Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

Palestinian Territories

03- 09 April 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 -- Copenhagen

E-mail: pchr@pchrgaza.org

Webpage: www.pchrgaza.org

Israel Continued Acts of State Terrorism, and Its Occupying Forces Escalated War Crimes in the OPT

18 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, were killed by Israeli forces
11 of the victims were killed in the past 24 hours
9 of the victims, including 2 children were killed in 3 assassinations
Campaigns of arrests in Tulkarm refugee camp and hundreds of civilians were transferred to the nearby Nour Shams refugee camp
6 Palestinian houses were demolished in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah
Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling
Israeli forces continued to use Palestinian civilians as human shields in military operations
The Israeli retaliatory campaign continues against families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly have carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets
A volunteer of the International Solidarity Movement was wounded by Israeli forces in Jenin

Introduction

As the world and international, Arab and local media are busy following the developments of the US-British led war on Iraq, 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 and agricultural land leveling. This week 3-9 April 2003, 18 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 5 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli government against political and field activists of the Intifada, and in disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, this week, Israeli occupying forces committed three new extra-judicial assassinations, which left dead 9 Palestinians, including 3 targeted individuals. On 8 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces committed an assassination in Gaza City, which left 7 Palestinians dead, only two of whom were targeted. Five the victims, including two children, were killed by a missile launched by an Israeli combat helicopter when they gathered in the place of the attack. On 7 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian in the northern West Bank town of Salfit. On 3 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian in Nablus.

Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, during which they attacked Palestinian civilians and property. On 9 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. This incursion continued until the following morning, during which Israeli forces killed 5 Palestinians, including a child, and injured 9 others. This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Rafah, during which they demolished 6 Palestinian houses.

For the second consecutive week, Israeli occupying forces have maintained control over the northern West Bank town of Tulkarm. They have imposed a curfew on the town, raided houses and arrested some Palestinians.

In cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 4 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and wounded more than 10 others in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In another crime committed by Zionist gangs against Palestinian civilians, 19 Palestinian school children were injured as a result of a bomb explosion, for which a terrorist Jewish organization claimed responsibility.

A Jewish organization called "Children's Wrath" claimed responsibility for the attack through sending a statement to the Israeli media. The statement mentioned the attack "came in retaliation for the killing of children by Arabs."

In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits 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. In this context, they destroyed two Palestinian houses in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a continuation of the policy of house demolition in Jerusalem and its suburbs to force the Palestinian population to leave the city in persistent attempts to Judaize the city, Israeli occupying forces demolished 17 Palestinian houses and a barracks in occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of the lack of building licenses.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one another. They have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separate zones and have restricted the movement of people and goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in the West Bank. Since Saturday, 15 March 2003, Israeli occupying authorities prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad. Israeli occupying forces have also maintained a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip for several months, which has caused a deterioration of the living conditions of Palestinians civilians in the area.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

Thursday, 3 April 2003

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved into Qalqilya from the south. A Palestinian child, Jihad ‘Aziz ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Nazzal, 14, was seriously wounded by two lived bullets in the chest and the left thigh. He was evacuated to hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds a few minutes later. According to an eyewitness, Nazzal was shot while he was sitting with his family near their house in Nazzal neighborhood in the center of the town. When Israeli forces were close to the house, the family tried to enter the house, but Israeli soldiers opened fire. The town was completely quiet when Israeli occupying forces invaded it and opened fire at the family.

In an apparent willful killing, in the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces opened fire at two young Palestinian men who were collecting wood from agricultural areas in the east of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip. The two were seriously wounded, and one of them bled to death.

In his testimony to PCHR, ‘Emad Sa’di Shaqqura, 21, from Jabalya refugee camp, who was wounded in this incident, said:

“At approximately 15:00 on Thursday, 3 April 2003, my neighbor, Eyad Mohammed ‘Olayan, 28, and I went to agricultural areas located approximately 1500m west of the border with Israel, east of Jabalya, to collect wood. These areas were razed by Israeli occupying forces nearly two months ago. We rode an animal cart towards the area. When we were close to the area, we left the cart and walked until we reached a cow farm owned by the family of Abu Safiya, approximately 1200m west of the border. Owners of these agricultural areas were there. As we were about to start collecting wood, we were surprised by 7 Israeli soldiers coming out of the farm and pointing their guns towards us. They ordered us to stop, but we were terrified, so we escaped. They fired at us. I was wounded in the right thigh. I fell onto the ground. My neighbor who was also wounded fell behind me. Two soldiers moved towards me and ordered me to take off clothes from the upper part of my body and I did. When they were certain that I had nothing with me, one of them took off my trousers and covered my injury with a bandage. Then they pulled me and my neighbor. I saw my neighbor bleeding and having difficulty breathing. I asked soldiers to offer him help, but they did not. Two hours later, Israeli soldiers allowed a Palestinian ambulance to evacuate us to hospital, but my neighbor was dead.”

