Weekly Report
on
Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
February
15 – 21, 2001
The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
·
Four Palestinian citizens are killed by Israeli shelling;
·
Man is killed extra-judicially
·
Patient dies due to the siege;
·
Dozens of Palestinian civilians, including children, are wounded by the
Israeli occupation forces;
·
238 Palestinian civilians in Khan Yunis suffer from a highly effective
gas;
·
Dozens of Palestinian civilians are deprived of the right to make
pilgrimage; and
·
Leveling of Palestinian agricultural land and demolition of Palestinian
homes continues.
Introduction
This
report covers Israeli human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the period of February 15-21, 2001.
During the third week of February 2001, there has been a significant
escalation of Israeli human rights violations against Palestinian civilians and
their properties in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israeli
forces fired a barrage of artillery shells, heavy caliber bullets, and medium
caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in the West Bank
and the Gaza Strip. This killed
four Palestinian civilians, wounded dozens more with live bullets and shrapnel,
and caused severe damage to dozens of houses and civilian facilities.
On
Monday, February 16, 2001, Israeli occupation forces positioned in the so-called
“Avraham Avino settlement center” in the middle of Hebron shelled a
Palestinian neighborhood in the city. Consequently,
E’ssam Rashad El-Tawil, 29, was killed by an explosive live bullet in the
chest. This escalation coincided
with the shelling of a cow farm north of Hebron, during which Shaker Sueiman
Ya’qoub El-Manasra, 23, from Bani Na’eim village, was killed with heavy
caliber bullets in the chest and the abdomen.
Two workers were also wounded. Ahmed
Ismail Farajallah, 35, from Ethna village near Hebron, was wounded with two live
bullets in the neck and the abdomen. He
died from the wounds on February 18, 2001.
On
Thursday, February 15, 2001, Israeli forces opened fire on Nasser Mohammed
Mohammed El-Hassanat, 19, from Deir El-Balah, killing him with several live
bullets throughout the body. PCHR
has been unable to obtain certain and complete information regarding the
circumstances of the incident. The
Israeli occupation forces claimed that El-Hassanat attempted to sneak into
greenhouses east of Kfar Darom settlement.
They killed him in willfully and without provocation and no attempt was
used to first employ less lethal means.
On
Monday, February 19, 2001, Israeli forces committed a new crime of willful,
extra-judicial killing against Mahmoud Suleiman El-Madani, 25, from Balatta
refugee camp. He was killed by four
explosive live bullets in the chest and the abdomen that were fired by an
Israeli undercover unit.
In
addition to those killed during this period, dozens of Palestinian civilians,
including a number of children, were wounded by Israeli gunfire shooting.
This occurred both during clashes and in their absence.
Among the wounded were: Mohammed Hussein Abu El-Jadayel, 25, from Al-Sammou’
village near Hebron, who was seriously wounded with a live bullet in the chest
during clashes at the entrance of the village; and Hakema Mosabbeh Suleiman Abu
Khobbeiza, 70, from Al-Moghraqa area to the south of Gaza City, who was wounded
with a live bullet in the right leg on February 19, 2001, near Netzarim
settlement, when there were no clashes in the area.
In
Khan Yunis, the Israeli occupation forces used a new and more virulent gas
against Palestinian civilians. From
its first use on February 12, 2001 until February 20, 2001, 238 Palestinian
civilians, including women and children, have been affected by the gas.
Of these, 27 are still receiving medical care at the Palestine Red
Crescent Society hospital and Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
Furthermore,
Israeli forces continued to raze Palestinian agricultural land and demolish
Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in the Gaza Strip.
In
addition, PCHR documented a number of incidents during which the Israeli
occupation forces opened fire upon on-duty medical personnel and ambulances.
According to an investigation carried out by PCHR, Jehad Abdel-Karim Abu
Attaya, a 44-year-old medic, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the
chest. On February 13, 2001,
Israeli forces fired upon Abu Attaya while he was inside an ambulance in Khan
Yunis.
Not
even local and international journalists are immune to being fired upon by
Israeli forces. Several journalists
have been injured while covering clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian
civilians.
