under Israeli military siege since the beginning of the Intifada.  The forces used loudspeakers to tell the Palestinian civilians, living in the area, (numbering approximately 200) to get out of their houses.  Then, Israeli soldiers searched the houses.  Two hours later, people were allowed to back into their homes.  However, at approximately 06:00 the following day, Israeli forces ordered them out again and only allowed them to go back into their houses three hours later. 

 

Friday, 3 January 2003

 At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and under the cover of intense shelling, moved approximately 200m into the al-Salam neighborhood, which is adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.  They demolished 7 Palestinian houses totally and 4 others partially.  They also razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mahmoud Ahmed al-Sha'er and Sabri Fathi al-Sha'er.  PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that a delegation of the International Solidarity Movement tried to stop the demolition of houses, but Israeli forces opened fire at its members. 

 

Following are details of the houses that were totally demolished:

 

   1. a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 14 people lived, owned by Ziad D'ib Hussein 'Aashour;

   2. a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Na'im Sa'di Mohammed al-'Aaloul;

   3. a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12 people lives, owned by Sabri Fathi Nayef al-Sha'er;

   4. a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 people lived, owned by 'Emad Najib Ahmed Salah;

   5. a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Jaber Mohammed Shihda 'Abdul 'Aal;

   6. a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people lived, owned by Amin Mohammed Hussein 'Abdul 'Aal; and

   7. a 220-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 12 people lived, owned by Mustafa 'Abdul Qader Mohammed Shaqfa.

 

Following are details of the houses that were partially demolished:

 

   1. a 150-square-meter , asbestos-roofed house, in which 4 people live, owned by Khalil Ahmed Khalil Salah;

   2. a 400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 17 persons live, owned by Nasser Khalil 'Abdullah Mansour;

   3. a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 people live, owned by Saleh Ahmed Saleh 'Arada; and

  4. a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 1 person lives, owned by Mohammed Joma'a Sarhan.  At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 200m into Palestinian areas north of "Kfar Darom" settlement in the southeast of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.  They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

 

   1. They razed an 18-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Zhafer Khalil al-Shawa.  They had already razed 4-donums of agricultural land owned by al-Shawa. 

   2. They razed a 10.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms owned by Mohammed Ramadan Hussein Abu Sha'ban and brothers. 

 

Saturday, 4 January 2003

 At approximately 06:40, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved into Jenin and its refugee camp.  A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Bassam Mahmoud Nassar, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder. 

 At approximately 10:30, a number of Israeli military jeeps moved into Ramallah.  Israeli soldiers opened fire indiscriminately.  A Palestinian girl, Aamena Mustafa al-Boreiji, 19, from al-Amari refugee camp, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest, while standing in front of a shop where she works.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 100m into the al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods, which are adjacent to the Egyptian border, south of Rafah.  Israeli military bulldozers leveled areas inside the border.  Four hours later, they demolished a 350-square-meter house, in which 7 people lived, owned by Hamdan Marzouq al-Sha'er, and a gas station owned by Yousef Hamed Bahloul.  Israeli forces fired bullets into the air in order to disperse members of a delegation of the International Solidarity Movement that had tried to stop the demolition. 

 At approximately 14:45, Israeli soldiers, from tanks positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian child, Wissam 'Adnan Es'eifan, 12, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.  PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the child was wounded while he was near his family's house, approximately 300m north of the border.  He also reported that Israeli forces shell the refugee camp day and night, to allegedly provide cover for soldiers who are establishing an iron wall along the Egyptian border. 

 At approximately 18:30, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Jabalya fired a number of artillery shells at Mohammed Joma'a Salim Abu Malhous, 17, from Deir al-Balah, while he was walking on an agricultural road, approximately 700m west of the border.  He was wounded by shrapnel throughout his body and was able to escape to a site of the Palestinian National Security Force.  Palestinian security men evacuated him to hospital in a civilian car.  Abu Malhous did not explain to PCHR's field worker, who interviewed him, the reasons for his presence in the area, but his brother asserted to the PCHR's field worker that his brother suffers from psychological problems and often leaves the house for several hours at a time. 

