PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 24/2003

12-18 June, 2003

Israeli Forces escalate war crimes in the OPT

Israeli occupying forces have escalated hostile military actions against Palestinians, especially extra-judicial assassinations and have continued to conduct illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including collective punishment, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas, house demolitions and agricultural land leveling. This week 12-18 June 2003, 17 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 2 children and a woman, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian political and field activists of the Intifada, this week in the space of 24 hours, Israeli occupying forces carried out 3 assassinations, which left dead 11 Palestinians, including 3 who were allegedly wanted by Israeli authorities. One of the victims was killed together with his pregnant wife and child. Two of the assassinations took place on Thursday, 12 June 2003. In addition, 3 civilians, including a child, died from wounds they had sustained in previous assassination attempts. This brings the number of Palestinians killed in assassination attempts carried out by Israeli occupying forces in the past two weeks to 30, including 23 civilian bystanders. In addition, dozens of others were wounded. Despite international criticism and condemnation of Israeli war crimes, in particular extra-judicial assassinations, the Israeli government and its occupying forces escalated these crimes, claiming that they would deter Palestinian armed attacks against Israeli targets. The Israeli Chief of Staff Moshe Yalon confirmed this escalation and was quoted on the Arabic website of the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot’s, as saying that in order to bring about security, Israel has been forced to act pre-emptively and that the policy would increase political pressure on the various Palestinian factions, leading to enhanced security for Israel.

This week, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 9 incursions into Palestinian areas, during which they destroyed 29 Palestinian houses and razed more than 140 donums[1] in Rafah. They also razed more than 50 donums of agricultural land in Beit Hanoun and Deir al-Balah. These actions have caused further deterioration in the economic situation in the Gaza Strip.

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 3 houses in the West Bank.

In 2 cases of apparent willful killing, 2 Palestinian civilians were killed by Israeli occupying forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A third civilian also died from a previous wound inflicted by Israeli occupying forces a week earlier.

Israeli occupying forces continue to maintain a total siege on the OPTs. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one another and this week Israeli occupying forces restricted movement of Palestinians on Salah al-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip). They repeatedly closed Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on this road for several hours, during which they checked Palestinians and searched their vehicles. They also restricted the movement of journalists and medical personnel and closed the coastal road linking the central and northern Gaza Strip. On 16 and 17 June 2003, Israeli forces closed Rafah Terminal on the Egyptian border, prohibiting the movement of travelers and goods. In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces erected more checkpoints and roadblocks, further restricting the movement of Palestinians.

In a continuation of the assassination policy declared by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Defense Monster Shaul Mofaz, targeting Palestinian political leaders and activists, Israeli occupying forces committed 3 extra-judicial assassinations in less than 24 hours. These attacks left 11 Palestinians dead. 3 of the victims were the intended targets of the Israeli forces, while the other 8 were non-targeted civilians. One of the intended victims was killed along with his pregnant wife and young child.

At approximately 15:50 on Thursday, 12 June 2003, an Israeli helicopter gunship launched 5 missiles at a civilian car that was traveling along al-Jalaa' Street in central Gaza City. 4 missiles hit the car, killing all occupants. The occupants were later identified as Yasser Mohammed 'Ali Taha, 31, from al-Boreij refugee camp, and his 7-month pregnant wife, Islam 'Abdullah Taha, 25, and their baby, Khawla, 18 months.

Taha had been wanted by the Israeli authorities for many years due to his alleged involvment in the military wing of the Hamas movement. In March 2003, Israeli occupying forces raided Taha’s family home during an incursion into the al-Boreij camp, in the central Gaza Strip. His 65-year-old father and three of his brothers were arrested during the raid, but Taha managed to escape. The family home was destroyed during the incursion. Taha’s father and brothers remain in Israeli detention.

5 non-targeted Palestinians were also killed in the attack, including one who later died from his wounds, and more than 20 were injured. The wounded were transferred to Shifa hospital in Gaza City, several of whom remain in a serious condition, according to medical sources. Several children were among the wounded. The 5 bystanders killed were identified as:

5. Salim Sa'id Salha, 41, from al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza, who succumbed to his wound on Friday, 13 June 2003.

