23 may 2001
At approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp. A number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 14:30 local time, three tanks and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupation forces broke into Block “L” (Yebna refugee camp) in Rafah, adjacent to the border with Egypt. They entered 20-50m inside the refugee camp. Palestinian National Security Forces confronted the Israeli forces, which fired artillery shells containing dart-like objects at Palestinian civilians and houses.
As a result of such shelling, which lasted until 18:00 local time, 38 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded as follows:
1) Sujoud Ayman Abu Taha, 4 months, wounded with shrapnel in the arms;
2) Rowaida Ayman Abu Taha, 1½, wounded shrapnel in the left leg;
3) Eyad Samhan El-Sha’er, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
4) Maha Tal’at Zannoun, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
5) Tariq Mohammed El-Shakhrit, 6, received bruises in the left foot while he was trying to escape;
6) Islam Mohammed El-Shakhrit, 11, received bruises in the right leg while he was trying to escape;
7) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Karim Zo’rob, 11, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
8) ‘Abdel-Karim ‘Ali Joudeh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
9) Jihad Jamal Joudeh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
10) Mohammed Ahmed Jarbou’, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the shoulder;
11) Rami ‘Ali Saleh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
12) ‘Abdullah Marwan El-Rekhawi, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
13) Mohammed Nabil Abu Jazar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the in the neck;
14) ‘Abdullah Mohammed El-Mughrabi, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
15) Mohammed Ibrahim Abu ‘Anza, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
16) Jebril Hussein Al-Najjar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm and thigh;
17) ‘Eissa Ismail ‘Aashour, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the right leg;
18) Yousef Ibrahim ‘Azara, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
19) ‘Omar Mahmoud ‘Eid, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm;
20) Yasser Ahmed Abu Muhsin, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
21) Shadi Yahia ‘Awadallah, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder;
22) Wa’el Ibrahim El-Masri, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
23) ‘Arafa ‘Abdel-Dayem El-Houbi, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
24) Mahmoud Ibrahim Radwan, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the testes and the thighs;
25) Mahmoud Rashid ‘Abdel-Hafiz, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the right foot;
26) ‘Abdel-Rahim Mohammed ‘Aashour, 37, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
27) Ashraf Fathi Abu Hilal, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand;
28) Ghaleb Zuhair El-Mughayer, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
29) Yasser Mohammed El-Neshassi, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm and the left leg;
30) Mahmoud Hamed El-Sabe’, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
31) Mahmoud Dhiab El-Derbi, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the right knee;
32) Radwan Ahmed Abu Hassanein, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
33) ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu Taqeia, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the face, the chest and the right leg;
34) Eyad Jamal Abu Hilal, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
35) Mousa Subhi Abu S’oud, 32, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
36) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahim Abu El-Foul, 36, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
37) Hani ‘Abdel-Fattah ‘Oleyan, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the chest; and
38) Ayman Khalil Abu Lebdeh, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder.
At approximately 20:00 local time, tanks of the Israeli occupation forces came to the border in Rafah again and opened fire on Palestinian houses in Block “L” and Block “O,” adjacent to the border. Five civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Nabil Ziada, 2, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
2) Marwan Maysara Ghuneim, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
3) ‘Ali Wa’el El-Nejili, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the neck;
4) Tariq Zakaria Zannoun, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee; and
5) Mohammed Anwar Siam, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder.
War crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which increased upon the coming of war criminal Ariel Sharon into power in Israel in last February and peaked with the employment of F-16 Fighters, necessitate an immediate international intervention to put an end to such crimes.
PCHR sees that these crimes would not have taken place if the international community had taken a crucial position towards Israel. The conspiracy of silence by the international community, especially the USA and Europe, encourages Israel to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people. What is the price that the Palestinian people have to pay in order to push the international community to intervene? does the world wait for large-scaled massacres in order to take a positive position towards providing protection for the Palestinian people, or are developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the past eight months, accompanied with systematic escalation in the use of excessive force by the Israeli occupation forces, not enough for the international convention to consider immediate intervention to stop massacres and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, which will inevitably continue in light of the continued international conspiracy of silence?
At approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp. A number of houses were damaged.
At approximately 14:30 local time, three tanks and a bulldozer of the Israeli occupation forces broke into Block “L” (Yebna refugee camp) in Rafah, adjacent to the border with Egypt. They entered 20-50m inside the refugee camp. Palestinian National Security Forces confronted the Israeli forces, which fired artillery shells containing dart-like objects at Palestinian civilians and houses.
As a result of such shelling, which lasted until 18:00 local time, 38 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded as follows:
1) Sujoud Ayman Abu Taha, 4 months, wounded with shrapnel in the arms;
2) Rowaida Ayman Abu Taha, 1½, wounded shrapnel in the left leg;
3) Eyad Samhan El-Sha’er, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
4) Maha Tal’at Zannoun, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
5) Tariq Mohammed El-Shakhrit, 6, received bruises in the left foot while he was trying to escape;
6) Islam Mohammed El-Shakhrit, 11, received bruises in the right leg while he was trying to escape;
7) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Karim Zo’rob, 11, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
8) ‘Abdel-Karim ‘Ali Joudeh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
9) Jihad Jamal Joudeh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
10) Mohammed Ahmed Jarbou’, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the shoulder;
11) Rami ‘Ali Saleh, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
12) ‘Abdullah Marwan El-Rekhawi, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
13) Mohammed Nabil Abu Jazar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the in the neck;
14) ‘Abdullah Mohammed El-Mughrabi, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
15) Mohammed Ibrahim Abu ‘Anza, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
16) Jebril Hussein Al-Najjar, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm and thigh;
17) ‘Eissa Ismail ‘Aashour, 14, wounded with shrapnel in the head and the right leg;
18) Yousef Ibrahim ‘Azara, 16, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
19) ‘Omar Mahmoud ‘Eid, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm;
20) Yasser Ahmed Abu Muhsin, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
21) Shadi Yahia ‘Awadallah, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder;
22) Wa’el Ibrahim El-Masri, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the face;
23) ‘Arafa ‘Abdel-Dayem El-Houbi, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
24) Mahmoud Ibrahim Radwan, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the testes and the thighs;
25) Mahmoud Rashid ‘Abdel-Hafiz, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the right foot;
26) ‘Abdel-Rahim Mohammed ‘Aashour, 37, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
27) Ashraf Fathi Abu Hilal, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the right hand;
28) Ghaleb Zuhair El-Mughayer, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the left arm;
29) Yasser Mohammed El-Neshassi, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the right arm and the left leg;
30) Mahmoud Hamed El-Sabe’, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
31) Mahmoud Dhiab El-Derbi, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the right knee;
32) Radwan Ahmed Abu Hassanein, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the head;
33) ‘Ali Mahmoud Abu Taqeia, 26, wounded with shrapnel in the face, the chest and the right leg;
34) Eyad Jamal Abu Hilal, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
35) Mousa Subhi Abu S’oud, 32, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
36) Mohammed ‘Abdel-Rahim Abu El-Foul, 36, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
37) Hani ‘Abdel-Fattah ‘Oleyan, 22, wounded with shrapnel in the chest; and
38) Ayman Khalil Abu Lebdeh, 31, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder.
At approximately 20:00 local time, tanks of the Israeli occupation forces came to the border in Rafah again and opened fire on Palestinian houses in Block “L” and Block “O,” adjacent to the border. Five civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Nabil Ziada, 2, wounded with shrapnel in the left leg;
2) Marwan Maysara Ghuneim, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the right leg;
3) ‘Ali Wa’el El-Nejili, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the neck;
4) Tariq Zakaria Zannoun, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the left knee; and
5) Mohammed Anwar Siam, 18, wounded with shrapnel in the right shoulder.
War crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which increased upon the coming of war criminal Ariel Sharon into power in Israel in last February and peaked with the employment of F-16 Fighters, necessitate an immediate international intervention to put an end to such crimes.
PCHR sees that these crimes would not have taken place if the international community had taken a crucial position towards Israel. The conspiracy of silence by the international community, especially the USA and Europe, encourages Israel to commit more crimes against the Palestinian people. What is the price that the Palestinian people have to pay in order to push the international community to intervene? does the world wait for large-scaled massacres in order to take a positive position towards providing protection for the Palestinian people, or are developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the past eight months, accompanied with systematic escalation in the use of excessive force by the Israeli occupation forces, not enough for the international convention to consider immediate intervention to stop massacres and crimes committed by the Israeli occupation forces, which will inevitably continue in light of the continued international conspiracy of silence?
22 may 2001
At approximately 13:00 local time, the child ‘Ali Saleh Mohammed Mahanna, 14, from Hebron, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right arm, when Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating near demarcation lines in Hebron.
Mahanna did not participate in such demonstration. He was evacuated to ‘Alia hospital in Hebron for treatment.
