Prolonged Incursions and redeployment into Palestinian Authority controlled areas

Massive numbers of killings and destruction of houses and civilian property

Extra-judicial assassinations against Palestinian activists and political leaders, the most significant of which targeted Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the founder and leader of Hamas

Destruction of the Palestinian economy and the structure of the Palestinian Authority through the destruction of civil and security facilities

Using  Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations in the OPTs

Collective punishment measures against the families of Palestinians who carried out, planned or facilitated attacks against Israeli targets, including arrests, expulsion to the Gaza Strip of members of these families and destruction of their houses.

Deportation of a number of Palestinian activists

Continued construction of the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory, in a challenge for the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, which considered the construction of the wall illegal

Wilful killing of Palestinian civilians

Indiscriminate shelling of Palestinian civilian residential areas using various forms of weaponry, including warplanes, tanks and machine guns

Collective punishment of Palestinian civilians, denying them their basic human rights, including the rights of health, education, freedom of movement and work, through imposing a tightened siege on the OPTs

Arbitrary arrests and placing Palestinians in administrative detention

 

A table showing those killed during the al-Aqsa Intifada from

29 September 2000 to 28 September 2004  

 

Context	Total	4th year
Palestinians killed  in attacks by Israeli occupying forces, settlers and Israeli police in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and inside Israel	2872,[1] including 2480 civilians	622, including 507 civilians
Civilians killed in the West Bank	1355	165
Civilians killed in Gaza Strip	1125	342
Children killed	552	126
Children killed in the Gaza Strip	298	90
Children killed in the West Bank	253	35
Females killed	96	9
Females killed in the Gaza Strip	43	6
Females killed in the West Bank	53	3
Palestinians killed in extra-judicial assassinations	423, including 145 civilian bystanders	119, including 39 civilian bystanders
Medical personnel killed	19	--
Journalists killed	8	--
Civilians killed in settler attacks	42	4
Patients who were held and died at checkpoints	66	5

 

Diagram (1)

Palestinian civilians killed during the al-Aqsa Intifada

 

 

 

Diagram (2)

Civilians killed during the al-Aqsa Intifada in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

 

 

Diagram (3)

Palestinians extra-judicially killed during the al-Aqsa Intifada

 

 

 

 

A table showing those injured during the al-Aqsa Intifada from

29 September 2000 to 28 September 2004

Area	Total	4th year
Gaza Strip	7886	1560
West Bank	11781	2500
Total	19667	4060

 

A table showing land levelling, house demolitions and destruction to industrial and educational facilities in the Gaza Strip during the al-Aqsa Intifada,

from 29 September 2000 to 28 September 2004 

Type	Total		4th year
Land leveling	29813 donums		8961 donums
House demolition	Complete	Partial	Complete	Partial
	2441	2105	1210	1014
Industrial facilities destroyed	561		241
Educational facilities destroyed	70		22

 

 

Diagram (4)

Land leveling in the Gaza Strip during the al-Aqsa Intifada

 

 

Diagram (5)

Housed demolished in the Gaza Strip during the al-Aqsa Intifada

 

 

Diagram (6)

Houses demolished in the context of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the al-Aqsa Intifada

 

 

 

 

Israeli Troops Escalate Attacks in the OPTs in the Last Week of the 4^th Year of al-Aqsa Intifada

• 19 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, a mentally handicapped civilian and an elderly person killed by Israeli troops

• 2 of the victims were extra-judicially executed by Israeli troops in Gaza

• Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip

• Israeli troops launched a wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip

• Dozens of houses were destroyed in Khan Yunis

• Houses were raided and dozens of Palestinian civilians were arrested

• 3 houses were destroyed in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists

• Continued shelling of residential areas and civilian facilities and a number of Palestinian civilians were injured

• Construction of the “Annexation wall” in the West Bank has continued

• Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the oPt; Israeli troops at military checkpoints fired at Palestinian civilians and arrested a number of civilians while crossing military checkpoints

Introduction

Israeli occupying troops have perpetrated more violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).  This week, 19 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including 4 children, a mentally handicapped civilian and an elderly person, were killed and dozens of other civilians were injured by Israeli troops.  Human rights violations perpetrated by Israeli occupying forces included willful and extra-judicial killings, incursions into Palestinian areas, indiscriminate shelling and land leveling. 