The fifth missile launched by the Israeli helicopter gunship missed the targeted car and hit the family home of 'Abdul Fatah 'Abdullah Nijem, located only a few meters from where the car was hit. No injuries were reported.

On Thursday evening, Israeli occupying forces shot dead two Palestinians, one of whom had been wanted by Israeli forces due to alleged activities in the military wing of Islamic Jihad.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 21:50, an Israeli occupying forces undercover unit traveling in a Palestinian registered civilian vehicle (Mercedes 410), entered the al-Dabbous quarter in the east of the northern West Bank town of Jenin. The car stopped in front of the house of Fadi Tayseer Jardat, 23, from Seilat al-Harthiya village and resident of Jenin. Jaradat was having coffee at the door of the house together with Saleh Suleiman Ibrahim Jardat, 33, also from Seilat al-Harthiya village. Immediately, members of the undercover unit, who were wearing military uniform, got out of the car and opened fire at the men. Both were hit by several live bullets. Approximately 5 minutes later, 2 Israeli military jeeps arrived and Israeli soldiers moved the men into one of the jeeps and then left the area. At approximately 23:00, the information department of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society received a phone call from an Israeli officer who informed them that the bodies of 2 Palestinians had been deposited in the Sabah al-Khair neighborhood in the northeast of Jenin. An ambulance was immediately dispatched to the area. Approximately 10 minutes later, the ambulance brought the bodies to Dr. Khalil Suleiman Hospital in Jenin. According to the field worker of the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment (LAW), who was coincidentally at the hospital when the bodies arrived, there were signs of bruising on the faces and necks, and injuries on the bodies as a result of being pulled along the ground. Saleh Jardat was hit by 5 live bullets in the head, neck, chest and abdomen, while Fadi Jardat was hit by 3 live bullets in the neck, chest and right hand.

At approximately 19:50 on Friday, 13 June 2003, 2 Israeli helicopter gunships, accompanied by an F-16 fighter jet, launched 3 missiles at a civilian car (grey Mazda) that was traveling near 'Abu 'Eida crossroads in the densely populated al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City. Fu'ad Yousef 'Abdullah al-Liddawi, 26, from Jabalya refugee camp, a member of Hamas was driving the car, and one of his colleagues was traveling with him. Al Liddawi’s colleague was able to jump from the car as the first missile hit. The other 2 missiles also hit the car, killing Al-Liddawi. In addition, 28 passing Palestinian civilians were wounded, including 11 children.

3 Palestinian Civilians Die from Wounds Sustained in Previous Extra-Judicial Assassinations

At approximately 12:00 on Thursday, 12 June 2003, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City declared that Yassin Subhi Murtaja, 52, succumbed to a wound he had sustained on the preceding day. Murtaja was wounded during an assassination carried out by Israeli occupying forces in al-Shojeya neighborhood in Gaza City, which targeted 2 members of the military wing of the Hamas movement. The 2 targeted Palestinians and 6 bystander civilians, including 2 brothers and 2 sisters, were killed. In addition, 35 civilians, including Murtaja, were wounded.

At approximately 09:55 on Sunday, 15 June 2003, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City declared that Amal Nemer Salem al-Jarousha, 8, from al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, succumbed to a wound she sustained in the failed assassination attempt carried by Israeli occupying forces on Tuesday, 10 June 2003, which targeted Dr.'Abdul 'Aziz al-Rantisi, a leader of the Hamas movement. The assassination attempt also killed a female bystander and one of Dr. al-Rantisi's bodyguards. In addition, more than 30 passing civilians, including al-Jarousha, were wounded. According to medical sources, the child was hit in the head by shrapnel.

On Wednesday morning, medical sources at Shifa' Hospital in Gaza City declared that Hamed Mohammed Habboush, 60, from al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, died from a previous wound to the head he had sustained in the same failed assassination attempt.

