PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 21/2003

22-28 May, 2003

The Killing of Palestinian Civilians and the Destruction of Their Property Continues

5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a mentally handicapped man, were killed by Israeli forces
15 houses were demolished and large areas of agricultural land were razed in Beit Hanoun
Israeli forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas
Indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian residential areas continued and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured
Israel continues its campaign of retaliation against the families of wanted Palestinians and those who allegedly carried out armed attacks against Israeli targets, resulting the destruction of 7 houses
More Palestinians were arrested
Continued siege on Palestinian communities

Israeli occupying forces 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, 22-28 May 2003, 5 Palestinian civilians, including 3 children and a handicapped man, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip, during which they demolished a number of Palestinian houses and razed large areas of agricultural land. For the second consecutive week, Israeli forces have been positioned at the entrances of the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, imposing a strict siege on the area. They razed more areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of industrial facilities. Local residents have also had great difficulties moving in and out of the town and Israeli forces seized 4 Palestinian houses, using them as military sites. Israeli forces invaded Beit Hanoun on 15 May 2003 and the subsequent 5-day military operation left dead 7 Palestinians, including 3 children, dozens injured, a number of houses destroyed and large areas of agricultural land razed.

This week, Israeli occupying forces razed 341 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in the southeast of Gaza City and in the villages of Khuza'a and 'Abasan, east of Khan Yunis. They also demolished 4 Palestinian houses and razed 34 donums of agricultural land in Rafah and Deir al-Balah.

This week, in a number of cases of apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces killed 5 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The victims included 3 children and a mentally handicapped man.

In violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, the head of the Israeli military central command ordered the expulsion of 5 Palestinians from Nablus and Hebron to the Gaza Strip. The individuals in question have already been placed under administrative detention. Israeli occupation authorities began to apply the policy of deportation on 10 May 2002, when they deported 13 Palestinians abroad and 26 others to the Gaza Strip, to end the siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. In September 2002, Israeli occupying forces expelled Intissar and Kifah 'Ajouri from 'Askar refugee camp in Nablus to the Gaza Strip, and last week, Mahmoud Suleiman al-Sa'di was expelled from Jenin refugee camp to the Gaza Strip.

This most recent decision to expel 5 Palestinians violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949: article 33 provides that "No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed;" article 49 prohibits "individual or mass forcible transfers;" and article 147 considers "unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement of a protected person" as a grave breach.

In another 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 7 houses in the West Bank.

Israeli occupying forces have maintained a total siege on the OPT. They have isolated Palestinian communities from one another and have partitioned the Gaza Strip into three separate zones, restricting the movement of people and goods. They have also maintained curfews on some areas in the West Bank. Israeli occupying authorities have prevented Palestinians aged 16-35 from traveling abroad. Israeli occupying forces have recently imposed severe restrictions on internationals leaving and entering the Gaza Strip and have also restricted their movement within Gaza.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, where they raided and searched the house of Fahmi Taher Abu Salah. They then arrested Abu Salah's son, Ra'ed, 23, accusing him of having a role in the 19 May 2003 suicide bombing on 'Affula. Hiba Daraghma has been identified as the suicide bomber.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Tammoun village, southeast of Jenin where they raided two houses and arrested two Palestinians:

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved approximately 300m north of a settler road between al-Mentar crossing and al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City. Israeli forces remained in the area until Sunday afternoon, 25 May 2003, and they razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed civilian facilities:

1. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Mahmoud Younis Hassan Sa'ad.

2. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Hamed Hussein Hamed 'Aashour.

3. They razed a 7.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Bader Younis Khalil Sabra.

4. They razed a 16.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Hamed Salem Hamattu Habib.

5. They razed a 30.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and damaged another 20-donum area of agricultural land owned by Hisham Fahmi al-Husseini and brothers.

6. They razed a 150-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hisham Fahmi al-Husseini’s heirs.

7. They destroyed stores of raw materials that stood on a 5-donum area of land owned by 'Emad Rabah Mohye al-Din al-Hatu.

8. They destroyed the administration building and the fence of a factory of concrete owned by Mas'oud.

9. They destroyed a 200-meter-long, 6-meter-high wall surrounding a factory of concrete, an electricity generator, water motors, a pool and other equipment owned by Salah Yassin, Ra'ed Tafesh and Sa'id Rayan.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces destroyed two Palestinian factories in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun:

1. They destroyed a 2000-square-meter brick factory owned by Jaber Mohammed Jaber Daifallah, in which 13 workers used to work.

