Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

10- 16 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

 

 

 

 Introduction

Israeli occupying forces have continued to perpetrate more illegal actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  These actions are in compliance with measures adopted by the Israeli political, military and judicial establishments.  On 13 April 2003, the Israeli High Court concluded a session without a final judgment on a petition submitted by PCHR in Gaza and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel to prohibit the use of flechette anti-personnel tank shells by the Israeli military in the OPT.  Judges indicated that they would avoid issuing a decision on types of weaponry used by the Israeli military. 

In the past two weeks, Israeli occupying forces continued the policy of extra-judicial assassinations.  They also conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they shelled residential areas, killed some Palestinians and arrested others, and destroyed public and private property.  This week, 10-16 April 2003, 10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed and dozens of others were wounded 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 with disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, on 10 April 2003 Israeli occupying forces conducted two extra-judicial assassinations.  In Tulkarm, Israeli occupying forces attempted to assassinate three Palestinian activists, but the attempt killed only a passing Palestinian civilian.  In Gaza city, Israeli helicopters assassinated Mahmoud Saqer Ragheb al-Zatma, 47, who was allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces as a prominent leader of the military wing of Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.  In addition, two Palestinians died from previous injuries they sustained on 8 April 2003, when Israeli occupying forces assassinated two Hamas activists in an attack that left dead five other civilians.  The number of victims of that attack increased to nine.  Some of the injured in that attack remain in a critical condition.

As a result of the Israeli indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas, 5 Palestinians, including 3 civilians, were killed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  A Palestinian from Jabalya refugee camp died from an injury he sustained during an Israeli incursion into al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza city on 19 February 2003. 

In another apparent targeted attack on activists of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, fired at ISM activist, Thomas Peter Hurndall, 22, a British citizen, who was trying to protect a Palestinian child from Israeli shelling.  The activist was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.  He was declared clinically dead. This was the second time activists of ISM having been attacked by Israeli occupying forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the past two weeks.  On 16 March 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed Rachel Corrie, an American activist of ISM, when she tried to prevent Israeli military bulldozers from demolishing houses in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. 

In violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who are alleged to have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.  In this context, they destroyed 3 Palestinian houses in Ramallah and Hebron in the West Bank.

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.  Israeli occupying authorities prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad.  On Wednesday, 16 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces imposed a total closure on Palestinian areas.  They prevented Palestinian boats from sailing and denied access of Palestinian workers to their work places in "Erez" industrial zone and "Sofa" area in the Gaza Strip.  Since Tuesday, 15 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces have erected checkpoints and roadblocks in occupied Jerusalem and intensified checking at the entrances of the city.


 

Shelling of, and Encroachment into, Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 10 April 2003

 At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Block L in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian civilian, Mustafa Ahmed Jaber, 19, was wounded by a live bullet in the back.  He was approximately 200m away from the source of fire. 

 At approximately 14:15, Israeli occupying forces in the vicinity of Rafah Terminal, south of Rafah, opened fire at nearby Palestinian houses.  Two Palestinian civilians were injured:

 

1.    Mohammed Ibrahim Mitwalli, 22, injured by shrapnel in the left leg; and

2.    Mohammed Fawzi al-Sindi, 21, injured by shrapnel in the right forearm.

 

PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the two civilians were on their way to the house of a friend, approximately 400m north of the terminal. 

 

Friday, 11 April 2003

 At approximately 01:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 8 heavy military vehicles, moved 1500m into Gaza Valley area, north of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  They imposed a curfew on the area and raided and searched a number of houses that belong to the al-'Oudat family.  Three brothers were detained:

 

1.    Ashraf Mohammed Younis al-'Oudat, 24, a member of the Palestinian General Security Service;

2.    Sharif Mohammed Younis al-'Oudat, 23, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service; and

3.    Ibrahim Mohammed Younis al-'Oudat, 22, a member of the Palestinian police. 

 

