|
|
Weekly
Report
on Israeli Human
Rights Violations
in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories
March
22 – 29, 2001
|
|
The
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
·
Israeli
occupation forces' combat helicopter shell Palestinian cities;
·
Nine Palestinian civilians are killed by
the Israeli occupation forces, one with dart-like projectiles;
·
Dozens
of Palestinian civilians are wounded with live and rubber-coated metal bullets
fired by the Israeli occupation forces;
·
Palestinian
houses and civilian facilities are shelled;
·
A
dam collapsed inside Israel, causing severe damage on agricultural land in Gaza;
and
·
More land is leveled and more houses and civilian facility are
demolished.
Introduction
In
a very serious escalation, Israeli occupation forces' combat helicopters shelled
the cities of Ramallah, Gaza, Jabalya, Deir El-Blah and Khan Yunis.
This shelling targeted several Palestinian security services' positions.
The shelling resulted in the death of Akram ‘Omar El-Hindi, a
25-year-old member of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) in
Ramallah originally from Gaza. Other
shelling targeted Palestinian residential neighborhoods and resulted in the
death of Su’ad El-Sheikh Kahalil, 45, from Bitounia in Ramallah. She recived a heavy caliber bullet in the head, while she was
driving her car home. Moreover,
dozens of Palestinians were wounded with shrapnel, and a number of civilian
facilities, including schools, mosques, clinics and houses, were severely
damaged.
This
report covers Israeli human rights violations against Palestinian civilians in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the period of March 22-29, 2001.
During such period, the Israeli occupation forces continued to resort to
the excessive use of force against Palestinian civilians.
They fired at Palestinian civilians and shelled residential areas.
As a result, a number of Palestinian civilians were killed and dozens
were wounded and a number of houses and civilian facilities were severely
damaged.
On
Saturday, March 24, 2001, at approximately 20:15 local time, the Israeli
occupation forces opened fire on Khaled Mohammed Awadh Badawi, 21, from
Al-‘Arroub refugee camp in Hebron, killing him with five live bullets.
In
the morning of Tuesday, March 27, 2001, Kahaireya Qassem ‘Ali Fashafsha, 70,
from Jaba’ village in Jenin, died after she inhaled tear gas that had been
employed by the Israeli occupation forces.
On
the same day, at approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces
indiscriminately opened fire at Palestinian houses in Al-Kenar neighborhood in
Hebron, killing the child Mahmoud Ismail Darawish, 11, with a live bullet in the
chest.
On
Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at approximately 10:30 local time, a 12-year-old
child from Rafah, Yahia Fathi Mohammed El-Sheikh, was killed, after a suspicious
object thrown by the Israeli occupation forces at the border in Rafah exploded
between his hands. Another three
children were wounded in the same incident.
On
the same day, at approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces,
positioned at Al-Shuhada; (Netzarim) junction, killed Hussam Ghanem Al-Kronz,
23, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, with a live bullet in the chest.
In
the morning of Thursday, March 29, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces opened
fire on a number of school students who were demonstrating near a military site
at Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip. As a result, a 16-year-old from Jabalya refugee camp, Mahmoud
Khaled Abu Shehadeh, was killed with a live bullet in the chest; and Mohammed
Salman Abu Shamleh, 18, from Jabalya, was killed with a live bullet in the
chest. Furthermore, an additional
17 people were wounded in the ongoing clashes.
During
the period covered by this report (March 22-29, 2001), Jewish settlers escalated
their attacks against Palestinian civilians and their properties.
Such attacks reached the climax in Hebron, where Jewish settlers, under
full protection by the Israeli occupation forces burnt a number of houses,
commercial stores and cars.
Also
during the same period, the Israeli occupation forces razed large area of
agricultural land and demolished civilian facilities, particularly in the
northern area of the Gaza Strip and in Rafah.
On
Monday, March 26, 2001, a dam collapsed inside Israeli territories, causing
severe damage to large area of agricultural land in the east of Gaza, which were
flooded by water that destroyed agricultural products and facilities as well as
killed animals and birds.
1.
Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
Friday,
March 23, 2001
In
the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of
Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating at the southern entrance of
Qalqilya. As a result, Nehad
‘Abdel-Rahaman Abu El-Ya’eish, 36, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the right leg and Mohammed Kamel Ali Ghoneim, 20, was wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh.
Furthermore, Israeli occupation soldiers severely beat ‘Abdel-Nasser
Mohammed Salem, a 24-year old passer-by who was not participating in clashes.
He received serious bruises throughout the body.
Also
in the afternoon, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli
occupation forces at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh.
The Israeli forces opened fire and used tear gas against Palestinian
civilians. As a result, three
Palestinian Health Relief Committees Union health workers were wounded while
they were trying to offer medical assistance.
They are:
1)
Baschar Hashem, 22, from
Ramallah, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
2)
‘Arafat Zayed, 24, from
Ramallah, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand; and
3)
‘Eissa Rawhi, 26, who
fainted and suffered from breath difficulties due to tear gas inhalation.
Additionally,
the child Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahman Mahmoud Mahmoud ‘Eid, 13, was wounded with
a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
His health condition was described as stable. Moreover, journalist Ahmed Zaki, a 28-year-old Oman
Television Channel correspondent was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet
in the left knee. Dozens of
Palestinian civilians also lost consciousness and suffered from breathing
difficulties due to tear gas inhalation.
