Weekly Report

On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied

 Palestinian Territories

20-26 March 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

 

 

As the US-British War on Iraq Began, Israeli Human Rights Violations in the OPT Continued

 


 

 

Introduction

 For the past three months, amidst anticipation of war on Iraq, Israeli occupying forces dramatically escalated their illegal military actions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  Since the beginning of the US-British war on Iraq, PCHR has closely monitored Israeli violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, concerned that Israeli occupying forces may exploit the current circumstances to escalate violations while the world is busy observing the war.    Although these forces relatively decreased their pressure on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the past three months have shown that this week of "relative" calm is an anomaly.

Israeli occupying forces have perpetrated more illegal actions and human rights violations against Palestinian civilians, including willful killings, shelling of and incursions into Palestinian areas and agricultural land leveling.  This week 20-26  March 2003 7Palestinian civilians, including 3 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments against Palestinian field and political activists, on Tuesday, 25 March 2003, an undercover unit of the Israeli occupying forces shot dead 4 Palestinians, including two targeted persons and a child, and injured two other civilians.  Less than two weeks earlier, undercover units of Israeli occupying forces killed 10 Palestinians in Tammoun village and Jenin refugee camp.

 In an excessive use of lethal force, Israeli soldiers shot dead two Palestinian boys in Jenin, when a number of boys threw stones at Israeli tanks that had moved into the town and imposed a curfew. 

 In the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces conducted a series of large encroachments into Palestinian areas, using heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters, during which they arrested a number of Palestinians.  A Palestinian civilian died from a heart attack when Israeli soldiers attacked him while they were raiding his house.  Israeli occupying forces also razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land in Deir al-Balah, and destroyed a concrete factory in the eastern part of Gaza city. 

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

 

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

 


 

The Shelling of and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas

 

Thursday, 20 March 2003

 At approximately 02:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, and covered by intense gunfire, moved from "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, into al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.  They surrounded the house of 'Abdul Nasser 'Ali al-Mana'ama, 31, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  A number of Israeli soldiers broke into the house, searching for al-Mana'ama, but he was not there.  Israeli soldiers searched the house thoroughly.  An hour later, Israeli forces withdrew from the area. 

 

Friday, 21 March 2003

 At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by 6 heavy military vehicles, including two bulldozers, covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 800m into Palestinian agricultural areas north of "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah.  They razed 46 donums of Palestinian agricultural land, as follows:

 

1.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, destroyed a 10-meter-long water pipeline and uprooted two trees owned by Mohammed Humaid Abu Qassem. 

2.They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms owned by Anwar 'Abdul Qader Abu Salim.

3.They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed a 10-meter-long fence owned by Jamal 'Abdul Qader Abu Salim.

4.They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed a 50-meter-long fence owned by Jamal 'Abdul Qader Abu Salim.

5.They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land, on which 4 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, while the remaining two donums were planted with cabbages, and destroyed an irrigation network and a water pump, owned by Ibrahim Yahia Abu Salim. 

6.They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land, on which 3 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, while the remaining 3 donums were planted with cabbages and cauliflowers, owned by 'Atiya Suleiman al-'Attar.

7.They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land, on which 4 greenhouses planted with vegetables stood, and destroyed a 400-square-meter bird farm owned by Yahia 'Abdul Karim Abu Salim. 

8.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which two greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, and destroyed a 400-square-meter bird farm owned by 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdul Karim Abu Salim.

9.They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land, on which 6 greenhouses planted with tomatoes stood, owned by Mohammed Hassan Abu Jaber. 

10.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with peppers stood, owned by Mohammed 'Abdul Salam al-Fallit. 

11.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with peppers stood, owned by Ibrahim 'Abdul Salam al-Fallit.

12.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with peppers stood, and destroyed some agricultural equipment owned by Hassan 'Abdul Salam al-Fallit.

13.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Aamena Yousef al-Fallit and brothers.

14.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by 'Atiya Suleiman Abu Jarir and brothers. 

15.They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Saber 'Atiya al-Fallit.

16.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Zayed Mohammed Shahin. 

17.They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mahasen Sha'ban al-Najjar.

18.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables and wheat owned by Suleiman Khalil al-Fallit. 

19.They razed a 3.5-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with vegetables stood, while the remaining two donums were planted with wheat. 

