PCHR
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

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

No. 01/2004

01-07 January 2004

Israeli Forces Continue to Perpetrate Crimes in the OPTs

This week, Israeli occupying forces continued to violate the human rights of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Human rights violations included the use of extra-judicial assassinations and willful killings. Throughout the week, Israeli occupying forces also conducted incursions into Palestinian areas; shot at Palestinian civilians, including children; indiscriminately shelled residential areas; demolished houses; and leveled agricultural land. Israeli occupying forces have also continued construction of the “separation wall” inside the West Bank and have continued to impose a tight siege on the OPTs. This week, 10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli occupying forces.

In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces conducted 11 military incursions into Palestinian areas, particularly in Deir al-Balah, Khan Yunis and Rafah. During these incursions, Israeli occupying forces destroyed 28 houses, leaving dozens of Palestinian civilians homeless, and razed more than 150 donums of agricultural land. They also confiscated approximately 120 donums of agricultural land for settlement activities. This week, Israeli occupying forces raided Palestinian houses in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. During one of the raids, Israeli forces arrested an entire family. They later released the women and children, but kept the males in custody.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian communities, especially Nablus. This week, 10 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, were killed by Israeli forces. 7 of the victims were killed during a wide scale Israeli military operation in Nablus. 2 of the victims were killed in an extra-judicial assassination. According to medical sources, the 2 were also attacked by dogs brought by Israeli soldiers. During the Israeli military operation into the old town of Nablus, 4 Palestinian houses and a kindergarten were totally destroyed and 5 other houses and a historic castle were partially destroyed. This destruction violated the right to adequate housing of 69 people (14 families) and the right to education of hundreds of children. Israeli occupying forces also arrested dozens of allegedly wanted Palestinians. A 10^th Palestinian from Jerusalem was killed after being run over by an Israeli settler vehicle near Qalandya military checkpoint, north of Jerusalem.

Despite the fact that the International Court of Justice is preparing to consider the case of the “separation wall” in accordance with the UN General Assembly Resolution adopted on 8 December 2003, Israeli occupying forces have continued construction of the wall. This week, they closed a number of gates established along the wall, denying the right to freedom of movement of thousands of Palestinian civilians. They also opened fire at peaceful marches organized by international and Israeli peace activists in protest against the construction of the wall.

In addition, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. In the Gaza Strip, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities and restrict the movement of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military has also maintained the closure of a number of main and branch roads in the Gaza Strip by Israeli soldiers stationed at military checkpoints. Such restrictions on the freedom of movement are in contravention of international human rights law to which Israel is a state party, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This week, Israeli occupying forces imposed more restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Abu Houli and al-Matahen checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, continued to obstruct the movement of Palestinian civilians. These two checkpoints are only open for a maximum of a few hours each day and have become notorious for instances of humiliation and harassment by Israeli soldiers.

In the West Bank, Israeli occupying forces have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities in the West Bank. They imposed a tightened siege on Nablus and neighboring refugee camps and villages, and imposed a curfew for several days. They also imposed a curfew on Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, and al-Khader village, west of Bethlehem.

Shelling of, and Encroachment into Palestinian Areas and Attacks on Palestinian Civilians and Property

At approximately 01:30, an Israeli occupying forces infantry unit moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, northwest of Khan Yunis. They raided 'Abdul Hadi 'Abdul 'Aal 'Abdullah al-'Abadla's house and detained the residents (2 elderly Palestinians, a woman and her 2 child, one of whom suffers from a heart disease) in 1 room. Israeli soldiers raided the 3-storey house, broke the windows, forced holes into the walls to fire into the surrounding area and a number of soldiers were positioned on top of the house. At approximately 10:00, a number of Palestinian civilians gathered and tried to approach the house to check on the residents, particularly the ill infant. As they approached the door, Israeli soldiers began to fire live ammunition and tear gas. A Palestinian civilian, 'Obaid Sami Sha'at, 18, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. 2 hours later, Israeli soldiers forced Kifaya 'Abdul Rahman al-'Abadla, 30, to call on the people gathering around the house to move away. PCHR submitted a complaint to the Israeli military legal advisor in an attempt to ensure the safety of the family, particularly the ill infant. In his response, the Israeli military legal advisor claimed that the Israeli military was searching for Palestinian gunmen in the area and would withdraw when the operation came to an end.