Also
in the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on a number of
Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating more than 150m away from these
forces positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers, near
Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City.
As a result, seven Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded
with live bullets as follows:
1)
Ahmed Talal Abu Jabal,
11, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the
right thigh;
2)
Saber Ra’fat Baker, 12,
from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left
arm;
3)
Sa’ed Musbah El-Khawar,
15, from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the
right hand;
4)
Ra’ed ‘Abdel-‘Azziz
El-D’alseh, 17, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a
live bullet in the left thigh;
5)
Nedhal ‘Ezzat El-Sheikh
Khalil, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet
in the chest;
6)
Mohammed Yasser Erhim,
15, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the
abdomen; and
7)
Mohammed Ismail Hamada,
19, from Jabalya, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At
approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at an
observation tower near Salah El-Din Gate on the border in Rafah, threw a sound
bomb towards a mission of Amnesty International, while its members were in a
visit to the area. The mission,
headed by the Secretary General of Amnesty International (AI) Pierre Sneih,
and the Head of Public Relations at AI Kamal Smari and the Head of the
Middle East Department at AI Elizabeth Hodkins as members, was in a field visit
to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to investigate the human rights
situation, to express solidarity with the Palestinian victims of the Al-Aqsa
Intifada and their families, and Palestinian human rights organizations.
The mission was accompanied by Jaber Weshah, Deputy Director of PCHR, who
stated that the Israeli forces threw a sound bomb toward them.
In a press conference held at the Palestinian Journalist Association in
Gaza on March 24, 2001, Pierre Sneih stated that the mission of Amnesty
International was targeted by the Israeli occupation forces with a sound bomb
during a visit to Rafah.
Saturday,
March 24, 2001
At
approximately 11:30 local time, a peaceful Palestinian march
arrived at Al-Ram roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces, to the
north of Jerusalem, calling for lifting the siege imposed on Palestinian cities
by the Israeli occupation forces. As
soon as the this march arrived at the roadblock, the Israeli forces fired
rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters, and threw sound bombs at
participants who kept the peaceful nature of their march.
Eleven Palestinian civilians were wounded, including the Coordinator of
the Field Work Unit at the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human
Rights and the Environment (LAW) Fahmi Hamdi Shahin, 40, from Hebron, who
suffered from breathing difficulties due to tear gas inhalation.
He was exposed to the tear gas while he was observing the march near the
headquarters of LAW near Al-Ram roadblock.
He was evacuated to Ramallah hospital for treatment.
Furthermore, two on-duty journalists suffered from burns.
Mahfouzh Abu Turk, a 52-year old Reuters correspondent and a France 2
cameraman from Jerusalem suffered from burns in the left hand; and Journalist
Rassem ‘Abdel-Wahed, a 42-year-old Director of the Palestinian Press Agency
(Wafa) in Jerusalem, suffered from leg burns.
The other wounded were:
1)
Ihsan Mohammed ‘Atta ‘Azzam, 23, from Al-Jadira in Ramallah,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
2)
Rami Jamal
El-Soudani, 19, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the abdomen;
3)
Samar Hawash, 40,
from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
4)
Reem Meqdadi, 26,
suffered from burns in the left leg;
5)
Nassif Mo’allem,
40, from Ramallah, suffered from burns in the left leg;
6)
Eftekhar Na’el
‘Arar, 25, from Qarawat Bani Zeid village in Ramallah, suffered from burns in
the right leg;
7)
Elham Nadi ‘Arar,
25, from Qarawat Bani Zeid village in Ramallah, suffered from burns in the left
leg; and
8)
Samiha Adib
El-Rimawi, 55, from Beit Reema village in Ramallah, received bruises in the
chest and the shoulders after having been beaten by Israeli soldiers.
At
approximately, 20:25 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on
Khaled Mohammed Awadh Badawi, 21, from Al-‘Arrob refugee camp in Hebron,
killing him with five live bullets in the chest, the limbs and the back.
According to the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights
and the Environment (LAW), the Israeli soldiers, positioned on the roof of a
Palestinian house at the northern entrance of Al-‘Arroub refugee camp,
willfully opened fire on Badawi from a distance of approximately 10m.
Sunday,
March 25, 2001
At
approximately 10:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a
military site in Tal Zourob area in the southwest of Rafah, opened fire on a
number of Palestinian young men in Block “J” area in Rafah refugee camp,
adjacent to the border. PCHR’s
field officer in Rafah reported that these young men were approximately 1,000m
away from the mentioned military site from which fire were unjustifiably opened.
As a result, Majdi Ahmed El-Natour, 33, from Rafah, was seriously wounded
with a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest.
He was evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah for treatment.
At
approximately 12:30 local time, a Palestinian peaceful march moved towards a
military roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces at Beit Fourik junction, to
the east of Nablus. Israeli
occupation soldiers indiscriminately opened fire and used tear gas against
Palestinian civilians participating in the march.
