The Massacre Continues: 130 martyrs, thousands wounded and hundreds of houses destroyed
For the 29th consecutive day the belligerent Israeli occupation forces continued their aggression against the Palestinian civilians and civilian property. The use of lethal and excessive force has increased. The clashes today have concentrated in Rafah, KhanYounis and Der Albalah. As a result, 20 civilians have been wounded, including: 1. Mohammad Mustafa Aljazzar, 18 years old, from Rafah. A bullet penetrated his head and came out through the eye, his state is considered critical. 2. Mohammad Sad Alhusain, 15 years old, from Khan Younis. A bullet penetrated his chest and came out through the back. His condition is also considered critical.
Aziz Yousef Ibrahim Attanih, 32 years old, was martyred as he suffered from a head injury resulting from being hit by a part of a missile fired by Israeli helicopters on 19th October. He was a correspondent to the Palestinian news agency (Wafa).
Yesterday, Friday, Bethlehem, Bait Sahur, Bait Jala and Jericho were struck with missiles from Israeli helicopters aiming at civilian houses. The firing was concentrated in the center of the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. The occupation forces also specifically targeted civilian houses in Rafah; which caused damages to houses far from the clashes, the Canada refugee camp and Tal Assultan areas, aside from the daily targeting of the civilian houses situated in the neighborhood of Salah Eddin Gate and Tel Zu’rob.
The siege imposed by Israelis upon the cities in the West Bank has continued. The siege does not only affect travel, transportation of the wounded and of goods, but also picking the olives since the forces of occupation prevent the citizens from arriving at their fields, thus threatening thousands of families to lose their source of income.
Yesterday the clashes between the belligerent occupation forces and civilians continued, and the number of injured reached 200 in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The following lost their lives: 1. Ghassan Yousif Salim Awaissa, 28 years old, from Ramallah, struck in the chest by a bullet. 2. Bashir Salah Shalwit, 15 years old, from Qalqilya, struck in the abdomen by a bullet which penetrated his right lung. 3. Ahmad Mohammad Khalil Qasim, 25 years old, from Tulkrum, struck by several 500 mm caliber bullets in different parts of the body. 4. Jabr Ahmad Jabr Almishal, 23 years old, from the Shati refugee camp in Gaza, struck by a bullet to the chest using a silencer.
AL-MEZAN Center for Human Rights emphasizes that the occupation forces intentionally use excessive and lethal force to kill the highest possible number of Palestinian civilians. They also intentionally and heavily target civilian property to frighten civilians and cause the greatest possible material loss. AL-MEZAN also emphasizes the infringement of the 4th Geneva Convention and the principle of international and humanitarian law by the Israeli occupation forces through committing war crimes against the Palestinians. The commitment of such war crimes demands the immediate intervention of the international community, especially the high contracting parties to the Geneva Convention to stop the crimes and present the perpetrators before the court according to the legal bases. And demands that the necessary steps be taken to protect the Palestinian civilians. AL-MEZAN demands that the High commission for Human Rights of the United Nations implements the resolution E/CN.4/S-5/L.2/Rev.1 and sets up a body to inspect the facts, and to stop the crimes committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinian civilians.
Defence for Children International - Palestine Section
BLAMING THE VICTIM
Dear friends,
On behalf of Defence for Children International/Palestine Section, I am writing to request your support in countering Israeli attempts to blame Palestinian adults for the death of Palestinian children, as well as false accusations printed against DCI/PS in yesterday's edition of The Jerusalem Post.
In the Opinion section of yesterday's (27 October) edition, an article was published entitled "Child sacrifice is Palestinian paganism." The article states that these children died "in the front lines, providing cover for Palestinian militias armed with machine guns and other weapons, seeking to overwhelm isolated Israeli guard posts." The article goes on to say that "The outnumbered Israeli soldiers, defending the civilians behind these outposts, cannot see the children through the small slits and openings--as was clearly the case at the Netzarim crossing in Gaza."
Such attempts to place blame on Palestinian adults for the deaths of Palestinian children are a clear effort to portray the Palestinian population as sub-human and to divert attention away from the ongoing siege against Palestinian civilians. Moreover, they are an attempt to excuse or justify the deaths of these children. In addition, by focusing on Palestinian adults and parents, other gross violations of Palestinian children's rights are being overlooked, such as the nightly attacks on Palestinian cities and villages, the closure of over 30 schools and the virtual imprisonment of thousands of children in their homes in the H2 (Israeli controlled) area of Hebron, and the inability of approximately 13,000 Palestinian students to travel to school as a result of the Israeli imposed closure (according to the Palestinian Ministry of Education), and the list goes on.