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with about 20 heavy military vehicles, including bulldozers and 2 helicopters, moved approximately 300m into Block J in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Israeli soldiers raided a 4-storey house owned by 'Azmi al-Jamal. The soldiers mounted the roof and transformed it into a military post. Then, the bulldozers, covered by intense shelling, demolished a number of houses, razed areas of agricultural land and destroyed electricity and water supplies. The incursion continued until approximately 06:00, during which 2 Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. A 250-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Ayman 'Abdul Wahab Taleb al-Zatma, in which 3 people lived; and

2. A 160-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Ata 'Abdul Ghani Khamis al-Jazzar, in which 9 people lived; and

3. A 170-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Yousef Ibrahim Yousef al-Jazzar, in which 3 people lived.

They also partially demolished 11 other houses. In addition, they razed areas of agricultural land:

1. They razed an 800-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus owned by Fathi Ahmed Mohammed Abu Naja.

2. They razed an 850-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus owned by Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Abu Naja.

At approximately 11:00, Israeli occupying forces at military locations on the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at al-Brazil neighborhood. A Palestinian child, Bilal Shukri Shehada, 14, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. PCHR's field worker in Rafah reported that the child was wounded when he was near his house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 11:15, Israeli occupying forces on the Israeli border, east of Gaza City, opened fire at a Palestinian Military Intelligence site near the industrial zone of al-Mentar crossing, wounding Rami 'Abdul Jawad Jouda, 23, from Jabalya refugee camp, by a live bullet in the head.

At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with an armored military bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into Boba' area in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a water pump owned by Amin Naji al-Qedra.

2. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits owned by Fadhel Younis al-Qedra.

3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Kamal Younis al-Qedra.

At approximately 19:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Gush Qatif" settlement block, west of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal aal-Sultan neighborhood in the west of the town. A Palestinian child, Asa'ad Sa'di 'Awadh, 11, was wounded by a live bullet in the left hand, while he was near his house, approximately 400m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved approximately 700m into Palestinian areas in the southeast of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land, demolished 3 houses, a bird farm and 3 greenhouses:

1. They razed a 30-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, figs and vegetables, on which, 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood; demolished an 80-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house; and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and agricultural equipment owned by 'Abdullah 'Abed 'Abdullah Jarghoun.

2. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and demolished a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and a 700-square-meter bird farm owned by Mohammed Mansour Ibrahim Jarghoun.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and demolished a 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Isma'il Mohammed Ibrahim Mo'ammar.

4. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by the heirs of Hisham Mikki and farmed by Kamel Mohammed Isma'il 'Aashour.

Approximately 2 hours later, Israeli occupying forces resumed the destruction of land and houses after having moved to the south towards the northeastern part of Rafah. They called on residents of the area and farmers to evacuate their houses and farms. Immediately, Israeli military bulldozers razed large areas of agricultural land, demolished 7 houses and destroyed 11 greenhouses, a central water tank, a number of agricultural pools and a grocery shop:

1. They razed a 13-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and peaches, on which 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, demolished a 150-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and agricultural equipment owned by Suleiman Hassan Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

2. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and figs, on which 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and destroyed an irrigation network and a room designed for a water motor owned by Suleiman and Nahedh Mohammed Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

3. They razed a 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, a grocery shop and a resort, and destroyed an irrigation network and an agricultural pool owned by Fadhel Mansour Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

4. They razed a 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Adnan Mansour Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

5. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, on which 2 greenhouse planted with tomatoes stood, demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool, a room and agricultural equipment owned by Amin Mansour Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

6. They razed an 11-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables, demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house and destroyed an irrigation network, an agricultural pool and agricultural equipment owned by Ziad Mansour Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

7. They destroyed a water tank that provided water for 60 donums of agricultural land in the area owned by Jihad Mansour Suleiman Abu Mo'ammar.

