MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI, CHAIR OF THE NON- ALIGNED MOVEMENT, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, 29 NOVEMBER 2000
(Read out by Ambassador Kumalo at the United Nations in New York)
On behalf of the people of South Africa and the Non-Aligned Movement, I extend warm greetings to all Palestinians on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, whether in Palestine or in the Diaspora.
Allow me first of all to convey the Non-Aligned Movement's deepest sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of victims of the ongoing attacks of the Israeli security forces on Palestinians. We decry the excessive and disproportionate use of force by the Israeli army.
At this occasion last year, we were filled with hope for a future which appeared so promising because of the truly encouraging developments and the positive steps that had been taken to move the peace process forward. It is therefore with sadness that we have to commemorate this important day this year amid violent conflict, a situation far removed from our visions of last year.
As Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, I wish to reiterate our common conviction that just and lasting peace can only be achieved through peaceful negotiations. We believe that the first priority on the road towards that aim should be the cessation of violence. This can be achieved through concrete steps. Firstly, it is of the highest importance that Israeli troops should be withdrawn at least to the positions that they occupied before 28 September, the day of Mr Ariel Sharon's fateful and provocative visit to the Haram al-Sharif.
Furthermore, the illegal measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian people, such as the total blockade of the Palestinian territories and the economic embargo placed on Palestine, should be ended forthwith. We note that, following the 2 November understanding reached between President Arafat and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, President Arafat has made several calls for calm while Prime Minister Barak did not give effect to that agreement, because of the explosion in West Jerusalem the next day. Only when these conditions have been met, can it realistically be expected that President Arafat's calls for calm will be heeded.
The international community can make a meaningful contribution to the restoration of calm and the rebuilding of the trust that has been shattered in the past two months. I want to take this opportunity to renew our call for the immediate stationing, in the occupied Palestinian territories, of an international observer force under the auspices of the United Nations. As Israel has no legitimate jurisdiction in the occupied Palestinian territories, the South African Government does not understand why Israel should be allowed to exercise a veto over the deployment of such a force.
It is of the greatest importance and urgency that good faith negotiations between Palestine and Israel should resume, once calm has returned to the region. It has become clear that the Oslo Process, which has carried on for more than seven years prior to the recent outbreak of violence, has had major flaws. These relate directly to the manner in which Palestinians on the street experience the results of the peace process. Although the Oslo Process has brought a visible improvement in inter alia Palestinian infrastructure, by and large it has brought a much more intrusive Israeli security presence into ordinary Palestinian lives by the need to cross interminable checkpoints that have sprung up around every Palestinian urban centre. This could be offset in the past when there was progress in the negotiations and the implementation of agreements. However, this has all dried up and there is no tangible evidence for anyone in the Palestinian streets of a peace dividend any longer. Now there is just the daily humiliation of enduring Israeli roadblocks and the interminable arrogance and provocation of Israeli settlers in Palestine.
It therefore seems improbable that the Oslo Process can simply be resumed without considerable amendment. The South African Government believes that the United Nations, as the organisation entrusted with the safeguarding and promotion of world peace, should play a central role in future negotiations, whatever the context or formula for a resumed peace process. Major players such as the European states, various Middle Eastern states, and others can also make a meaningful contribution to building peace and should be allowed to play a role.
To a considerable degree, future negotiations should be about the modalities for the implementation of the existing international consensus enshrined in UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 which call for Israeli withdrawal from the Arab territories occupied since the 1967 war. The Security Council has also recognised the principle of the self- determination of the Palestinian people and has, conversely, provided for Arab recognition of the right of Israel to exist within secure borders. "Land for peace" is the only viable option.
To all our Palestinian brothers and sisters, I wish to reiterate that their struggle is for a legitimate cause. In September this year the Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirmed the Movement's traditional and long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people and its support for the implementation of all UN resolutions on the question of Palestine, in their declaration in the context of the Millennium Assembly.
Allow me, therefore, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement and particularly on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, to reiterate our commitment to invigorate our support for and solidarity with your legitimate struggle for freedom and equality as a sovereign member of the family of nations. In effect, it is an affront to all humanity that, while we are dealing with the challenges of and aspirations for the new millennium, our Palestinian brothers and sisters are still hankering for their basic human rights and, as a nation, for the realisation of their right to self- determination. It is inexcusable that, more than fifty years after the United Nations affirmed the right of Palestinians to sovereign statehood and more than thirty years after the United Nations Security Council, in a binding decision, called on Israel to withdraw from all the Arab territories that it had occupied in the war of June 1967, the suffering and humiliation of foreign military occupation still continue.
