In the past 24 hours, the Israeli forces have escalated their attacks on Palestinian civilians. They have tightened the siege imposed on the Palestinian towns, especially Ramallah and el Bireh, where they have placed more barricades on the roads connecting Jalazone refugee camp, Dura el Kari’ a, and Ein Yabroud with Ramallah and el Bireh. The Israeli forces’ escalation of attacks have resulted in the killing of three Palestinians during the last 24 hours. A fourth has died of wounds of an earlier shooting. Apparently in all four cases, those killed had not been taking part in any demonstrations or clashes and were not posing any threat to Israeli soldiers or settlers when they were killed.
Obai Daraj, 9 years old, killed
On Friday, 2 March, Israeli forces stationed at Psagot settlement reportedly opened fire at Palestinian residential areas in el Bireh hitting 9-year-old Obai Daraj in the chest. Based on LAW Society’s documentation, the Palestinian boy was hit while in his bedroom on the 4th floor of the building, which his family has recently moved to. The boy died on arrival at Ramallah state hospital.
Abdul Kareem Abu Asba, 23 years old, killed
On 2 March, Friday afternoon, clashes broke out in Kalandia. Abdul Kareem Abu Asba (23) from Kalandia refugee camp was reportedly shot while coming home after shopping from a nearby grocery store. Abu Asba died on arrival at Ramallah state hospital.
Mustafa el Ramlawi, 42 years old, killed
On 2 March, Friday morning, Israeli soldiers in Natsarim junction reportedly fired an artillery shell at a mentally handicapped Palestinian named Mustafa el Ramlawi (42) from el Braij refugee camp hitting him in the face. They then shot him in the head and the left leg. According to information gathered by LAW, el Ramlawi left his house on Thursday March 1, in the evening, carrying a sack on his back. On Friday morning, while attempting to cross Natsarim junction, Israeli soldiers shot him dead from a distance of 100 meters.
Mohammad Halas, 13 years old, killed
13-year-old Mohammad Halas from el Shajaiyi was pronounced dead at el Shifa’ a hospital in Gaza of wounds sustained on 27 February 2001. Halas was said to have been shot in the head in an unprovoked incident by Israeli soldiers at el Mintar crossing east of Gaza.
Excessive use of force in demonstration near el Bireh
Israeli soldiers reportedly fired rubber coated steel bullets and two gray-colored missiles said to have contained highly concentrated gas at demonstrators in the clashes that broke out on Friday, 2 March, near the City Inn Hotel, north of el Bireh. 34-year-old Kisra Yaseen suffered a severe case of gas inhalation and spasm. Ramallah hospital medical sources reported that this type of gray-colored missile was similar to that, which Israeli forces used against Palestinians in Khan Yunis.
Medical personnel injured
The following paramedics of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees were wounded:
· Nasir Jamjoum (32) hit by a steel bullet in the mouth, which broke his teeth
· Riham Juma’a (18) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the left shoulder
· Arafat Zayid (18) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the left foot
· Rami Abu Dayi (20) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the head
Excessive use of force during demonstration in Deir Nitham The following Palestinians, and Palestinian protesters were wounded on Friday when Israeli forces broke into the village of Deir Nitham, west of Ramallah:
· Imad el Tamimi (44) a paramedic, hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the left leg
· Zeid Faraj (25) shrapnel wounds in the left hand · Mohammad Mis’ad (41) shot in the right thigh and arm
· Ahmad Yacoub (10) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the left thigh
· Mohammad Faraj Mohammad (8) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the right jaw
· Anan Abdullah (10) hit by a rubber coated steel bullet in the pelvis
*Shelling of el Barazeel: Children injured
On 2 March, Friday evening, Israeli forces are said to have shelled el Barazeel quarter in Rafah wounding Mohammad Kishta (6) and Mukhtar Barbakh (11) in the legs and arms.