 

Sunday, 5 January 2003

 At approximately 00:00, Israeli occupying forces, from military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood.  A Palestinian woman, E'etissam 'Aashour 'Aabdin, 23, was wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the right foot.  PCHR's field worker in Khan Yunis reported that she was wounded while she was inside her house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire. 

 At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of Rafah Terminal opened fire at the VIP hall at the terminal.  Fire broke out in the 60-square-meter hall.  PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the furniture in the hall was severely damaged, as no one was able to extinguish the fire due to the ongoing Israeli shelling. 

 Also, at approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the al-Almaniya neighborhood in Jenin.  They raided three Palestinian houses owned, by Mahmoud 'Aaref Jalamna, 'Abed al-Shawish al-Dairawi and Amin Mousa Abu Hammad.  The forces held residents of the first two houses in one room and climbed onto the roofs, while they forced the four families (numbering 25 persons), living in the third house, to get out and used them as human shields to prevent any shooting by Palestinian resistance men.  Israeli soldiers opened intense fire at the third house and threw dozens of sound bombs and tear gas canisters inside.  Then, they took three members of the family: Wassim, 24; Nassim, 17; and Rabi', 16, to the roof and used them as human shields in searching for their brother Mohammed, 22, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  At approximately 09:15, Israeli forces arrested the three brothers and told their father that they would not release them until his wanted son surrenders to the Israeli military.

 

Monday, 6 January 2003

 At midnight, Israeli combat helicopters launched 9 missiles at the al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.  Seven missiles hit a 40-square-meter workshop (manufacturing car parts) owned by Mohammed Mousa Ahmed Sha'ban, totally destroying it.  The workshop is located in a highly populated area.  An eighth missile hit the door of a store near the workshop owned by 'Emad Rebhi Mohye al-Din.  The door was destroyed and the store was completely damaged.  The ninth missile nearly caused a tragedy as it hit an 80-square-meter flat, in which 6 people live, owned by Mandu Fu'ad Mahmoud al-Qishawi.  The missile hit the children's bedroom, severely damaging the flat.  Fortunately, the wife and children were outside the flat.  The husband sustained bruises throughout his body and his mother, Moyassar 'Aaref al-Ghalayini, 67, was wounded by shrapnel in the face.  In addition, 8 civilians were evacuated to hospital as they were shocked. 

 At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m east of Salah al-Din Street near al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City.  Israeli military bulldozers demolished a factory of electric tools owned by Wissam 'Othman No'man al-Khuzondar.  The factory stood on a 2000-square-meter area of land, and included a 400-square-meter, two-storey building.  Israeli forces had partially demolished the factory eight months ago, and since then, they have denied access to it for the factory's owner and workers. 

 At approximately 16:00, Israeli soldiers on a military observation tower in the vicinity of "Nissanit" settlement, north of Beit Lahia, opened fire at al-Nada apartment building, approximately 1000m south of the settlement.  A Palestinian child, Ghadir Hassan al-Wali, 9, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg.  PCHR's field worker in the northern Gaza Strip reported that she was wounded while she was in the balcony of her family's flat. 

At approximately 23:20, Israeli occupying forces reinforced with heavy military vehicles and two helicopters, moved from "Kfar Darom" settlement, east of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, approximately 6km north along Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip).  They took position at the entrances of al-Maghazi refugee camp and al-Zawaida village.  Then Israeli soldiers raided a three-storey uninhabited house on the main road, owned by 'Awni Mohammed 'Abdul Hadi, and transformed it into a military location, from which they fired at the area.  A number of Palestinian resistance fighters and security men tried to resist the Israeli incursion.  Israeli forces fired at them, killing two people:

    1. Eyad Mohammed Suleiman Abu Zayed, 25, from al-Zawaida village, shot by two live bullets in the chest and the neck; and

   2. Nassim Hassan Abu Malih, 24, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force from al-Zawaida village, shot by several live bullets throughout the body. 

 

In addition, 'Emad Mohammed Abu Zayed, 32, a member of the Palestinian Presidential Guard, brother of the first victim, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.  An hour later, Israeli forces appeared to withdraw.  Palestinian resistance men gathered to check what was going on.  They had positions in branch roads inside al-Maghazi refugee camp.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers positioned on the building that they had previously seized, opened fire at the resistance men, killing Baker Mohammed Khaddoura, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Force from al-Maghazi refugee camp, with a live bullet in the back. 