At approximately 15:00, more Israeli forces were sent to the area and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land, before withdrawing at 17:00:

1. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and palms owned by the heirs of Yahia 'Abdul 'Aal 'Abdullah al-'Abadla.

2. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and palms owned by the heirs of Sa'id 'Abdul 'Aal 'Abdullah al-'Abadla.

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into al-Junaidi Mount area in Hebron. They destroyed the fences of a number of gardens and houses in the area. A Palestinian child, Mohammed Subhi al-Fakhouri, 13, was injured in the head and the face by shards of glass from windows in his family home due to nearby explosions. Israeli occupying forces destroyed 2 fences. In addition, the windows and doors of 5 houses belonging to Yasser Rashid al-Junaidi, Nouran Mohammed al-Junaidi, Jawad Zidan al-Junaidi, Subhi Rushdi al-Fakhouri and Maher al Qawasmi, were damaged.

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in the southwest of Gaza City. They leveled hills of sand, approximately 150m from a newly established Israeli military location near "Netzarim" settlement. PCHR's field worker in Gaza City reported that Israeli troops established a sand barrier, which could indicate plans to establish a new military post in the area.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 6 bulldozers, moved approximately 300m into Abu Sha'ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They remained in the area until Sunday evening, 4 January 2004, during which time they demolished 8 Palestinian houses and razed approximately 12 donums of agricultural land:

1. They totally demolished a 250-square-meter, iron-roofed house owned by Mohammed Tawfiq Hassan al-Kurd, in which 7 people lived.

2. They totally demolished a 150-square-meter, iron-roofed house owned by Khadija Tawfiq Hassan Abu Nusair, in which 3 people lived.

3. They totally demolished a 50-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Ghalia Salman Suleiman Abu Sha'ar, in which 1 person lived.

4. They totally demolished n house, under-construction, owned by Ibrahim Yousef Hassan Abu Sha'ar.

5. They totally demolished a 50-square-meter, iron-roofed house owned by 'Abul Rahman 'Otaiwa Abu Sha'ar, in which 5 people lived.

6. They partially demolished a 50-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Abdullah Joma'a Rezeq Abu Sha'ar, in which 5 people live.

7. They partially demolished a 50-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Hammad 'Abdul Raziq Abu Sha'ar, in which 10 people live.

8. They partially demolished a 180-square-meter house owned by Mohammed 'Awad Ibrahim al-Sumairi, in which 4 people live.

9. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Otaiwa Abu Sha'ar.

10. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives and destroyed a 150-meter-long water pipeline owned by Salem 'Abdul Raziq 'Otaiwa Abu Sha'ar.

11. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives owned by 'Abdul Hamid 'Otaiwa Abu Sha'ar.

12. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ibrahim Yousef Hassan Abu Sha'ar.

13. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed an irrigation network, a 150-meter-long water pipeline, an iron gate and barbed-wire fence owned by 'Atallah 'Ali Abu Sha'ar.

14. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives and destroyed an irrigation network, an iron gate and a barbed-wire fence owned by Ibrajim 'Atallah Abu Sha'ar.

15. They razed a 900-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives, palms and figs owned by Ghalia Salman Suleiman Abu Sha'ar.

16. They razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Bashir Ahmed Ibrahim al-Sumairi.

17. They razed a 750-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Younis Ahmed al-Sumairi.

18. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms and destroyed a 400-meter-long stone fence Aamena 'Atallah 'Ali Abu Sha'ar.

19. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, guavas, palms and pomegranates and destroyed a 500-meter-long fence owned by 'Aabdullah Hassan Tawfiq al-Kurd.

20. They razed a 300-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms owned by Khadija Tawfiq Hassan Abu Nusair.

21. They demolished a 100-square-meter Palestinian National Security Force post.

22. They demolished 12 iron-roofed bird and animal pens owned by the Abu Sha'ar family, killing a number of birds and animals.

At approximately 14:00, Israeli soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian civilians who broke the curfew imposed on Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Rami Mohammed Saleh Rawajba, 20, from Roujib village, east of Nablus, was injured by shrapnel in the right shoulder. Later, a number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at Israeli military jeeps that were patrolling in the refugee camp. One of the jeeps moved towards the children and ran over 14-years-old 'Abdul Rahman Mohammed Ahmed Sallam. The child sustained serious fractures.

At approximately 21:00, Israeli medical sources declared that a Palestinian child, Mohammed Jaber Sa'id, 16, from Ussarin village, southeast of Nablus, died from an injury he had sustained that morning.

According to PCHR's investigations, early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces moved into Ussarin village, southeast of Nablus and opened fire at Palestinian residential areas. The child was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest, while he was with a number of his friends in a street in the village. He was evacuated by an Israeli ambulance to Bellinson Hospital in Israel, but was pronounced dead by the evening.

At approximately 01:30, 7 Israeli military jeeps and an armored personnel carrier moved into Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, and imposed a curfew. They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 6 Palestinians:

In his testimony to PCHR, Jamal Khalil Abu Maria, 41, stated that Israeli soldiers forced the families of his 2 brothers, Ahmed and 'Aayesh (14 people), to evacuate their homes and searched the houses. They also beat Ahmed in front of his family, claiming that they found a copybook belonging to one of his daughters, narrating the story of 'Ezziddin al-Qassam (a well-known figure in Palestinian history, who led a struggle against the British Mandate).

At noon, Israeli occupying forces at al-Karama Terminal on the Jordanian border arrested Mohammed 'Allam Suleiman al-Qudsi, 22, from Tulkarm, while he and his mother were on their way to Jordan. According to his brother, he was not wanted nor had he ever been arrested by Israeli occupying forces.

At approximately 13:00, after the Friday prayers, a number of Palestinian children and young men gathered near al-Shuhada Square in the center of Nablus. They threw stones at Israeli military vehicles in the area and Israeli soldiers immediately opened fire at them, wounding 6 Palestinian civilians:

2. Bashar Mo'ayad Mamdouh Qanadilu, 20, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck;

3. 'Abdul Hamid Mousa 'Abdul Hamid al-Nemer, 19, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the side;

4. 'Alaa' Saif Mohammed Basiouni, 17, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the chest and the left hand;

5. Mohammed Saleh Fahmi Rihan, 17, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the left side and leg; and

6. Mahmoud Nour al-Din Qanadilu, 33, wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets in the abdomen, the pelvis and the left leg.

At approximately 23:00, an Israeli occupying forces infantry unit, accompanied by a dog, moved approximately 100m into al-Ja'farawi area in Wadi al-Salqa village, east of Deir al-Balah. They raided Salem Mohammed Bureik Abu Mughassib's house. They held the 11 residents of the house, including 4 women and 2 children, in 1 room and searched the house using the dog. They then handcuffed and blindfolded the entire family. According to the mother, Israeli soldiers took them all to a neighboring house belonging to Nafez Abu Nahia, which has been seized by Israeli occupying forces since the beginning of the current Intifada. At approximately 01:00 on Saturday, 3 January 2003, the entire family was taken in a military vehicle to "Kfar Darom" settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah. According to the mother, Israeli soldiers interrogated and beat her sons. At approximately 12:00 on Saturday, Israeli soldiers released the 4 women and 2 children handcuffed and blindfolded near their house. The owner and his 4 sons: Fathi, 24; Mohammed, 22; Sami, 21; and Ibrahim, 18, remained in Israeli custody.