In the Gaza Strip, 10 Palestinians, including 6 civilians, were killed by Israeli troops.  Two children were killed by Israeli troops on 29 September 2004, during a wide scale Israeli offensive on the northern Gaza Strip.  A third child was killed by Israeli troops near al-Shuhada junction, south of Gaza City, on the same day.  On 27 September 2004, one Palestinian was extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops in Khan Yunis.  On the same day, an old Palestinian man was killed when Israeli troops opened fire at residential areas in Khan Yunis.  One Palestinian civilian was killed when an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians during an Israeli military incursion into Khan Yunis refugee camp on 25 September 2004.  A Palestinian civilian from Rafah died on 23 September 2004 from Rafah died from a previous injury he had sustained by Israeli troops. 

Since Tuesday evening, 28 September 2004, Israeli troops have launched a wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip.  Six Palestinians have been killed and at least 60 others have been injured.  Israeli troops have razed large areas of Palestinian agricultural land and destroyed a number of civilian facilities.  This offensive has been the second of its kind against the same area in 3 weeks. 

This week, Israeli troops conducted 9 incursions into Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip.  In two incursions into Khan Yunis refugee camp on 23 and 25 September 2004, Israeli troops destroyed 62 houses, rendering 555 Palestinian (84 families) homeless.  In the other incursions into other areas, Israeli troops destroyed 22 houses and razed at least 130 donums[1] of agricultural land.  Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian residential areas.  A number of Palestinian civilians were injured, including a schoolchild who was injured while she was sitting on her desk.  On 26 September 2004, Israeli helicopter gunships attacked and destroyed a workshop in Khan Yunis.      

In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed 7 Palestinian civilians, and an 8^th civilian was killed by a Jewish settler.  A 9^th civilian died from a previous injury he had sustained from Israeli troops.  On 27 September 2004, Israeli troops killed 2 Palestinian civilians in Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  On 28 September 2004, Israeli troops killed a mentally handicapped civilian and a child in Jenin refugee camp.  On 29 September 2004, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian civilian after having captured him.  On the same day, Israeli troops killed 2 civilians in Jenin.  On 27 September 2004, a Jewish settler killed a Palestinian civilian in Salem village near Nablus.  A 9^th civilian died on 23 September 2004 from a previous injury he had sustained by Israeli troops.  In addition, Israeli troops launched a series of attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties.  They moved into various areas throughout the West Bank, injured a number of Palestinian civilians, mostly children, and arrested dozens of others.  Israeli troops also destroyed 3 houses in the West Bank in the context of retaliatory measures against families of Palestinian activists. 

Israeli occupying troops have continued to construct the annexation wall inside the West Bank territory.  This week, this construction took place mainly in East Jerusalem, Rammalh and Hebron.  Israeli troops also used excessive force against demonstrations organized by Palestinian civilians and international solidarity groups in protest to the construction of the wall.  A number of the demonstrators were injured.

Israeli occupying troops have continued to impose a tightened siege on the OPTs and have imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem.  On 24 September 2004, Israeli troops closed Rafah crossing point on the Egyptian border and Sofa crossing.  The terminal was reopened on 27 September 2004.  On 27 September 2004, Israeli troops divided the Gaza Strip into 3 separate zones.  In the West Bank, Israeli troops have continued to impose a strict siege on Palestinian communities.  They have continued to impose a tightened siege on Hebron for the 30^th consecutive week.  They have also imposed severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and arrested some of them while crossing military checkpoints.  Israeli troops also imposed curfews on a number of Palestinian communities.         

