5 may 2001
In the morning, ‘Obeid Selmi Abu ‘Oreiban, 56, from Nusseirat refugee camp, a first lieutenant of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was pronounced dead at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Abu ‘Oreiban was wounded on April 28, 2001 with artillery shell shrapnel in the chest when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a Palestinian National Security Forces site at the border in Al-Maghazi refugee camp. He was then evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir El-Balah. Because he was in critical condition, he was transferred on May 4, 2001 to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City until he was pronounced dead.
At approximately 2:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses at Al-Sekka Street in the west of Beit Hanoun. Palestinian civilians living in the area were terrified and two houses were damaged as follows:
1) Walls and doors of a 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Jamal Mahmoud El-Kfarneh, were holed and windows broke. El-Kafarneh’s Mitsubishi car was also severely damaged.
2) Walls of a 150-square-meter, one-story house, in which 6 people live, owned by Jaber ‘Abdel-Majid Abu ‘Oudeh, were pot-marked and windows broke.
At approximately 11:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on Qarntal Mount in the west of Jericho, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at a building of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, approximately 1,500m away. The building, comprised of 10 caravans, was completely destroyed, and a number of nearby buildings and civilian cars were damaged.
Furthermore, more than 10 members of the GIS were wounded, two of whom were in serious condition. The two are:
1) Khalil Jom’a Saleh Ibrahim, 36, from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the neck; and
2) Ayman ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Abu Sombul, 31, also from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen and the hands.
On Saturday, May 5, 2001, at approximately 11:30, Jom’a Ayoub Salim Shubeir, 42, from Khan Yunis, received a break in the right leg after a jeep of the Israeli occupation forces deliberately ran over him.
In his testimony to PCHR, Shubeir said that he was riding a cart pulled by a horse on his way from Khan Yunis to Rafah, when the jeep ran into him, 100m to the north of Morag settlement. Israeli soldiers did not care about him and did not offer him help. One of his relatives, who was accompanying him, took him in a passing Palestinian civilian car to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
In the morning, ‘Obeid Selmi Abu ‘Oreiban, 56, from Nusseirat refugee camp, a first lieutenant of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was pronounced dead at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Abu ‘Oreiban was wounded on April 28, 2001 with artillery shell shrapnel in the chest when the Israeli occupation forces shelled a Palestinian National Security Forces site at the border in Al-Maghazi refugee camp. He was then evacuated to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir El-Balah. Because he was in critical condition, he was transferred on May 4, 2001 to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City until he was pronounced dead.
At approximately 2:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses at Al-Sekka Street in the west of Beit Hanoun. Palestinian civilians living in the area were terrified and two houses were damaged as follows:
1) Walls and doors of a 140-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Jamal Mahmoud El-Kfarneh, were holed and windows broke. El-Kafarneh’s Mitsubishi car was also severely damaged.
2) Walls of a 150-square-meter, one-story house, in which 6 people live, owned by Jaber ‘Abdel-Majid Abu ‘Oudeh, were pot-marked and windows broke.
At approximately 11:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on Qarntal Mount in the west of Jericho, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at a building of the Palestinian General Intelligence Service, approximately 1,500m away. The building, comprised of 10 caravans, was completely destroyed, and a number of nearby buildings and civilian cars were damaged.
Furthermore, more than 10 members of the GIS were wounded, two of whom were in serious condition. The two are:
1) Khalil Jom’a Saleh Ibrahim, 36, from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the neck; and
2) Ayman ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Abu Sombul, 31, also from Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen and the hands.
On Saturday, May 5, 2001, at approximately 11:30, Jom’a Ayoub Salim Shubeir, 42, from Khan Yunis, received a break in the right leg after a jeep of the Israeli occupation forces deliberately ran over him.
In his testimony to PCHR, Shubeir said that he was riding a cart pulled by a horse on his way from Khan Yunis to Rafah, when the jeep ran into him, 100m to the north of Morag settlement. Israeli soldiers did not care about him and did not offer him help. One of his relatives, who was accompanying him, took him in a passing Palestinian civilian car to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
4 may 2001
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian children and young men who were demonstrating more than 100m away.
As a result, seven were wounded with live bullets, one of whom, Hashem Dadar El-Mamlouk, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was critically wounded with a live bullet in the head and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday, May 8, 2001. The other wounded were:
1) Mohammed Sa’d Radhi, 14, from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
2) Nidal Sa’id El-Bishawi, 12, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the face;
3) Yousef Ahmed El-Zahhar, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
4) Mohammed Jamal Kaskin, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
5) Khamis Dhib Banat, 15, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the pelvis; and
6) Khaled Ibrahim Tulba, 16, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 15:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli occupation forces, positioned at demarcation lines in Hebron.
Israeli occupation soldiers fired at demonstrators, wounding a 14-year-old, Hazem Barakat El-Hashlamoun, with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the left thigh.
At approximately 13:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, fired a number of artillery shells at sites of the Palestinian Border Forces to the east of Al-Shuhada’ (Martyrs) Cemetery in Gaza City. As a result of the shelling, which lasted for approximately 20 minutes, Site 22 of the Palestinian Border Forces was completely destroyed.
At approximately 14:20 local time, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces fired a shell at four Palestinian young men who were going on a picnic near Ibrahim Haddad tourist resort in the east of Jenin. The four young men were wounded with artillery shell shrapnell. PCHR learned that the four young men, who are from villages of Jenin, were on a picnic near a bypass road, approximately 500m away from Deir Abu Dha’if village opposite to Qadim and Ghanim settlements, when an Israeli tank left Qadim settlement and fired an artillery shell at them from a distance of approximately 300m, when there were no clashes in the area. The four were wounded as follows:
1) Nasser Khaled Jarra, 30, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body and his left forearm and right leg were cut;
2) Ra’ed Amin Dhabaya, 20, seriously wounded with shrapnel in the face and was evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus;
3) Yahia Mohammed El-Zobeidi, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the face and was evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus; and
4) Shadi Ghazi Mahajna, 21, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body and was evacuated to Al-Razi hospital in Jenin.
At approximately 14:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of City Inn hotel at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, and in Beit Eil military site north of the city, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities (Ministry of Local Government and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) in Al-Balou’ area. The indiscriminate shelling caused severe damage to buildings, the public service system and an under-construction building.
The shelling, which lasted for several hours, also targeted a Palestinian ambulance in the area, and a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. Five demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Hussam Mahmoud Nemer, 17, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the hands;
2) Hisham Maohammed Ismail, 18, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the hands;
3) Monther Rajab, 31, from Al-Bireh, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
4) Tariq Moaffaq Abu Shaqra, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the extremities; and
5) Anas Fayez, 13, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the mouth.
Furthermore, an ambulance of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees was hit with a live bullet. Its driver miraculously survived
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Friday, May 4, 2001, at approximately 15:30 local time, a number of settlers blocked a Palestinian civilian vehicle that was traveling on Jerusalm-Hebron road near the junction of Efrat settlement, to the north of Hebron. They threw stones at the vehicle under full protection by the Israeli occupation forces.
An occupant of the vehicle, Inas Kamel Hassan Shehadeh, 29, from Hebron, was seriously injured in the head after she was hit with a big stone. According to medical sources at ‘Alia hospital in Hebron, where she was evacuated, she had a fractured skull. A number of occupants were slightly injured after glass of the vehicle broke. After the vehicle moved, settlers opened fire on it.
On the same day, at approximately 16:00 local time, a settler in the occupied of Hebron attacked the child Ghazi ‘Abdel-Karim El-Ja’bari, 11, from Al-Masharqa neighborhood in Hebron with sharp tools, when he was playing with his friends.
The child was seriously injured in the abdomen.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian children and young men who were demonstrating more than 100m away.
As a result, seven were wounded with live bullets, one of whom, Hashem Dadar El-Mamlouk, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was critically wounded with a live bullet in the head and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday, May 8, 2001. The other wounded were:
1) Mohammed Sa’d Radhi, 14, from Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
2) Nidal Sa’id El-Bishawi, 12, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the face;
3) Yousef Ahmed El-Zahhar, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
4) Mohammed Jamal Kaskin, 14, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
5) Khamis Dhib Banat, 15, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the pelvis; and
6) Khaled Ibrahim Tulba, 16, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the back.
At approximately 15:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli occupation forces, positioned at demarcation lines in Hebron.
Israeli occupation soldiers fired at demonstrators, wounding a 14-year-old, Hazem Barakat El-Hashlamoun, with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the left thigh.
At approximately 13:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, fired a number of artillery shells at sites of the Palestinian Border Forces to the east of Al-Shuhada’ (Martyrs) Cemetery in Gaza City. As a result of the shelling, which lasted for approximately 20 minutes, Site 22 of the Palestinian Border Forces was completely destroyed.