In addition to asserting that Palestinian adults use Palestinian children as human shields, the article states that:
" The Palestinian branch of DCI, which is supported by donations designed for protecting children, uses these funds for propaganda attacks against Israel, while ignoring the abuses of children by the Palestinian leadership.
"In a recent conference on the dangers of landmines that took place in Geneva, the Palestinian members of DCI were too busy circulating denunciations of Israel, to discuss means for cooperation in protecting children from these dangers."
Those of you who are familiar with the work of DCI/PS know that such claims are completely inaccurate and constitute a blatant attempt to discredit our work on behalf of Palestinian children. This is not the first attempt by the article's author to call into questions DCI/PS's credibility. As such, we need your help immediately.
We ask that you take two actions:
1. Write to The Jerusalem Post and protest the blatant attempts to dehumanize the Palestinian people and to discredit the work of DCI/PS.
The Jerusalem Post
Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Barak
Editorials Editor, Saul Singer
Tel: +972 2 531 5666
FAX: +972 2 538 9527
email:
For letters to the editor for publication: letters@jpost.co.il To the Editors: editors@jpost.co.il
Priority for publication of letters is given to ones that are brief (i.e. 150 words or less).
2. CC letters sent to the article's author, Gerald Steinberg (gerald@vms.huji.ac.ils) and DCI/PS (dcipal@palnet.com). The article can be viewed at: http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2000/10/27/Opinion/
or you can see the full text reprinted below.
We have also included below DCI/PS's press release issued yesterday after first reading the article.
Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best regards,
Catherine Cook
Public Relations Officer
DCI/PS
Defence for Children International/Palestine Section
For immediate release
27 October 2000
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DCI/PS Views with Grave Concern Attempts to Blame
Palestinian Parents for the Death of their Children
Defence for Children International/Palestine Section views with grave concern current attempts to blame Palestinian adults for the deaths of Palestinian children. Such efforts not only skew the reality of the present conflict, but divert attention away from the roots of the problem: that of ongoing and systematic abuses of Palestinian human rights resulting from the 33 year long Israeli military occupation of Palestinian territory.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), as of midnight, 26 October, 122 Palestinians have been killed and 5,252 injured, as a result of the ongoing Israeli siege against Palestinian civilians. Of those, DCI/PS has documented the deaths of 43 Palestinian children, with an additional 3 who have been declared clinically dead, and the injury of over 1,000 children. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of these children range from children who participated in protests against the Israeli occupation, children who were hit with live ammunition while playing in their backyard or walking to school, and children who were denied prompt access to medical care.
The notion that Palestinian parents send their children to die is yet the latest reincarnation of a well-known scapegoating strategy known as 'blaming the victim.' In a clear attempt to avoid Israeli culpability for the deaths of Palestinian children, animosity or suspicion is directed towards the victim, thereby justifying or excusing the original violation the victim suffered. Similar to the battered wife who "drove" her spouse to physical abuse, Palestinian adults are blamed for the death and injury of their children by Israeli military forces. No less, Palestinian parents are accused of placing their children in dangerous situations, the implication being that Palestinian parents do not love their children in the same way that other parents do. No mention is made that contact with Israeli military forces is often unavoidable as Israeli soldiers are posted near schools, homes, and community centers throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition to the attempt to de-humanize the Palestinian people, such an approach allows for the oversight of how it is that these children are actually being killed and wounded. When attention is focused on the parents of Palestinian children, the Israeli soldier who points his weapon and fires at the child, along with the Israeli government that sanctions these actions, escapes all accountability. Moreover, attention is diverted away from the countless other Israeli violations of Palestinian children's rights, including the closure of over 30 schools and confining thousands of Palestinian children to their homes for days on end as a result of the curfew imposed on the Old City in Hebron. The end result is that Palestinians are blamed for their own victimization.
