PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

Weekly Report: On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

No. 34/2003

04-10 Sep. 2003

Israeli Forces escalate war crimes in the OPT

Following the 2 bombings that took place inside Israel on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Israeli political and military officials escalated their threats against Palestinians, indicating that the war crimes that are being perpetrated against Palestinian civilians may continue. PCHR is concerned that Israeli occupying forces may continue to escalate their aggression towards Palestinian civilians and increasingly employ excessive force against civilian targets, including the use of warplanes. This comes at a time when the Israeli political and military establishments have declared that they will continue to take whatever measures necessary against the leaders of Palestinian groups such as Hamas.

Only a few hours after issuing these threats, on Wednesday morning, 10 September 2003, Israeli warplanes launched missiles at the house of Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, a senior leader of the Hamas movement, in the densely populated al-Sabra neighborhood in central Gaza City. Al-Zahhar managed to survive, but his son and one of his bodyguards were killed in the aerial attack. This attack came only a few days after the assassination attempt targetting Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The tactics used in both these attacks are reminiscent of an assault that occurred on 22 July 2002, when Israeli forces used F-16 fighter jets to target a house in the densely populated al-Daraj neighborhood in the center of Gaza City. This attack resulted in the deaths of 18 Palestinians, including Sheikh Salah Shehada, a leader of the military wing of the Hamas movement, along with his wife, daughter and bodyguard. The other victims, mostly children, were residents of neighboring houses.

This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian Authority controlled areas, during which they killed a number of Palestinian civilians, raided and destroyed houses and arrested dozens of Palestinians, razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished a number of houses. Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas and have maintained the total siege imposed on the OPT. This week, 4-10 September 2003, 11 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others were wounded by Israeli occupying forces.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 7 incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they razed large areas of agricultural land, especially in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. Israeli occupying forces continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, particularly in Khan Yunis and Rafah. A number of Palestinian civilians, including children, were wounded.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian controlled areas, accompanied by indiscriminate shelling and shooting. On 4 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 7-storey apartment building in Nablus in which 8 families lived. The destruction took place following an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and a Palestinian gunman. The gunman was killed during the fire-fight after sustaining several gunshot wounds. On 9 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces surrounded and opened fire at an 8-storey apartment building in Hebron. 3 Palestinians, including an 11-year-old child in a neighboring house, were killed in the attack and 2 other civilians were wounded. Israeli occupying forces planted explosives in the building and destroyed it, leaving 98 people (14 families) homeless.

In 2 cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead 2 Palestinian boys in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. On 6 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces fired at a 17-year-old Palestinian civilian near the border with Israel, east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. He was wounded by a number of gunshots and Israeli soldiers left him at the scene, without offering him any medical help. As Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area the victim bled to death. The circumstances of the incident indicate that Israeli soldiers fired at the victim without making any attempt to apprehend him.

On 10 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian boy while he was attempting to cross the separatiion wall near Seilat al-Harthia village in the northern West Bank. They also wounded and arrested another boy.

Israeli occupying forces shelled Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, while Palestinian civilians were exiting a mosque after the evening prayer, killing 2 Palestinian civilians and wounding 2 others seriously.

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 a 3-storey house in Tulkarm and a shop in Hebron, in addition to the 2 apartment buildings destroyed in Nablus and Hebron.

Israeli occupying forces continue to maintain a strict siege on the OPT, especially in the West Bank. On 7 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a comprehensive closure on the OPT and prevented all Palestinians from entering Israel.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces re-erected 2 observation towers at Abu Houli and al-Matahen junctions, north of Khan Yunis, on Salah al-Din Street – the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. This reinstates the situation that was in place prior to 30 June 2003. In accordance with Palestinian-Israeli security negotiations concluded on 30 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces had redeployed from Salah al-Din Street and the 2 observation towers were moved 15-20m away from their original sites. Following these latest developments, Israeli occupying forces have retained complete control over Salah al-Din Street.

While Israeli occupying forces continue to perpetrate violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians, they have also continued to establish a separating wall between the West Bank and Israel. For this purpose, they confiscated more areas of Palestinian land and demolished more Palestinian houses. After the suicide bombings, the Israeli chief of police, Shlomo Aharoneski, stated that the construction of the separation wall must continue and added that the Israeli Prime Minister had ordered that the construction be expedited. This week Israeli occupying forces closed gates separating Palestinian villages, fencing them in between the wall and the Green Line and cutting them off from the rest of the West Bank.