As a result, 26 Palestinian civilians, including three medics and a
physician of the medical staff of the Palestinian Union of Medical Relief
Committees, were wounded as follows:
1)
Ghassan Hamdan, 40, a physician from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the right arm;
2)
‘Ammar El-‘Assi, 26, a medical reliever from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-caoted metal bullet in the left foot;
3)
Mohammed Kalbouna, 24, a medical reliever from Nablus, wounded with two
rubber-coated metal bullet in the shoulder and the left leg;
4)
Suhad Hisham Shureim, 32, a nurse from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh;
5)
‘Amer Ahmed Mustafa Abu Shehadeh; 22, from ‘Anabta village in Nablus,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
6)
Taher Mohammed Hanani, 14, from Beit Fourik village in Nablus, wounded
with a live bullet in the head;
7)
Ahmed Fuad Abu Hamdeh, 22, from Balatta refugee camp in Nablus, wounded
with a live bullet in the head;
8)
Akram Mohammed Hussein Hamed, 12, from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
9)
Mohammed Na’eim Mohammed Hussein, 17, from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
10)
Samer Ahmed Amin El-Torabi, 23, from Surra village in Nablus, wounded
with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right eye;
11)
Mohammed Yousef Ahmed Qawariq, 29, from ‘Awarta village in Nablus,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left side;
12)
Bilal ‘Abdel-Jad Mohammed Zoreiqi, 20, from Balatta refugee camp,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
13)
Mahmoud ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Deb’ei, 15, from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right thigh;
14)
Ra’ed Nehad Hassan ‘Abdel-Jalil, 18, from Nablus, wounded
with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest;
15)
Zuhair Ghazi Mustafa Zamel, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the mouth;
16)
Eyad Mohammed Mahmoud Harb, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in
the back;
17)
‘Amer Mohammed Hassan Hbeisha, 16, from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
18)
Manna’ Majed Muleitat, 30, from Beit Fourik village, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
19)
Eyad ‘Abdel-Rahim Hanani, 18, from Beit Fourik village, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;
20)
Mahdi Yousef Fadhel, 12, from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the back;
21)
Mo’tassem Nassouh ‘Abed Eshtayeh, 18, from Salem viallege, wounded
with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right shoulder and the right hand;
22)
Fares Bassam Ahmed El-‘Att, 20, from Balatta refugee camp, wounded with
a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;
23)
Jamal Zuhair Yousef, 18, from Nablus, wounded with a rubber-coated metal
bullet in the left leg;
24)
Wassim ‘Ayyesh ‘Abdel-Rahman Hanani, 16, from Beit Fourik village,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
25)
Jehad Shaker ‘Abdel-Latif Abu ‘Ayyash, 12, from Balatta refugee camp,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the face; and
26)
Sa’ed ‘Adel Wadi’ El-Ratrout, 16, from Nablus, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the chest.
Monday,
March 26, 2001
In
the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Al-Mentar (Karni)
Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets at
a number of Palestinian civilians, who were demonstrating approximately 100m
away. The Israeli forces again
resorted to the use of a new highly effective gas that left symptoms different
from those of the highly effective gas used first against Palestinian civilians
in Khan Yunis, starting from February 12, 2001.
Three Palestinian civilians were wounded with live and rubber-coated
metal bullets and were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for
treatment. They were:
1)
Hassan Sufian Mansour, 15, from Al-Nasser neighborhood in Gaza City,
wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
2)
Mohammed Farajallah El-‘Emrani, 24, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in
Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the leg; and
3)
Majdi El-Sarasak, 20, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded
with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot.
Furthermore,
another three Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza
City, after having inhaled a highly effective gas.
They were:
1)
Eyad Fahim Zaqout, 23, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City;
2)
Ra’ed Suleiman Hassan, 30, from Al-Boreij refugee camp; and
3)
Ra’fat ‘Abed El-Masri, 26, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City.
According
to one of them, the new gas is orange-colored and has a nice-smell and delicious
taste upon inhalation. Then, the
inhaler feels tired throughout the body, their muscles loosen, and they suffer
from breathing difficulties. The
gas also leaves red signs on the skin, causing agitation.
Some hours later, the inhaler suffers severe abdominal pains.
Tuesday,
March 27, 2001
At
approximately 7:30 local time, Palestinian residents of Jabe’ village near
Jenin confronted the Israeli occupation forces that had burst into the their
village for the second time on the same day, in order to arrest a village
resident. The Israeli forces opened fire and used tear gas against
Palestinian civilians and houses. A
tear gas canister fell into a house. As
a result, Khaireya Qassem ‘Ali Fshafsha, 70, died after she suffered from
breathing difficulties due to tear gas inhalation. Other members of her family, including a 30-year-old pregnant
woman, also suffered from breathing difficulties. Additionally, ‘Abdullah ‘Abdel-Qader ‘Alawneh, 18, was
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the hand.
At
approximately 9:00 local time, a demonstration organized by preparatory school
students moved from Nusseirat refugee camp in the middle area of the Gaza Strip
towards Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the junction, opened
fire and used tear gas against students who demonstrated approximately 150m
away. As a result, Majdi Mohammed
Abu Hamdeh, a 14-year-old from Nusseirat refugee camp, was wounded with a live
bullet in the left hand. He was
evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir El-Balah for treatment.
At
approximately 11:00 local time, approximately 300 Palestinian civilians moved
from Al-‘Awda square in Rafah towards a junction leading to Marag settlement,
and organized a peaceful sit-in, in protest to the continued closure of
Rafah-Khan Yunis road since December 14, 2000.