At approximately 14:20 local time, a tank of the Israeli occupation forces fired a shell at four Palestinian young men who were going on a picnic near Ibrahim Haddad tourist resort in the east of Jenin. The four young men were wounded with artillery shell shrapnell. PCHR learned that the four young men, who are from villages of Jenin, were on a picnic near a bypass road, approximately 500m away from Deir Abu Dha’if village opposite to Qadim and Ghanim settlements, when an Israeli tank left Qadim settlement and fired an artillery shell at them from a distance of approximately 300m, when there were no clashes in the area. The four were wounded as follows:
1) Nasser Khaled Jarra, 30, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body and his left forearm and right leg were cut;
2) Ra’ed Amin Dhabaya, 20, seriously wounded with shrapnel in the face and was evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus;
3) Yahia Mohammed El-Zobeidi, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the face and was evacuated to Rafidya hospital in Nablus; and
4) Shadi Ghazi Mahajna, 21, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body and was evacuated to Al-Razi hospital in Jenin.
At approximately 14:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of City Inn hotel at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, and in Beit Eil military site north of the city, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities (Ministry of Local Government and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics) in Al-Balou’ area. The indiscriminate shelling caused severe damage to buildings, the public service system and an under-construction building.
The shelling, which lasted for several hours, also targeted a Palestinian ambulance in the area, and a number of Palestinian civilians who were demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. Five demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Hussam Mahmoud Nemer, 17, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the hands;
2) Hisham Maohammed Ismail, 18, from Qalandya refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the hands;
3) Monther Rajab, 31, from Al-Bireh, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
4) Tariq Moaffaq Abu Shaqra, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the extremities; and
5) Anas Fayez, 13, from Al-Am’ari refugee camp, wounded with shrapnel in the mouth.
Furthermore, an ambulance of the Palestinian Medical Relief Committees was hit with a live bullet. Its driver miraculously survived
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Friday, May 4, 2001, at approximately 15:30 local time, a number of settlers blocked a Palestinian civilian vehicle that was traveling on Jerusalm-Hebron road near the junction of Efrat settlement, to the north of Hebron. They threw stones at the vehicle under full protection by the Israeli occupation forces.
An occupant of the vehicle, Inas Kamel Hassan Shehadeh, 29, from Hebron, was seriously injured in the head after she was hit with a big stone. According to medical sources at ‘Alia hospital in Hebron, where she was evacuated, she had a fractured skull. A number of occupants were slightly injured after glass of the vehicle broke. After the vehicle moved, settlers opened fire on it.
On the same day, at approximately 16:00 local time, a settler in the occupied of Hebron attacked the child Ghazi ‘Abdel-Karim El-Ja’bari, 11, from Al-Masharqa neighborhood in Hebron with sharp tools, when he was playing with his friends.
The child was seriously injured in the abdomen.
3 may 2001
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. As a result, three children armed with stones that did not reach Israeli forces were wounded as follows:
1) Jihad Salim ‘Abdel-Hai, 12, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
2) Ra’ed Nabil El-Zaharneh, 14, from Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg, and
3) Mousa ‘Ashour, 14, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 17:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire on Palestinian houses at Al-Sekka Street in the west of Beit Hanoun. Some houses were partially damaged and people, especially children, were terrified. In addition, the major water saving tank in the east of Beit Hanoun was also damaged. Indiscriminate shelling lasted until 19:30 local time.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. As a result, three children armed with stones that did not reach Israeli forces were wounded as follows:
1) Jihad Salim ‘Abdel-Hai, 12, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
2) Ra’ed Nabil El-Zaharneh, 14, from Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg, and
3) Mousa ‘Ashour, 14, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 17:45 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip, opened fire on Palestinian houses at Al-Sekka Street in the west of Beit Hanoun. Some houses were partially damaged and people, especially children, were terrified. In addition, the major water saving tank in the east of Beit Hanoun was also damaged. Indiscriminate shelling lasted until 19:30 local time.
2 may 2001
At approximately 5:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at Al-Taybeh roadblock, west of Tulkarm, fired upon Palestinian laborers on their way to work places in Israel.
As a result, Ibrahim Mossallam El-Sama’na, a 22-year-old resident of Tulkarm originally from Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, was wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on bypass road 35, north of Hebron, fired upon Palestinian youths demonstrating nearby.
Thalji Fawzi El-Haimouni, 20, was wounded with a live bullet that entered the right shoulder and the neck, and a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand. This shooting took place after the Israeli occupation forces entered 15m inside areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority.
From approximately 1:00 to 5:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces again attempted to break into Al-Barazil and Al-Sha’er neighborhoods, adjacent to the border south of Rafah. Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered up to 200m inside Al-Barazil neighborhood, under the full control by the Palestinian National Authority. This action, which has recently become a regular occurrence, was accompanied by intensive shooting and shelling of Palestinian houses, whose residents fled upon the start of the shelling and shooting.
A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud Nemer ‘Abdel-Hadi ‘Aqel, 19, was killed with a live bullet in the chest, when he was approximately 300m away from the Israeli forces.
Furthermore, 13 Palestinian civilians, were wounded; this included four members of one family who were wounded when they were trying to flee from their house that was shelled, located approximately 70m away from the border. The wounded were:
1) ‘Adnan Harb El-Ghoreiz, 39, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh and was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis;
2) Ra’dat Harb El-Ghoreiz, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the neck;
3) Rana ‘Adnan El-Ghoreiz, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh and was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis;
4) Sa’id ‘Adnan El-Ghoreiz, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm;
5) Maher Fares Madhi, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder;
6) Munir Hussein El-Sedoudi, 21, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body;
7) Bassam ‘Abdel-Qader El-‘Arja, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
8) Montasser Ismail Mansour, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
9) Sadeq Sa’d Abu Taha, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the face and the neck;
10) Khaled Mustafa ‘Awaja, 29, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
11) Ref’at Mustafa El-Sha’er, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh;
12) Nazhmi Joudeh Abu Khatleh, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the left elbow, and
13) ‘Emad Hussein Ahmed ‘Edwan, 35, wounded with shrapnel in both arms.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces also demolished 19 Palestinian houses, most of which were empty. The residents either evacuated during past months to escape the frequent Israeli shelling or fled during the recent invasion. Most of these houses and a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Al-Barazil neighborhood were completely demolished. In addition, dozens of donums of agricultural land were razed
At approximately 5:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at Al-Taybeh roadblock, west of Tulkarm, fired upon Palestinian laborers on their way to work places in Israel.
As a result, Ibrahim Mossallam El-Sama’na, a 22-year-old resident of Tulkarm originally from Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, was wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on bypass road 35, north of Hebron, fired upon Palestinian youths demonstrating nearby.
Thalji Fawzi El-Haimouni, 20, was wounded with a live bullet that entered the right shoulder and the neck, and a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left hand. This shooting took place after the Israeli occupation forces entered 15m inside areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority.
From approximately 1:00 to 5:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces again attempted to break into Al-Barazil and Al-Sha’er neighborhoods, adjacent to the border south of Rafah. Israeli tanks and bulldozers entered up to 200m inside Al-Barazil neighborhood, under the full control by the Palestinian National Authority. This action, which has recently become a regular occurrence, was accompanied by intensive shooting and shelling of Palestinian houses, whose residents fled upon the start of the shelling and shooting.
A Palestinian civilian, Mahmoud Nemer ‘Abdel-Hadi ‘Aqel, 19, was killed with a live bullet in the chest, when he was approximately 300m away from the Israeli forces.
Furthermore, 13 Palestinian civilians, were wounded; this included four members of one family who were wounded when they were trying to flee from their house that was shelled, located approximately 70m away from the border. The wounded were:
1) ‘Adnan Harb El-Ghoreiz, 39, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh and was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis;
2) Ra’dat Harb El-Ghoreiz, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the neck;
3) Rana ‘Adnan El-Ghoreiz, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh and was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis;
4) Sa’id ‘Adnan El-Ghoreiz, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm;
5) Maher Fares Madhi, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder;
6) Munir Hussein El-Sedoudi, 21, wounded with shrapnel throughout the body;
7) Bassam ‘Abdel-Qader El-‘Arja, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
8) Montasser Ismail Mansour, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
9) Sadeq Sa’d Abu Taha, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the face and the neck;
10) Khaled Mustafa ‘Awaja, 29, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
11) Ref’at Mustafa El-Sha’er, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh;
12) Nazhmi Joudeh Abu Khatleh, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the left elbow, and
13) ‘Emad Hussein Ahmed ‘Edwan, 35, wounded with shrapnel in both arms.
PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces also demolished 19 Palestinian houses, most of which were empty. The residents either evacuated during past months to escape the frequent Israeli shelling or fled during the recent invasion. Most of these houses and a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces in Al-Barazil neighborhood were completely demolished. In addition, dozens of donums of agricultural land were razed
1 may 2001
At approximately 13:30 local time, around 100 Palestinian children gathered approximately 150m away from a military site of the Israeli occupation forces at the entrance of a bypass road used be settlers near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City. The children were throwing stones and did not pose any threat to the Israeli forces.
Then, two Israeli military jeeps arrived and suddenly approached the children who fled. The Israeli forces opened fire on children from a distance of approximately 100m. A twelve-year-old child, Bilal Ziad El-Batesh, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the left side. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment. Approximately half an hour later, the Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators in the area in similar circumstances.