 At approximately 23:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, and under the cover of intense shelling, moved approximately 70m into Khan Yunis refugee camp.   They demolished the remnants of a 220-square-meter, two-storey house owned by Jihad Hussein Abu Louz.  The house had been subjected to repeated Israeli shelling that had destroyed most of it.  The incursion continued until 04:00 the following day, during which Israeli forces demolished 3 Palestinian houses and a store:

    1. They demolished a 100-square-meter house, in which 6 people lived, owned by Mohammed Kamal Kamel Abu Rezeq.

   2. They demolished a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people lived, owned by Mustafa Mahmoud Ahmed Hunaideq.

   3. They destroyed walls of two rooms of a 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 2 families numbering 16 persons live, owned by Ahmed Mahmoud Ahmed Hunaideq. 

   4. They demolished a 16-square-meter, asbestos-roofed store of vegetables owned by 'Ali Ahmed Hussein Hunaideq. 

In addition, three Palestinian civilians were wounded by the Israeli gunfire:

   1. Majed Mohammed Hussein al-Salibi, 34, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head;

  2. Hussein Hassan Abu Namous, 25, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the face, while he was near his house, approximately 800m away from the source of fire; and 

   3. Wa'el Salem Abu Nemer, 25, wounded by shrapnel from a live bullet in the head. 

 

Wednesday, 8 January 2003

 At approximately 00:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and under the cover of intense shelling, moved approximately 70m into Block I in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Within five hours Israeli military bulldozers had demolished two Palestinian houses totally and four houses partially.  One of the houses was demolished while its residents were still inside.  A Palestinian civilian, Ayman Mohammed Ahmed Hunaideq, 30, was killed by two live bullets in the head and the left shoulder, while his brother, Nazhmi, 45, was wounded by four live bullets in the left arm and thigh, as Israeli forces opened heavy fire at the area.  According to eyewitnesses, the former was shot dead while he was in a connecting road watching the Israeli incursion, while the latter was wounded when he was trying to go to his house to help his family to get out as Israeli military bulldozers demolished it.  

 Following are details of the houses that were demolished by Israeli military bulldozers:

    1. They totally demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3 families numbering 18 persons lived, owned by Salem Ahmed 'Abdullah al-Zarabi.

   2. They totally demolished a 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 19 people lived, owned by Hamdan Mahmoud Hunaideq. 

   3. They partially demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 5 people live, owned by Mohammed Ahmed Abu Matroud. 

   4. They partially demolished a 500-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people live, owned by Nazhmi Mohammed Ahmed Hunaideq. 

   5. They partially demolished a 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 8 people live, owned by Hamada Mahmoud Shalloula. 

   6. They partially demolished a 170-square-meter, 2-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by 'Abdullah Salem al-Zarabi. 

Collective Punishment Measures Against Families Of Wanted Palestinians And Those Who Have Allegedly Carried Out Armed Attacks Against Israeli Targets

In violation of international and humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have allegedly carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.

At approximately 01:30 on Friday, 3 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Beit Kahel village, northwest of Hebron.  They surrounded the house of Mohammed Mahmoud Isma'il Barioush, 37, who was previously detained by these forces.  They ordered the 8 residents of the 170-square-meter, 2-story house to exit in the next 12 minutes.  Then, they destroyed it.  Two neighboring houses and a school were damaged.  Israeli forces accuse Barioush, whom they have detained since 22 May 2002, of recruiting persons to Islamic Jihad and carrying out resistant activities against the Israeli forces.  His son, Mo'ayad, 20, has also been administratively detained by Israeli forces for three years.

 At approximately 04:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house Wafaa' Edris, who carried out a suicide bombing in West Jerusalem on 27 January 2002.  The house is located in al-Amari refugee camp in Ramallah.  Israeli forces ordered the family to evacuate their furniture and belongings in five minutes.  Then, an Israeli military bulldozer moved towards it, but the narrow roads of the refugee camp did not allow it to reach the house.  Israeli forces informed the family that they would demolish the house as soon as possible, and withdrew from the area. 