At approximately 17:00 local time, the child Ramzi Ibrahim ‘Arram, 15, from Rafah, was wounded with a live bullet in the pelvis that caused a cut in an artery, fired by the Israeli occupation forces. The child was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for he was in serious condition.
According to PCHR’s investigation, the child was playing with his friends in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in the southwest of Rafah, approximately 200m away from Slao settlement. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from a tank positioned near thw aforementioned settlements on children when the area did not witness any clashes.
At approximately 22:45 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Such shelling lasted sporadically for 45 minutes.
A number of houses were damaged, but no injuries were reported.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Tuesday, May 22, 2001, settlers attcked a Palestinian civilian car at a road between Hawara junction and Yitzhar settlement in Nablus. They threw stones and iron bars at the car, severely damaging it and breaking its glass. Its driver ‘Abdullah Sueliman ‘Emari, 36, from Faqou’a village in Jenin survived the incident.
Approximately two hours later, a number of settlers of Sheilah settlement, to the west of Bardala village in Toubas, fired at Methqal Mohammed Fuqaha, 46, when he was grazing his sheep. He was not injured, but three sheep were killed.
At approximately 13:00 local time, the child ‘Ali Saleh Mohammed Mahanna, 14, from Hebron, was wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right arm, when Israeli occupation soldiers fired at a number of Palestinian children who were demonstrating near demarcation lines in Hebron.
Mahanna did not participate in such demonstration. He was evacuated to ‘Alia hospital in Hebron for treatment.
At approximately 17:00 local time, the child Ramzi Ibrahim ‘Arram, 15, from Rafah, was wounded with a live bullet in the pelvis that caused a cut in an artery, fired by the Israeli occupation forces. The child was evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for he was in serious condition.
According to PCHR’s investigation, the child was playing with his friends in Tal Al-Sultan neighborhood in the southwest of Rafah, approximately 200m away from Slao settlement. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from a tank positioned near thw aforementioned settlements on children when the area did not witness any clashes.
At approximately 22:45 local time, the Israeli occupation forces shelled fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Such shelling lasted sporadically for 45 minutes.
A number of houses were damaged, but no injuries were reported.
Attacks by Settlers against Palestinian Civilians
On Tuesday, May 22, 2001, settlers attcked a Palestinian civilian car at a road between Hawara junction and Yitzhar settlement in Nablus. They threw stones and iron bars at the car, severely damaging it and breaking its glass. Its driver ‘Abdullah Sueliman ‘Emari, 36, from Faqou’a village in Jenin survived the incident.
Approximately two hours later, a number of settlers of Sheilah settlement, to the west of Bardala village in Toubas, fired at Methqal Mohammed Fuqaha, 46, when he was grazing his sheep. He was not injured, but three sheep were killed.
21 may 2001
At approximately 3:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of Al-Boreij refugee camp in the middle area of the Gaza Strip, opened fire on two Palestinians, a civilian and a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, and killed them. The two martyrs are:
3) Ahmed ‘Ayyad Abu Khousa, 45, a civilian living approximately 700m to the west of the border, killed with several live bullets throughout the body; and
4) Ahmed ‘Awad Abu ‘Ajami, 29, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, killed with several live bullets throughout the body.
Circumstances of the incident are not clear, since there were no eyewitnesses at such early time in the morning. Nevertheless, according to PCHR’s preliminary investigation, the two martyrs were fired at when they were approximately 300m to the west of the border, and the Israeli occupation forces then broke into the area and took the bodies of martyrs. At approximately 14:30 local time, the Israeli forces handed the bodies to the Palestinian side at offices of military liaison.
At approximately 00:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime in Hebron, when they fired heavy and light bullets at ‘Alia hospital in the city. The hospital is approximately 500m away from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces in Ramat Yishai settlement inside Hebron.
A patient, Majdoulin Sha’ban El-Ra’ei 22, from Al-‘Arroub refugee camp near Hebron, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen that cut the liver and the diaphragm before it settled in the left lung. El-Ra’ei was receiving treatment from pains in the stomach. She was wounded when she was moving from the toilette to her bed.
At approximately 2:00 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces shelled two factories in Gaza City, severely damaging them and a number of nearby houses and civilian facilities. Combat helicopters targeted a 250-square-meter factory in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City that produces machines designed to cut marble and wood, owned by Sa’id Ibrahim El-‘Ashi. That factory was hit with 5 rockets that caused the following damage:
1) Two ovens of iron fusion were destroyed.
2) An air pump was destroyed.
3) Two electric generators were destroyed.
4) A lathe designed to gather produced materials was destroyed.
5) Walls of a metallurgic shop cracked and were holed, and its asbestos roof was destroyed.
Combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces also targeted a 600-square-meter marble factory also in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, owned by Salim Ahmed El-Derimalli. The factory was hit with three rockets that caused the following damage:
1) Two machines designed to cut marble were destroyed.
2) A machine designed to wash marble was destroyed.
3) Electricity and water networks were destroyed.
4) An administrative building was destroyed.
5) Two pools used is washing marble were destroyed.
6) Walls cracked and a large part of the factory’s asbestos roof was destroyed.
Furthermore, walls of a store of bath equipment cracked and some of its goods were destroyed.
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Avraham Avino settlement center and in military sites on Johar Mount inside Hebron, opened fire on Abu Sneineh and Al-Takrouri neighborhoods.
Such shelling lasted for two hours, during which Ra’ed Abu Sneineh, 14, was injured with shrapnel in the right leg, and Suha Subhi El-Sharif, 35, was injured with shrapnel in the head. Furthermore, a number of houses were severely damaged.
At approximately 13:30 local time, four tanks of the Israeli occupation forces broke 800m into a residential neighborhood in Al-Qarara village, under full control by the Israeli occupation forces. During such action, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and live bullets at Palestinian houses and civilians. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed ‘Omar Mohammed El-Astal, 13, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
2) Samir Fawzi Abu ‘Oweili, 28, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand;
3) Ismail ‘Abdel-Sami’ ‘Abdel-Ghafour, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead; and
4) Mahmoud ‘Abed El-‘Abadleh, 70, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yuis reported that an artillery shell hit Al-Salam mosque in the village and made a hole 25cm in diameter in its western side. Another artillery shell hit an electricity tower and destroyed it. Furthermore, façades of a number of houses were severely damaged after having been hit with live bullets.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site in Kokav Yacob settlement to the southwest of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Sateh Mathaba neighborhood in Al-Bireh. A number of houses were severely damaged.
At approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site at a bypass road between Beit Eil and Doleb settlement, fired artillery shells at Palestinian houses in Al-Tira neighborhood in the west of Ramallah. Fire broke out in some trees of a farm in the area.
Also at approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement to the northwest of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Façades of a number of houses were damaged, and two Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:
1) Zaher Ahmed El-Qedra, 30, injured with shrapnel in the right hand; and
2) Mohammed Fadhel Mabrouk, 26, injured with shrapnel in the right forearm.
At approximately 3:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border east of Al-Boreij refugee camp in the middle area of the Gaza Strip, opened fire on two Palestinians, a civilian and a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, and killed them. The two martyrs are:
3) Ahmed ‘Ayyad Abu Khousa, 45, a civilian living approximately 700m to the west of the border, killed with several live bullets throughout the body; and
4) Ahmed ‘Awad Abu ‘Ajami, 29, a member of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service, killed with several live bullets throughout the body.
Circumstances of the incident are not clear, since there were no eyewitnesses at such early time in the morning. Nevertheless, according to PCHR’s preliminary investigation, the two martyrs were fired at when they were approximately 300m to the west of the border, and the Israeli occupation forces then broke into the area and took the bodies of martyrs. At approximately 14:30 local time, the Israeli forces handed the bodies to the Palestinian side at offices of military liaison.
At approximately 00:30 local time, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime in Hebron, when they fired heavy and light bullets at ‘Alia hospital in the city. The hospital is approximately 500m away from military sites of the Israeli occupation forces in Ramat Yishai settlement inside Hebron.
A patient, Majdoulin Sha’ban El-Ra’ei 22, from Al-‘Arroub refugee camp near Hebron, was wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen that cut the liver and the diaphragm before it settled in the left lung. El-Ra’ei was receiving treatment from pains in the stomach. She was wounded when she was moving from the toilette to her bed.
At approximately 2:00 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces shelled two factories in Gaza City, severely damaging them and a number of nearby houses and civilian facilities. Combat helicopters targeted a 250-square-meter factory in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City that produces machines designed to cut marble and wood, owned by Sa’id Ibrahim El-‘Ashi. That factory was hit with 5 rockets that caused the following damage:
1) Two ovens of iron fusion were destroyed.
2) An air pump was destroyed.
3) Two electric generators were destroyed.
4) A lathe designed to gather produced materials was destroyed.
5) Walls of a metallurgic shop cracked and were holed, and its asbestos roof was destroyed.
Combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces also targeted a 600-square-meter marble factory also in Al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City, owned by Salim Ahmed El-Derimalli. The factory was hit with three rockets that caused the following damage:
1) Two machines designed to cut marble were destroyed.
2) A machine designed to wash marble was destroyed.
3) Electricity and water networks were destroyed.
4) An administrative building was destroyed.
5) Two pools used is washing marble were destroyed.
6) Walls cracked and a large part of the factory’s asbestos roof was destroyed.
Furthermore, walls of a store of bath equipment cracked and some of its goods were destroyed.
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Avraham Avino settlement center and in military sites on Johar Mount inside Hebron, opened fire on Abu Sneineh and Al-Takrouri neighborhoods.
Such shelling lasted for two hours, during which Ra’ed Abu Sneineh, 14, was injured with shrapnel in the right leg, and Suha Subhi El-Sharif, 35, was injured with shrapnel in the head. Furthermore, a number of houses were severely damaged.
At approximately 13:30 local time, four tanks of the Israeli occupation forces broke 800m into a residential neighborhood in Al-Qarara village, under full control by the Israeli occupation forces. During such action, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and live bullets at Palestinian houses and civilians. Four Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed ‘Omar Mohammed El-Astal, 13, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
2) Samir Fawzi Abu ‘Oweili, 28, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand;
3) Ismail ‘Abdel-Sami’ ‘Abdel-Ghafour, 23, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead; and
4) Mahmoud ‘Abed El-‘Abadleh, 70, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yuis reported that an artillery shell hit Al-Salam mosque in the village and made a hole 25cm in diameter in its western side. Another artillery shell hit an electricity tower and destroyed it. Furthermore, façades of a number of houses were severely damaged after having been hit with live bullets.
At approximately 15:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site in Kokav Yacob settlement to the southwest of Al-Bireh, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Sateh Mathaba neighborhood in Al-Bireh. A number of houses were severely damaged.
At approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site at a bypass road between Beit Eil and Doleb settlement, fired artillery shells at Palestinian houses in Al-Tira neighborhood in the west of Ramallah. Fire broke out in some trees of a farm in the area.
Also at approximately 23:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in a military site in the vicinity of Gani Tal settlement to the northwest of Khan Yunis, fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Façades of a number of houses were damaged, and two Palestinian civilians were injured as follows:
1) Zaher Ahmed El-Qedra, 30, injured with shrapnel in the right hand; and
2) Mohammed Fadhel Mabrouk, 26, injured with shrapnel in the right forearm.
20 may 2001
At approximately 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets from their military sites in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and Al-Tuffah roadblock in the west of Khan Yunis and from tanks at the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Such shelling lasted for 30 minutes and was renewed at approximately 3:00 local time for another 20 minutes.
Most artillery shells fell onto two Palestinian houses that were frequently shelled during the past months.
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Psaagot settlement, to the east of Al-Bireh, fired heavy caliber bullets at the hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, approximately 1,000m away from the aforementioned settlement.
Shadi Nasser ‘Aayesh, 32, from Al-Jeep village in the northwest of Jerusalem, who was accompanying his sick wife at hospital, was wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder. Furthermore, windows of the eastern façade of the hospital broke.
At approximately 18:50 local time, Colonel Jebril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service in the West Bank, miraculously survived, when his house in Al-Bireh was shelled by the Israeli occupation forces. Colonel Rajoub was in his house which was hit with artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces positioned in military sites to the north of the city.
Two bodyguards of Colonel Rajoub and four guards of the houses were slightly injured with shrapnel, and walls and windows of the house were severely damaged.
At approximately 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces fired artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets from their military sites in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and Al-Tuffah roadblock in the west of Khan Yunis and from tanks at the western part of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Such shelling lasted for 30 minutes and was renewed at approximately 3:00 local time for another 20 minutes.
Most artillery shells fell onto two Palestinian houses that were frequently shelled during the past months.
At approximately 16:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Psaagot settlement, to the east of Al-Bireh, fired heavy caliber bullets at the hospital of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, approximately 1,000m away from the aforementioned settlement.
Shadi Nasser ‘Aayesh, 32, from Al-Jeep village in the northwest of Jerusalem, who was accompanying his sick wife at hospital, was wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder. Furthermore, windows of the eastern façade of the hospital broke.
At approximately 18:50 local time, Colonel Jebril Rajoub, head of the Palestinian Preventive Security Service in the West Bank, miraculously survived, when his house in Al-Bireh was shelled by the Israeli occupation forces. Colonel Rajoub was in his house which was hit with artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets fired by Israeli occupation forces positioned in military sites to the north of the city.
Two bodyguards of Colonel Rajoub and four guards of the houses were slightly injured with shrapnel, and walls and windows of the house were severely damaged.
19 may 2001
At approximately 6:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a patrol of the Palestinian President’s Guard (Force 17) in Bitounia in Ramallah, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority.
A member of Force 17, Ahmed Fakhri Jebril, 18, from Salfit, was seriously wounded with a live bullet that entered the right shoulder and settled above the heart. PCHR learned that such shooting was sudden when the area did not witness any clashes, and that the patrol of Force 17 was approximately 300m away from those Israeli soldiers who were positioned top of a Palestinian building they seized a few weeks ago.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime of willful killing. At approximately 7:15 local time, an undercover unit of the Israeli occupation forces sneaked towards a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces. While the area did not witness any clashes, members of the unit opened fire on Palestinian security men from a distance of approximately 200m and withdrew to their military sites, approximately 1,500m to the west of the Palestinian post.
First lieutenant Fawaz Hussein Ahmed El-Damaj, 35, from Jenin refugee camp, was killed with three live bullets in the chest, and soldier Mohammed Khalil Hassan Dalloul, 26, from Seilat Al-Harthia village, was seriously wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder.
Also in the morning, the Israeli occupation forces committed another crime of willful killing. At approximately 8:45 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian farmers.
Tayseer ‘Awadh Ismail El-‘Ar’ir, 30, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed with four live bullets in the head and the chest. According to PCHR’s investigation, El-‘Ar’ir went with his father and a number of relatives to the family’s farm, approximately 200m to the west of the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. According to the victim’s father, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the border, opened fire on them suddenly and when the area did not witness any clashes.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a military roadblock at the southern entrance of Nablus, opened fire on Palestinian civilians who were participating in the funeral ceremonies of 11 Palestinians who were killed in Nablus on the previous day. Hammam Salim ‘Abdel-Haq, 20, from Nablus, a student of An-Najah National University, was killed with a live bullet in the head. Furthermore, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Yousef Ibrahim ‘Azziz, 25, from Balata refugee camp, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head;
2) Nidal Mufid Ahmed Zablah, 13, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) ‘Abdel-Qader ‘Abdel-Ra’ouf El-‘Aaidi, 35, from Askar refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
4) Bassam Nassouh El-Qassas, 19, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot; and
5) ‘Ammar Suleiman Ghanem, 29, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand.
Also in the afternoon, a number of Palestinian civilians demonstrated near Al-Shallala Street in the middle of Hebron, in protest to the barbarian raids on Palestinian cities by the Israeli occupation forces on Friday, May 18, 2001. Israeli occupation soldiers fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at demonstrators. Five were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Badawi Khalil Halahla, 18, wounded with an explosive live bullet in the right thigh;
2) Ussama Yasser ‘Amru, 15, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg;
3) Bassam Yahia Ahmaru, 33, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
4) Mehiar Sharif El-‘Ajlouni, 16, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and
5) Tha’er ‘Oudeh El-‘Allami, wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right leg.
At approximately 12:00 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces fired rockets at Palestinian security headquarters in Tulkarm and severely damaged them. More than 30 Palestinian security men were injured.
At approximately 12:15 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces fired four rockets at the headquarters of Force 17 in Jenin. The headquarters were severely damaged and four military vehicles were destroyed.
At approximately 12:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces opened fire from a military site in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and from tanks, positioned in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavu and medium caliber bullets at Al-Nemsawi neighborhood and a cemetery in Khan Yunis. Ibrahim Ahmed El-Shahari, 20, was wounded with a live bullet in the left leg. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that El-Shahari was inside a mosque in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood, approximately 1,000m away from the Israeli occupation forces.
Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses, including a number of housing units owned by Al-Farra Company, were damaged.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim and Gadid settlements in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets again at Palestinian houses in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood. Housing units owned by Al-Farra Company and a cemetery were damaged.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Ramat Yishai settlement inside Hebron, fired two artillery shells at a sports club in Bab Al-Zawia neighborhood. Akram Nemer Mussawda, 51, was injured with shrapnel in the left leg.
At approximately 24:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke 250m into Gizan Al-Najjar area in the southeast of Khan Yunis, approximately 200m to the north of Morag settlement. Then, armed confrontation broke out between members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and the Israeli occupation forces which indiscriminately fired heavy and medium caliber bullets indiscriminately.