During the sit-in, which lasted for approximately one hour, Israeli
occupation forces opened fire at a number of Palestinian children, who were
trying to reach the border of Morag settlement, approximately 300m away from the
sit-in. As a result, the
13-year-old child Ashraf Fayez Madhi, from Rafah, was wounded with a live bullet
in the left leg. He was evacuated
to Al-Joneina hospital in Rafah for treatment.
In
the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian
civilians who were demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. As a result, three Palestinian civilians were wounded,
including a field officer of the Israeli B’tselem Nisreen Kahlil ‘Oleyan,
22, who was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
The other wounded were:
1)
Samer Sa’di Al-Weheidi, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet
in the left knee; and
2)
‘Abdel-Hamid ‘Abdel-Rahman Hamed, 24, from Al-Bireh, wounded with a
live bullet in the left foot.
Wednesday,
March 28, 2001
At
approximately 10:30 local time, there was an explosion near the border in Brazil
refugee camp in Rafah. Residents
hurried to the location of the explosion, finding a child lying on the ground
with his chest and abdomen torn, his bowels on the ground and his face deformed.
The body of the unidentified child was taken, along with another three
wounded children, to Al-Joeneina hospital in Rafah.
Later, the child was identified as Yahaia Fathi Mohammed El-Sheikh
‘Eid, a 12-year-old from ‘Amer housing project in the east of Rafah.
The other wounded children were:
1)
Mohammed Jaber ‘Abed, 12, from Brazil refugee camp in Rafah, wounded
with shrapnel throughout the body;
2)
‘Ammar Mohammed El-Kurd, 12, Brazil refugee camp in Rafah, wounded with
shrapnel throughout the body; and
3)
Walid ‘Abdel-Fattah Mansour, 12, from Brazil refugee camp in Rafah,
wounded with shrapnel throughout the body.
According
to PCHR’s investigation and eyewitness and wounded testimonies, the explosion
resulted from an explosive object left behind by the Israeli occupation forces,
positioned at the border in Rafah. Investigation
also asserted that the four children were on their way to school, when a
civilian living near the border asked them to help him carry two household gas
jars home. The children carried the
two jars into the house. After they noticed a cylindrical metal piece, an iron
hammer and a colored leather glove, the children entered the border area through
a hole in the border fence. The child Yahia El-Sheikh ‘Eid picked up the metal piece
and the hammer, and ‘Ammar El-Kurd picked up the glove. Then, the four children left the area. Approximately 10m away from the border, the child Yahia
started to fidget with the metal piece and the hammer, which exploded between
his hands.
At
approximately 23:00 local time, shooting from a military site of the Israeli
occupation forces at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza
City, was heard. In the morning of
Thursday, the Israeli occupation forces handed over to the Palestinian side the
body of Hussam Ghanem ‘Ali Al-Kronz, a 23-year-old member of the Palestinian
Preventive Security Service from Al-Boreij refugee camp.
According to medical sources at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City, Al-Kronz
received a live bullet in the chest. According
to initial information, Al-Kronz was shot at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction,
but no addional details were available.
Thursday,
March 29, 2001
At
approximately 8:00 local time, approximately 250 students of schools of Beit
Hanoun, in the north of the Gaza Strip, move towards Beit Hanoun (Erez)
Crossing, and a number of them started to throw stones at an Israeli occupation
forces site inside Erez industrial zone. Israeli
occupation soldiers immediately opened fire on students.
At approximately 9:30 local time, the child Mahmoud Khaled Abu Shehadeh,
16, from Jabalya refugee camp, a student of the 10th grade at Ahmed
El-Shaqanqiri school near Beit Hanoun, was killed with a live bullet that
penetrated the left arm and entered the chest, settling in the heart.
Additionally, the child Mohammed Salman Abu Shamla, 18, from Jabalya
refugee camp, was wounded with a live bullet that entered the right side of the
back and exited the left side of the chest.
He died at the surgery unit of Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City.
The number of the wounded in these clashes, which have continued up to
now, was 17. They are:
1)
Mohammed Zeid Mahanna, 19, from Jabalya refugee camp, seriously wounded
with a live bullet in the abdomen;
2)
Sueiman Marwan ‘Okasha, 13, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with
shrapnel in the left arm;
3)
Ahmed Majed ‘Obeid, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the mouth;
4)
Naji Khader Salem, 18, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live
bullet in the left foot;
5)
Ramez ‘Awdallah El-Z’anin, 17, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live
bullet in the left thigh;
6)
Ahmed Fayez Abu Es’ifan, 18, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet
in the head;
7)
Fadi Ahmed Bader, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right hand;
8)
Bassam Fathi Khader, 18, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live bullet in
the left hand;
9)
Ossama Abu Zhaher, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live
bullet in the hand;
10)
Sa’ed Mohammed ‘Awadallah, 24, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded
with a sound bomb in the knee;
11)
Mahmoud Samir Abu ‘Oun, 14, from Beit Lahia, wounded with a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand;
12)
Mohammed Abu ‘Amsha, 15, from Beit Lahia, wounded with a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the head;
13)
Sa’ed Abu Setteh, 16, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a rubber-coated
metal bullet under the left eye;
14)
Kamal El-Taramsi, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live
bullet in the right foot;
15)
Mohammed Samir Qarmout, 17, from Beit Lahia, wounded with a rubber-coated
metal bullet in the face;
16)
Mohammed Nezar Rayyan, 14, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with three
rubber-coated metal bullets in the right thigh, the back and the foot; and
17)
Mahmoud Wahid Abu El-Qumsan, 15, from Jabalya refugee camp,
wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand.