This week, in a serious escalation of war crimes perpetrated against Palestinian civilians, Israeli occupying forces carried out two extra-judicial assassination attempts in Gaza City. The first targeted Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, but he managed to survive the attempt. During an Israeli aerial attack, a missile was fired at a residential building in central Gaza City. Sheikh Yassin and Ismail Haniya, another leader of Hamas, both sustained only moderate injuries in the attack. 13 Palestinian civilians were also wounded. The second assassination attempt targeted Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar, another prominent leader of the Hamas movement. Al-Zahhar survived the attack carried out by Israeli occupying forces on his home in central Gaza City with only moderate injuries. Al-Zahhar’s son and one of his bodyguards were killed in the aerial attack and 20 Palestinian civilians, including al-Zahhar's wife and daughter were wounded. In the two attempts, Israeli occupying forces used F-16 fighter jets against houses in densely populated areas, highlighting the flagrant disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians.

According to PCHR’s investigations, at approximately 16:00 on Saturday, 6 September 2003, an Israeli aircraft fired 1 missile into an apartment on the third floor of a residential building in al-Daraj neighborhood, a densely populated residential area in the centre of Gaza City. The building is owned by Dr. Marwan Abu Ras, a lecturer in Arabic Literature at the Islamic University in Gaza City, who was sustained injuries to his legs in the attack. Sheikh Yassin and Ismail Haniya were reported to have been visiting Abu Ras and were just leaving the building when the missile struck. The missile destroyed the third floor apartment and the rest of the building sustained serious structural damage. Several nearby buildings were also damaged.

12 other Palestinians in the area were injured, including a number of members of the Abu Ras family. All of the wounded, with the exception of Yassin and Haniya, were taken to Shifa Hospital in central Gaza City. Medical resources reported that there were 6 children among the wounded.

At approximately 10:15 on Wednesday, 10 September 2003, Israeli warplanes launched missiles at Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahhar's house in the densely populated al-Sabra neighborhood in central Gaza City. The 2-storey house was totally demolished in the attack. Ambulance and rescue personnel arrived at the scene shortly after the strike and removed 2 bodies from the rubble of the building. The 2 victims were later identified as al-Zahhar's son, Khaled, 25, and his bodyguard, Shehda Yousef al-Deeri, 32, from Gaza City. Al-Zahhar was moderately wounded in the attack and more than 20 other Palestinian civilians, including al-Zahhar's wife and daughter, were also wounded. Medical sources described the conditions of several of the wounded, including al-Zahhar's wife, as serious.

PCHR field workers reported that the Israeli attack also damaged several neighboring houses, as well as the nearby al-Rahma mosque.

An Activist Succumbs to a Wound He Had Sustained in a Previous Assassination Attempt

At approximately 12:00, on Saturday, 6 September 2003, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Khaled Mahmoud Mustafa Mas’oud, 26, from Jabalya, died from a wound he had sustained in an assassination attempt carried out by Israeli occupying forces approximately 2 weeks prior. According to PCHR’s investigations, Mas’oud and 2 of his colleagues, both members of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of the Hamas movement, were the targets of an assassination attempt carried out on 26 August 2003. The 3 survived the attempt, but Mas’oud was seriously wounded, and an old man was killed. Later, a 9-year-old child died from a wound she sustained during the attack. 28 Palestinian civilians in the area were also wounded.

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 10 tanks and 4 bulldozers, moved approximately 300m into Palestinian agricultural areas located north of the Kfar Darom settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Under cover of intense gunfire, the Israeli military bulldozers razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 28-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and fruits and destroyed a 200-meter-long wall and a 300-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Hatem Ahmed Mohammed Abu Samra.

2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed an agricultural pool and a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Khalil Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra.

3. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and fruits owned by Salama Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra.

4. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and fruits owned by 'Omar Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra and his brother.

5. They razed a 4.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and palms owned by Hassan Suleiman Hassan Abu Samra and his brothers.