 

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

Thursday, 23 September 2004

At approximately 00:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, including 3 bulldozers, and helicopters, moved nearly 150 meters into Block I in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Under the cover of indiscriminate shelling, Israeli troops called through megaphones on residents of a number of houses to vacate them, and then started to demolish those houses.  At approximately 00:45, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile that fell on a road in the area, but no casualties were reported.  At approximately 03:10, Israeli helicopter gunships fired 2 missiles at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who clashed with Israeli troops, and a number of civilians who were trying to vacate their houses.  One of the missiles hit a 2-storey house, in which 20 people (3 families) live, owned by Yousef 'Abdullah Sha'ban.  Six Palestinian civilians were injured by shrapnel from the missile and the house was severely damaged.  The other missile hit ruins of already destroyed houses without causing any casualties.  Five other civilians, including a 4-year-old child, were also injured later by the Israeli indiscriminate shelling.  Medical sources described the injuries of 3 of these civilians as serious.  By 05:30, Israeli troops had totally demolished 6 houses belonging to the families of Abu Louli, al-Zarabi, Abu 'Eid, Nasser, Abu Rezeq, 'Awad and Hunaideq.  They had also rendered 4 other houses uninhabitable.  As a consequence, 128 people (21families) have become homeless.  At approximately 08:00, while PCHR's field worker was documenting the outcome of this latest Israeli military attack, Israeli troops fired at residents of the houses that had been destroyed and a number of journalists.  A Palestinian child, 7-year-old Rudaina Akram al-Salibi, was wounded by a live bullet in the head. 

 At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 500 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City.  They raided and searched 2 houses belonging to the families of Hamdan and Abu Hujair.  They held residents of each house in one room and transformed the two houses into military sites.  During this incursion, Israeli troops destroyed 2 uninhabited houses in the area and partially demolished 2 houses.  They also razed 81 donums of agricultural land planted with olives, citrus and palms and damaged the civilian infrastructure of the area. 

 At approximately 17:10, Israeli troops moved into Nablus through its western entrance.  They opened fire at houses and markets in the city.  A Palestinian child and an international volunteer were wounded:

 1.     Kifah Kamal Zarif, 16, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back; and

2.     Cuarine Ezville, 36, a French citizen, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the neck. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Bethlehem and the neighboring al-Khader village and al-'Azza village; Jenin town and refugee camp and the villages of al-Yamoun and 'Ejja; the villages of Burqa, Tallouza and 'Assira near Nablus; and Yatta village near Hebron.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 23 Palestinian civilians, including a child and a number of brothers. 

 In the evening, medical sources at an Israeli hospital declared that a Palestinian, Falah Hassan Na'im Masharqa, 30, from Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm, died from an injury he had sustained by Israeli troops on Tuesday, 14 September 2004.  Israeli troops had arrested Masharqa when he was injured.

 According to PCHR's documentation, at approximately 04:30 on Tuesday, 14 September 2004, Israeli troops moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm.  They surrounded Ahmed Hassan Masharqa's house in al-Manshiya area.  They forced the parents and their five sons out and held them in a neighboring house.  Then, Israeli troops forced one of the sons, Mefleh, to enter the house to persuade his brother Falah to surrender, but he did not get out of the house until 16:00.  Soon, Israeli troops fired 5 missiles at the house, largely destroying it.  At approximately 17:00, Israeli troops forced another brother, Ahmed, to enter the house and bring whoever was inside.  Ahmed entered the house and brought his brother Mefleh, who was injured by shrapnel.  Then, he tried to bring his brother Falah out, but he was under the ruins of the house.  He asked neighbors to help him.  When Falah was brought out of the house, he was seriously injured.  Israeli troops immediately arrested him.  The victim was a member of al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad. 

 At approximately 19:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood.  A Palestinian civilian, Salem Mousa Abu Mousa, 32, was injured by shrapnel in the head. 