According to the ambulance driver, Israeli soldiers deliberately obstructed the access of the ambulance to the area. They also ordered him and his colleague to walk on foot towards the wounded. He asserted that ‘Olayan was dead when he was taken to hospital. ‘Olyan was the driver’s nephew.

Friday, 4 April 2003

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including two bulldozers, and helicopters, moved from “Netzarim” settlement, south of Gaza city, approximately 2km into al-Hasaina area in the west of Nusseirat neighborhood in the central Gaza Strip. They opened intense fire. They surrounded the house of ‘Abdul Rahim ‘Abdul Qader al-Jahjouh, 32, who is allegedly wanted by these forces. They raided the house after they had blown off its door. Al-Jahjouh was able to escape. Israeli soldiers fired at him, injuring him with shrapnel in the chest, but continued to run. Israeli soldiers searched the house using dogs. Then, they raided the house of al-Jahjouh’s four brothers. They forced the families, including women and children, out of the houses, and handcuffed and blindfolded the four brothers. Then, they took one of the brothers, ‘Abdullah, 47, and interrogated him. During the interrogation, a dog bit him in the right thigh. Other Israeli soldiers raided neighboring houses. They made holes in the walls to move from one house to another. They also opened fire at those houses and their doors. At approximately 06:30, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered in the area and threw stones towards Israeli soldiers. Immediately, Israeli soldiers used ‘Omar ‘Abdullah al-Jahjouh, 14, as a human shield, and fired at the stone throwers, wounding 3:

1. Bahaa’ ‘Adnan Jaber, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left leg;

2. Khaled Eslim Nabhan, 22, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the thighs, and by shrapnel in the eye; and

3. ‘Abdul Hakim Khaled al-Habbash, 45, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh.

At approximately 08:30, Israeli occupying forces withdrew from the area after they had released those who were detained.

Saturday, 5 April 2003

At approximately 18:00, as Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, had already moved into Jenin, a number of members of the International Solidarity Movement with the Palestinian people, who were wearing a special uniform that has become well-known to Israeli occupying forces, moved towards Israeli heavy military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on an armored personnel carrier fired at them. An American volunteer, Brian Ivari, 24, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the face, which settled in the nose.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Immediately, two Israeli military bulldozers demolished a Palestinian house totally and three others partially:

1. They totally demolished a 100-square-meter house, in which 5 people live, owned by Faten Subhi Suleiman al-Liddawi.

2. They partially demolished a 200-square-meter house, in which 8 people live, owned by Fathi Mohammed ‘Abdul ‘Aal.

3. They partially demolished a 130-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 9 people live, owned by Sufian Hussein Ahmed ‘Aabdin.

4. They partially demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 people live, owned by Khalil Mohammed ‘Abdul Rahman al-‘Aker.

At approximately 21:30, two Israeli armored personnel carriers, covered by intense gunfire, moved into Qabatya village, south of Jenin. Two Palestinian children were wounded:

1. Mahmoud Ahmed Qassem Hanisha, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the back and the legs; and

2. Bilal 'Abdul Rahman 'Omar Kumail, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the left hand and leg.

Sunday, 6 April 2003

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces invaded al-Musaddar village in the central Gaza Strip, claiming to search for alleged wanted Palestinians. Two Palestinians, including a child, were killed and 14 others were wounded by Israeli forces. The Israeli invasion continued until noon. A number of houses and civilian facilities were severely damaged, and more than 30 Palestinians were arrested.

According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 03:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and covered by intense gunfire, moved from “Kfar Darom” settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, approximately 2km into al-Musaddar village in the central Gaza Strip. They imposed a curfew on the village. They moved onto the roofs of 4 Palestinian houses after they had searched them and stole some belongings. Then, they called through loudspeakers on male residents of the village, aged 20-50, to gather in Ibn Zaytoun school in the east of the village. Israeli soldiers searched these Palestinians and arrested 34 of them. In the afternoon, 12 of those detainees were released, while the others were released on the following evening.

At the beginning of this invasion, as a result of indiscriminate Israeli gunfire, a Palestinian civilian, Salem Suleiman al-Mausaddar, 57, was wounded by a live bullet in the lower jaw.