At approximately 10:30, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces infiltrated into the Palestinian controlled town of Salfit, south of Nablus, using 2 Palestinian registered civilian cars. Soon after, an Israeli armored personnel carrier and 5 military jeeps moved into the town. They surrounded the house of Sanbak al-Halabi in the north of the town and ordered the residents to evacuate the building. The residents left the house and Israeli soldiers checked their identity cards and searched them. Israeli soldiers arrested 3 of them:

1. Mohammed Hussein al-Harrim, 23, allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces;

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at a military location near Tal al-Sultan military checkpoint in western Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Bassam Naji Rusrus, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. At the same time, Israeli soldiers in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Zo'rob neighborhood to the east. A number of live bullets hit an elementary school in the area, during school hours, causing panic among the students.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicles. 1 of the stone throwers and a passing civilian were wounded:

1. Mousa 'Ezzat 'Eissa Khatatba, 21, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

2. Mahmoud Yousef Mousa Hanani, 43, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the jaw.

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps, moved into the Palestinian controlled Seilat al-Harthiya village, west of Jenin. They imposed a curfew and raided and searched houses. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli military vehicle. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the children, wounding 14-year-old Malek 'Abdul Baset al-Kilani with a live bullet in the abdomen.

On Friday morning, 5 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces destroyed a 7-storey apartment building in Nablus in which 8 families lived. The destruction took place following an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and a Palestinian gunman. The gunman was killed during the fire-fight after sustaining several gunshot wounds.

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 22:30 on Thursday, 4 September 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Makhfiya neighborhood in the southwest of Nablus, using 4 Palestinian taxis and a Ford minibus. Israeli soldiers surrounded a 600-square-meter, 7-storey apartment building owned by Ja’far Rezeq al-Masri. Soon after, approximately 30 Israeli military vehicles moved into the area, accompanied by a helicopter gun-ship. Israeli soldiers used megaphones to order the residents to vacate the building and neighboring houses. The residents were gathered together and taken to the nearby Sa’id Ben ‘Aamer elementary school, where they were detained for several hours. Israeli soldiers then broke into the building, and, after coming under fire from the Palestinian gunman, evacuated the building.

At approximately 03:00 on Friday, 5 September 2003, Israeli forces attacked the fourth floor of the building with anti-tank missiles and broke into the building once again. A few hours later, Israeli soldiers were seen taking the gunman’s body out of the building. Later, he was identified as “Mohammed Yousef” ‘Abdul Rahim al-Hanbali, 28, an engineer from Nablus. Israeli occupying forces claimed that al-Hanbali was wanted for being the northern West Bank leader of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam, the military wing of the Hamas movement. At approximately 09:00, as the Israeli military operation came to a close, occupying soldiers planted explosives on the first floor of the building. The building was completely leveled by the explosion. As a result, 48 Palestinians (8 families), including 30 children, have become homeless:

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 3 tanks and a military bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into al-Mughraqa village, south of Nablus. Immediately, they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and figs and destroyed a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by 'Abdul Fattah Hamdan.

2. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and figs and destroyed a 50-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Hassan 'Ali al-Dirawi.

3. They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and destroyed a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Suleiman 'Ali al-Dirwai.

4. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and destroyed a 200-meter-long barbwire fence owned by Mahmoud Sha'ban al-Hilu.

5. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Majed 'Abdullah al-Hassanat.

6. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with corns owned by Ishaq 'Abdul Karim Hassan.

7. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ra'fat Suleiman Shahin.

8. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Zuhair al-'Alami.

9. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Farjallah Rashad al-Mallahi.

At approximately 05:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved hundreds of meters into Zo'rob neighborhood in the southwest of Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They demolished a Palestinian house and razed large areas of agricultural land:

1. They demolished a 200-square-meter, under-construction house owned by 'Omar Suleiman Mabrouk Buraika.

2. They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and beans and destroyed an agricultural pool and an agricultural room owned by Nour al-Din Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

3. They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, and destroyed an agricultural pool, a water pump and an irrigation network owned Farouq Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

4. They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool, an agricultural room, a water pump and an irrigation network.

5. They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, beans and eggplants and destroyed an agricultural pool, an agricultural room, a water pump and an irrigation network owned by Salah Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

6. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, and destroyed a well, an agricultural pool, a water pump, an agricultural room and an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

7. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables, and destroyed an agricultural pool, a water pump, an agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by 'Omar Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

8. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool, a water pump, an agricultural room and an irrigation network owned by Hafez Tawfiq Mahmoud Buraika.