 At approximately 23:15 on Sunday, 5 January 2003, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved into the Canada area in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah.  They surrounded the house of Jamil Mohammed Hassan Abu 'Armana, whose brother Hassan is allegedly wanted by these forces.  Israeli helicopters flew over the area and more Israeli forces were brought to the area.  Israeli soldiers broke into the house and searched it.  Then, they arrested:

   1. Khalil Mohammed Hassan Abu 'Armana, 43, who was released several hours later;

   2. Jamil Mohammed Hassan Abu 'Armana, 55, who was released several hours later;

   3. Hassan Mohammed Hassan Abu 'Armana, 46, allegedly wanted by Israeli forces;

   4. Mohammed Jamil Mohammed Abu 'Armana, 24;

   5. Sameh Jamil Mohammed Abu 'Armana, 22;

   6. Akram Khalil Mohammed Abu 'Armana, 18; and

   7. Ibrahim Khalil Mohammed Abu 'Armana. 

Then the Israeli soldiers forced residents of the 200-square-meter, two-storey house, (in which 4 families numbering 19 persons live) to exit the house and destroyed it.  13 neighboring houses were severely damaged.  Jamil Mohammed Abu 'Armana stated to PCHR's field worker in Rafah that Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him and other detainees and took them to an Israeli military location in the 'Oraiba area in the north of Rafah, where they were interrogated.  According to Khalil Mohammed Abu 'Arana, the family lost a large amount of money and some jewelry.  Upon their withdrawal from the area, Israeli forces left a statement signed by the Israeli military command in the Gaza Strip, which accused Hassan Abu 'Armana of carrying out armed attacks against Israeli forces and settlers. 

 At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 7 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Dajan village, east of Nablus.  They surrounded the house of Sa'id Hassan Abu Hunaish, 53.  They ordered the 10 residents of the 140-square-meter, 2-storey house to get out.  At approximately 06:00, Israeli forces destroyed the house.  Israeli forces claim that the owner's son, Kumail Abu Hunaish, 26, is wanted for being a member of Martyr 'Abu 'Ali Mustafa Brigade, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.  Four neighboring houses were damaged. 

 At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus.  They surrounded the house of Samir Abu al-So'ud Hanani.  They forced the 14 residents of the 150-square-meter, 3-story house out.  At approximately 07:30, Israeli forces destroyed it.  Hanani is the father of Habash Hanani, 22, who carried out an armed attack against "Eitamar" settlement, which was established on land within the village, five months ago. 

 At approximately 01:30 on Wednesday, 8 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Saida village, north of Tulkarm.  They moved towards the house of Mohammed 'Ali 'Eissa Ashqar, 53.  They ordered the 8 residents of the 160-square-meter, 2-story house to leave it in 20 minutes.  At approximately 05:00, Israeli forces destroyed the house.  Two of the owner's sons: Ussama, 22; and Amjad, 23, are being detained by Israeli forces.  Later, Israeli forces opened fire at the family of Mowaffaq Ahmed 'Ajaj and killed his son Ahmed (see below, Shooting at Palestinian Civilians). 

 

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

 In an apparent willful killing, on Wednesday morning, 8 January 2003, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at the family of Mowaffaq Ahmed 'Ajaj in Saida village, north of Tulkarm, killing his son Ahmed, 18, with a live bullet in the head. 

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 07:30, after Israeli forces had demolished the house of Mohammed 'Ali Ashqar in Saida village, north of Tulkarm, Mowaffaq Ahmed 'Ajaj and his son Ahmed, 18, went up to the roof of their house to check what was going on in their village.  The father heard sounds of shooting coming from near Ashqar's house.  Immediately, he saw his son Ahmed falling and saw that he was bleeding.  The father tried to pull his son into the house, but Ahmed succumbed to his wound.  According to the father, his son was shot dead by a live bullet in the head. 

 

An Old Palestinian Man Run Down by an Israeli Settler

 At approximately 07:00 on Thursday, 2 January 2003, Khulaif 'Abdul Rahman Khulaif, 85, from 'Azzoun village, east of Qalqilya, was walking on the sidewalk of Qalqilya-Nablus road, on his way to his land in the nearby al-Nabi Elias village.  An Israeli civilian car came from the opposite direction and the driver drove the car towards Khulaif, ran him down and then drove away.  Passers-by called for an ambulance, but Khulaif died before its arrival. 

 

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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 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.