 At approximately 19:30, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

 1.     'Emad 'Abdul Wahab al-Shabati, 21, wounded by shrapnel in the face; and    

2.     Tawfiq Na'im 'Aashour, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the head.

 At approximately 23:15, medical sources at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City declared that Hussam Fathi Abu Naja, 18, from Rafah, died from a previous wound he had sustained by Israeli troops. 

 According to PCHR's documentation, Abu Naja was wounded by a live bullet in the head on 19 September 2004, when Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block J in Rafah refugee camp.  Abu Naja was studying at home when he was wounded.  He had received medical attention in the intensive care unit at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City until his death. 

 

Friday, 24 September 2004

 At approximately 01:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved nearly 100 meters into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City.  They raided 2 houses belonging to the families of Shahin and Abu Leila and forced their residents out.  Then, they demolished 2 other houses belonging to the families of Abu Leila and 'Azzam. 

 At approximately 02:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by 4 military bulldozers, moved nearly 300 meters into al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Khan Yunis.  By 06:30, they had razed 40 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables and demolished 6 houses, leaving 39 people (7 families) homeless.  The houses and land belong to the families of al-Masri and Kaware'.  Israeli troops also destroyed a bird farm and a number of irrigation networks and damaged a house and a mosque in the area. 

 At approximately 10:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian residential areas and civilian facilities to the east and north.  Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:

 1.     Ahmed Sameer al-Aqraa', 4, wounded by shrapnel in the left ear; and

2.     Mohammed Mustafa Jadallah, 24, wounded by a live bullet in the left thigh. 

 An artillery shell also hit the physiotherapy department at Nasser Hospital, causing severe damage.  Patients and medical crews were extremely terrified. 

 At approximately 15:00, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli troops opened fire at the children, wounding 3:

 1.     'Omar Jamal Subaitan, 9, seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen;

2.     Ibrahim Mohammed Sanajra, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the right hand; and

3.     Baraa' Basem Eshtaiwi, 7, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the back. 

 At approximately 18:00, Israeli troops moved into Nour Shams refugee camp, east of Tulkarm.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the Israeli troops.  Immediately, those troops opened fire at the children, wounding 3:

 1.     Mohammed Kamal Khalil, 15, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;

2.     Eihab Hussein Meqbel, 17, wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face; and

3.     Ahmed Raja Dabbour, 14, wounded by 2 rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and the left hand. 

 At approximately 18:40, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood.  A Palestinian child, Jihad Ihsan al-Natour, 15, was injured by shrapnel in the right leg. 

 At approximately 19:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood.  A Palestinian child, Ramzi Na'im Safi, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 At approximately 21:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" and "Netser Hazani" settlements, northwest of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Satar al-Gharbi area and al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.  A Palestinian civilian, Rafe' Ahmed al-Saqqa, 45, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest.   

In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Qalqilya and the neighboring Kufor Qaddoum village.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 4 Palestinians, including 2 children. 

 

Saturday, 25 September  2004  

Israeli troops launched a wide scale offensive on Khan Yunis refugee camp, using helicopter gunships, tanks and military bulldozers.  They destroyed 52 Palestinian houses, rendering 407 people (63 families) homeless.  They also killed one Palestinian civilian and injured 6 others. 

 

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 00:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, moved from "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, into Khan Yunis refugee camp.  Immediately, they started a wide scale operation of house demolitions in the camp, without giving any prior notification to Palestinian residents.  This prevented them from lodging an appeal through legal channels against this process of forced migration.  Nearly half an hour later, more Israeli tanks and military vehicles were brought to the area and Israeli helicopter gunships shelled Palestinian houses.  Palestinian civilians, who were trying to escape from the Israeli shelling, were extremely terrified.  At approximately 01:30, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a number of Palestinian civilians near a mosque in the center of the camp.  One civilian, Ahmed 'Ali Abu 'Abdullah, 50, was instantly killed by shrapnel throughout the body, when he was trying to escape from his house.  Four other civilians were also injured by shrapnel from the missile.  As the Israeli military operation in the camp continued, Israeli troops continued to fire at Palestinian houses.  As a result, 2 other civilians were injured.  By 06:15, when Israeli troops withdrew from the camp, Israeli troops had completely destroyed 45 houses completely, leaving 350 people (56 families) homeless.  In addition, they had partially destroyed 7 houses, where 57 people (7 families) live. 

