Press Release

March 3, 2001

Three Palestinians Killed by Indiscriminate Israeli Fire,

One Dies of Previously Sustained Injuries

Despite repeated condemnation by the international community Israel continues to use indiscriminate and excessive force against Palestinian civilians.  Israeli Occupying Forces killed three Palestinians yesterday, one a child of eight, and another child died of wounds sustained earlier in the week.  None of the three individuals killed yesterday were involved in clashes with Israeli forces at the time of their deaths.  Al-Haq fieldworkers collected the following information regarding each of these cases.     

At approximately 3:30 pm Israeli forces located near the settlement of Psagot opened fire on El Bireh using tanks and heavy machineguns. The shelling lasted for fifteen to twenty minutes and left eight-year-old Obei Mohammad Mahmoud Darraj dead.  Statements given by Obei’s father to an al-Haq fieldworker state that Obei was killed while playing in his bedroom.  A large caliber bullet penetrated his bedroom window and struck him in the chest, exiting through his back.  Obei’s family had moved into their apartment one week prior to this incident to escape from the heavy shooting to which their previous home was subjected.  Neighbors report that prior to the Israeli shelling a domestic dispute in the neighborhood resulted in one shot being fired into the air, and it was this shot that brought about the unprovoked Israeli attack.  This case is typical of other recent cases in which one or two shots, not necessarily aimed at Israeli areas, lead to unrestrained Israeli shelling and shooting of inhabited areas, which can last for minutes or hours and has lead to numerous deaths and injuries and extensive property damage.

Also killed yesterday was Abdul Karim Issa Abed Abu A’sbe, age 23, from Qalandiya Refugee Camp.  Abdul Karim was shot three times as he walked from his home to a nearby market.  Witnesses told an al-Haq fieldworker that Abdul was shot by soldiers involved in nearby clashes even though he had taken no part in the demonstrations.  One bullet hit him in the hand and two in the stomach.  He was rushed to the Ramallah Municipal hospital where he immediately died.  He leaves behind a wife and newborn baby.  Two other individuals were injured while attempting to give him assistance.

Earlier in the day Mustafa Hamdan Abdul Qadir Ramlawi, age 42, from Bureij Refugee Camp in Gaza was killed by Israeli forces who shot him in the head and chest.  He was killed on the main road between the al-Mintar and al-Shuhada junctions in the south of Gaza.  He was mentally handicapped and frequently wandered through this area.  There were no clashes in the area when he was killed. 

Mohammad Mahmoud Helis, age 13, from al-Shaja’a in Gaza also died of wounds sustained during clashes near the Karni Crossing on 27 February.  He had been shot in the head several times and was only being sustained by a respirator.

These killings are clear demonstrations of Israel’s complete disregard for Palestinian life.  Until the Israeli authorities are forced to take responsibility for their actions innocent Palestinian civilians will continue to be killed.  Al-Haq therefore demands that,

1.   The international community take appropriate action to sanction Israel for its continuous shelling of Palestinian civilian areas.  Israel’s targeting of civilian areas is illegal under international law and constitutes a war crime that should be investigated.  Those found responsible for committing or ordering the commission of such crimes should be tried.

2.   States Party to the Fourth Geneva Convention act immediately to provide the Palestinian people with protection from Israeli human rights violations and demand an end to abuses committed by Israeli forces.  Israel continues to commit grave breaches of the convention that obligate States Parties to act under Article 1, which calls for them “to respect and ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstances.” 

3. The Security Council and the UN General Assembly end its indefensible silence regarding Israeli’s blatant violations against Palestinian’s human rights.

4.   The international community take the necessary measures to pressure the Israeli Government to stop its excessive use of force and aggression against Palestinian civilians and to end its belligerent occupation.

5.      The Security Council reconsider its decision regarding the deployment of an international protections force for the Palestinian people and immediately take steps to form such a force to ensure Israeli compliance with United Nations Resolutions and international law.

6.   The Palestinian National Authority immediately take all steps possible to discourage and prevent all unreasonable shooting from residential Palestinian neighborhoods.