As a result, Jarir Zeidan El-Rawagh, 15, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, was wounded with a live bullet in the head, as he was escaping. He is still in critical condition and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital.
At approximately 14:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired at Palestinian civilians demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, approximately 300 from these forces. Hussein Mohammed Abu ‘Eid, 17, from Beddu, northwest of Jerusalem, was wounded with shrapnel in the neck.
At approximately 11:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced with tanks and bulldozers again broke into areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority in Rafah. They opened machine gun fires on Palestinian houses and citizens.
As a result, a Palestinian National Security Forces member was killed and a woman was seriously wounded in the chest. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces attempted to break into the border area in order to demolish and destroy a number of Palestinian houses in Al-Brazil neighborhood adjacent to the border.
Thus attempt was accompanied by intensive shooting by the Israeli forces, which killed Mohammed Mousa Suleiman Abu Jazar, 57, with a live bullet in the head, when he was at ‘Abdel-Hadi Street, approximately 30m away from the border.
In addition, Randa Jamil El-Qassir, 37, was wounded with a live bullet in the chest when she was near her house, approximately 300m away from the border. She was evacuated to the intensive care unit at the European Hospital in serious condition. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces failed to demolish a single house.
At approximately 15:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities near the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Local Government.
As a result, Fadi ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Barghouthi, 39, from Kober village near Ramallah, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was seriously wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the liver.
When he was wounded, he was at a Palestinian security sited at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, approximately 100m away from the Israeli forces. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital. Additionally, a number of buildings and civilian facilities were partially damaged.
At approximately 8:00 local time, a number of Palestinian school children from Deir El-Balah demonstrated at Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), to the north of Kfar Darom settlement. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli occupation forces positioned in a military site inside the aforementioned settlement.
They demonstrated to express their anger and dismay for the death of the infant Iman Hejju, who was killed with shrapnel of an artillery shell fired by the Israeli occupation forces at Khan Yunis refugee camp on the previous day. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Nine children were wounded with live bullets and one was wounded with a rubber coated metal bullet as follows:
1) Ahmed Mahmoud El-Moghari, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
2) ‘Aamer Ibrahim El-Khatib, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) Mahmoud Fayez El-Khoreibi, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
4) Mahoud El-Hassanat, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
5) Sarhan El-Hassanat, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
6) ‘Abdullah Salama Sahqqura, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
7) Guevara Mohammed Saleh, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
8) Yousef Kamal El-Houli, 12, wounded with a live bullet in the back;
9) Sha’ban Khaled Baraka, 16, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and
10) Nahedh Mohammed El-Boheisi, 10, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the Palestinian National Security Forces intervened to avoid the continuation of clashes. They brought a truck and transported demonstrators away from the area.
At approximately 17:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khoza’a village in the east of Khan Yunis. Clashes erupted when the Israeli forces razed 200 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in the area.
The Israeli forces fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Wa’el Ramadan Al-Najjar, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
2) Ibrahim Mohammed El-Qarra, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
3) Ihab ‘Aatef Qudeih, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Tariq Ibrahim Khalil Qudeih, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the right knee.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffocated and fainted due to tear gas inhalation. The same also happened in the previous night, when the Israeli occupation forces fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians who were protesting land leveling by the Israeli forces.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at approximately 18:30 local time, a settler from ‘Elli settlement near Al-Lubban village to the north of Ramallah fired at a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling on the main road near the village. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Munir ‘Abdullah Abu Zahria, 23, from Beit Hanina, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg and shrapnel in the back and the right leg; and
2) Ahmed Abu Taha, 27, wounded with a live bullet in the left arm and shrapnel in the left leg.
At approximately 13:30 local time, around 100 Palestinian children gathered approximately 150m away from a military site of the Israeli occupation forces at the entrance of a bypass road used be settlers near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City. The children were throwing stones and did not pose any threat to the Israeli forces.
Then, two Israeli military jeeps arrived and suddenly approached the children who fled. The Israeli forces opened fire on children from a distance of approximately 100m. A twelve-year-old child, Bilal Ziad El-Batesh, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the left side. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment. Approximately half an hour later, the Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators in the area in similar circumstances.
As a result, Jarir Zeidan El-Rawagh, 15, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, was wounded with a live bullet in the head, as he was escaping. He is still in critical condition and receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital.
At approximately 14:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired at Palestinian civilians demonstrating at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, approximately 300 from these forces. Hussein Mohammed Abu ‘Eid, 17, from Beddu, northwest of Jerusalem, was wounded with shrapnel in the neck.
At approximately 11:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces reinforced with tanks and bulldozers again broke into areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority in Rafah. They opened machine gun fires on Palestinian houses and citizens.
As a result, a Palestinian National Security Forces member was killed and a woman was seriously wounded in the chest. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces attempted to break into the border area in order to demolish and destroy a number of Palestinian houses in Al-Brazil neighborhood adjacent to the border.
Thus attempt was accompanied by intensive shooting by the Israeli forces, which killed Mohammed Mousa Suleiman Abu Jazar, 57, with a live bullet in the head, when he was at ‘Abdel-Hadi Street, approximately 30m away from the border.
In addition, Randa Jamil El-Qassir, 37, was wounded with a live bullet in the chest when she was near her house, approximately 300m away from the border. She was evacuated to the intensive care unit at the European Hospital in serious condition. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that the Israeli occupation forces failed to demolish a single house.
At approximately 15:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities near the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Local Government.
As a result, Fadi ‘Abdel-Rahman El-Barghouthi, 39, from Kober village near Ramallah, an officer of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was seriously wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the liver.
When he was wounded, he was at a Palestinian security sited at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh, approximately 100m away from the Israeli forces. He was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital. Additionally, a number of buildings and civilian facilities were partially damaged.
At approximately 8:00 local time, a number of Palestinian school children from Deir El-Balah demonstrated at Salah El-Din Street (the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip), to the north of Kfar Darom settlement. They threw stones and empty bottles at Israeli occupation forces positioned in a military site inside the aforementioned settlement.
They demonstrated to express their anger and dismay for the death of the infant Iman Hejju, who was killed with shrapnel of an artillery shell fired by the Israeli occupation forces at Khan Yunis refugee camp on the previous day. The Israeli forces fired live and rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas canisters at demonstrators. Nine children were wounded with live bullets and one was wounded with a rubber coated metal bullet as follows:
1) Ahmed Mahmoud El-Moghari, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
2) ‘Aamer Ibrahim El-Khatib, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) Mahmoud Fayez El-Khoreibi, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
4) Mahoud El-Hassanat, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
5) Sarhan El-Hassanat, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
6) ‘Abdullah Salama Sahqqura, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
7) Guevara Mohammed Saleh, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
8) Yousef Kamal El-Houli, 12, wounded with a live bullet in the back;
9) Sha’ban Khaled Baraka, 16, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh; and
10) Nahedh Mohammed El-Boheisi, 10, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.
PCHR’s field officer in the area reported that the Palestinian National Security Forces intervened to avoid the continuation of clashes. They brought a truck and transported demonstrators away from the area.
At approximately 17:00 local time, clashes erupted between Palestinian civilians and the Israeli occupation forces near the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Khoza’a village in the east of Khan Yunis. Clashes erupted when the Israeli forces razed 200 donums of Palestinian agricultural land in the area.
The Israeli forces fired live ammunition and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Wa’el Ramadan Al-Najjar, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
2) Ibrahim Mohammed El-Qarra, 20, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
3) Ihab ‘Aatef Qudeih, 14, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Tariq Ibrahim Khalil Qudeih, 17, wounded with a live bullet in the right knee.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffocated and fainted due to tear gas inhalation. The same also happened in the previous night, when the Israeli occupation forces fired live bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinian civilians who were protesting land leveling by the Israeli forces.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Tuesday, May 1, 2001, at approximately 18:30 local time, a settler from ‘Elli settlement near Al-Lubban village to the north of Ramallah fired at a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling on the main road near the village. As a result, two Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Munir ‘Abdullah Abu Zahria, 23, from Beit Hanina, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg and shrapnel in the back and the right leg; and
2) Ahmed Abu Taha, 27, wounded with a live bullet in the left arm and shrapnel in the left leg.
30 apr 2001
At approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces raided on the house of ‘Adnan As’ad ‘Oudeh, 38, from Habla village southeast of Qalqilya. ‘Oudeh was able to escape, but Israeli forces chased him and willfully shot at him, approximately 500m away from his house. He was killed with a live bullet that entered his back and settled in the heart.
In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired upon Palestinian children who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, approximately 100m away from these forces. Two children were wounded as follows:
1) Ra’ed Nabil El-Zaharneh, 15, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right knee; and
2) Mohammed Khalil El-Nakhala, 14, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the thighs.