Bullets hit Ibrahim Zeidan Al-Najjar, making holes 1-2cm in its eastern and southern façades. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the area at approximately 4:00 local time on the following day, Sunday, May 20, 2001. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli occupation forces broke into the same area on Tuesday, May 15, 2001, and raided the aforementioned house.
At approximately 6:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a patrol of the Palestinian President’s Guard (Force 17) in Bitounia in Ramallah, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority.
A member of Force 17, Ahmed Fakhri Jebril, 18, from Salfit, was seriously wounded with a live bullet that entered the right shoulder and settled above the heart. PCHR learned that such shooting was sudden when the area did not witness any clashes, and that the patrol of Force 17 was approximately 300m away from those Israeli soldiers who were positioned top of a Palestinian building they seized a few weeks ago.
In the morning, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime of willful killing. At approximately 7:15 local time, an undercover unit of the Israeli occupation forces sneaked towards a post of the Palestinian National Security Forces. While the area did not witness any clashes, members of the unit opened fire on Palestinian security men from a distance of approximately 200m and withdrew to their military sites, approximately 1,500m to the west of the Palestinian post.
First lieutenant Fawaz Hussein Ahmed El-Damaj, 35, from Jenin refugee camp, was killed with three live bullets in the chest, and soldier Mohammed Khalil Hassan Dalloul, 26, from Seilat Al-Harthia village, was seriously wounded with a live bullet in the shoulder.
Also in the morning, the Israeli occupation forces committed another crime of willful killing. At approximately 8:45 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a number of Palestinian farmers.
Tayseer ‘Awadh Ismail El-‘Ar’ir, 30, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, was killed with four live bullets in the head and the chest. According to PCHR’s investigation, El-‘Ar’ir went with his father and a number of relatives to the family’s farm, approximately 200m to the west of the eastern border of the Gaza Strip. According to the victim’s father, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at the border, opened fire on them suddenly and when the area did not witness any clashes.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation soldiers, positioned at a military roadblock at the southern entrance of Nablus, opened fire on Palestinian civilians who were participating in the funeral ceremonies of 11 Palestinians who were killed in Nablus on the previous day. Hammam Salim ‘Abdel-Haq, 20, from Nablus, a student of An-Najah National University, was killed with a live bullet in the head. Furthermore, 5 Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Yousef Ibrahim ‘Azziz, 25, from Balata refugee camp, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the head;
2) Nidal Mufid Ahmed Zablah, 13, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
3) ‘Abdel-Qader ‘Abdel-Ra’ouf El-‘Aaidi, 35, from Askar refugee camp, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg;
4) Bassam Nassouh El-Qassas, 19, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot; and
5) ‘Ammar Suleiman Ghanem, 29, from Nablus, wounded with a live bullet in the left hand.
Also in the afternoon, a number of Palestinian civilians demonstrated near Al-Shallala Street in the middle of Hebron, in protest to the barbarian raids on Palestinian cities by the Israeli occupation forces on Friday, May 18, 2001. Israeli occupation soldiers fired live ammunition and rubber-coated metal bullets at demonstrators. Five were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Badawi Khalil Halahla, 18, wounded with an explosive live bullet in the right thigh;
2) Ussama Yasser ‘Amru, 15, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the right leg;
3) Bassam Yahia Ahmaru, 33, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left foot;
4) Mehiar Sharif El-‘Ajlouni, 16, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the left thigh; and
5) Tha’er ‘Oudeh El-‘Allami, wounded with two rubber-coated metal bullets in the right leg.
At approximately 12:00 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces fired rockets at Palestinian security headquarters in Tulkarm and severely damaged them. More than 30 Palestinian security men were injured.
At approximately 12:15 local time, combat helicopters of the Israeli occupation forces fired four rockets at the headquarters of Force 17 in Jenin. The headquarters were severely damaged and four military vehicles were destroyed.
At approximately 12:30 local time, Israeli occupation forces opened fire from a military site in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim settlement and from tanks, positioned in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavu and medium caliber bullets at Al-Nemsawi neighborhood and a cemetery in Khan Yunis. Ibrahim Ahmed El-Shahari, 20, was wounded with a live bullet in the left leg. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that El-Shahari was inside a mosque in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood, approximately 1,000m away from the Israeli occupation forces.
Furthermore, a number of Palestinian houses, including a number of housing units owned by Al-Farra Company, were damaged.
At approximately 21:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Neve Dekalim and Gadid settlements in the west of Khan Yunis, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets again at Palestinian houses in Al-Nemsawi neighborhood. Housing units owned by Al-Farra Company and a cemetery were damaged.
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Ramat Yishai settlement inside Hebron, fired two artillery shells at a sports club in Bab Al-Zawia neighborhood. Akram Nemer Mussawda, 51, was injured with shrapnel in the left leg.
At approximately 24:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces broke 250m into Gizan Al-Najjar area in the southeast of Khan Yunis, approximately 200m to the north of Morag settlement. Then, armed confrontation broke out between members of the Palestinian National Security Forces and the Israeli occupation forces which indiscriminately fired heavy and medium caliber bullets indiscriminately.
Bullets hit Ibrahim Zeidan Al-Najjar, making holes 1-2cm in its eastern and southern façades. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that the Israeli occupation forces withdrew from the area at approximately 4:00 local time on the following day, Sunday, May 20, 2001. It is worth mentioning that the Israeli occupation forces broke into the same area on Tuesday, May 15, 2001, and raided the aforementioned house.
18 may 2001
At approximately 10:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling from Sarda village on a bypass road between Beit Eil settlement, to the north of Al-Bireh, and Doleb settlement, to the west of Ramallah. The four occupants of the car were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Yasser Subhi, 4, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
2) Subhi Mohammed Subhi, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet in the right shoulder;
3) Mustafa Mahmoud ‘Abdel-Ghani, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet in the right leg; and
4) Meriam ‘Abdel-Ghani, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet to the east of Gaza City, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children and young men, who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. Nine were wounded as follows:
1) Ibrahim Nayef Abu Thuraya, 11, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the left side and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Jamil Nasser ‘Assaf, 15, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
3) Mustafa Salem Nasser, 12, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
4) ‘Alla’ Saleh El-Wadeya, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
5) Mohammed Mohammed Tayeh, 16, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
6) Jihad Mohammed Hujeila, 13, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the head;
7) Mohammed Hafezh El-Zebdeh, 18, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
8) Mohammed ‘Aadel Kali, 12, from Al-Jala’ area in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg; and
9) Ahmed Mohammed El-Hajj Ahmed, 15, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the head.
Friday had been the bloodiest day in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada. In an unprecedented escalation in the use of excessive force, the Israeli occupation forces waged air raids, using F-16 fighter jets for the first time and Apatche combat helicopters, on a number of Palestinian security headquarters.
The most brutal air raids targeted Nablus. At approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on the headquarters of the Palestinian civil police and destroyed it completely. Eleven Palestinian police men were killed and more than 50 policemen and civilians were injured. The martyrs are:
1) Khaled ‘Eqab Mohammed Subeih, 21, from Tayaseer village in Tubas;
2) Ayman Ahmed Mohammed ‘Ali Khalil, 25, from Al-Naqoura village in Nablus;
3) Ref’at Haidar Dhiab Rabai’a, from Maithaloun village in Jenin;
4) Nasri Nasser Hassan Ya’qoub, 22, from Deir El-Hatab village in Nablus;
5) Mo’taz Nasser Sakher El-Khatib, 23, from Bourin village in Nablus;
6) Fadi Sa’id ‘Abdel-Rahim Hamed, 23, from Beit Dajan village in Nablus;
7) Ahmed Khaled Sadiq ‘Ali Khader, 25, from Qoussin village in Nablus;
8) Wa’el ‘Awadh ‘Abdel-Karim Abu Khader, 29, from Al-Jedaideh village in Jenin;
9) Fahed Khalaf Gharib El-Hariri Bani ‘Oudeh, 19, from Tammoun village in Jenin;
10) Rami Saleh ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Yassin, 20, from Assira village in Nablus; and
11) Nabil ‘Essam Ahmed Ismail, 20, from Deir El-Ghosoun village in Tulkarm.
At approximately 17:15 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on a post of the Palestinian President’s Guard (Force 17) in Ramallah and completely destroyed it.
A member of Force 17, Ismail Fatin Abu Rafi’, 24, from Jabalya refugee camp, was killed and another member, Khaled ‘Abed-Rabbu Mousa El-Astal, 19, from Khan Yunis, was seriously injured with shrapnel in the head. El-Astal was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday, May 22, 2001.
Furthermore, 6 Palestinian civilians were injured with shrapnel and some nervously broke down. A number of nearby civilian buildings were also severely damaged. Windows and doors of Grand Park and Rocki hotels, a three-story building of the Palestinian Communication Company, and a four-story building, in which 30 people live, broke.