Of particular concern to DCI/PS is the article "Child Sacrifice is Palestinian paganism," published in today's edition of "The Jerusalem Post." In addition to asserting that Palestinian adults use children as human shields during confrontations, the article's author states that DCI/PS launches "propaganda attacks against Israel, while ignoring the abuses of children by the Palestinian leadership." As a child-rights organization advocating, in particular, for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), we work to ensure that all parties to the present conflict act in the best interests of the child and according to the rule of law. With reference to Israel, we advocate that Israel upholds its obligations under international law, both those it has willingly assumed and those to which it is bound through customary international law. To date, and in addition to numerous other violations, Israel has failed to implement the CRC in the Occupied Territories, despite its 2 November 1991 entry into force in Israel, or to submit the required country report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
As a child-rights organization, DCI/PS mourns the death of each of these children. DCI/PS regrets that any child is forced to live in violent circumstances, but the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has made that an inevitable fact of life for approximately 1.5 million Palestinian children. These conditions will only improve upon the complete Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories.
Today, clashes broke out between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces throughout the Gaza Strip. These forces fired at demonstrators and wounded dozens. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces continued to station themselves on several parts of the main road between the north of the Gaza Strip and the south (Salah El-Din Street). They re-closed the mentioned road near Kfar Darom settlement.
At 15:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire from their machine guns on Palestinian civilians demonstrating near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural area). Eight civilians were wounded. PCHR's field officer in the area reported that among the wounded were two children, one wounded in the neck and the other in the abdomen. The two children were evacuated to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
In Rafah, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near Salah El-Din Gate on the Palestinian-Egyptian border, and near Tal Al-Sultan road block in the west of the town (separating it from Al-Mawasi). The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators in the two areas of clashes and wounded four of them with live ammunition, three of whom are in critical condition. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that the three seriously wounded are: Mohammed Mustafa Al-Jazzar, 18 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the head and was evacuated to Shifa' hospital in Gaza; Essam Al-Moghayar, 20 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the back; and Mousa Abu Jazar, 16 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military post to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis and near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators. Snipers using silencers took part. As a result, 22 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition, including the child Mohammed Sai'd Abu Al-Hesein, 15 years old, who was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the chest. PCHR's field officer reported that the Israeli occupation forces opened fire suddenly and indiscriminately this afternoon and wounded eight Palestinian civilians at once. Among the wounded were the child Jamal Al-Ghalban, 12 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen, and the child Yousef Awadh Abu Tayyem, 14 years old, who was wounded with a live bullet in the neck. Additionally, eight Palestinian civilians were wounded today with rubber-coated metal bullets.
In the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement near Deir El-Balah, clashes broke out this afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces fired live ammunition, frequently using silencers, and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrators. PCHR's field officer in the area reported that 14 Palestinian civilians were wounded by live bullets fired by the Israeli occupation forces, four of whom were seriously wounded; they are: Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Boheisi, 17 years old, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen; Hammam Jamal Al-Aqraa', 16 years old, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with a live bullet in the left eye; and A'atef Ahmed Nejem, 22 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the chest. Additionally, three other Palestinians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets.
This afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near the area of Erez – under the control of these forces – in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at Palestinian demonstrators. A Palestinian civilian was wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder and three were wounded with rubber-coated metal bullets.
This afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces on a road used by Jewish settlers near Karni Outlet. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators and wounded three of them with live ammunition. The wounded were evacuated to Shifa' hospital in Gaza.
PCHR's Notes on Today's Clashes in the Gaza Strip:
PCHR condemns the killings and abuses perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories. Since September 29, 2000, 127 Palestinians, including 38 children, have been killed and more than 3,800 wounded, some of whom are in critical condition. PCHR warns of the continued escalation of excessive lethal use of force by the Israeli occupation forces, and warns particularly of the targeting of Palestinian children.
PCHR reiterates its call to the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately intervene to halt serious abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. In addition, these parties should intervene to stop the continued attacks on Palestinian land and property. PCHR calls for providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories as it is the only way to stop the Israeli occupation forces' crimes and to prevent further deterioration of the situation. "End" For more information about Al-Aqsa Intifada, see: www.pchrgaza.org
Clashes Continue: Scores Injured and One Clinically Dead
Today, 28 October 2000, clashes continued throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Israeli forces employing excessive force against Palestinian demonstrators.