At approximately 01:00, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into the southern part of Tulkarm in an Israeli registered civilian car and arrested 2 Palestinians:

At approximately 03:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Jenin and raided and searched Sa'id Shehada's house in the eastern part of the town, arresting his sons, Walid, 19 and Bahaa', 22.

Throughout the day, Israeli occupying forces killed 4 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children. A number of others were also injured when Israeli forces used excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators. These recent killings came in the context of a continuing Israeli military operation in Nablus dubbed “Static Water”. This operation officially began on Thursday, 25 December 2003; however, the operation comes directly on the heels of previous incursions into Nablus. On Wednesday, 24 December 2003, the Israeli army temporarily withdrew from the city but launched the renewed attacks only one day later.

According to PCHR’s investigations and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 09:00, a number of Palestinian children gathered on Schools Street in the Sheikh Musallam neighborhood in the east of Nablus’ old town. The children climbed onto the roof of a building in the area and threw stones towards Israeli military vehicles. Immediately, the soldiers opened fire at the children. Other Israeli soldiers positioned on the roofs of nearby buildings also opened fire. One of the children, Amjad Bilal Nabil al-Masri, 15, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest. According to eyewitnesses, a sniper positioned on the roof of a school in the area fired at the child from a distance of approximately 50 meters. The child was left bleeding for 15 minutes before medical personnel were able to attend him. When the medical personnel finally reached al-Masri, he was pronounced dead.

At approximately 09:30 on the same day, a number of Palestinian children gathered at al-Shuhada Square in the center of the city and threw stones at Israeli occupying forces. Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the children, killing 17-year-old ‘Aamer Kazem Kamel ‘Arafat with a live bullet to the chest. According to eyewitnesses, the child was shot by Israeli soldiers positioned on the roof of the neighboring al-Kindi School.

At approximately 10:20 on the same day, Israeli soldiers in tanks positioned on Granada Street in the center of the city, opened fire at a number of Palestinian demonstrators. Rawhi Hazem Rawhi Shuman, 26, was wounded by a live bullet in the chest and died on the way to the hospital.

At approximately 13:30, during the funeral procession of the aforementioned victims, an Israeli armored personnel carrier and 2 military jeeps moved towards the participants while they were on their way towards Nablus’ western cemetery. Israeli soldiers then opened fire at the funeral from the vehicles. 3 Palestinian civilians were seriously wounded and 1 was killed:

1. Mohammed Qais Isma’il al-Masri, hit by a live bullet in the head and died at Rafidya Hospital at approximately 18:30;

2. Nasser Hamdan Hussein Abu Samra, 17, from Beit Fourik village, east of Nablus, hit by a live bullet in the left thigh;

3. Mohammed Nayef Ahmed Abu Rezeq, 21, from Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, hit by a live bullet in the left thigh;

4. Ussama Nayef Zaki 'Eissa, 20, from Nablus, hit by a live bullet in the right eye.

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 2 bulldozers, moved approximately 150m into the east of al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. During this military incursion which continued until the evening, they razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of agricultural facilities:

1. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Mohammed 'Abdullah Hassan Abu Khousa.

2. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by the heirs of 'Abdullah Hassan Abu Khousa.

3. They razed a 5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by the heirs of 'Atiya 'Abed Rabbu Abu Khousa.

4. They destroyed a well, a 24-square-meter room, a water pump, 2 iron-roofed rooms and a toilette owned by the heirs of 'Omar 'Abdul Karim Abu Jalal.

5. They destroyed a well, a 30-square-meter room, a water pump and 3 iron-roofed rooms owned by the heirs of 'Abdullah Hassan Abu Khousa and partners.