2.
Shelling of
Residential Neighborhoods
Thursday, March 22, 2001
At
approximately 10:00 local time, after an exchange of fire between armed
Palestinians and the Israeli occupation forces, that were razing areas of land
to the west of Al-Nemsawi neighborhood in Khan Yunis, these forces started to
fire artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses
in the area. Such shelling and
indiscriminate shooting by the Israeli forces, which lasted for approximately
two hours, resulted in wounding four Palestinian civilians as follows:
1)
the child Mohammed Salem
El-Zeini, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder when he was passing
approximately 800m away from military sites of the Israeli forces;
2)
‘Abdel-Mon’em
Suleiman Abu Shoqeir, 28, wounded with shrapnel in the face and the shoulder;
3)
‘Essam Mohammed
Fayyadh, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the face and the eye;
4)
‘Omar ‘Abdullah Abu
Setteh, 30, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the right shoulder.
Such
shelling also resulted in severe damage to a number of houses and buildings as
follows:
1)
An artillery shell hit
the southern façade of housing unit 1 of the Austrian Housing Project, and
dispersed, causing damage and breaking windows of an apartment owned by Riadh
‘Ali Abu Shammaleh.
2)
An artillery shell hit
the western façade of building 3 of the same housing project, causing damage
and breaking windows of an apartment owned by Ahmed El-Ghemari.
3)
A number of artillery
shells and live bullets hit six housing units owned by Al-Farra Company from the
west and the south, making holes 2-7cm in diameter and breaking a number of
windows.
At
approximately 20:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling
Al-Nemsawi neighborhood in Khan Yunis, and targeted the western area of Khan
Yunis refugee camp and Al-Amal neighborhood.
They fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at
Palestinian houses and civilian facilities.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that six military sited of
the Israeli occupation forces in the vicinity of Gani Tal and Neve Dekalim
settlements and Al-Tuffah roadblock, participated in such indiscriminate
shelling which lasted up to 24:00 local time.
Such shelling caused severe damage to a number of Palestinian houses.
Furthermore, a number of Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1)
Sahar Mustafa Hneideq,
16, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head;
2)
Khaled Hussein Abu
Khoreis, 28, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head;
3)
Khaled Ahmed Abu Mousa,
25, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right hand;
4)
Sami Hussein Boreis, 26,
wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the neck;
5)
Wa’el Abu Hadrous, 31,
wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the neck and the left hand;
6)
Noufal Ibrahim Abu
‘Awadh, 34, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head;
7)
Mahmoud Subhi ‘Amer,
24, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand.
Friday, March 23, 2001
In
the morning, the Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian houses in Kherbet
Karma in the southwest of Hebron, from their military site in Enta’eil
settlement in Zhaereya village, to the southwest of Hebron.
These forces fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses
for 20 minutes, causing severe damage.
In
the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy
and medium caliber bullets at Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood in the east
of Khan Yunis. At approximately
21:30 local time, the same neighborhood was shelled again, and Palestinian
houses in the western area of Khan Yunis refugee camp was also targeted by the
Israeli occupation forces. Such
shelling lasted sporadically up to 3:00 local time on the following day.
It resulted in severe damage to a number of Palestinian houses.
Furthermore, four Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1)
Nayfa Mohammed Abu
‘Aker, 35, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head, when she
was passing on a street in Khan Yunis refugee camp, approximately 150m away from
military sites of the Israeli occupation forces;
2)
Ahmed Walid El-Bashiti,
6, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh when he was playing with other
children near his family’s house in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood, approximately
200m away from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces;
3)
Rami Kahlil ‘Oudeh, 22,
wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the right hand; and
4)
Ayman Sufian Al-Farra,
22, wounded with a medium caliber bullet in the left foot, when he was in the
market of Khan Yunis, approximately 2km away from military sites of the Israeli
occupation forces.
In
his testimony to PCHR, Ayman Al-Farra said:
“On
Friday, March 23, 2001, at approximately 10:30 (local time), I was in the market
road, approximately 20m away from my home, watching some young men playing
football. Then, I heard sounds of
shooting, which we have gotten accustomed to hearing everyday.
The source of shooting was military sites of the Israeli occupation
forces at Al-Tuffah roadblock and in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement,
approximately 2km away from us. Suddenly,
I heard the sound of an object that hit the ground.
Then, I felt severe pain in my left foot and saw it bleeding.
Young men took me to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis by a civilian car. X-rays showed that I was wounded with a medium caliber
bullet, and I had to undergo a surgical operation to extract it.”
In
her testimony to PCHR, Nayfa Mohammed Hussein Abu ‘Aker said:
“At
approximately 22:30 (local time), on Friday, March 23, 2001, I went from my
house, in the south of Khan Yunis refugee camp, to my uncle’s house near
Al-Shafi’ mosque, 30m away from my house.
When I was approximately 5m away from my uncle’s house, I heard sounds
of shooting from An Israeli military site near Al-Tuffah roadblock, 250m away. Suddenly, an explosion boomed.
I felt pains in my head. I
fell down on the ground with my head bleeding.
Neighbors took me to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.”
In
the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy
and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and farms in Gizan Al-Najjar
area in the southeast of Khan Yunis, to the north of Morag settlement.