In Al-Jamala in Jenin, 20 people have been injured including:
From yesterday's clashes in Al-Jamala in Jenin further information has been received on one of the victims.
Clashes are presently occurring in Ramallah. There are reports of numerous injuries. One person is said to have been shot in the head with live ammunition. The LAW fieldworkers are currently obtaining further details.
In the Gaza Strip, clashes were reported in Rafah, Tal Al-Sultan and Khan Younis. Amongst those injured are:
Stop press: LAW's fieldwork team has obtained further information on the journalist who died this morning. Aziz Atineh, 32 years of age, from Ata'mra village near Bethlehem was near the Palestinian security Force 17 offices in Bethelehem, when an explosion tore through the building. Atineh was severely injured by the shards and died this morning. Further investigations are taking place to determine the cause of the explosion.
This morning, Journalist Aziz Atineh, 32 years of age, from Ata'mra village near Bethlehem, died from injuries sustained on 19 October 2000. He had been hit in the head with live ammunition and had been in a critical condition since. Atineh had been taking photographs of clashes when he was shot. From the evidence available, Israeli forces must have targeted him, despite having no involvement in the violence. Atineh leaves behind a wife of 27 days.
Yesterday, 27 October 2000 at 16.30 gmt + 2, Ahmad Al-Mishal, 23 years old from Shati refugee camp (beach camp) was killed. He was shot with a live bullet in the chest at the Beit Hanoun junction. This death occurred after our last report yesterday 27 October at 16.29 hours.
Palestinian Center for Human Rights
This afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces escalated their criminal acts and abuses against Palestinian civilians who continued their protests throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets, and tear gas canisters at Palestinian demonstrators. As a result, four Palestinian civilians, including a 15-year-old deaf child, were killed and dozens, including a number of children, wounded in the head, chest and abdomen. The Israeli occupation forces have continued to reinforce their positions between Palestinian cities and in points of friction with Palestinian civilians. In the Gaza Strip, the Israeli occupation forces continued to sweep Palestinian agricultural land; they have swept an area of 847 donums so far throughout the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces have stationed tanks and armored vehicles on the main road between the north of the Gaza Strip and its south (Salah El-Din street), and have established military roadblocks on the mentioned road.
This afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near the area of Erez – under the control of these forces – in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The Israeli occupation forces fired live ammunition, sometimes using silencers, at Palestinian demonstrators and killed Jaber Ahmed Jaber Al-Meshal, 23 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp, with a bullet in the chest. Additionally, 18 civilians were wounded by live ammunition and two wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets.
In Khan Yunis, clashes broke out this afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near an Israeli military post to the west of the refugee camp of Khan Yunis and near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area, which has been under a strict Israeli military siege since the beginning of this month. PCHR's field officer reported that nine Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition and 25 wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets. Additionally, more than 30 Palestinian civilians, including some children, suffered from fainting and asphyxia due to inhaling tear gas.
In Rafah, clashes broke out this morning between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces near Salah El-Din Gate on the Palestinian-Egyptian border, and near Tal Al-Sultan road block in the west of the town, separating it from Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area. PCHR's field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators in the two areas of clashes and wounded seven of them with live ammunition and another two with rubber-coated metal bullets, including Asa'd Jamil Al-Leddawi, 18 years old, who was hit by one of these bullets in his eye.
In Qalqilya, this afternoon, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators and killed a deaf 15-year-old child, Bashir Saleh Shalawi, with several bullets to the abdomen.
In Tulkarm, the Israeli occupation forces fired at Palestinian demonstrators and killed Ahmed Mohammed Qassem, 25 years old, with several medium caliber bullets in several parts of his body.
In Ramallah, the Israeli occupation forces fired at Palestinian demonstrators and killed Ghassan Yousef Awaisa, 26 years old, from Al-Zhahirya and resident of Ramallah, with a bullet in the chest. This evening, the Israeli occupation forces' tanks shelled some neighborhoods of Ramallah, causing severe damage to a number of buildings.
PCHR has learned that similar clashes broke out this afternoon in Jenin. The Israeli occupation forces fired at demonstrators and wounded the child Fadi Amin Al-Harioush, 15 years old, with a live bullet in the head. The child was evacuated to Jenin hospital and then to Nablus hospital in critical condition. Additionally, eight Palestinian civilians were wounded by rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens were hurt due to inhaling tear gas in these clashes.