 At approximately 08:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Khan Yunis refugee camp.  A Palestinian schoolchild, 11-year-old Madeline Hamdan Buraika, was wounded by a live bullet in the forehead when she was sitting on her desk in an elementary school.  This schoolchild was the third to be wounded in Khan Yunis by the Israeli gunfire while at school in less than 2 weeks.

 At approximately 11:00, Israeli troops moved into the campus of the al-Quds Open University in Hebron.  They held and interrogated dozens of students for several hours.  However, no arrests were reported. 

 At approximately 11:25, Israeli troops positioned along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  A Palestinian civilian, Bahaa' Ahmed 'Abdul 'Aal, 28, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg. 

 At approximately 19:30, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and al-Nimsawi neighborhood.  They also fired flare bombs at the area.  One flare bomb penetrated the roof of Ahmed Mahmoud Abu Shammala's house.  The owner's wife, Ameera 'Abdul Jalil Abu Shammala, 28, sustained burns to the limbs when she was feeding her children. 

 At approximately 22:40, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in al-Salam neighborhood.  A Palestinian woman, Faten Isma'il Lafi, 20, was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh, when she was inside her house. 

 At approximately 22:45, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in Tal al-Saultan neighborhood.  Three Palestinian civilians were wounded:

 1.     'Izziddin Nayef al-Hilu, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the right shoulder;

2.     Yousef Khaled Jad al-Haq, 38, wounded by a live bullet in the legs; and

3.     Hussein Nabil Abu 'Armana, 21, wounded by a live bullet in the right leg. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Zabbouba village, northwest of Jenin, and the villages of Beit Leqia and Beit Reema near Ramallah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 9 Palestinians, including 3 brothers. 

 

Sunday, 26 September 2004

 At approximately 00:30, Israeli troops moved nearly 400 meters into al-Mughrqa village, south of Gaza City.  They raided and searched a number houses and arrested 3 Palestinians, including 2 brothers.  They also demolished an uninhabited house and razed 6 donums of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus. 

 At approximately 05:00, Israeli troops moved nearly 400 meters into Abu Sha'ar area in Wadi al-Salqa village, southeast of Deir al-Balah.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 2 Palestinians: Salem 'Othman Abu Sha'ar, 33; and Mousa 'Abdul Rahman Abu Sha'ar, 28. 

 At approximately 07:00, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a 125-square-meter aluminum workshop owned by Ahmed and 'Abdul Hamid al-Jabri, which is located under a 2-storey building in the densely populated al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis.  The workshop was totally destroyed, a flat was damaged and a Palestinian child, Mohammed Khader Khudair, 11, was injured by shrapnel in the abdomen and the foot. 

 At approximately 15:30, 5 Israeli military jeeps moved into 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of Nablus.  A number of Palestinian children gathered and threw stones at the jeeps.  Immediately, Israeli troops fired at the children, wounding 15-year-old Mahmoud Mohammed Asadi with 2 live bullets in the right thigh and the face. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Jenin and arrested Leena Ra'fat al-Hindawi, 25.  They also moved into al-Duha village, south of Bethlehem, and attested 3 Palestinians. 