9. They razed a 3500-square-meter irrigation network owned by Yousef Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

10. They razed a 3500-square-meter irrigation network owned by Ahmed Mohammed 'Olayan Buraika.

11. They destroyed parts of a fence surrounding a wedding gallery owned by Ahmed Suleiman Mousa Hijazi.

At approximately 16:00, an Israeli tank moved approximately 150m into Gizan Abu Rashwan in the southwest of Khan Yunis. It took position near a well of the Municipality of Khan Yunis and opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural lands in the area. Although no casualties were reported, a number of houses were damaged.

Approximately an hour later, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 military bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into Um al-Selek in the southwest of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 21-donum area of agricultural land planted with onions, on which 3 greenhouses stood, and destroyed 4 agricultural rooms, an agricultural pool, 2 water pumps, an irrigation network and agricultural tools owned by 'Eissa Mustafa 'Eissa al-Lahham.

2. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land, on which 8 greenhouses stood, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Sami, Ghazi and Suhail Shehda Hassan Hijazi.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with cucumbers and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Fadhel Hijazi 'Ouda Hiajazi.

At approximately 19:00, an Israeli military force of 5 military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the military jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers wounding 2:

1. Ahmed Najeh Mustafa Hanani, 14, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the legs; and

2. Ziad Ghazi Nafe' Hanani, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand and a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in a military locations near Tal al-Sultan military checkpoint, west of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. As a result, a fire broke out in a flat owned by Ahmed Fua'd Rusrus, located opposite to the military location.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into 'Assira village, north of Nablus. They raided and searched Hamed Hamadna's house. Then, they arrested the owner's son, Nayef, 25.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They raided and searched Mousa Hanani's house. Then, they arrested the owner's son, Nassim, 17.

In the morning, Israeli soldiers fired at a Palestinian worker from Beit Fourik who was on his way to work, wounding him. They left him bleeding without offering him any medical aid.

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 05:00, Ayman Khaled Mohammed 'Ouda, 32, a worker from Deir al-Hatab village, east of Nablus, was on his way to his work in Kufor Qassem town inside the Green Line. When he was walking on a muddy road south of Qalqilya towards the Green Line, Israeli soldiers, who were patrolling in the area, fired at him. He was wounded by a live bullet in the buttocks. Israeli soldiers left him bleeding without offering him an medical aid. Shortly later, a Palestinian civilian car arrived at the area and evacuated him to UNRWA Hospital in Qalqilya. A few hours later, he was transferred in an ambulance to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but when the ambulance arrived at Hawara military checkpoint, south of Nablus, Israeli soldiers denied the passage of the ambulance, so he was taken to another ambulance on the other side of the checkpoint.

At approximately 09:00, 2 Israeli military jeeps moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They patrolled the village provoking and insulting Palestinian civilians. At approximately 09:30, the two jeeps took position near the road leading to the village schools. They withdrew from the village at approximately 10:00, but came back again at approximately 15:30, when school children were leaving school. A number of the school children threw stones at the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children, wounding 2:

1. Mohammed Tahseen Mustafa Hanani, 9, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the left leg and buttock; and

2. Mashour Masha'er Mustafa Hanani, 10, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back.

At approximately 12:15, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at the cemeteries area and a n apartment buildings in al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Ibrahim Suleiman Abu 'Azab, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder, when he was visiting his deceased mothers tomb.

In the afternoon, in an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces fired at a 17-year-old Palestinian civilian near the border with Israel, east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya. He was wounded by a number of gunshots. Israeli soldiers left him bleeding to death without offering him any medical aid. Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area. The circumstances of the incident indicate that Israeli soldiers fired at the victim without making any attempt to arrest him. They also left him bleeding to death.

According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 15:00, Saleh al-Natour, a paramedic of Palestine Red Crescent Society, received a phone call from Mohammed 'Abdullah Shehda Abu al-Hassan, 17, from Jabalya, in which Abu al-Hassan informed him that he was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg and asked for help and specified his place. Immediately, an ambulance moved towards the area, but they were not able to attend him until the evening due to the lack of coordination with Israeli occupying forces. The victim continued to call the ambulance center using a mobile phone. Before connection with him was cut, he informed medical aid workers that whenever he tried to creep away from the area, Israeli soldiers fired at him. At approximately 10:00 on the following day, Sunday, 7 September 2003, an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society was able to reach the area with assistance of the victim's relatives. He was dead. His body was evacuated to Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. According to medical sources he was hit by several live bullets in the head, the neck, the abdomen and the right leg. Signs of crawling on the ground were visible on his body, especially the arms.