In Nablus, the Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers continued to attack Palestinian civilians. Yesterday evening and this morning, Jewish settlers fired at Palestinian civilians in the village of Hares while they were cultivating olives. Seven Palestinians were wounded.
In Hebron, clashes broke out between the Israeli occupation forces and Jewish settlers on one side and Palestinian demonstrators on the other side, specially, in El-Shalla street, El-Takrouri neighborhood and the refugee camp of Al-Fawwar. A number of Palestinian civilians were wounded in these clashes.
The Israeli occupation forces have reinforced their presence on the main road between the north of the Gaza Strip and its south (Salah El-Din street) at the following points:
Early this morning, the Israeli occupation forces swept a three-donum area of agricultural land planted with vegetables as well as olive, guava and palm trees. The swept tract of land is owned by the heirs of the deceased Mezyed Zeidan Dhoheir. The Israeli occupation forces' bulldozers also destroyed an agricultural pool and irrigation networks. Yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces' bulldozers swept a seven-donum area of agricultural land, planted with citrus trees and owned by Fuad Al-Ja'farawi, in the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement.
PCHR condemns the killings and abuses perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces since September 29 in the occupied Palestinian territories which have resulted in the deaths of 127 Palestinians, including 38 children. More than 3,600 Palestinians have been wounded. Many of these casualties are in critical condition.
PCHR asserts that Israel's efforts to reinforce the position of its occupation forces between Palestinian cities and at points of frictions adjacent to Palestinian residential areas as well as the continued attacks by Jewish settlers against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories are a source of permanent threat to the security and safety of Palestinian civilians.
PCHR reiterates its call to the international community and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention to immediately intervene to halt serious abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. In addition, these parties should intervene to stop the continued attacks on Palestinian land and property. PCHR calls for providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, as it is the only way to stop the Israeli occupation forces' crimes and to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Canadian statement of NGOs
Like many Canadians we are deeply troubled by the violence that broke out in the Middle East in late September 2000, and we deplore the violence on both sides and grieve the human loss of both Palestinians and Israelis. By now, two weeks later, over 100 people have been killed; another 3000 have been injured; physical infrastructure has been destroyed, and much good will has been lost.
It must be noted, however, that over 90% of the deaths and injuries have been Palestinian and 20% of these have been civilian children, among them the 12-year old Mohamed Jamal Al-Dourra who died in the arms of his father near an Israeli settlement in Gaza. This heavy Palestinian death toll reflects the fact that Israel has used sophisticated weapons while the Palestinians have relied mainly on demonstrations and throwing stones, using other weapons in only a very limited way. This disproportionate and excessive use of lethal force by Israel, as an occupying power, contravenes the Fourth Geneva Convention and must be condemned.
We believe the fundamental reason behind the outbreak of violence is the impasse in the peace process which the Palestinians see, correctly, as failing to meet the minimum standards of justice. Since 1993, when the current process began, the Palestinians' social and economic situation has deteriorated substantially, while the number of Israeli settlers in the occupied territories has doubled to over 200,000. Israel has also increased its network of by-pass roads and its claim on the water and other resources from these territories. These and other developments reflect Israel's basic refusal to accept the relevant UN resolutions, particularly those that demand an end to its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
In light of this situation, we commend the Canadian government for its support for UN resolution 1322 which affirms, "that a just and lasting peace solution to the Arab and Israeli conflict must be based on its resolutions 242 (1967) of 22 November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, through an active negotiating process". These UN resolutions constitute the only basis on which to negotiate a sustainable peace settlement. By and large Palestinians have accepted this framework as a basis for coexisting with Israel. Implementing that framework means:
There is nothing extremist in these demands. Their legitimacy is established in numerous international instruments, which have been discussed and approved time and again by the vast majority of the international community. Israel, with American support, has moved the negotiations away from these principles.
In the current context, we urge the Canadian government to:
Dated: October 27th, 2000
Signed by:
Inter-Church Action for Development, Relief and Justice
Alternatif/CEAD
Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation
The Palestinian Women Association of Ottawa
The Mennonites Central Committee
The National Council on Canada Arab Relations
Canadian Friends of Sabeel
CEPAL
Oxfam-Quebec
Human Concern International
Medical Aid For Palestine (MAP)
World Vision Canada