At approximately 15:30, 2 tanks and an Israeli military jeep moved into 'Askar refugee camp, east of Nablus. They opened fire at Palestinian houses. Soon, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones towards the Israeli military vehicles. Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, killing 19-year-old Khaled 'Adnan Saqer with a live bullet in the chest. In addition, 2 children were wounded:

1. Ahmed Salah Mohammed al-Madani, 17, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg; and

2. Na'im Mahmoud 'Abdul Salam, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg.

Early in the morning, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces shot a Palestinian civilian in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun for no apparent reason. He was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh. Due to the Israeli military siege imposed on the town for more than 5 weeks, his family was not able to evacuate him in a prompt manner and he died upon arrival at the hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, at approximately 01:00, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces infiltrated the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, which has been under an Israeli military siege for more than 5 weeks. In the meanwhile, Ra'fat Ahmed Hassan al-Za'anin, 30, was watching television in his house. Soon, he heard one of his neighbors calling on him. In response Ra’fat, accompanied by his cousin, exited the house to investigate what was occurring outside. Upon opening the door, he was approached by his neighbor, Khaled Abu 'Amsha, who appeared to be in an excited and bewildered condition. Abu 'Amsha told him that an undercover unit of Israeli forces was about 70m away from the house. As Al-Za'anin was ushering his neighbor into the house, Israeli soldiers, who were either monitoring them or suspected their movement, fired at al-Za'anin, his cousin and his neighbor. Al-Za'anin was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, while his cousin and neighbor were not hurt. Al-Za'anin's brothers then exited the house to check on what was going on. As they tried to pull their brother into the house, Israeli soldiers fired at them, preventing them from pulling their brother to safety. One of the brothers, Mohammed, 23, was wounded by a live bullet in the right arm. Due to the strict siege imposed on the town, the evacuation of al-Za'anin to the hospital took about half an hour. He was suffering from an intense hemorrhage. As a result, he died upon arrival at the hospital from a loss of blood.

At approximately 07:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into the Boba' area in the southeast of Deir al-Balah. They then razed the following areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives owned by Ibrahim 'Abdullah Khattab.

2. They razed 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Nassir Ahmed Abu 'Amra.

3. They razed 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted withy olives and palms owned by Suleiman Ibrahim Abu 'Amra.

4. They razed 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and demolished an empty 60-square-meter animal farm owned by Mohammed Nemer Bashir.

5. They razed 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, owned by Jaber Nemer Bashir.

6. They razed 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ahmed Nemer Bashir.

At approximately 13:30, Israeli soldiers positioned on top of tanks guarding military engineers (who were working on a separating fence on the Egyptian border south of Rafah) opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Brazil neighborhood adjacent to the border. Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Shehada 'Abdullah al-Khatib, 32, seriously wounded by 2 live bullets in the chest;

2. Rami Isma'il 'Olayan, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the limbs; and

At approximately 15:00, Israeli heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 400m into Palestinian agricultural land to the south of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They then razed the following areas of agricultural land:

1. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Humaid Hamdan al-Fallit.

2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Jamal Hamdan al-Fallit.

3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Khaled Yousef al-Fallit.

At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 2 military bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into the east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun. During the next 2 days they razed the following areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Mohammed Mohammed Abu 'Ouda.

2. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Suleiman Mohammed Abu 'Ouda.

3. They razed a 5.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by heirs of 'Abdul Latif Mohammed Abu 'Ouda.

4. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by heirs of Hassan Mohammed Abu 'Ouda.

5. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by 'Abdul Raziq Mohammed Abu 'Ouda.

6. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by Mohammed Hassan Abu 'Ouda.

7. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus owned by 'Abdul 'Aziz Mohammed al-Zwaidi.

At approximately 12:30, Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the Tal Zo'rob area in the southeast of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in the Zo'rob neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, 'Abdullah Na'im Mohammed Zo'rob, who was participating in a funeral, approximately 500m away from the source of fire, was wounded by a live bullet in the left foot.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into Palestinian areas north of Rafah Terminal at the Egyptian border. They then razed the following areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with eggplants and destroyed an irrigation network and an agricultural pool owned by Sami Ibrahim Qeshta nd farmed by Musallam Zaidan Abu Shallouf.

2. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and fruits and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed Eshtayan Abu Shallouf.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hassan Mohammed Abu Jarad.

4. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Abed Rabbu Mohammed Abu Jarad.

5. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Musallam 'Awad Abu Jarad.

At approximately 15:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved into al-Salam and al-Brazil neighborhoods in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. They then demolished 2 uninhabited Palestinian houses:

1. A 220-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Akram and Karim Kamel Darwish; and

At approximately midnight, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with 20 tanks and covered by intense shelling, moved approximately 200m into Zo'rob neighborhood in Rafah, adjacent to the Egyptian border. Israeli soldiers raided 3 Palestinian houses that were empty during the incursion. They then planted explosives inside the three houses and destroyed them:

1. A 300-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Riad Hussein 'Abdul 'Aziz Zo'rob, in which 24 people (3 families) lived;

2. A 175-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Ra'fat 'Ouda Mohammed Zo'rob, in which 18 people (2 families) lived; and

3. A 200-square-meter, 2-stoery house owned by 'Abdul Mon'em Shehta Saleh Zo'rob, in which 15 people (4 families) lived.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, traveled from the eastern junction of Beit Lhia on Salah al-Din Street in the northern Gaza Strip (where they had been positioned for more than one month) approximately 700m on Beit Lahia main road until they reached the site of the Palestinian Military Intelligence facility at the entrance of Tal al-Za'tar area. Israeli soldiers raided the house of Mohammed 'Abdul 'Aziz 'Eissa Sabbah, and detained the eight residents of the house in one room as they searched the residence. They then mounted the roof of the house and opened fired into the surrounding streets and neighboring areas. Two Palestinian security men were wounded:

At the same time, other Israeli forces moved more than 600m south on Salah al-Din Street. Israeli military bulldozers demolished the gate and parts of the fence surrounding a concrete factory. They also damaged an under-construction, 3-storey building in the factory, as well as the electricity and telephone systems of the facility.

The morning of the 15th, medical sources at Rafidya Hospital in Nablus declared that Nabil Ahmed Yousef Jardat, 25, from Seilat al-Harhtiya village, west of Jenin, succumbed to a wound he sustained by Israeli occupying forces a week earlier.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 14:30 on Sunday, 8 June 2003, Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned at the entrance of al-Yamoun village, west of Jenin, fired at a civilian car traveling along a muddy road on its way towards Jenin. Two Palestinian civilians who were traveling in the car were wounded:

2. Nabil Ahmed Yousef Jaradat, 25, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head.

The latter was evacuated to Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, but all efforts by the medical personnel to save his life failed.

At approximately 14:30, Israeli soldiers in a military observation tower at Abu Houli military checkpoint on Salah al-Din Street, south of Deir al-Balah, fired at a civilian car in which 3 Palestinian civilians were traveling. Two of the occupants were wounded:

Collective Punishment 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 the families of Palestinians who have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.

At approximately 01:00 on Friday, 13 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved into the Jabal al-Rahma area in the southwest of Hebron. They surrounded a 120-square-meter house belonging to the family of 'Abdul Mo'ti Shabana, who carried out a bombing in Jerusalem on 11 June 2003. Israeli soldiers forced the 7 residents of the house out and the bulldozer demolished it completely. They also arrested Shabana's three brothers: Bahjat, 26; Mohammed, 28; and Munir, 36.

At approximately 04:00 on the same day, Israeli occupying forces moved into Dura village, west of Hebron. They surrounded a 170-square-meter, 2-stoery house belonging to the family of Anas Kamal Masalama, who is currently being detained by these forces. Israeli soldiers then forced the 18 residents of the house (3 families) out, planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it.

At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 18 June 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jaba' village, south of Jenin. They surrounded a 140-square-meter, 3-storey house owned by Ibrahim Hassan Slama, whose three sons are detained by Israeli forces. Israeli soldiers forced the 13 residents of the house (2 families) out. Then, they planted explosives inside the house and destroyed it with the family’s possessions still inside.

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 respect for 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 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.

For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 - 2825893

[1] 1 donum equals 1000 square meters.