At approximately 22:10 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Neve Dekalim settlement and Al-Tuffah roadblock east of Khan Yunis refugee camp, and near Gani Tal settlement northwest of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells containing dart-like shrapnel and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area, Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
The shelling, which lasted until 23:10 local time, targeted Palestinian houses and civilian facilities located approximately 2km away from Israeli occupation forces sites. A number of Palestinian civilians were wounded with artillery shell shrapnel. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that there has been a serious escalation in indiscriminate shelling by the Israeli occupation forces which had the objective of wounding as many Palestinian civilians as possible. The wounded were:
1) Wa’el Jamil Hassan Khalifa, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
2) Majed Hussein Hneideq, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the back after an artillery shell fell onto his house;
3) Falastin Kefah Hneideq, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the legs after an artillery shell fell onto her family’s house;
4) Mowaffaq Mohammed El-Qassas, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand;
5) Hazem ‘Abdel-Mo’ti Abu Jaber, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
6) Ibrahim Khalil Abu Jarad, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
7) Ahmed ‘Ayesh Sallam, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg.
Furthermore, a number of houses and an UNRWA school were severely damaged as follows:
1) UNWRA’s Ahmed ‘Abdel’Azziz preparatory school: Three artillery shells fell onto the school. Two shells hit the library, making three holes in its walls 15-30cm in diameter. The shells broke the windows and damaged a number of books and desks. The third shell hit a classroom, making a hole 50cm in diameter in a concrete column and breaking its windows.
2) A 180-square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Hussein Ahmed Hussein Hneideq: Walls of a bedroom were potmarked, a television set was destroyed, walls of the house were cracked, and the owner’s son and daughter-in-law were wounded (see the list of the wounded above.)
3) A 120-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Ahmed Ismail Noufal: Windows were broken and the western façade was potmarked.
4) A 100-square-meter, one-story house, in which 8 people live, owned by Sa’id ‘Aref ‘Abdullah Abu Sa’id: The asbestos roof was destroyed.
5) A 200-square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Mustafa Mahmoud Gannan: The asbestos roof was destroyed.
6) A 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 13 people live, owned by Mahmoud Husni Shahin: Windows of the house were broken.
On Monday, April 30, 2001, two massive explosions boomed in Ramallah and Gaza City, killing five Palestinian civilians, including seven-year-old and four-year-old children, and wounding some, including a 10-year-old child, who is still receiving medical care in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Circumstances of the two explosions remain unclear. Nevertheless, the Palestinian National Authority accused Israeli security services of being involved in planning for the two explosions, apparently targeting Palestinian activists. PCHR’s offices and equipment were severely damaged as a result of the explosion in Gaza City.
At approximately 17:00 local time on April 30, 2001, a massive explosion completely destroyed a two-story building adjacent to the building which houses PCHR offices, located on Omar El-Mukhtar Street in the Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City. Two were killed and three were injured in the blast. Hamdi Salim Al-Madhoun, 18, from Gaza City, and Mohammed ‘Abdel-Karim Abu Khaled, 17, from Gaza City, were killed in the blast.
Abu Khaled’s mother, ‘Afaf Sa’id Abu Khaled, 48, who was in the home at the time of the blast, was injured in the head and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. ‘Abdel-Karim Mohammed Al-Madhoun, a 21-year-old relative of the first victim, was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital.
The force of the blast ripped the steel doors from five stores and threw them across the street; rubble from the blast was thrown at least 20 meters in all directions. A 10-year-old child, Khalil Na’im ‘Afanah, was wounded by the flying doors and rubble from the blast and is now in critical condition in the ICU at Shifa’ hospital.
The blast, which originated in a part of the building next to the PCHR building, also severely damaged PCHR offices. Fortunately, the PCHR staff had left for the day and no one from PCHR staff was wounded. The PCHR offices were damaged as follows:
1) The walls adjacent to the destroyed building were damaged.
2) The stairwell adjacent to the destroyed building was damaged.
3) The pillars on the first floor of the PCHR building were severely damaged. These pillars support the Legal Aid Unit offices on the second floor.
4) All the windows facing the street on the first floor of the PCHR building were damaged.
5) A side entrance to the PCHR offices leading to an attached building was damaged.
6) The stone countertops in the PCHR kitchen were broken.
7) Rubble from the blast damaged the satellite dish on the roof of the PCHR building.
8) PCHR’s 12-ton generator was thrown 7 meters by the blast and completely destroyed.
Al-Amal Hotel, to the east of the destroyed building, and a room of a home on the first floor of the PCHR building, were also partially damaged.
Two Israeli helicopters had been seen flying over the area since 11:00 local time. As a preemptive measure, all Palestinian security buildings were evacuated. The two helicopters disappeared after the explosion occurred. This does not exclude the possibility of Israeli occupation forces’ involvement in the explosion through activating a bomb by remote control.
Investigation concluded that two members of the families of Abu Khaled and El-Madhoun, Hisham and Haitham, were “wanted” by the Israeli occupation forces, and that the explosion targeted them. The two used to work in marble engraving and they used a part of the targeted house as a store and a workshop. The explosion coincided with the presence of two members of the family of El-Madhoun, who own a marble factory. They brought pieces of marble to Abu Khaled’s house. One was killed and the other was injured. Hisham and Haitham import chemical materials from an Israeli trader, which they use to burn the marble, through their brother-in-law Jihad Zureid who is a chemical engineer.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2001, at approximately 20:30 local time, Zureid brought a cargo of goods, including three barrels that contained 50kg of chemical materials in each one, to Abu Khaled’s house. The cargo was exported from the Israeli trader through Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, under control by the Israeli occupation forces. When Zureid, Hisham and Haitham, were unloading the cargo, Zureid noticed that one of the barrels weighed more than 50kg, so he decided to go to a store on the other side to the street to confirm its weight.
He discovered that the barrel weighed 85kg. He took it to the house and decided to phone the Israeli trader to inform him and to tell him that he would pay the price of the additional material. After they removed 25kg from the barrel, they discovered that the rest of the barrel contained a very solid material. They were surprised. They started to check it, and Zureid took a part of it with a hammer and a chisel. He tried twice to burn it, but the fire would quickly extinguish itself. Zureid thought that the material was expired due to bad storage or humidity. They took the material back to barrels that remained in the house. Zureid decided to phone the Israeli trader for more information.
Wednesday, April 30, 2001, at approximately 11:00 local time, Zureid phoned the Israeli trader, who asserted that all barrels contained the required material weighing 50kg in each and promised to look into the matter. It seems that the solid material was a bomb that targeted the two bothers Hisham and Haitham. The bomb exploded at a time when the two brothers usually stay at home, but one of them at work late and the other was playing football outside the house.
Their third bother, Mohammed, 17, was killed in the blast. A member of the El-Madhoun family was also killed and another one was injured. The mother, ‘Afaf, and a passing child were also injured.
There is evidence which does not exclude the possibility that Israeli security services put the bomb in one of the barrels when it was transported to the Gaza Strip, through Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet. If this is the case, this represents a new and unprecedented form of assassination, in which imported goods are exploited to put bombs by the Israeli occupation forces, targeting Palestinians.
After the incident, a Palestinian police spokesman stated that all paint shops would be required to obtain police permission to sell a number of chemical materials, since “parts of it are trapped by enemies to explode when melted or prepared, or after being stored.” He also asked citizens to be careful and to inform police about and suspicious objects or materials, and not to touch or otherwise handle them.
The same evening, at approximately 22:15 local time, another explosion occurred in a two-story housing building in ‘Ein Mesbah area in Ramallah. Three Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed and three were injured. The building was completely destroyed. The blast killed:
4) The child Malak Jamal Barakat, 4, killed by shrapnel and burns throughout the body when she was at her family’s home;
5) The child Shahid Jamal Barakat, 7, brother of the first victim, killed by shrapnel and burns throughout the body when he was at his family’s home;
6) Hassan Mohammed Hassan El-Qadhi, 27, from Bitounia in Ramallah, a member of Fatah Movement “wanted” by the Israeli occupation forces and a senior majoring in political science at Al-Quds Open University.
The injured were:
1) ‘Abir Mohammed Zayed, 25, mother of the first two victims, received injuries and bruises in the back and the hands when she was at her home at the time of the explosion.
2) Wa’d Jamal Barakat, 5, sister of the first two victims, received injuries and breaks in the face and the right hand when she was at her family’s home at the time of the explosion; and
3) ‘Ezzat ‘Abdel-Hamid Farroukh, 24, injured during the rescue operation.
Circumstances of the explosion that apparently occurred in the first floor, where El-Qadhi lived, are not clear. The Palestinian National Authority accused the Israeli occupation forces of being involved in the explosion.
At approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces raided on the house of ‘Adnan As’ad ‘Oudeh, 38, from Habla village southeast of Qalqilya. ‘Oudeh was able to escape, but Israeli forces chased him and willfully shot at him, approximately 500m away from his house. He was killed with a live bullet that entered his back and settled in the heart.
In the afternoon, the Israeli occupation forces fired upon Palestinian children who were demonstrating near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, approximately 100m away from these forces. Two children were wounded as follows:
1) Ra’ed Nabil El-Zaharneh, 15, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right knee; and
2) Mohammed Khalil El-Nakhala, 14, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the thighs.