In his testimony to PCHR, Shukri Sha’ban Al-Najjar said that at
approximately 16:00 local time, he was with some laborers cultivating vegetables
from his greenhouse in Gizan Al-Najjar area, approximately 200m to the north of
Morag settlement. Then, Al-Najjar added, two tanks and a bulldozer of the
Israeli occupation forces got out of Morag settlement, and started to uproot
tamarisks surrounding his tract of land, approximately 100m away from Morag
settlement. Approximately 15
minutes later, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire, hitting his
greenhouse, so he and laborers were forced to flee.
The Israeli occupation forces continued to fire artillery shells and live
bullets at Palestinian houses and farms in the area up to 22:00 local time,
causing the following damage:
1)
Bullets penetrated the window of a balcony of a 150-square-meter,
two-story house, in which 11 people live, owned by Shukri Sha’ban Al-Najjar.
2)
Bullets damaged a water saving tank and parts of the asbestos roof of a
200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which ten people live, owned by
Kamel Mohammed El-Dabbas.
3)
Bullets broke windows and made holes in the southern façade of a
200-square-meter, one-story house, owned by Musbah Sha’ban Al-Najjar.
4)
Bullets made holes in walls and damaged a water saving tank of a
400-square-meter, one-story house, owned by Nabil Mohammed Al-Najjar.
5)
Bullets made holes in walls and broke windows of a 100-square-meter,
one-story house, in which four people live, owned by Sa’id Suleiman Al-Najjar.
6)
Bullets made holes and broke windows of a 120-square-meter, one-story
house, in which three people live, owned by Yasser Mohammed Salameh Al-Najjar.
7)
Bullets made holes in walls an damaged water saving tanks of a
200-square-meter, two-story house, in which 14 people live, owned by Ahmed
‘Abdel-‘Azziz Al-Najjar.
Saturday,
March 24, 2001
At
approximately 10:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the
vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, to the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and
medium caliber bullets at housing units owned by Al-Farra Company in Al-Nemsawi
(the Austrian) neighborhood. As a
result, these units received additional damage as they were frequently shelled
in the past weeks. Bullets also hit
the fence of Khan Yunis cemetery, to the south of Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
At
approximately 00:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the
vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and at Al-Tuffah roadblock, to the west of
Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at
Palestinian houses in the western area of Khan Yunis refugee camp.
In his testimony to PCHR, Hassan Mohammed Abu Namous said that he, his
wife, and his children were awoken by sounds of explosions.
Shrapnel fell onto the asbestos and tin roof of his house, which is
located approximately 70m away from Al-Tuffah roadblock.
He added that he and his family were forced to flee their house to the
house of a relative (located approximately 150m away from the roadblock) where
he stayed up to 5:00 local time. PCHR’s
field officer reported that more than ten artillery shells and several heavy and
medium caliber bullets were fired at the area, causing the following damage:
1)
An artillery shell fell on the roof of the children bedroom and the
kitchen of a 140-square-meter, asbestos and tin-roofed house, in which 12 people
live, owned by Hassan Mohammed Abu Namous, damaging the roof and a water saving
tank.
2)
An artillery shell fell on a 140-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in
which 21 people live, owned by Hussein Mohammed Abu Khoreis, damaging the roof.
3)
Four artillery shells hit a 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which
18 people used to live, owned by Abdullah Hassan Abu ‘Obeida, causing damage
to its walls. The family left the
house a few months ago due to frequent shelling by the Israeli occupation
forces.
4)
An artillery shell hit a 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11
people used to live, making holes in walls.
The family left the house a few months ago due to frequent shelling.
5)
Two artillery shells hit a 350-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in
which 30 people used to live, owned by Mahmoud Hassan Abu Radwan.
The family left the house a few months ago due to frequent shelling.
Monday,
March 26, 2001
At
approximately 17:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a
settlement center, known as “Avraham Avino,” and in a military barracks in
Ossam Ben Monqeth school, in the area of Hebron under the control of these
forces, shelled Palestinian houses in Hebron.
These forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets
at Palestinian house in Qubbat Janeb, Al-Takrouri and Abu Sneineh neighborhoods. As a result, six Palestinian civilians were wounded with, and
a number of houses were severely damaged after having been hit with artillery
shells and live bullets. According
to eyewitnesses, Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the targeted
areas due to intense shelling. Among
the wounded was a 22-year-old Reuters cameraman from Hebron, Lu’ai
‘Abdel-Salam ‘Orabi Abu Haikal, who was wounded with shrapnel in the left
side, the back and the right hand, while he was in duty.
The other wounded were:
1)
Ibrahim Salameh Abu Sneineh, 6, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand
and suffered from a nervous breakdown;
2)
Khalil ‘Eissa Sa’idi, 30, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the
abdomen;
3)
‘Emad ‘Eissa El-Barad’ei, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left eye
and the forehead;
4)
Fadi Khalil Abu Hadid, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
5)
Samer Ahmed Mattar, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder.
At
approximately 21:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned at an
observation tower and on a tank in the vicinity of Morag settlement, opened fire
at Palestinian houses and farms in Gizan Al-Najjar area in the southeast of Khan
Yunis. As a result, the 11-year-old
child ‘Abdel-Rahman Mohammed Al-Najjar, was wounded with shrapnel in the right
hand, when he was near his family’s house.
He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment.