At approximately 20:40 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on a post of the Palestinian Marine Police in Al-Soudania area to the west of Beit Lahia in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. Two buildings were completely destroyed.
Furthermore, a nearby horsing club was severely damaged as windows and roofs were destroyed. Ten Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City after they nervously broke down as a result of air raids.
At approximately 20:45 local time, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a post of Force 17 in Ansar compund in Gaza City, causing severe damage. At the same time, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a post of Force 17 and completely destroyed it.
At approximately 10:30 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire on a Palestinian civilian car that was traveling from Sarda village on a bypass road between Beit Eil settlement, to the north of Al-Bireh, and Doleb settlement, to the west of Ramallah. The four occupants of the car were wounded as follows:
1) Mohammed Yasser Subhi, 4, wounded with a live bullet in the buttocks;
2) Subhi Mohammed Subhi, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet in the right shoulder;
3) Mustafa Mahmoud ‘Abdel-Ghani, wounded with shrapnel of a live bullet in the right leg; and
4) Meriam ‘Abdel-Ghani, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet to the east of Gaza City, opened fire on a number of Palestinian children and young men, who were demonstrating approximately 150m away. Nine were wounded as follows:
1) Ibrahim Nayef Abu Thuraya, 11, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, seriously wounded with a live bullet in the left side and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City;
2) Jamil Nasser ‘Assaf, 15, from Al-Daraj neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh;
3) Mustafa Salem Nasser, 12, from Al-Shati refugee camp, wounded with a rubber-coated metal bullet in the head;
4) ‘Alla’ Saleh El-Wadeya, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right hand;
5) Mohammed Mohammed Tayeh, 16, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the abdomen;
6) Jihad Mohammed Hujeila, 13, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the head;
7) Mohammed Hafezh El-Zebdeh, 18, from Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg;
8) Mohammed ‘Aadel Kali, 12, from Al-Jala’ area in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right leg; and
9) Ahmed Mohammed El-Hajj Ahmed, 15, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the head.
Friday had been the bloodiest day in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since the outbreak of Al-Aqsa Intifada. In an unprecedented escalation in the use of excessive force, the Israeli occupation forces waged air raids, using F-16 fighter jets for the first time and Apatche combat helicopters, on a number of Palestinian security headquarters.
The most brutal air raids targeted Nablus. At approximately 17:30 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on the headquarters of the Palestinian civil police and destroyed it completely. Eleven Palestinian police men were killed and more than 50 policemen and civilians were injured. The martyrs are:
1) Khaled ‘Eqab Mohammed Subeih, 21, from Tayaseer village in Tubas;
2) Ayman Ahmed Mohammed ‘Ali Khalil, 25, from Al-Naqoura village in Nablus;
3) Ref’at Haidar Dhiab Rabai’a, from Maithaloun village in Jenin;
4) Nasri Nasser Hassan Ya’qoub, 22, from Deir El-Hatab village in Nablus;
5) Mo’taz Nasser Sakher El-Khatib, 23, from Bourin village in Nablus;
6) Fadi Sa’id ‘Abdel-Rahim Hamed, 23, from Beit Dajan village in Nablus;
7) Ahmed Khaled Sadiq ‘Ali Khader, 25, from Qoussin village in Nablus;
8) Wa’el ‘Awadh ‘Abdel-Karim Abu Khader, 29, from Al-Jedaideh village in Jenin;
9) Fahed Khalaf Gharib El-Hariri Bani ‘Oudeh, 19, from Tammoun village in Jenin;
10) Rami Saleh ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Yassin, 20, from Assira village in Nablus; and
11) Nabil ‘Essam Ahmed Ismail, 20, from Deir El-Ghosoun village in Tulkarm.
At approximately 17:15 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on a post of the Palestinian President’s Guard (Force 17) in Ramallah and completely destroyed it.
A member of Force 17, Ismail Fatin Abu Rafi’, 24, from Jabalya refugee camp, was killed and another member, Khaled ‘Abed-Rabbu Mousa El-Astal, 19, from Khan Yunis, was seriously injured with shrapnel in the head. El-Astal was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Ramallah hospital where he was pronounced dead on Tuesday, May 22, 2001.
Furthermore, 6 Palestinian civilians were injured with shrapnel and some nervously broke down. A number of nearby civilian buildings were also severely damaged. Windows and doors of Grand Park and Rocki hotels, a three-story building of the Palestinian Communication Company, and a four-story building, in which 30 people live, broke.
At approximately 20:40 local time, Israeli F-16 fighter jets raided on a post of the Palestinian Marine Police in Al-Soudania area to the west of Beit Lahia in the northern area of the Gaza Strip. Two buildings were completely destroyed.
Furthermore, a nearby horsing club was severely damaged as windows and roofs were destroyed. Ten Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City after they nervously broke down as a result of air raids.
At approximately 20:45 local time, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a post of Force 17 in Ansar compund in Gaza City, causing severe damage. At the same time, Israeli combat helicopters shelled a post of Force 17 and completely destroyed it.
17 may 2001
At approximately 4:15 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in military sites around Qalqqilya, opened fire on Palestinian houses in the western part of the city, and partially damaged them.
At approximately 16:30 local time, a number of Israeli tanks moved forward towards a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the southern entrance of Qalqilya. When they were approximately 20m away from the site, they fired four artillery shells, two of which fell near Al-Sharq elementary school and severely damaged its fence, while the other two fell on nearby farms.
As a result of such action, which lasted for approximately 45 minutes, Mohammed ‘Azzam Abu Daoud, 37, a sanitation worker in Qalqilya Municipality, was injured with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the hand, while he was on duty.
At approximately 16:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Moghraqa area in the south of Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that a sound of an explosion was heard. Then, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately in all directions.
‘Abdel-Latif Mahmoud Abu Meddain, 35, was wounded with a live bullet in the back, while he was maintaining his house’s water network, approximately 1,000m away.
At approximately 19:00 local time, five tanks of the Israeli occupation forces coming from Netser Hazani settlement broke 800m into Al-Qarara village to the north of Khan Yunis. Residents of the village were extremely terrified as Israeli soldiers pointed their weapons at houses. They withdrew approximately 30minues later.
At approximately 4:15 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in military sites around Qalqqilya, opened fire on Palestinian houses in the western part of the city, and partially damaged them.
At approximately 16:30 local time, a number of Israeli tanks moved forward towards a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the southern entrance of Qalqilya. When they were approximately 20m away from the site, they fired four artillery shells, two of which fell near Al-Sharq elementary school and severely damaged its fence, while the other two fell on nearby farms.
As a result of such action, which lasted for approximately 45 minutes, Mohammed ‘Azzam Abu Daoud, 37, a sanitation worker in Qalqilya Municipality, was injured with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the hand, while he was on duty.
At approximately 16:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian houses in Al-Moghraqa area in the south of Gaza City. PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that a sound of an explosion was heard. Then, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire indiscriminately in all directions.
‘Abdel-Latif Mahmoud Abu Meddain, 35, was wounded with a live bullet in the back, while he was maintaining his house’s water network, approximately 1,000m away.
At approximately 19:00 local time, five tanks of the Israeli occupation forces coming from Netser Hazani settlement broke 800m into Al-Qarara village to the north of Khan Yunis. Residents of the village were extremely terrified as Israeli soldiers pointed their weapons at houses. They withdrew approximately 30minues later.
16 may 2001
· 16 Palestinians are killed and more than 250 are wounded by the Israeli occupation forces;
· a Palestinian civilian is assassinated by the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin;
· a Palestinian patients die at a roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces;
· the Israeli occupation forces break into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority;
· more land leveling and house and civilian facility demolition.
This report covers Israeli violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the period of May 10-16, 2001. This week witnessed a serious escalation in the excessive use of forces by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians and security men. These forces also continued to shell Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. During the same periods, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority, razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished houses.
During the period covered by this report, 16 Palestinians were killed and more than 250 were wounded by the Israeli occupation forces.
On Friday 11, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces shot dead Hussam Fawaz Sha’ban Tafesh, 16, from Gaza City, with a live bullet that entered the right side and settled in the chest, during clashes in the east of the city.
On Saturday, May 12, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new assassination when combat helicopters of these forces fired rockets at a Palestinian civilian car in Jenin. Mo’tassem Mohammed El-Sabbagh, 26, from Jenin refugee camp, an activist of Fatah Movement in the refugee camp, who was in the first car, and Segent ‘Allam Nasri ‘Abdel-Razeq El-Jaloudi, 26, from Faqou’a village near Jenin, who was in the police car, were killed.
On the same day, Salman Suleiman El-‘Arrouqi, 45, was killed with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head, when the Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian houses in the refugee camp indiscriminately.