During
the past week, the Israeli occupation forces continued to impose a total siege
on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. They
also continued to reinforce their presence on the main roads and at the
entrances of Palestinian cities. On
February 16, 2001, Abdel-Rahman Mahmoud Joma’a, 70, from Beit Lied village
near Tulkarm, died when the Israeli occupation forces prevented the car
transporting him to hospital from passing.
This incident was the fifth of its kind during the past three weeks.
This
week, the Israeli occupation forces prevented 52 Palestinian citizens from the
Gaza Strip from traveling to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.
Thousands of Palestinian pilgrims who had originally planned to depart
from Gaza International Airport were forced to travel by bus to Al-A’rish
Airport in the Sinai from where they flew to Saudi Arabia.
The Israeli occupation forces also continued to prevent the entry of
Palestinian citizens into Jerusalem, thus preventing them from praying at
Islamic and Christian holy sites. (For
more information about the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and its disastrous
consequences, see Closure Update, a report by PCHR on the closure imposed
by the Israeli occupation forces on the Gaza Strip.)
1.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Thursday,
February 15, 2001
Early in the morning, at approximately 4:00
local time, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned in Kfar Darom settlement
opened fire on Nasser Mohammed Mohammed El-Hassanat, 19, from Deir El-Balah,
killing him with several live bullets throughout the body. PCHR has been unable to obtain certain and complete
information regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Israeli forces claimed that El-Hassanat attempted to
sneak into greenhouses east of Kfar Darom settlement. They kept El-Hassanat’s body until 14:00 local time.
Friday, February 16, 2001
At approximately 13:30 local time, the
Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian civilians.
At the time, the civilians were demonstrating approximately 150m south of
the road connecting Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and
south of the Gaza Strip) with Netzarim settlement south of Gaza City.
As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded and were evacuated to
Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. The
wounded were:
1)
Abdel-Rahman
Mohammed El-Hajjar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and
2)
Nasser
El-Nabahin, 23, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
In the afternoon, a number of Palestinian
youth demonstrated approximately 100m away from the Israeli occupation forces’
position, located near the Al-Simia area at the entrance of Al-Sammou’ village
near Hebron. At approximately 14:30
local time, an Israeli sniper fired a live bullet at Mohammed Hussein Abu El-Jadayel,
25, from Al-Sammou’ village. The
bullet pierced his chest and exited his back, hitting the spinal column.
According to medical sources at Al-Ahli hospital in Hebron, parts of his
liver and spleen were also destroyed. He
is still receiving medical treatment at the intensive care unit.
At approximately 16:30 local time, Khaled
Ali Aqel, 30, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was wounded with a live bullet in the
abdomen, fired by Irsaeli forces at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, south of
Gaza City. In his testimony to PCHR,
Aqel said that he was traveling by taxi from Al-Boreij refugee camp to Gaza
City. Due to clashes between the
Israeli occupation forces and Palestinian demonstrators, the driver stopped the
taxi approximately 100m to the south of the junction and decided to travel back
to Al-Boreij refugee camp. Aqel
exited the taxi on the main road and waited for another taxi in order to travel
to Gaza City. Then, Israeli
occupation soldiers fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the
abdomen. It is important to note
that he had not participated in the clashes and was approximately 200m north of
Palestinian demonstrators.
In the afternoon, Palestinian civilians in
Deir Nezham village, west of Ramallah, confronted Israeli forces attempting to
burst into their village. Israeli
forces opened fire on Palestinian children and youth who were throwing stones.
Consequently, 14 were wounded, mostly children under 18.
Among the wounded were:
1)
Abdullah
Tayseer El-A’araj, 16, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right
hand;
2)
Ahmed
Mustafa Saleh, 12, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;
3)
Mohammed
Nasser Mezher, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
4)
Abdullah
Mustafa Saleh, 17, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the abdomen;
5)
Jad
Hussein Ziad, 21, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the testes;
6)
Tariq
Mahmoud Amir, 14, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
7)
Hassan
Ahmed E’id, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the spinal
column;
8)
Fadhel
Hussein Ziad, 26, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
9)
Shaher
Abdel-Qader Mosa’d, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder;
and
10)
Fadi
Mohammed Mosa’d, 19, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left
foot.