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Despite repeated condemnation by the international community
Israel continues to use indiscriminate and excessive force against
Palestinian civilians. Israeli Occupying Forces killed three
Palestinians yesterday, one a child of eight, and another child died
of wounds sustained earlier in the week. None of the three
individuals killed yesterday were involved in clashes with Israeli
forces at the time of their deaths. Al-Haq fieldworkers collected
the following information regarding each of these cases.
At approximately 3:30 pm Israeli forces located near the
settlement of Psagot opened fire on El Bireh using tanks and
heavy machineguns. The shelling lasted for fifteen to twenty
minutes and left eight-year-old Obei Mohammad Mahmoud
Darraj dead. Statements given by Obei’s father to an al-Haq
fieldworker state that Obei was killed while playing in his
bedroom. A large caliber bullet penetrated his bedroom window
and struck him in the chest, exiting through his back. Obei’s
family had moved into their apartment one week prior to this
incident to escape from the heavy shooting to which their previous
home was subjected. Neighbors report that prior to the Israeli
shelling a domestic dispute in the neighborhood resulted in one
shot being fired into the air, and it was this shot that brought about
the unprovoked Israeli attack. This case is typical of other recent
cases in which one or two shots, not necessarily aimed at Israeli
areas, lead to unrestrained Israeli shelling and shooting of
inhabited areas, which can last for minutes or hours and has lead
to numerous deaths and injuries and extensive property
damage.
Also killed yesterday was Abdul Karim Issa Abed Abu A’sbe,
age 23, from Qalandiya Refugee Camp. Abdul Karim was shot
three times as he walked from his home to a nearby market.
Witnesses told an al-Haq fieldworker that Abdul was shot by
soldiers involved in nearby clashes even though he had taken no
part in the demonstrations. One bullet hit him in the hand and two
in the stomach. He was rushed to the Ramallah Municipal
hospital where he immediately died. He leaves behind a wife and
newborn baby. Two other individuals were injured while
attempting to give him assistance.
Earlier in the day Mustafa Hamdan Abdul Qadir Ramlawi, age 42,
from Bureij Refugee Camp in Gaza was killed by Israeli forces
who shot him in the head and chest. He was killed on the main
road between the al-Mintar and al-Shuhada junctions in the south
of Gaza. He was mentally handicapped and frequently wandered
through this area. There were no clashes in the area when he
was killed.
Mohammad Mahmoud Helis, age 13, from al-Shaja’a in Gaza also
died of wounds sustained during clashes near the Karni Crossing
on 27 February. He had been shot in the head several times and
was only being sustained by a respirator.
These killings are clear demonstrations of Israel’s complete disregard for
Palestinian life. Until the Israeli authorities are forced to take responsibility
for their actions innocent Palestinian civilians will continue to be killed.
Al-Haq therefore demands that,
1. The international community take appropriate action to
sanction Israel for its continuous shelling of Palestinian civilian
areas. Israel’s targeting of civilian areas is illegal under
international law and constitutes a war crime that should be
investigated. Those found responsible for committing or
ordering the commission of such crimes should be tried.
2. States Party to the Fourth Geneva Convention act
immediately to provide the Palestinian people with protection
from Israeli human rights violations and demand an end to
abuses committed by Israeli forces. Israel continues to
commit grave breaches of the convention that obligate States
Parties to act under Article 1, which calls for them “to respect
and ensure respect for the present Convention in all
circumstances.”
3. The Security Council and the UN General Assembly end its
indefensible silence regarding Israeli’s blatant violations
against Palestinian’s human rights.
4. The international community take the necessary measures
to pressure the Israeli Government to stop its excessive use of
force and aggression against Palestinian civilians and to end its
belligerent occupation.
5. The Security Council reconsider its decision regarding the
deployment of an international protections force for the
Palestinian people and immediately take steps to form such a
force to ensure Israeli compliance with United Nations
Resolutions and international law.
6. The Palestinian National Authority immediately take all
steps possible to discourage and prevent all unreasonable
shooting from residential Palestinian neighborhoods.
Al Haq
Three Palestinians Killed by Indiscriminate Israeli Fire,
One Dies of Previously Sustained Injuries