The shelling also caused severe damage to a number of Palestinian houses.
At
approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the
vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and Al-Tuffah roadblock, to the west of
Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in Khan Yunis
refugee camp and in the vicinity of Al-Amal neighborhood, and housing units in
Al-Newsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood. As
a result, Fayez ‘Abdel-Mo’ti Abu Jaber, 22, was wounded with shrapnel of an
artillery shell while he was passing near Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
He was evacuated to the hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in
Khan Yunis for treatment. The shelling also caused severe damage to a number of
houses.
Tuesday,
March 27, 2001
At
approximately 20:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces indiscriminately
opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses in Kenar neighborhood in the
southwest of Hebron. As a result,
the 11-year-old child Mahmoud Ismail Darawish, was killed with a live bullet in
the chest that was fired by Israeli soldiers positioned in a military site at
Al-Fawar-Doura junction.
At
approximately 21:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the
vicinity of Kharsina settlement, to the east of Hebron, shelled Palestinian
houses in Sh’aba and Nemer neighborhoods, under control by the Palestinian
National Authority. These forces
fired heavy and medium caliber bullets, causing severe damage to a number of
houses, and electricity, telephone and water networks.
Furthermore, the child Wassim Mohammed Fahmi Da’na, 10, was wounded
with shrapnel in the left eye. He
was evacuated to Al-Mizan hospital in Hebron for treatment.
Wednesday,
March 28, 2001
In
the evening, the Israeli occupation forces started to shell Palestinian cities
from their military sites and using combat helicopters.
This resulted in killing two Palestinians, including a 45-year-old
civilian, and wounding dozens. It
also caused severe damage to a number of civilian facilities and buildings of
the Palestinian security services.
At
approximately 19:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on
‘Eibal and Jarzim mounts, to the north and south of Nablus respectively, fired
heavy and medium caliber bullets at Khellet El-‘Amoud and Iraq El-Tayeh
neighborhoods and Balatta refugee camp. As
a result, Farid ‘Abdel-Hamid Badran, 57, from Balatta refugee camp, was
wounded with shrapnel in the head and the chest, and some houses were severely
damaged.
At
approximately 19:35, the Israeli occupation forces shelled a site of the
Palestinian President’s Guards (Force 17) in Ramallah, killing one of its
members, Akram ‘Omar Ahmed El-Hindi, 25, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza
City, whose body completely burnt after having been directly hit with a rocket.
Such shelling coincided with shelling Palestinian residential
neighborhoods in Bitounia by Israeli occupation forces positioned in ‘Ofar
military site, to thee south of Ramallah. Such
shelling resulted in the death of Su’ad El-Sheikh Khalil, 45, after she
received a heavy caliber bullet in the head, while she was driving her car
towards her house in Bitounia.
At
approximately 19:45 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation
forces started to fire rockets at a site of the Palestinian President’s Guards
(Force 17) in Al-Twam area in Jabalya in the northern area of the Gaza Strip.
As a result, three members of Force 17 were wounded as follows:
1)
Anwar El-Faq’awi, 25, from Khan Yunis, wounded with shrapnel throughout
the body;
2)
Eshteiwi El-‘Azayza, 23, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body; and
3)
‘Abdullah Zeid, 22, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body.
The
shelling also resulted in severe damage to a number of nearby houses and
civilian facilities as follows:
1)
Twenty-one windows of a 180-square-meter, three-story house (newly
established and not inhibited), owned by ‘Alla’ As’ad El-Saftawi, were
broken.
2)
Seven windows of a 200-square-meter, two-story house, owned by Tahsin
Saleh Khalil El-Halimi, were broken.
3)
Eight windows of a 200-square-meter, three-story house, in which four
people live, owned by Khamis Ramadan El-Hessi, were broken and walls cracked.
4)
Four windows of the second floor of a 150-square-meter, three-story
house, in which 11 people live, owned by Tahsin Saleh Khalil El-Halimi, were
broken.
5)
Three windows of the second floor of a 370-square-meter, three-story
house, in which 30 people live, owned by Tawfiq Ahmed ‘Atteya ‘Oweida, were
broken.
6)
Seven windows of ‘A’esha mosque, established on a 350-square-meter
area, were broken.
7)
Nine windows of Hijazi Medical Center of the Palestinian Ministry of
Health, established on a 450-square-meter area, were broken.
The
shelling coincided with similar shelling by combat helicopters of the Israeli
occupation forces that targeted the headquarters of the Palestinian
President’s Guards (Force 17) in Ma’n village, to the east of Khan Yunis.
The building was severely damaged. In
addition, nearby UNRWA clinic and Ma’n elementary school were severely
damaged.
At
the same time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces shelled a
site of the Palestinian National Security Forces near Al-Qarara crossroads, to
the north of Khan Yunis. As a
result, one of the site’s members, Nour ‘Abed Abu Hattab, 24, was wounded
with shrapnel in the back, and the site was severely damaged.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that a number of the
area’s residents arrived at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, after they suffered
from nervous breakdowns and bruises in the body.
He added that a number of houses and civilian facilities near the
targeted site were severely damaged as follows:
1)
Windows of a 120-square-meter, two-story house, in which 25 people live,
owned by ‘Abdel-Rahman Mohammed Hassan El-‘Abadleh, were broken and walls
cracked.
2)
Windows of a 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people live,
owned by Sharif Ibrahim El-‘Abadleh, were broken.