In the afternoon, clashes erupted between
Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance
to Al-Bireh as well as in the center of Hebron.
The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian civilians,
wounding six with live bullets and another 19 with rubber-coated metal bullets.
Also in the afternoon, at approximately
16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Al-Mentar (Karni)
Outlet, east of Gaza City, fired upon a number of Palestinian children who were
demonstrating approximately 100m away from two tanks of these forces.
As a result, three children were wounded.
One of the children, Mohammed Tayseer El-Abed Sa’d, 15, from Al-Shojaeya
neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with an explosive live bullet in the
buttocks and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
The other two children were:
1)
Hazem
Mohammed Hassan Sa’d, 14, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded
with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head; and
2)
Hassan
Mohammed Ghazal, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
Sunday, February
18, 2001
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli
occupation forces, positioned at the border in Rafah, opened fire on a number of
Palestinian children in Al-Salam neighborhood, adjacent to the border.
According to eyewitnesses, there were no clashes at the time.
Children shouted at Israeli occupation soldiers positioned on a tank as
it passed the border, near Palestinian houses in Al-Salam neighborhood. Although no threat was posed to their lives, the Israeli
soldiers opened fire on Palestinian children, wounding four as follows:
1)
Mahdi
Nasser Omar, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh which severed an
artery. He was evacuated to Nasser
hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2)
Ahmed
Joma’a Abu Taha, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and then to Shifa’
hospital in Gaza City, where medical sources stated that he suffered from
hemophilia;
3)
Asma’
Abdel-Hamid Qeshta, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder; and
4)
Mohammed
Ahmed Mattar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the back.
Monday,
February 19, 2001
At
approximately 9:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at Al-Shuhada’
(Netzarim) junction, willfully opened fire on a 70-year-old woman, although
there were no clashes in the area at the time.
Hakema Mosabbeh Suleiman Abu Khobbeiza “El-Khoratti,” 70, from the
Al-Moghraqa area near Netzarim settlement was wounded with a live bullet in the
right leg. In her testimony to PCHR,
“El-Khoratti” said that shortly after exiting the taxi in which was
traveling from Nusseirat refugee camp to her residence, Israeli occupation
soldiers fired two live bullets at her from a distance of 70m. One of these hit
her right leg. Ten minutes later, a
civilian car that happened to be passing the area transferred her to a clinic in
Nusseirat refugee camp. From there,
she was transferred to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
At approximately 12:30
local time, the Israeli forces committed yet another willful extra-judicial
killing, this time against Mahmoud Suleiman El-Madani, 25, from Balatta refugee
camp, a student at the College of Legislation of An-Najah National University in
Nablus. According to eyewitnesses,
after El-Madani exited a mosque at the entrance of Balatta refugee camp,
adjacent to the main Nablus-Ramallah road, a civilian car suddenly stopped.
Two undercover, armed persons exited the car and opened fire on El-Madani
from a distance of only 10m. They
then got in the car and fled the area. Eyewitnesses
said at the same time, Israeli forces positioned on Jerzim Mount opened fire,
providing cover to protect the assassins and
enabling them to flee. El-Madani
was wounded with three live bullets in the chest and the abdomen. He was immediately evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus,
where he was pronounced dead at approximately 18:00 local time.
Later, the Israeli occupation forces declared that an undercover unit
committed the assassination. El-Madani
was a political activist of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
At approximately
15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border opposite
to Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, opened fire on a number of Palestinian
children. As a result, Nahedh
A’wwad El-Tarabin, 14, was wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the child was passing a
nearby street when Israeli soldiers fired at him without provocation.