At approximately 15:00, an Israeli force of an armored personnel carrier and 3 military jeeps moved into Nablus through its western entrance. They moved towards the central market in the middle of the town, firing at houses and streets. A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the stone throwers, wounding 4:

1. 'Aahed Bassam Mohammed Kalbouna, 18, from Nablus, wounded by a live bullet in the left forearm;

2. 'Orabi Najeh Tayseer al-Aghbar, 18, from Nablus, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder;

3. Salah Joma'a Mohammed al-'Akka, 15, from 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left shoulder; and

4. Ayoub Mas'oud Husni Habibi, 19, from Nablus, wounded by shrapnel in the legs.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned in military locations in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" and "Neve Dekalim" settlements, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Amal and al-Nimsawi neighborhoods and Khan Yunis refugee camp. The Israeli gunfire continued sporadically for 3 hours, but no casualties were reported.

At approximately 23:00, Israeli occupying forces in military locations along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas to the north. A Palestinian civilian, Hani Isma'il Abu al-So'ud, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that Abu al-So'ud was wounded when he was near his house in Block O in Rafah refugee camp, approximately 300m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 03:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with military vehicles and helicopters, moved approximately 800m into the western refugee camp near Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah. Immediately, Israeli soldiers raided Mahmoud Mohammed Tabasi’s house, destroying its door. They detained the 16 residents of the house in one room on the ground floor. Then, they blindfolded the owner and asked him about one of his sons, Akram. They searched the other houses in the compound and arrested 4 of the owner’s sons: 1) Akra, 31, a policeman; 2) Haitham, 23, a driver; 3) Mohammed, 35, a worker; and 4) Ra’fat, 22, a worker. According to the family, Israeli soldiers also confiscated a large amount of money and 4 mobile phones.

At approximately 06:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Sumairi area to the west of the “Kissufim” settlement road. Al-Sumairi is in al-Qarara village north of Khan Yunis. Immediately, Israeli soldiers raided and searched 5 houses belonging to the al-Sumairi family. Then, they searched agricultural areas. Approximately 2 hours later, the infantry unit was reinforced by other Israeli forces and a bulldozer. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a well owned by Jama’an Salama Jomai’an al-Sumairi. They also uprooted 6 olive trees, a 100-meter-long row of wild figs, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Humaidan al-Sumairi.

At approximately 19:30, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location near Salah al-Din Gate on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas north of the border. A Palestinian civilian, ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Muhsen Madhi, 35, was wounded by shrapnel in the face while he was walking approximately 1000m north of the border.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood to the north. A Palestinian woman, Zakia Mohammed Abu ‘Armana, 45, was wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen while she was inside her house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 23:00, 2 Israeli helicopter gunships launched 2 missiles at a store in the densely populated Block H in Khan Yunis refugee camp. As a result, 8 Palestinian civilians, including a 3-year-old child, were wounded:

2. Mahmoud Isma’il Matar, 33, a member of PCHR’s staff, wounded by shrapnel in the face;

In addition, 9 Palestinian houses were severely damaged. Israeli military sources claimed that the store contained weapons and explosives and belonged to the brother of ‘Abdul Salam Mousa, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces for his activities in ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas movement.

At approximately 02:00, 6 Israeli military jeeps moved into Jaba’ village, southeast of Jenin. They imposed a curfew and raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses. Upon their withdrawal from the village, Israeli soldiers arrested 2 young men:

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Deir Abu Masha’al village, west of Ramallah. They opened fire at Palestinian houses, but no casualties were reported. Upon their withdrawal from the village, Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 22:00, an Israeli military force of 15 tanks, armored personnel carriers and military jeeps and 2 military bulldozers, reinforced by 2 helicopters, moved into Tulkarm refugee camp in the northern West Bank. They imposed a curfew on the camp. They also fired live ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas canisters. As a result of Israeli shooting, a Palestinian civilian, Salim Mahmoud Abu Safia, 48, was wounded by a live bullet that entered the abdomen and exited the back.