At approximately 16:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved approximately 150m into al-Qarara village near "Kissufim" settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. Israeli troops were deployed into Abu Zaher neighborhood and called upon the residents of the neighborhood through megaphones to leave their homes. Israeli troops then arrested 3 Palestinians:

In the meantime, Israeli armored military bulldozers demolished 5 Palestinian houses and razed 23 donums of agricultural land:

1. They totally demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Saleh Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 8 people lives.

2. They totally demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Omar Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 8 people lives.

3. They partially demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Hammad Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 7 people live.

4. They partially demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Nassim Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 5 people live.

5. They partially demolished a 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Salah Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 12 people live.

6. They razed an 8-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Younis Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher.

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

8. They razed a 6-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher.

9. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Aziza Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher.

10. They razed a 2-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed an irrigation network owned by 'Aaisha Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher.

At approximately 02:00, Israeli occupying forces moved into Qalqilya and imposed a curfew and raided and searched a number of Palestinian houses. Ahmed Mustafa Zaid Wahdan informed one of PCHR’s field workers that he was awoken by a noise near his house and noticed the presence of Israeli troops around his and his brother’s house. Israeli soldiers ordered the 2 brothers to open the doors and forced the families out. Israeli soldiers attempted to beat Mustafa 'Aazem Wahdan, 27, when he refused their order for his wife to accompany them while searching the family's house. Upon their withdrawal, Israeli troops arrested Salah 'Aazem Mustafa Zaid, 17. At the same time, Israeli troops arrested Wajdi Ahmed Mohammed Barham, 18. PCHR is concerned that Israeli occupying forces may deport Barham to Jordan as he does not have a Palestinian identity card.

At the same time, an undercover unit of Israeli occupying forces moved into Kfar Saba neighborhood in the southwest of Qalqilya. Israeli soldiers arrested 3 Palestinians:

At approximately 12:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including a bulldozer, moved approximately 150m into al-Qarara village near "Kissufim" settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. They leveled areas of agricultural land, which had been razed on the previous day. They also transferred the ruins of houses they destroyed in the area into a valley used to drain rainwater. As a result, there is now the danger that in the event of rain, other houses in the area will be flooded, as there is no drainage system. This occurred last year, after Israeli troops filled the same valley, and it was only emptied following coordination through the Palestinian liaison.

At approximately 17:00, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep that was patrolling in the streets of Beit Ummar village, north of Hebron, fired rubber-coated metal bullets at the mosque of the village and neighboring houses. 2 Palestinian women were wounded:

1. Fathia Fakhri 'Awad, 42, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the upper arm; and

2. Su'ad Mustafa 'Abdul Mo'ti Abu Maria, 37, hit by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left thigh, while she was carrying her child towards a clinic in the village.

At approximately 20:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 300m into al-Shouka neighborhood in the southeast of Rafah. They raided and searched 2 empty houses belonging to the families of Abu Shousha and Abu Sunaida, claiming they were searching for tunnels. They then temporarily withdrew from the area, but returned again on Monday evening, 5 January 2004, and destroyed the 2 houses, damaging 7 neighboring houses. In addition, Israeli military bulldozers demolished 2 other houses. They also razed a 1-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and destroyed 2 greenhouses planted with vegetables owned by Jaber Mohammed Saleh Abu Shousha. Israeli occupying forces returned to the area again on Tuesday morning, 6 January 2004 and totally destroyed a house that had been damaged the previous day. Following are the details of houses that were either destroyed or damaged during this Israeli military operation:

1. A 300-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Etaf Kahder Abu Shousha, in which 7 people lived, was totally destroyed.

2. A 60-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Sultana Jaddou' Abu Sunaida, in which 1 person lived, was totally destroyed.

3. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Kawthar Mohammed Saleh Abu Shousha, in which 3 people lived, was totally demolished.

4. A 120-square-meter house owned by Fathi 'Abdul 'Aziz Jarad, in which 5 people lived, was totally demolished.

5. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Ayada Mohammed Jarad, in which 9 people live, was partially destroyed.