I thank you. return to top
BADIL BULLETIN, No. 3: "REVISITING the PARTITION PLAN (UNGA 181) - Lessons Learned or Mistakes Repeated? The United Nations and Palestine"
On the 22nd anniversary of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and more than five decades after the United Nations first addressed the issue of Palestinian rights, it is appropriate to revisit the discussions, debates, and proposals of 1947 and 1948 that led to the adoption of UNGA Resolution 181 (II), the partition of Palestine, and provided the legal basis for the establishment of Israel. An examination of the lessons to be learned from the UN's first attempt to deal with the so-called question of Palestine is particularly relevant at the current time with renewed, albeit limited, involvement of the United Nations after the collapse of the Madrid/Oslo process and Israel's brutal repression of legitimate Palestinian resistance to the occupation, a policy which has cost the lives of nearly 300 Palestinians, more than 10,000 injuries, and massive destruction of Palestinian private and public property in less than three months.
DID YOU KNOW THAT the UN General Assembly rejected repeated proposals by Arab states in 1947 to obtain an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) about whether the United Nations was authorized to partition a country on the grounds that raising matters of principle would not assist in the process of bringing the parties together to reach a solution? DID YOU KNOW THAT the partition of Palestine was approved by the UN General Assembly on 29 November 1947 regardless of the question of whether or not the General Assembly had the legal authority to recommend and enforce the partition of Palestine? DID YOU KNOW THAT by 1948 the United States had doubts about the legality and feasibility of the UN Partition Plan and proposed a Temporary Trusteeship in Palestine under Chapter XII of the UN Charter?
There are at least two primary lessons to be drawn from the UN experience of dealing with Palestine in 1947 and 1948 that remain relevant today. First, a peaceful solution and just resolution of the historical Israeli-Palestinian/Arab conflict must be consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Secondly, the international community must be fully engaged in the implementation of a just and durable solution, including the deployment of international forces to monitor and facilitate the period of transition and implementation in order to ensure respect for international law. Unfortunately, the response of the international community to date is one that still falls largely in the category of mistakes repeated rather than lessons learned. Issues of international legality continue to be set aside based on claims that the latter might obstruct bilateral, Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and powerful member states of the United Nations, especially the United States and Europe, and the UN Secretary General himself, have so far refused to deploy UN forces in the Israeli occupied Palestinian territories. The question remains as to how much more education and awareness- raising is required, let alone the loss of human life, before the international community will act to implement the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people, as recognized in more than fifty years of UN resolutions and statements.
BADIL Bulletin No. 3 is available via email upon order. It also published on our website: www.badil.org Two earlier Bulletins on international protection can be accessed via our website at: www.badil.org/Intifada2000/Intifada2000.html
The issue of UN Resolution 181 will be examined in greater detail in the forthcoming December 2000 issue of BADIL's quarterly al-Majdal. return to top
Israeli occupation forces open fire on a secondary school in Hebron: One student killed and another 10 wounded; Israeli settler uses his car to kill a Palestinian child; A Palestinian child in Gaza dies from a previous wound; Palestinian civilians resist land sweeping: Israeli occupation forces fire on them
With the Palestinian Intifada entering its third month, the Israeli occupation forces escalated their aggression against Palestinian civilians. This morning, these forces shot at students of Taqqou’ secondary school in Hebron, killing one student with a live bullet in the heart, and wounding another 10, two of whom were seriously wounded. Near Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing, to the east of Gaza City, two children were wounded with live bullets in the head. This morning, in the village of Housan in Bethlehem, a settler intentionally killed a child by hitting him with his car. Yesterday evening, a child from Gaza died from a previous wound caused by a live bullet in the head on November 26, 2000. In the meantime, the Israeli occupation forces have continued to sweep agricultural land and to demolish civilian facilities throughout the Gaza Strip.
1. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians
This morning, at about 11:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Taqqou’ secondary school in the village of Taqqou’ in Hebron. As a result, the student Walid Mohammed Ahmed Hassan El-Badan, 17 years old, was killed with a live bullet in the heart. Additionally, another 10 students were wounded with live bullets, two of whom were seriously wounded. They are: 1) Ibrahim Nawawra, 17 years, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen; and 2) Fathi Azziz El-Badan, 17 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen and another one in the left arm. PCHR learned that clashes between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces broke out near the school. The Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately, killing El-Badan and wounding his colleagues, when they were near the school. In addition, a number of students suffered from fainting and suffocation due to inhaling tear gas used intensively by the Israeli occupation forces.