In the second such incident this week, early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces surrounded and opened fire at an 8-storey apartment building in Hebron. Three Palestinians, including an 11-year-old child in a neighboring house, were killed in the attack and two other civilians were wounded. Israeli occupying forces planted explosives in the building and destroyed it, rendering 98 people (14 families) homeless.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 02:00 on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces, including a tank, 3 armored personnel carriers (APCs), 12 military jeeps and a military bulldozer, moved into the Abu Katila neighborhood in northwest Hebron. They imposed a curfew on the neighborhood and then surrounded an 8-storey apartment building, in which 14 families live. They opened fire and ordered residents to exit the building. Residents left the building and gathered in the yard. During this part of the operation, a resident, Basem Fathi Al-Dajani, 37, was injured and then taken away by Israeli soldiers. Israeli occupying forces conducted physical searches of the residents and then detained them in a nearby nursery school. At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces called out to gunmen who they believed were still in the building to exit. Then, Israeli soldiers opened fire with heavy machine guns at the building from the north, the west and the south. At approximately 06:30, Israeli soldiers began firing tank shells at the building and a number of apartments sustained serious damage. This shooting and shelling continued for more than 4 hours. At approximately 10:20, 11-year-old Tha’er Mohammed Mansour Sayouri was hit in the head by a piece of shrapnel, killing him instantly. According to the child’s father, Tha'er was hit while he was in the kitchen of his home which overlooks the western part of the targeted building. The house is located approximately 45m to the south of the targeted building. 18-year-old Taratil Anwar ‘Abdul Hafez Abu Hamdiya, who was also at home in a nearby building, sustained a shrapnel wound to her pelvis.

PCHR’s field worker in Hebron reported that at approximately 12:20, Israeli occupying forces forced Palestinian journalists away from the area and also called on residents of neighboring houses to leave the area. At approximately 14:00, more Israeli military reinforcements, including 2 ambulances, were brought to the area. Israeli occupying forces also resumed shelling of the building. At approximately 15:00, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched 3 missiles at the building. At approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers were seen bringing 2 of the residents who were detained in the nursery school and forcing them to wear white clothes similar to those of medical personnel. Then, Israeli soldiers forced the two residents to carry a stretcher and enter the building. At approximately 15:50, the two residents were seen removing a body from the building. Approximately 10 minutes later, they were seen again removing another body. Israeli soldiers transferred the two bodies to a military jeep which took them to an unknown destination. At approximately 18:05, Israeli soldiers planted explosives on the ground floor of the building and detonated them. A part of the building was destroyed. Israeli soldiers detonated explosives in the building again at 19:10 and 20:00. At approximately 20:30, an Israeli military bulldozer started to level the remains of the building.

‘Othan Bader, 68, told PCHR’s field worker in Hebron that at approximately 19:10, Israeli occupying forces took him to the headquarters of the military liaison in Hebron and asked him to identify the two bodies. The victims were identified as:

1. Ahmed ‘Othman Bader, 22, hit by shrapnel throughout the body, whom Israeli occupying forces claimed to be the leader of ‘Ezziddin al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas movement, in Hebron;

This operation came following a similar Israeli military operation conducted in Nablus on Friday 5 September 2003, in which a 7-storey apartment building was demolished.

At approximately 06:45, Israeli soldiers positioned in a military location in Tal Zo’rob area in the southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, Sufian Mustafa Mohammed ‘Abdullah, 42, was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli tanks positioned at the Egyptian border opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood in the south of Rafah. Two Palestinian civilians were wounded while they were near their houses, approximately 500m north of the border:

1. Ibrahim Harbi al-Ghairani, 23, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot; and

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 300m into al-‘Abit area, north of “Kfar Darom” settlement in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They leveled areas of Palestinian agricultural land they had already razed on 8 May 2003. Then, they raided houses of the al-‘Abit family and forced their residents out. Israeli soldiers searched the houses. Upon their withdrawal from the area, they took 7 young men to a nearby military location and interrogated them. The young men were released an hour later.

At approximately 17:30, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Rafah refugee camp. 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Samira Marzouq Siam, 45, wounded by a live bullet in the back, while she was near her house in al-Shaboura area, approximately 1200m to the north of the border;

2. Rashad Mohammed Abu Sha’ar, 18, wounded by 2 live bullets in the legs, while he was near his house in al-Shaboura area, approximately 1200m to the north of the border; and

3. Subhi ‘Abdul Hadi al-Jamal, 19, wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, while he was near his house in Yibna area, approximately 300m to the north of the border.

