• Palestinian Center for Human Rights Three Palestinian civilians, including two children, killed by the Israeli occupation forces, and a fourth killed by settlers: More shelling of houses and continued leveling of agricultural land owned by many Palestinian families
• LAW Israeli settlers continue to attack Palestinian civilians
• The Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees Appeal Update: Schools Shelled in Tulkarem

Palestinian Center for Human Rights

Three Palestinian civilians, including two children, killed by the Israeli occupation forces, and a fourth killed by settlers: More shelling of houses and continued leveling of agricultural land owned by many Palestinian families

The Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian civilians this afternoon, killing a child from Gaza, a child from Al-Ama'ri refugee camp, and a young man from Rafah. Eyewitnesses stated that two of the martyrs were not participating in any protest activities. On Ramallah-Nablus road, Jewish settlers attacked a resident of Askar refugee camp, killing him immediately. In the past 24 hours, the Israeli occupation forces renewed the shelling of houses and civilian facilities in the occupied territories. They also swept a 155-donum area of agricultural land in Khan Yunis.

1. Shooting at Palestinian Civilians

This afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators in Khan Yunis, killing Rae'd Fahmi Shaqfeh, 23 years old, from Rafah, with a live bullet in the side that settled in the back. PCHR's field officer in Khan Yunis reported that, at about 15:00 local time, Shaqfeh was on his way home. After he passed by Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area which is under the security control of the Israeli occupation forces, the Israeli occupation forces at the roadblock shot him from distance of about 70 meters, using a gun provided with a silencer. Clashes broke out near Al-Tuffah roadblock between Khan Yunis city and Al-Mawasi (agricultural) area which is under the security control of the Israeli occupation forces, after the funeral procession of three martyrs from the city, two of whom were killed yesterday and the third of whom died from a previous injury incurred on November 11, 2000. PCHR's field officer reported that 16 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded with live ammunition and another one was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet, when the Israeli occupation shot at them. He added that dozens of Palestinian civilians, including some children and women in nearby houses, suffered from suffocation and fainting due to inhaling tear gas used by the Israeli occupation forces. Among the wounded are:

• Hassouna Walid Barbakh, 10 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the right side of the chest;
• Rae'd Khali Al-Regeb, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the chest;
• Yousef Majdi Barbakh, 9 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
• Jamal Sha'ath, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the head.
• Fayez Shehdeh Al-Najjar, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh, cutting an artery there; and
• Mohammed Fathi A'rram, 16 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen.

In the area near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, clashes broke out this afternoon between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces. These forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators from a distance of about 150 meters, killing the child Mohammed Khater Al-E'jleh, 13 years old, from Al-Shojae'ya neighborhood in Gaza, with a live bullet in the head. In addition, nine Palestinian civilians were wounded with live ammunition. Among the wounded are:

• Hammam Edrees Maqat, 15 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
• Mou'men Sae'id Baker, 16 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the testes; and
• Alla' Saleh El-Wadia, 18 years old, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen.

In the West Bank, clashes broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and the Israeli occupation forces at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. The Israeli occupation forces shot at Palestinian demonstrators, killing the child Saber Khamis Ebrashi, 15 years old, from Al-Ama'ri refugee camp, with a live bullet in the heart. Eyewitnesses stated that the child did not participate in the clashes.

2. Attacks by Jewish Settlers against Palestinian civilians

Jewish settlers have continued to attack and threaten the lives and safety of Palestinian civilians. In the latest escalation of this, Jewish settlers attacked Mustafa Mahmoud Mousa Oleyan, 54 years old, from Askar refugee camp near Nablus, with stones, while he was traveling by his car from Ramallah to Nablus. He was hit and killed by a huge stone in his chest that was thrown from a short distance.

3. Shelling of, and Shooting at Houses

Yesterday evening and this morning, the Israeli occupation forces shelled residential neighborhoods in Deir El-Balah more than 600 meters away from Kfar Darom settlement to the east of the town. Eyewitnesses, residents of the area, said that that the Israeli occupation forces fired shells and heavy and medium bullets starting from 23:00 local time until 1:00 this morning. As a result, three Palestinian civilians were wounded with splinters of live ammunition and shells. They are:

• Mohammed Daoud El-A'beet, 27 years old, wounded with splinters in the left leg while he was passing by;
• Reem Yousef Al-Namrouti, 18 years old, wounded with splinters of shells in the left arm while she was at home; and
• the child Ahmed Yousef Al-Namrouti, slightly wounded under the left eye by splinters of a shell, that hit his family's house.

