Press Release

15 October 2001
Press Release Index

Israeli Forces Carry out Two Assassinations in 26 Hours
Israel resumed its use of assassination, killing one Palestinian activist yesterday and another today.  Abdul Rahman Mohammad Said Hamad, 33, father with two children, was killed on October 14, 2001 at 6:10 am while at home, and Ahmed Hassan Marshoud, 34, was killed today, October 15, 2001 at 8:15 am while on his way to work.  Israeli government officials took responsibility for yesterday’s assassination, but have so far failed to officially comment on today’s killing.  The following information concerning both assassinations was gathered at the scenes of the killings and from witnesses by al-Haq fieldworkers. 

Early in the morning on October 14th Abdul Hamad returned to his home after attending prayer at a nearby mosque.  He then went to sit on his roof where he proceeded to read from the Koran, as was his daily habit.  While on his roof Hamad was shot twice in the chest by Israeli forces stationed nearby.  Hamad’s home is located north-west of Qalqiliya, approximately 300 meters East of the Green Line separating the Occupied West Bank from Israel.  An Israeli military outpost is also located approximately 200 meters north of Hamad’s home.  Additionally, farmers working in a nearby field reported that just prior to the assassination, an Israeli tank, an army jeep and a car were all positioned 150 meters west of Hamad’s home.  According to these same men, just prior to hearing the shooting, they saw an Israeli soldier get out of the Jeep to stand on its roof.  Although they could not confirm whether the shots were fired from the area of the Jeep, car and tank or from the military base, they did report that soon after the shooting the Jeep, car and tank left. 

Hamad was a well known Hamas activist and leader, and was included on a list of wanted individuals drawn up by the Israeli government and printed in several newspapers earlier this year.  Hamad spent six years in Israeli prison for alleged membership in the Iz a Din al-Kassam branch of Hamas.  Today would have marked the first anniversary of his release from Israeli custody.  The Israeli authorities have claimed that Hamad was responsible for the planning of several attacks carried out inside Israeli, including the bombing last June at the Dolphinarium in Tel Aviv, but have failed to put forward any evidence supporting this claim.

Ahmed Marshoud was from Balata Refugee Camp.  He was killed this morning while on his way to his job at the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoner Affairs in Nablus.  According to witnesses, around 8:15 this morning Marshoud climbed out of a service taxi in front of his office building.  After taking only a few steps, a Subaru Car parked by the side of the road exploded next to him, killing him instantly, and moderately injuring a bystander.  Marshoud was a supporter of Hamas, but was not known to be active and did not hold a leadership position in the organization.  However, the Jerusalem Post has reported that the Israeli military has stated that, “Marshoud was wanted by Israel for planning terror attacks and appeared on an arrest list given to the Palestinians.”  The Israeli military has not yet issued an official statement on this attack.

Following yesterday’s assassination of Hamad Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave his support to the killing.  In a statement quoted in the Jerusalem Post today Sharon said that following a “lengthy effort” Israeli forces had successfully “liquidated” Hamad.  He continued by stating that, “he is not the first nor the last.  We have clarified our position on this matter.  It is clear and this is how we will act.” 

When Israeli Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer was asked about the assassination he said that, “I do know one thing, our policy… is that we will continue to combat terror in every shape and way, and we will certainly fight those terrorists and of course the masterminds, who not only carried out their deeds in the past but who are planning attacks for now.”  

Unfortunately, while Israel argues that its assassination policy is designed to stop attacks, it more often serves to exacerbate tensions.  Hamas spokesmen have already stated that “Israel will pay a very heavy price,” and that “we will definitely respond.”  Not only has this policy failed in its stated aim of “halting attacks upon Israelis,” but Israeli authorities have failed to prove that those who have been assassinated are truly guilty of the actions of which they were accused and for which they were killed.  Under both local and international law, Israel is under an obligation to attempt to arrest and detain those it accuses of perpetrating crimes.  The summary execution of accused Palestinian activists who, at the times of their deaths, posed no direct or immediate discernable threat to the people who killed them is illegal and goes against all ideals of justice.  Without trials being held or evidence against assassinated activists being put forward, innocence must be assumed until guilt is proven.  Additionally, the use of bombs, missiles and other indiscriminate methods to assassinate Palestinian activists has left many Palestinian bystanders either dead or severely wounded.   

Israeli forces’ continued use of assassination, authorized and supported at the highest government level, is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.   Israel’s assassinations are willful killings as described in the Fourth Geneva Convention, which is both a grave breaches of the Convention and, in principle, a war crime.  States signatories to the Convention are under a legal obligation to seek out and try those responsible for grave breaches.  Those individuals who are involved in the planning, instigation, ordering, or directly committing grave breaches can be held individually responsible for their actions. 

Al-Haq thus calls upon the international community to take the following steps:

1.  Al-Haq requests that the UN Security Council hold a special session to discuss the situation in the Occupied Territories and to take steps to enforce the many United Nations resolutions that relate to the situation in the Occupied Territories.  Immediate action should also be taken to sanction Israel for its continued policy of assassination and grave violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
2.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights should work to ensure that all resolutions relating to the Occupied Territories passed during the last several meeting of the Human Rights Commission are implemented.                
3.  The various UN Special Rapportuers requested to visit the Occupied Territories by the Human Rights Commission, especially the Special Rapportuer on Extra-Judicial Executions, should immediately undertake visits to the area.     
4.  States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention must act immediately under their obligations as outlined in Articles 1, 146, and 147 of the convention to provide the Palestinian people with protection from grave breaches of their rights, which qualify as war crimes, must demand an end to abuses committed by Israeli forces, and should act against those who are found culpable for grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. 
5.  The United Nations should send a human rights protection force to the Occupied Territories to end the ongoing and systematic violations of Palestinians’ human rights.
6.   In light of Israel’s continued systematic violations of Palestinians’ human rights, the European Union should revoke all special trade incentives offered to Israel, and the International Community should both impose trade sanctions against Israel and boycott Israeli products until Israel ends its illegal occupation and complies with international law.  

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