On Monday, May 14, 2001, at approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime of willful killing in Bitounia in the south of Ramallah, when there were no clashes in the area. Five members of the Palestinian National Security Forces – all of them are from the Gaza Strip – were killed. They are:
1) Lieutenant Ahmed Mohammed Salman Zaqqout, 26, from Nusseirat refugee camp;
2) Soldier Mohammed Mahmoud Ibrahim Daoud, 21, from Al-Boreij refugee camp;
3) Soldier Mohammed ‘Ali Rajab El-Khaldi, 22, from Al-Boreij refugee camp;
4) Staff Sergeant Salah Ahmed Abu ‘Amra, 32, from Al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah; and
5) Soldier Ahmed Yousef Abu Mustafa, 22, from Khan Yunis.
On the same day, after an armed Palestinian attempted to attack a post of the Israeli occupation forces in the north of Khan Yunis with a hand grenade, the Israeli forces opened fire indiscriminately on him and on a number of Palestinian civilians and their cars while waiting at a military roadblock of these forces.
The armed Palestinian, ‘Arafat Talal Abu Kweik, 28, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, and a Palestinian civilian, Yousef Mousa El-Qassas, 26, from Gaza, were killed, and another seven bystander civilians were wounded.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2001, the 53rd anniversary of Al-Nakba, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators and killed:
1) Mohammed Jihad ‘Abed Rabbu Abu Jasser, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the heart near Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip;
2) Burhan Fahim El-Shakhshir, 22, from Al-Ram village in the north of Jerusalem, with a live bullet in the head at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh; and
3) ‘Abdel-Jawad Khalil Qudeih Shehadeh, 18, from Gaza, with an explosive bullet in the head also at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh.
Moreover, more than 140 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded.
On the same day, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border to the east of Jabalya, fired live bullets and artillery shells at a Palestinian civilian car that was approximately 200m to the west of the border. ‘Abdel-Hakim ‘Abdel-Jalil El-Mana’meh, 35, from ‘Aamer housing project in Jabalya, was killed. The Israeli occupation forces claimed that El-Mana’meh was firing mortars at Israeli targets.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2001, the child Mohammed Hassan Eslim, 14, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was killed by the Israeli occupation forces during clashes near Al-Shuhada’ junction to the south of Gaza City.
The Israeli occupation forces continued to impose a total siege on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians. On May 10, 2001, Kifah Khaled Zo’rob, 17, from Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, died after Israeli occupation soldiers obstructed his evacuation to hospital for more than two hours, although they were warned that Z’orob was in critical condition. (For more details on the impacts of the closure policy, see Closure Update on the impact of the total closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.)
· 16 Palestinians are killed and more than 250 are wounded by the Israeli occupation forces;
· a Palestinian civilian is assassinated by the Israeli occupation forces in Jenin;
· a Palestinian patients die at a roadblock of the Israeli occupation forces;
· the Israeli occupation forces break into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority;
· more land leveling and house and civilian facility demolition.
This report covers Israeli violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the period of May 10-16, 2001. This week witnessed a serious escalation in the excessive use of forces by the Israeli occupation forces against Palestinian civilians and security men. These forces also continued to shell Palestinian cities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. During the same periods, the Israeli occupation forces broke into areas under full control by the Palestinian National Authority, razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land and demolished houses.
During the period covered by this report, 16 Palestinians were killed and more than 250 were wounded by the Israeli occupation forces.
On Friday 11, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces shot dead Hussam Fawaz Sha’ban Tafesh, 16, from Gaza City, with a live bullet that entered the right side and settled in the chest, during clashes in the east of the city.
On Saturday, May 12, 2001, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new assassination when combat helicopters of these forces fired rockets at a Palestinian civilian car in Jenin. Mo’tassem Mohammed El-Sabbagh, 26, from Jenin refugee camp, an activist of Fatah Movement in the refugee camp, who was in the first car, and Segent ‘Allam Nasri ‘Abdel-Razeq El-Jaloudi, 26, from Faqou’a village near Jenin, who was in the police car, were killed.
On the same day, Salman Suleiman El-‘Arrouqi, 45, was killed with shrapnel of an artillery shell in the head, when the Israeli occupation forces shelled Palestinian houses in the refugee camp indiscriminately.
On Monday, May 14, 2001, at approximately 2:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces committed a new crime of willful killing in Bitounia in the south of Ramallah, when there were no clashes in the area. Five members of the Palestinian National Security Forces – all of them are from the Gaza Strip – were killed. They are:
1) Lieutenant Ahmed Mohammed Salman Zaqqout, 26, from Nusseirat refugee camp;
2) Soldier Mohammed Mahmoud Ibrahim Daoud, 21, from Al-Boreij refugee camp;
3) Soldier Mohammed ‘Ali Rajab El-Khaldi, 22, from Al-Boreij refugee camp;
4) Staff Sergeant Salah Ahmed Abu ‘Amra, 32, from Al-Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah; and
5) Soldier Ahmed Yousef Abu Mustafa, 22, from Khan Yunis.
On the same day, after an armed Palestinian attempted to attack a post of the Israeli occupation forces in the north of Khan Yunis with a hand grenade, the Israeli forces opened fire indiscriminately on him and on a number of Palestinian civilians and their cars while waiting at a military roadblock of these forces.
The armed Palestinian, ‘Arafat Talal Abu Kweik, 28, from Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza, and a Palestinian civilian, Yousef Mousa El-Qassas, 26, from Gaza, were killed, and another seven bystander civilians were wounded.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2001, the 53rd anniversary of Al-Nakba, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators and killed:
1) Mohammed Jihad ‘Abed Rabbu Abu Jasser, 17, from Jabalya refugee camp, with a live bullet in the heart near Erez industrial zone in the north of the Gaza Strip;
2) Burhan Fahim El-Shakhshir, 22, from Al-Ram village in the north of Jerusalem, with a live bullet in the head at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh; and
3) ‘Abdel-Jawad Khalil Qudeih Shehadeh, 18, from Gaza, with an explosive bullet in the head also at the northern entrance of Al-Bireh.
Moreover, more than 140 Palestinian civilians, mostly children, were wounded.
On the same day, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the border to the east of Jabalya, fired live bullets and artillery shells at a Palestinian civilian car that was approximately 200m to the west of the border. ‘Abdel-Hakim ‘Abdel-Jalil El-Mana’meh, 35, from ‘Aamer housing project in Jabalya, was killed. The Israeli occupation forces claimed that El-Mana’meh was firing mortars at Israeli targets.
On Wednesday, May 16, 2001, the child Mohammed Hassan Eslim, 14, from Al-Boreij refugee camp, was killed by the Israeli occupation forces during clashes near Al-Shuhada’ junction to the south of Gaza City.
The Israeli occupation forces continued to impose a total siege on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to restrict movement of Palestinian civilians. On May 10, 2001, Kifah Khaled Zo’rob, 17, from Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis, died after Israeli occupation soldiers obstructed his evacuation to hospital for more than two hours, although they were warned that Z’orob was in critical condition. (For more details on the impacts of the closure policy, see Closure Update on the impact of the total closure imposed on the Gaza Strip.)
10 may 2001
At approximately 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces again broke into areas under control by the Israeli occupation forces. They broke into Block “L” (Yebna refugee camp) in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border with Egypt. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and bulldozers broke into the area and entered up to 200m inside.
They destroyed two Palestinian houses and a number of bird farms. They also razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land. The operation was accompanied by intensive shooting and shelling of Palestinian houses in Block “O” and Block “L” areas. Palestinian civilians were terrified and were forced to leave their houses in the darkness. Seven Palestinians, including five civilians, were wounded as follows:
1) Nafez Husni Abu Taha, 38, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
2) Hisham Kamal Abu Taha, 22, wounded with shrapnel that cut fingers of his right hand;
3) Mohammed Mahmoud Khafaja, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) Mohammed ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Salama, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot;
5) Mahmoud Khalil El-Zatmeh, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the left arm;
6) ‘Abdel-‘Allim ‘Abdel-Ghani El-Hams, 42, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh; and
7) Hassan Hussein Abu Shubeika, 40, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
At approximately 1:00 local time, the Israeli occupation forces again broke into areas under control by the Israeli occupation forces. They broke into Block “L” (Yebna refugee camp) in Rafah refugee camp, adjacent to the border with Egypt. PCHR’s field officer in Rafah reported that Israeli occupation forces, reinforced with tanks and bulldozers broke into the area and entered up to 200m inside.
They destroyed two Palestinian houses and a number of bird farms. They also razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land. The operation was accompanied by intensive shooting and shelling of Palestinian houses in Block “O” and Block “L” areas. Palestinian civilians were terrified and were forced to leave their houses in the darkness. Seven Palestinians, including five civilians, were wounded as follows:
1) Nafez Husni Abu Taha, 38, wounded with shrapnel in the right thigh;
2) Hisham Kamal Abu Taha, 22, wounded with shrapnel that cut fingers of his right hand;
3) Mohammed Mahmoud Khafaja, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) Mohammed ‘Abdel-‘Azziz Salama, 21, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot;
5) Mahmoud Khalil El-Zatmeh, 19, wounded with shrapnel in the chest and the left arm;
6) ‘Abdel-‘Allim ‘Abdel-Ghani El-Hams, 42, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh; and
7) Hassan Hussein Abu Shubeika, 40, a member of the Palestinian National Security Forces, wounded with a live bullet in the left thigh.