This morning, clashes broke out between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. The Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators, wounding two with live bullets in the head. The two were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City in serious to critical condition. They are: 1) Medhat Mohammed Subhi Jadallah, 17 years old, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, critically wounded with a live bullet in the forehead; and 2) Bassel Arafat Oleyan, 13 years old, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head.
Yesterday evening, medical sources at Shifa’ hospital stated that the child Mohammed Mohammed El-Mashharawi, 14 years old, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, died from a previous wound with a live bullet in the head incurred when the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet on November 26, 2000. He was put in the intensive care unit of Shifa’ hospital until he died.
Yesterday evening, at about 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians in Al-Qarara when these civilians tried to head off the sweeping of their agricultural land and houses by these forces (see the section on sweeping below). As a result, three Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets and evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza. They are: 1) Mohammed Ahmed El-Eddini, 23 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the head that penetrated the lower jaw. He was put in the intensive care unit of the hospital; 2) Khaled Abdel-Karim Abu E’id, 27 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the neck; and 3) Mohammed Salem Abdel-Karim Abu E’id, 25 years old, slightly wounded with a live bullet in the head.
In his testimony to PCHR, Mohammed Abu E’id stated that the Israeli occupation forces shot from guns equipped with silencers, wounding him and another two civilians in the area. He added that the Israeli occupation forces prevented the entry of ambulances into the area to evacuate them, so residents of the area were forced to carry them for a distance of 400 meters to reach an ambulance.
Yesterday evening, at about 19:00, Israeli occupation troops, positioned in a military post in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement, to the north of Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian civilians, wounding A’adel Talab Joudeh, 50 years old, with a live bullet in the foot. Joudeh was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. He was on his way home after praying in a nearby mosque when he was shot at from a distance of about 300 meters. This incident is the second of its kind in this area in less than 24 hours. In the first incident, two Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets in the thigh, on the evening of Tuesday, November 28, 2000, in similar conditions and when there were no clashes in the area.
Also yesterday in Khan Yunis, at about 19:00 local time, Israeli occupation troops fired sound bombs on the refugee camp of Khan Yunis from their position at Al-Tuffah roadblock, which separates Khan Yunis city from its Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area (which is under the control of the Israeli occupation forces). One of the bombs fell on the house of Muhsen Rajab El-Batsch, 300 meters away from the military post of the Israeli occupation forces, causing severe damage to the asbestos roof of the house. Debris from the weapon wounded his two daughters while they were in the house. They are: 1) Sara’ Muhsen El-Batsch, 11 years old, wounded in the head; and 2) Einas Muhsen El-Batsch, 16 years old, wounded in the shoulder. The two were evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that sound bombs are used to terrify Palestinian civilians when there are no clashes in an area. Residents of the area assert that military posts of the Israeli occupation forces are permanent sources of threat to their lives and safety.
Yesterday afternoon, at about 15:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians while they were passing through one of the roadblocks of these forces on a road which Palestinian civilians resort to as an alternative to Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), which the Israeli occupation forces have continued to completely close. The alternative road branches from Salah El-Din Street to the east and then to the south in the vicinity of the eastern border of Kfar Darom settlement, before it goes to the west to Salah El-Din Street. The shooting wounded two Palestinian civilians with live bullets. They are: 1) Bassam Mohammed Sae’id, 15 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the thigh; and 2) Aae’d Mohammed Brei’m, wounded with a live bullet in the thigh. A settler intentionally hits a Palestinian child with his car In Bethlehem, this morning, the child Shadi Ahmed Zaou’l, 14 years old, from the village of Housan, was killed when a Jewish settler willfully hit him with his car. PCHR learned that the child Zaou’l was alongside Route 60 when a white GMC car driven by a Jewish settler suddenly deviated from its direction and hit him. The settler escaped, and the child died on the way to hospital.
2. Continued Sweeping of Agricultural Land
This morning, at about 4:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces swept more areas of agricultural land on both sides of the road leading from Al-Shuhada junction on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip) to Netzarim settlement in the west (south of Gaza City). PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping included: 1) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Shukri El-Saqqa. 2) A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by Mahmoud Sha’ban El-Helou. 3) A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with citrus, owned by Abu Ibrahim El-Ashram. In the north of Beit Lahia, PCHR’s field officer reported that this morning, the Israeli occupation forces completed the sweeping, which started three days ago, of agricultural land to the northwest of Dogit settlement. They swept 30 donums of agricultural land planted with citrus and olives, owned by Zuhdi Abu A’msheh.