2. They destroyed a 1500-square-meter brick factory owned by the heirs of Samir Mahmoud Hassan Musleh, severely damaging another brick factory belonging to the same owners.

At approximately 06:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into the villages of Beit Rima and Deir Ghassana, northwest of Ramallah. They imposed a curfew on the two villages and began to destroy caves.

At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 600m into Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis. They remained in the area until 20:00, and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed 3 houses, 4 bird farms and an animal farm:

1. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a room and an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salman Hassanain Qudaih.

2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, destroyed an irrigation network and demolished a 250-square-meter house owned by Hudia Salman Hassanain Qudaih.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a 40-meter-long row of wild figs owned by 'Aadel 'Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Qudaih.

4. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and wheat owned by Ibrahim Suleiman Salem Qudaih.

5. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and grapes and destroyed a room owned by Suleiman Ibrahim Khalil al-Najjar.

6. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ahmed Salem Hassanain Qudaih.

7. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an agricultural pool and an irrigation network owned by Suleiman Salman Hassanain Qudaih.

8. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a 400-square-meter bird farm, two rooms and an irrigation network owned by Salem Salman Hassanain Qudaih.

9. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a 300-square-meter bird farm, a room and an irrigation network owned by Naji Hussein Ahmed al-Najjar.

10.They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Aamena Ibrahim Hassanain Qudaih.

11.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed a 120-square-meter house, a 100-square-meter animal farm and an irrigation network owned by Hassan Ahmed Khalil al-Najjar.

12.They razed a 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Jamila, Fadiya, Safiya, Miriam, Fatema and Faiza Mohammed Khalil al-Najjar.

13.They razed a 750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network and 3 rooms owned by Khaled Ibrahim Ahmed al-Najjar and his brothers.

14.They razed a 2750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and a 25-meter-long row of wild figs and destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Shehda and Yousef Mahmoud Khalil al-Najjar.

15.They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Khaled Ahmed Mohammed al-Najjar.

16.They razed a 1500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and destroyed a room and an irrigation network owned by Fawzia Mahmoud Ibrahim al-Najjar and her sisters.

17.They razed a 1250-square-meter area of agricultural land and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Asa'ad, Kamal and Su'ad Ibrahim Mohammed al-Najjar.

18.They razed a 2250-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network and a room owned by Ghazi Khalil Mohammed al-Najjar and his brothers.

19.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Ahmed Khalil al-Najjar.

20.They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat owned by Ibrahim Suleiman Hussein Abu Rujaila.

21.They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds and destroyed an irrigation network, a room and a sprinkler owned by Hammad Hassan Hammouda Abu Rujaila.

22.They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a 15-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Mohammed Hassan Hammouda Abu Rujaila.

23.They razed a 14-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, wheat and fruits and destroyed two bird farms and a 60-square-meter house owned by Mohammed Suleiman Hassan Abu Zar and his sons.

24.They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits and destroyed a 400-square-meter, asbestos-roofed bird farm and a 60-square-meter house owned by Ibrahim Mahmoud Hassan Abu Zar.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Quds Street in Nablus and took position near the Balata refugee camp cemetery, east of the city. A number of young Palestinian boys gathered in the area and threw stones towards Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 3:

1. Mohammed Nasser Mohammed Khalil, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder;

2. Muhannad Subhi Mohammed Faraj, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

3. Ghazi 'Abbas Joma'a Abu Mustafa, 18, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right shoulder.

At approximately 13:30, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, and covered by intense gunfire, moved approximately 300m into the Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They demolished 2 Palestinian houses and razed an area of agricultural land:

1. They demolished a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Nidal Zuhair Salman al-Masri, in which 5 people lived.

2. They demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Marwan Zuhair Salman al-Masri, in which two people lived.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Hamdi Hamattu al-Masri.

At approximately 16:00, 5 Israeli heavy military vehicles, covered by indiscriminate gunfire, moved approximately 100m into Zo'rob area in the south of Rafah where they demolished two Palestinian houses:

1. They demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Ahmed Mohammed 'Aashour Duhair, in which 6 people lived.

2. They demolished a 200-square-meter house owned by Meziad 'Aashour 'Abdul Hadi Duhair, in which 9 people lived.

At approximately 10:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 600m into 'Abasan village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salman Salman Abu Daqqa.