At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses to the east.  At the same time, an Israeli helicopter gunship, which flew over the area apparently in search for Palestinian activists shelled the area.  Six Palestinian civilians were wounded:

 

1.    Mohammed Radwan al-Astal, 16, wounded by shrapnel in the upper limbs;

2.    Khalil Ibrahim al-Shawa, 30, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

3.    Mohammed 'Abdullah al-Shahri, 32, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot;

4.    'Abdullah Mohammed al-Ghalban, 31, wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh;

5.    Daoud Mohammed Sabbah, 65, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder; and

6.    Ra'ad Darwish al-'Attal, 35, wounded by shrapnel in the chest. 

 

In another attack on activists of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, fired at an ISM activist who was trying to protect a Palestinian child from the Israeli shelling that targeted Block L in Rafah refugee camp.  The activist was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

 In his testimony to PCHR on this attack, Khalil Abu Hamra, a journalist who was accompanying the ISM activists, stated:

 "At approximately 17:00, we went towards Salah al-Din Street in Block L in Yibna refugee camp in the south of Rafah.  I was accompanying 10 ISM activists and 5 Palestinian journalists, as the ISM activists intended to set up a sit-in tent to stop the demolition and shelling of houses in the area by Israeli occupying forces.  When we arrived near al-Tawhid mosque, an Israeli tank near the border, approximately 100m west of the mosque, was intensely firing towards Block L.  Due to the ongoing Israeli gunfire, the ISM activists decided to leave the area and come back the following morning.  While they were crossing Salah al-Din Street towards Keer Street, a number of Palestinian children were standing near a sand barrier that had been already established by residents of the area to prevent Israeli bullets and shells hitting their houses.  The Israeli tank continued to fire at the children, but most of them escaped.  Two children remained in the area.  Two ISM activists, who were wearing their visually distinctive orange uniform, Thomas Peter Hurndall, 22, a British citizen, and Nicole, 23, an Italian citizen, moved towards the two children to protect them.  Nicole was able to carry one of the children towards the refugee camp, and while Tom was trying to carry the other child, he was shot by a live bullet in the head.  I was approximately 10m away from him.  I photographed him just after he was wounded.  Immediately, two Palestinian young men moved towards him. They evacuated him in a civilian car to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in the town.  Later, I knew from my colleagues that he was moved from Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital to the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis because he was in a serious condition."

 PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that at approximately 20:10, Tom was moved from the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Yunis to Rafah Terminal, and then an Israeli helicopter transferred him to an Israeli hospital. 

 It is worth noting that this was the second time ISM activists have been fired at by Israeli occupying forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the past two weeks.  In addition, on 16 March 2003, Israeli occupying forces killed Rachel Corrie, an American activist of ISM, when she tried to prevent Israeli military bulldozers from demolishing houses in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah (for more details, please refer to PCHR's previous weekly reports). 

 

Monday, 14 April 2003

 At approximately 13:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into Palestinian agricultural area in the northeast of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.  They searched the area and detained a Palestinian farmer, Tayseer Hassan 'Abdullah Shabat, 35, while he was working on his land. 

 

Tuesday, 15 April 2003

 At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the southwest of Rafah fired 3 artillery shells at Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town.  The shells fell onto al-Nuzha Street in the neighborhood, and shrapnel hit a Palestinian civilian, 'Abdul Hamid 'Abdul Hamid Abu al-'Eish, 28, while he was at the door of his house, approximately 500m away from the Israeli military location.  He was evacuated to hospital, but he died a short time later.  According to medical sources, he was hit by shrapnel in the upper part of his body. 

 Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian gunman in Nablus.  There are suspicions that Israeli forces shot the gunman after he had killed an Israeli officer, although he was reportedly no longer armed and had sought shelter in an apartment building. 