At approximately 06:00, a number of young men and boys from al-Maghazi refugee camp and al-Zawaida village gathered on the main road (Salah al-Din Street) and threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles positioned at the entrance of al-Musaddar village. Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 11:

1. Tayseer Fadhel Abu ‘Aassi, 22, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder;

2. ‘Emad Mufid Thabet, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the left ear;

3. Nader Jalal Abu Jayab, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder;

4. Tamer ‘Aadel al-Ta’ban, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;

5. Mohammed Fadhel al-Lai, 15, wounded by two live bullets in the feet;

6. Anas ‘Aamer al-Buhaisi, 18, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot;

7. Ahmed Younis Abu Zayed, 14, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

8. Mohammed Mohammed al-‘Abid, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the left hand;

9. Mohammed Hassan Abu Qainas, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand;

10. Shadi Mousa Abu Rikab, 21, seriously wounded by several live bullets throughout the body; and

11. Mohammed Musleh Abu Shawish, 15, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand.

At approximately 10:30, a number of Palestinian resistance men clashed with Israeli heavy military vehicles on the northern edge of al-Musaddar village. Israeli soldiers fired at those men, wounding one of them, Marwan ‘Abdul Elah Abu Jayab, 22, with a live bullet in the legs. Then, an Israeli military vehicle moved towards him and ran over him, killing him instantly.

During this invasion, Israeli occupying forces damaged the electricity and telephone supplies, and destroyed a wall and the doors of four houses.

At approximately 13:00, while they were withdrawing from the village, Israeli occupying forces fired an artillery shell at some Palestinian civilians who were on agricultural areas between al-Maghazi refugee camp and al-Musaddar village. A Palestinian child, Yousef Riad Abu Nadi, 16, was killed by shrapnel throughout the body, and Walid Hussein Kalloub, 24, was wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder.

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses near Zo’rob square. A Palestinian woman, Nasra Yousef Fouju, 34, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh, while she was at home, approximately 500m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 16:00, 6 Israeli heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 150m into Imam ‘Ali Street near the Egyptian border, south of Rafah. They demolished two Palestinian houses:

1. They totally demolished a 300-square-meter, two-storey house, in which 6 families (26 people) live, owned by Mustafa Shihda Saleh Zo’rob.

2. They partially demolished a 200-square-meter house, in which 3 families (14 people) live, owned by ‘Abdul Mon’em Shihda Saleh Zo’rob.

A number of members of International Solidarity Movement tried to stop the demolition, but Israeli soldiers fired live bullets and sound bombs to drive them away from the area.

At approximately 00:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses near Zo’rob square. A Palestinian civilian, Rashed Khalil al-Qadhi, 75, was wounded by shrapnel in the head, while he was at home, approximately 450m away from the source of fire.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp. A Palestinian civilian, Eyad ‘Abdul Rahman al-Nijdi, 30, was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the back while he was at home, approximately 300m away from the source of fire.

Monday, 7 April 2003

At approximately 12:00, 25 Israeli soldiers, reinforced with two military vehicles and a bulldozer, moved approximately 1km into Sheikh Hammouda area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis. They raided and searched four Palestinian houses owned by Nidal Jihad Abu 'Eid, Suleiman 'Atwa al-'Emawi, Jaber Zayed al-'Emawi and 'Ali 'Abdul Karim al-Zar. They used the latter as a human shield to raid a site of the Palestinian National Security Force, approximately 30m away from his house. Al-Zar told PCHR's field worker in Khan Yunis that Israeli soldiers threatened to kill him if members of the Palestinian National Security Force resisted them. Israeli soldiers searched the site, which was empty, and then released al-Zar. They withdrew from the area at approximately 14:00.

Wednesday, 9 April 2003

At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 3km into the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. They took position near Hammouda fuel station at the main crossroads north of the town. Israeli tanks were deployed on Salah al-Din Street, west of the town. A number of Israeli soldiers were deployed on the roof of a two-storey building near Hammouda fuel station. They opened fired at Palestinian civilians in al-Sikka Street, approximately 200m west of Palestinian boys who threw stones towards Israeli forces. Two Palestinian civilians, including a child, were killed:

1. Ahmed Rashad 'Abdullah Abu al-Qumsan, 16, from Beit Lahia, shot by a live bullet in the chest; and

2. 'Emad 'Adnan al-Hindi, 21, from Jabalya, shot by a live bullet in the pelvis.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 'Ali Hussein al-Mushairfi, 36, a member of the Palestinian military liaison from al-Nada housing project, with a live bullet in the head as he was crossing Salah al-Din Street.