 

Monday, 27 September 2004

 At approximately 04:00, Israeli troops, reinforced by nearly 40 military vehicles, moved into Jenin town and refugee camp.  They opened fire at Palestinian houses.  At approximately 08:00, they surrounded al-Razi Hospital in the north of the town.  Israeli troops broke into the hospital opening fire.  They searched the hospital claiming that they were looking for wanted Palestinians.  Before their withdrawal from the town at 13:00, Israeli troops arrested 2 Palestinians: Marwan Abu 'Ali, 18; and Mohammed Mustafa Abu al-Rub, 21. In addition, 7 Palestinian civilians, including 2 children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire.  The wound of one of these civilians was described by medical sources as serious. 

 At approximately 07:00, Israeli troops moved into 'Ein Beit al-Maa' refugee camp, west of Nablus.  A number of Palestinian children and young men gathered and threw stones at the Israeli troops.  Immediately, those troops fired at the stone throwers, wounding 2:

 1.     Mohammed Sa'id Khaled, 22, wounded by 2 live bullets in the neck and the abdomen; and

2.     Fadi Ibrahim Mar'ei, 16, wounded by 2 live bullets in the neck and the abdomen. 

 At approximately 10:10, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Neve Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, opened fire at Khan Yunis refugee camp.  A number of live bullets hit an UNRWA preparatory school, nearly 600 meters away from the aforementioned settlement.  A Palestinian civilian, Sa'id Mohammed Mahmoud al-Madhoun, 62, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen when he was in a visit to the school.  He died shortly after his evacuation to the hospital.  Another civilian, Joma'a Hamdan al-Shourbaji, 30, was wounded by a live bullet in the right leg when he was inside his house in Jourat al-Lout area, nearly 1500 meters away from the source of fire. 

 At approximately 12:00, Israeli troops positioned in military posts along the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in the town.  Five Palestinian civilians, including 3 schoolchildren, were wounded, when they were at al-'Awda square, nearly 700 meters away from the border. 

 At approximately 17:10, a number of Palestinian civilians in al-Jalamna area in the south of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus, were fired at from inside an apartment building, nearly 100 meters away from them, which had been seized by Israeli troops in the early morning.  Two civilians were instantly killed:

 1.     Ahmed Nidal al-Teerawi, 18, hit by a live bullet to the right eye; and

2.     'Ammar Da'san 'Ali Abu Nafeesa, 24, hit by a live bullet in the chest. 

 At approximately 18:20, Israeli troops positioned in military posts in the vicinity of "Morag" settlement, north of Rafah, opened fire at Musabbeh area.  A Palestinian child, 9-year-old Hayathem 'Atiya Abu Humaida, was wounded by a live bullet in the left leg, when she was at home. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Jenin town and refugee camp; Nablus and neighboring refugee camps; Kufor Thuluth village near Qalqilya; Hebron and the neighboring al-Reehiya village; and al-Khader village, south of Bethlehem.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 12 Palestinians, including 5 children and 2 brothers.   

 

Tuesday, 28 September 2004

 At approximately 05:45, Israeli troops positioned in the west of Jenin refugee camp shot dead Saleh Ibrahim Yahia Balalwa, 47, when he was walking in the street during the curfew time.  The victim was mentally handicapped, and left his house without his family knowing that.  According to Palestinian medical sources, the victim was hit by a live bullet to the chest.

 Soon, dozens of Palestinian children and young men got out of their homes and threw stones at Israeli troops, which responded by firing at the stone throwers.  At approximately 17:15, 17-year-old Mahmoud Nasser Nafe' Bazour, 17, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest.  He was evacuated to the hospital in a civilian car.  Medical efforts to save his life failed and at approximately 17:45, he was pronounced dead.  In addition, 6 other civilians, including 5 children, were wounded by the Israeli gunfire. 

 At approximately 19:30, Israeli troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles, moved into Sheikh 'Ejlin neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.  By Wednesday morning, 29 September 2004, Israeli troops had destroyed 8 houses belonging to the Shehada family completely, leaving 52 people homeless.  They had also partially demolished 2 houses.  In addition, they had razed 8 donums of agricultural land planted with vegetables belonging to the Shamallakh family.  Israeli troops had moved into the area twice this week.  They verbally warned residents of the aforementioned houses that their houses would be demolished.  On 27 September 2004, PCHR submitted an appeal to the Israeli military legal advisor against the demolition of these houses.  PCHR received a response stating that there was no intention to demolish the houses. 