20.They destroyed a well owned by Mejalli Yahia Abu Salim and partners. 

21.They destroyed a 6-meter-long fence of the National Animal Feed Company owned by Kahder Hasan Rabah Abu 'Ajwa.

22.They destroyed a 25-meter-long fence of al-'Awda Factory owned by Mohammed 'Oliyan al-Tilbani.

23.They destroyed an 8-meter-long fence surrounding a 2-donum area of agricultural land owned by Mahmoud 'Oliyan al-Masri.

 

Saturday, 22 March 2003

 At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by two military bulldozers, moved approximately 200m west of a settler road linking al-Mentar crossing and al-Shuhada' junction, southeast of Gaza city.  They demolished some Palestinian civilian facilities and tracts of agricultural land, as follows:

1.They destroyed a 170-square-meter concrete factory owned by Yahia Fadhel Hussein.  They also destroyed all of the facilities belonging to the factory, including wells, guardrooms and machines.  The factory was subject to repeated partial destruction by Israeli occupying forces, and on each occasion, the owner rebuilt the factory as it served as a source of income for dozens of Palestinians. 

2.They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Nasser Hammad Kishku. 

3.They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Samir Walid Hammad Kishku.

4.They demolished a 160-square-meter house, under construction, owned by Yousef Qaddoura Malaka. 

5.They destroyed a 300-square-meter, tin-roofed empty bird farm owned by Mohammed Yousef Qaddoura Malaka.

6.They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an empty animal farm owned by Yousef Qaddoura Malaka and brothers. 

 

At night, Israeli occupying forces moved into a Palestinian residential area southeast of Deir al-Balah.  They surrounded the house of Ibrahim Mohammed Khalil al-Fallit, 61.  When the owner tried to open the door after repeated attempts by Israeli soldiers to break into the house, Israeli soldiers pushed the door violently.  As a result, al-Fallit fell onto the ground and died.  In his testimony to PCHR, the owner's son, Sa'id, said:

"At approximately 23:00 on Saturday, 22 March 2003, I and my 12-member family, including my parents, were inside our 360-square-meter, 3-storey house.  I heard violent knocking on the door.  I got down from the third floor of the house to open the door.  I saw my father trying to open the door, as we realized that those who were knocking on the door were Israeli soldiers who repeatedly raided the area.  Soon, 6 Israeli soldiers kicked in the door.  My father was blocked between the door and the wall behind it.  I hurried towards my father to check his condition.  He lost consciousness.  I asked the Israeli soldiers to help me provide him with first medical aid, but they refused and started searching the house.  Approximately 10 minutes later, they left the house.  Immediately, I evacuated my father to an ambulance that was waiting on the main road.  The ambulance traveled to al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.  Soon after our arrival, my father died.   According to medical sources, he suffered from an acute heart attack.  There were also bruises on his head and leg.  My father was suffering from some diseases, including heart disease."

 

Sunday, 23 March 2003

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved from Sofa crossing, northeast of Rafah, approximately 3km into al-Shouka neighborhood.  They moved towards Salah al-Din Street linking between Khan Yunis and Rafah and closed it.  Then, they moved approximately 1km south and surrounded the house of Subhi Mohammed Saleh Abu Shousha.  They broke into the house and arrested Abu Shousha.  During this incursion, Israeli occupying forces fired at 5 members of the Palestinian National Security Force, wounding two of them, as follows:

1.'Ammar Khalil Darwish, 25, wounded by two live bullets in the right arm and thigh and by shrapnel in the left thigh; and

2.Mohammed Salem Subaih Abu al-Husain, 31, wounded by a live bullet and shrapnel in the left thigh. 

 

Monday, 24 March 2003

 At approximately 00:15, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and a helicopter, covered by intense shelling, moved into Tal al-Sultan neighborhood in the west of Rafah.  Immediately, they raided the house of Hamed Hamdan Hassanain Abu Lebda to arrest his son, 'Abdullah, 28, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  They could not arrest him, so they arrested his two brothers, Isma'il, 43, and Suleiman 24, but released them later.  At the same time, other forces raided the house of Mohammed Ayoub al-Akhras to arrest his son, Joma'a, 40, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  They searched the house, but did not find him, so they arrested his three brothers; Zuhair, Zuhdi and Ussama.  The latter remained in custody, while the other two were released later.  According to owners of the two houses, Israeli forces stole some money and jewelry while raiding their houses. 

