The Israeli occupation forces have continued their killings and abuses against Palestinian civilians, escalating their actions by shelling Palestinian cities and villages. They have also strengthened the siege on the occupied Palestinian territories and have reinforced their presence at points of friction with Palestinian civilians.
This afternoon, the Israeli occupation authorities re-closed Gaza International Airport. This morning, Sae'd Adnan Al-Tanbour, 17 years, from Nablus, died from his wound by a bullet in the head in clashes with the Israeli occupation forces on October 20, 2000; and the child Ashraf Habayeb, 15 years, from the Refugee camp of Askar near Nablus, died from his wound in the head on October 16, 2000.
In the refugee camp of Tulkarm, Nada Sa'd Srouji died from a heart attack, when Iaraeli soldiers chased her while she was trying to break the siege imposed on Tulkarm. The number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation forces has increased to 119, and more than 3,300 have been wounded.
The Israeli occupation forces have reinforced their positions in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, specially in Khan Yunis and Deir El-Balah. PCHR's field officers reported that the Israeli occupation forces closed all branch entrances to the two cities with cement blocks. They continued to place a roadblock on the main road linking between the northern of the Gaza Strip with its south, checking passing cars on both directions of the road. Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis and Rafah witnessed intensive deployment of the Israeli occupation forces.
The Israeli occupation forces swept a 4-donum area of agricultural land near an Israeli military occupation they erected recently at the road leading from Salah El-Din Street to Kissufim border crossing. Since the morning, in the area of Erez, in the northern part of the Gaza strip, clashes have broken out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which have responded opening fire. As a result, 19 people have been wounded with live bullets and 6 with rubber-coated metal bullets. Additionally, dozens were hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces in the area. An eyewitness stated that one of the wounded was trapped by to civil-uniformed persons who decoyed him and fired at his knees.
The eyewitness added that the two persons appeared as if the were Palestinians who would like to offer help for demonstrators. When Mahmoud Mansour Abu Rayya, 16 years old, from Jabalya, approached them, they fired at him. It is not clear whether the two persons were soldiers of the Israeli occupation forces, or Jewish settlers. PCHR's field officer in the area reported that 3 youths were wounded without hearing the sound of firing. He asserted that the Israeli occupation forces used silencers when firing at demonstrators.
In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military site, known as "Al-Nouria," to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis. It is worth mentioning that some Israeli military points within the site are less than 50m away from the over-crowded refugee camp, and therefore, are a source of continuous threat to Palestinian civilians in the area. A short while ago, the child Abdel Rahman Salim Shorrab, 13 years, was wounded in the head by a live bullet shot by the Israeli occupation forces. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
Additionally, 28 civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets in Khan Yuinis. Among them is the child Deeb Ibrahim Al-Najjar, 14 years, who was wounded in the head, and was evacuated to Shifa' hospital in a very critical condition. Dozens of civilians were also hurt due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces against demonstrators and nearby houses. In the vicinity of the settlement of Kfar Darom near Deir El-Balah, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces which responded firing live ammunition at the demonstrators. PCHR's field officer in the area reported that two people were wounded by live ammunition, and dozens were hurt due to inhaling tear gas.
Early this morning, the Israeli occupation forces fired two rockets at two houses near Salah El-Din Gate on the borders with Egypt in Rafah. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that one rocket penetrated the walls of the second floor of a house owned by Saleh Mohammed El-Shae'r, 50 years, and exploded in one of its rooms. The owner of the house told PCHR that he and his family sheltered preemptively in the ground floor few minutes before shelling, as the house was shelled during the past days. The house was severely damaged, and the room in which a rocket exploded completely burnt. The second rocket hit the external wall of a house owned by Mohammed Jamil Qeshta. No severe damages were reported as a result. Yesterday, combat helicopters and tanks of the Israeli occupation forces fired rockets at Beit Jala, Beit Sahour and the refugee camp of Aida. Some houses and civil facilities, including a theatre and an electricity generator, were severely damaged.
PCHR warns of the new escalation by the Israeli occupation force and the killings notably targeting children.
PCHR asserts that the continued military reinforcements of the Israeli occupation forces threaten directly the lives of Palestinian civilians throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. Firing rockets at houses and civil facilities is a clear evidence of the criminal acts and excessive use of force by the Israeli occupation forces.