Tuesday,
February 20, 2001
At approximately 7:30 local time, Israeli
occupation forces, positioned in the so-called “Avraham Avino settlement
center,” in the middle of Hebron, opened fire on Palestinian students on their
way to Al-Ya’qobia school for girls. Consequently,
Rae’da No’man El-Atrash, 16, a tenth grate student, was wounded with two
rubber-coated metal bullets in the right hand and left leg.
At approximately 12:00
local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of Palestinian
youth and children who were demonstrating approximately south of the forces’
position at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction.
The child Mohammed Abdullah Younis, 14, from Al-Boreij refugee camp was
wounded with a live bullet in the right foot.
Also at approximately
13:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces fired at PCHR’s field officer in
Khan Yunis Abdel-Halim Abu Samra, 39 years old, and an American journalist, Ron
Warzer, a press photographer of Seattle Times.
Abu Samra accompanied journalist Warzers to acquaint him with actions of
leveling and demolition carried out by the Israeli occupation forces on
Palestinian agricultural land and civilian facilities at a branch road to the
east of Salah El-Din Street (the main street between the north and south of the
Gaza Strip) leading to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern borderline of the Gaza
Strip, as part of a PCHR’s program to inform international mass media and
journalists on abuses perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against
Palestinian civilians and their property. According
to Abu Samra, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from tank in order to
drive them away from the area. The two were forced to immediately leave the area.
2.
Shelling of Residential Neighborhoods
Thursday,
February 15, 2001
In
the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces positioned in a military site on
Jerzim Mount in Nablus shelled a 15-story building in Al-Dhahia neighborhood
in Nablus, on whose roof a station of strengthening broadcasting, belongs to
Nablus Television Channel, a private channel.
The Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and
medium caliber bullets, causing severe damage to the station and to water
saving tanks of the building.
At approximately 20:00 local
time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah roadblock, in the
west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian
houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp. PCHR’s
field officer in Khan Yunis reported that fired three canisters of a highly
effective gas at Palestinian houses. He
added that Wardan Hassan El-Jed, 20 years old, was wounded with shrapnel in
the left foot, and another 11 Palestinian civilians, mostly children,
suffered from suffocation and spasms due to gas inhalation, which the
Israeli occupation forces used first on February 12, 2001 (for more details
about such gas and its unfamiliar impacts, see the previous Weekly Report
by PCHR.) Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses were severely
damaged. Medium caliber bullets
also penetrated windows of the Radiography Department of UNRWA’s clinic in
Khan Yunis refugee camp.
Friday
February 16, 2001
At
approximately 3:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces reinforced with tanks
and bulldozers burst into Al-Slalam neighborhood, adjacent to the borderline
in Rafah, in order to raze areas of agricultural land and demolish a number of
houses. They fired heavy and
medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Barazil and Al-Salam
neighborhoods, wounding four Palestinian civilians who were in front of their
homes, which they left due to the shelling.
The wounded were:
1)
Mousa Hmadan Abu Mo’ammar, 14 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
right leg;
2)
Hassan Ibrahim El-Sattari, 19 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
head; and
3)
Mohieddin Ismail Mansour, 27 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
head.
At
approximately 13:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled the same
area again, wounding two Palestinian civilians. The wounded were:
1)
Yusri Hassan Owedha, 38 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the left
foot; and
2)
Mohammed Jamil Abu Koush, 10 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the
left foot.
At
approximately 9:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in military
sites in the west of Khan Yunis fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at
Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp.
At approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started
to use artillery shelling in hitting Kahn Yunis refugee camp, which lasted up to
22:30 local time. Dozens of houses
were severely damaged. Among them
was a six-story house owned by O’udeh Abu A’kker, which was hit with an
artillery shell that penetrated the window of a kitchen on the third floor, on
which his son Farid’s six-member family live.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the shell burnt the
kitchen. Additionally, bullets hit
the walls of the house, making 3-5cm holes and destroying a number of windows.
At
approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in “Beit
Eil” military site and at the northern entrance of Albireh, fired artillery
shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Balou’ neighborhood in Al-Bireh,
causing severe damage to the headquarters of the Palestinian Ministry of Local
Government and several civilian buildings and facilities.