9 may 2001
In the morning, a number of Palestinian children demonstrated near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road used by settlers near the outlet, fired at demonstrators from a distance of approximately 200m. As a result, two demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Amir Ra’fat Shaniora, 16, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2) Yahia Rashad El-Khouli, 15, also from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 13:00, ‘Aida ‘Eissa Mohammed Ahmed, 23, from Rafah, and her 3-month-old infant Reem Talal ‘Abdel-Rahman Ahmed, were wounded with shrapnel after their house was shelled by the Israeli occupation forces. In her testimony to PCHR, ‘Aida Ahmed said:
“on Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at approximately 13:00 (local time), I was inside my house in Block “L” in Yebna refugee camp in Rafah, approximately 50m away from the border. My 3-month-old infant Reem was between my arms. We heard sounds of explosions and shooting by Israeli occupation forces positioned at the border. I was not able to leave the house.
Suddenly, I heard sounds of three live bullets that penetrated the asbestos roof and hit walls and the door of the house. I felt severe pain and heat in the back. I cried, but no one was in the house to help me. I noticed that my child was also crying and saw her bleeding from the head. Ten minutes later, I got out from the house carrying my child. We were evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital, where I knew that I was wounded with shrapnel in the back and that my child was wounded with shrapnel in the head.”
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian house in the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Some houses were severely damaged and two Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Ibrahim Salem Abu Sahloul, 24, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder; and
2) Mohammed Syed Bakri, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder.
In the morning, a number of Palestinian children demonstrated near Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at a bypass road used by settlers near the outlet, fired at demonstrators from a distance of approximately 200m. As a result, two demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Amir Ra’fat Shaniora, 16, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh; and
2) Yahia Rashad El-Khouli, 15, also from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg.
At approximately 13:00, ‘Aida ‘Eissa Mohammed Ahmed, 23, from Rafah, and her 3-month-old infant Reem Talal ‘Abdel-Rahman Ahmed, were wounded with shrapnel after their house was shelled by the Israeli occupation forces. In her testimony to PCHR, ‘Aida Ahmed said:
“on Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at approximately 13:00 (local time), I was inside my house in Block “L” in Yebna refugee camp in Rafah, approximately 50m away from the border. My 3-month-old infant Reem was between my arms. We heard sounds of explosions and shooting by Israeli occupation forces positioned at the border. I was not able to leave the house.
Suddenly, I heard sounds of three live bullets that penetrated the asbestos roof and hit walls and the door of the house. I felt severe pain and heat in the back. I cried, but no one was in the house to help me. I noticed that my child was also crying and saw her bleeding from the head. Ten minutes later, I got out from the house carrying my child. We were evacuated to Al-Joneina hospital, where I knew that I was wounded with shrapnel in the back and that my child was wounded with shrapnel in the head.”
At approximately 23:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Al-Tuffah roadblock and Neve Dekalim settlement, fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian house in the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp. Some houses were severely damaged and two Palestinian civilians were wounded as follows:
1) Ibrahim Salem Abu Sahloul, 24, wounded with shrapnel in the shoulder; and
2) Mohammed Syed Bakri, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder.
7 may 2001
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers on the road between Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, and Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian young men and children who were demonstrating approximately 200m away, after they heard news about the death of the infant, Iman Hejju, who was killed with artillery shell shrapnel fired by the Israeli occupation forces at Khan Yunis refugee camp. Two demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Jawdat ‘Abdel-Hadi Hamad, 22, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live bullet in the right forearm; and
2) Sa’d Jaber Abu Hayen, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg.
Also in the afternoon, An’am Ibrahim El-Dahdouh, 17, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the right leg.
PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that El-Dahdouh was wounded when she was farming a tract of land owned by in Johor El-Dik area, east of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, unjustifiably fired at her. It is worth mentioning that Johor El-Dik area is approximately 1,000m away from the junction.
At approximately 15:10 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from a distance of approximately 300m on a Palestinian security car that was patrolling near a roadblock of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the western entrance of Al-Sammou’ village in Simia area in the south of Hebron, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority.
Murad Fyez Helmi El-Haroush, 22, from Yatta village near Hebron, a lieutenant of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was killed with eight live bullets throughout the body. Furthermore, two were wounded as follows:
1) Lieutenant Mousa Jamil Abu Hash’hash, 22, from Al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron, critically wounded with two live bullets in the head and the chest and was evacuated to the Israeli Hadassa hospital;
2) Corporal Majed Mohammed Hamad El-Shawahin, 25, from Al-Sammou’ village in Hebron, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 1:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Homesh settlement fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Seilat Al-Zhaher village in Jenin, causing severe damage to a number of houses. The shelling coincided with similar shelling by Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Sanour military site at Nablus-Jenin road, that targeted Palestinian houses in Sanour village near Jenin.
Ibtisam Mohammed Ismail ‘Eissa, a 39-year old three month pregnant woman, miscaried. In addition, an olive press owned by Nassser Weld ‘Ali, and a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces were destroyed.
At approximately 11:10 local time, Israeli occupation forces started to indiscriminately fire artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at several neighborhoods in Khan Yunis. As a result, a four-month-old infant was killed, and her grandmother was seriously wounded. Eleven Palestinian civilians, including medical personnel and school children, were wounded.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that at approximately 11:10 local time, the Israeli occupation forces suddenly and unjustifiably began firing artillery shells at Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Khan Yunis. The shelling lasted for 50 minutes, during which time 30 artillery shells fell onto Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area, the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp, Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood and Al-Amal neighborhood.
The artillery shells were fired from Israeli occupation forces military sites near Gani Tal settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, Neve Dekalim settlement, west of Khan Yunis and Al-Tuffah roadblock, as well as another two sites west of Al-Amal neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A four-month-old infant, Iman Mohammed Hejju, was killed while in the arms of her mother. Her mother, resident of Deir El-Balah, was visiting her family’s house in Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis. The mother, carrying the infant, evacuated the house with her mother and brothers after they heard sounds of shelling.
Artillery shell shrapnel hit Iman in the chest, disemboweling and instantly killed her. Furthermore, her mother Suzan Mustafa Hejju, 20, was critically wounded with shrapnel throughout the body. She was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Nasser hospital. Iman’s grandmother Samia Mohammed Harb Hejju, 38, was wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen, the pelvis and the back.
She was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and from there she was transferred to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City in serious condition. On Tuesday, May 8, 2001, the grandmother was transferred to a hospital in Jordan for treatment. Iman’s 18-month-old uncle, Mahmoud Mustafa Hejju, was seriously wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Nasser hospital.
Iman’s aunt, Dunia Mustafa Hejju, 6, was wounded with shrapnel in the right hand and the left leg.
Eleven Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Nasser hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital in Khan Yunis after they were wounded with shrapnel. In addition, dozens of women and children were evacuated to hospitals after they had nervous break downs, including two pregnant women who suffered hemorrhages. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis also reported that a number of school children were wounded on their way home. People were terrified, and a number of children fainted. Those wounded with shrapnel were:
1) Ahmed Fathi Mohammed Safi, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh and an artery was cut. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for he was in serious condition;
2) Mohammed Rebhi Mohammed Safi, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the left forearm;
3) Walla’ Suleiman Abu Mousa, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) ‘Awatef Salim Nasser, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
5) Kutfi Fares Nasser, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the foot;
6) Khaled Hulail Abu Setteh, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the hand; and
7) Kamal Tawfiq Shana’a, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead.
8) ‘Abdel-‘Azziz ‘Abdel-Fattah Zidan, 48, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
9) Dunia Shehadeh Abu Sahloul, 28, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
10) ‘Alla’ Hassan Abu Samra, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot; and
11) Fawzi Mohammed Abu Rezeq, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the left upper arm.
Moreover, a number of Palestinian houses, some of which are more than 500m away from the sources of shelling, were damaged as follows:
1) A 200-square-meter, three-story house near Khan Yunis elementary school, owned by Ahmed Ismail Abu Mustafa was hit with artillery shells that made holes 1-1.5m in diameter in the second and third floors. Windows also broke.
2) A 180-square-meter, four-story house, in which 13 people live, owned by ‘Adel ‘Atteya Yousef El-Agha, was hit with four artillery shells that destroyed the western and southern facades of the upper three floors. Windows and doors were broken and furniture burnt. A greenhouse adjacent to the house, owned by the family, also burnt.
3) The roof and windows of a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people live, owned by Mustafa Jaber Hejju, were destroyed and walls were holed.