PCHR reiterates its call upon the international community and the High Contracting Parties to Geneva Fourth Convention to give up silence and immediately intervene to stop the continued massacres perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces. Providing international protection for Palestinian civilians is the only way that will ensure their security and safety.
Today, October 23, 2000, the Israeli military forces continued their siege on Palestinian areas. In Gaza, Israeli military officials closed Gaza airport for the second time and have sealed off the sea along the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces have also reinstated full closure of all major West Bank cities, including Hebron, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin and Qualkilya.
Settlers continue their attacks in the Palestinian areas of Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus, Beit Furik, Huwara, Salem, Jalout, Jenin Tulkarem, Rafa, Khan Younis, and Beit Hanun. Clashes continued around the West Bank and Gaza. 45 people have been injured, 5 are in critical condition after being hit with live ammunition. Four have been identified so far:
Ibrahim Najjar 14, from Khan Younis was shot in the head with live ammunition.
Muhanad Abu Quar 22, from Jericho was hit in the chest with live ammunition.
Namoir Abdul Karim 59, from Qualkilya was hit with live ammunition.
Maher Ghana, 15, from Sayir was shot.
In a separate incident, 53 year-old Nadaa Saied Sruji died from a heart attack after being chased by Israeli soldiers as she passed a checkpoint near Tulkarem. She and other Palestinians were passing into Israel to go to work. Sruji is the mother of 9 children. LAW is pursuing the following:
* The Israeli government is made responsible for the violence committed against Palestinian civilians.
* Those responsible for this act are investigated and brought to trial.
* Immediate action is taken to protect Palestinians civilians and force Israel to comply with articles of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
At 8pm last night, October 22, 2000, Israeli forces, using tank fire, helicopter-fired missiles, and heavy machine gun fire, shelled the residential areas of Beit Eil (Ramallah), Beit Jala, Aida Refugee Camp, Beit Sahour, and El Kahder village.
Preliminary damages are as follows:
Aida refugee camp: The properties of Ahmad Rumi, Salah Roumi and Hasan Al Azah were hit by shelling.
Beit Jala: A stone-cutting factory owned by the Al Bandak family was damaged, the four story family home of Jadallah Ghazaleh was damaged after being hit, the home of Samer Nazzal was by with a tank fire (he managed to get his family out only 10 minutes before the house was hit), the home of Yaser Al Jarwish was hit by tank fire and a small detergent factory owned by Emile Khamashta was damaged by heavy machine gun fire. Cars owned by Issa Shanair, Mahmoud Abu Khara and Isam Zeida were also hit.
Beit Eil: Several houses and a human rights center were hit by tank fire.
Early this morning, Israeli forces blocked the entrances and exits of Bethlehem and Hebron with cement barriers.
Deaths: This morning, Ashraf Habayed, 15 died from head injuries sustained on October 16, and Saed Tanbour, 17 died from injuries sustained on October 20, 2000. The Palestinian death toll has risen to 119, 38 of which are children.
LAW reiterates the following:
1. The Israeli government is fully responsible for the situation that has developed in the Occupied Territories and the violence committed against Palestinian civilians by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
2. LAW demands that those responsible for this aggression against Palestinians be investigated and brought to trial.
3. LAW calls on the United Nations Security Council to implement Resolution 1322, issued on October 7, regarding the formation of an international fact-finding mission to investigate these crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
4. LAW demands that the international community, including members of the United Nations Security Council, take immediate action to protect Palestinian civilians as provided for in the Fourth Geneva Convention, and force Israel to comply with its obligations under this convention.
On the evening of last Sunday dated October 22, 2000, the Israeli forces stationed military checkpoints on the cross roads near the Israeli Settlements "Kfar Droum" and "Gosh Qatif" nearby Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis".
Moreover, The Israeli Occupation army is stopping all the Palestinian cars that are passing by the main street to search the passengers and confiscate their personal rifles.
According to the Palestinian Police sources, which stated that, Israelis confiscated the rifles of security personnel in Force 17 last night. Until present, the occupation forces are using these procedures continuously. Also, they have close the road to Al-Tufah quarter near the Israeli settlement "Gosh Qatif"- Khan Younis. Israeli tanks and military vehicles filed Gaza - Khan Younis Main Street. This led us to conclude that they are planing to disconnect and isolate the Palestinian Cities and Villages.