Additionally, eight houses were damaged as follows:

1. The house of Ahmed Abdel-Aziz Boulan, 38 years old. In his testimony to PCHR, Boulan said: "At about 23:00 (local time), and while I was in my house, which is about 600 meters away to the north of Kfar Darom settlement, I heard sounds of shooting and explosions very close to my house. I, with my 11-member family, escaped to my brother's house, which is 300 meters away to the west. Shooting from the settlement lasted for about an hour. Then, I went back to my house, finding that it was hit with shells and bullets. Two shells penetrated a wall of the house, making two holes 30 centimeters in diameter. Interior windows and walls were also hit by bullets." He added that furniture in the house was severely damaged, and that members of the Palestinian National Security Forces who came to the house discovered that the remnants of the shells proved that these were 400-millimeter shells.
2. The house of Abdel-Hamid El-Naqla, 70 years old. The house was hit with five shells. In his testimony to PCHR, El-Naqla said: "While my wife and I were on the first floor of the house, and my daughter-in-law and her two children on the second floor, I heard sounds of shooting and explosions at about 23:00 local time yesterday, coming from the side of the settlement. We all escaped and sheltered behind trees in the northern part of the house, away from the source of shooting. Shooting lasted for an hour. Shooting and shelling renewed again and lasted until 1:00 on Tuesday. Then, we came back home, finding that one shell hit the kitchen on the first floor, breaking its external window and hitting the refrigerator; a second shell hit the kitchen of the second floor, breaking its door, windows and some of its cooking utensils; and a third one hit the stairs and entrance."
3. The house of Yousef and Zakeya Mousa Al-Namrouti. In her testimony to PCHR, Zakeya Mousa Al-Namrouti, 43 years old, said: "At about 23:00 (local time) on Monday, my husband (Yousef), my seven children and I were on the second floor of our house, which is 700 meters away to the north of Kfar Darom settlement. Suddenly, we heard sounds of shooting and explosions. We immediately escaped to the ground floor for shelter. We stayed there until 1:00 (local time) on Tuesday, November 14, 2000. In the meanwhile, a shell penetrated a wall of the ground floor, where we were sheltered. We were very afraid. My son Ahmed, four years old, was slightly wounded under the left eye, and my daughter Reem, 18 years old, was slightly wounded in the left arm with splinters. Then, we left home and went to a neighboring house about 250 meters away to the west."
4. The house of Mohammed Rajab Al-Khreibi, 65 years old. His two-story house was hit with three shells that penetrated the ceiling of its stairs and destroyed a television reception network on its roof.
5. The house of Hassan E'id Al-Enjili, 62 years old. The house was hit with a shell that penetrated its roof.
6. The house of Salman Ali Abu Sabra, 52 years old. The house with hit with a shell and heavy bullets, destroying a television reception network, water reservoirs and an electricity counter.
7. The house of Ahmed Abdel-Karim Mousa, 50 years old. It was hit with two shells in the wall on the roof.
8. The house of Mohammed El-Sayed Hammad, 24 years old. It was hit with heavy bullets that penetrated a television reception network on the roof. Bullets also penetrated the back glass of his car in front of the house.

Sweeping of Agricultural Land

Yesterday, at about 20:30 local time, a large number of Israeli occupation troops swept vast areas of agricultural land measuring 150-300 meters wide on the sides of the road branching from Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), leading to Kissufim Crossing on the Green Line. They also demolished houses, destroyed irrigation networks and killed livestock cattle after destroying barracks. The sweeping, which lasted until 5:00 local time this morning, included:

• A 20-donum area of agricultural land planted with oranges, olives and palms, owned by Khalaf Hamdan Abu Hajjaj. In addition a four-room house was demolished, nine sheep were killed and an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with oranges, olives and palms, owned by Salman Salem Abu Hajjaj. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Hammad Hamdan Abu Hajjaj. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A four-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Abdel-Hadi Hamdan Abu Hajjaj.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Sami Sae'id Abu Hajjaj.
• A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Salama Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Salama Salama Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Salman Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Salman Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 1.5-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Jehad Salman Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, figs and vegetables, owned by A'ayesh Ghanem Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network, a motor and a water pump were destroyed.
• A five-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, almonds and vegetables, owned by Ayman Sweilem Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, figs and grapes, owned by Jarir Sweilem Abu Haddaf. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Sweilem Abu Haddaf.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, pomegranates and figs, owned by Hani Salman Abu Haddaf.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Salem Sweilem Abu Haddaf.
• A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and citrus, owned by A'yyash A'ayesh Abu Haddaf.
• A 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and grapes, owned by Mohammed Abdel-Qader Al-Baz. In addition, two rooms and a toilet were demolished.
• A 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Kamel Salem Abu Haddaf.
• A one-donum area of agricultural land owned by Mohammed Salem Abu Haddaf.
• A 500-square-meter area of agricultural land planted with olives and fruits, owned by Ibrahim Ba'lousheh. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed.
• A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives and guavas, owned by Abdel-Hadi Mohammed Abu Haddaf.
• An 18-donum area of agricultural land planted with palms and citrus, owned by Mohammed Salem Abu Haddaf and others.
• A 12-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Mohammed Abed Rabbo Abu Haddaf.
• A four-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Joma'a Al-Smeiri. In addition, an irrigation network was destroyed, and a 300-square-meter poultry farm was demolished.
• A three-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ibrahim Joma'a Al-Smeiri. An irrigation network and a water motor were destroyed.
• A two-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Majed Mohammed Al-Smeiri.
• A 10-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Joma'a Al-Smeiri.
• An eight-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, owned by Ahmed Ahmed Al-Smeiri.
• A 150-square-meter house owned by Salman Mohammed Al-Smeiri.
• A 120-square-meter house owned by Ossama A'ayesh Abu Haddaf.
• An area of seven donums in total of agricultural land planted with more than 300 olive trees, owned by farmers of Al-Smeiri family.