 According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks and helicopters, moved into al-Makhfiya neighborhood in the south of Nablus.  They surrounded an apartment building, where students from an-Najah National University live.  A Palestinian gunman exited the building and clashed with Israeli forces.  Then, he tossed his gun aside and sought shelter in the building.  Israeli forces forced residents of the building out and forced them to take off their clothes.  Then, Israeli soldiers interrogated them and detained two of them.  Later, Israeli soldiers broke into the building several times, firing live bullets.  In one of the raids, they used two Palestinian civilians as human shields.  At approximately 09:30, reinforcements came to the area, and Israeli forces broke into the building again.  When the Israeli forces withdrew from the area, students came back to the building, where they found a body inside a flat on the third floor.  The victim had been shot by a large number of live bullets.  According to an eyewitness, the victim's clothes and face were also burnt.  Later, the victim was identified as Mazen Marwan Fayez Furaitakh, 29, from Nablus, who was allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces as a member of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement. 

 Also in the morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into Palestinian residential areas in the center of Nablus.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  Two Palestinian civilians were injured:

 

1.    'Amid Jihad Mahmoud 'Abdul Fattah, 4, inured by shrapnel in the face; and

2.    Mosa'ab Ahmed al-Qutob, 4, injured by shrapnel in the abdomen. 

 

At approximately 04:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Zaghloul quarter in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  They surrounded the house of Ahmed al-Jalama.  They blew open the door and broke into the house to arrest the owner's son, Salah, 21, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  They searched the house and detained three of the owner's sons: Kamal, 27; Jamal, 30; and Salah, 22, in an attempt to force their brother to surrender. 

 

Wednesday, 16 April 2003

 Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a 30-year-old Palestinian in Yatta village, south of Hebron.  Israeli forces surrounded the house in which the young man had taken shelter escaping from the forces who had attempted to detain him.  The young man resisted the Israeli forces, and was shot dead.

 According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, 15 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Yatta village, south of Hebron, to arrest Hassan Suleiman Ya'qoub Manasra, 30, from Bani Na'im village, southeast of Hebron.  They chased him.  At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, he took shelter in the house of Mohammed Basawi Mor.  Israeli forces surrounded the house and called on its residents through loudspeaker to get out.  The housewife and her four children left the house, while Manasra remained inside.  He clashed with Israeli forces that opened fire at the house.  Manasra was killed and his body was removed by Israeli forces. 

 Israeli military sources claimed that a gun and a pistol were found in Manasra's house, but residents of the areas asserted that Mnasra had no house in Yatta village contrary to the Israeli claim. 

 At noon, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza city declared that Adham 'Abdul Mo'ti 'Abdullah al-Katari, 32, from Jabalya refugee camp, succumbed to a wound he sustained by Israeli occupying forces on 19 February 2003.  According to PCHR's investigation, al-Katari, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest when Israeli occupying forces invaded al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza city on 19 February 2003, an operation that left 11 Palestinians dead and 15 others, including al-Katari, injured.

 At approximately 21:30, Israeli occupying forces at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block O in Rafah refugee camp.  A Palestinian civilian, Sa'id Tawfiq Shaqfa, 18, was injured by shrapnel in the right shoulder, while he was near his house.

 

Extra-Judicial Executions

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial executions officially adopted by the Israeli government against political and field activists of the Intifada, and with wide disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, on Thursday, 10 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces conducted two assassinations.  The first targeted three activists of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, the military wing of Fatah movement in Tulkarm, killing a passerby.  The targeted individuals survived.  The second assassination attempt targeted an activist of al-Quds Brigade, the military wing of Islamic Jihad in Gaza city.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00 on Thursday, 10 April 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces used a civilian car, a white Volks Wagen with a Palestinian registration number, to enter Tulkarm.  When the car arrived at the old road of the Municipality of Tulkram, it stopped. Four individuals wearing civilian clothes and armed with machine guns, got out.  They immediately opened fire at a civilian jeep, a black Suzuki with a Palestinian registration number, in which three Palestinian were traveling.  The three were able to escape.  One of the armed persons fired at another civilian car, a Volks Wagen Golf, in which three other Palestinians were traveling.  According to eyewitnesses, the two cars were fired at from a distance of 10m.  A few minutes later, a number of Israeli military jeeps, accompanied by a military ambulance, came to the area and closed it, denying passage to Palestinians.  Eyewitnesses asserted that they saw Israeli soldiers pulling a person towards the ambulance, and arrested two persons who were traveling in the second car and a passing civilian.  They were all apparently wounded.  In the evening, Israeli occupying forces delivered the body of one of these detainees to the Palestinian authorities. The victim was identified as Jasser Hussin 'Olaimi, 23, from Tulkarm.  According to medical sources, he was shot by several live bullets in the head and the chest.  The other three persons detained were identified as:

1.    Jamil D'iab Jayousi, 22, from Tulkarm;

2.    Bassel Mahmoud Suleiman Jaber, 27, from Shwaika village north of Tulkarm; and

3.    'Emad Fathi Mahdawi, 33, from Shwaika village north of Tulkarm. 

At approximately 15:45 on Thursday, 10 April 2003, 4 Israeli combat helicopters flew over Gaza city.  They fired two missiles at a civilian car, a white Subaru, which was traveling approximately 200m away from al-Rawda mosque at the end of Palestine Street in Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza city.  One of the missiles hit the car and destroyed it.  The person who was driving the car was able to get out.  He was still alive, but sustained serious burns throughout the body and his left hand was cut.  He succumbed to his injuries shortly after he had been evacuated to hospital. The victim was identified as Mahmoud Saqer Ragheb al-Zatma, 47, from Rafah and presently resident of Gaza city, a prominent leader of the military wing of Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.  According to eyewitnesses, the other missile was launched at another civilian car that was traveling in the same street, in which a person who is allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces, was traveling.  The missile went astray and did not explode.  At the time of the attacks, school children were on their way back home from school.  Twelve school children were injured by shrapnel, and a number of nearby houses were damaged. 

On Sunday morning, 13 April 2003, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza city announced that Fadi Yousef Toutah, 19, from Gaza city, had succumbed to injuries he sustained last week when Israeli occupying forces conducted an assassination in 'Asqoula neighborhood in Gaza city. 

According to PCHR's investigation, Toutah was seriously injured by shrapnel throughout the body on 8 April 2003, when an Israeli combat helicopter launched a missile at some Palestinian civilians who gathered near a civilian car that had been attacked by the same helicopter, in an assassination that seemingly targeted two Hamas activists.  As a result of the attack, 7 Palestinians were killed and 53 others, including Toutah, were injured. 

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

Saturday, 12 April 2003

In a continuation of a practice of opening fire at Palestinian civilians travelling through Israeli military checkpoints, Israeli occupying forces at al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of Khan Yunis, fired at Na'im Hassan al-Agha, 65, wounding him with 5 live bullets in the thighs. 

Al-Agha told PCHR's field worker in Khan Yunis that at approximately 06:30 he traveled from Khan Yunis towards al-Tuffah checkpoint, west of the town, on his way home to al-Mawasi area, which has been under a strict Israeli military siege since the beginning of the Intifada.  When he got approximately 70m away from the checkpoint, Israeli soldiers in a military location near the checkpoint fired at him without any prior warning.  He was wounded by 5 live bullets in the thighs.  He fell to the ground crying, but Israeli soldiers did not offer him any medical aid.  Twenty minutes later, a Palestinian ambulance arrived at the area and evacuated him to hospital.

In the morning, a Palestinian civilian, Fadi Nasha'at 'Abdul Ra'ouf 'Alawna, 22, from 'Azmout village, east of Nablus, died as he fell from a high place on a rock, when Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint at the entrance of the nearby Salem village chased him. 