At
approximately 20:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at the
center of Hebron arbitrarily shelled Palestinian houses in the city, killing two
Palestinian civilians and wounding another five, on of whom was in critical
condition. On his way back home in
Talae’t El-Karantina Street opposite to the so-called “Avraham Avino
settlement center.” E’ssam Rashad El-Tawil, 29 years old, an employee at
Hebron Municipality, was killed with an explosive bullet in the chest.
On the north of Hebron, the Israeli occupation forces shelled a cow farm
owned by the Palestinian Islamic Charity Society, in the northeast of Al-Rama
neighborhood, killing Shaker Ya’qoub El-Manasra, 23 years old, from Bani
Nae’im village to the east of Hebron, who worked at the farm, with several
heavy and medium caliber bullets in the chest and the abdomen.
Additionally, another two workers at the farm were wounded.
They are:
1)
Ahmed Ismail Frajallah, 35 years old, 35 years old, from Ethna village,
wounded with two live bullets in the neck and the abdomen; and
2)
Yousef Suleiman El-Manasra, 30 years old, wounded with a live bullet in
the right shoulder and shrapnel in the left hand.
Also,
as a result of arbitrary shelling on Hebron, Malaka Ziad El-Bakri, 42 years old,
was wounded with shrapnel in the back, when a car, she traveled by, was fired at
by the Israeli occupation forces. Also,
Ya’qoub and Nawal Hamdi Marar were wounded with shrapnel, while their were at
home in El-Karantina neighborhood.
Saturday,
February 17, 2001
At
approximately 16:30 local time, Israeli forces positioned in Ramat Yisahi
settlement, overlooking the center of Hebron, shelled Bab El-Zawia and El-Sheikh
neighborhoods and Faisal Street in Hebron. Such shelling which lasted for 1.5 hours, during which the
Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber
bullets, resulted in wounding 11 Palestinian civilians who were inside houses or
at roads, and severely damaging a number of houses. The wounded were:
1)
Seham e’issa Jaradat, 45 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
2)
Jehad Mohammed Ghaith, 36 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
3)
Nader O’mran Shahin, 37 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
4)
E’issa Ahmed Tannina, 40 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the right
leg;
5)
Khaled A’rafa A’rafa, 15 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
face;
6)
Wadi’e A’wadh El-Haddad, 48 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
shoulder and the chest;
7)
Amena Khaled El-Shawish, 16 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
8)
Fahed Abdel-Azzizz El-Natsheh; 24 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
abdomen;
9)
Nedhal Sae’id El-Haimouni, 24 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
legs;
10)
Beha’ A’tteya Eskafi, 13 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the
right hand; and
11)
Zeidan Mohammed Eskafi, 20 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
At
approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces in the so-called
“Tsheva” military site fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber
bullets at the Latin Patriarchy neighborhood in Jenin.
The shelling also targeted Tayaseer elementary school, causing severe
damage to its walls, windows, school equipment and water saving tanks.
Furthermore, Subeih Mohammed Subeih, 21 years old, was wounded with a
live bullet in the shoulder when he was passing near the area.
Sunday,
February 18, 2001
At
approximately 10:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at Al-Tuffah
roadblock and in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, to the west of Khan
Yunis refugee camp, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets
at Palestinian houses. Such action
lasted up to 13:00 local time, during which the Israeli occupation forces fired
four highly effective gas canisters, used first on February 12, 2001.
Such shelling resulted in wounding:
1)
Nada Menwer Abu O’beida, 8 years old, with shrapnel throughout the
body; and
2)
Suha Ghazi Abu A’kker, 10 years old, with shrapnel in the neck.
According
to an eyewitness who has a commercial store, approximately 250m to the east of
Al-Tuffah roadblock, at approximately 12:00 (local time), an artillery shell hit
the door of his commercial store, making a 25-cm hole.
Shrapnel of such artillery shell dispersed inside and outside the
commercial store wounding the above children.
Additionally, contents of the commercial stores were severely damaged.
Also, Yousef Suleiman Zourob, 67 years old, was wounded with a live
bullet in the left foot.