During this incursion, which continued until Thursday morning, 10 April 2003, a number of Palestinian resistance men clashed with Israeli occupying forces. Two Palestinian resistance men were killed in these clashes:

1. Ramez Nafez al-Talmas, 27, from Jabalya refugee camp, hit by shrapnel throughout the body; and

2. 'Abdul Mon'em Mohammed Nejem, 20, from Jabalya, shot by a live bullet in the head.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

On Thursday morning, 3 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead an activist of the Hamas movement in Nablus, as he resisted these forces when they came to arrest him. According to the victim’s wife, at approximately 03:00, while she was with her husband, Khaled ‘Ali Mohammed Baker, 33, and their 8-month-old infant, in the flat of Hassan Sanakra, who hosted them, located on the fourth floor of an apartment building in al-Nimsawi neighborhood in the north of Nablus, they heard an explosion outside. They also heard a noise at the door. Immediately, her husband (who was holding a pistol) went to the door. He saw Israeli soldiers standing there. When was 2m away from them, he tried to fire at them, but they immediately opened fire at him. He was killed by several live bullets throughout the body. The wife said that Israeli soldiers fired at her husband’s head after he had been killed. Baker was an activist of the Hamas movement in Nablus.

On Monday evening, 7 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces assassinated a Palestinian in the northern West Bank town of Salfit. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 20:15, while Bader 'Abdul Ra'ouf Yassin, 23, from Salfit, was sitting in front of a grocery shop near a café in the center of the town, a civilian car (white Mitsubishi) that had a Palestinian registration number stopped near the café. Six gunmen in civilian clothes got out of the car fired at Yassin from a distance of 10m. Yassin was wounded by a live bullet in the chest. Yassin put his hand on the place of the wound and ran towards a nearby alley. The gunmen chased and fired at him until he fell. One of the gunmen moved towards Yassin and moved his body. Unconvinced that Yassin was dead, the gunman fired at him point blank until he was certain. His body was evacuated to hospital. According to medical sources, Yassin was shot by 24 live bullets throughout the body. Yassin was a member of Palestinian Military Intelligence and an activist of the Fatah movement.

The Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli security sources on its Arabic web page as saying that "an Israeli military unit killed a Palestinian activist in Salfit as he tried to escape when the unit wanted to arrest him." An Israeli military source of the Israeli central command claimed that the military unit attempted to arrest the activist, but he escaped, so soldiers fired warning bullets in the air, and when he did not stop, they shot him dead. Eyewitnesses refuted this claim.

On Tuesday, 8 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces committed another assassination in Gaza City, which resulted in the deaths of 7 Palestinians, including two children. This war crime comes in the context of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations adopted by the Israeli occupying forces in violation of international law. Such actions are defined as war crimes, under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

Two Israeli combat helicopters, accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet, launched two missiles at a civilian car in a densely populated area of Gaza City. Two Palestinians, allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces, were traveling in the car. A number of Palestinian civilians gathered around the targeted car to rescue the victims, when the aircraft launched a third missile, killing 5 Palestinian civilians, including two children, and injuring dozens.

According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitness reports, at approximately 20:35 on Tuesday, April 8 2003, two Israeli combat helicopters, accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet, flew over Gaza City. One of the helicopters launched a missile at a civilian car (a white Subaru), that was traveling approximately 30m away from Imam Shaf'ei mosque in the 'Asqoula area, a densely populated area in the east of Gaza City. The missile hit the left side of the car. Soon after, the helicopter launched another missile that hit the car. The car exploded and those inside were killed. Later, the victims were identified as:

1. Sa'ad Musa'ed al-'Arabid, 35, from the Sheikh Rdwan neighborhood in Gaza City, a member of 'Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement; and

2. Ashraf 'Abdul Rahim al-Halabi, 28, from al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza.

Soon after, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered around the car to see what had happened and to attempt to rescue the victims. Immediately, in an action apparently aimed at causing the maximum number of Palestinian civilian casualties, a missile was launched at the crowd by one of the helicopters. Five Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed:

1. Ahmed Khamis al-Ashram, 13;

2. Sami Hassan Qassem, 16;

3. 'Omar Kamel Nassar, 21;

4. Mohammed Saber Basal, 20; and

5. Mahmoud Sa'id Farawana, 30.

In addition, 53 other civilians were injured, 8 of whom are in a serious condition. A number of houses and civilian facilities in the area were also severely damaged.

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

Friday, 4 April 2003

At approximately 13:00, Israeli soldiers at al-Matahen military checkpoint on Salah al-Din Street, which links between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, fired at a civilian car that was traveling from Khan Yunis to Deir al-Balah. The driver, Ahmed ‘Abed Ahmed Tafesh, 22, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. Two women who were traveling in the car were not hurt. Then, an Israeli military jeep pushed the car outside the checkpoint and civilians evacuated the driver to hospital.