6. A 120-square-meter house owned by Zaki Salim Jarad, in which 4 people live, was partially destroyed.

7. A 120-square-meter house owned by Jaber Mohammed Saleh Abu Shousha, in which 3 people live, was partially demolished.

8. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Saleh Mohammed Saleh Abu Shousha, in which 7 people live, was partially destroyed.

9. A 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Daifallah Mohammed Abu Shousha, in which 11 people live, was partially destroyed.

10. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Subhi Salim Suleiman Jarad, in which 6 people live, was partially destroyed.

11. A 100-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Sufian Mohammed Saleh Abu Jarad, in which 5 people live, was partially destroyed.

Early in the morning, medical sources at Ramallah Hospital declared that Maher Taher 'Abbas Jaber, 27, from Jerusalem, died from an injury he had sustained the previous evening, after being run over by an Israeli settler vehicle.

According to PCHR's investigations and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 17:30 on Sunday, 4 January 2004, while Jaber was standing with other Palestinian civilians on the roadside on Ramallah-Jerusalem Street, south of Qalandya military checkpoint, an Israeli registered car driven by an Israeli settler drove towards him, hitting him deliberately. The settler then fled the area. A number of Palestinian civilians who were in the area hurried towards Jaber and he was evacuated to Ramallah Hospital. According to medical sources, Jaber sustained serious injuries to the head and body. Efforts to save his life failed and he was pronounced dead on Monday morning. 2 other civilians were also injured in this attack: Mohammed Mousa Jaber, suffered from an internal hemorrhage; and Ahmed Mousa Jaber, who sustained fractures to the pelvis.

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 4 bulldozers, moved approximately 200m into al-Qarara village near "Kissufim" settler road, northeast of Khan Yunis. They demolished 6 Palestinian houses, razed 46 donums of agricultural land and destroyed a number of civilian facilities:

1. They totally demolished a 160-square-meter house owned by Ziad Swailem 'Ali Abu Sabet, in which 6 people lived.

2. They totally demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Yousef Mohammed Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 9 people lived.

3. They totally demolished a 110-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by 'Omar Ahmed Mohammed Abu Zaher, in which 6 people lived.

4. They totally demolished a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Ibrahim Younis Musallam Abu Zaher, in which 6 people lived.

5. They partially demolished a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Ahmed Mohammed Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 9 people live.

6. They partially demolished a 110-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house owned by Suleiman Salem Hammad Abu Zaher, in which 8 people live.

7. They razed a 20-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Swailem 'Ali Salem Abu Sabet.

8. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Baker, 'Awni and Muhsen Salman 'Ali Abu Sabet.

9. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Yousef Mohammed Hammad Abu Zaher.

10. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Suleiman Salem Hammad Abu Zaher.

11. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ziad Salem Hammad Abu Zaher.

12. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Nasser 'Atiya Abu Zaher.

13. They razed a 4-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Jaber Muneefi 'Abdullah Abu Zaher.

14. They demolished a room owned by Yousef Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher and killed a number of birds.

15. They demolished a room owned by Fathi Ahmed Abu Zaher and killed a number of birds.

16. They demolished an animal farm owned by Suleiman Hammad Abu Zaher and killed 4 animals.

17. They demolished an animal farm owned by 'Omar Musallam Hammad Abu Zaher and killed 2 animals.

In the afternoon, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian child and injured another, when the forces opened fire at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating at the southern entrance of 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of Nablus.

According to PCHR's investigations, at approximately 16:15, a number of Palestinian children gathered at the southern entrance of 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of Nbalus. They threw stones at an Israeli military jeep that was patrolling in the area. Israeli soldiers got out of the jeep, so the children moved back towards a medical center, approximately 70m away from the entrance to the refugee camp. Without warning, Israeli soldiers opened fire at the children. Taj al-Din 'Abdul Karim Mohammed Saif, 16, was instantly killed by a live bullet in the chest and 'Emad 'Essam Ahmed Sidq, 14, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen. According to eyewitnesses, the children did not pose any threat to the lives of Israeli soldiers.