 During the incursion, Israeli forces destroyed the door and a wall of a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 6 people live, owned by Miriam Mohammed Khalil Abu Jazar.  They also destroyed a number of electricity towers and parts of a road in the southern part of the neighborhood. 

At approximately 01:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 1km into Um Dhuhair area in southern part of Deir al-Balah.  Immediately, using dogs, they raided the house of Ragheb Suleiman Abu Nusair, 28, allegedly wanted by these forces.  They forced Nusair and his wife and two children out, searched the house, and later arrested him. 

 

Tuesday, 25 March 2003

 At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded al-Rouj area in Jenin refugee camp and opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Shadouf, 20, from Bourqin village, was wounded by a live bullet in the neck.  Israeli forces arrested 3 Palestinians, including a child. 

 

Assassination

 In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassination officially adopted by the Israeli political and military establishments, on Tuesday, 25 March 2003, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces shot dead 4 Palestinians, including two targeted persons and a child, and injured two other civilians.  Less than two weeks earlier, undercover units of Israeli occupying forces killed 10 Palestinians in Tammoun village and Jenin refugee camp.

 According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 18:50, Mo'affaq 'Abdul Raziq Badwan, 45, from Beit Jala, Nader Ibrahim Salama Jawarish, from 'Aaida refugee camp, northwest of Bethlehem, and 'Alaa' al-Din Hassan Mohammed 'Ayad, 25, also from 'Aaida refugee camp, were traveling in a civilian car in Jamal 'Abdul Nasser Street.  When they arrived at Shepherd Hotel, members of an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces got out of a car they had parked in the area and opened fire at the civilian car.  The three Palestinians were killed.  Then, a civilian car, in which George Antoine Sa'ada, 38, his wife, Najwa Fu'ad Marar Sa'ada, 35, and their daughter, Kristine, 10, were traveling, arrived in the area.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the car.  The child was killed by several live bullets in the head and the chest, while the father was wounded by a live bullet in the neck, and the mother was wounded by shrapnel throughout her body. 

 Soon, two military jeeps and an armored truck belonging to Israeli occupying forces arrived and imposed a curfew on the area.  Israeli forces took bodies of Jawarish and 'Ayad, while Badwan's body was evacuated to al-Hussein Hospital in Beit Jala.   According to medical sources, Badwan was shot by 15 explosive live bullets throughout the body. 

Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources on its Arabic web site, claiming:

 "An undercover unit of the Border Guard moved into Bethlehem to arrest members of a cell of Hamas movement.  Members of the unit got out of their car.  Then, a car, in which three Palestinians, including two gunmen, were traveling, arrived in the area.  The gunmen fired at the unit, so the unit returned fire.  The two gunmen were killed.  The third passenger, Mowaffaq Badwna, 40, attempted to escape so Israeli soldiers shot him dead.  During the exchange of fire, a car, in which the family of Sa'ada, from Beit Jala, was traveling, arrived.  Israeli soldiers opened fire at the car, killing 10-year-old Kristine and injuring her parents." 

 The newspaper further claimed that "according to an initial investigation, Israeli soldiers thought that the driver was going to run over them, while another testimony revealed that the car arrived in the area, where an exchange of fire took place, by coincidence."  The newspaper added that "initial investigation revealed that Israeli soldiers thought that gunmen were traveling in the second car, so they opened fire at it." 

    

Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

 

Friday, 21 March 2003

 At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a deserted house near Palestine Bank in the center of Qalqilya.  Israeli soldiers opened fire at the house without prior warning.  Approximately 15 minutes later, Israeli soldiers broke into the house and removed two young men who were wounded.  Later, the two young men were identified as:

1.Ra'ed Ahmed al-Houtari, 31; and

2.Anis Fahmi Mohye al-Din Shuraim, 27. 

 

At approximately 13:00, after the Friday prayer, Israeli soldiers fired at Palestinian civilians who challenged the curfew imposed on Qalqilya and went to mosques.  Four civilians were wounded, as follows:

1.Ayman Ahmed Mustafa Hashaika, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;

2.'Odai Kamel Nazzal, 11, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;

3.Ahmed Humaida Hijaz al-Ra'ei, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen; and

4.Yousef Hassan Nassar, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg. 