In the evening, Israeli occupying forces fired at some Palestinian civilians who challenged the curfew imposed on the southern residential areas of Hebron. Three civilians were wounded:

1. Tha’er Daoud Abu Subaih, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;

2. Amin ‘Abdul Halim Abu Daoud, 31, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chin; and

3. Fadi Saber Barqan, 13, wounded by a robber-coated metal bullet in the forehead.

Saturday, 5 April 2003

After they declared that they had shot dead a Palestinian gunman, ‘Alaa’ Joudi Rebhi al-Natsha, 20, from Hebron, when he attempted to enter “Kiryat Arba” settlement, Israeli occupying forces launched a series of retaliatory attacks against Palestinian civilians in the town. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 20:30, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian houses in Jabal Jouhar neighborhood in the south of the town, which is under Israeli security control. Two Palestinian children were wounded:

1. Yazid ‘Emad No’man Da’na, 12, seriously wounded by an explosive live bullet in the right knee; and

2. Jibril Mohammed Subeh al-Rujbi, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the right forearm and the left ankle.

Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets

At approximately 03:00 on Thursday, 3 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of the family of the deceased Mahmoud Marmash in the east of Tulkram, which is located on the first floor of a 3-storey apartment building owned by heirs of Mahmoud al-Tuhal. They forced the mother, Halima Mohammed Hassan Marmash, 52, her daughter and 12 grandchildren out. They also forced out residents of the other two floors of the building. Then, Israeli soldiers planted explosives in the Marmash's house and destroyed it, without allowing the family to evacuate furniture. The other two floors of the building were damaged.

At approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 8 April 2003, 9 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Emrin village, northwest of Nablus, and surrounded the house of Sadiq Mar'ei Hussein Hassoun, 70. They called through loudspeakers to the 12 residents of the 320-square-meter, two-storey house to get out. They also forced residents of the 25 neighboring houses out of their houses. At approximately 06:20, Israeli forces destroyed the house, damaging a neighboring house. Hassoun is the father of 'Abdul Salam Hassoun who carried out a bombing inside Israel in January 2002.

Israeli Occupying Forces Demolish 17 Palestinian Houses and a Barracks in Jerusalem

In a continuation of the policy of house demolition in Jerusalem and its suburbs to force the Palestinian population to leave the city in persistent attempts to Judaize the area, Israeli occupying forces demolished 17 Palestinian houses and a barracks in occupied Jerusalem under the pretext of the lack of building licenses.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 09:30 on Thursday, 3 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 3 bulldozers, raided the areas of Deir al-‘Aamoud and Wadi al-‘Ain in Sour Baher village, south of occupied Jerusalem. Until 18:00, they demolished 6 Palestinian houses and a barracks of construction materials. They also demolished a Palestinian house in al-Za’im neighborhood in al-Tour village, east of occupied Jerusalem.

At approximately 07:00 on Monday, 7 April 2003, a unit of the so-called Israeli “border guard” and police, accompanied by some officials of the municipality of West Jerusalem and bulldozers, raided ‘Eissawia village, northeast of occupied Jerusalem. They demolished 10 Palestinian flats under the pretext of the lack of necessary building licenses. Thus, the number of Palestinian houses demolished by Israeli occupying authorities in Jerusalem and its suburbs since the beginning of this year has increased to 34, in comparison to a total of 41 houses throughout the whole of 2001, which marks a sharp escalation of the policy of house demolition. This number does not include other buildings used for purposed other than housing.

19 Palestinian School Children Injured As a Result of an Explosion of a Bomb in a School in Jenin

In another crime committed by Zionist gangs against Palestinian civilians, 19 Palestinian school children were injured as a result of the explosion of a bomb, for which a terrorist Jewish organization claimed responsibility.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 12:00 on Wednesday, 9 April 2003, an explosion occurred inside a classroom in the west part of the second floor of Martyr Farid Ghannam School in Jaba' village, south of Jenin. The bomb was planted in a corner of the classroom. Nineteen school children were injured, two of whom were in serious condition.

At approximately 14:30, the Israeli daily Ydiot Aharanot reported on its Arabic web page that that an organization called "Children's Wrath" claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement to the Israeli media. The statement mentioned that the attack "came in retaliation for the killing of children by Arabs." The newspaper added that the Israeli police initiated an investigation into the attack. It also indicated that the same organizations had already claimed responsibilities for two other attacks on Palestinians.

* * * * *

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 before international courts those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territoris.

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.