Furthermore,
the physiotherapy department at the UNRWA’s clinic in Khan Yunis refugee camp
was hit with two heavy caliber bullets. PCHR’s
field officer in Khan Yunis reported that more than 500 citizens at the clinic,
patients and companions, were terrified. It
is worth mentioning that this UNRWA’s clinic was fired at once before during
the previous few days.
At
approximately 12:00 local time, Ahmed Ismail Farajallah, 35 years old, from
Ethna village near Hebron, was pronounced dead at Al-Mizan hospital in Hebron.
He was critically wounded when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a
cow farm in Hebron (see the above details).
At
approximately 16:20 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery
shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Khan Yunis refugee camp.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these forces also
fired highly effective gas at Palestinian houses.
Most Palestinian civilians were forced to leave their houses.
As a result of such shelling which lasted for 2.5 hours, seven
Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1)
Mohammed Khaled Abu A’rram, 8 years old, wounded with shrapnel of a
live bullet near the right eye;
2)
Khaled A’tteya Sha’ath, 27 years old, wounded with a live bullet in
the right hand;
3)
Jamal Mousa El-Sharif, 40 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the foot;
4)
Ahmed Mohareb Abu Sahloul, 16 years old, wounded with shrapnel of an
artillery shell in the back;
5)
Ghassan Abdel-Jalil El-Salibi, 18 years old, wounded with shrapnel of an
artillery shell in the right shoulder;
6)
Jehad Jamal Zaqqout, 12 years old, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery
shell in the right side; and
7)
A’lla’ Fayez Saqer, 12 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the face.
PCHR’s
field officer in Khan Yunis reported that 41 Palestinian civilians, mostly
children and women, suffered from suffocation and spasms due to inhaling the
highly effective gas. He added that
238 Palestinian civilians suffered from such symptoms as a result of gas
inhalation during the period of February 12-20, 2001, 27 of them were still
receiving medical care at the hospital of Palestine Red Crescent Society and
Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
Furthermore,
a number of Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Amal
neighborhood were severely damaged after being hit with heavy and medium caliber
bullets, including two houses which are approximately 120m to the east of
military sites of the Israeli occupation forces at Al-Tuffah roadblock and in
the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement. PCHR’s
field officer in Khan Yunis reported that these two houses were frequently
shelled in the past months with no justification.
The two houses are:
1)
A 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people used to live,
owned by Abdullah and Ibrahim Hassan Abu O’beida, was partially destroyed
after having been hit with eight artillery shells, added to previous shelling,
that it needs reconstruction.
2)
A 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people used to live, was
partially destroyed after having been hit with four artillery shells, added to
previous shelling, that it needs reconstruction.
Monday, February 19, 2001
At
approximately 19:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in Psagot
settlement, to the east of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium
caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Al-Jenan
neighborhood and Jabal Al-Tawil Street in Al-Bireh.
Such shelling which lasted up to 21:30 local time caused severe damage to
a number of houses, including Bassel Sabri Al-Shawa, whose furniture partially
burnt. The shelling also targeted
the National School for Blind Female, which includes 75 students, destroying
walls of a bedroom, windows, water saving tanks, a water network and part of the
furniture. Students were terrified.
Furthermore, severe damage was caused to walls and water saving tanks of
the headquarters of the Palestinian Poetry House at Jabal Al-Tawil Street.
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
At
approximately 22:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces started to
arbitrarily shell Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Beit Jala city and
Al-Khader village. Such shelling
lasted for approximately two hours, during which the Israeli occupation forces
fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets from their military
sites to the west of Beit Jala and in Gilo settlement. As a result, Ossama Mohammed Ibrahim El-Qorabi El-Massalma,
18 years old, from Beit Jala, was killed after his family’s house in Al-Iraq
neighborhood was hit with artillery shells. A wall fell down on him.
He was pulled in difficulty from under the debris of the house which was
completely destroyed. He was transferred to hospital dead. Additionally, his father and mother were wounded with
shrapnel of artillery shells throughout the body.