In the evening, in an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian boy while he was crossing the separating wall Israel has constructed between Palestinian areas near Seilat al-Harthia village in the northern West Bank. Israeli forces also wounded and arrested another boy in the area.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 19:45, 4 Palestinian boys were on their way back to their houses in Seilat al-Harthia village, southwest of Jenin, from their work in Um al-Fahem town inside the Green Line. When they crossed the separating wall, which passes through the northeastern part of the village, an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling in the area noticed them. An Israeli soldier fired a live bullet in the air, but the boys attempted to escape. Immediately, an Israeli soldier jumped out of the jeep and fired at them from a distance of approximately 50m. One of the boys was killed and another one was wounded, while the other two boys were able to escape. Israeli soldiers arrested the wounded boy and detained the body of the deceased boy. At approximately 10:00 on Thursday, 11 September 2003, the body was delivered to the Palestinian side. The victim was identified as Ahmed Ghaleb Salim Tahaina, 16, from Seilat al-Harthia village, while the other boy, who was wounded and arrested, was identified as Marwan Mohammed Salim Rashid, 14.

Also in the evening, Israeli occupying forces shelled Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, killing 2 Palestinian civilians.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 20:40, a tank and a military jeep of Israeli occupying forces moved into the road leading to ‘Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They moved forward and took position at the western entrance to Balata refugee camp. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on the tank opened fire with heavy machine guns at the main road of the camp while Palestinian civilians were exiting a mosque after the evening prayer. Two young men were killed:

1. Mahmoud Ahmed Nasser ‘Eissa, 20, hit by 2 heavy caliber bullets in the neck and the left shoulder; and

2. Mohammed Shukri Khalil al-‘Aassi, 19, hit by a heavy caliber bullet in the abdomen.

1. Ibrahim ‘Abdullah al-Jammal, 18, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the pelvis; and

2. Jawadat ‘Abdul Ra’ouf Mustafa Musallam, 19, seriously wounded by a heavy caliber bullet in the right side.

A PCHR field worker reported that Israeli occupying forces fired at the young men from a distance of approximately 100m when the area was completely quiet.

At approximately 21:45, Israeli occupying forces positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian residential and agricultural areas in ‘Abasan and al-Qarara villages to the west. A Palestinian civilian, Salem Jamil Hassan Abu Shab, 18, was wounded by shrapnel in the neck and hands, while he was walking approximately 500m away from the border.

At approximately 22:20, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Neve Dekalim” settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood to the east. A Palestinian civilian, Taher Nayef Abu Hannoud, 57, a physician at Nasser Hospital, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the left side. He was wounded when he was in al-Bahar Street, approximately 800m away from the source fire.

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

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 took retaliatory measures against the families of Palestinians Israel alleges have ordered, facilitated, or carried out attacks against Israeli targets.

At approximately 01:50 on Monday, 8 September 2003, an Israeli military force of 15 military vehicles and 2 bulldozers, moved into Tulkarm refugee camp. They seized control over the camp and surrounded a 90-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Sharif Husni Farhana, 57. Approximately half an hour later, Israeli soldiers broke into the house and forced the 12 residents to leave without allowing them to evacuate any of their belongings. The soldiers then planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it. The owner’s son, Mursi, 26, had previously been detained, after Israeli occupying forces claimed that he had aided in the planning of suicide bombings that were to be carried out in Israeli towns.

At approximately 21:45 on the same day, an Israeli military force of 8 military jeeps and an ambulance moved into the Sha’aba neighborhood in the east of Hebron. They broke into a shop owned by Nabil Hijazi ‘Obaidu, 37, and planted explosives inside. At approximately 22:00, they destroyed the shop. ‘Obaidu and his brother, Hazem, 30, have been detained by Israeli occupying forces for several weeks and their other brother, Walid, was killed in an exchange of fire with Israeli occupying forces in 2002. PCHR’s field worker in Hebron reported that Nabil ‘Obaidu suffers heart disease.

In addition, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 2 apartment buildings in Nablus and Hebron, claiming that Palestinian gunmen were hiding inside (see details above).

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on the OPT, especially in the West Bank. On 7 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a comprehensive closure on the OPT and prevented all Palestinians from entering Israel

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces re-erected two observation towers at Abu Houli and al-Matahen junctions on Salah al-Din Street north of Khan Yunis. Salah al-Din Street is the main road between the northern and southern regions of the Gaza Strip. The enforcement of these two checkpoints reconstructs the situation that preceded 30 June 2003. Israeli occupying forces had redeployed at Salah al-Din Street according to Palestinian-Israeli security understandings concluded on 30 June 2003. The two observation towers were moved 15-20m away from their original sites. Enforcing the two checkpoints allow Israeli occupying forces to retained complete control over Salah al-Din Street, partitioning the Gaza Strip into 3 isolated zones. Israeli occupying forces have also continued to close the western road between Rafah and Khan Yunis, the part of Salah al-Din Street adjacent to the central Gaza Strip, Abu al-‘Ajin road between Wadi al-Salqa and al-Qarara villages, north of Khan Yunis, and a number of branch roads. In addition, Israeli occupying forces have maintained a strict siege on al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza Strip and al-Sayafa area in the north.