At approximately 22:10 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Neve Dekalim settlement and Al-Tuffah roadblock east of Khan Yunis refugee camp, and near Gani Tal settlement northwest of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells containing dart-like shrapnel and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area, Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
The shelling, which lasted until 23:10 local time, targeted Palestinian houses and civilian facilities located approximately 2km away from Israeli occupation forces sites. A number of Palestinian civilians were wounded with artillery shell shrapnel. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that there has been a serious escalation in indiscriminate shelling by the Israeli occupation forces which had the objective of wounding as many Palestinian civilians as possible. The wounded were:
1) Wa’el Jamil Hassan Khalifa, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
2) Majed Hussein Hneideq, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the back after an artillery shell fell onto his house;
3) Falastin Kefah Hneideq, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the legs after an artillery shell fell onto her family’s house;
4) Mowaffaq Mohammed El-Qassas, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand;
5) Hazem ‘Abdel-Mo’ti Abu Jaber, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
6) Ibrahim Khalil Abu Jarad, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
7) Ahmed ‘Ayesh Sallam, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg.
Furthermore, a number of houses and an UNRWA school were severely damaged as follows:
1) UNWRA’s Ahmed ‘Abdel’Azziz preparatory school: Three artillery shells fell onto the school. Two shells hit the library, making three holes in its walls 15-30cm in diameter. The shells broke the windows and damaged a number of books and desks. The third shell hit a classroom, making a hole 50cm in diameter in a concrete column and breaking its windows.
2) A 180-square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Hussein Ahmed Hussein Hneideq: Walls of a bedroom were potmarked, a television set was destroyed, walls of the house were cracked, and the owner’s son and daughter-in-law were wounded (see the list of the wounded above.)
3) A 120-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Ahmed Ismail Noufal: Windows were broken and the western façade was potmarked.
4) A 100-square-meter, one-story house, in which 8 people live, owned by Sa’id ‘Aref ‘Abdullah Abu Sa’id: The asbestos roof was destroyed.
5) A 200-square-meter, one-story house, in which 10 people live, owned by Mustafa Mahmoud Gannan: The asbestos roof was destroyed.
6) A 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 13 people live, owned by Mahmoud Husni Shahin: Windows of the house were broken.
On Monday, April 30, 2001, two massive explosions boomed in Ramallah and Gaza City, killing five Palestinian civilians, including seven-year-old and four-year-old children, and wounding some, including a 10-year-old child, who is still receiving medical care in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. Circumstances of the two explosions remain unclear. Nevertheless, the Palestinian National Authority accused Israeli security services of being involved in planning for the two explosions, apparently targeting Palestinian activists. PCHR’s offices and equipment were severely damaged as a result of the explosion in Gaza City.
At approximately 17:00 local time on April 30, 2001, a massive explosion completely destroyed a two-story building adjacent to the building which houses PCHR offices, located on Omar El-Mukhtar Street in the Al-Remal neighborhood in Gaza City. Two were killed and three were injured in the blast. Hamdi Salim Al-Madhoun, 18, from Gaza City, and Mohammed ‘Abdel-Karim Abu Khaled, 17, from Gaza City, were killed in the blast.
Abu Khaled’s mother, ‘Afaf Sa’id Abu Khaled, 48, who was in the home at the time of the blast, was injured in the head and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City. ‘Abdel-Karim Mohammed Al-Madhoun, a 21-year-old relative of the first victim, was seriously wounded by shrapnel throughout the body and is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital.
The force of the blast ripped the steel doors from five stores and threw them across the street; rubble from the blast was thrown at least 20 meters in all directions. A 10-year-old child, Khalil Na’im ‘Afanah, was wounded by the flying doors and rubble from the blast and is now in critical condition in the ICU at Shifa’ hospital.
The blast, which originated in a part of the building next to the PCHR building, also severely damaged PCHR offices. Fortunately, the PCHR staff had left for the day and no one from PCHR staff was wounded. The PCHR offices were damaged as follows:
1) The walls adjacent to the destroyed building were damaged.
2) The stairwell adjacent to the destroyed building was damaged.
3) The pillars on the first floor of the PCHR building were severely damaged. These pillars support the Legal Aid Unit offices on the second floor.
4) All the windows facing the street on the first floor of the PCHR building were damaged.
5) A side entrance to the PCHR offices leading to an attached building was damaged.
6) The stone countertops in the PCHR kitchen were broken.
7) Rubble from the blast damaged the satellite dish on the roof of the PCHR building.
8) PCHR’s 12-ton generator was thrown 7 meters by the blast and completely destroyed.
Al-Amal Hotel, to the east of the destroyed building, and a room of a home on the first floor of the PCHR building, were also partially damaged.
Two Israeli helicopters had been seen flying over the area since 11:00 local time. As a preemptive measure, all Palestinian security buildings were evacuated. The two helicopters disappeared after the explosion occurred. This does not exclude the possibility of Israeli occupation forces’ involvement in the explosion through activating a bomb by remote control.
Investigation concluded that two members of the families of Abu Khaled and El-Madhoun, Hisham and Haitham, were “wanted” by the Israeli occupation forces, and that the explosion targeted them. The two used to work in marble engraving and they used a part of the targeted house as a store and a workshop. The explosion coincided with the presence of two members of the family of El-Madhoun, who own a marble factory. They brought pieces of marble to Abu Khaled’s house. One was killed and the other was injured. Hisham and Haitham import chemical materials from an Israeli trader, which they use to burn the marble, through their brother-in-law Jihad Zureid who is a chemical engineer.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2001, at approximately 20:30 local time, Zureid brought a cargo of goods, including three barrels that contained 50kg of chemical materials in each one, to Abu Khaled’s house. The cargo was exported from the Israeli trader through Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, under control by the Israeli occupation forces. When Zureid, Hisham and Haitham, were unloading the cargo, Zureid noticed that one of the barrels weighed more than 50kg, so he decided to go to a store on the other side to the street to confirm its weight.
He discovered that the barrel weighed 85kg. He took it to the house and decided to phone the Israeli trader to inform him and to tell him that he would pay the price of the additional material. After they removed 25kg from the barrel, they discovered that the rest of the barrel contained a very solid material. They were surprised. They started to check it, and Zureid took a part of it with a hammer and a chisel. He tried twice to burn it, but the fire would quickly extinguish itself. Zureid thought that the material was expired due to bad storage or humidity. They took the material back to barrels that remained in the house. Zureid decided to phone the Israeli trader for more information.
Wednesday, April 30, 2001, at approximately 11:00 local time, Zureid phoned the Israeli trader, who asserted that all barrels contained the required material weighing 50kg in each and promised to look into the matter. It seems that the solid material was a bomb that targeted the two bothers Hisham and Haitham. The bomb exploded at a time when the two brothers usually stay at home, but one of them at work late and the other was playing football outside the house.
Their third bother, Mohammed, 17, was killed in the blast. A member of the El-Madhoun family was also killed and another one was injured. The mother, ‘Afaf, and a passing child were also injured.
There is evidence which does not exclude the possibility that Israeli security services put the bomb in one of the barrels when it was transported to the Gaza Strip, through Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet. If this is the case, this represents a new and unprecedented form of assassination, in which imported goods are exploited to put bombs by the Israeli occupation forces, targeting Palestinians.
After the incident, a Palestinian police spokesman stated that all paint shops would be required to obtain police permission to sell a number of chemical materials, since “parts of it are trapped by enemies to explode when melted or prepared, or after being stored.” He also asked citizens to be careful and to inform police about and suspicious objects or materials, and not to touch or otherwise handle them.
The same evening, at approximately 22:15 local time, another explosion occurred in a two-story housing building in ‘Ein Mesbah area in Ramallah. Three Palestinian civilians, including two children, were killed and three were injured. The building was completely destroyed. The blast killed:
4) The child Malak Jamal Barakat, 4, killed by shrapnel and burns throughout the body when she was at her family’s home;
5) The child Shahid Jamal Barakat, 7, brother of the first victim, killed by shrapnel and burns throughout the body when he was at his family’s home;
6) Hassan Mohammed Hassan El-Qadhi, 27, from Bitounia in Ramallah, a member of Fatah Movement “wanted” by the Israeli occupation forces and a senior majoring in political science at Al-Quds Open University.
The injured were:
1) ‘Abir Mohammed Zayed, 25, mother of the first two victims, received injuries and bruises in the back and the hands when she was at her home at the time of the explosion.
2) Wa’d Jamal Barakat, 5, sister of the first two victims, received injuries and breaks in the face and the right hand when she was at her family’s home at the time of the explosion; and
3) ‘Ezzat ‘Abdel-Hamid Farroukh, 24, injured during the rescue operation.
Circumstances of the explosion that apparently occurred in the first floor, where El-Qadhi lived, are not clear. The Palestinian National Authority accused the Israeli occupation forces of being involved in the explosion.
29 apr 2001
At approximately 18:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of ‘Abassan village in Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian civilians who gathered near the border to protest Israeli occupation forces’ razing of their agricultural land. As a result, four Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets as follows:
1) Rami ‘Oleyan Abu Tair, 18, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head and evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment;
2) Bilal Mohammed Baraka, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the chest;
3) Subhi Rushdi El-Kharraz, 40, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Farid Khalil ‘Arab, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered from suffocation due to tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.