Artillery shells also hit the house of Sa’d Ahmed Salah in Al-Khader
village, destroying the second floor and wounding three of his family, including
the child Mohammed Ahmed Salah, 13 years old, who was wounded with shrapnel in
the extremities. Such shelling
resulted in wounding 12 moderately or slightly, and damaging five houses in
addition to the pervious two.
3.
A new victim of the siege
On
Friday, February 16, 2001, at approximately 11:00 local time, Abdel-Rahaman
Mahmoud Joma’a, 76 years old, from the village of Beit Lied in Tulkarm, died
when the Israeli occupation forces obstructed his transfer to hospital.
The deceased suffered from severe pains in the chest at 10:00 local time.
His family intended to transfer him by a private car to hospital in
Tulkarm. But, Israeli occupation
soldiers positioned at a roadblock at the southern entrance of Tulkarm prevented
the passage of the car, even though they were warned that Joma’a was in
critical condition. They allowed
his transfer to hospital on the condition of bringing a another car from Tulkarm
to transfer him. According to the
patient’s companions, such unjustifiable measure caused a one-hour delay at
the roadblock. The patient was
transferred to hospital after he died on the way.
It
is worth mentioning that this incident was the fifth of its kind in the past
weeks, as four Palestinian patients died when Israeli occupation forces at
roadblocks at the entrances of Palestinian cities and roads in the West Bank
obstructed their transfer to hospital by ambulances or private cars.
4.
The Israeli occupation forces reinforce their military sites in Khan
Yunis
Thursday,
February 15, 2001
In the
morning, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced their presence to the west of
Khan Yunis refugee camp. Four tanks
were seen entering military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock,
separating Khan Yunis from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, under the control
of the Israeli occupation forces. Those
tanks were added to five stationary military sites surrounding Khan Yunis
refugee camp from the north, the northwest and the southwest. They also established a new 20-m-long observation tower near
Al-Tuffah roadblock. Such tower is
believed to be equipped with highly technological apparatuses, video cameras and
highly developed weapons that can be controlled from the base of the tower.
On Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces established
another similar observation tower near a military site to the west of Al-Amal
neighborhood.
Monday, February 19, 2001
In the
morning, the Israeli occupation forces established a new military site at the
branch road of Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of
the Gaza Strip), leading to Kissufim Crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza
Strip. The new site is
approximately 70m to the east of Salah El-Din Street, and was established on a
20-donum area of land owned by Khalaf Abu Hajjaj, that was razed by the Israeli
occupation forces last November. On
Tuesday, February 20, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces started work on
establishing another military site, approximately 200m to the east of the
previous one.
5.
Attacks on, and Arrests of Palestinian Citizens
Thursday,
February 15, 2001
At
approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces arrested five
Palestinian fishermen on a fishing boat sailing opposite to Khan Yunis seashore.
A vessel of these forces intercepted the fishing boat, which was sailing
within a permitted area of fishing, and arrested five Palestinian fishermen.
They are:
1)
Mohammed Mohammed Al-Najjar, 27 years old, from Rafah;
2)
Khader Khalil Abdullah Al-Najjar, 29 years old, from Rafah;
3)
Sae’id Abdullah Al-Najjar, 26 years old, from Rafah;
4)
Hassan Khalil Al-Najjar, 35 years old, from Rafah; and
5)
Mohammed Hassan El-Habil, 37 years old, from Rafah.
In
another incident, the Israeli occupation forces arrested Nafez Othman El-A’aidi,
31 years old, from Rafah. He is a
bus driver. He was transporting
pilgrims to Rafah Border Crossing when he was arrested by the Israeli occupation
forces.
In
the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers violently beat Nejem Mohammed Oweis,
36 years old, a teacher from the Eastern Lobban village in Nablus, and detained
him for several hours. After Oweis
left school, Israeli occupation soldiers stopped him at the main road near the
village and unjustifiably beat him violently with ends of guns. As a result, he suffered from breaks in the right hand and
injuries and bruises throughout the body.