At approximately 16:30, Israeli occupying forces, accompanied by 2 military vehicles, moved into Abu Sha'ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. They surrounded 2 Palestinian houses with barbed-wire:

1. 1-storey house owned by 'Awad 'Aayesh Rzeq al-Sumairi, in which 12 people live; and

2. 1-storey, asbestos-roofed uninhabited house owned by Aamena 'Atallah Abu Sha'ar.

According to eyewitnesses, Israeli troops have not permitted the residents of the first house to leave and there is a shortage of water and food.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces redeployed to surround Nablus, after they had moved into the city on Thursday, 25 December 2003, and maintained the strict siege imposed on the city. PCHR's field worker in Nablus noted the destruction caused by Israeli occupying forces during their presence inside the old town:

1. A 100- square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Jamal Yousef Helmi al-Kakhan, in which 4 people lived, was totally demolished.

2. An 80- square-meter house owned by 'Abdul Rahman Fayez al-Kakhan, in which 6 people lived was totally demolished. Their house had been partially demolished by Israeli occupying forces during an Israeli military incursion in April 2002.

3. A 300 square-meter, 2-storey house owned by the Ghanem family, in which 26 people (5 families) lived, was totally demolished.

4. A 300 square-meter house owned by 'Abdullah Mohammed al-Shu'abi, in which 2 people lived, was totally demolished. This house was built in the place of a house which was destroyed over its residents during an Israeli incursion in April 2002.

5. A 600 square-meter house, which includes a kindergarten, owned by the 'Abdul Hadi family, was partially destroyed and the kindergarten was totally demolished.

6. A house owned by Samer Ibrahim Nasser Nassar, in which 5 people live, was destroyed internally after Israeli troops had seized the house and forced the family out on 27 December 2003.

7. The second floor of a 100- square-meter, 2-storey house owned by Rebhi Helmi al-Kakhan, in which 6 people live, was destroyed internally.

8. A 120 square-meter house owned by Ma'moun Badi' 'Abdul Hadi, in which 6 people live, was internally destroyed after Israeli troops seized the house and forced the family to leave.

9. A 250 square-meter house owned by Ayman Badi' 'Abdul Hadi, in which 8 people live, was internally destroyed after Israeli troops seized the house and forced the family to leave.

10. A 100 square-meter house owned by Mo'ein Badi' 'Abdul Hadi, in which 6 people live, was internally destroyed after Israeli troops seized the house and forced the family to leave.

At approximately 02:30, an Israeli occupying forces infantry unit moved approximately 300m into al-Ja'farawi area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah. Israeli soldiers blew up the door of a house owned by Nusair Mohammed Nusair al-Shawi, 53, without warning. They then forced the 15 residents of the house to leave. Israeli soldiers raided and searched the house using a dog. An hour later, Israeli soldiers arrested Nusair's 3 sons: Yasser, 28; Mohammed, 23; and Hani, 20.

At approximately 09:00, Israeli occupying forces moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip approximately 200m into Deir al-Balah and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land:

1. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with almonds, palms and pomegranates owned by Yousef Suleiman Abu Gharaba.

2. They razed a 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives owned by Ibrahim ‘Ali Silmi Sa’id.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, moved approximately 500m into Abu Houli area in the south of Deir al-Balah. This incursion continued until Wednesday evening, 7 January 2004, during which time Israeli occupying forces razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of agricultural facilities:

1. They razed a 15-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus and olives and destroyed a well owned by ‘Abdul Qader Mutair Hussein Abu Houli and his brothers.

2. They razed a 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and olives owned by Jihad Mohammed Mahmoud Madi.

3. They razed a 7-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and pomegranates and destroyed an 8-meter-long fence owned by Sufian ‘Abdul Salam al-Bashiti.