At approximately 22:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car, which was passing approximately 300m away from their military roadblock, known as “Al-Kafreyat roadblock,” south of Tulkarm. Two Palestinian civilians traveling in the car, were wounded. A passing taxi driver evacuated them to Tulkarm hospital. The wounded were:
1) Mohraj Ibrahim ‘Abdel-Wahab Shehadeh, 25, from Tulkarm refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet that entered his right armpit and lung; and
2) Ghanem Mahmoud Ibrahim Ghanem, wounded with shrapnel in his sides.
According to medical sources at Tulkarm hospital, physicians decided to transfer Shehadeh to Rafidya hospital in Nablus because of his serious condition.
An ambulance took him from Tulkarm hospital, but Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at Al-Kafreyat roadblock, intercepted it and forcibly transferred it to Al-Taybeh roadblock in order to arrest Shehadeh. An Israeli ambulance was waiting there to take him. Later, it became known that he was transferred to the Israeli M’eir hospital in Kfar Saba.
At approximately 8:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Neve Dekalim settlement, fired four artillery shells at Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three houses that have been frequently shelled and severely damaged during the past months and their residents evacuated, were damaged further. These houses are:
1) a 250-square-meter, two-story house, in which 18 people used to live, owned by ‘Abdullah and Ibrahim Shoreiqi Abu ‘Obeida;
2) a 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people used to live, owned by ‘Adel Abu ‘Obeida; and
3) a 180-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people used to live, owned by Jehad Khalil Abu Louz.
Furthermore, the nine-year-old child Khaled Yousef Zo’rob, was wounded with shrapnel in the right leg, when he was passing near the targeted area.
At approximately 12:20 local time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling Khan Yunis refugee camp. This time, they fired four artillery shells at both houses and the tents of Palestinian civilians whose homes were demolished by the Israeli forces on April 11, 2000. These civilians were terrified and were forced to leave their tents. Furthermore, an old woman and a child were wounded with shrapnel as follows:
1) Hasna Hussein Abu Mokheimer, 80, wounded with shrapnel in the left hand; and
2) Mohammed Khalil El-Aqqad, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
In addition, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered nervous break-downs.
Update:
At approximately 1:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Netzarim settlement, south of Gaza City, fired artillery shells at Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that one of these shells hit Al-Je’el fuel station at the coastal road in Gaza, and made a hole 50cm in diameter in its eastern wall.
At approximately 7:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on the western hills of Bethlehem, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Al-Khader viallge. The shelling targeted the vicinity of the Orthodox Club, Iraq neighborhood and Al-Hussein hospital in Beit Jala, and Talita Qawmi school and Al-Khader Gate in Al-Khader, partially damaging them.
At approximately 9:30 local time, large numbers of Israeli troops broke into Beit Jala housing project, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority and entered up to 400m. These troops opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses. As a result, Mohammed Ibrahim ‘Awadh Jobran ‘Ebayyat, 47, from Al-T’amreh area in Bethlehem was killed with two live bullets in the head. PCHR learned that Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area for three hours due to intensive shooting by the Israeli occupation forces.
Two ambulances were hit with live bullets, and a vehicle of the Palestinian Civil Defense was completely destroyed and another one was severely damaged. Furthermore, 17 Palestinians were wounded with shrapnel of artillery shells and live bullets, and some were bruised or injured after having been beaten by the Israeli occupation forces. The wounded were:
1) Nicola Bassem Abu Ghannam, 5, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell that broke the bones of the hand, and was evacuated to Al-Maqased hospital in Jerusalem for he was in serious condition;
2) Ruan ‘Azziz Zawahra, 10, wounded with a live bullet in the left shoulder;
3) Jamil Dhiab Saleh, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) Ibrahim ‘Abdel-Qader El-Huleifawi, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the lower jaw;
5) Sufian Saber El-Atrash, 23, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;
6) Ashraf ‘Abdullah Mana’em, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
7) Monjed Yousef ‘Abdullah, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the feet;
8) Ahmed Mohammed Zeghari, 30, wounded with a live bullet in the neck;
9) Salim Mohammed Abu Mefreh, 31, wounded with two live bullets in the abdomen and the right thigh;
10) Murad Helmi El-Najajreh, 29, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;
11) Mujahed Mohammed Hamza, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;
12) Nader ‘Ezzat Manasra, 25, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with shrapnel in the head; and
13) Ahmed Ibrahim, 38, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with the right thigh.
At approximately 21:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority in Tulkarm and entered up to 50m. These forces fired heavy and medium caliber bullets from a tank at a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces. At the same time, another tank, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction in the west of the city, opened fire on Palestinian houses and civilian facilities. Two Palestinian civilian cars were destroyed. The telephone system and a number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the military liaison headquarters and in the vicinity of Gishori factory in the southwest of Tulkarm, shelled Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in the southwest area of Tulkarm.
Ten Palestinian civilians were wounded, including Hussein Khader Abu Tammam, 45, who was critically wounded with a live bullet in the chest and the left arm when he was inside his house. Abu Tammam was evacuated to Tulkarom hospital. Because he was in critical condition, he was transferred to Rafidya hospital in Nablus. On the following day, May 7, 2001, at approximately 9:00 local time, Abu Tammam was pronounced dead. The wounded were:
1) Maram Riad Qrmash, 10, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee;
2) As’ad ‘Abdullah Abu Tabikh, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee;
3) ‘Ammar Fayeq Mahmoud ‘Oleyan, 10, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
4) Linda Lutfi Mansour ‘Atta, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
5) Hussein Yasser Hussein El-Sarghali, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye;
6) Sa’id Ghazi Mustafa Qattawi, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg and thigh;
7) Siham ‘Atteya Abu Tammam, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
8) We’am Radhi Ahmed Qarmash, 5, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
9) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Qader Deroubi, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye.
Furthermore, the campus of Khadouri College was hit with several artillery shells. The campus was severely damaged as follows:
1) The laboratory of the Architecture Department and walls of other laboratories were destroyed;
2) Toilettes of students and a tore of the Architecture department were destroyed; and
3) Walls cracked and windows broke.
Moreover, the building of the industrial secondary school, adjacent to Khadouri College, and a house, owned by the Al-Tirawi family, were severely damaged.
At approximately 18:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of ‘Abassan village in Khan Yunis, opened fire on Palestinian civilians who gathered near the border to protest Israeli occupation forces’ razing of their agricultural land. As a result, four Palestinian civilians were wounded with live bullets as follows:
1) Rami ‘Oleyan Abu Tair, 18, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head and evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment;
2) Bilal Mohammed Baraka, 19, wounded with a live bullet in the chest;
3) Subhi Rushdi El-Kharraz, 40, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg; and
4) Farid Khalil ‘Arab, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand.
In addition, dozens of Palestinian civilians suffered from suffocation due to tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.
At approximately 22:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car, which was passing approximately 300m away from their military roadblock, known as “Al-Kafreyat roadblock,” south of Tulkarm. Two Palestinian civilians traveling in the car, were wounded. A passing taxi driver evacuated them to Tulkarm hospital. The wounded were:
1) Mohraj Ibrahim ‘Abdel-Wahab Shehadeh, 25, from Tulkarm refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet that entered his right armpit and lung; and
2) Ghanem Mahmoud Ibrahim Ghanem, wounded with shrapnel in his sides.
According to medical sources at Tulkarm hospital, physicians decided to transfer Shehadeh to Rafidya hospital in Nablus because of his serious condition.
An ambulance took him from Tulkarm hospital, but Israeli occupation soldiers positioned at Al-Kafreyat roadblock, intercepted it and forcibly transferred it to Al-Taybeh roadblock in order to arrest Shehadeh. An Israeli ambulance was waiting there to take him. Later, it became known that he was transferred to the Israeli M’eir hospital in Kfar Saba.
At approximately 8:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Neve Dekalim settlement, fired four artillery shells at Khan Yunis refugee camp. Three houses that have been frequently shelled and severely damaged during the past months and their residents evacuated, were damaged further. These houses are:
1) a 250-square-meter, two-story house, in which 18 people used to live, owned by ‘Abdullah and Ibrahim Shoreiqi Abu ‘Obeida;
2) a 130-square-meter, two-story house, in which 11 people used to live, owned by ‘Adel Abu ‘Obeida; and
3) a 180-square-meter, two-story house, in which 10 people used to live, owned by Jehad Khalil Abu Louz.
Furthermore, the nine-year-old child Khaled Yousef Zo’rob, was wounded with shrapnel in the right leg, when he was passing near the targeted area.
At approximately 12:20 local time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling Khan Yunis refugee camp. This time, they fired four artillery shells at both houses and the tents of Palestinian civilians whose homes were demolished by the Israeli forces on April 11, 2000. These civilians were terrified and were forced to leave their tents. Furthermore, an old woman and a child were wounded with shrapnel as follows:
1) Hasna Hussein Abu Mokheimer, 80, wounded with shrapnel in the left hand; and
2) Mohammed Khalil El-Aqqad, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the head.
In addition, a number of Palestinian civilians suffered nervous break-downs.
Update:
At approximately 1:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Netzarim settlement, south of Gaza City, fired artillery shells at Sheikh ‘Ejlin neighborhood in Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that one of these shells hit Al-Je’el fuel station at the coastal road in Gaza, and made a hole 50cm in diameter in its eastern wall.