Friday, February 16, 2001
At
approximately 11:30 local time, Mohammed Ahmed Abu Hemeida, 16 years old, was
riding his bicycle on the main road between Rafah and Khan Yunis, near his
family’s house, to the southwest of Morag settlement. A military jeep of the Israeli occupation forces deviated its
tract and ran over him. As a
result, he suffered from breaks in the hand and bruises throughout the body.
They left him lying on the ground without offering help to him.
Passing Palestinian civilians evacuated him to Nasser hospital in Khan
Yunis where he was still receiving medical care.
Sunday, February 18, 2001
At
approximately 12:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at a
military roadblock to the south of Deir El-Balah (Abu Houli roadblock) arrested
Ayman Ahmed Al-O’weini, 33 years old, and Sami
Mohammed Hassouna, 25 years old, from Khan Yunis.
Al-O’weini was driving his car accompanied by Hassouna, when Israeli
occupation soldiers stopped them and took them to a miltary site near Kissufim
Crossing on the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. They were released five hours later, after having been
interogated by an Israeli intelligence officer.
At
approximately 14:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces arrested Ziad
Abdel-Hamid Mohammed El-Haj, 24 years old, from Nusseirat refugee camp, at Rafah
Border Crossing, while he was on his way to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage.
El-Haj went to Rafah Border Crossing on the previous day, but the Israeli
occupation forces prevented him from travel.
Monday, February 19, 2001
At
approximately 7:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers violently beat two
taxi drivers and at the entrance of Taqqou’ village near Jenin and detained
them for sevral hours. As a result,
the two received injuries and bruises throughout the body.
They were:
1)
Hussein Abu Salim, 25 years old, from Taqqou’ village; and
2)
Mohammed Taher Jalqoum, 42 years old, from Taqqou’ village also.
6.
Razing of Agricultural Land and Demolition of Houses
Friday,
February 16, 2001
At approximately 3:00 local time, the
Israeli occupation forces started to raze more areas of Palestinian agricultural
land and demolish Palestinian houses in Al-Salam neighborhood adjacent to the
borderline in Rafah. The affected
lands and houses are 30-150m north of the borderline.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli forces:
1)
Demolished
a 156-square-meter, one-story house, in which four people used to live, owned by
Farouq Ismail El-Leddawi. Furniture
of the house was destroyed. In his
testimony to PCHR, El-Leddawi said that he gave up his house several months ago
due to the dangerous situation in the area, and rented another house in Rafah
refugee camp, to which he transferred part of the furniture.
2)
Razed
a 300-square-meter area of land, owned by Hussein Abdullah El-Sobeihi.
The affected tract of land was fenced, and on parts of it two rooms
stood. The rest of the land was
planted with olives and fruits.
3)
Razed
a 300-square-meter area of land, owned by E’mad Khalil Al-Ghoreiz.
The affected tract of land was fenced, and on parts of it two rooms
stood. The rest of the land was
planted with olives and fruits.
4)
Razed
a 300-square-meter area of land, owned by Ibrahim Abu Hussein.
The affected tract of land was fenced, and on parts of it two rooms
stood. The rest of the land was
planted with olives and fruits.
5)
Razed
a 150-square-meter area of land, owned by A’dnan Ibrahim Abu Hussein.
The affected tract of land was fenced, and on parts of it one room stood.
The rest of the land was planted with olives and fruits.
6)
Razed
a five-donum area of agricultural land planted with wheat, and a four-donum area
of agricultuarl land planted with almonds, owned by Fayez Suleiman Al-Romeilat.
Additionally, a 60-square-meter store of agricultural tools and an
irrigation network were destroyed.
7)
Razed a
one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and guavas, owned by
Mahmoud Mohammed Daoud El-Shae’r.
8)
Razed
a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Khalil
El-Shae’r. In addition, an
irrigation network was destroyed.
9)
Razed
a one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and plums, owned by
Salah Mahmoud El-Shae’r.
10)
Razed
a two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and lemons, owned by
Abdel-Rahman Mohammed Qeshta.&nb