2. They razed a 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Abdullah Mousa 'Othman Abu 'Anza.

3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Midhat 'Othman Mousa Abu 'Anza.

4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Farid Mahmoud Mousa Abu 'Anza.

5. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Akram Ahmed Mousa Abu 'Anza.

Approximately two hours later, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved about 700m into Khuza'a village, east of Khan Yunis. They razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, including a 1-donum greenhouse planted with tomatoes, and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ibrahim Salman Salman Abu Daqqa.

2. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network and a 20-square-meter room owned by Salim Hamdan Qudaih and his brothers.

3. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aziz Khalil Qudaih and his brothers.

4. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and a 40-meter-long row of wild figs and destroyed an irrigation network and two rooms owned by 'Ali Zer'ei Hamdan Qudaih.

5. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and a 40-meter-long row of wild figs owned by Barham Khalil Mansour al-Barrim.

6. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat and destroyed a 16-square-meter room owned by Yousef Mohammed Jaber al-Barrim.

At approximately 07:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into Abu Shamas area in the south of Deir al-Balah. Israeli military bulldozers demolished two Palestinian houses and razed areas of agricultural land:

1. They demolished a 140-square-meter, 2-storey house and destroyed an agricultural pool and a well owned by Salem Mohammed Abu Shams.

2. They demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 11 people lived, and a 200-square-meter animal farm owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Shamas.

3. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land, on which a greenhouse planted with tomatoes stood, owned by Mohammed Suleiman Abu Shamas.

4. They demolished a 600-square-meter bird farm owned by Mahmoud Salem Abu Shamas.

5. They razed a 16-donum area of agricultural land planted with potatoes, palms, olives and citrus, 4 greenhouses planted with tomatoes and destroyed an irrigation system owned by Suleiman Ghanem Abu Nahia.

6. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes and destroyed agricultural equipment owned by 'Essam Mohammed Madhi.

7. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, 3 greenhouses planted with tomatoes and destroyed an irrigation system owned by Ibrahim Hamdi Abu Nahia.

8. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with tomatoes, olives and palms owned by Hamada Yousef Abu Nahia.

9. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms owned by Mohammed Yousef Abu Nahia.

At approximately 19:20, Israeli occupying forces, covered by intense gunfire, moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. A number of Palestinian boys gathered and threw stones towards Israeli forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the stone throwers, wounding 4 of them and a woman:

4. Yasser Bassam Hanani, 13, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg; and

5. Aamena 'Aaref Hanani, 23, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.

Later in the evening, Israeli occupying forces killed an 11-year-old Palestinian child in Qarwat Bani Zaid village, northwest of Ramallah. This killing came less than one week after a similar killing in the same village, which left 2 Palestinians dead.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 16:00, two Israeli military jeeps moved into the village, firing in the air. A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones towards the jeeps. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired at the children. Approximately half an hour later, while Tamer Nizar Fathi 'Arar, 11, was pointing to other children warning them that Israeli soldiers were close, an Israeli soldier fired at him wounding him with a live bullet in the head. He was evacuated to hospital, but was later pronounced dead. According to medical sources, 'Arar was shot by an explosive live bullet in the head.

At approximately 02:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of Mohammed Samir Ahmed al-Astal and held the 8 residents of the house in one room. Israeli soldiers searched the house. Two hours later, they withdrew from the area after threatening to raze agricultural areas if they were attacked.

In the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian school child in Tulkarm while he was on his way back home from school.

According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 10:30, while a number of Palestinian school children were on their way back homes from schools after having completed their final exams, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep on patrol in the center of Tulkarm fired in the air to terrify them. A number of school children gathered and threw stones towards the jeep. Immediately, Israeli soldiers got out of the jeep and fired at the children. Mohammed Nassim Amin Mahmoud, 16, from Tulkarm, was wounded by two live bullets in the chest. Israeli soldiers surrounded him and denied a Palestinian ambulance access to him. Approximately 10 minutes later, the jeep withdrew, but the child was dead.