At approximately 7:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on the western hills of Bethlehem, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Al-Khader viallge. The shelling targeted the vicinity of the Orthodox Club, Iraq neighborhood and Al-Hussein hospital in Beit Jala, and Talita Qawmi school and Al-Khader Gate in Al-Khader, partially damaging them.
At approximately 9:30 local time, large numbers of Israeli troops broke into Beit Jala housing project, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority and entered up to 400m. These troops opened fire on Palestinian civilians and houses. As a result, Mohammed Ibrahim ‘Awadh Jobran ‘Ebayyat, 47, from Al-T’amreh area in Bethlehem was killed with two live bullets in the head. PCHR learned that Palestinian ambulances were not able to reach the area for three hours due to intensive shooting by the Israeli occupation forces.
Two ambulances were hit with live bullets, and a vehicle of the Palestinian Civil Defense was completely destroyed and another one was severely damaged. Furthermore, 17 Palestinians were wounded with shrapnel of artillery shells and live bullets, and some were bruised or injured after having been beaten by the Israeli occupation forces. The wounded were:
1) Nicola Bassem Abu Ghannam, 5, wounded with shrapnel of an artillery shell that broke the bones of the hand, and was evacuated to Al-Maqased hospital in Jerusalem for he was in serious condition;
2) Ruan ‘Azziz Zawahra, 10, wounded with a live bullet in the left shoulder;
3) Jamil Dhiab Saleh, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) Ibrahim ‘Abdel-Qader El-Huleifawi, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the lower jaw;
5) Sufian Saber El-Atrash, 23, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;
6) Ashraf ‘Abdullah Mana’em, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
7) Monjed Yousef ‘Abdullah, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the feet;
8) Ahmed Mohammed Zeghari, 30, wounded with a live bullet in the neck;
9) Salim Mohammed Abu Mefreh, 31, wounded with two live bullets in the abdomen and the right thigh;
10) Murad Helmi El-Najajreh, 29, wounded with a live bullet in the left foot;
11) Mujahed Mohammed Hamza, 23, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;
12) Nader ‘Ezzat Manasra, 25, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with shrapnel in the head; and
13) Ahmed Ibrahim, 38, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with the right thigh.
At approximately 21:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority in Tulkarm and entered up to 50m. These forces fired heavy and medium caliber bullets from a tank at a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces. At the same time, another tank, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ junction in the west of the city, opened fire on Palestinian houses and civilian facilities. Two Palestinian civilian cars were destroyed. The telephone system and a number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the military liaison headquarters and in the vicinity of Gishori factory in the southwest of Tulkarm, shelled Palestinian houses and civilian facilities in the southwest area of Tulkarm.
Ten Palestinian civilians were wounded, including Hussein Khader Abu Tammam, 45, who was critically wounded with a live bullet in the chest and the left arm when he was inside his house. Abu Tammam was evacuated to Tulkarom hospital. Because he was in critical condition, he was transferred to Rafidya hospital in Nablus. On the following day, May 7, 2001, at approximately 9:00 local time, Abu Tammam was pronounced dead. The wounded were:
1) Maram Riad Qrmash, 10, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee;
2) As’ad ‘Abdullah Abu Tabikh, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee;
3) ‘Ammar Fayeq Mahmoud ‘Oleyan, 10, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
4) Linda Lutfi Mansour ‘Atta, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
5) Hussein Yasser Hussein El-Sarghali, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye;
6) Sa’id Ghazi Mustafa Qattawi, 25, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg and thigh;
7) Siham ‘Atteya Abu Tammam, 40, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
8) We’am Radhi Ahmed Qarmash, 5, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg; and
9) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Qader Deroubi, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye.
Furthermore, the campus of Khadouri College was hit with several artillery shells. The campus was severely damaged as follows:
1) The laboratory of the Architecture Department and walls of other laboratories were destroyed;
2) Toilettes of students and a tore of the Architecture department were destroyed; and
3) Walls cracked and windows broke.
Moreover, the building of the industrial secondary school, adjacent to Khadouri College, and a house, owned by the Al-Tirawi family, were severely damaged.
28 apr 2001
At approximately 20:50 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in four military sites near Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that a moveable tower based on a lever was used during the shelling which lasted for half an hour.
A twelve-year-old child Hatem Mohammed El-Bardawil, was wounded with shrapnel in the left hand when he was near his family’s house, adjacent to Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
At approximately 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling the areas. The sporadic shelling lasted for one hour, during which ‘Ali Ahmed Ibrahim Saqer, 45, was wounded with a live bullet in the head, while he was one the balcony of his house in Zo’rob quarter, more than 1,000m away from Israeli occupation forces’ positions. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment. In addition, a number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 23:20 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Gani Tal settlement fired three artillery shells containing dart-like shrapnel at Al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. One of these shells fell onto a 250-square-meter house, in which 22 live, owned by Hassan ‘Ali Mousa Dababesh, located approximately 1,000m away from the aforementioned site.
The house’s asbestos roof and water saving tanks were damaged, and a wall of one room was potmarked by holes 10cm in diameter. Residents of the house were terrified; the wife and daughter fainted. The other two shells fell near an ice-cream factory owned by the family of El-Badrasawi, damaging the factory’s store and water saving tank.
In addition, Sa’id Yousef Dahlan, 25, was wounded with dart-like shrapnel in the right shoulder. He was evacuated to Al-Amal hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Khan Yunis.
At approximately 20:50 local time, Israeli occupation forces positioned in four military sites near Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp and Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that a moveable tower based on a lever was used during the shelling which lasted for half an hour.
A twelve-year-old child Hatem Mohammed El-Bardawil, was wounded with shrapnel in the left hand when he was near his family’s house, adjacent to Al-Nemsawi neighborhood.
At approximately 22:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces resumed shelling the areas. The sporadic shelling lasted for one hour, during which ‘Ali Ahmed Ibrahim Saqer, 45, was wounded with a live bullet in the head, while he was one the balcony of his house in Zo’rob quarter, more than 1,000m away from Israeli occupation forces’ positions. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment. In addition, a number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 23:20 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Gani Tal settlement fired three artillery shells containing dart-like shrapnel at Al-Amal neighborhood in the west of Khan Yunis. One of these shells fell onto a 250-square-meter house, in which 22 live, owned by Hassan ‘Ali Mousa Dababesh, located approximately 1,000m away from the aforementioned site.
The house’s asbestos roof and water saving tanks were damaged, and a wall of one room was potmarked by holes 10cm in diameter. Residents of the house were terrified; the wife and daughter fainted. The other two shells fell near an ice-cream factory owned by the family of El-Badrasawi, damaging the factory’s store and water saving tank.
In addition, Sa’id Yousef Dahlan, 25, was wounded with dart-like shrapnel in the right shoulder. He was evacuated to Al-Amal hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in Khan Yunis.
27 apr 2001
At approximately 6:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces in a military jeep near Kissufim Crossing, to the east of Khan Yunis, fired on Ismail ‘Oudeh Abu Roumia, 37, from Al-Qarara village near Khan Yunis, seriously wounding him. He was evacuated to Soruka hospital in Israel for treatment. According to PCHR’s investigation, Abu Roumia, who is psychologically ill, crossed Israeli barbwiress on Al-Shuhada’ (Kissufim) road, connecting Gush Qatif settlement block and Israel, through Kissufim Crossing.
Abu Roumia proceeded walking on the road. Then, two Israeli military jeeps arrived-- one coming from the east and the other coming from the west. Abu Roumia was trapped between the two jeeps, approximately 10m from each. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired more than 10 live bullets at him. He fell to the ground, where he lay bleeding for 15 minutes. Then, an Israeli ambulance came to the area and evacuated him to Soruka hospital in Israel, according to sources of the Palestinian Liaison Forces. The nature of his wounds was not clear.
After the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians in Ramallah and Al-Bireh organized a demonstration, in protest to Israeli occupation forces’ crimes. The demonstration moved toward the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. There, clashes erupted between them and Israeli occupation forces, positioned near the City Inn hotel.
The Israeli forces opened fire, wounding two Palestinian civilians. In addition, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces was wounded with a live bullet fired by the Israeli forces. He was near the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 500m away from the Israeli forces. He did not participate in clashes and was shot when a military jeep of these forces burst into areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority and fired at him. The wounded were as follows:
1) Kamel ‘Abdel-Qader Zeidan, 52, from Bir Nabala in Ramallah, wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder;
2) Mohammed Mustafa Khader, 21, from Bitounia in Ramallah, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh. He is still receiving medical care in the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital; and
3) Ashraf Ahmed El-Qerinawi, 21, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 14:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, opened fire on Palestinian children demonstrating more than 150m away. Ten children were wounded as follows:
1) ‘Omar ‘Essam El-Nawajha, 13, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
2) Mohammed Nayef ‘Oudeh, 13, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
3) Mohammed Ziad Kassab, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
4) Mohammed Talal Abu Sidu, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
5) Ismail Ehsan El-Jamleh, 14, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
6) ‘Alla’ ‘Ammar El-Za’noun, 18, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye and the head;
7) Mohammed Saber ‘Ambar, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
8) Ibrahim Sha’ban Abu Sha’ban, 17, from Al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;
9) Maysara, Kamal Abu Riala, 21, Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee; and
10) Shadi Zuhair El-Dhib, 10, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Kfar Darom settlement east of Deir El-Balah, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses north and west of the settlement. A member of the Palestinian National Security Forces and a civilian were wounded and a number of houses were partially damaged. The wounded were:
1) Yousef Taleb Moshref, 22, from Deir El-Balah, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with artillery shell shrapnel in the right thigh, when he was in a Palestinian security site, approximately 200m to the north of the settlement; and
2) Khalil Salman Bashir, 50, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with artillery shell shrapnel in the head and the neck, when he was inside his house located a few meters a way from the settlement. Bashir’s house has been frequently shelled by the Israeli occupation forces.