5. Continued Reinforcements and Blocking of Roads

The Israeli occupation forces continued to reinforce their presence throughout the occupied Palestinian territories. In the Gaza Strip, tanks and armored vehicles of the Israeli occupation forces have been stationed on Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), near the roads leading to Gush Qatif settlement block and the settlements of Kfar Darom and Morag, and on the road leading to Kissufim Crossing in the east. This morning, the Israeli occupation forces closed Salah El-Din Street near Kfar Darom settlement, preventing the movement of Palestinian citizens and transportation in both directions. The road is still closed. The Israeli occupation forces have continued their actions of collective punishment by continuing to impose a total siege on the occupied Palestinian territories, and by closing Gaza International Airport and Rafah Border Crossing.

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.

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LAW

Israeli settlers continue to attack Palestinian civilians

Today, the 14 November 2000, Mustapha Ayl'an (54), was hit and killed by a stone thrown allegedly by Israeli settlers. Ayl'an was driving his private car from Ramallah to Nablus when he was fatally struck by a stone. Two year old La'th Hosam Shukri was also attacked, allegedly by settlers, while standing with his mother in the vicinity of Hawara village in the West Bank. Shukri was badly injured in his left leg and was taken to Rafidieh hospital in Nablus.

Moreover, a curfew was imposed by the Israeli security forces on the village of East Baka in the Tulkarem region, after clashes erupted between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian youths.

The establishment and maintainance of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories strikes at the very core of the protective provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Settlements are prohibited pursuant to article 49 which states the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. Thus, Israel should be held accountable for attacks against Palestinian civilians by settlers because settlements have been built willingly and illegally by the government of Israel, in blatant disregard to the security and rights of the Palestinian civilian population. Indeed, by establishing and maintaining Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories, Israel has increased the risk of Palestinians having their fundamental rights violated, such as the right to protection against all acts of violence, as stipulated in Article 27 of the convention.

The imposition of curfew as a form of collective punishment is outlawed in Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. This implies that no person should be held responsible for acts that he or she did not commit. This general principle prohibiting all forms of collective punishment has been consistently violated by the Israeli security forces.

LAW demands the immediate implementation of all the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law (the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations).

LAW demands that Israel implement United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338 and General Assembly resolution 194.

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The Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees

Appeal Update
Schools Shelled in Tulkarem

Today the Israeli government imposed another closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Once again, Palestinian cities and towns are surrounded by tanks and Israeli military personnel and travel between towns is nearly impossible. The IDF is also threatening to institute a policy in which citizens would be required to apply for permits to travel from one Palestinian city to another, further imprisoning the captive population.

In the past week, Israeli Forces shelled one college and four schools in Tulkarem. In one school, the top floor was significantly damaged and there were holes approximately 1-2 meters in diameter in the walls from the missiles.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Education, 40 schools throughout the West Bank and Gaza have been closed, leaving 20,000 children unable to attend classes. The schools were shut because of the Israel army's closure on Palestinian areas; students were simply not able to reach their schools. In Hebron, the Israeli army has occupied 4 schools for more than 35 days, using them as temporary military bases.

These attacks constitute a grave violation of Palestinian children's educational rights. The attacks also disrupt the educational process by psychologically terrorizing the students.

Photos of the shelled schools in Tulkarem can be viewed on the UPMRC website http://www.upmrc.org.

The UPMRC is deeply concerned over the attacks on Palestinian schools. We call upon the international community to insist that Palestinian civilians receive international protection from a military that is waging war against an unarmed population.

To view all of the UPMRC's Emergency Appeals regarding the Israeli army's use of force against Palestinians over the past six weeks, visit the UPMRC website at http://www.upmrc.org. For further information please contact Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi at 050-254-218 or the UPMRC office at 02-583-3510/ 02-583-4021.