May 24 , 2001

Al-Haq and Al-Mezan Condemn Israel’s Continued Attacks Upon Palestinian Areas: More than Forty Injured and One Killed in Israeli Attacks

Yesterday evening Israeli forces fired upon and threatened to enter into Palestinian controlled areas of Rafah refugee camp in Gaza starting an intensive firefight in which 45 Palestinians including 23 children were injured. Israeli forces used heavy machineguns and tanks to shell the camp and were answered by small arms fire from Palestinians in the area. 

Following Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s pronouncement of a “unilateral Israeli ceasefire” yesterday Israeli forces entered into several Palestinian areas in Gaza to carry out what the Israeli military has termed “engineering activities”, destroying civilian owned property and agricultural areas. Yesterday afternoon around 2:00 pm Israeli forces and two tanks traveled along the Egyptian-Israeli border to two locations 800 meters from the Rafah neighborhoods of Yubna and Blook in Gaza. The Israeli forces opened fire with heavy machineguns and shot five tank shells into the neighborhood. Mohammad Rashid Abdl Rahman Abdl Hafez (26) was injured critically y shrapnel, and another six Palestinian suffered less serious injuries. A brief but intensive firefight followed this attack. Around 4:30 pm Israeli forces again opened fire in these two areas using light weaponry, heavy machineguns, and tanks. Thirty-eight people were injured during the attack according to documentation gathered by al-Mezan and al-Haq. Seventeen year-old Yaser Iyad al-Sha’ar was critically injured by shrapnel that struck him in the chest and neck. The Israeli military denies having used tanks in this incident. The firefight continued until around 6:00 pm.  Two buildings were destroyed during the attack. 

Around 2:00 pm today attacks on this location resumed and were ongoing at the time of the writing of this press release. Several injuries and one death have been reported. Shadi Kamal Ahmad Si’um (18) was killed by shrapnel that lodged in his back. Another woman, Camillia Abu Hammad miscarried after a tank shelled her home. More information on this attack will be forthcoming as our fieldworkers document and investigate these cases. 

Today Israeli forces also carried out an incursion into Palestinian controlled territory in the central area of Gaza. In the early hours of this morning two mortars were fired at the Israeli settlement of Netzarim. The shells landed in an empty field causing no damage or injuries. In response, Israeli forces accompanied by seven tanks entered into an adjacent area under Palestinian control. They fired two shells and opened fire with heavy machineguns. Three people were injured in the attack. The tanks proceeded to advance further into the Palestinian area, eventually moving 2 km into the “A” area. They then closed the main road to all traffic for two hours and destroyed several grape farms located near the road. 

Al-Haq and al-Mezan are concerned by Israel’s continued attacks upon Palestinian targets despite its own declaration of a “ceasefire”. We are also concerned by the lack of clarity in the wording of the Israeli “ceasefire” declaration and the misleading picture of the current conflict drawn by the use of the term “ceasefire”. A promise not to “initiate” actions is not equivalent to a “ceasefire”, and should not be touted as such. A true “ceasefire” must include concrete steps to end the continuing violations of Palestinians’ rights that should include the removal of checkpoints, a cessation of the bombing and shelling, and a halt to all incursions into Palestinian areas. 
Furthermore, the use of the term ceasefire implies that there are two equal and established parties in a state of declared conflict and that there are authorities over each party with control to end the use of force at a moments notice. It does not take into consideration that this is a situation in which an occupying force is carrying out attacks upon a largely civilian population and makes no distinction between the use of light weaponry and the use of tanks. The Israeli use of the terms “ceasefire” also puts the responsibility for stopping violence from the Palestinian side upon the shoulders of President Arafat alone, and does not give proper consideration to the complex nature of the uprising or to the grassroots nature of Palestinian actions. 

Al-Haq and al-Mezan therefore call upon the International community to now take decisive action to end Israeli attacks upon and incursions into Palestinian territory. We also reiterate our request that the International Community take action to provide protection for the Palestinian people. 
Finally, al-Haq and al-Mezan request 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.