In his testimony to PCHR, Bashir said that in the afternoon, four CNN reporters climbed atop his three-story house and started to film Kfar Darom settlement. Then, an Israeli occupation forces officer prevented them from filming the settlement and tried to seize their videotapes. The Israeli soldiers claimed that the first story of the house was in area “A” (under full control of the Palestinian National Authority) and the second and third stories were in area “C” (under control by the Israeli occupation forces), and that filming from this area requires the permission of the Israeli occupation forces.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip, shelled site 10 of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the border. Three artillery shells hit the site, making holes 20cm in diameter in its walls, and three members of the site were wounded as follows:
1) Mahmoud Rezeq Safi, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
2) Suleiman Rezeq Abu Mandil, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the legs; and
3) ‘Obeid Abu ‘Oreiban, 50, wounded with shrapnel in the face, the chest and the back.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in four military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp.
The shelling lasted until midnight and resulted in severe damage to a number of houses.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Friday, April 27, 2001, at approximately 10:00 local time, a number of settlers from Kharsina settlement severely beat ‘Abdel-Majid Sultan, 60, from Hebron, injuring him in the right hand.
Settlers prevented the access of Palestinian farmers to their farms in Tallat Al-Boweira area in the east of Hebron. Under full protection of the Israeli occupation forces, settlers closed all dirt roads leading to these farms.
PCHR learned that settlers also beat journalist Nayef El-Hashlamoun, 40, a freelance cameraman, while he was filming attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians.
At approximately 6:40 local time, Israeli occupation forces in a military jeep near Kissufim Crossing, to the east of Khan Yunis, fired on Ismail ‘Oudeh Abu Roumia, 37, from Al-Qarara village near Khan Yunis, seriously wounding him. He was evacuated to Soruka hospital in Israel for treatment. According to PCHR’s investigation, Abu Roumia, who is psychologically ill, crossed Israeli barbwiress on Al-Shuhada’ (Kissufim) road, connecting Gush Qatif settlement block and Israel, through Kissufim Crossing.
Abu Roumia proceeded walking on the road. Then, two Israeli military jeeps arrived-- one coming from the east and the other coming from the west. Abu Roumia was trapped between the two jeeps, approximately 10m from each. Immediately, Israeli soldiers fired more than 10 live bullets at him. He fell to the ground, where he lay bleeding for 15 minutes. Then, an Israeli ambulance came to the area and evacuated him to Soruka hospital in Israel, according to sources of the Palestinian Liaison Forces. The nature of his wounds was not clear.
After the Friday prayer, Palestinian civilians in Ramallah and Al-Bireh organized a demonstration, in protest to Israeli occupation forces’ crimes. The demonstration moved toward the northern entrance of Al-Bireh. There, clashes erupted between them and Israeli occupation forces, positioned near the City Inn hotel.
The Israeli forces opened fire, wounding two Palestinian civilians. In addition, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces was wounded with a live bullet fired by the Israeli forces. He was near the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 500m away from the Israeli forces. He did not participate in clashes and was shot when a military jeep of these forces burst into areas under control by the Palestinian National Authority and fired at him. The wounded were as follows:
1) Kamel ‘Abdel-Qader Zeidan, 52, from Bir Nabala in Ramallah, wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder;
2) Mohammed Mustafa Khader, 21, from Bitounia in Ramallah, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh. He is still receiving medical care in the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital; and
3) Ashraf Ahmed El-Qerinawi, 21, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder.
At approximately 14:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers south of Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, east of Gaza City, opened fire on Palestinian children demonstrating more than 150m away. Ten children were wounded as follows:
1) ‘Omar ‘Essam El-Nawajha, 13, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
2) Mohammed Nayef ‘Oudeh, 13, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
3) Mohammed Ziad Kassab, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh;
4) Mohammed Talal Abu Sidu, 17, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
5) Ismail Ehsan El-Jamleh, 14, from Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
6) ‘Alla’ ‘Ammar El-Za’noun, 18, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with shrapnel in the right eye and the head;
7) Mohammed Saber ‘Ambar, 16, from Jabalya refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right shoulder;
8) Ibrahim Sha’ban Abu Sha’ban, 17, from Al-Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee;
9) Maysara, Kamal Abu Riala, 21, Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left knee; and
10) Shadi Zuhair El-Dhib, 10, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 20:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned near Kfar Darom settlement east of Deir El-Balah, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses north and west of the settlement. A member of the Palestinian National Security Forces and a civilian were wounded and a number of houses were partially damaged. The wounded were:
1) Yousef Taleb Moshref, 22, from Deir El-Balah, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with artillery shell shrapnel in the right thigh, when he was in a Palestinian security site, approximately 200m to the north of the settlement; and
2) Khalil Salman Bashir, 50, from Deir El-Balah, wounded with artillery shell shrapnel in the head and the neck, when he was inside his house located a few meters a way from the settlement. Bashir’s house has been frequently shelled by the Israeli occupation forces.
In his testimony to PCHR, Bashir said that in the afternoon, four CNN reporters climbed atop his three-story house and started to film Kfar Darom settlement. Then, an Israeli occupation forces officer prevented them from filming the settlement and tried to seize their videotapes. The Israeli soldiers claimed that the first story of the house was in area “A” (under full control of the Palestinian National Authority) and the second and third stories were in area “C” (under control by the Israeli occupation forces), and that filming from this area requires the permission of the Israeli occupation forces.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the middle of the Gaza Strip, shelled site 10 of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the border. Three artillery shells hit the site, making holes 20cm in diameter in its walls, and three members of the site were wounded as follows:
1) Mahmoud Rezeq Safi, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
2) Suleiman Rezeq Abu Mandil, 27, wounded with shrapnel in the legs; and
3) ‘Obeid Abu ‘Oreiban, 50, wounded with shrapnel in the face, the chest and the back.
At approximately 22:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in four military sites in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp.
The shelling lasted until midnight and resulted in severe damage to a number of houses.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Friday, April 27, 2001, at approximately 10:00 local time, a number of settlers from Kharsina settlement severely beat ‘Abdel-Majid Sultan, 60, from Hebron, injuring him in the right hand.
Settlers prevented the access of Palestinian farmers to their farms in Tallat Al-Boweira area in the east of Hebron. Under full protection of the Israeli occupation forces, settlers closed all dirt roads leading to these farms.
PCHR learned that settlers also beat journalist Nayef El-Hashlamoun, 40, a freelance cameraman, while he was filming attacks by settlers against Palestinian civilians.
26 apr 2001
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on top of a Palestinian house, owned by the Abu Khousa family, in Al-Moghraqa area south of Gaza City, opened fire on Palestinian civilians, who were 400m away, inside Palestinian National Authority controlled areas. The house had been seized by the Israeli occupation forces at the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada.
As a result, Mahmoud Mohammed Madhi, 34, from Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the right forearm. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment.
At approximately 18:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers in military jeep that was travelling on Qalandya-Givat Z’eiv road, west of Qalandya, shot at Zuhair Mohammed Yousef Nasser, 40, from Safa village near Ramallah, wounding him with a live bullet in the left leg. Nasser was shot at when he got out of his car to go to toilette.
He was fired upon when there were no clashes in the area. According to medical sources at Ramallah hospital, where he was evacuated, the live bullet severed an artery in Nasser’s leg, so he had to undergo surgery.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned on top of a Palestinian house, owned by the Abu Khousa family, in Al-Moghraqa area south of Gaza City, opened fire on Palestinian civilians, who were 400m away, inside Palestinian National Authority controlled areas. The house had been seized by the Israeli occupation forces at the beginning of the al-Aqsa intifada.
As a result, Mahmoud Mohammed Madhi, 34, from Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the right forearm. He was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for treatment.
At approximately 18:15 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers in military jeep that was travelling on Qalandya-Givat Z’eiv road, west of Qalandya, shot at Zuhair Mohammed Yousef Nasser, 40, from Safa village near Ramallah, wounding him with a live bullet in the left leg. Nasser was shot at when he got out of his car to go to toilette.
He was fired upon when there were no clashes in the area. According to medical sources at Ramallah hospital, where he was evacuated, the live bullet severed an artery in Nasser’s leg, so he had to undergo surgery.