Yesterday, at about 21:00, Israeli occupation troops reinforced with tanks and bulldozers started to sweep areas of agricultural land and to demolish houses to the southeast of Kfar Darom settlement, near the road branch of Salah El-Din Street and Kissufim Crossing (700 meters from Salah El-Din Street). PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping included: 1) A 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, owned by Mustafa Abu Gharaba. 2) A 25-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and almonds, owned by Salem Salameh Abu Gharaba. 3) A six-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and palms, owned by A’tteya Mohammed Suleiman Abu Zhaher. In addition, a store of agricultural equipment and a bird farm were demolished. Birds were killed 4) A one-donum area of agricultural land along with a greenhouse planted with vegetables, owned by Suleiman Atweh Abu E’id.
This morning, at about 3:00, the Israeli occupation forces swept areas of agricultural land on both sides of the road between Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction and Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the sweeping lasted for four hours and included: 1) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Hassan Shuheiber. 2) A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Najib Shuheiber. 3) A 20-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Oudeh El-Ghefari. In addition, a well was destroyed. 4) A four-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Abed Murjan Abu Asser. 5) A four-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Marwan El-Thalathini. 6) A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Wasfi Doghmosh. 7) A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Wajih El-Thalathini. 8) A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ziad Barakat. 9) A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ziad Hajji. 10) A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Hamdi Hajji. 11) A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and vegetables, owned by Fawwaz Hajji. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed. 12) A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Fahmi Siam. 13) A 2.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Abu Dayyeh. 14) A one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mesbah Hajji. 15) A one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by El-Abed Karim. 16) A four-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ezzat Hajji. 17) A one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Khaled Quzaat. 18) A one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Eissa Quzaat. 19) A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Abu Akram El-Serhi. 20) A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Jamal El-Serhi. 21) A one-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by a member of the Abu Serreyeh family.
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
Americans Demonstrate in Jerusalem
Contact: Heidi 972(0)52-290-173 For Immediate Release
(Jerusalem) On Wednesday, November 29, 2000, the internationally recognized day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Americans for Justice in Palestine held a successful demonstration in front of the U.S. Consulate in West Jerusalem. The peaceful, lawful protest was intended to protest our government's continued support of Israeli occupation.
A small but vocal group of American citizens living and working in the Palestinian Occupied Territories gathered at the Agron St. Consulate from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM. The demonstration did not take place in East Jerusalem, as originally planned, as the Israeli police forbade that location, in spite of the groups expressed fears of violent responses from Israelis on the West Side. The group held signs in protest of U.S policies toward Israel, in particular challenging the 6 billion dollars per annum in military aid. Additional banners called for peace and justice, human rights and recognition of the inherent right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation. The group also chanted slogans calling for an end to the occupation, asking the U.S. to stand for justice, for the removal of Israeli settlers and to implement UN resolutions. The protest drew scores of angry looks and gestures from passing motorists and a few Israeli by passers stopped to pepper the group with a variety of epithets.
The group's coordinators had requested a meeting with the U.S. Consul General in advance of the protest, and a meeting with Vice Consul Gerald Feierstein was granted. The representatives of the group were warmly greeted and the meeting, which lasted for approximately 45 minutes, was cordial and productive. The representatives reiterated the groups objectives and presented the Vice Consul with a list of demands for the U.S. Government, a letter to President Clinton condemning the violence, and a letter from a 16 year-old Palestinian American in Tulkarem asking his government to intervene to protect him from Israeli bombardment of his home and school. The last letter was presented on behalf of all Palestinian Americans who would like to have their voices heard but are barred from leaving the West Bank and Gaza Strip due to Israel's "security" measures.
During the bulk of the meeting, the Vice Consul expressed his belief that U.S. policy was slowly changing and the U.S. decision-makers were finally becoming more and more aware of the Palestinian position. The representatives agreed that noticeable changes were taking place, however, fell far short of what is necessary to uphold the democratic ideals of our nation: chiefly, freedom, equality, justice and liberty. The Vice Consul expressed empathy with our concerns and encouraged the group to continue its campaign and to carry our message to our elected representatives in the Congress whenever possible. He also encouraged the group to contact the representatives of the local media.