 In the hours of the day, Israeli troops moved into Jenin town and refugee camp; Nablus and the neighboring Zawata village; Bethlehem and the neighboring al-'Ebaidiya village; the villages of Beit Reema, 'Aaboud and 'Ein 'Arik near Ramallah; and Tulkarm refugee camp.  They raided and searched a number of houses and arrested 44 Palestinians, including 2 children and 2 brothers. 

 

Wednesday, 29 September 2004

 Israeli Offensive on the Northern Gaza Strip

 On Tuesday evening, 28 September 2004, Israeli occupying troops, reinforced by heavy military vehicles and helicopters, launched a wide scale offensive on the northern Gaza Strip.  They moved into area through three directions opening fire intensively at the area. 

 At approximately 04:00 on Wednesday, Israeli troops positioned at al-Sikka Street, east of Jabalya refugee camp, fired an artillery shell at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance who clashed with those troops.  One member of the resistance, Tawfiq Mohammed al-Sherafi, 24, was killed by shrapnel from the shell. 

 At approximately 07:00, 15 Israeli military vehicles moved from Erez crossing towards Qulaibu hill in Tal al-Za'tar area.  Israeli troops opened fire at the area and isolated it from its surroundings. 

 At approximately 07:25, Israeli troops opened fire at dozens of Palestinian schoolchildren who threw stones at Israeli tanks near the directorate of education in Beit Lahia.  One of the children, Sa'ed Mohammed Hiddu Abu al-'Eish, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, was killed by a live bullet in the chest. 

 At approximately 09:00, while Israeli military bulldozers were demolishing the fence of the building of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service in Beit Lahia, an electricity tower fell on a number of Palestinian children who gathered in the area.  One of the children, Ahmed Ibrahim 'Abdul Fattah Madi, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, was instantly killed. 

 In the evening, Israeli troops continued to shell Palestinian residential areas, especially in Jabalya refugee camp.  At approximately 20:30, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in the east of Jabalya refugee camp.  One member of the resistance, Sa'ad Mohammed al-Barad'ei, 21, from Gaza City, was killed, and 2 others were seriously injured. 

 At approximately 23:30, an Israeli helicopter gunship fired a missile at a number of members of the Palestinian resistance in Tal al-Za'tar area.  Two members of the resistance were killed:

 1.     Fathi Ahmed al-Sawawin, 21; and

2.     Khalil Khalil Naji, 31, both from Gaza City. 

 As a result of the Israeli indiscriminate shelling, at least 60 Palestinian civilians, including 20 children, were injured.  The injuries of 4 of these civilians were described by medical sources as serious. 

 Until the time of this writing, Israeli occupying troops have continued their offensive on the northern Gaza Strip, perpetrating more violations of human rights against Palestinian civilians. 

 At approximately 09:00, a number of Palestinian schoolchildren moved towards al-Shuhada junction near "Netzarim" settlement, south of Gaza City.  They threw stones at Israeli troops positioned in the area.  Immediately, Israeli troops opened fire at the children.  One of the children, 17-year-old Mohammed Talal Hussein Jaber, from al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, was instantly killed by 2 live bullets in the chest and the abdomen.    

 In the afternoon, Israeli troops killed 2 Palestinian civilians in Jenin.  They claimed that they fired at a car, in which 3 Palestinians (2 men and a woman) were traveling, that moved from a car park of a building seized by these troops.  They further claimed that the driver did not obey orders to stop, and that one of the passengers attempted to escape from the car.  PCHR's preliminary investigations indicate that the two civilian were killed while they were inside the car. 

 According to preliminary investigations conducted by P