The Israeli occupation continue to reinforce their presence and to impose restrictions on movement: Israeli forces shell Khan Yunis and Hebron, wounding seven
Despite a significant decrease in clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces in the occupied Palestinian territories, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to perpetrate serious abuses against Palestinian civilians. Near Al-Mentar (Karni), to the east of Gaza, this morning, the Israeli occupation forces wounded a 15-year-old child seriously with a live bullet in the chest. Yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces shelled Khan Yunis and Hebron, wounding a number of Palestinian civilians. Palestinian residential neighborhoods, adjacent to military posts of the Israeli occupation forces, are continuously threatened. Shooting and shelling have come to be a part of their daily life. In the past 24 hours, no change has taken place in the strict siege on the occupied Palestinian territories imposed by the Israeli occupation forces. These forces have continued to reinforce their presence at the main junctions and at the entrances of cities, restricting the movement of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces have also continued to close the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip. As a result, the suffering of Palestinian civilians has increased and their living conditions deteriorated with the ongoing violation of their economic, social and cultural rights.
This morning, at about 8:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot at A’ssaf Suleiman Abu Hassan, 33 years old, from Wadi El-Salqa in the middle area of the Gaza Strip, wounding him with a live bullet in the left foot. Abu Hassan was with his children crossing the alternative road to Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), which has been closed near Kfar Darom settlement. When Abu Hassan and his children approached a roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces established on the alternative road, the Israeli occupation forces shot at him.
This morning, at about 9:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot at about 20 children near Al-Mentar (Karni), to the east of Gaza City. As a result, the child Alla’ A’adel Abu Hujeila, 15 years old, from Al-Shojae’ya, was wounded with a live bullet in the chest. The child was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in serious condition.
Yesterday evening, the Israeli occupation forces fired heavy and medium bullets and artillery shells at Palestinian civilians and their houses in the refugee camp of Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer reported that at about 22:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired heavy and medium bullets and six shells from their military posts in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement. A shell fell near a number of Palestinian civilians who were approximately 300 meters away from the posts of these forces. As a result, four Palestinian civilians were moderately to slightly wounded with shrapnel from the shell. They are: 1) Nedhal Mahmoud Abu Shammala, 30 years old, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body; 2) Jamal Mohammed Khalifa, 45 years old, wounded with shrapnel in the chest – he was transferred from Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City this morning; 3) Mohammed Darwish Meqdad, 28 years old, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body; 4) Ibrahim Abdel-Rahman El-Trshawi, 28 years old, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body.
Yesterday evening, at about 18:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets at Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Hebron. The shelling targeted the areas of Sinjar, Doberian, Al-Harayeq, Al-Zaytoon and Bab El-Zawia, and resulted in wounding: 1) Fayza Mustafa A’amer, 24 years old, with shrapnel in the head; 2) Mahmoud Mahel Fataftah, 17 years old, with a medium caliber bullet in the pelvis; and 3) the child Hani Mazen El-Joulani, 15 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the back. The shelling affected 12 houses, causing severe damage to walls, furniture and windows.
Along the road connecting Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to reinforce their presence. Twelve tanks of these forces have been positioned in the area since yesterday morning. These forces have continued to close the mentioned road, shooting at anyone attempting to cross. PCHR’s field officer reported that at midday, the Israeli occupation forces shot at a farmer, but he was not wounded. PCHR’s field officer added that the Israeli occupation forces have swept large areas of land in the past few days and that it is difficult to reach the area due to security dangers.
PCHR reiterates its call for the international community to immediately intervene to stop the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians. PCHR calls in particular for:
1. Establishing without delay an independent commission of inquiry, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1322 (2000), to carry out a thorough and comprehensive investigation into the abuses and killings perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians.
2. Convening a conference of the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention.
3. Immediately providing international protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories in the face of the killings and criminal acts perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces and groups of Jewish settlers who move under the protection of these forces.
4. Use by the EU of effective political and economic measures with reference to Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for the respect of human rights.
5. Providing humanitarian and medical assistance for the Palestinian people whose living conditions are increasingly deteriorating because of the continued total siege imposed by the Israeli occupation forces on the entire occupied Palestinian territories.
6. Use by the international community and relevant bodies, including ICRC, of necessary measures to ensure the access of medical supplies and equipment and other humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. The Israeli occupation forces have continued to deny entry of this material through Rafah Border Crossing (into the Gaza Strip). return to top
ISRAELI ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS ON THEIR WAY TO THE MOSQUE
Today, 3 December 2000, 26 Palestinians were injured at the entrance of the mosque in the West Bank village of Hussan near Bethlehem. Five of them were hit in the upper part of the body and seriously injured by live ammunition, namely Raid Muhammad Hamarari (24), Ismat Tareq Ali Hamarari (16), Sabri Shoshi (27), Bilal Fahri Hamarari (19) and Hassan Salih Ali Noufal (20). According to information collected by LAW, a man was hit when shots were fired from a white van at worshipers entering the Hussan mosque for 6 o’ clock prayers. Village residents believe that the attack was carried out by Israeli settlers. After the incident, confusion and unrest arouse. Israeli soldiers, who were standing near the mosque, reacted by throwing tear gas on the worshipers and opening fire on the crowd.
Ambulances and medical personnel attempting to evacuate the injured were hindered. This was confirmed by Peter Qumri, the director of Beit Jala hospital, who stated that ambulances were facing serious difficulties in reaching the wounded. The village of Hussan has been under closure and thus completely sealed off for a month. At the time of writing, clashes, which erupted after the incident, continue and power has been cut off in Hussan and the nearby village of Nahaleen.
In the village of Al Khader, also near Bethlehem, heavy machine gunfire by the Israeli army caused damage to 10 houses and to the main power station.
At 4 p.m., the Al Ram checkpoint near Dahyat al Barid, on the Jerusalem-Ramallah road, was closed and so were the side roads. Palestinians on their way to the Iftar (breaking the fast) were thus effectively prevented from reaching their homes. In some instances harassment of Palestinians walking through the checkpoint was reported; 2 men were detained at Al Ram checkpoint.
At 6 p.m. the Israeli army launched missiles on Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip. As a result of the attack, 4 Palestinians were reported injured by shrapnel, namely Nidal Mahmoud Abu Shamal (30); Jamal Muhammad Khalifa (40); Muhammad Darwish Miqdad (25) Ibrahim Abed al Rahman al Darshawi (28).
Yesterday evening, 2 December 2000, the Israeli army used tank-missiles and heavy machine guns in Hebron. A Palestinian woman and 3 men were reported injured: Feisa Mustafa Amro (27) was injured by shrapnel in the head; Mahmoud Mahil Fatalfta (17) was hit by a bullet and 15-year-old Hani Mazen al Julani was seriously injured by a bullet in the back. During the attack on the Hebron neighbourhoods of Dwerban, Sanjar and Dahyat al Zeitun 12 houses were damaged.
LAW is deeply concerned about the attack on peaceful Palestinian worshipers attending the mosque who according to international humanitarian law a high level of protection.
LAW condemns the excessive use of force by the Israeli security forces and the policy of closure as a form of collective punishment.
LAW condemns the destruction of Palestinian property by the Israeli occupying forces. The destruction of property of the occupied civilian population, which is not of military necessity, is a violation of international humanitarian law.
LAW calls on the international community to pressure Israel to respect the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention and to implement UN resolutions 242, 338 and 194.