On Thursday, 4 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli junctions on Salah al-Din Street. Then, Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 100m south of al-Matahen junction. They surrounded a 5-storey apartment building, apparently suspecting that a Palestinian gunman was hiding inside. They fired live ammunition, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians and vehicles in the area. Many civilians suffered from tear gas inhalation, and ‘Abed Rabbu ‘Abdul Rahman Shana’a, 28, was hit in the right leg by a tear gas canister. Israeli occupying forces reopened the junctions 2 hours later.

On Sunday morning, 7 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Tuffah and Tal al-Sultan military checkpoints, which separate al-Mawasi area from Khan Yunis and Rafah respectively. In doing so, they denied access to Palestinian workers attempting to reach their work places in the “Gush Qatif” settlement bloc.

Israeli occupying forces have also restricted movement at border crossings of the Gaza Strip. On Sunday morning, 7 September 2003, they closed Erez crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, denying access of thousands of Palestinian workers to their work places in Israel. This closing comes less than one week after Israeli forces partially opened Erez following a prolonged period of closure. Israeli occupying forces allowed 18 Palestinian patients to travel to Israeli hospitals, but only after subjecting them to strict checking procedures and delaying their travel for 6 hours.

On Monday, 8 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Mentar crossing, the only commercial crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel. The crossing was reopened on the following day.

At approximately 12:20 on Tuesday, 9 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street. They moved two observation towers back to the two junctions, re-constructing the restrictions that preceded 30 June 2003. They also erected traffic lights which allow them to control access of the two junctions. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians had to wait along the road to return to their homes and Israeli soldiers fired tear gas canisters at those waiting. At approximately 20:30, Israeli occupying reopened the two junctions and closed them again 2 hours later. Israeli occupying forces reopened the two junctions at approximately 16:00 on Wednesday, 10 September 2003.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces continued to impose a tightened military siege on Palestinian communities, declaring them “closed military areas.” Israeli forces also closed many west Bank checkpoints. While passage was granted in exceptional cases, Israeli soldiers deliberately hindered Palestinian civilians trying to cross, checking their ID cards, searching their personal belongings and inquiring about their destination, and where they had come from. Only a few dozen Palestinian civilians were allowed passage through the checkpoints by Israeli occupying forces. These civilians hold "checkpoint permits", are teachers, medical personnel or staff of international agencies.

Following the assassination attempt that targeted Sheikh Ahmad Yasin and a prominent Hamas political leader, Ismail Hania, on Saturday, 6 September 2003, Israeli occupying forces tightened the military siege imposed on occupied Jerusalem. Eyewitnesses observed the intensive deployment of members of the police and the so-called Israeli border guard on the demarcation line between the two parts of the city, in Bab al-Jadid, the entrances to the old city, the French Hill junction and "Ramot" settlement. "Border guard" forces erected a temporary checkpoint south of the al-Ram junction, north of the city, denying passage of vehicles and Palestinian civilians. Hundreds were held between Qalandya checkpoint in the north and Beit Hanina checkpoint in the South. Israeli occupying forces placed additional concrete blocks on the Kabsa checkpoint, the main entrance to al-Eizariah, Abu Dis and Jerusalem, completely closing the checkpoint and thus denying passage of Palestinian civilians. Palestinian civilians from all over the West Bank cross this checkpoint on their way to the Maqassed Charitable Society Hospital and the Motala' hospital on al-Tour Mount. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli Soldiers positioned at the Beit Hanina checkpoint, in an utterly racist procedure, made an opening for Israeli registered cars driven by Palestinians holding blue ID cards. Furthermore, soldiers facilitated the movement of settlers through the checkpoint.

Israeli occupying forces closed Gilo checkpoint that lies north of Bethlehem connecting it with occupied Jerusalem, and continued the closure of the Container checkpoint connecting the north and south of the West Bank. In addition to intensifying their presence, Israeli forces also p