Further Israeli Violence as Six more Palestinians are Killed, Four of them Children, and the Siege of Palestinian Civilians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip Worsens
Despite international condemnation of Israeli practices, the Israeli Occupying Forces continue to implement excessive and indiscriminate force against Palestinian civilians. Yesterday and today, a total of six more Palestinians were killed by the Israeli Occupying forces as they opened fire against Palestinian protestors using assault helicopters, live ammunition, rubber- coated steel bullets and various forms of tear gas.
According to information collected from al-Haq fieldworkers Na’el al-Zama’reh, aged 25 from Halhoul in Hebron, Salah Fawzi Najm, aged 15 from al-Magazi Refugee Camp in Gaza, Wael Amhouid al-Nasheet, aged 14 from Jabalya Refugee Camp in Gaza and Imad al-Hawamdeh, aged 24 from al-Samou’ in Hebron were all killed yesterday by Israeli Forces. Ashraf Ahmad Habayeb, aged 15 from Nablus and Sa’ed Adnan aged 18 also from Nablus died today from injuries sustained a few days ago in clashes in Nablus. In an act indicative of the Israeli forces’ indiscriminate use of force, French journalist Jan Mari Brojois, aged 57 and another Palestinian journalist were shot while covering the clashes. Jan Mari underwent surgery for a live ammunition wound to the chest and remains in serious condition. , today he was sent back home to France to continue medical treatment.
Last night the Israeli Forces launched a missile attack against the civilian residents of Beit Jala. Two houses, the Orthodox Cultural Centre and a Marble factory were targeted. Several injuries were reported.
Al-Haq views with concern the Israeli Occupying Forces latest military assault of further isolation and surrounding of Palestinian cities and villages throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Reports to al-Haq indicate that the siege imposed by the Israleli forces has tightened as more tanks, cement blocks and sandbags have been placed outside of major Palestinian cities. The siege continues to devastate the Palestinians economy and deprives Palestinians of their right to move and live in freedom and dignity.
Al-Haq reiterates its call to the international community to intervene immediately to pressure the Government of Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and international human rights principles and treaties to which Israel is a signatory in order to stop the systematic killing of the Palestinian people.
VICTIM ACCOUNT: Settlers Attack 47-Year-Old Palestinian Woman With Leukemia
Sabha Sari Abu Ali is 47 years old and suffers from leukemia, but that is not why she was admitted to Ramallah Hospital on October 22. She was treated for the bruises, internal bleeding and the pneumothrax (collapse of the lung) she suffered after being attacked and beaten by two settlers in Turmus Sayyiya, a village near Ramallah.
“I was picking olives close to the settlement - its name is Shilo,” Sabha said. “When I finished picking olives, a white car with [Israeli] plates passed by. They stopped, got out of their car and started to talk to me in Hebrew. I knew that they were settlers and that they were going to hurt me.”
Sabha tried to run away from them, screaming while the settlers were chasing her. “I tripped and fell and they caught up with me. Then they started to beat me and beat me with no mercy.” “They picked up a rock and started beating me with it, here and here, on my back and legs”. The blows she suffered caused rib fractures and collapse of her left lung. “I was screaming and screaming when a shepherd heard me. He was far away, but could hear my screams and saw what was happening. He started to shout and yell. When they heard him, the settlers got in their car and left very quickly. God had mercy on me because if it wasn’t for the shepherd, they would have killed me.” Sabha is among the dozens of Palestinians who have been beaten, shot at or harassed by Israeli civilian settlers. On October 17, in Beit Farouriq, settlers from Eit Mar attacked five Palestinians who were picking olives. Two were critically injured. Farid Moussa, age 22, died because the army did not allow the ambulance to enter into the village.
Numerous incidents have been reported of settlers terrorizing farmers while harvesting olives. Since olives and olive products are a vital part of the local economy, the inability to harvest the olives will have severe economic repercussions for farmers who depend on this annual crop for income. Instead, many villagers report that their land is being burnt and their olives stolen by the settlers.
The UPMRC stresses its urgent appeal to the international community to press for international protection of Palestinian civilians from the Israeli army and settlers.
To view all of the UPMRC's Emergency Appeals and updates regarding the Israeli army's use of force against Palestinians over the past two weeks, visit the UPMRC website at http://www.upmrc.org. For further information please contact Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi at 050-254218 or the UPMRC office at 02-583-3510/ 02- 583-4021.