Lastly, the question of the protection of American citizens, particularly, 16 year old American citizen Wael Hirbawi, imprisoned by Israel without trial for more than 2 months, was raised with the Vice Consul. Mr. Feierstein commented that he was aware of the particular case and that it had been recently reported to Washington. He assured the representatives that Consulate officials had been routinely inquiring into his well-being and had visited Mr.Hirbawi. He, however, commented that the Israelis were very sensitive in this matter and less than cooperative with official U.S. concerns.
Americans for Justice in Palestine would like to thank those who participated in the demonstration, those who expressed support of our activities and the Vice Consul and staff at the U.S. Consulate for their warm and encouraging response to our initiatives. return to top
Allegations of torture in Israeli prisons
Israeli occupation soldiers and police are alleged to have been involved in torturing Rami Iz'oul, 18, from the village of Housan near Bethlehem, at the Kfar Atsyon interrogation centre. They are also believed to have tortured Arwad Thamanji, 20, from Jenin.
During a prison visit by LAW's lawyer Labib Habib, Iz'oul told him that Israeli soldiers had captured him in his family's house on 30 October 2000 and beat him severely. He was later transferred to Kfar Atsyon, where he was also beaten and had freezing water poured over his head during an interrigation. Iz'oul also stated that he was taken to Hadassa hospital for medical treatment. He stayed there one night before being taken back to interrogation. He said that he was forced to sign a document of confession under threat.
Thannji, who was arrested on May 19 2000, stated that he was severely beaten by Israeli soldiers and pulled along the ground until he lost consciousness. He was later transferred to Al Afoula hospital and then to Megiddo prison, where he is today. He complained of severe beating, assault and threate on several occasions, adding that he has not been receiving appropriate medical treatement and that the doctor refused to treat his wounds. The lawyer also met with detainees Ra'ouf Abu Gheih from Ezariyyeh and Jaser Sawafta from Toubas, who are being held for entering Israel without permit.
Despite the State's claims, and the fact that torture was officially made illegal on 6 September 1999, it is clear that torture is still used by Israel against innocent people to extract general information or to force the signing of false confessions prepared by the security services in advance. These are not associated with serious threats against the State or its citizens, but in any case the use of torture is questionable in the interests of security: the victim suffers from severe psychological distress and any information imparted cannot be relied upon. Despite this, throughout Israel's occupation these confessions have been used to convict Palestinians to lengthy prison terms, as the Israel military courts tend to accept these confessions as valid, even in the absence of other evidence. return to top
Day 62
Israeli forces opened fire at the Tekoa high school near Bethlehem today, killing Waleed el Badan 17 and wounding ten others. Two students, Mahir Nawadea, 17, shot in the abdomen, and Fat’hi el Baden, shot in the abdomen and the left arm are in critical condition. LAW is currently investigating the reason behind the shooting.
Sahdi Az’oul 14 was injured after being run over by a settler’s car on Route 60 near Bethlehem. Eyewitness told LAW that a settler driving a white GMC hit Az’oul as he was crossing the road near the Beitar settlement and then drove off. According to the witness the road was empty of traffic and the driver would have been able to see Az’oul crossing the road. Az’oul is the second Palestinian child in two months to be involved in a hit and run allegedly involving settlers.
In Gaza yesterday afternoon, Israeli military bulldozers leveled agricultural land belonging to Atiyi Abu Tha’hir, east of Kosafim settlement. In a separate incident, Israeli forces stationed at a military barricade between Rafah and Khan Younis, opened fire on three Palestinians. Mohammad Abu Eed, 26, was shot in the head and Abed el Arabi, 27, was shot in the mouth. Both are in critical condition. The third man, Khalid Abu Eed, 27,was shot in the neck.
Yesterday evening, Israeli forces positioned in the Geni Tal settlement fired at Palestinian homes in el Amal some 300 meters away from the settlement. Four people were wounded in the attack. Ameen Abu Muslim, 24, was shot in the leg, Basam Saeed, 15, was shot in both legs, A’id Bri’eem, 22, shot in the left leg, and Adil Juda, 50, was shot in the foot.
The Israeli forces stationed at the Tufah crossing, near Khan Younis, fired a rocket at the home of Muhsin el Batsh partially destroying the house and injuring his two daughters. Inas, 16 was hit by shrapnel in the shoulder, and Isra’a, 11, was hit in the head.
Israeli forces opened fire on the Hebron neighborhoods of Harit el Sheik, Harit Abu Snaini, Bab el Zawyi, el Harayik, and Dahiyit el Zaytun. Five homes and a shoe store were damaged.
Mohammad el Mash’harawi, 14, from Gaza, died from a head wound sustained during clashes on November 19, 2000 at el Mintar crossing in Gaza.