4) A 100-square-meter, five-story house, in which 21 people live, owned by Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu ‘Awadh, was hit with an artillery shell that severely damaged its western façade.
5) Walls of a 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people live, owned by ‘Adel ‘Ali Abu ‘Obeida, were holed.
6) Walls of a 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people live, owned by ‘Abdullah Shoreiqi Abu ‘Obeida, were holed.
7) Four artillery shells fell onto the market of Al-Amal neighborhood, making holes 1.5m in walls. The market was frequently shelled during the past months and it was evacuated.
8) Three housing buildings of Al-Farra Company were hit with six artillery shells that made holes 1-2m in diameter in their western and southern facades and broke windows and doors.
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement, in the east of Deir El-Balah, fired three artillery shells at a Palestinian Military Intelligence Service site, approximately 700m away from the settlement. Walls of a room in the site were destroyed, but no injuries were reported.
In the afternoon, Israeli occupation forces, positioned at the entrance of a bypass road used by settlers on the road between Al-Mentar (Karni) Outlet, to the east of Gaza City, and Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, to the south of Gaza City, fired at a number of Palestinian young men and children who were demonstrating approximately 200m away, after they heard news about the death of the infant, Iman Hejju, who was killed with artillery shell shrapnel fired by the Israeli occupation forces at Khan Yunis refugee camp. Two demonstrators were wounded as follows:
1) Jawdat ‘Abdel-Hadi Hamad, 22, from Beit Hanoun, wounded with a live bullet in the right forearm; and
2) Sa’d Jaber Abu Hayen, 18, from Al-Shojaeya neighborhood in Gaza City, wounded with a live bullet in the left leg.
Also in the afternoon, An’am Ibrahim El-Dahdouh, 17, from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood in Gaza City, was wounded with a live bullet in the right leg.
PCHR’s field officer in Gaza City reported that El-Dahdouh was wounded when she was farming a tract of land owned by in Johor El-Dik area, east of Gaza City. Israeli occupation forces, positioned at Al-Shuhada’ (Netzarim) junction, unjustifiably fired at her. It is worth mentioning that Johor El-Dik area is approximately 1,000m away from the junction.
At approximately 15:10 local time, Israeli occupation soldiers opened fire from a distance of approximately 300m on a Palestinian security car that was patrolling near a roadblock of the Palestinian National Security Forces at the western entrance of Al-Sammou’ village in Simia area in the south of Hebron, under full control by the Palestinian National Authority.
Murad Fyez Helmi El-Haroush, 22, from Yatta village near Hebron, a lieutenant of the Palestinian National Security Forces, was killed with eight live bullets throughout the body. Furthermore, two were wounded as follows:
1) Lieutenant Mousa Jamil Abu Hash’hash, 22, from Al-Fawar refugee camp in Hebron, critically wounded with two live bullets in the head and the chest and was evacuated to the Israeli Hadassa hospital;
2) Corporal Majed Mohammed Hamad El-Shawahin, 25, from Al-Sammou’ village in Hebron, wounded with a live bullet in the right thigh.
At approximately 1:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Homesh settlement fired heavy and medium caliber bullets at Palestinian houses in Seilat Al-Zhaher village in Jenin, causing severe damage to a number of houses. The shelling coincided with similar shelling by Israeli occupation forces, positioned in Sanour military site at Nablus-Jenin road, that targeted Palestinian houses in Sanour village near Jenin.
Ibtisam Mohammed Ismail ‘Eissa, a 39-year old three month pregnant woman, miscaried. In addition, an olive press owned by Nassser Weld ‘Ali, and a site of the Palestinian National Security Forces were destroyed.
At approximately 11:10 local time, Israeli occupation forces started to indiscriminately fire artillery shells and heavy and medium caliber bullets at several neighborhoods in Khan Yunis. As a result, a four-month-old infant was killed, and her grandmother was seriously wounded. Eleven Palestinian civilians, including medical personnel and school children, were wounded.
PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis reported that at approximately 11:10 local time, the Israeli occupation forces suddenly and unjustifiably began firing artillery shells at Palestinian residential neighborhoods in Khan Yunis. The shelling lasted for 50 minutes, during which time 30 artillery shells fell onto Al-Satar Al-Gharbi area, the west of Khan Yunis refugee camp, Al-Nemsawi (the Austrian) neighborhood and Al-Amal neighborhood.
The artillery shells were fired from Israeli occupation forces military sites near Gani Tal settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, Neve Dekalim settlement, west of Khan Yunis and Al-Tuffah roadblock, as well as another two sites west of Al-Amal neighborhood and Khan Yunis refugee camp.
A four-month-old infant, Iman Mohammed Hejju, was killed while in the arms of her mother. Her mother, resident of Deir El-Balah, was visiting her family’s house in Al-Amal neighborhood in Khan Yunis. The mother, carrying the infant, evacuated the house with her mother and brothers after they heard sounds of shelling.
Artillery shell shrapnel hit Iman in the chest, disemboweling and instantly killed her. Furthermore, her mother Suzan Mustafa Hejju, 20, was critically wounded with shrapnel throughout the body. She was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Nasser hospital. Iman’s grandmother Samia Mohammed Harb Hejju, 38, was wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen, the pelvis and the back.
She was evacuated to Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and from there she was transferred to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City in serious condition. On Tuesday, May 8, 2001, the grandmother was transferred to a hospital in Jordan for treatment. Iman’s 18-month-old uncle, Mahmoud Mustafa Hejju, was seriously wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen and was evacuated to the intensive care unit at Nasser hospital.
Iman’s aunt, Dunia Mustafa Hejju, 6, was wounded with shrapnel in the right hand and the left leg.
Eleven Palestinian civilians were evacuated to Nasser hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent Society hospital in Khan Yunis after they were wounded with shrapnel. In addition, dozens of women and children were evacuated to hospitals after they had nervous break downs, including two pregnant women who suffered hemorrhages. PCHR’s field officer in Khan Yunis also reported that a number of school children were wounded on their way home. People were terrified, and a number of children fainted. Those wounded with shrapnel were:
1) Ahmed Fathi Mohammed Safi, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the left thigh and an artery was cut. He was evacuated to Nasser hospital and then to Shifa’ hospital in Gaza City for he was in serious condition;
2) Mohammed Rebhi Mohammed Safi, 17, wounded with shrapnel in the left forearm;
3) Walla’ Suleiman Abu Mousa, 9, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
4) ‘Awatef Salim Nasser, 35, wounded with shrapnel in the abdomen;
5) Kutfi Fares Nasser, 20, wounded with shrapnel in the foot;
6) Khaled Hulail Abu Setteh, 15, wounded with shrapnel in the hand; and
7) Kamal Tawfiq Shana’a, 12, wounded with shrapnel in the forehead.
8) ‘Abdel-‘Azziz ‘Abdel-Fattah Zidan, 48, wounded with shrapnel in the left shoulder;
9) Dunia Shehadeh Abu Sahloul, 28, wounded with shrapnel in the back;
10) ‘Alla’ Hassan Abu Samra, 15, wounded with a live bullet in the right foot; and
11) Fawzi Mohammed Abu Rezeq, 21, wounded with shrapnel in the left upper arm.
Moreover, a number of Palestinian houses, some of which are more than 500m away from the sources of shelling, were damaged as follows:
1) A 200-square-meter, three-story house near Khan Yunis elementary school, owned by Ahmed Ismail Abu Mustafa was hit with artillery shells that made holes 1-1.5m in diameter in the second and third floors. Windows also broke.
2) A 180-square-meter, four-story house, in which 13 people live, owned by ‘Adel ‘Atteya Yousef El-Agha, was hit with four artillery shells that destroyed the western and southern facades of the upper three floors. Windows and doors were broken and furniture burnt. A greenhouse adjacent to the house, owned by the family, also burnt.
3) The roof and windows of a 200-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 10 people live, owned by Mustafa Jaber Hejju, were destroyed and walls were holed.
4) A 100-square-meter, five-story house, in which 21 people live, owned by Ibrahim ‘Ali Abu ‘Awadh, was hit with an artillery shell that severely damaged its western façade.
5) Walls of a 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people live, owned by ‘Adel ‘Ali Abu ‘Obeida, were holed.
6) Walls of a 250-square-meter, four-story house, in which 18 people live, owned by ‘Abdullah Shoreiqi Abu ‘Obeida, were holed.
7) Four artillery shells fell onto the market of Al-Amal neighborhood, making holes 1.5m in walls. The market was frequently shelled during the past months and it was evacuated.
8) Three housing buildings of Al-Farra Company were hit with six artillery shells that made holes 1-2m in diameter in their western and southern facades and broke windows and doors.
At approximately 11:00 local time, Israeli occupation forces, positioned in the vicinity of Kfar Darom settlement, in the east of Deir El-Balah, fired three artillery shells at a Palestinian Military Intelligence Service site, approximately 700m away from the settlement. Walls of a room in the site were destroyed, but no injuries were reported.