May 19 , 2001

Israeli F-16s, Helicopters, and Tanks Bomb Targets Throughout the Occupied
Territories Killing Twelve Palestinians An Additional Three Palestinians are Killed Today by Israeli Forces

Yesterday the Israeli Air Force bombed targets throughout the Occupied Territories killing 12 Palestinians and injuring over 100. Israeli F-16 fighter jets struck targets in Nablus, Ramallah, Gaza City, and Beit Lahia yesterday afternoon, and helicopters and tanks shelled locations in Tulkarm and Deir Balah Refugee Camp in retaliation for both a suicide bombing carried out early Friday in Netanya and the shooting of an off duty Israeli soldier later near the Israeli settlement ofNeveh Tzuf near the village of Aboud north of Ramallah. This is the first instance in whichwarplanes have been used against targets in the Occupied Territories since the end of the 1967 War. Israel Television Channel Two suggested that the warplanes might have dropped munitions as large as 250 kilograms on their targets. The buildings struck in each of the instances were all connected to one of the Palestinian security apparatuses. 

Those killed in the attacks were:

Killed in Nablus
Khaled’Uqab Mohammad Subih (22) Jenin
Ayman Khalil Ma’rouf (23) Nablus
Rif’at Ziyad Rabay’ah (40) Jenin
Nasri Nasir Hazan Yacoub (22) Nablus
Mu’taz Najeh al-Khatib (20) Nablus
Fadi Sa’ed Hamed (20) Nablus
Amjad Khaled Sadeq Khader (29) Nablus
Wa’el Abu Khader (28) Nablus
Nabil Isam Ahmed Isa’el 
Rami Yasin (20) Nablus
Muhannad Bani Odeh (22) Jenin
Killed in Ramallah
Isma’el Fatin Talab Rfie’ (20) Gaza

The Israeli Media has reported that Israeli military sources claimed that yesterday’s attacks were carried out in retaliation for the earlier suicide bombing in Netanya. These attacks were both excessive and unjustified. The international community should condemn these Israeli actions in the strongest terms. Yesterday, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan spoke out against the attacks stating that, “I can only regard this response as excessive and misdirected. Its effect will inevitably be to increase bitterness even further on the Palestinian side… This is a time for restraint and statesmanship on all sides.” 

Retaliatory attacks are a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 states that, “Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited.” Attacks against buildings and personnel connected to the Palestinian Security apparatus and the destruction of Palestinian civilian property in retaliation for attacks and actions carried out by other groups with no connection to the Palestinian Authority are clearly a violation of this article. The international community should take action to end the continued Israeli violations of international humanitarian law, and should act to provide protection for the Palestinian people who continue to suffer due to the presence of Israeli settlers and military personnel in the Occupied Territories. 

Today Israeli forces have continued their attacks upon Palestinian civilian and police targets by shelling several targets in the Jenin and Tulkarm areas from attack helicopters. Around 12:30 this afternoon two Israeli helicopters fired six missiles at the government buildings in Jenin. No injuries were reported following the attack, but the building was completely destroyed. At the same time the al-Almani checkpoint east of Jenin was fired upon by an Israeli helicopter, and north of the city the Jelema checkpoint also came under attack from a helicopter. No injuries were reported in either of these attacks. Helicopters also attacked Palestinian Security headquarters in Tulkarm. Initial reports indicate that at least 25 people were injured during the bombing.

In Gaza Taisir A’wad al-‘Ar’ir (29), a farmer from al-Shajaiah, was killed today. He was shot twice, once in the neck and once in the neck. He was working in his fields at the time of his death. Hammam Saleem Abdilhaq (20) was also killed today during clashes in Nablus. Finally, at 7:30 am Lieutenant Fawwaz Isa Addamj (37) from Jenin Refugee Camp was shot and killed while standing guard at a checkpoint at the entrance to Silet al-Harthieh near Jenin. He and several other guards became suspicious of a vehicle as it approached the checkpoint, and he motioned it to stop and approached it to talk to its passengers. As he approached a gas bomb was shot from the car. It was later determined that this was a signal to an undercover unit in the car to open fire on him and his colleagues. He was struck and killed by seven bullets. Two other policemen working with him were injured in the attack. 

Al-Haq and al-Mezan also wish to express their grave concern over the lack of action on the part of the international community to combat human rights violations occurring in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Keeping this in mind, al-Haq and al-Mezan reiterate their request that the International Community to take action to provide for the protection of the Palestinian people. In light of the continuous deterioration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Territories, al-Haq and al-Mezan also ask that the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention take the necessary measures to effectively pressure the Israeli government to stop its excessive use of force and aggression against Palestinian civilians.