At approximately 11:00, a number of Palestinian boys gathered in the main street in Tulkarm refugee camp. They threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles that were patrolling in the camp. Israeli soldiers immediately fired at the stone throwers, wounding two:

1. Ahmed 'Aatef Abu Zaina, 15, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and

2. Anas Ziad Saleh Farhana, 16, seriously wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right eye.

At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled apartment buildings in al-Nimsawi neighborhood. A number of flats were severely damaged, and two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

1. Mohammed Farouq Hashem Abu al-Husain, 40, wounded by a live bullet in the hips;

At approximately 18:30, Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian houses and farms in al-Rabwat area. A Palestinian civilian, Mohammed Subhi Mohammed al-Astal, 22, was wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder, while he was in the car maintenance workshop where he works, in 'Abdul Nasser Street, approximately 800m away from the source of fire.

At approximately 02:00, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved approximately 200m into al-Satar al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. They raided the house of 'Aatef Hamed al-Astal and held the 9 residents of the house in one room, while they searched the house. Two hours later, they withdrew from the area.

At approximately 08:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 300m into Gizan al-Najjar area in the south of Khan Yunis. They ordered the residents of 3 Palestinian houses to vacate the premises. Israeli soldiers checked their identity cards and then ordered the women and children to return to the houses. They then forced Sami 'Ataya al-Bahabsa, 48, Isma'il Subhi Abu Khudair, 30, and Saleh Hussein al-Jarabee' Abu 'Azzoum, 30, to stand near the military vehicles, apparently to serve as human shields. Throughout the following 3 hours, Israeli forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and destroyed an irrigation system owned by Rezeq Salama Salman al-Sha'er.

2. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus and destroyed an irrigation system owned by sons of Mohammed Salama Salman al-Sha'er.

3. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, destroyed an irrigation system and damaged a deserted house owned by Salem Naji Salem al-Hawari.

4. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation system owned by Mohammed Naji Salem al-Hawari.

In the evening, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian civilian who was known to have mental health problems, near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of al-Boreij refugee camp.

According to PCHR's investigation and a statement given by the victim's father, at approximately 17:00, Hamdi 'Atiya Abu Khousa, 28, from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, left his house without informing his family of his whereabouts. At approximately 20:00, shots were heard near the border with Israel, east of the camp. After Abu Khousa did not return, his father assumed that he may have been hit during the shooting, so he called the Palestinian liaison, who in turn called the Israeli liaison, but received no response. On Saturday evening, Abu Khousa’s father telephoned al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah to inquire whether the body of a young man had been brought to hospital. He was then informed that a body would by handed by Israeli forces to a Palestinian ambulance at Abu Houli military checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah, and that the body would be brought to the hospital. At approximately 18:00, the father returned to the hospital, where he was informed that the body was that of his son. According to medical sources, the victim was shot by a live bullet in the chest and several live bullets in the upper limbs.

At noon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a young Palestinian man close to the northern border of the Gaza Strip. The victim, along with another young man, was allegedly attempting to infiltrate into Israel to find a job.

According to PCHR's investigation, at noon, Rafiq Ejmei'an al-Banash, 21, and his friend, Sehda 'Ayad al-Bahri, 20, both from Beit Hanoun, went to the northern border of the Gaza Strip, in an attempt to cross over into Israel to find jobs. When they were close to the border, at approximately 14:00, they were seen by Israeli soldiers at the Erez crossing and immediately fired upon. Al-Banash was killed by several live bullets and al-Bahri was arrested. Israeli forces kept al-Banash's body until midnight. An Israeli military spokesman claimed that Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian gunman and arrested another, but al-Banash and al-Bahri’s families denied this claim.

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 02:25 on Friday, 23 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Safeh area in Tubas village, southeast of Jenin. They surrounded a 150-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by 'Aazem Sa'id Hassan Daraghma, 50, in which 2 families (10 people) live. Daraghma is the father of Hiba Daraghma, 19, who was killed in a bombing in the Israeli town of 'Affula on 19 May 2003.

According to information available to PCHR, Israeli soldiers surrounded the house of 'Abdul Fattah Maslamani, approximately 30m west of Daraghma's house. They knocked on the door and when Maslamani opened the door, Israeli soldiers ordered him and his 18-member family out. They forced Maslamani and his family to move away from the area and they also fired at the street lights. At approximately 02:50, a heavy blast was heard in the area. Half an hour later, Israeli forces withdrew and when Maslamani returned to his home, he found that Daraghma's house had been totally destroyed.