 

Saturday, 22 March 2003

 At approximately 13:00, Palestinian civilians in the Nazzal neighborhood of Qalqilya, which had been under a curfew since Thursday, 20 March 2003, left their homes to purchase food supplies.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at those civilians without prior warning.  Two civilians we wounded:

 

1.Nidal Ahmed 'Abdul Ra'ouf Nazzal, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder; and

2.Mo'tassem Ahmed Mo'ein Qawas, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left foot. 

 

Sunday, 23 March 2003

 At approximately 08:30, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint on the coastal road between Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis, fired at Khalil Ibrahim Braham al-Aqra', 76, while he was on his way to work, located approximately 1km south of the checkpoint.  Al-Aqra' was wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. 

 At noon, Israeli occupying forces erected a roadblock at the southern entrance of Ramallah and al-Bireh.  Israeli soldiers stopped and searched civilian cars.  A number of Palestinian school children gathered in the area and threw stones towards the Israeli soldiers.  Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers wounding two:

 

1.'Ali Nu'man Mustafa 'Abdul Qader, 13, from Bitounia, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face; and

2.Ahmed 'Abdul Rahman Mahmoud Nemer, 17, wounded by several rubber-coated metal bullets throughout the body. 

 

Monday, 24 March 2003

At approximately 14:00, a number of Palestinian boys gathered in the al-Marah neighborhood in southeast Jenin.  They threw stones towards Israeli tanks as the town had been under a curfew.  Israeli soldiers in tanks opened fire at the boys who did not pose any threat to the lives of those soldiers.  Ahmed 'Emad 'Abahra, 15, was killed by a live bullet in the head, and Nawaf Sinan Hindawi, 17, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 

Tuesday, 25 March 2003

 At approximately 17:00, a number of Palestinian boys gathered in the al-Marah neighborhood in southeast Jenin.  They threw stones towards Israeli tanks, as the town had been under curfew since Sunday, 23 March 2003.  Israeli soldiers in tanks opened fire at the boys who did not pose any threat to the lives of those soldiers.  Mahmoud Bassam Nassar, 13, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen.  He was evacuated to hospital, but all efforts made to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:00. 

 On Monday, 24 March 2003, in an attempt to justify the two killings in Jenin on Monday and Tuesday, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli military sources on its Arabic web site, claiming that "the Israeli military shot dead a Palestinian boy in Jenin when he climbed onto a tank and tried to steal weapons."  On Tuesday, 25 March, the newspaper quoted Israeli military sources claiming that "the Israeli military shot dead a Palestinian boy and injured his colleague when they climbed onto an armored personnel carrier to steal a machine gun."  However, eyewitnesses refuted these Israeli claims and asserted that Israeli soldiers fired at the two boys from a distance of approximately 70m.  

 

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 have carried out attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.

At approximately 02:30 on Thursday, 20 March 2003, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and a helicopter, and covered by intense gunfire, moved from "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, approximately 3km into al-Zawaida village in the central Gaza Strip.  They surrounded the house of Murad 'Abdullah Isma'il Abu Rikab, 22, who is allegedly wanted by Israeli forces.  They broke into the 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, where 12 people live, and arrested Abu Rikab, his brother, Eyad, 23, and his father.  Then, they forced the family out and destroyed the house.  A neighboring house was severely damaged.  Later, Israeli forces released the father and his other son, while Murad remained in custody. 

 At approximately 02:30 on Friday, 21 March 2003, 4 Israeli military jeeps moved into al-Doha village, southwest of Bethlehem.  They surrounded the house of Tawfiq Mohammed Dar Yassin. They forced out the 5 residents of the 150-square-meter house and destroyed it.  The owner is the father of Mohammed Dar Yassin, who carried out an armed attack against "Efrat" settlement, south of Bethlehem, on 22 February 2003. 

 

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PCHR calls:

1.Upon the international community to provide immediate and independent international protection for the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

2.Upon the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to reconvene to take effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in accordance with their obligations under article 1 and article 146, to ensure the respect of the Convention.

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

4.Upon the ICRC to enhance its presence, expand its activities, and intensify its field operations throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

5.Upon the European Union to activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israeli Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights.

6.Upon the international community to provide humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people, whose living conditions are continuing to deteriorate as a result of the continued siege imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the entire Occupied Palestinian Territories.