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 07:00, 'Alawna moved from his house in 'Azmout village towards Nablus to go to an-Najah National University where he studied journalism.  As the main roads leading to the city were blocked, he and dozens of villagers resorted to muddy roads to bypass an Israeli military checkpoint at the entrance of Salem village.  Some, including 'Alawna, resorted to using the al-'Aarouda road to cross into the northeast of Nablus.  When they were walking approximately 300m away from the Israeli military checkpoint, Israeli soldiers chased and fired at them.  While he was trying to escape, 'Alawna fell from a high place on a rock.  As a result he sustained serious injuries in the head and the abdomen, and suffered from an acute hemorrhage.  He died on the way to hospital. 

At approximately 18:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into al-Shaqfan quarter in al-Zhahiriya village, southwest of Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses.  Palestinian civilians gathered in the area to see what was going on, and a number of children threw stones towards Israeli forces.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the crowd and the stone throwers.  Ghaseb Mahmoud al-Hawarin, 22, was killed by a live bullet in the chest.  According to eyewitnesses, al-Hawarin had not thrown stones at the Israeli forces. 

 

Tuesday, 15 April 2003

At approximately 16:00, Israeli soldiers fired at Mohammed 'Aadel Mohammed 'Enaya, 19, while he was grazing animals northwest of Qalqilya.  He was wounded by three live bullets in the abdomen, the back and the left hand. 

 

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

 

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

Late Wednesday, 9 April 2003, 17 Israeli military vehicles, including a bulldozer and an ambulance, moved into Beit Reema village, northwest of Ramallah.  They surrounded the house of 'Abdullah Ghaleb al-Barghouthi, 32.  An Israeli officer called through a loudspeaker to residents of the house to get out, but no one obeyed.  Israeli soldiers blew open the door and broke into the house.  Al-Bargouthi's wife and children were in her father's house.  A number of Israeli soldiers went to fetch her.  They informed her that her 110-square-meter house would be demolished.  They gave her 30 minutes to evacuate her belongings.  Then, they planted explosives in the house and destroyed it.  Al-Bargouthi was arrested by Israeli occupying forces in the center of al-Bireh on 5 March 2003.  He is accused by Israeli occupying forces of involvement in three bombings.  Israeli occupying forces also raided and searched homes of four families whose sons are wanted for alleged activities against the Israeli occupation.  They informed the families that the houses would be demolished in the coming days.  The four wanted individuals are: Tamer Suleiman al-Reemawi; Rushdi Hamed Rushdi al-Reemawi; Rebhi Zuhdi al-Asmar; and Hassan 'Atiya Zaidani. 

On Monday morning, 14 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with military vehicles, moved into Dura village, southwest of Hebron, which is under full Palestinian control.  They surrounded the house of Jamal al-Rajoub, who is currently detained by Israel.  They forced out the 11 residents of the 140-square-meter, two-storey house.  They broke into the house and searched it.  Then, they planted explosives in the house.  At approximately 03:00, they blew up the house.  Al-Rajoub has been detained by Israeli occupying forces since 29 September 2002. 

At approximately 01:00 on Tuesday, 15 April 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, surrounded a 5-storey apartment building, owned by Jawad al-Natsha, in 'Ein Sara neighborhood in the north of Hebron.  They called through loudspeakers on residents of the building to get out.  They gave the 11-member family of 'Alaa' Joudi Rebhi al-Natsha, 30 minutes to evacuate their flat, which is located on the fourth floor of the building.  At approximately 02:30, Israeli soldiers planted explosives in the flat and destroyed it.  Two flats on the fifth and third floors were damaged.  'Alaa' Joudi Rebhi al-Natsha was killed on Saturday, 5 April 2003 allegedly while attempting to enter "Kiryat Arba" settlement.  Israeli occupying forces had previously detained al-Natsha's father, 45, his brother Ashraf, 28, and his brother-in-law Sharif Ibrahim al-Natsha, 28.  The Israeli military continues to hold the body of 'Alaa' Joudi Rebhi al-Natsha. 

*           *           *           *           *

 

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 immediate effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146 of the Convention.

3.  Upon the international community to investigate and prosecute before international courts and in accordance with international standards, those believed to have committed war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

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.