3)
Windows of a 120-square-meter, three-story house, in which three people
live, owned by Ahmed ‘Abdullah Ahmed El-‘Abadleh, were broken.
4)
Windows of a 100-square-meter fuel station, owned by ‘Abdel-‘Azziz
Hassan Temraz, were broken.
5)
Windows of a medical clinic of the Palestinian Ministry of Health were
destroyed.
6)
Windows of Al-Salam mosque were broken and walls cracked.
At
approximately 20:00 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation
forces fired rockets at a site of the Palestinian President’s Guards (Force
17) at Deir El-Balah seashore, destroying six rooms used as administrative
offices.
At
approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at
Al-Tuffah roadblock and in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement, fired
artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in
the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp and in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
As a result three Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1)
Naji Abu ‘Awadh, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
2)
Akmal Anu Khadra, 36, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
3)
Ahmed ‘Atteya Abu Sahloul, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left foot.
3.
Other Assaults and
Arrests by the Israeli Occupation Forces against Palestinian Civilians
Early
in the morning of Friday, March 23, 2001, an undercover unit of the Israeli
occupation forces, known as Al-Mosta’reboun (Arabanizers) burst into Kherbet
Al-Hejri Dora town in Hebron governate, and arrested Ibrahim Younis Mohammed
Sahadid, 32, taking him to an unknown destination.
Also
in the morning of the same day, the Israeli occupation forces burst into
Al-Hareth secondary school in Ethna village in Hebron, and arrested the teacher,
Mohammed ‘Eissa Farjallah.
Also
on the same day, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at military roadblocks
arrested four Palestinian civilians from Qalqilya.
They are:
1)
Ra’ed ‘Abdel-Fattah Daoud, 30;
2)
Shadi ‘Abed El-‘Ajez, 25;
3)
Hazza’ Bassam Hazza’, 21; and
4)
Hussam El-Ghazzawi.
On
Monday, March 26, 2001, Israeli occupation forces at Rafah Border Crossing
arrested Riadh ‘Abdel-Rahim El-Maddah, 49, from Gaza City, when he was on his
way to Egypt.
At
approximately 13:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces arrested two
Palestinian fishermen from Al-Mawasi area in Rafah, and released them two hours
later. They are: Ziad ‘Abed
Meqdad, 25, and Khalil ‘Abed Meqdad, 20.
They were sailing in their rubber boat at Rafah seashore, when Israeli
occupation soldiers forced them to leave the sea and arrested them.
The Israeli forces claimed that they exceeded the 200-meter-limit in
which fishing is allowed. According
the Palestinian-Israeli Interim Agreement, Palestinian fishermen are allowed to
sail up to 20 miles across the sea, but Israeli does not commit to this.
4.
Attacks and Shooting
on Palestinian Civilians by Settlers
On
Sunday, March 25, 2001, at approximately 13:00 local time, Murtada Salem Abu
‘Eisha, 76, from Hebron, received bruises and injuries throughout the body,
after he was attacked by Jewish settlers. A
number of Jewish settlers in settlement centers inside Hebron beat and threw
stones at some Palestinian civilians in Al-Sahleh area and Al-Shallala Street in
the city, and damaged goods of hawkers, under full protection by the Israeli
occupation forces.
On
Monday, March 26, 2001, at approximately 17:00 local time, a number of Jewish
settlers from Ganim and Qadim settlements, to the east of Jenin, severely beat
three Palestinian farmers from Faqou’a village with hands, feet and gun butts.
As a result, the three farmers received bruises throughout the body.
They were:
1)
As’ad Fayez El-Khatib, 32;
2)
Radwan Salah, 22; and
3)
Zuhair Salah, 35.
In
the evening of the same day and the morning of Tuesday, March 27, 2001, Jewish
settlers attacked Palestinian houses and properties in Hebron, under full
protection by the Israeli occupation forces.
As a result, ‘Abdel-Salam El-Sarahneh, received bruises throughout the
body while he was in the market of the city.
Settlers also crashed a car of S’ada El-Sharbati, and broke windows of
a number of cars and six houses.
Also
on Tuesday, March 27, 2001, at approximately 13:20 local time, Jewish settlers
Al-Zaytoun quarter in Hebron, and destroyed a Palestinian civilian car owned by
Salah El-Zaro, a Director General at the Palestinian Ministry of Labor.
On the same day, settlers attacked three Palestinian commercial stores in
the market of vegetables in Hebron, destroying the doors of some and setting
fire to them. They also burnt a
carpentry workshop in Khan El-Kayala, owned by Qassem Abu Mayala.
On
Wednesday, March 28, 2001, at approximately 2:30 local time, more than 100
Jewish settlers and units of the Israeli occupation forces burst into
Al-Karantina area, and entered up to approximately 350m inside areas under the
control of the Palestinian National Authority.
Settlers, under full protection by the Israeli occupation forces,
attacked Palestinian houses, throwing stones and incendiary materials at them,
and breaking their windows with iron bars.
They also attacked a number of Palestinian civilian cars in the area, and
set fire to nine of them, two of which belong to Hebron Municipality.
In the afternoon, Jewish settlers set fire to a part of the headquarters
of the Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments, located near a settlement
center known as “Avraham Avino,” causing severe damage to its furniture.
5.
Razing of Agricultural
Land