4. They razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and guavas owned by Salem Daoud Qaddoura.

At the same time, Israeli occupying forces surrounded about 120 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in Wadi al-Salqa village near “Kissufim” settler road, southeast of Deir al-Balah, owned by the families of al-Sumairi and Abu Sha’ar, with barbed-wire. These areas include 2 Palestinian houses owned by ‘Awadh ‘Aayesh al-Sumairi and Aamena ‘Atallah Abu Sha’ar, which were fenced by barbed-wire on the previous day.

Early in the morning, Hisham Ahmed 'Abdul Fattah Kharwaish, 21, from Tulkarm refugee camp, was killed when he and other members of the Palestinian resistance clashed with Israeli occupying forces who had moved into the refugee camp. Israeli soldiers denied access of ambulances to Kharwaish and he bled to death.

According to PCHR's investigations and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 23:00 on Tuesday, 6 January 2004, Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers moved into al-Hamam area in Tulkarm refugee camp. Soon, clashes erupted between members of the Palestinian resistance and Israeli troops. At approximately 01:00 on Wednesday, members of the Palestinian resistance retreated and attempted to leave the camp. During the retreat, Israeli soldiers who had seized 'Aabdullah al-Sharqawi's house opened fire at them. Kharwaish was wounded by a live bullet in the head. His colleagues were able to move him away from the area. They called for an ambulance, but Israeli troops denied the ambulances access to the refugee camp. As a result, Kharwaish bled to death. The victim's brother, Hani, was killed by Israeli occupying forces on 6 June 2003. Israeli occupying forces have kept Hani’s body, refusing to hand it over to Palestinian authorities.

At approximately 03:00, 15 Israeli military vehicles moved into Jenin town and refugee camp, raiding and a searching a number of Palestinian houses. According to eyewitnesses, Israeli soldiers arrested 5 Palestinians, including a journalist:

1. D'ib Hourani, 28, a correspondent with the Lebanese al-Manar Satellite Channel;

At approximately 11:30, an infantry unit of Israeli occupying forces moved 500m into agricultural areas east of Jabalya in the Gaza Strip. Israeli soldiers moved towards 3 Palestinian children who were hunting birds in the area and arrested them:

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli political and security establishments, Israeli occupying forces committed another extra-judicial assassination on Wednesday, 7 January 2004. This recent attack left dead an allegedly wanted Palestinian and another Palestinian. Apparently the first victim was hiding in the house of the second man.

According to PCHR's investigations and eyewitness testimonies, at approximately 03:00, 20 Israeli military vehicles surrounded 4 houses in Street 15 in the Rafidya neighborhood of Nablus. The houses belong to the families of al-Qassas, Hijab, Zahran and al-'Aassi. Israeli troops used megaphones to call on the residents to evacuate their homes and gather in the main street. Then, Israeli heavy military vehicles began to shell al-Qassas' house. The shelling continued for 20 minutes and then Israeli soldiers accompanied by dogs broke into the house. After the soldiers entered the house, residents of the area heard 'Abdul 'Afou Nasouh Mustafa al-Qassas, 29, from Nablus, denying knowledge of the whereabouts of a particular individual whom the Israeli soldiers were inquiring about. At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops withdrew from the area. Residents of the area found 2 bodies in the garden of al-'Aassi's garden, adjacent to al-Qassas' house. One of the bodies was of al-Qassas, who was hit by a live bullet to the head, while the other was of Ibrahim Radwan al-Atari, 32, from Deir Sharaf village, northwest of Nablus. Al-'Atari, who had been allegedly wanted by Israeli occupying forces for 3 years for being a member of the military wing of Fatah movement, was hit by several live bullets throughout the body. He was married and a father of 4 children. Al-Qassas was not involved in political activities and the circumstances of his killing indicate that he was willfully killed by Israeli soldiers. According to medical sources, the bodies of the victims were distorted, apparently after being attacked by dogs. The same sources stated that al-Qassas was killed by a pistol at close range.