Israeli forces arrested Daraghma and his wife, Fatema Ibrahim Abu Salah, 47, and took them to al-Maleh, east of Tubas. They were then taken to the forensic medicine institute in Abu Kabeer, where they were made to give blood samples. They were then taken to 'Affula police station, where they were interrogated about their daughter and their son, Baker, who is detained in Shatta prison. The wounds that Baker sustained from a live bullet in the abdomen inflicted before he was arrested continue to pose a threat to his health. At approximately 16:00 on 20 May 2003, Israeli forces transferred Daraghma and his wife to al-Jalama military checkpoint, north of Jenin. They were released after being told them that their house would be demolished.

At approximately 22:45 on Sunday, 25 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into 'Aqabat Taffouh area in the north of Hebron. They surrounded a 300-square-meter, 2-storey house owned by 'Abdul Fattah Mustafa al-Ja'bari, in which 12 people live and forced the family out. Half an hour later, Israeli soldiers allowed four of al-Ja'bari's relatives into the house, and gave them 10 minutes to remove the furniture. They were only able to remove some documents and clothes. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives on the upper floor of the house, and shortly after midnight, they detonated it, damaging the ground floor. Al-Ja'bari is the father of Mujahed al-Ja'bari, 18, who was killed while carrying out a bombing in East Jerusalem on 18 May 2003. The father and his two sons: Hud'aifa, 16; and Munir, 21, were arrested by Israeli forces after the bombing.

At approximately 02:00 on Monday, 26 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces surrounded a 7-storey apartment building owned by Suleiman Mohammed al-Qawasmi in Wadi Abu Ektaila neighborhood in the west of Hebron. They called via megaphones for the residents to evacuate the building. Israeli forces then summoned al-Qawasmi from his nearby house and informed him that they would destroy a flat on the third floor of the building, which is rented by the family of the deceased Bassem Jamal al-Takrouri. At approximately 03:30, Israeli soldiers ordered 4 people to remove furniture from al-Takrouri's flat. At approximately 04:10, Israeli soldiers planted explosives inside the flat and destroyed it, damaging other flats in the process. Bassem al-Takrouri was killed while carrying out a bombing in occupied Jerusalem on 18 May 2003.

At approximately 04:00 on Tuesday, 27 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Zhahiriya village, west of Hebron. They surrounded the house of Fayez Isma'il al-Battat. They forced the 7 residents of the 200-square-meter house out without allowing them to remove their furniture and belongings. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. Al-Battat is the father of Shadi al-Battat who was killed while carrying out an armed attack against Israeli forces on 1 April 2002.

At approximately 02:00 on Wednesday, 28 May 2003, Israeli occupying forces moved into Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Lutfi Mahmoud Hanani in the east of the village. They forced the 6 residents of the 120-square-meter house out of the premises without allowing them to remove their furniture. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. Hanani is the father of Mohammed Hanani who was killed while carrying out an armed attack against "Mitser" settlement in November 2002.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces moved into Til village, southwest of Nablus. They surrounded the house of Ibrahim Sa'id Ibrahim Ramadan and forced out the 8 residents of the 130-square-meter house after giving them 5 minutes to remove their furniture. Israeli soldiers then planted explosives in the house and destroyed it. Ramadan is the father of Sa'id Ramadan who was killed while carrying out an armed attack in Jerusalem last year.

On Thursday, 22 May 2003, Israeli occupation authorities informed Ragheb Rateb Fayez Bader, 35, from Tallouza village, northeast of Nablus, and Nader Mohammed Mustafa Sawafta, 29, from Tubas village, southeast of Jenin, that the head of the Israeli military central command had issued a decision to expel them to the Gaza Strip for two years. Bader and Sawafta have since been placed under administrative detention. They are known as members of the Hamas movement.

On Sunday, 25 May 2003, Israeli occupation authorities informed 3 other Palestinian detainees of a similar decision to expel them to the Gaza Strip. They are: Sameer Mohammed Mahmoud Buhais, 29, from Yatta village, south of Hebron; Walid Khaled Hassanain 'Ali, 32, from Skaka village, south of Nablus; and Bahaa' Saleh 'Ali al-Qadhi, 22, from Sourif village in Hebron. The three are members of the Fatah movement, who have been placed under a 6-month administrative detention.

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